Chapter 9

Kyoto school.

Roark wondered through the newly constructed building. They managed to find the blue prints to the original building but the family found it rather small. "Did they not have students or something?" he asked aloud.

The conversation came up when he was meeting with Yang the other day. They went over the blue prints but found the school oddly lacking. "From what I was told, they barely had any students, only ones taken on recommendation or family request."

"Idiots" he muttered shaking his head. "Sorcerers are in limited supply, more so now than before due to the shit that has been going on… pardon my language."

"No please swear, this really does make me feel more at ease." Yang said and laughed. He's a good man, Roark feels he can trust him, but won't say too much at the moment. "We are going to extend it, as well. I would like to ask for permission on searching orphanages, homeless shelters as well as perhaps any at risk children. If we can focus on the sorcerers that the council ignored before, we will have more students, but not all may have a technique suited to face a curse."

"How do you adjust for that?" Yang asked.

"The children we will bring in will not only have curse energy. There are some people that we have encountered who have no curse energy… but… let's just say if any of these people entered the Olympics. Japan would sweep every event if a person of this talent had entered."

"Go on…" Yang said listening intently.

Roark smirked. "Just for that look, I am limiting you to two" he warned. "If I find talented individuals like that and they are interested in sports, I will permit two. If more of them are exposed… that will cause problems." He warned.

Yang paused, but realized it was true. "I understand" he said in a serious tone. "Please continue."

"We will teach those students with that strength how to use a curse weapon. We are working on making ones that are not dangerous for them to have on their person and yet stay safe and be prepared. So for the time being that is our plan, if we have any new notions or ideas. I will inform you at once or a member of the clan."

Yang full heartedly agreed.

So, the school was made, extended and added new features. But now it will be time to get some students and…

"Who are you?"

Roark paused as he sensed someone, he turned and saw a man with short blond hair. He looked utterly confused. He kept pointing at Roark oddly but, couldn't understand…

He smiled warmly. "Surprised? Not as much as you are going to be…" he said in a playful tone. "Do you know me or something?"

The man smiled it off. "Oh no, of course not. I was curious to this place since it was nothing but a pit and yet… a school came up out of nowhere?"

"I have very talented people at my side…"

Sneer.

That was a sneer he saw.

Roark's smile only grew, since he knew he was getting under his skin.

It's not every day Kenjaku makes a foolish move!

It was one of the few benefits of being a Tooru. No one understood when it happened or how it happened, but the fact remains is this. Kenjaku's technique is always exposed to them, all Toorus see the stitching across his brow.

But, why let him know anything?

It was time for some fun, after all… this man harmed his daughter… he has much suffering ahead of him. "So, anything I can help you with sir? You don't appear to be from around here…"

"Uh… no, it's fine… I was merely curious as to what was happening… it's good to see that the school will return… Oh, I would like to speak with your council of elders!" he said in a very polite tone.

"Sure, would you wait about ten minutes?"

He was taken aback. "Why ten minutes? Are they here?" he was rather surprised. Perhaps he is assuming some of his lackeys survived or something? Roark smiled and nodded to him. "Let me gather them up for you, I'll send my wife to come and bring you to them. Would you mind waiting here?" they stood in the lobby of the school. Roark knew there was nothing to see, learn or for him to try and discover what is happening. But either way, it doesn't matter if he knew or not.

"I don't mind, thank you."

#

'What the hell is going on? What is the council doing without my instruction?' Kenjaku just returned to Japan after ending his experiments in England. But for this to come up out of nowhere after being burned to the ground… it didn't set his mind at ease. What troubles him now is the fact that Kashimo… was acting the way he is.

He didn't acknowledge him…

He didn't recognize him…

Is that really Kashimo?

He's been trying to wrap his mind around it ever since he walked away. Kashimo appears different too, he has embraced the modern world and life style as his clothing is reflective of that now. He speaks in modern terms as well, but, why is this troubling? 'He still has his technique, which means he wasn't taken over… but the Kashimo that I brought back for the culling games was long since dead. Sukuna made quick work of him.'

He shuttered.

"Something is defiantly wrong…" he muttered to himself.

"Pardon me, sir?" a gentle, woman's voice was heard… but that was also familiar to him. He turned and froze.

This is impossible…

Yorozu stood before him and offered a rather warm smile. "Uh… hi?" he said rather nervously.

"The elders are ready to speak with you." She said and led him down the hall. They took over a soon to be classroom for the meeting, which he found rather lack luster. No elder or councilman would conduct business in such a crude room unfit for a serious conversation. Let alone have their faces exposed to the masses. And yet, he walked into the room.

Once more, he froze stiff at the sight before him. Along the wall were five women in waiting, but…

Why is everyone in this room a reincarnated sorcerer?

"I'm sorry I didn't ask for your name when you arrived!"

"Oh, Baldr" he said and lowered his head. "Uh… I have met the elders and council before… you were never there…" he said offhandedly.

"Yeah, they're dead" came bluntly out of the one who appeared like Ryo Ishigori. "You are meeting the new elders and council now. So, how can we help you?"

This… wasn't right.

He forced a smile. "I… ahem… actually worked as a consultant for the pervious council and offer my services…"

"What kind of services?" asked Reggie Star.

"I advise the council on how the society is being run, at the moment you can tell that there are a lack of sorcerers…"

Suddenly, the elders snorted a laugh at him… are they mocking him? He couldn't help but feel they were mocking him openly like this.

"Is something funny?" he asked. If needed, he will erase this room himself and start the council over.

"Hilarious," came out of Yorozu. "To think he knows us but doesn't know us at all… it is funny" she said and snickered.

"It appears I missed the joke…" he said in an annoyed tone. "For that matter, why are you still here? How are any of you alive?"

"Oooo he showed his hand, rookie move…"

"Kashimo, what happened to you?!"

The room paused, the laughter stopped as Kashimo bore a rather wicked grin. "Oh… that's the thing… I'm not this Kashimo guy you are talking about!" he laughed.

"How…" Kenjaku muttered, it was impossible to his knowledge for a fallen sorcerer to take over another brought back through a binding vow. But, that thought vanished, as Kenjaku paused. The looks on their faces… "You know who I am, don't you?"

They nodded confidently. "Just remember where you stand, Kenjaku," warned Yorozu. "This school was built on technique alone…" he heard metal groaning where he stood. She only flexed her hand to send the message.

So, each has shown a hand now. "If you are not the sorcerers of the past, then who are you now?" he asked.

"That… you can figure on your own. Apparently, you hold yourself to be a rather smart sorcerer. So, we'll let you think it out… but you may want to hurry about it since before long…" Kashimo dragged his thumb over his throat.

"You are not the first to threaten my life" Kenjaku said in a board tone.

"No, we are aware of that, but… we will be the ones to live up to the threat" Reggie Star said confidently.

"It appears I will not get far with any of you in power… so be it, perhaps another time then… and you would be smart enough to stay out of my way…"

They snickered again. "Since when have we ever done that?" asked Kashimo.

Chill.

That sent a chill down his spine like no other. Kenjaku took his leave quickly, something is not right, he can't see why they are like that, let alone how they became double possessed. But he knows, if he doesn't end that council soon… they will try and live up to their threat.

He doesn't need this kind of attention right now, let alone another enemy to take out…

#

After Kenjaku left.

"You're thinking it, aren't you?" Relian asked. But he sounded concerned. "Roark… you know dad… And you know what technique dad has now…"

"Exactly…" Roark replied as his smile grew. "In fact, according to dad… he has some memories of that guy lingering… dad said he even spoke with the soul before he took over, they have a mutual understanding right now."

"He didn't…"

"Oh, he did, he had to in order to take over but he did so every diplomatically. But the fact remains is the guy he took over went head to head with Kenjaku and really challenged him…" his smile only grew. "And you know dad…"

Relian sighed aloud to this. "You better not be making a mistake about this…"

"Oh this is no mistake… I am going to make certain Kenjaku suffers until his final moments…" it is but a small step forward in their revenge against Kenjaku!