Third person p.o.v.
Nagisa went up stairs. The crimson in her hair fades to black as she walks with her eyes closed. Her breathing fades along with her footsteps. She stopped at her room door.
"Nagisa, I wanted to talk...to you?" Akane looks around. "Where'd she go?" Did she go inside her room already? She sighed. "Better not disturb her."
Nagisa stood in the corner. Her hair all black and her eyes dull. She watched Akane leave.
Hypocrisy Façade, a technique that allows the members of my clan to appear like normal people but, when taken to the extreme, it can make the user appear invisible.
I've gotten pretty good at it. Now I can move around without anyone noticing.
She went downstairs. The sounds of metal clashing got louder with her approach. Let's see what's so important Grandma. She peered into the kitchen. Woah. This is, awesome! Her mother and grandmother were fighting using their bat and cane. Their weapons collided and grinded against each other. Sparks flew.
Ren glared condescendingly. Her displeased mother pushed back. They broke away to collide again repeatedly.
I've never seen Grandma fight this much before. She always defeats us in spars within five moves. She's still strong enough to keep up with Mom who is our clan's strongest. But something is wrong with the picture. Grandma said they needed to talk, yet they're fighting. And I know this isn't a real fight because the kitchen would have been destroyed already. Maybe they're trying not too? Then why not just go outside instead of restricting their bodies in here...that's it, their bodies! They're using the Articulation of Soma technique, body language. I might be able to tune in if I'm closer. She rolled into the kitchen and stooped in the corner. Now what are you two saying?
"If that's all you came to lecture me about then stand still!" Ren swung. Her mother evaded. The bat smashed into the marble countertop.
"It's not just Future Clan Leader Kai,"
She rolled her eyes. And of course it's about my useless brother. She crawled to the door.
"It's about Future Lieutenant Nagisa as well. Both your children."
Wait, I'm involved? She was back in the corner.
Ren chased her mother. The ferocity or her swings increased. "What about her?"
"Do you not see how she looks down at her older brother ever since the Black Tiger incident? All her life she's heard how her brother will be the one to lead us. That he'll be amazing and gets all your attention." She dodged each swing and ran on the countertop. "Then when the house is being attacked by some third rate scum, he runs away like a coward leaving his sister to fend for herself. She was so enraged, she beat six adult men to death. She thinks he doesn't deserve his birth right and your love because he's inferior to her." She hit Ren's stomach.
"I knew she doesn't agree with him becoming the next Clan Leader, but I didn't know that's why. Wait, what do you mean my love?" She staggered backwards.
"Both of us know that you love Kai more than Nagisa. She knows about what you said hugging Kai's jacket that day."
Ren threw her bat. Her mother's cane was knocked away. She slammed her into the wall. "How do you know about that?! I made sure no one was around!"
"So, its true. Nagisa told me. It seems she's been developing my Hypocrisy Façade technique from a very young age."
Wow Grandma, anymore of my secrets you want to tell Mom? And what do you mean at an early age? Aren't I going at the same pace as Aunt Sayuri? Speak of which, her presence just disappeared. She's probably trying to spy like I am. Nagisa glanced at the door.
"Just like a Clan Leader..." Said Ren.
Nope. Not possible and I'm not going down this road again. She crawled to the door.
"But that shouldn't be possible."
Same shit I said! She was back in the corner.
"Only the first-born child of the current Clan Leader can learn these skills at a young age, just like me when you first made the technique. That's how our family curse works."
Exactly! She rolled her eyes.
"Yes but you forget that all past Clan Leaders first born were all girls. Kai is the first male first born of a Clan Leader in the four generations of the Yamaguchi Clan. Has it ever occurred to you that our curse only chooses the first female to be born as Clan Leaders?"
No! I refuse to believe this! I won't give in to false hope. It has to be him cause I don't have the qualifications. She crawled to the door. You know I should probably stay here bit longer.
"That's what I thought until you told me that you had a vision of his future. That he'd be the strongest."
"That's what I saw in my visions. Him standing on the pinnacle of the world surrounded by women about to dive into war without any fear, only joyous anticipation."
"Yeah that's what you said. Worse part is your visions are always right." She sighs and drops her mother.
"What are you going to do now?"
"What do you mean do now? Nothing's changed and things will go on as they always have. Nagisa will continue to train and get stronger without my assistance while the turd will continue to get his ass whooped until he grows some backbone." She leans against the broken counter.
"Even after hearing everything I've just told you, you still won't do anything!? Forget it you ignorant brat! You're just as stubborn as your father before we had you. You probably won't tell him until he's gone. Humph!" Grandma says as she leaves the kitchen.
"...yeah...I know...."
She stopped in front the door. "Sayuri....We know you're there..."
"Dammit Ma, how'd you know?" Said Sayuri as she stepped out.
"Did you think that a presence as strong as yours suddenly disappearing would go unnoticed?"
"You should have done it like Nagisa whose presence slowly faded. Now get to school Nagisa." Said Ren. If you really are the Future Clan Leader Nagisa, then what does that make Kai?
And I'm busted. "Yes mother." She stood up beside Ren. Everyone was astonished. She glanced at Ren. She was nonchalant. And of course, I don't get praised for my skills. But would it kill you to at least be mad at me? Anyone else would have gotten a beat down and Kai would have gotten that times ten! At least show me something! Anything!
"Lieutenant Sayuri, did you deal with those fools who refused to pay up? Especially that fool, ugh."
"Oh no I forgot. I'll break a few bones then drop Nagisa off at school ma. It'll be good for her to know more about the family business since it's the job of us lieutenants to make sure everyone co-operates to keep the people we hustle safe from our Clan Leader's temper tantrums." She led her away.
Ren growled. "I do not throw tantrums!"
"Sure sure sis, this kitchen is a shining example." She giggled then ducked along with Nagisa. Ren's bat smashed into the wall above their heads.
_Chapter End_