Chapter 5: Not Afraid Anymore
Last night, I slept at the club because Rias thought it was a good idea to rest and recover after Freed Sellzen's attack on us. The fact that there are some not-very-good people all around Asia is still on my mind. Although I wanted to help her, I remain weak and must work on becoming stronger. I don't know what to do anymore. Dad, if you can hear me, then I could really use some of your advice right now. If you could show me a sign or provide any guidance, that would be great.
"You are aware that occasionally failing to acknowledge your best friend is extremely impolite." Mgelika pops up.
"Mgelika!" I exclaimed excitedly. "Sorry, I'm just so conflicted right now."
"Yeah, I know. I can see everything that you see."
"Asia is with them, and I want to do something about it!" I said it with determination.
"You heard what your friends told you about not being strong enough to face the fallen angels on your own." Mgelika said.
"Who cares?! I'm not one of them! They are devils, and I'm human! That shouldn't matter!" I shouted.
"That stray almost killed you, and you should feel lucky that you were able to make it out with just a couple of slashes and a bullet to the leg." Mgelika argued.
"I had Kiba with me!" I argued back.
"But what about the next time that Kiba or Koneko are not with you?"
"It doesn't concern them."
You can't just be charging into situations like this on your own."
"Well, we need to take action!"
"Look, I'm not ignoring the fact that Asia is your friend, but if you go there without a plan and lack the strength and power to do so, not only will she still be in deep water, but you will also die."
I remain silent, knowing that I do not know what to do at this point. He is right, though, about me going in there without a plan or the capacity. It's making me feel so stressed and useless. What am I going to do? What plan do I even have?
"I also have some good news." That caught my attention, Mgelika said.
"What is it?" I asked with curiosity.
"Since that fight with Freed, you have made some improvements and gained an ability."
"Well, what is it?"
"It's called 'Fang Strike'."
"Fang Strike?"
"On a regular basis, you use this ability to strike with your sacred gear, and now you can pack a punch with a great deal of force."
"Is that so?" I held up my left hand.
"So now, if you ever find yourself wanting to punch that Freed Sellzen guy in the face, you can send him through two more layers of brick walls."
"Huh, Fang Strike," I said. "I'll keep that in mind."
I left the club to go back home, and I really did not want to wait for Kiba and Koneko, even though they were my bodyguards. I just needed to be alone for a bit.
Mom must be extremely concerned about my absence from home last night. I don't want her to think that I was in any danger, even though that is a lie. For her sake, I couldn't tell her. In fact, I can't bring myself to tell her about any of this for the sake of both of us.
I just got to Kuoh about two weeks ago, and so far, my entire second week has been so eventful. Have I really gone that far in my insanity? I'm surprised that I haven't rolled over yet.
"Hey Mgelika, what do you remember before you were sealed away?" I asked.
"Oh, well, before my sealing, I was a well-known Heavenly Dragon known as Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor."
"You were a dragon?"
"Yes, and I commanded widespread respect and dread beyond the dragon community, surpassing the power of both God and Satan, and no one would rival me except the white one."
"Who is the white one?" I asked.
"Albion, the White Dragon Emperor, has been my arch-rival for eons." I was so eager to see someone of my standard. Someone that I can match equally. We fought fiercely, dominating each other and improving ourselves.
"A title fight of respect." I comment.
"Yes, but our glorious battles were unwelcome to many."
"How so?"
The angels, devils, and fallen angels, who were at war at the time, interrupted us while I was continuing my battle with Albion. In anger, both of us attacked them for disrupting our honorable battle, which led them to pursue us. Albion was hunted and sealed, and as for me, before I was sealed, I dissoluted and transmuted myself into the spirit of a wolf. Ddraig was no more, and Mgelika was born."
"Wow, Mgelika, that had to be pretty rough." I said.
"There is no doubt that I wish for an extension. Ddraig was the greatest, but things tend to happen, even if we don't want them to. It's how the world works."
"What if an artifact similar to yours seals Albion?"
"It's been a long time since I last saw him, so he could be anywhere in the world."
"What happens if you see him again? Are you still going to fight him?"
"I'm not Ddraig anymore, so I don't know what will happen."
"I understand that my paternal bloodline inherently passed you down, but who was your first host?"
"He was a respectable Aramaic man, known as Raziel the Honorable."
"So, my father's bloodline goes all the way back to the Old Aramaic days?"
"Yes, but I didn't present myself to Raziel until about another thousand centuries later."
"What was Raziel all about?"
"Raziel was a noble nomadic Aramaic traveler who wandered the old Near East, which was a region around the Easter part of the Mediterranean lands that the Aramean people were settling during the fall of the late Bronze Age in the 12th century BC. As he wandered, he fought bandits and helped the less fortunate men, women, and children, as he was the first to wield the Howling Gauntlet. For all of his good-kind efforts, they gave him the name 'Raziel the Honorable' as a token of gratitude."
I believe Akeno stated the first time we met that certain individuals with sacred gear have grown to become very well known. Making their mark in history. It looks like Raziel was one of them, as was my grandfather, Juzo. I wondered if my ancestors, the ones that wielded the Howling Gauntlet, made their marks as well.
Does this align with the expectations placed on me? Making a mark in history just like my grandfather and the other ancestors that wielded the Howling Gauntlet. Can I really live up to the Hyoudou name? I just wanted to live a normal life, but now I am hearing about my ancestors' and my grandfather's success and legacy. Maybe this is simply fate's design. Like Mgelika said, it's how the world works now.
As we were talking about my line of history, I finally arrived at home, but something didn't seem right. The door was wide open, and there were some markings on the ground right along the house's entryway. I saw mom's car, so I would have assumed that she was home.
"Hello? Mom?" I called as I entered the house.
Upon surveying the area, I noticed signs of vandalism. They had flipped over the dining room table, thrown some flower pots on the floor, placed the TV on the ground, and left holes and scratch marks on the walls.
"MOM!" I shouted as I rushed upstairs to see if mom was home at all, as fear was pumping throughout my body.
When I arrived at her room, it was empty, and the door appeared to have ripped off its hinges. I pulled out my phone and speed dialed my mom as my heart was pumping.
"Please pick up!" I plead.
"Hi, you've reached Miki Hyoudou, so please leave a message after the tone." As I hung up and tried to call her again, her voicemail stated, "Hello, you've reached Miki Hyoudou; please leave a message."
I repeatedly called and texted her about her whereabouts, but I was not getting an answer. I went all over the house, only to find it empty.
"MOM!" As my voice echoed around the house, I shouted.
As I stopped in the living room, I found a note on the ground. In the bottom right corner of the note, there was red writing and a kiss mark.
If you want your dear mother back, go to the abandoned church in the eastern part of town at nightfall! I'll be waiting, Issey! Hahaha! XOXO - Raynare
Images of my father's murder, Raynare hurting Kiba, and Freed Sellzen abusing Asia flashed through my mind after reading the note. My hands began to go numb, and my heart started to race as it pumped boiling blood throughout my body.
"RAYNARE!" I roared in absolute anger.
I really didn't care if I hadn't gotten my driver's license yet; I grabbed my mother's car keys, stormed out of the house, and made a beeline to her car. For the last couple of days, Raynare and Freed Sellzen have been causing me so much pain, and I couldn't do anything about it because I wasn't strong enough. I didn't care anymore! Raynare possesses my mother, and I will not passively observe this unfold.
"I'm coming, mom!" I said this as I got into her car and drove off the driveway.
"Partner?" Mgelika speaks.
"Don't try to back me out of this, Mgelika! She's my mother, and I'm going to get her back!" I yelled.
I didn't care how I was driving. I didn't care if I was speeding or running through red signs. There's literally no time for me to play traffic safety right now.
"I'm not afraid anymore!" I declared.
After several minutes of driving, I arrived at the abandoned church. It was a little removed from the town and surrounded by trees. I can hear some faded chants in there, which means that there are occupants. With my Howling Gauntlet ready, I got out of the car and headed toward the rundown door entry to the church.
"Issei!" I looked back to see Koneko and Kiba approaching me.
"What are you guys doing here?" I angrily asked.
"We went to your place and found it torn up, and we saw the note about your mother." Kiba answered.
"We figured that you were here and teleported as fast as we could." Koneko added.
"You guy teleported? No, look, don't try to stop me!" I got back on topic.
"Well, if we can't stop you, then we'll join you." Kiba took out a sword.
"What? Seriously?"
"We've been through a lot lately, so why not?"
"Time to yank some feathers!" Koneko puts on fighting gloves.
"Koneko, do your thing." Kiba spoke as Koneko broke the door off its hinges.
We breached the church, and I hurried in, looking around for any signs of my mother or Raynare. The room was moist and rundown, with a broken statue, torn banners, and beaten-up shelves.
"Where is everyone?" Kiba asked.
"Well, look, who decided to join the party? Issei and friends!" I watched Freed make his appearance.
"Freed-FUCKING-Sellzen!" I cursed.
"That's my name, so don't wear it out." He cackled as he made a spin.
"WHERE THE FUCK IS MY MOTHER?!" I roared.
"She and that little devil-worshipping nun are both downstairs in the cellar," the stray priest exclaimed.
"Asia is here too," I thought.
"So, here's the thing I pride myself on: the fact that I would never have to battle any opponent more than once. Yet, here you are, rubbing it in. If there is one thing I won't put up with, it's watching maggots like you make fun of me in the House of God. So, what do you say, and let's finish this once and for all?" Freed pulls out his light sword and handgun.
"Let's fucking go!" I got ready to fight.
Koneko initiates the attack by tossing a bench at Freed, but Freed slices him in two with his light sword.
"You're pretty strong for a runt, aren't you?" He commented.
"Suck it." Koneko insults.
We all started to fully engage Freed Sellzen as he was firing his gun at us, which he missed. Kiba got the opportunity to charge at him and duel it out with his sword.
"Come on, is that the best you can do?" Freed taunts as he parries with Kiba.
He shoots and swings his sword at him, and Kiba dodges, blocks, and deflects the bullets with his sword until their swords meet each other and their faces are a foot apart from each other.
"You're quick." Kiba compliments.
"You are not so bad yourself, which makes me want to kill you even more, pretty boy." Freed raised his gun, aiming it directly at Kiba.
Kiba thankfully dodges the shot and performs an upper kick flip at Freed's chin.
"All right, let's get serious." Kiba spoke as his sword took on a deep black hue.
Freed stuck his tongue out in a sadistic manner, causing both of their swords to collide violently. The black aura from Kiba's sword began to wrap around Freed's lighter sword.
"What the hell is this?" Freed frowned.
"The Holy Eraser is a sword of darkness that devours light." Kiba replied.
"You think I'm afraid of you?" Freed taunts as Kiba threw him back, making him stagger.
"Issei!" Kiba called for an opening for me.
"Eat this, prick!" I charged at Freed with my sacred gear, choosing to perform the ability that Mgelika said was unlocked. "FANG STRIKE!"
"Oh shit." Freed said this as I struck him in the face, sending him flying across the other side of the church and into a brick wall.
"That felt good. THAT WAS FOR ASIA, FUCKER!" I shouted.
Freed stood back up and attempted to attack me with his light sword, but Koneko picked up another bench and threw it at him, sending him flying and pinning him to the bench.
"You bastard!" Before Kiba can strike him, Freed utters curses and swiftly exits. He jumps onto a large shelf and stares at us. "You may have won the battle, but not the war."
Freed pulls out a round object and throws it at us, creating a big flash of light that resembles a flash bang. Once the light subsided, he vanished.
"Damn, he got away!" I cursed.
"Forget about him and just keep moving." Kiba ordered.
"Guys." Koneko called for us as she found the entrance to the cellar under the shelf that she tossed out of the way.
We ran down the cellar and entered a wide room filled with a group of occupants who appeared to be henchmen. Upon closer inspection, we discovered the two most important individuals chained to two steel crucifix crosses.
"MOM! ASIA!" I called.
"Sweetie?" Mom opened her eyes and looked at me.
"Issei? You came for me?" Asia smiled weakly.
"Hang on, I'm coming!" As I ran toward them, a particular fallen angel, with whom I had a beef, stopped me. "YOU!"
"Well, look who finally came." Raynare greeted.
"GIVE THEM BACK TO ME!" I dashed toward them.
"ISSEI, WAIT!" Kiba tugged me back as a purple-lighted spear almost struck me. The spear exploded, sending me and Kiba back against the wall.
"This really is a touching reunion, but unfortunately, the ritual is over." As Asia, chained up to a glowing green cross, began to wail in pain, Raynare spoke.
"What the hell?" As Asia's wailing ceased and her head lowered, I noticed two green-glowing rings emanating from her body.
"What's happening?!" My mother cried.
"ASIA!" I shouted.
"Finally, the rings of Twilight Healing are mine." Raynare grabbed the rings from Asia's weak body.
As I watch Asia's weakening body, more memories of my dad's murder start flashing in my head.
"ASIA!" I dashed for Asia and trampled over the stray priests that were in my way. "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!"
Kiba, Koneko, and I were fighting the stray priests in order to get to my mother and Asia.
"Go Issei, we got this!" Kiba shouted.
I went up to my mother, unchained her from the cross, and helped her down. "I got you, mom!"
"Issei! What's going on here? What am I doing here?" Mom panics a bit.
"They lured you here to get me to come, but I'll explain the rest later." As Koneko came beside me, I said, "Koneko, get my mom out of here!" I gave the order, while Koneko grabbed my mother and placed her over her shoulder.
"Wait! What are you doing?" My mother worries as Koneko grabs her and puts her over her shoulders.
"I need to save Asia, and Koneko will take you out of here."
"Issei!" My mother shouts as Koneko takes her away from the scene, while Kiba is still fighting to keep the stray priests off of me while I go save Asia.
"You can have her back; I got what I wanted." Raynare chuckles as she unchains Asia from the cross.
"Asia!" She fell from the cross, and I caught her. "I got you."
"Issei." She said it weakly. "You came for me."
"Of course I did, Asia." I said. "I would never leave you behind."
"I'm going to be the most powerful fallen angel, and I will topple anyone that stands in my way." Raynare brags, and she shows off the Twilight Healing Rings.
"You give those back to her!" They don't belong to you!" I yelled.
"Hey! Just be grateful that I didn't kill you." She said
"Then, why did you bring my mother into this?!"
"My stupid boss wanted you dead because you were a risk to us, so I brought your mother here to bait you." She explained
"You bitch!" I cursed
But now that I have what I wanted, I don't need to follow stupid orders. I mean, what could a lowly human like you possibly do to us?" She slandered, then started to laugh.
I picked up Asia and made my way towards the cellar entry as Kiba was still fighting the stray priest, helping me by making a path for me.
"Kiba!" I stopped and called for my friend, whom I didn't want to leave behind.
"Just go! I'll catch up!" He shouted.
I nodded and made my way out of the cellar, and back at the church's main room, I got to a bench and gently laid Asia down to rest.
"Asia, hold on!" As I hold her hand, I plead.
"Issei." She said it weakly.
"We're going to take you to Rias, and she'll patch you up." I comforted her as I held her hand with both of mine.
"I know that it wasn't long, but I'm so blessed to meet a friend like you." She breathes weakly.
"Don't say that! Once we get out of this, we are going to be friends a lot longer than this." As I cried, I countered her judgment.
"I wish that it would have been different. I wish that I had the opportunity to grow up in this country, go to the same school as you, and meet your mother. She seems like a really nice person." Asia said.
"You would have a great time at school, and my mother would absolutely adore you." Tears begin to drip on our embracing hands.
"Without her artifact, she will gradually disappear, and no type of healing will save her." Mgelika stated.
"NO! I will not let that happen!" I cried until Asia placed her hand on my cheek, and then I looked back at her.
"It was so nice to meet you, Issei. Thank you." Asia smiles at me as she takes her last breath and sheds tears.
Asia Argento was not with me anymore. I gently placed her hands on her chest and buried my face in her lifeless body. My mind fills up with pain, grief, and anger as flashes of my dad's death set in my mind.
"IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE! She's a young, gentle soul and a healer! She would have helped a lot of people! BRING HER BACK!" In the air, I cried and shouted.
"So unfair, right?" Raynare pops out of nowhere.
"What fuck do you want?! Haven't you done enough already?!" I clenched my teeth at her.
"That swordsman of yours did this to me, but no matter what, these can heal much of anything." She shows off the healing rings that she stole from Asia.
"You better give those back! They don't belong to you!" I threatened.
All of a sudden, a flow of power begins to build up inside of me.
"No fucking way! I had to betray my superiors to get this type of power. I'm an opportunist after all." She chuckles.
"Who fucking cares? Why does she have to suffer because of your selfishness?" I barked.
"Unfortunately, this is the destiny of those with sacred gears."
"Bullshit! Did you pick that up with a pen, or are you just trying to justify your self-centeredness? She would have used it to help people!" I insulted.
"Out of the question: people who use sacred gear like Asia for good wouldn't survive in the real world and would face labeling as heretics and outcasts, she retorted.
I shrieked, "YOU SHOULD BE THE ONE LYING IN ASIA'S PLACE!" at the top of my lungs.
"Oh, boo-hoo, how disheartening." Raynare taunts.
"Your sacred gear adapts and evolves based on your thoughts, needs, and feelings, which will allow you to gain abilities and/or qualities as time passes as you improve on mental and physical strengths."
(HOWL)
My Howling Gauntlet appears and makes an echoing wolf's howl with the addition of a big flow of energy. Raynare widens her eyes and takes a small step back.
"I WANT ASIA BACK!" As I charged at Raynare in an attempt to strike her, I screamed again. Unfortunately, I missed her, but I kept coming after her.
"So you want to play?!" She taunts me as I continue to approach her.
"FUCK YOU!" I charged at her.
"You are a fool if you think that you can stand a chance to beat me." She dodged again, but I still kept coming.
She flew into the air and shot two spears at my leg. I stumbled, but not that much. It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would when Freed shot me in the leg with his holy pistol. Maybe it's all the power and adrenaline my sacred gear was transmitting. Perhaps the experience pales in comparison to the ordeal she inflicted on Asia.
"This is nothing compared to what Asia went through!" As I pulled the spear from my knees, I yelled.
"You're lucky that you are a human. The pain would be unbearable for a devil." She taunts.
"I'm not done with you yet. I'll keep fighting you, even if I don't make it out of this!" I said.
"You know, for a human, you can definitely keep up, so kudos for your improvements."
My powers start to significantly increase as I have more memories of my dad's passing, Kiba suffering injuries for my benefit, Asia suffering abuse at the hands of Freed, my mother's kidnappings, and Asia's passing. At the same time, my Howling Gauntlet starts to change.
(AMELIORATION!) (HOWL)
As my knee wounds fade away, the flow of blue, purple, and black energy flows throughout my body as my wounds on my knees fade away.
"What the fuck?!" Raynare is frightened. "How are you doing that?!"
"During this entire time, you continued to cause harm to the individuals I hold dear and suffer." I cried.
"How are you able to stand? You don't have that capability! You are just a lowly human being! YOU ARE NOTHING!" She berates.
I ignored her and started to advance towards her as my Howling Gauntlet produced more energy.
"What are you?" She shouts.
"My name is Issei Hyoudou, and I'm the Heavenly Wolf!" I shouted.
"No, it can't be!" Raynare starts to take a step back as I continue to approach her.
She threw a spear at me, but this time I caught it and crumbled it into little particles.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Raynare tries to fly away, but I jump and grab her by the leg.
"FOR ASIA!" I yelled.
"NO! PLEASE WAIT!" She pleads.
"FANG STRIKE!" I struck Raynare with my fully upgraded gauntlet and flew out of the glass roof, off to who knows where. "Damn, that felt good."
I began to feel the flow of energy fade away, and I was about to hit the ground out of fatigue, but Kiba came in the nick of time to catch me.
"Look at you, handling that on your own." Kiba complimented.
"Thanks. Are mom and Koneko all right?" I asked.
"Yeah, Koneko took your mom back home." He replied.
"Okay good. What held you up?"
Rias gave me the order to stand back.
"Seriously?"
"Absolutely, at first I thought that I might have to intervene, but then I felt like you were able to defeat her, which you did." Rias arrived and gave me a pat on the back.
"Thanks for believing in me, Rias." I thanked Rias for believing in me as Kiba gently sat me down on a nearby bench.
"Has anyone ordered this?" Koneko came through the door, dragging a grounded Raynare, and threw her in front of Rias.
"You must be Raynare; I'm Rias Gremory, heiress to the House of Gremory." Rias introduces herself to the "fallen" angel.
"Heiress? Oh, I'm so fucked." Raynare curses.
"You've caused quite the ruckus lately. You and your stray friends have been giving us quite a handful for the last couple of days, but unfortunately, this is my territory, and I will not allow such things or fallen angels like yourself to play in this certain sandbox, you friends, on the other hand." Rias holds out her hand, and a few black feathers fall out.
"What did you do?" Raynare held up one of the feathers.
"I and my dear friend, Akeno, had a little tumble with your companions, which was awfully rude." She comments.
"No," Raynare said quietly.
"Don't worry, you'll be joining them too." As she was about to smite Raynare out of existence, Rias spoke.
"Wait!" I stopped her and approached Raynare. "Let me handle this one."
Rias stepped aside and allowed me to deal with Raynare.
I grabbed Raynare by the neck and lifted her up. Raynare gazed at me, her eyes filled with fear, akin to Asia's fear during her crucifixion and my mother's. As I looked at her, previous memories started to come to mind. So, instead of killing her, I grabbed her by her wings, and with all the strength that I had leftover, I yanked them off of her back, and she began to scream in agony.
"My wings!" She cried as I let go of her.
I really don't know what happens to fallen angels when they have their wings removed, but I thought of this as a reminder for Raynare.
"If I had it my way, you would be dead, but that is enough death for one night." As I retrieved Asia's rings from her, I spoke these words. "You are going to leave this place, and you are going to try to live the rest of your life through Asia's eyes, going to school, getting a job, getting married, and starting a family."
Raynare was shocked to see that, after what she had done to me, I showed mercy and told her to move on with her life.
As Raynare left the church, I went back to Asia and gave her back her rings.
"I'm sorry, Asia." I cried. "You were so filled with happiness and love, yet you were suffering. I wish that I would have been here sooner to save you. I hope that you will forgive me. Wherever you are now, I hope that you don't have to suffer anymore."
I placed a hand on Asia's hands and took a little moment of silence.
"Issei, what happened to Asia was not your fault." Rias comforted.
"I wish that I got here sooner." I cried.
"This world is still new to you, and nobody is placing blame on you, least of all Asia," she added.
I took in her words and continued to look at Asia's lifeless body. All she wanted was to live a life filled with happiness and peace, but here she is, sleeping forever.
The next morning, I decided not to go to school. After what happened last night, I didn't really want to do much of anything. My mind wasn't in a good spot. Mom was still sleeping after Koneko brought her back home. Last night, Asia was the only thing that could not get me to sleep. I felt as though I had lost my dad once more.
"If I can't save Asia, how can I live up to being a Hyoudou like my ancestors?" I pondered with doubt about living up to my ancestral legacy.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Come in." I sat up to hear someone knocking on my bedroom door.
"Issei?" My eyes begin to widen as tears flow out as they set sight on certain individuals who I thought I had failed to save last night.
"ASIA!" I cried with joy as I quickly got up from my bed and embraced Asia like there was no tomorrow.
"Oomph, hi Issei." Asia said this as she wrapped her hands around me.
"How is this possible? I thought that I would never see you again." As Asia wiped my tears, I still cried.
"I reincarnated her, and now she is my new bishop." Rias appeared and explained.
"Bishop?" While I was still holding on to Asia, I pondered.
Rias held up a glowing red bishop chess piece and said, "This is an evil piece, and I used it on Asia and brought her back."
"Evil Piece?" I still pondered.
Evil Pieces are a set of 15 chess pieces given to high-class devils, like myself, to increase their ranks by reincarnating other beings into devils, like Asia here." Rias explained.
"So you're a devil now." I said I was looking at Asia.
"She is my bishop, who gains enhanced demonic power and magical abilities, which they can use to conjure up a multitude of spells."
"Asia, that is so cool!" I said it excitedly.
"I just hope that God doesn't think so low of me now that I'm a devil." Asia sighs.
"Or maybe it's a chance to finally get the life that you deserve." I patted her head.
"I hope so."
"Asia, it's going to be fantastic to have you around, and I've got your back no matter what." I comfort.
"Since you put it this way, I guess it won't be too bad." She smiles.
"As for your mother, I had to do a little memory-erasing on the incidents last night." Rias said.
"So, she won't remember anything that went down?" I asked.
"All she remembers is coming home to go to bed."
Well, at least she can go on about her day. Come to think of it, if I'm going to be doing this whole Hyoudou thing and being a Heavenly Wolf, I have to be sure that my mother is always safe and sound and not having to worry about me or herself if danger lurks around the corner.
"Breakfast is ready, everybody!" I heard my mother calling from downstairs.
"Well, it looks like a fresh new day for me."
Although I didn't ask for this life, others expected it of me. Being a Hyoudou is more than just being one. I learned to accept that, just like all my other ancestors did. This road will be long and hard, but I'm going to improve on it. I will prepare myself to meet the expectations of becoming the Heavenly Wolf and the Hyoudou. This time, I'm not afraid anymore.