Notes:

I'm sure this chapter will leave you shocked/surprised and even eager to know more about this fic.

So I hope you like it.

Please note that this chapter will explain the current situation of the Zenin clan.

As a slight disclaimer, in this chapter there are mentions of blood and miscarriages (natural loss).

Without further ado, enjoy the reading.

Chapter 06. The Zenin Clan

July 13.

10 days later.

12:20 p.m.

At the Zenin residence.

"So, The rumors are true, huh? Okkotsu went back to Japan" Naoya pronounced that name with contempt.

"That's right, sir" commented an older woman, she was the mother of the Zenin twins, walking three steps behind him.

"What has that bastard come back for? Is he already going to be appointed as the new leader of the Gojo clan?" asked Naoya as they continued walking down the hallway of their residence.

"We understand that Mr. Okkotsu has returned to help solve the case that has been unleashed around this new sorcerer killers" commented Naoya's aunt.

"So, That bastard is now a detective? Speaking of which, How many of our subordinates have been killed in this case?" Naoya asked coolly.

"So far, four" the woman swallowed saliva with difficulty "In the morning we were notified that the body of another of our servants had been found, who was murdered days ago...".

"Even if they were simple servants, their deaths could affect my image as the current leader of this clan" commented Naoya stopping outside a traditional room, which served as his office inside that residence, "Whoever this assassin is, it is obvious that he does not know what he is doing. The simple fact that he is acting against the Zenin clan is reason enough for him to pay with his blood" he was annoyed.

"So I'll be under the stupid obligation to see and talk to that bastard of Okkotsu" he sighed and put his hand on that sliding door.

"I want you to let Okkotsu Yuta know that I, the 27th leader of the Zenin clan, want to see him as soon as possible so that he can give me an account of this case.

"Yes, sir" commented the woman, bowing.

Naoya opened the door of that traditional room. In the middle of it and on the elegant tea table, there was a beautiful katana.

That man approached to take that weapon and admired it. That katana had an almost perfect edge.

"She has done a good job in making exact replicas of the cursed tools that have disappeared, or better said, that 'someone' seems to have stolen" he continued, admiring the weapon.

"I must admit that she has improved a lot and all this is thanks to her technique" commented Naoya looking at himself in the reflection of the Katana "And speaking of her, Where is Mai Chan?" he asked his aunt.

"My daughter is resting in her room, she is recovering from the loss of cursed energy, as well as from the loss of blood she had a few days ago..." the woman said this while she was outside that room. To which the servants were forbidden to enter without permission from their leader.

"I see" Naoya turned to the woman.

The Zenin leader continued, "You know?, Mai would make an excellent wife if, as well as creating weapons, she could sire an heir with that barren womb of hers." He snorted

"Too bad the same cannot be said of Maki, who is already dead for having been a disgrace to the clan. If she were alive, perhaps she could have given me an heir that would carry our same 'royal' blood" commented Naoya with a certain tone of arrogance while she kept that Katana.

Those words made the twins' mother keep silent and only pressed her lips together out of the hatred she felt.

"Anyway, you may leave, I must see to other urgent matters. Go and fulfill the assignment I have given you. We must also be prepared for when Okkotsu sets foot in this house" commented Naoya looking at his aunt over his shoulder.

"Yes sir..." commented the woman, closing the door behind her.

That news would spread too fast in that residence, because they say that "the walls have ears".

And those rumors would quickly reach the ears of another victim who was involved six years ago.

"I heard that the lady lost another baby, Is that true?" commented in a low voice, a young green-haired maid, who was cleaning the floor of a corridor that led to one of the most beautiful gardens that the residence had and that only certain members of the family could enjoy.

"That's true! And I must say that it was too disgusting, the lady lost a lot of blood, the sheets looked like the scene of a massacre!" said in a low voice another servant girl, just as young but with black hair.

"Poor..."

The black-haired girl continued speaking, while she finished carving the floor "You know? I'm beginning to believe that 'she' is the one who causes herself the miscarriages. It's not normal so many losses"

The other maid just shrugged "I don't think she's capable of doing that. I feel that abortions are more due to her technique. Can't she create life? That alone would explain why she has already three abortions."

"Anyway, that good-for-nothing is not good for bearing children, but she is good for giving weapons to this stupid clan. Doesn't that sound a bit ironic?" replied the black haired maid with disgust.

"And I guess Mr. Naoya must not be having a good time with this abortion either, right?" answered the green-haired maid.

"Why do you say that?"

"I say this because Mr. Naoya must be desperate to have an heir and the deadline given to him by the former leader is running out!" the green-haired maid began to whisper as she finished cleaning the wood on the walls, "You know?, Mr. Naobito gave him only three years for Naoya to give him a grandson with some good technique, otherwise the leadership would pass to one of his older brothers" she said while wringing out a cloth.

"Well, at least we're not the only clan having trouble getting heirs" the black-haired maid commented.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I heard that the Gojo clan is also having fertility problems, that's why they haven't been able to have heirs either. Is this some kind of karma for the leaders?"

"If it is, I hope this Karma will exterminate both clans."

"Speaking of the Gojo clan, have you heard?"

"About what?"

"Yuta Okkotsu has returned to Japan. And that he is currently here in Kyoto"

At that moment the door of the elegant room in that hallway opened noisily.

From that door a woman peeked out with short green hair, her skin was paler than usual and her eyes were as golden as honey. She was wearing a beautiful black tomesode kimono. Those clothes indicated that this woman was the wife of the leader of that household.

"You two make too much noise with your stupid mumbling!" said an adult Mai, who sounded too annoyed.

"We are sorry, my lady" apologized the black-haired maid, bowing.

"What the hell were they talking about?" asked Mai as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the doorway.

"I'm sorry if we woke you up" apologized the green-haired maid.

"And if you'll excuse us, we've finished cleaning up here, so we should retire"

At that moment, Mai took the Chinese porcelain teapot on the silver tray, which was left for her at the door of her room, and dropped it with full intention in front of the maids.

"Oops!, sorry! This good-for-nothing has tired hands..." Mai looked seriously at both women "So now get to cleaning up this mess and by the way I order you to tell me what you were talking about a moment ago" answered angrily.

Both maids looked at her angrily, but since she was their lady, they had no choice but to get back on their knees and start cleaning up the mess.

"So, what was the last thing they said?" asked Mai.

The green-haired girl began to speak as she picked up the pieces of porcelain.

"We were saying that there is a very strong rumor that Yuta Okkotsu has returned to Japan."

"Okkotsu?" asked Mai with surprise. Her eyes widened like saucers, her hands went to her belly and even her breathing stopped at such news.

"That's right, my lady. There is also a rumor going around that Mr. Okkotsu was called by Mr. Naoya to discuss an urgent matter."

"Okkotsu is coming to this residence? When?" asked Mai quickly without taking her eyes off them.

"We don't know yet..."

"We assume it will be in the next few days"

"And do you know what subject that idiot of Naoya wants to discuss with Okkotsu?" asked Mai insistently.

Both said NO with a nod of the head

"The only thing we know is that in the next few days, Mr. Okkotsu will be coming to the Zenin residence"

"That is all we have been told"

Mai leaned against the door of her room for a moment. She felt weak both from the lack of cursed energy, as well as from the blood she had lost days ago and incidentally, that news left her in a state of Shock.

"Mrs. Mai, are you all right?" asked the black-haired girl as she quickly leaned against the door.

They both approached her, but Mai stopped them.

"Don't come near me! I'm fine!" she shouted as she regained her composure, "Now you two take care of this mess and bring me the food!" she slammed the sliding door angrily behind her.

That behavior caused both maids to look at each other in confusion.

Mai put her hands to her mouth as she looked around her large room. Which was old but very beautiful, covered with a beautiful tatami and with four walls with beautiful Japanese paintings.

That room also had a small desk, which was full of books. As well as many books on chemistry and history, there were also books on the creation of various materials. All those books were scattered on the floor and there were even books on her futon. Since Mai had to read them and use them as instructions to be able to create the tools that the clan forced her to create with certain characteristics.

That room had only a circular window that was closed with several bars and the door through which he had peeked.

Unfortunately that room was guarded most of the time by some other servant sent by Naoya.

Mai stood still for a few more minutes as her brain finished processing everything she had just heard.

"If Okkotsu is here in Kyoto and is coming to this residence, That could mean that he already knows the truth about Maki and his children?" she wondered mentally.

Her lips tightened.

Unfortunately Mai was cut off from the outside world three years ago, when they made a deal to protect Maki and her nephews. A deal that even involved Fushiguro, who resigned as the leader of the Zenin clan.

And lately their messenger, or rather, their informant with the outside, was making it too difficult for them to get close to her since a few weeks ago, since they were not letting anyone, except for Naoya and Mai's mother, near her room.

"Okkotsu can be my trump card to get out of this hellish house!" she whispered as she quickly approached her closet and searched for a small box, which she kept under the wooden boards.

From that box she took a picture of her and Maki, along with two babies. Her nephews, whom she swore to protect. That photograph was the only souvenir she was allowed to bring with her.

Inside that box were also several letters that the two of them had sent and exchanged secretly for those two years before their communication ceased.

Mai quickly pulled out some blank sheets of paper, as well as a pen she had stolen from Naoya's office.

"I don't know if Yuta already knows the truth about Maki and his children. Still, I'm going to take the risk of trying to tell him everything... I need him to know the truth and help me get out of here!" she whispered as she began to write.

On that day, Yuta Okkotsu was also moving around the city as another murder had taken place.

What he didn't expect was that he was only a few steps away from Maki's home that very afternoon.

Notes:

Chan! Chan! What did you think of the chapter?

I hope you liked it and that it motivated you to continue reading this fic.

Maybe later I'll tell you about the deal that involved Mai and even Megumi.

I hope to update soon, as I am in a big dilemma, which is whether the next chapter should be divided in two or should be left in one very long chapter, as another woman will also appear and will be somewhat important to the plot.

What do you think? Split chapter or long chapter?

Anyway, Maki and Yuta are about to be reunited ❤️

Anyway, we'll keep reading.

Pd: What did you guys think of this week's anime episode? I'm crying because of what happened with Mechamaru 😭.

Still, Shibuya was never a happy arc.