From the ashes.
Chapter 1
Meanwhile…
"So it has been proposed, a battle if you will of… competence…" Kenjaku has stepped back and away from his duties with the council, after the strikes that had happened and yet no proof as to who did them. There have been tensions growing with the society. Despite cooperating with the government, it appears the monkeys in charge don't understand the situation they are in. Thus came a proposal from Yua Tooru.
"Is she still alive at this point? Trauma like that should have taken her life…" Kenjaku said aloud.
He was sitting in on behalf of the dragon slayers, stating in a text to the council they needed outside help.
Yet, before the meeting could continue, the doors were kicked in! That cocky sorcerer from the States waltzed in and took a seat with his feet on the table. "Missed me?" he asked with a smirk.
"Where have you been? I thought you were after the Tooru girl?" one councilman asked.
"And?" he snapped back with a coy grin.
"Oh? Did you?" Kenjaku asked curiously. He had always wondered what a Tooru would do with an unwanted pregnancy.
"Like I am going to brag to a biscuit like you," he snapped back. "So what's going on here? You guys looked like you swallowed a bug or something…"
They explained the situation that the government is losing faith in them. "The rebels have done well in suppressing curses, however it is making us look like we can't do the job."
"And, what does this have to do with me?" Trigun asked.
"It doesn't" the table said unanimously. "Why are you here if you got what you wanted?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe I'll… double dip" he said in a slimy tone.
"Either way, we have been given proposals over a week ago by Yua Tooru, agreeing to a duel. It has been signed off and everything… we haven't even finished adding the greater detail to this yet and it's a written binding vow!" the council laughed.
She signed it already?
"May I see?" Kenjaku asked.
The contract was passed down the table. He looked it over and saw what the government wanted. They wanted a proper duel between the two factions to determine who is best suited to defend Japan and place their trust in to. Yet, on the sheet it was signed that Yua and the Tooru clan will fight them, and only the Tooru clan. Satoru Gojo was forbidden from participating despite marrying into the clan.
Of course they jumped on that.
Kenjaku went over the contract and saw how they filled in their stipulations, in fact this was very poor judgment on Yua's part sign something this one sides…
No…
This isn't…
"Something wrong, dragon slayer?" Trigun asked of him. "You look worried"
Did he?
"Gentlemen, you have already signed off on this without explaining the extra rules you put after the fact, correct?"
"Of course we did, we are able to alter the contract when only the Tooru signed it!" the said rather proudly.
"What Tooru falls for a trap like this?" he asked aloud. "I heard rumors of them, they are rather brilliant for sorcerers aren't they? This seems rather… foolish on their part. For they wouldn't sign this unless all rules are laid out." He explained, at the same time, he is trying to plea ignorance here.
The councils still don't know or are aware that he has switched bodies yet. At the same time they couldn't see that this is a trap?
"But we're the ones trapping her. After all, it stipulates that only Toorus can fight or those married into the clan, with the exemption of Satoru Gojo. There's only one Tooru and she won't risk her children now will she?"
"Why would she sign something so one sided?" he asked again. "She's not a foolish woman…"
"Maybe she's too heartbroken from grief?" came out of Trigun. "All we know, this could be a death wish."
He doubted that.
In fact, Kenjaku knows this whole thing is being set up for something else. Worst still, he has this fog over his mind. He got worried a month back about something and sent the elders into hiding… but in the end, it only doomed them.
"Something doesn't feel right about this," he said aloud and passed the contract back.
The council however appeared to be licking honey at this point. They believe the contract is iron clad, there is nothing that could be done to alter it, as well, Yua cannot back out of it now. She will die that day, they have no doubt about it.
It will be Yua Tooru VS 300 sorcerers including the five who are taking over the elder position from the council. That was her stipulation to this.
"She thinks this is a duel, but in reality, it's going to be a Tooru hunt. A culling of the Tooru clan! We cut off the head, and the body will die…" the council cheered.
Something really wasn't right about this.
'Why can I not think of this, there is something wrong, very wrong about this…
POP
The room went silent as Trigun happened to open a bottle of sake. "You guys want some? You look like you're in the mood to celebrate!" he called.
The table was far more relaxed than it should be. Kenjaku knew there was something off about this, for no Tooru would be foolish enough to sign a binding vow before all the legality is finalized. In fact, his eyes peered back to the contract. There was something off about the signature. He was about to reach for it again, when Trigun suddenly shoved a small cup of sake into his hand. "Here, drink up!" he called.
He sighed and took the drink.
Come to think of it, the drink was rather delicious. Similar to how it was made thousands of years ago… but all sake is like that, a brewed tradition, but there was just something… familiar about it.
It was a good drink, but the matter was not settled yet. "Gentlemen, I strongly suggest you proceed with caution, Toorus are not stupid." He said bluntly.
They waved off his concern. Kenjaku sighed aloud and decided he will stick with the dragon slayers for the time being.
These sorcerers are as good as dead anyways.