Years older now at the age of sixteen Kirihara Akaya sat rightfully at the head of the Kirihara table, with elders and advisors by his side the teen sat listening to one of the old men explain his plan

"Explain to me again what you think I should do" his voice cold and unfeeling

"You see Kirihara-sama many of us feel that although you have mastered your training and all the requirements for you to lead the Yakuza, we feel you need more…experience"

A simple twitch of his eye was the only notable movement at his displeasure of what the man was saying, but also a warning for the man to watch what he says as he continues

"We feel as if you need more experience of the world outside of the Kirihara walls"

"And what do you propose?" with his voice deep and dark, the elder began to stutter looking around for help but the fear on their faces was evident enough, that they were not going to help.

"W-we think it would b-be best Kirihara-sama, I-if you went to p-public school"

"Public school? You'd have me associating with pathetic weaklings!"

"Only long enough to learn how they function, not knowing anything about our world"

"And of all the times I had asked previously to go to public school, you choose now?!"

"O-only for your best interest Kirihara-sama! We mean no disrespect" getting off his chair and standing a full height, Akaya held a frown on his face at the elders he was suppose to listen too and respect. "It'll only be until you understan-"

"I'm not stupid"

"Sir-!"

"When do I leave?" asking no one in particular, the teen let his dark green orbs roam the quiet room, until the same old man spoke up

"Tomorrow at best, by the end of the week at worst"

"You've already enrolled me?"

"Yes but it may take some time to see if you will be excepted" placing his hand in his pocket Akaya began walking towards the exit without so much as a notice, stopping only at the shoji door

"What school"

"Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku"

"What have they decided for you Akaya-sama?" Jackal asked the teen as he strode towards his room on the other side of the mansion and far from the others of his family. Now in his early twenties, Jackal's eyes shone with a sharp and an always attentive glare to the world and all it held, rarely it shone kindness even towards his master- but that's not saying it doesn't once a few times.

"Public school"

"I'm guessing they don't want us to follow you there?"

"I'm quite sure Akaya-sama can take care of himself, Jackal" Yanagi spoke up from the other side of the young master, now in his early twenties just the same as Jackal, the two bodyguards had changed through time. They had become more murderous and overly protective of the teen, they solemn left the boy unless he specifically told them to leave, they were always in his shadow watching his back for anyone or anything that would do harm unto him. To say the least they were now perfect embodiments of true bodyguards fit for a king.

However Yanagi and Jackal were not the only ones who had changed in these many years, since that fateful day Akaya had inherited the entire mansion and the Kirihara line to the Yakuza, they watched unable to do anything as the kind hearted, easily brought to tears, blush at the slightest form of praise or affection, child they were automatically attracted too turn into a cold hearted, lethal, detached assassin head of the best top-notch killing group known to the underground world.

"I don't need anyone's protection"

"That may be Akaya-sama, but we are still your bodyguards until death" the ever closed eyed man responded to the harsh answer

"We will protect you" Jackal spoke up letting his voice dance on the hard wood panes that made up the wall and covered the floor.

"Like I said, I don't need anyone's fucking protection" having already arrived at his room, the teen opened and shut his sliding doors right in the faces of his guards, keeping them out and away from his heart. Missing both Jackal and Yanagi's murmur

"Whether you want us by your side or not Akaya, we will protect you with our lives"

"We made that promise to ourselves long ago."

Days pasted and Akaya made himself busy by getting ready for school, fixing himself into the uniform he was suppose to wear, getting used to having a bag with books of useless information. The boy had to scoff

"Is this really what public kids study? What bull" stuffing the things into his bag, Akaya looked at himself in the full length mirror when a knock came from outside

"Akaya it's me" emerald orbs widen for a fraction of a moment before returning into a dark frown,

"…Enter" taking off his bag, the green eyed boy made sure to look as if he were too busy to look at the person who entered his room

"…So it's true, you have changed"

"No one stays the same Yukimura-san" still busy with nothing in particular Akaya didn't see the pained look flash within sapphire eyes, aimed only at him.

"..No I guess not"

"Is there a reason why you're here?"

"Last time I left I was still your mentor wasn't I?"

"That was eight years ago. I don't need you anymore"

"You've received all your studies, but you can still learn more martial arts"

"Like I said, I don't need you. I have other trainers- you can leave"

"…I'm sorry" again emerald orbs widened in shock for the second time in only half an hour, stopping in whatever he was doing Akaya listened "for staying away for so long… I left you when you needed me most…Akaya I'm-!"

"It wasn't just long…you left me eight years ago!"

"…."

"...And now you appear out of no where and expect me to forgive you?!" of the eight years Akaya rarely showed any form of emotion but years of pain, sadness and anger were now let free to the one person who he felt such emotions towards.

"I was sent on a mission that took me far longer than I expected"

"Like I'm to believe it takes you eight years to assassinate someone" this time it was Yukimura to look shocked

"How?"

"I'm not an idiot, I figured out what you were long ago, Yukimura Seiichi "Child of God" The First Class assassin for hire in the underground world" glaring at his bed post, Akaya refused to look at the man who he had once loved and cherished

"Then you understand why I was gone"

"Yes, but I can't help but wonder why it takes The First Class assassin to kill just ONE person in EIGHT years"

"The man was Tezuka Kunimitsu, head of Seigaku Enterprises; underground he was the mob boss for extortion of young tennis prodigies. Unfortunately he had known before hand that I was after him and kept running from continent to another"

"…."

"In the end I did kill him but, in doing so I left you and for that I can only hope that you-"

"Shut up, I'm tired of your bullshit" again clouded sapphire widened in shock, the young child who he fell in love with, cared for and cherished above all stood, tall and proud, with cold un-feeling eyes glaring with hate…only he could understand. Long ago he made a promise to the child, to always be there when he needed him and yet….in the end…the young boy had to face the death of his parent on his own, the cruelty of his family on his own, eight years of not knowing…all on his own.

And he was to blame for it all. He understood why Akaya was so different.

"You come here after eight years of nothing! No message, no call, nothing, you couldn't even send Sanada-san to tell me!? I was blind in the dark for so fucking long! Do you know how I felt! Huh?! My parents died for me and when I needed you most- you weren't there…." clenching his fists Akaya turned to finally face his old mentor, seeing the first and last man he would let into his heart.

"Akaya"

"I said shut up! Because of you-!…." shaking his head the boy let his anger out in one sigh of his breath- as the head of the Yakuza years of training have taught him to control his emotions and turn them into cold ambition. "If you came here to be forgiven by that child you left eight years ago he's dead, I on the other hand have no purpose of you Yukimura-san"

"Akaya"

"As head of Kirihara, I hear by discharge you of your duties as mentor. Now leave" turning around the boy closed his bag, along with his heart and was about to leave his room when the man in his mid twenties responded

"I will not"

"What?" turning to face the younger boy, emerald clashed with sapphire, wavy blue on curly black

"I will not leave, may it be eight years or not I made a promise to a young boy by the name of Kirihara Akaya, that I would be with him till death take me"

"And I already told you that boy is dead along with his parents"

"..no he's not, I can still see him in you Akaya- that little boy I left is still crying waiting for me to dry his tears"

"…You stupid fool, believe what you want- you're nothing more to me than dirt under my feet" turning the boy closed the door to his room and walked away from the last thread that belonged to his past.

"…Even if you send me from your sight I will still remain your shadow Akaya, let me at least this to repent for what I've done."