Chương 104: Mamoru's Folly
Shout out to Aboooood1. May you have get a team kill as Star Lord. Oh wait.
Mamoru POV:
Growing up, even the littlest of things would bother me to the point of getting angry. Sojiro was known as the calmer, and more reasonable out of the two of us. Although, growing up, despite my quick temper, everyone quickly learned that I wasn't one to be taken for granted. The Shimada clan knew that if they wanted something done, they would come to me.
Even though the pace at which I was proceeding up the floors was slow, it somehow didn't bother me at all. Even after I had little choice but to chase after just about every person on a floor just to find out that their key card only went up a floor or, sometimes, back down the previous one, I was still serenely calm.
As much as I didn't want to admit it, I knew why I was so calm when I shouldn't be. It was the calm before the storm in a way. Of course, Shawn, the little monster, saw right through me, so he knew my inner feelings before I realized them. At first, when we met with the Elders, I was confused by the inner turmoil going on within me. I spouted all that nonsense to Shawn at the park in an effort to give myself a pep talk although, I had no idea why I needed it. It wasn't until we separated, and I began progressing up the floor myself, that I finally understood what was wrong. I was scared.
Not of the Hashimoto, of course, but instead, I was scared for my brother. Although he was the eldest of us, everyone knew that I was stronger. Both mentally and physically. While he was the one who could be the leader the Shimada needed, I was his bodyguard, making sure that none would touch him. So, with every elevator I went up, the more the feeling of turning around and letting Shawn handle this grew. But I couldn't let Shawn do this, for this wasn't even his fight to begin with. I needed to do this, because even though Sojiro banished me, I was still his brother and bodyguard, and I needed to protect my brother.
As I was deep in my thoughts, I was just mindlessly going on. I was so unfocused, that as I snatched a key card from a guard, I had barely noticed that the elevator doors were already open. In the hall, was another shaken girl, bowing her head and holding out a key card. It was a clear invitation to a trap but would take me straight to my brother.
Sighing, I take the keycard, leaving the poor girl alone as I head to the elevator. I hesitate for a brief second, before flashing the keycard to the scanner and the doors ding close.
'Well, at least I don't have to waste any more time.'
The elevator dings and the doors open to reveal a red shrine room with pillars and a throne that Yahiro was sitting on arrogantly. Next to her, was Kozuke, in an almost revealing kimono with a bulging belly. In the center below them, was my brother, surrounded by talismans, with his eyes white and mindless. The smell of different incense was heavy in the air. Seeing Sojiro in this pitiful state saddened by heart, but I refused to let it show on my face. I needed to remain strong.
"You took your time getting here, Mamoru. I was beginning to think that you didn't care for your brother." Yahiro teases, but I ignore her. They didn't know it, but I had some knowledge on witchcraft, so I was focused on that instead. I knew that the talismans were the source of the spell, their positioning and inscriptions were the key.
Unfortunately, their meanings were lost to me. I knew that if I just started grabbing a random one, we could face unintended consequences. So, instead, I knew what to search for. Then, I found it. Matching talismans, one at the base of my brothers' feet, and the other so brazenly displayed by Kozuke. This was obviously the conduit which allowed her to control him. Destroying one would negate the effects of the other.
Yahiro was in a monologue, going on about how it was foolish of me to come alone, yadda yadda. I had no patience to listen to her words, so I did what any logical person would do there. I jumped for the talisman at my brothers' feet. Just as my fingers were about to touch it, a feminine hand comes out and slaps mine away from it. I jump back, to see Yahiro positioning herself in front of the tag.
"You're predictable Mamoru. Once we deal with you, all of Japan will follow. Why don't you save us the trouble and just die right here." Yahiro taunts.
I don't bother giving her the luxury of replying, and just begin our engagement. I started by aiming at her throat with the blades I keep at the ends of my sleeves. It was seen as untraditional in the clan, and therefore frowned on, but I liked using them. They were hard to defend, and nobody really expects it, making fights all the easier.
However, Yahiro was a killer too, so she knew to avoid my attack. Swatting my hand out the way with her own, she pulls out a pistol that even I didn't know that she had from her waist. Leveling it, she fires at my chest. Instinctively, I jump to the side as I pull my blade, only just managing to deflect the bullet.
Well, now that I knew that she had it, the gun made little difference. As I re-engaged, now wary of her gun, and possibly another one, I studied her form. The way she weaved around my attacks, then would quickly counter with her own, even I had to admit that she was quite skilled. But, the more my attacks wouldn't land, I could feel the anger within myself growing. As best as I tried to remain cool and collected, the pent-up weight of the whole situation just finally came crashing down. Despite all my training and experience, I let my emotions get the better of me, and all I could see was red.
The next thing I knew, I re-awoke with Yahiro on the ground before me, struggling to get up. I stared at her, finding no satisfaction in her defeat. Raising my hand back, I stab towards her throat, aiming to end this before moving on to Kozuke. However, a sudden painful feeling in my abdomen makes me pause.
'Kozuke is right there. I made sure I knew where she was before attempting to kill Yahiro. Who...?'
There is only one possible answer as to who it is. Slowly turning, I find with dread my brother stabbing me with his katana. Before I can do anything, Yahiro recovers, punching me in my face. Kozuke takes that opportunity to jump in as well, knocking me to the ground. Amid my shock, the only thing I can focus on, is my brother's laughter as they proceed to beat me.
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