OneShot Compilation

[15] The Reaper's prayer (Honorable Mention)

"You're going to regret stepping out of this household, Sai," a deep and a husky voice of a man, sitting on a zaisu, echoed through the empty spaces of the enormous house of the Hayashis.

"Gomen'nasai, oto-sama," a lady on her 20's spoke in a soft voice and performed dogeza in front of her father, and the moment she sat straight, she met his cold eyes.

Although there were no signs of emotions in them, she knows her father is heartbroken by her sudden detachment from their clan in order to keep her promise on her late brother, Sachihiro. Sai swallowed a deep breath and slowly stood up to leave, but before she could even walk out of the room, her father spoke once again.

"You can't run away from your destiny," he muttered, eyes shifting to her. "No matter what."

It must be in the way of how her father said it or the way he looks at her, which makes her insides tremble, or the message itself which gives her a strong warning-either way, she had already made her choice.

She looked to her right to where Akira stood in black suit. Sheen tears are visible in his eyes. He wanted to stop Sai so much, but he didn't had the chance to even talk to her. He was so occupied with Sachihiro's funeral and he just learned about her detachment a moment ago.

"Sai," he mouthed and attempted to approach her, but his respect for Mr. Hayashi held him on the ground.

"Sayōnara," Sai whispered, smiled, and walked pass Akira who wasn't able to do anything, but watch his friend set off.

Indeed, she left that one spring night with the memories and the reality that she all have the intention to bury and forget. For ten years, she tried escaping the path that her clan have paved for her to trail; however, her father stick to his words.

"You can't run away from your destiny. No matter what..."

Sai pressed her eyes together when she remembered what Mr. Hayashi said before she left and now the time has finally come. Slowly, she stood up from the wooden bench and face her old friend.

"It's been long, Sai," the man, who stood in front of six samurai men, said in a rather genial or snide manner. He's only wearing a plain black pull over jacket, black joggers, and black shoes, yet his well-proportioned body still flaunts with his fairness.

"Truly," Sai's voice remained neutral, wishing that Akira won't notice her son's belongings left visible on the bench.

Sota left with his father to buy snacks in a department store and they'll be back any minute, so Sai thought of leading these men elsewhere as fast as she could, but Akira's sudden laugh stopped her.

"Don't even think about it, Sai," he said between gasps as though he's trying to suppress his laughter. "We all know about your son all this time and that's why we're here," Akira paused and grinned. "To take him to where he belongs."

Hearing those made Sai's face crimson in rage. "Once you touch my son, let alone take him to that awful place, I won't just stand idly and do nothing."

Akira inclined his head to the right, pressing his lips together as if he's thinking, and then parted them right away to speak. "You know exactly what will happen if you leave, Sai. You're the only one left capable of handling the clan. If you can't, then someone should-someone from the Hayashis and no one's left but you and Sota."

"You won't dare!"

"I just did."

Sai scoffed. "The clan's deteriorating, can't you see? We used to act with honor, but everyone's slowly being blinded by power-killing everyone who stands against our way, for what? For the clan's selfish desires! Nii-sama asked me to change how oto-sama handles the clan, but I-I just can't do it. Nii-sama's death showed me the clan's wickedness and I got so scared with myself. I might also turn into a monster once I became the head."