**Revision v.1 Completed 03 Jul 17**

Disclaimer:

The characters and setting of Omamori Himari are properties of Fujimi Shobo and Milan Matra. Please support the author and publisher by buying the volumes in your country or region. I'm a fan of the series and all, but hey, it's not mine. And never will be. I only write for fun, not for profits. That's what a fanfic should be all about.

Also, all other characters referenced in the story, including OCs, belong to their respective owners.

Legend:

"Normal (Japanese) speech"

{"English speech"}

"Thoughts (Assume character's native language)"

Quotes from other characters are centered, regardless of perspective

Note: All Brooklyn scenes feature full English dialogue.

######

Useful notes:

Battery Park – a park located at the southern tip of New York City's Manhattan borough.

Periphery – American experimental rock band formed in the mid-2000s and one of the first bands that pioneered the musical style djent.

Zashiki-warashi – a youkai with a child-like appearance that is said to bring good fortune to old homes that have been well-maintained throughout the years.

Fusuma – a sliding door found in traditional Japanese homes that act as a dividing wall between two rooms.

Daidarabocchi – a gigantic youkai who, according to Japanese myth, shaped most of Japan's geography.

Seventh Round – Home, Part One: Unraveling

Chapter pic: A young Gordon reaching his hand out to a faceless old man standing in the distance. However the old man is gradually starting to fade from view...

Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home – Matsuo Basho

Himari's POV

I was quietly observing the Young Lord from my seat on the train. He was standing near the train doors looking out the window with a distant gaze. It has been nearly an hour since we boarded and he has not since moved from that spot. I cannot help but worry.

Then again, it is to be expected. This will be the Young Lord's first time visiting Grandpa Tai's home, as well as my home. I did make a promise to him a while back, and I do intend on keeping it.

######

It happened last night when I was sitting up on the rooftop. Hanging in front of me was the Young Lord's omamori, and I was observing it with keen eyes until I heard a familiar voice.

"Is that the Benigawa's protective charm...you know?"

I glanced aside and saw none other than Shizuku standing beside me, wearing a simple black nightgown. As per usual, her skin was dripping wet with water.

"It is," I answered the mizuchi. "Up until now, it shielded the Young Lord from us ayakashi. But now that he has come of age it no longer has that protection."

"..." Shizuku remained silent while I continued speaking.

"Unfortunately, there has been a saying that too much medicine can easily become a poison."

"So it was flawed...you know?"

I shake my head at Shizuku's assumption. "I would not say it was flawed, but a tad too powerful for the Young Lord to be wearing at the time. Unfortunately, Grandpa Tai had no other choice when he sent it to his lover in America because he feared ayakashi may be living there."

"And his theory may as well have come true after finding out about the tea maid the other day...you know," Shizuku stated, referring to Lizlet. "I'm guessing now you want to awaken Gordon's powers, am I right?"

I gave a slow nod at the Mizuchi. "Indeed I do."

"So what do you suggest we do? If both of us remember correctly, he'll only be here for a year, you know."

"That is what has been bothering me this whole time! Nearly four months have passed and there has been no progress with the Young Lord's powers! If this keeps up, I'll end up being a failure as a bodyguard!" I cry out, to the point of pulling my hair in distress.

"Hmph. Not my problem, you know."

I shoot a glare at the mizuchi's callous remark before a thought rushed through my head.

I want to know more about Gramps. Who he was, what his life was like before he met my grandma. I'll be happy with just that.

Hmm... Yes, perhaps that will work. It seems you will receive your wish after all, Young Lord.

However...there may be a small price to pay.

Gordon's POV

Vast acres of countryside and a wide open blue sky were all I saw so far from the small rectangular windows on the train doors. I'll admit it does look scenic, and that's coming from a guy who spent most of his life in the big city where there's mostly lots of tall buildings. You don't get to see a lot of green areas often except for a few places. Central, Battery and Prospect come to mind.

Periphery's "All New Materials" pounded through my headphones, ignoring the clacks of the rails below me. I can still feel the vibrations through my feet, though.

Still, I can't believe I'm actually heading over to Gramps' place. After all these years I finally get to meet him. I'm actually getting chills just thinking about it, and not just from the AC blasting on this train! Jeez, they could at least crank it down a bit. I'm only wearing shorts and a T-shirt here!

Though I will admit Himari's call was a bit last-minute.

######

"Ha! Hyah! Teyah!"

"Kh! Rrr... Tch!"

"Aww, what's the matter, Skate Punk? Afraid you'll lose this time?"

"Hey, I've played fighting games as long as you have, Ribbons. I'm just as good as... What the!?"

"Hahaha! Yes! Yes! Victory for Rinko! Hee-hee!"

"Ugh... You gotta be kidding... Beaten by Wright's Objection bubble..."

I was in the living room the other night playing Marvel vs. Capcom against Rinko. My team consisted of Deadpool, Morrigan, and Vergil, while Rinko's consisted of Doctor Doom, Akuma, and Phoenix Wright (here in Japan, I learned the latter two are named Gouki and Ryuichi Naruhodo). This was the fourth match I've lost so far. Man, I don't know how Ribbons does it. For what I know, she should go pro. If Ishani went up against her online it would go on to no end.

"Tch! Fuck it," I cussed out, throwing my controller on the rug. "You wanna swing at it, Amakawa? I'm just about done here."

Rinko stuck her tongue out in response. "Wimp."

I shoot a sharp glare back at Rinko before we all heard rushing footsteps from upstairs.

The door then flung open to reveal Himari in her yukata, bearing a serious look on her face.

"Young Lord, pack your bags!"

{"...Huh?"} I asked, feeling rather confused.

"We are heading over to Noihara, to Grandpa Tai's place!"

That announcement left me stunned for a minute. I really didn't know what to say back then.

But I do know that for the first time in my life, I'll finally get to meet the man who gave me and Pops his bloodline. In fact, I still remember the first time Grams told me about him when she was still alive.

"Really? I have a grandpa from Japan?"

I remember myself sitting on the lap of a woman in her mid-seventies, with long gray hair tied into a simple bun and light brown eyes. She had on a simple sundress with an apron over it.

"Mmm-hmm," Lucretia Evans, aka Grams, said to me, nodding with a warm and gentle smile. "And because of that, you and your father both share his ancestry."

"Wow, that's awesome Grams!" I said excitedly. "So can I meet him?"

"Heh-heh. In due time, child," the old lady chuckled.

"Aww, but I really want to see him!" I complained.

"And you will," Grams assured, petting my hair. "Just not yet, I'm afraid. I do have a gift I want to give you, though. Do you want to see it?"

"Yeah, I wanna see, I wanna see!" I nodded.

"Okay, then close your eyes."

I did as I was told and it went on for a few seconds.

"Okay, Gordon. You can open them now."

I opened my eyes and looked around in confusion. Where is it?

"On your chest, child."

I look down at my chest and saw a red decorative slip hanging around my neck. Confused, I tilted my head up at Grams. "Uh, what's this?"

"It's an omamori, dear."

"O-ma...mo...ri?"

I try to pronounce the word, which caused Grams to chuckle lightly at my effort. "A good luck charm, much like a rabbit's foot or a four-leaf clover, to put it mildly," she explained.

"Huh..."

"Also, that omamori you're wearing is very special, you see."

My eyes blink in surprise. "Special?"

"Mmm-hmm," Grams nodded. "You see, your grandfather wanted me to give it to you."

"No way! Gramps did?" I asked, my face brightening up.

"Yes, he sent it over a few weeks ago. I was afraid it would get damaged, but I guess that's what happens when you get old. You tend to overreact to small things. Hahahaha."

I say nothing.

"Anyways, be sure to cherish that charm, Gordon. Your grandfather went all this way to prepare that for you. You have to wear it every day from now on."

"Yeah, of course I will!" I said earnestly while Grams patted my hair.

"That's a good boy..."

That was the only gift I've gotten from Gramps back then. Up until now I didn't know what Grams meant by having to keep it around my neck at all times, but I kept her promise regardless. Gramps did go out of his way to have it given to me.

######

"Hey, give it back!"

"Or what? You gonna fight me? Heh, get real. It's mine now."

"No, it's not! Now give it back!"

It was recess back in first grade. One day I was playing tag with my Crewmates. However while I was chasing Dante one of the older kids snatched the omamori that was flying around my neck.

The older kid standing in front of me was a head taller than I was, and he had on clothes that were a bit big for him, from his white polo shirt to his paint-spattered pants. His hair was in cornrows, and he had that smug and intimidating sneer all over his face.

In other words, he was your typical gangster bully. Plain and simple.

"So the necklace is that important to you, huh?" the bully smirked before turning to one of his cronies. "Yo Andre, catch!"

Andre, a boy wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey with a white t-shirt underneath, baggy jeans, and purple sneakers, caught my omamori and dangled it with a daring grin.

"Aw man!" a younger Dante groaned, kicking up dirt with his foot. "We might as well leave these guys alone, Gordon. No point in trying to deal with them."

"But-!" I tried arguing before he cut me off.

"Look, man, I know that necklace is important to you, but we got no chance with WOAH!"

"I'm not leaving 'til I get my omamori back!" I demanded, shaking Dante's body violently.

"Jeez, hold on a minute, bro!" he cried out. "Don't get your head in a twist!"

"Huh? Hey, what the...!? Gyooh!"

"Woah! Wait just a... Gwah!"

"Bwuh!"

"Huh?"

Dante and I turned around to see the three older boys lying on the ground, two of them holding their heads as if they've just had a concussion and the third holding his groin in discomfort. Behind them were none other than Ronnie, Ishani, and Rika, the latter holding my omamori.

"Tch! Jeez, when will those guys ever learn? You guys alright?"

I gave Rika a slow nod. "Yeah, thanks for the save."

"Hey, Ronnie did most of the work. Ishani did the distracting and...well..."

"You kicked the leader in the nuts," I finished in a flat tone. "I told you that's going too far, Rika."

"So? Those guys took your omamori so I had no choice," she said crossing her arms. "Besides, didn't I tell you if anyone got their hands on it I'd kick them there?"

I let out a nervous, "Uh..." while Rika presented my omamori with a cheery smile.

"Here, I'd tuck it in your shirt if I were you. Or at least shorten the length."

"Yeah, I should," I noted, taking the charm and putting it around my neck, this time tucking it in my shirt. "Thanks again, guys."

"Hee-hee! No problem!" Ishani grinned, flashing a victory sign while Ronnie gave a silent nod.

"Whew! Man, that was such a pain," Dante groaned out, stretching his arms out. "C'mon, let's ditch these fellas. Recess is almost over, anyway."

All of us nodded in agreement as we left the scene.

I will admit they were a bit rough with those guys, but hey, they had it coming. If you mess with one Crewmate, you mess with all of us. That was our motto back then, and it still is to this day.

"Aw man! This really fits the countryside to a T~!"

All of us were walking down a path after taking a taxi from the train station, with Rinko looking around the landscape.

"I can't believe they even call this a city," Yuuto adds, also looking around in disbelief.

"I'm assuming you know a thing or two about this place, Yuuto-dono?" Himari, who was walking ahead of us, asks with her head tilted back. She was wearing the outfit I bought her when we went swimsuit shopping, minus the hat and wristbands. Under her white Nike Dunks were a pair of black thigh-high stockings, most likely from her school uniform.

Yuuto gives a confirming nod to Miss Samurai. "I used to live here when I was a kid. Back then it was just a village, but three years ago it merged with the neighboring towns and became Noihara City."

"Ain't that something," I chime in. "So who did you live with?"

"My grandparents. They're dead, though."

I feel my heart sink a bit after that statement, forcing me to look away in regret. "Oh. Sorry 'bout that. Didn't mean to bring up some bad memories."

Yuuto casually shakes his head. "No, it's alright, really. It was a long time ago, anyway."

"It's hot...you know..." Shizuku, walking alongside me, mutters in complaint. Isn't she a reptile, though? I thought they liked basking in the heat. Guess even they have set limits on how much of it they should be getting.

Shizuku's complaint invited an irritated sigh from Himari. "Honestly, this is why I did not want all of you to come on this journey."

"Hey, you were the one who was all worked up when you announced it out of the blue, Cat Princess," Ribbons shot back.

Himari turns her head away with an arrogant huff. "That was because I was only aware of the Young Lord at the time."

"And what does that make us? Chopped liver?"

"Indeed."

"Grr...!"

I let out a sigh at what was about to go down. "Dammit, the last thing I want is a freakin' catfight goin' on," I mutter to myself before realizing what I just said. Boy, did that come out wrong.

"Heh-heh..."

"What, you actually find that funny?" I ask a chuckling Shizuku.

"Not really. I just needed a laugh...you know."

"Sure..."

"Also, I can use this opportunity to get all lovey-dovey and easily make you mine...you know."

I frown at Red-Eyes' objective. "Keep dreaming."

"Come on, I promise I'll be gentle, you know. And besides, I might be able to do some research on the Benigawas once we're there and make you into my kind of man...you know."

A creepy, slasher-like grin appears takes over Red-Eyes' lips. Okay, she definitely redefines the term "child molester", as in a child who actually wants to get in my pants. It still kind of shocks me how open Red-Eyes is when it comes to such things.

Then again, I am dealing with a centuries-old loli, so no surprise there.

Though that leaves me with a curious question: when does she hit menopause?

######

After several minutes of trekking through the woods, we all arrived at a traditional Japanese home. Everything - doors, walls, porch, you name it - was made completely out of wood with red roof tiles on top, and was almost as big as mine and The Crew's houses put together in terms of square feet. What made me surprised is how well-maintained it was, almost like it has just been built yesterday. According to Rika's folks some of these houses are over hundreds of years old, dating back to the feudal era.

So, this is...Gramp's home, huh? Never thought I'd see it until now.

"Here we are," Himari announced.

"Wow... Talk about traditional..." an awestruck Rinko said.

"It looks very much like my grandparents' house, only bigger," Yuuto gazed at the sight.

"Yes, and it has not changed one bit since I left," Himari nods before shifting her focus to me. "What do you think, Young Lord?" she asks with a smile.

I was about to give Himari my answer when a voice suddenly rocked my eardrums.

"Ah! Himari, is that really you?"

All of us turn around and saw an ecstatic young girl with black hair styled in short ponytails and golden brown eyes step out of the house. She had on a short red kimono with a plaid obi sash and a pair of sandals with a red ribbon tied around her right ankle. What struck me most about this girl is how she managed to be..."gifted" in the chest region. I mean, she's no older than Red-Eyes in appearance and yet her boobs are nearly Rika's size when she was in middle school.

I'll never understand why girls start puberty earlier than guys. It's like a mouse trying to figure out if the moon is really made of cheese. You just can't get into too much detail unless you want your brain to blow up.

"Heh-heh! Long time no see!"

Himari seems to recognize the girl after she approached her with an outgoing smile. "Yes, it's good to be home. How are things?"

"Oh, you know. Same old, same old."

"Himari-san, who is this girl?" Yuuto asks out of curiosity.

"Oh, right!"

The girl turned to us to introduce herself.

"I am the Zashiki-warashi, Kaya. It's a real pleasure to meet your acquaintance."

She says with a polite bow. At least she knows how to greet guests.

"A Zashiki...warashi?" Rinko murmurs, sounding a bit puzzled.

"I...never would've guessed," Yuuto says, also sounding puzzled.

Unfortunately the brief moment I lay my eyes off Kaya, I was greeted by an intense glare from the Zashiki-warashi, her face turning dark.

"I wish you'd die, Gordon Benigawa," she says in a chilling tone.

I raise a suspicious eyebrow in response. "Say what now?"

"You heard me. If it weren't for you, Himari would've stayed here with me. She wouldn't have to..."

WHOP!

Unfortunately for Kaya, her soon-to-be rant was promptly interrupted by Himari bopping her on the head.

"Please Kaya, mind your manners," she chided before turning to us. "I truly apologize for that. Kaya may have a big mouth, but she means no harm. She's a good girl, really."

"Hey, if it weren't for me this place would've been overrun with weeds, so be grateful for that!"

A little girl like Kaya taking care of a place this big? I gotta give her props for that.

Though I can't say much about her attitude towards me. I really need to watch out for that.

"Anyway," Himari started saying, "we shouldn't be out in this heat for too long. Let us retire indoors."

"Whew! Finally, we get to relax!" Rinko sighs in relief.

"Thanks for inviting us!" Yuuto and I bowed before all of us went inside the house.

Rinko's POV

"Behold, Grandpa Tai! Your grandson has grown so big!"

All of us were standing near a small shrine in the living area. Himari was right in front of it, with Gordon standing right beside her. As the Cat Princess just stated, this was built in memory of the Skate Punk's grandfather, or Gramps as he likes to call him.

"And look at these clothes! The Young Lord bought them for me! Aren't they amazing?"

Jeez, can't she read the atmosphere around here? We're at a dead man's shrine, you know.

I turn my attention over to Gordon, who had his eyes fixated on a portrait of his grandfather. Taiji, I think his name was. I do have to admit, though, the Skate Punk's grandfather looked pretty healthy for his age. I mean, what was he, like, in his late eighties when he died? He looks more like in his mid-sixties.

"Young Lord, do you wish to speak to him?"

"Huh? Oh, uh... Yeah, sure."

I watch Gordon head over to his grandfather's shrine at Himari's request, his eyes still locked on the photo. He lets out a nervous sigh while stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Haah... So...this is it, huh? We finally meet at long last. I never really got a chance to know you 'til now since Grams kept you in the dark for such a long time. I do have to admit, though, you sure know how to keep with appearances. Ahaha."

He chuckled for a few seconds before he spoke again.

"To be honest, I was a bit upset when I learned you sealed Pops' powers away, but at the same time I actually get why you did. You wanted to give Pops a chance at living the life you would've wanted if it weren't for your duties. And for that, I thank you."

I then see him pull something from underneath his shirt. To my surprise it was an omamori like the one Yuuto always wears, only this time it was in a deep shade of red. It was kinda worn out from the looks of it, though, given how tattered it was.

"You remember this, right?" he asked, holding the charm. "It was the only gift you ever gave me back when I was little. Even though you couldn't be with me growing up, I always... I don't know how to put this into words, but...I somehow felt your presence up until my birthday this year."

I watch Gordon remove the omamori from his neck, which drew Himari's attention.

"Young Lord..."

"But now I have someone else watching me now, so I want to give this back to you in return. Hope you don't mind and all."

He placed the omamori around his grandfather's photo with a warm smile before taking a few steps back, bending himself forward for a deep bow.

"Thank you, Gramps, for everything you've done for me and my folks," he said in a solemn tone. "I promise I'll always remember you. Always."

Hmm... You know, even though we sometimes don't get along very well, I actually kinda feel bad for Gordon this time around. I mean, all he wanted was to learn more about his grandpa, but sadly death beat him to it. I guess Himari knew about this too since she lived here most of her life.

And the fact the Skate Punk just learned about this only made my heart sink deeper, just like the day Yuuto learned about his parents' deaths. I still remember crying with him that day, until I dried my eyes out.

"And as the servant of the Benigawa family, I promise I will make the Young Lord emerge into a fine demon slayer. But until that day comes, I will continue to guard him to the best of my ability. So until then..."

Himari closed her eyes and clasped her hands together in prayer.

"May your soul rest in peace, Grandpa Tai."

She then blew away the candles in the shrine, signaling the end of the ceremony.

I then hear Kaya breathe a sigh that was a clear sign she really didn't want to be in the same room as the Skate Punk. "Finally, I'm glad that's over with. Because now..."

GLOMP!

Kaya was eagerly latching on to Himari, nuzzling her head between the Cat Princess' boobs with an obviously satisfied look on her face.

"I can finally be with Himari again! Ooh, this feels so good! I haven't felt these bad boys for so long~!"

"P-Please Kaya, let go of me! And watch where you're putting your head! We have guests!"

"Aw, who cares about them! Besides, your precious melons have always been my favorite place to rest my head in! Fufufu~"

O...kay, she's a total freak for the Cat Princess, no questions asked. Heck, I'm starting to feel a little sorry for her.

While that was going on, I catch a quick glimpse of Gordon leaving the room, closing the fusuma behind him.

I simply shrug it off for the time being. After what he just learned, I'm sure he needs some place to be by himself.

Gordon's POV

{"Haaah..."}

I was gazing up at the ceiling in one of the spare rooms, the fan nearby providing a cool breeze while reflecting on what I just witnessed. The shrine, the photo of Gramps inside of it, I mean, I...I just can't believe it. He's really dead. Dead before I even get a chance to freakin' meet him. There were so many questions I've meant to ask him when I got here, but now...

Yeesh, that's the third person dead within my family. Grams due to old age, mom when she got shot by that mugger my eighth birthday, and now... And now...

{"Shit!-!"}

I angrily slam my fist on the tatami, not caring if I cursed in my grandfather's home. Man, I was so hyped up about seeing him last night that I lost track of reality for a brief time, and it bit me back hard in the end.

I wanted to shout but couldn't muster the energy to do so.

I wanted to smash something but quickly remembered this was an old house and doing so would be considered disrespectful, not to mention costly.

But lastly, I... I wanted to cry. I just wanted to cry so bad but my tear ducts have long since dried, ever since mom's murder.

God, I...really can't believe this. This has to be the biggest shock I've felt in a long time.

I then hear approaching footsteps coming from outside, and it didn't take long for me to figure out who it might be.

"I'm in here, Himari."

The footsteps stopped short for a moment before the screen door opened to reveal the girl in question, looking down and away from me with an ashamed look on her face. She was holding her arm with her other hand, and her long black hair was swaying in the summer breeze.

However now wasn't the time to compliment her looks.

"You knew about this, didn't you? All this time."

Himari responds with a reluctant nod. "Unfortunately, yes. Tell me, Young Lord, are you..."

"I'm not upset. Just pissed, really."

I sat, cutting her off.

"...I see, then."

An uneasy tension filled the atmosphere for a few moments before I decided to speak up.

"Why didn't you tell me he was dead from the beginning?" I ask Himari who sat down next to me, still looking away.

"That's because I wanted to avoid upsetting you. When I announced our coming here, you were so excited and adamant on meeting Grandpa Tai that I did not wish to dishearten you."

"Well, we all know how that played out."

Himari's head sank a bit, making me realize I didn't help her much in saying that.

"...Sorry."

Himari shakes her head in rebuttal. "No, it is alright. I deserved that, anyway. I wanted you to see Grandpa Tai alive but I cannot bring myself to lie to you, so...I wanted you to see for yourself."

So if she lied about Gramps being alive, that would only force her to make stuff up. But if she told me the truth beforehand then she'll be afraid I might not end up going.

Which left her with the third option: bring me over here and hope I'll accept the truth in front of me. It was a stupid choice in my opinion, but what's done is done nonetheless.

Boy, did I put Himari in such a tight spot. I'm really bad at not thinking things through enough. Then again, some men would prefer using the "shoot first, ask questions later" strategy over "mind over muscle" any day.

I pull Himari close to me and wrap my arms around her shoulders, catching her surprise.

"Y-Young Lord...?"

"Jeez, if you wanted to say Gramps died, just tell me," I tell her in a half-scolding tone. "I'll still be mad, though, but at least I'll know about it."

"..."

I let out a quick sigh at Himari's silence. "Alright, how about this? I'll let this slide for now since you went through the trouble of bringing me here. Sounds fair enough?"

Himari gazed up at me with curious eyes before nodding with a gentle smile. I then proceeded to pet her hair, inviting a few giggles in response.

As I was petting Himari, I quickly realized I still needed to ask her about "that."

"Himari?"

"Hm? Yes?"

"How did you find out about me, anyway? And about Pops, too."

"Your grandmother would send Grandpa Tai letters every so often. That is how I got to know your father and eventually you as well."

Hmm. That does make sense, after all. Grams lived halfway around the globe from Gramps so of course she needed some way of communicating with him.

"I even remember the pictures she sent of you as a child. You have never told me you were so adorable back then!"

That statement caused me to flinch in embarrassment. Man, I really hope Grams didn't send any embarrassing photos of me. My whole life would go straight to hell if she did.

Himar lets out a leisurely giggle at my response. "Oh, you need not worry, Young Lord. Your grandmother only sent photos of you and your family."

Phew! Okay, that's a relief. Crisis averted.

The expression on Himari's face turned into a somber one as she gazed up at the ceiling. "Unfortunately, it is also through those letters that I eventually learned of her death."

So she knew about that already, huh? I bet Gramps was really upset when that last letter came to him.

You know...if Himari ever does come to New York after my time here is up, I'll make sure to let her visit Grams' grave. I'll bet she must be itching to meet her.

Things went silent for a while until Himari started speaking.

"You know, I sometimes remember myself thinking about what the Young Lord will look like in the future when I get to meet him for the very first time. I remember one day...I told myself I will meet a handsome young man."

Uh-!

You have grown to be quite the handsome man.

So she...really meant it when she said that to me?

I was then caught off guard by Himari brushing my cheek with her hand.

"And here you are at last, exactly as I predicted you to be."

"...Himari. Eee!"

A surprised yelp suddenly escaped my lips the moment Himari's tongue touched my neck, sending several chills up my spine as she traced intricate patterns with her saliva. Her breasts were pressed flat against my chest, the only thing keeping us divided being our own clothes, and my nose can't stop smelling the traces of the fresh berry shampoo in her hair.

...Hm? Hold on a minute. Am I supposed to feel two round, pokey things on my chest?

Crap, don't tell me...

"You forgot your bra!?"

I receive a not-so-embarrassed giggle from Himari in response.

"Come on, this isn't funny, Himari. I keep telling you to wear a bra underneath that."

"And? What of it?"

What of it, she says. Yeah right, I just know she's doing this on purpose.

Then before I saw it coming, I was pushed down the tatami by Himari. My back hit the straw-made floor hard while my eyes gazed up at Miss Samurai, who had a look that went along the lines of, "Yeah, I know well you're looking forward to enjoying this." Her long, silky-smooth tresses flowed at the sides, and part of her breasts can be seen from underneath her shirt, hanging freely from lack of support.

I reflexively swallow a lump of saliva in my throat. Man, Dante would have my fucking head right now if I told him what I was seeing.

Needless to say, it brought Himari some amused giggles. "As I thought, it appears the Young Lord reacts better towards stimulation, no?"

Gee, I wonder how long it took you to figure that out, Miss Sherlock?

Himari then leaned close and started rubbing my cheek with her own, letting off a soft purr as she did. It was almost like a Siren's song. Hypnotizing, but at the same time deadly when in the right hands.

And boy was it deadly.

"Fufufu. Perhaps I should have done this from the very start."

"From the...start?" I repeat her words, at which Himari nods with a noticeable blush forming on her cheeks.

"Of course. You are my man, after all."

That man...is mine!

How long has it been since I've heard that line from her? But why? Why would she say something like that so casually? Is it because she wanted some form of repayment for her duty towards my family, or could it be something more than that?

And also, is it even possible for ayakashi to have humans as lovers? I'm assuming they did at one point before the demon slayers came and ruined that for them. I bet some were even married at that time, maybe with kids.

The more I think about that, the more guilt I was feeling as a demon slayer. I mean, how many human/ayakashi families have my clan separated throughout the ages? And how many of them still hold a grudge against me to this day? Can I really make peace with those kinds of people knowing they want to have my head on a freaking stick?

Boy, I...really hadn't thought this through when I told Red-Eyes I want humans and ayakashi to coexist with each other again.

"Young Lord."

My eyes quickly shifted back to Himari upon hearing her voice. Her cheeks were flushed in a deep shade of red while her face had an anticipating look overall. Not to mention her soft pink lips were parted slightly and her eyes were glazed over.

I feel my heart skip a beat. H-Hold on, is she...?

My guess was right the moment Himari closed her eyes, causing my heart to pound at an alarming rate the closer she was to my face.

"H-Himari, I..."

SKINT!

{"YEEE!?"}

A dozen alarm bells rang in my head when I spotted a knife planted a few millimeters away from me, nearly missing my head. Jesus, who the fuck threw that!? That almost got my eye!

I look up and my face quickly lost all color the moment I learned it was none other than Kaya. A dark and menacing aura was present around the little girl, and her arms were crossed under her breasts in an intimidating manner.

You know, if this was eighteenth-century France and Napoleon ever needed a successor, she would certainly fit the bill right now.

"Dinner is ready...!" she says in a low growl.

I quickly slip out from underneath Himari while Kaya moved menacingly towards me, drawing a pair of knives out.

"You...! How dare you do this to Himari, you filthy mutt!"

"Now hold on a minute! I got nothing to do with this! And who're you calling a mutt!? I'm part-Japanese, you know!"

"Do I look like I care!? I hope you're prepared, you perverted mutt! 'Cause there's no way I'm gonna let you out of this alive!"

Kayla threateningly points one of her knives at me. Oh, you've got to be kidding me!

Thus I was left no choice but to run away from Kaya's unbridled wrath.

"GET BACK HERE!"

Nuts, how did it come down to this!? And here I thought Malcolm's gang were bad, but this girl takes the freakin' cake for sure!

Shizuku's POV

"Hmm..."

I was inside the Benigawa storehouse going through their records and I was impressed by what I saw. Now I know why they were powerful enough to become part the "Four Celestial Dragons"...you know.

But the cat herself may become a problem in the future according to some of these records. I know Gordon recognizes her as a person, but…I think it's time he knew what he's really dealing with...you know.

"Shit, Kaya! I keep telling you I wo-hoah!"

"Quiet, you filthy, deranged mutt! No one gets to have sex with Himari unless it's me, got it!?"

"Bitch, you're cra... No, insane! You're downright insane! Yeep!"

"RRRAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! You're dead, mutt! DEAD!"

And I see he's clearly keeping himself entertained at the moment...you know.

Unknown POV

"Tch!"

Man, I just can't believe this. That's the Benigawa demon slayer I spent all these weeks staking out for? I've heard rumors from a few ayakashi about the new descendant being a foreigner. I was doubtful about that but I can't deny it now that I've seen him in person.

But I shouldn't underestimate this guy, either. I heard he took on a tsuchigumo and knocked it out from a human it possessed while his powers were still dormant. If that turns out to be true, he's gonna be a real pain in the ass to deal with.

"That's him, right? The Benigawa descendant?"

I nod at the accomplice behind me while keeping my eyes on the boy. "Yeah. Apparently that's our guy. Don't worry. We'll make sure he doesn't leave this place alive when we're through with him."

And besides, why wouldn't I miss this opportunity of sucking demon slayer blood out of a foreigner? Fufu. Maybe it won't be much of a letdown after all. He should have the honor of having crossed paths with me.

Gordon's POV

"Haah... Haah..."

I was busy catching my breath in another empty room after nearly an hour of being Kaya's mouse. Yeesh, what's the deal with little runt, anyway! I wouldn't have gotten stabbed to death if Red-Eyes hadn't trapped her with her water. I may even have lost a couple pounds 'cause of all that running I did.

Looking up at the ceiling, I flashed back to what happened between Himari and me earlier.

Perhaps I should have done this from the very start. You are my man, after all.

I'm still trying to get my head around what she meant by that. And then there was that moment where she almost tried to kiss me. Jeez, am I just so used to getting teased by Himari that I'm actually willing to be on the receiving end? Not that I don't mind, but...it feels just so damn awkward. Not to mention a bit scary.

An irritated sigh slipped past my lips. I'm really starting to get soft, aren't I?

...

...

...

Ugh, I really should get some rest. Damn that Kaya for tiring me out.

I turn my body over to the side and closed my eyes to go to sleep.

"Meow."

My sleep, however, was short-lived after hearing that familiar sound. A cat? In this old place?

I got up and looked around until I spotted a white cat sitting near the open screen door, its back facing me.

{"Shi...Shirone?"} was the first word to slip out of my mouth. However, I was proven wrong when the cat turned to me, revealing a set of purple eyes instead of the usual yellow.

I palm my face in utter embarrassment. Goddammit, I should've known better than to jump to that conclusion. The hell was I thinking? Besides, this cat's not even wearing a bell collar.

Nonetheless, despite the verbal misstep the cat trotted towards me, stopping near my hand. It then looked up at me and let out a happy meow.

Almost out of pity, I reach my hand out towards the stray kitty and rubbed its left ear, resulting in a gentle purr.

{"How'd you get in here, little fella?"} I ask the feline with an amused chuckle, watching it nuzzle my hand.

I gave a short laugh at the sign of affection the cat gave me. {"Aww, you're just so cute for a stray, ain't ya?"}

Then to my sudden surprise, the cat turned away and went outside.

{"H-Hey! Hold up; where're you going?"}

I quickly went after the cat after putting on my sneakers, and before I knew it I was chasing the stray feline through the forest, ducking and weaving through the branches. Geez, I don't get what's up with this cat. First it gets friendly with me and now I'm on some wild goose chase where I might end up getting lost.

A few minutes passed until I ended up standing near a huge lake surrounded by a wide open space. The sun and sky reflected off the lake's surface, creating a mirage of sorts, and the light summer breeze created a ripple effect that was just awe-inspiring.

Man, who'd have thought a place like this existed in Noihara?

I approach the stray cat, who was busy observing the lake from atop a large stone.

"So this is the reason I chased you around, huh? I have to admit you got some good taste in scenery. You rarely get this kind of view where I come from. Haha."

"Agreed. I am not too fond of water myself, but I do find the view to be relaxing nonetheless."

I let off a small shrug. "Imagine that. I do find it ironic for cats to admire huge bodies of water, though."

"Hmph! How rude of you to even imply that. Fool."

"Hey, who're you calling a fool?" I shot back with a frown.

"The same fool who mistook myself for Shirone."

I almost flinch at that mention while turning my head away. "So I can be colorblind sometimes. Sue me."

"Mmm-hmm..."

...

...

...

"So have you figured it out?"

I nod while catching the cat in my arms. "Yeah. You nearly gave me a heart attack when you I heard you talk, Himari."

"Oh?" Himari spoke with an amused smile spread on her lips. "You find a talking cat strange?"

"Hey, so far I've dealt with one of my classmates growing spider legs out of his back, a drowned child who can control water and wants to get in my pants, a British teacup that can change into a maid with tracts of land the size of freakin' Russia, and a kid who hates my guts and has a massive girl crush on you. I think seeing a talking cat by now would be just another walk in the park."

Himari's eyebrow(?) twitched uncomfortably. "I see. However I do believe some punishment is in order for mistaking me for your neighbor's cat," she said with a sly smirk.

"Aw come on, you're still mad about that?"

I didn't get an answer from Himari as I was soon blinded by a bright light, forcing me to avert my eyes from it. After it dimmed down, I open my eyes and I soon find myself in Himari's tight embrace.

In her human form... And in the buff. It was just like that outing in the mountains all over again. I still have lingering memories of that incident, getting hit by Miss Samurai's katana and the pain inflicted from that. That shit hurt like hell.

On the other hand, Himari's naked body does feel nice and soft up close. Her sleeping with me all the time definitely helps in this situation...when I'm not getting suffocated by her boobs, of course.

"Hi...Himari. You..."

"Fufufu. I think this kind of punishment would suffice, do you not think so?" she says with a giggle, emphasizing her point by further pushing her bare breasts to my chest, forcing me to look away.

"Y...You're mean, you know that? Now put some clothes on, will ya? Someone might see us here. Ow ow!"

"No," Himari refused, eyes narrowed at me as her embrace grew tighter. "I am not letting go until I am satisfied."

"Aw, come on! I said I was sorry, 'kay? Gimme a break already!"

"Well, well. Isn't this a surprise?"

An unfamiliar voice catches me off-guard, and I was forced to turn my head back.

General POV

Gordon turned his head and spotted a girl standing on a high tree branch. The girl was around his age with short brown hair that was covered by a red beret-style hat and green eyes. Gordon would consider her cute if it weren't for that smirk she had on her lips. It wasn't a friendly smirk at all, rather it was an arrogant one under the guise of being friendly.

The outfit the girl had on was modeled after those worn by miko, or Japanese shrine maidens, albeit with a long red skirt in place of the usual hakama and detached sleeves with red ribbon trim on top. She also had on a pair of brown boots, and in her right hand was a black sword that looks more or less like a kunai in appearance. Around the girl's neck was a beaded necklace.

The shrine girl then descended from the branch and landed near the New Yorker.

"I've finally found you, Gordon Benigawa. At first, I was trying to figure out how I should lure you, but I'd never expect you coming out here on your... Eh?"

The shrine girl blinked upon noticing Gordon with a naked Himari embracing him. Upon piecing two and two together, the brunette blushed furiously.

"H-Hey! What the hell are you guys doing!?" she shouted.

"Welcome to my world, lady," Gordon deadpanned. "Sorry but there are no refunds once you hop aboard."

Plus the fact she called him Benigawa instead of Evans was a clear giveaway she was an ayakashi.

Himari, on the other hand, irritably sighed at the shrine girl's untimely appearance. "Honestly, this girl obviously cannot read the atmosphere around here? Leave now while my urge to kill you is still dormant," she warned in a stern tone, eyes narrowed.

The shrine girl let off an arrogant huff. "Hmph! Do you really think that threat would work while you're butt-naked, Noihara Crimson Blade?" she mocked. "And without your sword you're pretty much a sitting duck with that foreigner, are you!?"

Himari quickly got in front of Gordon and spread her arm out in front while covering her breasts with the other.

"I am the Hinoenma, Ageha!" the brunette ayakashi introduced, swinging her sword before pointing it at the pair. "I knew that if I kept my eye on the estate long enough the descendant of the once-lost Benigawa family would finally show up, and I really hit the jackpot this time!"

"Wait, she spied on us this whole time!?"

"Now why don't you be a good boy and die, Gordon Benigawa!"

Gordon's eyes widened the moment he spotted Ageha up in the air, preparing to strike with her sword. The New Yorker instinctively held his arms up defensively and shut his eyes, bracing himself for the worst possible outcome.

CLANG!

"Kh-!"

Gordon quickly opened his eyes to see Himari, now fully clothed in her kimono strangely enough, performing a downward slash at Ageha with her Yasutsuna, blocking the Hinoenma's attack.

"Himari!"

"Hmph," the cat samurai murmured to herself. "I see, so that cut was a tad shallow."

Gordon raised an eyebrow. Shallow? What was she talking about? Didn't she get her?

"Grr!" Ageha growled with her back turned. "Where the hell did you get that kata...?"

The moment the Hinoenma turned to face them, the top of her shrine maiden outfit suddenly ripped open, giving a full view of her chest and allowing her large, shapely breasts to jiggle freely from lack of a bra.

######

In the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal, Brandon J. Clarkson was giving a thumbs-up at the decorative green ceiling with a grin on his face. He had on formal attire consisting of a black dress shirt tucked inside a pair of maroon pants, a black belt with an ornate buckle, and brown loafers.

"What are you doing?"

Brandon looked back at a woman with long, dark blue hair that flowed to her ankles with parts of it covering a small portion of her face and yellow eyes, wearing a black dress that hugged her curvaceous figure with a white belt hanging around her hips. The woman was almost as tall as Brandon, her heels giving her an inch or two of extra height. Held in her hands was a teal Michael Kors wallet, and she had a little makeup that helped bring out her already beautiful features.

"Huh? Oh, uh, it's nothing Callie," he chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of his head in slight embarrassment. "Anyway, weren't you gonna show me the restaurant you always go around here?"

"Oh yeah, I was."

Callie Warner linked her arm with Brandon's, pressing it on her ample breasts and causing the well-dressed barber to blush for a brief moment.

"Shall we get going, hotshot?" she suggested with a playful smirk on her blue-painted lips.

"Lead the way, bae."

Callie giggled as the couple proceeded to walk upstairs.

######

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!-!"

An embarrassed Ageha let out a loud and piercing shriek that forced Gordon to cover his ears. Boy, can a girl's scream be deadly at times. It was way different from the screams he has heard in most metal songs.

...Okay, maybe well above 50 percent? What's the difference? They were loud, and Gordon likes them loud.

Just not when it's a sword-wielding shrine girl who just had her top nicked open, though.

Himari, on the other hand, doesn't seem fazed at all. In fact, she even had a smug smirk worthy of her cunning.

"Hmph. Unfortunately for you, I changed into a cat right around this area," she began explaining. "So I had my clothes and sword stowed here."

Gordon admitted that was pretty clever of her. A bodyguard has to be well-prepared, after all.

He didn't have much to say about the wardrobe malfunction, though.

"However I cannot allow the Young Lord to have a look at another woman's breasts," Himari continued, pointing her Yasutsuna at Ageha. "Find a way to hide them at once."

"The hell are you saying, Himari?" Gordon shouted in protest. "I didn't even look!"

Now I know that's an outright lie.

"Hmm...a Hinoenma, huh...? This is indeed troubling."

Gordon's eyebrow twitched at Himari's ignoring him but was a bit curious about the type of ayakashi Ageha was. "Hinoenma? What's that?"

"They are succubi that feed off the blood of men," she explained.

Gordon's body shivered uncomfortably at Himari's mention of blood. Why did it have to be that, of all things? Sure, he's had his blood taken a few times before at the doctor's office, but seeing your own blood in a small vial was not a pretty sight.

"I shall exterminate her at once."

Before Himari can do so, however, her path was quickly blocked by Gordon putting his arm out.

"Y-Young Lord, what are you...?"

"Yo! Shrine girl! You got a minute?" Gordon called out, ignoring the cat samurai's plea. Though Himari means well, he just can't let her kill the girl without knowing why.

Ageha turned her head to Gordon while in the middle of fixing her torn top, an annoyed scowl marring her face. "What do you want?"

"Nothing much," the skater shrugged. "Just want to know why you're after me. Unlike my friend here, I don't plan on fighting. At least not yet."

"Hmph. Aren't you a saint," Ageha sneered.

"I'm already walking on thin ice with you, shrine girl," Gordon quietly shot back before continuing. "Also, I'm not like other demon players when I say humans and ayakashi should coexist with each other. I know there are many on both sides who'll say otherwise, but I want to see it through nonetheless."

"..."

"So with that outta the way, are you gonna leave quietly?" Gordon finished, his eyes fixated on Ageha.

The hinoenma simply stared at the young skater for a few moments, blinking a few times before her lips contorted into a sinister smile.

"Heh. Heh-heh. Fufufu..."

Gordon's eyes narrowed a little as Ageha's laughter escalated.

"Ahahahahahahaha! Wow! I can't believe I sat through two minutes of you talking about peace. What, do you take me for some kind of fool?" She pointed her kunai sword towards Gordon. "Listen, shit-for-brains! I don't give a crap about what you want! Once I kill you, I'll be made a living legend! All what matters to me is how far I go up the ranks! That's all I care about!"

Gordon anxiously bit his lower lip while Himari promptly stepped forward.

"I see, then," she spoke up. "In that case, I have no other reason for holding myself back."

The blackette revealed her cat ears to get her point across, all while readying her Yasutsuna for battle.

"You've talked the talk, so let's see you walk the walk! Hinoenma!"

Gordon's head hung down with his fists beginning to shake. It wasn't supposed to turn out this way at first, but it inevitably did.

"Young Lord."

The New Yorker looked up at the blackette glancing back at him.

"I suggest you run away from here as fast as you can."

Gordon's eyes widened briefly as he was quickly reminded of what happened back at the beach.

"I know exactly what you are thinking, but this situation is completely different than the one with Shizuku back at the beach cave," Himari stated understandably. "She intends to kill you to make a name for herself, and as you know that is something I cannot allow."

Gordon remained silent while turning his head away.

"Also...although I failed in letting you see Grandpa Tai in person, I... I'm glad we managed to spend some time together here. That is more than enough to leave me satisfied."

Gordon can feel his cheeks burn up a little while the cat samurai turned her head to him.

"For that, I would gladly challenge the world for you," she spoke with a heartwarming smile.

"Tch! Cut your sentimental crap and fight, you stupid cat!" an irate Ageha shouted, flinging her sword-wielding arm that stretched like taffy towards Himari to Gordon's surprise and shock.

Himari deftly parried the Hinoenma's attack with her Yasutsuna before jumping back to Gordon.

"It's too dangerous for you to be here, Young Lord! Go back to the house!"

"Right! On it!"

BOOOOM!

{"WHOA!"}

"MROWR!"

Both Gordon and Himari were stunned following the sudden earthquake that befell them, stumbling a bit before regaining their footing.

"GWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!-!-!"

After hearing that loud and dreadful groan, they turned to the source and their eyes widened like large dinner plates at what stood before them.

A giant, white-skinned creature standing hundreds, if not thousands of meters tall with a lanky frame that was hunched like a gorilla's and huge clawed hands. Black accents were sparsely placed around its arms and legs, and on its face was a large black circle with a pair of red eyes that looked down at the duo as if they were tiny gnats.

"J-Jesus Christ, what the fuck IS that thing!?" a frightened Gordon shrieked.

"D-Daidarabocchi!" an equally shocked Himari noted.

"That's what it's called!? Shit, looks like it can wreck the entire New York skyline and then some!"

"I would never imagine she would bring one of those with her..."

"Ahahahahahahaha! You two aren't getting away that easily!" Ageha cackled loudly before looking up at the Daidarabocchi. "All right! Now go ahead and rip those two to shreds!" she ordered.

"..." The white-skinned behemoth looked at the pair curiously for a while before turning its head to Ageha.

"Hn," the brunette huffed. "So you just wanna take on the Crimson Blade, huh? Fine, then we'll just get them both in one go and..."

Ageha's words fell short when she realized Gordon and Himari were nowhere to be seen.

"Grr...! Shit! Those two bastards ran off!" she swore, stomping her foot before turning to the Daidarabocchi. "Come on! We're going after them!"

In another part of the forest, Himari was leaping through the trees with a near-frightened Gordon tucked under her arm, his hands clutching on to the cat samurai's kimono.

"Fufu. Come now, you can hold me tighter if you like~" she teased.

"Easier said than done, Miss Samurai!" Gordon shouted. "Now put me down; I'm about to have a heart attack!"

The cat ayakashi made her quick descent down to the ground, Gordon finally getting some room to breathe.

"Haa... Haa... Never...do that...again..." he said in between huffs before calming down completely. "So what now?"

"Kaya and Shizuku are still at the house," Himari explained. "You'll be much safer there."

"What about you?"

"I will be all right. Besides, Daidarabocchi are not evil by their nature. They would not attempt to foolishly take a human life."

Gordon nodded slowly but still showed concern. "I understand. I'll leave it to you, then."

Himari gave a short nod before turning around and heading towards the battle.

[Music: "and Zero" by Dir En Grey]

"The ayakashi you will be seeing me slay will be much more dangerous. So long as your powers remain inactive, you are at their complete mercy."

"Not only are you endangering yourself, Young Lord, but you are also running the risk of rendering the entire Benigawa family extinct because of your actions."

What Himari said in the forest a while back was still ingrained in Gordon's head. As much as he wants to help her, that would only serve to make a bad situation worse. Especially regarding the fact he's only human.

"That's right. I'm just a guy who likes to skate and box. I don't know shit when it comes to fighting ayakashi."

The New Yorker balled up his fists until his knuckles started turning white. Dammit, why did that topic have to be brought up now, of all times?

He then looked up at Himari's back and felt time slow down the further down she walked.

"I sometimes remember myself thinking about what the Young Lord will look like in the future when I get to meet him for the very first time. I remember one day I told myself I will meet a handsome young man. And here you are at last, exactly as I predicted you to be."

Memories of their brief moment of intimacy in the Benigawa estate then started surfacing in Gordon's mind as he recalled every moment of that event. The chills he felt rushing down his spine when Himari licked his skin with her wet tongue, the purrs he heard coming from her throat when her soft cheeks were rubbing against his, the alluring scent of her favorite shampoo coming from her glossy black hair, the softness of her body and the firmness of her breasts pressing against him…

Then there was that look she had on her face when she was about to kiss him. Her delicate white cheeks stained with a luminescent red glow, the glazed-over look she had in her eyes, her lips puckering up as she moved in closer to claiming his...

"Am I...really going to lose her this time?"

Ghostly images of his mother, grandmother, and grandfather then started to appear in front of him, their backs turned and their shadows slowly creeping up to Himari's.

Shaking his head to rid himself of the dreadful image, Gordon let off a resounding shout.

{"Himari!"}

The blackette promptly stopped and turned her head back to him.

{"Don't die on me!"} he yelled out. {"Whatever you do, don't you dare die on me, you got that!? Absolutely do not die! Not even for a fucking nanosecond, okaaaay!?"}

Himari felt a sudden tug coming from the depths of her heart upon hearing her master's words. Though it was said in English, the message he spoke was loud and clear to her.

He didn't want to see her get killed.

He didn't want to see her gravely wounded, clinging desperately to what remains of her life.

But most of all, he didn't want to see another person close to him gone.

"Young Lord, you..."

The cat samurai breathed a calming sigh, closing her eyes for a few seconds before opening them again with a confident smile and nodded.

Gordon responded with a quick nod before he began making his run to the estate.

With her master now out of harm's way, Himari turned and ran into battle with a determined look on her face.

"I understand clearly now. Do not worry, Young Lord. I will make sure I come back to you. I promise..."

CLANG!

"I will not lose!"

[Music ends]

And that ends part one of the second arc of the series, the Roots Arc! I wanted to make this chapter a little longer, but I thought ending it in a cliffhanger with some music in the background would be the better option, given a lot of things happened.

So now we learn that Taiji has been dead for a while and as we saw in the next scene it left quite an impact on Gordon. You have to understand that so far he's had two of his family members die, his grandmother from natural causes and his mom from being shot, on the night of his birthday no less. And with this recent discovery that automatically makes three.

And also, it looks like Gordon is starting to show a hint of weakness towards Himari based on that intimate moment he had with her. I guess being teased by her most of the time has reworked his hormones somewhat. Let's see how that plays out in the near future.

Anyway, what did you guys think of this chapter? If you like it, leave a review and I'll be sure to respond.

Next time on The Brooklyn Demon Slayer: "Eighth Round – Home, Part Two: Awakening"

This is KID2NR, signing off for now. See ya!