"What happened after that?" Chizuru asked curiously. Even she, as the Kagura family's second young lady, knew little of these secrets.
"Later..."
Sorrow flickered in Maki's eyes.
"The Emperor's power became increasingly consolidated. And our three great families grew ever stronger—so strong that even the Imperial family became wary."
"And so came... that so-called dissolution."
"Our Yata clan, to demonstrate our desire to withdraw from worldly affairs, changed our name to Kagura and retreated into shrines."
"The Yasakani clan, having spent years walking in darkness and slaughter, became increasingly isolated and arrogant. They too abandoned their old name, becoming Yagami, completely cutting themselves off from the world."
"Only the Kusanagi clan, due to their guardian identity, retained their original surname and became the nominal leaders of Japan's martial arts world."
"So that's how it was..." Chizuru murmured in realization.
"But..."
Cloud keenly caught the key point.
"Master Chin Gentsai told me your three great families have an... even more ancient mission?"
At this, a glimmer of approval appeared in Maki's deep eyes.
"Correct."
She nodded slowly, her expression becoming unprecedentedly grave.
"Protecting the Emperor was merely our surface role."
"Our three families' true destiny is to... protect this world, to resist a terrifying existence from ancient times."
Her voice became incredibly heavy, as if carrying the weight of a thousand pounds.
"—The Divine Tribe of Heaven, Orochi!"
"Eighteen hundred years ago, our ancestors united with all the world's strongest fighters and paid an extremely heavy price to finally seal Orochi's true body, along with his eight servants, the Hakkesshu."
"And our Kagura clan's mission, generation after generation, has been to guard that... Orochi Seal!"
When the final word left her gentle lips, Cloud's heart churned with towering waves!
He finally understood why this seemingly gentle, delicate beauty—who looked like she couldn't bear to step on an ant—carried such a heavy, suffocating aura.
She alone, with those seemingly fragile shoulders, bore nearly the entire world's safety!
She couldn't freely race motorcycles like Chizuru, flaunting her youth.
She couldn't bravely pursue love like Mai Shiranui.
She couldn't even enjoy a carefree afternoon like an ordinary girl.
Because behind her stood that seal—which, if shattered, would plunge the entire world into... an abyss of eternal damnation!
In that moment, an indescribable emotion called "heartache" stabbed Cloud's heart like the sharpest dagger!
Looking at this woman who silently hid all her pain and responsibility beneath that gentle smile, he felt an impulse to hold her tight and share her burdens!
And Maki, across from him, seemed to sense his gaze full of "heartache."
She startled slightly, and then those eyes—always deep as an ancient well—rippled with a wave of emotion.
How many years... has it been?
How many years since anyone... looked at me like this?
Everyone only saw the halo of the "Divine Shrine Maiden," but no one ever saw, beneath that halo, the self who also grew tired, felt pain, and yearned for freedom.
The tea room fell silent again.
But this time, the silence held a strange atmosphere of "understanding" and "resonance."
After who knows how long, Maki slowly rose to her feet.
She walked to the window and gazed at the bright sunshine outside and the chirping birds.
Her face wore a smile of longing—pure as a little girl's.
She slowly turned around, looking at the man who still watched her with eyes full of "heartache."
Then she made a decision that made even Chizuru's jaw drop.
"Cloud."
Her voice remained gentle, yet carried the unquestionable authority of a clan head's "command."
"Tomorrow, take Chizuru out shopping."
...
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