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ลำดับตอนที่ #22 : Chapter 4 - Each and everyone's determination
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Chapter 4 - Each and everyone's determination
Part 1
".....!"
"Fugyaa!?"
Kazuma, peacefully breathing in his sleep on the upper side of
the tree, suddenly - avoiding Tiana's wings, who just happened to fly on top of
him - jumped to his feet.
"W- what?"
On the verge of falling, reorganizing her attitude, Tiana
groaned. Completely ignoring those complaints, Kazuma said:
"It came back."
".......really?"
Tiana forgot her resentment on the spot. While it may be true
she felt it, it does not mean she can do something about it.
"Where, where?"
To the now rushing out fairy, Kazuma jerked his jaw, pointing to
the car trying to pass through the gate. Both their glances have been rooted on
the spot.
From the car stopped in front of the entrance, several men and
women made their appearance. Among those people, from inside the body of one
small girl at the beginning of her teens, the wave motion felt from the center
of her chest was, without a doubt, belonging to the treasure stolen from the
fairy village.
"Even so, that is....."
The girl emitted an awfully unnatural presence. And then, when
comparing her with the girl with an identical face, five or six years her
senior, Kazuma muttered in a bitter voice.
He grasped the family structure of the Tsuwabuki head house. A
girl that was not supposed to exist and an older identical girl.
And then - the fairy's treasure carried inside her body. From
his perspective everything was clear.
"What a vulgar copy cat...."
On the other hand, Tiana was unrelated to those strong feelings.
"Ah, I found it....."
Murmuring with a voice overcome with emotion, both hands before
her chest, looking up at the Heaven with wet pupils, as if saying "Thank
you, God".
"Inside that, it's inside that! Come now - Kazuma please
carry out the request! Gouge that girl's heart and retrieve the bloody
treasureeee!!"
Because of too much excitement, Tiana screamed the bloody
speech. How to say this, it was a scene meant to break any dreams and
aspiration regarding the so called fairies.
That Tiana, shouting with blood shot eyes, Kazuma lightly
disregarded, as if it was a matter of course. Brushing off the leaves and bark
sticking to his clothes, he lightly muttered one thing.
"Well then, should I go back to sleep?"
"Just wait a secoooooooond!"
Tiana pulled with all her might the nape of Kazuma's neck,
trying to descend from the tree that was their kip. Casually grabbing the
fairy's body, following about, and plucking it of, he asked tiresomely.
"What?"
"It's not what, right? The treasure we searched for
it's just there!? Quickly get it baaack!!"
"Tiana"
Kazuma called out the fairy with the propensity for derangement
in a terribly quiet voice.
As if cold water was poured on her heated head, Tiana promptly
returned to her true character.
"W- wh- what is it....?"
"If you think about it, the ceremony is tomorrow
night."
"So?"
"Instead of taking it now, won't it be more amusing to take
it when they will be relived and think the ceremony can quietly take place?
When knocked down from the peak of rejoice to the bottom of despair, what kind
of expression will they do?....ku ku ku...."
Engraved on the contractor's mouth was an inhuman, cruel and
brutal smile. The man's true character, who essentially should be a saint, made
Tiana feel despair countless times.
"Auuuuuuuu...."
Part 2[edit]
She saw a dream.
Of a distant past, of a time her chest still harbored hope, a
resemblance of the once foolish self. She wanted to be appreciated. She wanted
to be smiled at. It did not matter if she was number one. It did not matter if
she was the second.
That's why she desperately struggled. Putting her life on the
line, piling up experience, refining her power. Without considering that it was
the cause of still more alienation.
"That technique is a heresy. It's not appropriate for a
practitioner of the traditional Tsuwabuki."
"That thing is not Chijutsushi. Why does my child have to
use such black arts?"
Disgrace
Demon Child
Evil magician
The cruel words thrown at the very young girl by her own father
carved in her heart wounds that cannot heal.
"Someday, for sure....."
Realizing that was a wish that will never come true, when did
that happen?
That was a crab.
Not something particularly scary. Its size was somewhat big -
enough to bisect a bear with its kitchen-like pincers. Its legs were somewhat
numerous - the fore pincers - but, if she were to use her power the opponent
would have no choice but to be lightly pinched out.
Despite this - the girl she was supposed to protect, was being
overpowered by such a thing and paralyzed with horror. The huge pincers swung
from overhead, was being looked up at, in a daze, by that inexperienced face.
"...Mayumi!"
She promptly released her power. The pincer trying to smash
Mayumi's head was broken as if crushed by a giant hand.
"Come here!"
The crab was spouting froth from anguish. She sharply ordered
Mayumi, who was still looking up at it in blank amazement.
".....Y-yes!"
Finally calming down, Mayumi rushed over while her legs got
twisted. She payed absolutely no attention behind her. To that defenseless
back, the crab tried to give a retribution blow. While driving out the crab
with a feint attack, she caught the small body leaping in her chest.
"Older sister!"
For the girl trembling in fear, she showed a perfectly forced
smile.
"It's alright. Against that kind of apparition, it's impossible
for you to loose."
"B-but....."
"I will stop its movement and I will give it the finishing
blow. That's fine, right?"
".........."
"Make your preparation."
Turning around Mayumi's still insecure body, she was made to
confront the imminent crab.
"It's alright."
Embracing from behind the younger sister stiff with fear, she
tenderly whispered. Contrary to her tone, that facial expression was cold but
invisible to the girl gazing at the crab.
"Look....observe it."
Kicking the ground with eight long legs the crab approached the
two straightforward. And, when he was approximately ten meters away, suddenly
the crab was smashed.
It was like from right overhead, an unbelievably huge palm held
him down with all his strength. Smashing the collection of legs, the shell
conspicuously fissured. Plucking from the root the pincers that were rose
overhead, admitting defeat, it was buried into the ground with a roar.
Without moving at all she pointed at the crab in anguish and
told Mayumi:
"Come now, finish it off. Make a hole through the center,
pierce it from bellow. You can do it, right?"
"Y-yes" Mayumi obediently nodded.
Obeyed by the spirits of the earth, she governed their power.
The spirits promptly responded to the most powerful Chijutsushi blood.
" -ya!!"
Together with the girl's cute yell, from beneath the crab a
spear stone grew. That long and narrow cone shape penetrated the crab's shell
and rose facing the heavens. Making a huge hole in the middle of its body, the
crab wriggled, foam at it's mouth. But by construction the crab was unable to
escape from the stone spear. It's resistance gradually weakened and gradually
stopped.
Before their eyes, the skull of the reddish crab lost its gloss,
growing dull in color. The crack spread from that gap and the muscle became
visible. It faded the same way loosing its elasticity and the muscle became
stiff.
It turned to stone.
That was Mayumi's real aim. The stone spear that went through
was no more than the preliminary arrangement for that purpose. The ground
spirits pumped into the wounds changed with great vigor the organic matter in
inorganic one. Making sure the petrification reached the interior of the body,
including fighting spirit, Mayumi shouted.
"Smash!!"
It was impossible to disobey it. Agreeing to the command, the
ground spirits speedily dissolved the bindings. Making a thick sound the stone
crab was smashed.
Because the body changed to countless stones it was no longer
possible to guess its original shape.
"Very well done Mayumi-sama!"
"Merely eight years old and to be able to take down such a
Youma!"
Waiting for Mayumi when she returned home was a storm of praise
from the entire family. The people assembled in the saloon unanimously praised
Mayumi and her alone.
There was nobody who talked to her. Without showing any reaction
for the uproar of the surroundings, she was sitting diagonally behind Mayumi,
mute like a puppet. In front of her ignored as if her existence was the same as
air, Mayumi who was given the family seat of honor was being spoken to by the
Tsuwabuki Iwao.
"You did very well, Mayumi."
"Father!"
Mayumi's smiling face lit up and jumped into her father's chest,
whom she respected and loved. Iwao also embraced his daughter closely,
including an overflowing love.
"You did very well, Mayumi."
While pressing her cheeks against against Iwao's chest, who
repeated those words again, Mayumi said innocently:
"Yeah, I did my best. But older sister practically did it
by herself. Older sister is awfully strong!"
The unreserved large voice reverberated in the saloon, and the
faces of the people sitting in a row became pale. Feeling the change of
atmosphere, Mayumi raised her eyes to her father in wonder.
"What's wrong?"
Iwao replied laughingly.
"It's of no concern. Mayumi is admirable, dividing her
achievement with other people."
"That's wrong, really, elder sister is- "
"It's fine, I don't give a damn about that thing."
Blocking Mayumi's field of vision by hugging her close, Iwao
shifted his attention to her. Cold like a different person, a glance exceeding
hatred, filled with curses.
But even so, she didn't move one finger, one eyebrow or one
muscle. Ignoring the glance sticking between her eyebrows, her gaze looked at
nothing but in front, one meter horizontal from Iwao, fixating on the wood
details of the alcove post.
The sister embraced with love and the sister glared at with
hatred.
All present looked at the excessively contrastive sisters,
catching their breath.
"Kureha-sama.....Kureha-sama?"
".....!"
At the voice repeating her name, taken aback, Kureha woke up. It
seems she took a nap in the middle of her duties. Lightly shaking off her head,
to remove the remaining sleepiness, she responded.
"Enter"
From the door opened by the maid, a group of three people got
in. By priority of age, Yuuji, Mayumi and - Ayumi.
That was unexpectedly fast.
Kureha thought so, looking at the puppet with eyes sunk in
bitterness. As far as she saw of that facial expression, her first trip had not
been particularly enjoyable.
Well, it's a thing of no consequence.
"Following your instruction Ayumi has been returned
home."
Being considerably pathetic, Yuuji reported stiffly. Expressly
speaking of such obvious things, Yuuji may have been foolish but that doesn't
mean Kureha was the same.
That was some kind of indication of his decision.
"With this I won't allow Mayumi to become a
sacrifice", or something
It's not like her real intentions stood out. Instead, feeling
that naivete pleasant, Kureha responded with a sweet smile.
"I appreciate your efforts."
"Y-yes!"
No matter how he perceived those words of appreciation Yuuji
made a respectful bow, his face lit up. But before he raised his head, Kureha
informed the three.
"Yuuji, you can already retire. Mayumi and Ayumi, please
follow me."
"....Eh?" unintentionally Mayumi asked back.
Yuuji stiffed in a comical stance, his back bent.
".......Me too, you said?"
Seeing surprise and a small quantity of fear clung to Mayumi's
question, Kureha laughed.
"That's right. Did you think you will be sightseeing the
ceremony drinking tea? You too have an important part. Follow me."
"................"
Iwao being on the sickbed at the present time, Kureha was the
one commanding the family. She could not advocate her objection.
Complying with Kureha, who naturally opened the door and stated
walking, Mayumi and Ayumi followed behind.
Yuuji followed the three people until they left the office but
clinging to them further was not permitted.
For him, unable to do anything but see them off, Mayumi looked
over her shoulder just once.
That profile full of anxiety was scorched in the center of his
consciousnesses together with a feeling of loss that cannot be undone.
Part 3[edit]
The next morning
Hiding his pathetic decision inside his heart, Yuuji knocked on
the door leading to Kureha's private room. Without pause, the reply came.
"What's the matter, Yuuji?"
"........I have something to discuss."
"Enter."
The knob turned. It wasn't the work of a key. In a mental state
similar to that of entering a dragon's den, Yuuji stepped inside the room.
"Good morning. You're early Yuuji."
Although saying that Kureha's appearance too was perfectly in
order. Her flowing black hair was perfectly arranged and the same as usual a
black suit was tightly wrapped around her.
"Will you let me know my lady's whereabouts?"
Standing before Kureha, impolitely Yuuji did not return the
greeting and got to the main question. His complexion was bad. In spite of
being injured to that extent yesterday it seems he didn't sleep a wink.
"Since last night, after Kureha-sama took her along, she
did not return to her room."
"You, did you stick yourself in front of Mayumi's room?
You're almost like a stalker, huh?", Kureha laughed sarcastically.
However, Yuuji, without showing a glimpse of insincere smile,
draw near with a severe face.
"Please answer, Kureha-sama. Depending on what happens,
even if it's you..."
Kureha indifferently asked back.
"Even if it's you?"
"Ku.........."
Without doing anything, just by standing there, Kureha
overwhelmed Yuuji.
Even by making use of his blind devotion towards Mayumi, he
could not fill the desperate power difference.
"My lady, where is she...."
Still, seeing Yuuji hang on, mustering his willpower Kureha
showed a somewhat unnatural look of admiration.
"What considerable devotion. If you want to meet her that
badly, I will allow you to. Come!"
Yuuji chased after Kureha, who left the room and began to walk a
few meters behind. The distance he put between them, rather than him being
precautious, it was more like he was afraid of getting closer.
What kind of person is this woman?
Even if it was for a moment, when he confronted her he felt her
abnormality. That power was clearly on a different level, when compared with
other practitioners. Even Iwao, the Head, for Kureha, he was not a match by
far. To say it simply it was an excessively mighty power. From the time she was
a child, although unique, she was recognized as a powerful practitioner but
nobody expected her to rise above to such a level.
"What are you doing? You'll be left behind."
Almost like reading his heart, indulging himself in speculation,
Kureha suddenly looked over her shoulder.
Bearing the shriek trying to gush out by clenching his teeth,
Yuuji shortly answered.
"...........I understand."
"Hurry up. I don't want to be seen by too many
people."
And with these words, her beautiful face showed her usual smile,
with no trace of impatience.
Glaring annoyed at Kureha, who faced forward once again Yuuji
slightly quickened his pace.
In silence, Kureha walked to the deepest part of the grounds.
Yuuji never entered this place before- it was a place nobody could enter with
the exception of those who earned the permission of the Head.
"This is......"
"You've never entered this place before, huh? It's because,
with the exception of those belonging to the main family this is a place that
doesn't open but once every thirty years."
At the words he feared, Yuuji's face became stiff.
"Kureha-sama, you, by no means, even my lady- "
Those words, spoken in a strong tone, Kureha interrupted icily.
"Yuuji, you may believe you are given permission to an
opinion but I have no intention of bestowing it any further. I am letting you
meet her in deference to your loyalty but I have no intention of releasing
Mayumi until the ceremony is over. Remember it."
".............."
Completely forbidden from raising objections, Yuuji had no
choice but to be silent.
"..........is this the place?"
Staring at the small shrine they arrived before long, Yuuji
asked.
"This is the entrance. Our place of destination is inside
it" answered Kureha, opening the small shrine's gate.
Inside there wasn't even a single light, and without having performed
any kind of process the cave entrance lightly opened its mouth.
"Here is....."
"Correct, this is the sacred ground of Tsuwabuki. The place
we must protect even at the cost of our lives. Well, shall we go forward? Your
beloved lady is inside."
"I understand."
To Kureha's exaggerated words, mixed with ridicule, Yuuji
replied seriously.
He continued walking while controlling his uneasiness at the
endlessly continuing cave.
A pitch blackness without a ray of light. A natural cave with no
reinforcements. This was a situation that would have driven claustrophobic
people to madness but for a Chijutsushi it was a place full of tranquility
equivalent with the inside of mother's womb.
And yet, Yuuji frantically endured the urge to start running. In
what sort environment was Mayumi placed, thinking of that he is unable to
suppress his anxiety.
My lady....I will, definitely.......
Hiding that strong decision n his heart, he is descending in the
cave. And then -
".......uh!?"
A dazzling glint burned Yuuji's eyes. Into his ears,
unintentionally shutting his eyes, Kureha's composed voice resounds.
"Welcome to the center of Tsuwabuki's consecrated
ground."
"Wh...at?"
Holding his hands before his eyes, Yuuji slowly opened his
eyelids. What was there was a huge space that did not appear to be underground,
spreading out.
"This is....."
A voice full of wonder leaked out. The magical spectacle
spreading before hos eyes, drew in his sight and didn't let go. The gigantic
pillar soaring at the center of the large hollow spreading a hundred meters
below Fuji's sea of trees, is brilliantly shining.
"Crystal?...."
The sparkling, transparent stone pillar - there is no mistake
about it, it was a pillar made of high purity crystal. The diameter roughly
four meters, it's height nearly twenty meters.
And then, even supposing this crystal was guiding the sunshine
so deeply underground, that enormousness exhausted any kind of description.
To Yuuji, stupefied with amazement, Kureha turned an evil smile.
"Yuuji, it's fine to be so deeply moved but is it not
something else you should look for?"
".......eh?"
"Please look carefully inside the pillar."
"............"
Doing as he was told, Yuuji closely observed the pillar.
Enduring the radiance, he saw a dark stain somewhat lower than the center.
He supposed that was just some foreign matter that was mixed in,
but that unusual shape weighted on his mind. Taking a few steps forward he
stared even more.
"..................eh?"
He was terrified. That stain had the form of a human.
Dressed sparingly, the white, thin dress showing her shoulders,
the girl's eyes were peacefully closed. It was unthinkable not to recognize her.
Because she was the girl he pledged to protect by sacrificing
everything.
"My lady!"
On Yuuji's shoulder, who started running, an invisible power was
placed.
The heavy pressure reaching one ton sealed his body's movements
as if it was its loyal subject.
"Calm down!" coldly informed Kureha.
Yuuji glared at her.
"What have you done to my lady?"
That shout, so overcome with emotion it forgot even honorifics,
Kureha tolerantly pardoned.
"I did say Mayumi too has her own role."
"Role...?"
"Ayumi's body cannot withstand the release of power. The
emission ratio will not be enough for the final tuning. Therefore, the power
Ayumi cannot sustain by herself, I made Mayumi shoulder. You could call it the
unexpected side effect of a clone."
The practitioner who performs the ritual, even calling it
extreme, one is enough. Or perhaps it should be said that for the delicate
control required by the technique, the governing intent must only be one.
Excluding the early few times, the ceremony was practiced by
almost all the family, adding multiplied force for the sake of raising the
success rate but did not change the fact that the practitioner controlling the
power that is the focal point is just one.
But, if it's Ayumi and Mayumi practically identical at the
genetic level, it may not be impossible to align their consciousness.
Particularly by making the weak-self Ayumi do the main part and leaving the
trance to the egoistic Mayumi.
"Such a...."
Without listening to Kureha's explanation until the end, Yuuji
dropped to his knees, heartbroken.
I...until now, for what sake.........
That appearance, feebly hanging his head, resembled Ren's the
night before, in a cruel way.
If Yuuji could see himself through an objective point of view
perhaps a cynical smile would be irrepressible.
"Relax. Because she probably won't die."
"........eh?"
But, Kureha did not permit even despair. In front of the
stricken Yuuji, she suspended an ostentatious thread of salvation.
"In the end, Ayumi is the main one and Mayumi is the spare.
Because she is supplementing Ayumi's insufficiency, I don't think it will be
fatal - that is, as long as the seal does not break even for an instant."
Reinforcing a seal that already has shape and rebuilding from
scratch a seal that burst open without leaving any trace, between the power
required by the two, there is a world of difference.
If that sort of abnormal situation does not occur Mayumi will
survive, it was said, but for some reason, Yuuji could not relax.
"Do you think there is a possibility it will happen?"
At Yuuji's cautious question, Kureha responded without
hesitation.
"At least, there will certainly be interference."
".........the Kannagi kid will come again?"
Nothing else came to his mind but Kureha opened her eyes wide as
if she was surprised and let out a small sarcastic laugh.
"Ah, do you mean Kannagi Ren? I received the report. But, I
am concerned about the fairies."
"The fairies? What can those insubstantial living things
do?"
Deepening her sarcastic smile toward Yuuji's bewildered face,
Kureha continued.
"Did you not hear? Your head if filled with nothing but
Mayumi, huh? Yesterday, a fairy and it's guardian got inside the house."
"A-ah...." Yuuji nodded vaguely.
Come to think of it, someone said that. According to Kureha's
pointing out, he had no composure to think about something else, vaguely
ignoring it.
"The guardian?"
"A terrifyingly strong man making use of the wind. He
seemed human but - I wonder about that. He said he is the fairy's brethren
too"
"Wind, is it?"
Frowning id doubt, Yuuji asked in return.
"Why, if its only the likes of Fuujutsushi should we be
afraid?"
"If it's only- ?"
Stuck by Yuuji's words, Kureha giggled in a very improper way.
"You're right, if it's only Fuujutsushi. If it's just that
kind of practitioner able to defeat the power of the likes of me, perhaps
someone like you has no need to be afraid."
"....!!"
"So reliable"
Yuuji asked the sneering Kureha in a hoarse voice:
"Is - is that true.....? Truly, with just wind, your power
- ?"
"It's the truth. What's more, I've been seen through after
the first attack. To be ahead of me to that extent, that was a first. The world
is really big, huh?"
".........."
At a loss of words, Yuuji stood rock still in blank amazement.
A Fuujutsushi surpassing Kureha - if such a thing were to
appear, for him it's impossible to oppose no matter how he were to struggle.
"B-but........if he obstructs the ceremony, Mt. Fuji will
definitely erupt. Will he go that far?"
"I don't know about the Kannagi's side but the fairies have
no reason to hesitate. Because the eruption is nothing more than a natural
phenomenon they have no intention of resisting it."
Talking about such a hopeless story with a gossip-like tone,
Kureha looked at Yuuji's face, dyed in despair.
"So, we can't talk about it, but... how about you? Don't
you desire power?"
".....eh?"
"Power. A mighty power. To drive away all enemies, to
protect your precious one, overflowing power. If I were to say I can grant you
that power - you, what will you do?"
"............."
Yuuji looked hard at Kureha with a bottomless shiver. As a
practitioner, Yuuji recognized the fact that she was in a by far superior rank
- No, he was supposed to know that.
But it was different. This, it was not that kind of thing.
This woman - is she really human?
Feeding on his hope, something that tempts humans to their ruin.
The existence passed down on tradition on every culture around the world, right
now, is sneering before his eyes. The spoils it aims at are waiting the time of
the fall
Even so -
Do I mind?
As far as Yuuji is concerned, he had no other option. No, his
choice was already made.
If the compensation of power is required, he would give
anything, no matter what it is.
His life, his soul, he had no choice but to consider them second
or less.
That's why his answer had beed decided.
"No matter what will happen, I don't care. Please give me
power."
Receiving the answer she was eagerly waiting, Kureha smiled
ominously. He had the feeling that for one second, those lips tore until ears.
Part 4[edit]
"Father, do you know where Ren went? He's not in his
room."
"I happened to see him sitting on the porch just before
noon."
Ayano turned an uterly amazed glance at Juugo, who answered
matter of course.
"........Father, it is already evening."
"Go and see for yourself. A certain someone who does not
want to move at all is supposed to be there."
"............."
Scowling, Ayano cast her eyes down. Her strongly gripped fist
was trembling.
"If you tell me he has no outlet for his anger, I'll get
angry. Knocking down those Tsuwabuki guys and settling this is so simple and
yet...."
"....True"
Evening
Ren, dicovered with the help of Kirika's side, the Special Data
Arrangement, although he had no visible wounds, his heart received near fatal
damage.
Remaining silent without responding to any questions, secluded
inside his shell, Ren was brought home after midnight.
As a result of being left to rest without having to listen to
anything, at dawn he recovered enough to take a minimum of communication.
As if he would been asked Ren told it all, without faltering.
His own feeling - the fleeting emotion harbored for that girl, the despair when
he found the truth - without hiding anything.
In front of the stricken boy nobody could do anything.
Their feelings were summarized in Ayano's words from a while
ago. That is - "There is no outlet for his anger."
The act of the Tsuwabuki Household was by no means incorrect.
Caring about morals has no meaning. In their line of business that goes beyond
the life or death of one person, they are naturally operating for the sake of
justice. There was no other way.
There is no choice but to pray to God that time will heal his
emotional scars.
"So, what did you plan to do after searching for Ren?"
"What, you ask - I can't leave him alone like that, can
I?"
Ren right now was similar to a living corpse.
If he was talked to, he'd give a minimal reply.
If food was given to him, he would eat it.
However, without urgings from other people, left by himself he
would not move, not even a finger. Sitting sprawled out, that figure with blank
eyes was exactly like a puppet whose strings have been cut.
Sober, Juugo shifted his attention to Ayano, wanting to comfort
Ren.
"Can you do something?"
"I don't know if I can."
There was clearly no hesitation in Ayano's response.
"But even so, I can't leave him alone. That kind of
helpless situation, I won't admit it. I definitely won't let it end this
way."
Making this declaration in a rough tone, Ayano left Juugo's
room.
Wow, it really was true...
Voiceless, Ayano murmured to herself. Ren was in the place Juugo
said he would be. Sitting on the verande, he was leaning on the left side
pillar. Perhaps that attitude never changed since before noon.
Approaching directly, Ayano sat dawn next to him. Ren's eyes
moved slightly, perceiving her figure.
"............older sister.."
A feeble murmur escaped. The question why are you here
did not resound, just calling the name of the person that entered his field of
vision, that sort of dull and uninteresting matter.
Ayano did not venture to make eye contact, placing her glance on
the garden in front.
Ren too, immediately lost his interest towards Ayano, restoring
his glance on his feet.
Without change, for several minutes, time flew quietly.
"If it's me....."
Almost like the sound of blowing wind sliding through gaps,
Ayano simply spun her words. For a second time, moving his eyeballs, Ren looked
at Ayano, but she continued facing forward.
"Because I am the person that will someday succeed as the
head of the Kannagi Family, I understand those Tsuwabuki's point. At the very
least I will never say something like it doesn't matter if Mt. Fuji erupts,
go and save that Ayumi girl!"
"............."
"But even so, that's not what you should be thinking of
now, is it?"
"...........ee?"
Because that was very unexpected, Ren raised a small doubtful
voice.
"Those kind of large scale problems you must leave to
adults. A child should give preference to himself. What you should think of
right now is what you should do related to Ayumi. That's all."
"........eh......?"
Smiling sweetly Ayano too stared at the dazed Ren.
"You said it, right? That Ayumi is an imitation? She's a
clone, her memories are borrowed from another person, that the real Tsuwabuki
Ayumi doesn't exist, right?"
"..........yes.."
"That can't be true, you big fool!!"
The moment he nodded - no, as soon as "y" was
pronounced Ayano grabbed the cute, brother-like Ren by the collar, constricting
him.
"Whether it's reproduction, doppelganger, multiplied by
cell division, if it has an original will you have no right to look down upon
her as an imitation. Deceiving yourself with superficial words, denying the
time you yourself spent with Ayumi, why are you doing it?"
Ayano became excessively agitated while shouting but when she
finished speaking her calm returned.
Releasing his collar, with sober eyes she overlooked the choking
Ren.
"I thought I'd say that by putting the screws on you but
you're a bright kid so you already figured it out, didn't you?"
"............."
There was no need to say it.
Although he was surprised when he first found out, once he
calmed down and thought about it, it all amounted to what of it?
Even if her body and memory have been reproduced Ayumi's
personality was certainly original. It was very clear. Because everything
bestowed upon her was an imitation, the girl grasped in her hands genuineness.
From the beginning to the end Ren sensed that decision closer
than anybody else.
But, for this reason Ren can't help but feel ashamed.
"I didn't understand anything....."
In spite of seeing it from the closest place, he did not see
anything. Loosing his head, getting caught in the moment, he said a lot of
cruel things.
Big brother will surely come to save you.
I want to show you many other things so I'll take you anywhere.
The groundless hopes, the promise of a tomorrow that will never
come, he wondered with how much cruelty they resounded in Ayumi's ears. But
even so, Ayumi showed a smile.
That's right. That would be nice...
The fact that she didn't reveal the truth was certainly not for
her self-protection. So that Ren won't be crushed by the truth's weight, its
anguish, its sorrow, she locked it in her chest.
I was a fool!
He wanted to protect Ayumi. He wanted to save the girl by
expending all the power he possessed. And yet - he didn't notice he was the one
being protected.
He, descendant from the strongest, made a girl scared of her
imminent death worry about him and protect him like a baby.
You don't understand anything, you foolish child pretending to
be a knight - Yuuji's words hit the bull's eye and left no room for
rebuttal. He didn't understand anything.
"That's why............I couldn't do
anything........."
With a regretful emotion, he spoke of conclusion. So, everything
ended in the worst possible way.
"Don't use the past tense arbitrarily just because you
decided the conclusion."
Ayano could not forgive the fact that Ren was full of
resignation. Grabbing him by the collar for a second time, she forcefully
pulled his hanged head upwards.
"Do you feel like ending it this way? This helpless
conclusion, do you approve of it?"
"But.....there is nothing I can do for Ayumi-chan anymo-
"
"I'm sick of it!"
Very irritated Ayano harshly shook Ren's body.
"You're such a thorough good kiddie! Right now it's not
about for the sake of Ayumi-chan or something like that. What about you?
What do you want to do? That's what I want to hear!!"
"......eh......me?"
Faced with a question he never thought of, Ren revealed a
confused voice. And yet, Ayano's words did not stop.
"That's right. If it's true you won't do anything anymore,
if that's the case, I won't interfere. But if you do so, you'd better label it
as memories of my first love or something and put it away in some corner
of your memory. Frankly, that is the most peaceful settlement. Still..."
Ayano held Ren's cheeks between her hands and brought their eyes
at the same height by leaning over a little. And then, directly facing that
glance mixed with bewilderment she asked earnestly.
"Still, are you OK with that? Parting in such a way,
although it was the last and you will never be able to meet again, you don't
regret it? There is nothing you want to tell that girl?"
"............."
Do you want to meet her, do you not want to meet her?
Faced with this choice, he answered without hesitation.
I want to meet her. Even if it's just once. Meet her and then...
But....
"So, what will you do?"
Ayano pressed the hesitating Ren for an answer.
"You won't be able to chase after her if it goes like this
- you know, right? You don't have time. Tomorrow, Ayumi-chan will be nowhere to
find. No matter what your answer, there will be none to say it to. You have no
time to hesitate. Decide now. What should you be doing?"
".............."
Hanging his head down, Ren closed his eyes. And he thought about
it. What he wanted to do. What he ought to do. What he must, no matter what.
Dozens of seconds afterwards, at the end of his most serious
meditation, the boy slowly opened his mouth.
"About the ceremony, about the living sacrifice, the most
righteous thing to do about those, I have yet to realize. However..."
Lifting his head, he looked straight at Ayano.
That gaze held no more indecision.
"However, I want to meet Ayumi-chan one more time. Meet
her, apologize to her and I want to tell her - I have something I must tell her
no matter what."
"OK. Let's go then."
Ayano responded to those words said with the resolution of a
lifetime with a just out for a bit of shopping mood.
"...You mean, right now!?"
"That's right. It's not like you need some particular
preparation, no? If you need a stop over set, we can buy it at the local
supermarket."
"No......that's not the probl- "
With a snap Ayano trusted her index finger at Ren, unable to
follow the development's speed.
"Didn't I say it? We have no time. The ceremony is tonight
and to begin with, do you think they will let us pass by saying ``I came to
meet Ayumi-chan. I have no intention to interfere with the ceremony so please
let us past``?"
".........that is perhaps impossible..."
"Not ``perhaps``, it's absolutely impossible. At any rate
we have no choice but to push through with brute strength so we'd better move
while we still have time."
Saying that, Ayano stood up without waiting for a reply.
"Well, go change your clothes. If Father finds us, an
explanation will be difficult so we must not be exposed."
"``Difficult``, you say!? If he finds out it's confinement
for us."
If they mess up, it's a deed quite capable of making Mt. Fuji
erupt. It's obvious Juugo will never allow it.
"If that's the case, hurry!"
But, once Ayano got like this she couldn't be stopped. Having a
thorough knowledge about that, after coming this far he finally resolved
himself.
"I understand. Give me five minutes."
"I'm waiting by the rear entrance."
Exchanging a small nod, both of them
hurried in different directions.
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