Senran Kagura; Shinobi by Death: Volume 1, The Beginning

Chapter 8: Family Issues

Yukio went through his classes again, with less motivation to actually pay attention to class. Yukio answered the teacher's questions and knew everything they were going to do during the day. Yukio didn't care about his classes because classes weren't the biggest problem.

By lunchtime, he rushed over to the old building, and had lunch with everyone, did his third introduction to Hanzo, and once again overheard sensei Kiriya and Ikaruga talking about her brother. However, this time Yukio wanted Ikaruga to tell him about her family, because all he knew was what had been shown to him when he visited Ikaruga's past. He approached Ikaruga after her talk with Kiriya.

"Hey, Ikaruga?" Yukio got her attention.

"What's wrong, Yukio? You look distressed." Ikaruga said, as she tried to act normal.

"I'm sorry, but I overheard some things that you were just talking about." Yukio tried to think of what words to say, without sounding suspicious. "Is there something wrong with your family?"

Ikaruga remained silent, which irritated Yukio a bit. He thought that if he didn't find out enough about the situation, then he wouldn't be able to help out, making this timeline useless.

"...I know, I probably won't understand how you feel. I haven't been through whatever you've been through. I'm sorry if your past was very tragic, but I just wondered what's gotten you so concerned." Yukio said, trying to convince Ikaruga to tell him the full story.

Ikaruga remained silent again, Yukio was about to give up.

"It doesn't hurt to have someone to lean on, you know?" Yukio added.

Ikaruga sighed, and chuckled a bit at Yukio's last inquiry. "You and I may not have similar backgrounds, but we both care for others' wellbeing."

Yukio fell silent, he didn't believe he cared for Ikaruga's wellbeing.

I'm only doing this to get out of this time loop, I have to learn more whether I like it or not...

Ikaruga pulled Yukio out of the classroom, and went far away to make sure no one was able to hear them talking.

"Alright, I'll tell you everything that's been on my mind, but can you promise me that you won't think of me any differently afterwards?" Ikaruga asked.

"Everything? Ok, deal." Yukio responded.

Ikaruga took a deep breath. "...I was adopted into a rich and noble Shinobi clan called the Phoenix Conglomerate. Because of my brother being unable to become a Shinobi, our parents were desperate to have someone pass down their legacy, so they adopted me, a distant relative who had the potential to become a Shinobi, and they handed down their legacy to me." Ikaruga said, as she summoned Hein, her sword.

"So their legacy is a sword?" Yukio asked.

"Indeed. Because I was the one who inherited the family heirloom, my brother resents me for ruining his dream of becoming a Shinobi." Ikaruga said, her voice grew shaky.

Ikaruga's face had tears coming out of the side of her eyes, she tried to hold back from crying. Yukio was shocked by this, he had thought of Ikaruga as someone who wouldn't let her emotions get the better of her, the sight of her crying seemed impossible.

"I...I didn't want him to hate me like this, I tried to apologize to him over and over again, but he has never forgiven me. I never thought I would be despised this much, having my brother wishing that I was dead." Ikaruga continued to cry.

Yukio just listened to the whole story. He didn't know what to say because he didn't want to say anything that would be offensive.

Ikaruga...she genuinely feels guilty for taking Murasame's spotlight, but he just...