Chasing Dreams (Discontinued)

Chapter 212: The Dragon Calamity Itsuki

When I heard Gaijin (Foreigners) were arriving at the Fumiko Estate, truth be told, I was surprised. People tend to stay out of Fumiko affairs. The public fears our clan, and the Hero Association is astute enough not to be overly involved with situations involving our family.

However, I would be lying if I said the occurrence didn't pique my interest. Messengers told me the Gaijin would be accompanying Ryota. Apparently, Ryota suffered lethal wounds at the hands of Renji Tachibana.

I heard rumors about Raja Renji's strength, but it was hard to imagine Ryota falling against an unranked hero. After hearing the news, I was determined to see it for myself.

I never liked Ryota. Truthfully, I despise him. Ryota might be my cousin, but I couldn't deny that seeing him wither in pain wouldn't make me smile. I was curious to see the expressions on his men. What sort of faces would they wear after seeing their commander lying at death's door?

Would they be heartbroken like Shinobu, or would their morale have reached its lowest point? When I arrived at the gate, I expected to see a plethora of broken men, but instead, I was met with an expression I couldn't forget.

A lonely pair of red eyes that were ensnared by darkness like a lover's embrace.

Hakuji immediately stopped. He watched Itsuki walk past him, displaying his usual ignited glare. Itsuki's eyes sparked like dragon fire burning away everything out of his sight that he deemed unnecessary, including Hakuji.

Itsuki didn't acknowledge Hakuji not because he didn't want to, but rather because he didn't know he was even there. Compared to the Dragon Calamity that soared across the heavens, Hakuji was only a scheming fox trapped within the forest.

Itsuki paid no attention to those in his path, whether it be men, women, or children. All those who blocked his way he trampled over and immediately forgot their existence like insignificant ants.

The eyes of the king showed Itsuki only one vision, his dream, and the lone man capable of preventing it. He viewed Renji Tachibana as a storm cloud, capable of obscuring his sight but not for long. With enough time and resilience, even a man is capable of weathering a storm.

At that moment, Itsuki did the unthinkable. He smiled. Itsuki showed the Fumiko his massive shark-like jaws that held rows of teeth as if silently telling them that his fangs would devour the phoenix.

***

"How odd." Hakuji admitted. It seems like I've fallen into a peculiar situation.

Hakuji tried to read the air. It was difficult to tell if Nyssa could be an asset or a menace that could ruin his plans.

Nyssa attempted the same. Strangely she couldn't see past Hakuji's stormy gaze. He didn't fully smile or entirely frown. He perfectly masked his emotions like a rain cloud.

I can't tell what he's thinking. Nyssa frowned. She looked at her hands and legs. Despite attempting to kill him, Hakuji didn't take her and the others as prisoners. He left them physically unrestrained but confounded to separate rooms aboard his ship.

"Your eyes are just like his." Hakuji said, breaking the silence.

"What?" Nyssa raised a brow in confusion.

"They're red like the dragon calamity." Hakuji rephrased. "At first, I thought you were lying. It's hard to believe that man could have a child. Not because he's unattractive, but he doesn't seem to be interested in the things that can destroy men."

Hakuji's eyes narrowed like Sayuri's. "Your face isn't much like his. It's round and pudgy. Even your hair is messy and wild." His voice sank as if drowning in a river. "Although I suppose that comes with immaturity."