Chapter 36: Cursed Mark

"Because you bear the mark of the cursed child," he replied calmly.

Mark? What mark? I don't have any mark on me except for… no! They couldn't have seen it? I make sure to keep it safely hidden at all time! I never told anyone about it, so they couldn't have known about it!

"Hijikata-san looked it up," Yamanami-san quickly added, probably because he figures I was starting to panic.

"Look what up?" I asked quickly.

"Your birth certificate and all the information he needed to know about you," Yamanami-san said.

My eyes widen for a slight moment before turning away for everyone intense gaze, "Why," I asked, "Why does he need to know about me?"

Yamanami-san sighed, "Hijikata-san would never allow anyone he doesn't know into the dojo. That shows just how protective he is of his family, and he would continue to do so even if he knows your father."

What else does Hijikata-san knows about me that I don't? Why is it that everything has something to do with me? The misfortune of Samanosuke, is similar to me, but… why me? I… I just want back everything Suzu stole from me. What does this cursed child have to do with me? Why me?

"Tetsu?"

I look up finding myself facing Tatsu-nii, who was kneeling down in front of me with a concerned look on his face. I held back the tears that wanting to shed so badly. I can't be weak right now. No matter what happens from here, I want to protect what's important to me, even if I have to sacrifice myself in order to do so. I want to forever protect them and the smile they shown each and every day.

I gave Tatsu-nii a reassured smile and turn to Yamanami-san, "I want to go home. There are some ones I need to protect. No matter what you say, I will not let this cursed thing affect me, for I am just Ichimura Tetsunosuke. I don't know how you see the mark as a cursed mark, but it's just a mark… there"

"Will you show us the mark," Ryouma interrupted me.

"Huh?" I asked stupidly and unexpectedly.

"I asked if you could show us the mark," Ryouma repeated in a serious tone, which is out of character for him.

Taken aback with this, I almost wanted to sprint out of the room as fast as I could. Should I really show them my mark? The mark that I have never shows anyone before? I swallow nervously, wait, when did I become nervous? Just earlier I was about to cry and now I'm all nervous? What the heck?

"Will you show us?" someone else asked this time, and I was surprised that it was Tatsu-nii who asked. Kind of break my heart there for a second.

I look at the intense audience and hesitated. Should I really show them the mark? Maybe I shouldn't, but then again, if I don't, Yamanami-san probably wouldn't let me go home, and would probably make someone keep an eye on me.

"If I show you," I started, "would you promise not to tell anyone about it?"

Everyone nodded in understanding. I hesitantly stood up and slowly took off my shirt. I turn around so that my face would be facing them instead. Everyone gasp as soon as my back stood facing them. I could tell exactly why they seem so shock.

There was a name written in old language that couldn't be read nowadays. My father had always said it was probably the name of someone I cherish or something like that, but sometime, the mark would ache, and it made me question that theory. I turn back around and put my shirt on. Everyone was looking somewhere else and I suddenly get the feeling something unexpected was going to happen.

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NORMAL POV

"What was that?" the silver haired asked again for he didn't hear what the cat-like boy was saying.

"Why did Suzu-sama have that mark on his back?" the cat like kid asked.

Suzu smirk and patted his head, "It's the name of my most beloved and hated enemy. I simply putted there so that I would never forget him in every life time, and he wouldn't forget me."