Chapter 7: Sinking in the depths
Naoe Yamato found himself seated in front of the Principal's desk, with Master Tesshin seated on the other side. The grandmaster's crossed brows and frown could not be understated, Tesshin was really appalled with Yamato.
The Principal's glare however, did nothing to invoke any sense of guilt in Yamato.
"Yamato." The Principal stroked his beard. "Why have you turned up in school today? I have told you to take a leave of absence today and the day before."
"I needed to see Kuki Hideo." Yamato answered.
"To threaten him and beat him to such a state?" Tesshin's tone turned harsher.
"I told him that I wanted to see Kuki Ageha." Yamato explained, "He did not take me seriously and put me up for a battle."
Tesshin crossed his arms. "And why do I have the feeling you were counting on that to happen?"
"I wasn't. I only wanted him to get his sister to see me. Hideo was the one who wanted to fight me and I beat him."
Tesshin kept his gaze on Yamato. "You did not just beat Yamato. You displayed such an act of dishonour."
"What?" Yamato raised an eyebrow.
"You made him into a mess, he was terrified of you in the end. You used fear in the fight." Tesshin shook his head. "It was not honourable in the way of Kawakami Academy."
Yamato resisted the urge to scoff at that statement. His train of thoughts went dark. (Right, because in a fight it's all about the good spirit. You are blind Tesshin.)
"Yamato." Tesshin sighed, "I know you are going through a very tough time. But this is not acceptable. Can you imagine what your parents would think-" The school principal had to stop when he felt the surge of dark red aura from Yamato. The young man gave him a glare that sent the message. "Right. That was not in my place to say." Tesshin said. There was a moment of silence between them, but it felt so much longer especially with Tesshin inappropriate question.
But Yamato decided to end it, seemed clear enough that Tesshin's lecture did nothing for Yamato. "So what happens now?" He asked the school principal.
The old man let out another sigh as he sat down. With a hand to his temple he instructed Yamato. "Go home- I mean return to the dorm Yamato, while I figure out what else do for you. And understand this Yamato, whatever you are planning to do, you better know where the end of that road will take you."
The last sentence struck something in Yamato. (The end of the road?)
Yamato swiftly left school, he was not interested in contending with the Kazama Family hounding him after his fight. On the road out of school, he was soon back on the riverside track.
"Hideo said he will get Ageha to see me, he'd better make good with his word. Otherwise, I'll have to come back and visit him again." Yamato said to himself. He then touched his chin, inspecting for any bruising or cut. Surprisingly there was no injury, like he had recovered from his fight against Hideo.
"What was that back then? When I fought him," Yamato brought his hands to his sight. "I felt like something was released. And Hideo suddenly became so weak." He kept clenching his fingers.
Yamato could not describe it, at first Hideo had the upper hand, knocking Yamato to the ground. Then Yamato felt a sensational surge in him, like a massive triggering. And then from where Yamato stood, the tables had turned.
Yamato would not call it feeling powerful or strong, but it was like he could sense Hideo becoming so weak. And when Yamato pummelled Hideo down, he could sense the fragility, the weakness, and the fear Hideo had. Like Yamato was the predator, Hideo had become the prey.
(Whatever it is, I'll figure it out later. I need to get ready when Ageha appears. She's going to have answers.) He thought. (Or she's going to keep stonewalling me. It would mean that she's hiding something from me…if that's the case then why did she agree to join the Kawakami battle?)
Yamato got back to the dormitory and stayed in his room, he wore the same black hoodie and jeans from before. He sunk into the bean bag by the corner, his eyes drifted to the hermit crabs in the tank, Yadon and Karin. He had already given them the basic needs for the day and he could leave them to it. It was not a painless process, however.
Every time he saw those crabs, his mother would come back into his head followed by his father. He grew up with Yandon and Karin, his remembrance of his parents when they were so far away around the world. Now, they sadly became a poisonous memory for Yamato.
"Unfulfilled promises…childhood vows…just daggers in the head."
His ears picked up something, it was coming from outside. He sighed, "It's time."
He got to the front door, put on his shoes, and stepped outside the dormitory. He tilted his head up and his face formed a glare. There was a helicopter high above, and there she was, Kuki Ageha. From the helicopter, she spotted Yamato waiting on the road. She peered at him, looking down on him from high above. She did not expect Yamato to stare back at her from below, completely unfazed and stoic. Ageha stepped off the helicopter and landed on the road creating an impact site and a dust cloud. Yamato did not even flinch. "We have arrived on Gaia!" Kuki Ageha declared, "Kuki Ageha descended from on high!"
There was a brief moment of silence, Yamato did not say anything and he stood there impassive. He had made her entrance awkward instead of grand and epic as she intended, much to Ageha's displeasure. Yamato waited for Ageha to make her move instead.
"Well I have found you Yamato." She said.
"Your brother kept his word," Yamato said, "I half expected he wouldn't."
"Presumptuous are you? Naoe Yamato. My brother called me, telling me about your battle with him and your demand."
(Don't play games, you already knew I would want to meet you.) Yamato thought.
"Well here I am, you've earned my presence. You wanted to talk, so talk." Ageha said, her illuminated aura started to dim. Yamato could tell she was not pleased, either with him or the situation. Not that it intimidated him.
Yamato got straight to it, "Why were you in contact with my parents before they passed away?"
"Huh?" Ageha questioned.
"I already know your company got contacted by my father. He was researching something and he let you in on it. What did he tell you or your company? And who else knew?"
Ageha gave a flare of aura from her stance. The boy, however, did not budge in his posture. Ageha decided to act along, assessing if he steps over the line.
"Your father contacted the Kuki Corporation because he was intending to work together with something he had discovered." Ageha said, "Figured that together, we would be able to flesh out what he was working on better."
"Which is?" Yamato asked.
Ageha crossed her arms, "Yamato, I honestly do not think it is a matter you should burden yourself with. You're still grieving so take your time. I will handle what-"
"Patronize me all you want, if it makes you feel any smarter." Yamato cut in, "First your employees, then your brother, now you."
"Excuse me?" Ageha started to sound offended. "Yamato, you would do well to cool your temper."
"I already know that he told you about something relating to the Naoe heritage. He wanted your assistance in researching it." Yamato said. Ageha's eye made a twitch which he noticed. He then said, "This research venture brought him back to Japan and it got him and my mother murdered. And right after that, for some reason, your company wants to spy on me."
"Yamato," Ageha confronted him, "Whatever you are accusing my company of, you better stop. I'm being cordial but this is getting irritable."
"Really?" Yamato reached into his pocket and took out something. "Then explain this."
He held the tracker up for her to see. Ageha's eyes widened, she went completely stiff. Yamato said, "One of your butlers, Claudio, planted this tracker on me yesterday, don't try to deny that the device is not Kuki Corporation design. Apparently, Claudio thinks I'm so goddamn stupid I would not notice it."
He then leaned forward with seething teeth. "I see it on your face, I sound like I'm out of line speaking like this. But I think after everything that's been happening at my expense as of late, I don't think I will 'cool my temper' as you say. So stop with the smokescreen, it's getting me irritable."
Ageha bit on her tongue to hold her jaw firm. She took a step forward but Yamato did not falter in his position. Ageha was sensing the aura in his soul, it was something she had not sensed before. A presence and aura projecting such darkness, and it was leeching off her own aura. She felt her strength seeping away but she had to keep up her image in front of him.
She was concerned it would come to this, his aura draining her strength like this. She needed to defuse the tension to move forward. She glanced back at the helicopter high up above. She gave a gesture and the helicopter flew off into the distance. Now it was just her and Yamato.
"Yamato," Ageha said sincerely, "I give you my word, I had no idea Claudio did this."
Yamato raised an eyebrow, "That's very convenient, isn't it? In fact, why don't I just take this up to the police?"
"Yamato, please." Ageha urged him, "Calm down and hear me out ok?"
A tense moment of silence lingered between the two. Yamato simmered but he did not let down his guarded look. He wanted answers and Ageha is not stonewalling him anymore like the rest he had encountered. So he would let her say her piece.
Ageha glanced around to check no one was in the vicinity, she then continued, "Your father uncovered history about your family line. Your line has a trait power. We were planning to work together to see how it's risen."
Yamato chose not to reveal that he already knew that much, he kept his cards close to his chest. Yamato said nothing and Ageha continued, "A bloodline tailored specifically against people with their own power. Kagekiyo said it's to cripple people like…"
"People like you." Yamato concluded.
"Something like that." Ageha left it vague.
Yamato could read beneath the lines but he did not tell her. (You and your goddamn pride.) Yamato said in his mind.
Ageha then said, "To be honest, that was the real reason I agreed to join your team in the Kawakami Battle. While battling Momoyo, I needed to see if you had shown any sign of power."
(Figures.) Yamato thought.
"Well apparently I don't, because I don't see anything different." Yamato said. Yamato's pitch went lower showing his distrust, "You still haven't answered my question. Who else knew? Who knew my parents were coming back to Japan?"
Ageha then said, "Yamato, I need you to keep your discretion in this."
"Why?"
"I assure you Yamato I told no one outside the Kuki Corporation. I am working with the police to find that out this leak." Ageha said, she sighed with a solemn look. "Yamato, understand this. What has happened is a disastrous blow to my integrity. I'm…sorry Yamato, for your loss. I truly am." She dipped her head down. Yamato's lips parted, he did not expect an apology from the Kuki Ageha. He quickly clamped it up.
"This incident falls under my responsibility Yamato. I need to make it right. And if Claudio is spying on you, I need to know why." Ageha told him.
"You're leaving out one crucial detail." Yamato said, "Why should I trust you?"
Ageha ran her fingers through her hair, "Yamato, give me a little credit under all your hot air."
Yamato's eyes narrowed and he remained silent, prompting Ageha to continue, "Yamato, you're still Momoyo's friend, her 'little brother'. And Momoyo is my junior and my close friend. So by that extent, you matter enough. Cause if something happened to you, imagine how she would feel." Ageha stepped closer to him, "I want to get to the bottom of this just like you. I can't help you if you won't help me."
Yamato was not entirely convinced of Ageha but he will go along if only to see what would transpire. He asked, "So what's your plan then?"
"You keep your head down. You already brought attention to yourself when you fought my brother. I'm not going to say you did something bad when my brother was the one who instigated your battle." Ageha said, "You lay low while I look into the matter. Once I find something, we can both confront it."
Yamato remained impassive, revealing nothing to Ageha on he was feeling. Kuki Ageha still kept her image despite Yamato's aura taking a toll on her. He broke his silence with a question, "Ageha-san, do you even know what I want at the end of all this?"
Ageha held firm in where she stood, she knew the answer to his question but she could not bring herself to say it out. Yamato then said, "You got two days to find out what the fuck is going on. If I don't like what I hear by then, I'll come back and knock on your company's door, and it will be even louder than last time." Yamato turned around to leave.
As soon as Yamato was out of her sight, Ageha rubbed her chest to soothe the slight pain she had. After what she had heard from her brother, and after speaking to Yamato, she was starting to discern what exactly that Naoe bloodline power was.
It was late afternoon, the clouds had started to darken and Yamato was in Naoe Holdings Tower. He had left the tracker in his room in the dormitory. As far as he knew, Claudio still thought he was there. He sat in the board meeting room. Itou Yui entered the room once she spotted him in there.
"Yamato dear, how are you?" She asked him.
"Hello Itou-san." Yamato got up from his seat and greeted.
"Are you ok?" She approached him. "Something you need Yamato?"
"Y-Yeah, actually I was wondering. If there's anything I could do for this place." Yamato said.
"Hmm?"
"Something about what you said, that I'm a part of this company. Thought I should get to know more about this company and uh see if there's anything I can do for it."
Yui gave him a small smile, "That's nice of you Yamato. But if you're worried that we've been stricken financially you can rest easy. We're doing more than ok on that aspect."
"Oh."
"Yamato, you'll always have a place here. This is where you belong." Yui said. "Take your time, when you're ready to start your career it's here waiting."
"I see. Thank you Itou-san." Yamato bowed.
"You should head on back soon, you got school tomorrow don't you?" Yui said and took her leave, "I'll see you again soon."
It was already approaching night time and the sun was gone. In the Kawakami Temple, Momoyo was in her room dressed in her sleeping wear resting on her futon after dinner and a shower. She had just received a phone call from Kuki Ageha, telling her about plans Ageha and Tesshin had discussed and agreed to for Yamato, believing that it was for the best even if Yamato would not agree to it. She would have to do her part in it as well.
In addition to that, Ageha got Momoyo to talk about other things concerning him, and it gave her a bigger twist in her gut than she already had. Her fun summer with Yamato had ended, bringing in this silent autumn where loneliness was getting to her.
She got up from her futon and stood by the window, watching the dark clouds get thicker. She brought her hand, the ring gifted by Yamato glistened on her finger.
There was a roaring thunder high above in the clouds and very soon the storm came down. Momoyo leaned onto the window but her eyes lingered on her ring. "Yamato…"
In the city, the storm poured as well. Yamato, however, had not left the Naoe Holdings Tower. Instead, he was on the rooftops and he stared into the night. His hood was pulled over his head and his hands huddled his chest, the rains pattered and his clothes were getting soaked.
A bolt of lightning flashed from the sky and thunder boomed across the air. The rains stormed and the winds howled. Yamato stayed still, the only things in his head were the images of what was taken from him. His parents, gone. His core, destroyed. His youth and the joys around it, a beautiful lie. His heart felt tight with the pained anger.
He gritted his teeth, his hands clenched harder and his breathing turned growly and heavy. He did not realise it when his eyes turned completely dark red again like before. No iris or sclera, just pure dark red.
After another flash of lightning and a clap of booming thunder, Yamato tilted his head up a little higher to gaze at the sky. He looked away when his red eyes starting to well tears and they rolled down his cheeks.
