CHANGE -「Last Embryo」

Chapter 2

Five years ago...

"So Senji will go see the fossil."

Senji and Masachika swayed slightly on swings as they chatted. The gentle afternoon breeze made the atmosphere feel more relaxed, although the conversation took on a more serious tone.

"I'm amazed at how you talk about your grandfather, Masachika." Senji leaned his body forward, resting his jaw on his fist as he glanced sideways at his friend. "Do you really get along so badly with Elder Suou?"

"Hmph, quite a lot. I really wouldn't want to go back to the house of that fossil," Masachika replied in a tone that mixed resignation and annoyance.

"I'm surprised, you even left your sister in that house."

"Yuki will be fine. The fossil has high expectations for it. So I don't worry about Yuki; he has fulfilled perfectly what he asks of him."

"If you have so much confidence in your sister, I guess you're right not to care about her."

The conversation flowed for several more minutes until Senji noticed that it was time to leave.

"Ugh, yosh." Masachika made a big jump, swinging the swing and landing accurately on the sandy ground.

Senji applauded the maneuver with a wry smile.

"Huh?" Masachika looked at Senji with a raised eyebrow, surprised by the sudden ovation.

"Bravo? That's great? No idea, I just wanted to applaud." Senji defended himself with a nonchalant expression.

"Bah, it doesn't matter. You should go and visit the fossil house by now."

"You're right." Senji got up from the swing and started walking in another direction. "See you."

He raised his hand to say goodbye to Masachika.

"See you," Masachi replied, as he made his way back home, where his father was waiting for him.

Bruuum, bruuum.

Senji watched boredly out the car window as Sato drove in the direction of the Suou family residence.

"Did you have fun talking to the former heir of the Suou?" asked Sato, trying to start a conversation.

"Fun? I don't think 'fun' is the word to describe it," Senji replied, without much emotion.

"Um? So what entertained him to go with Masachika Kuze...?"

"To bother him with the Russian girl. It was fun to see the funny faces she made and how she babbled without being able to answer," Senji said, with a faint smile of satisfaction.

"... Sadistic." Sato muttered. " What happened to the Russian girl? I haven't seen her for a week."

"He returned to his country, I think."

"Do you believe?" Sato was surprised by the lack of certainty in Senji's words.

"Well, I have no idea. But it's likely that he moved somewhere else."

"Do you plan to look for it?"

"No," Senji replied, without hesitation.

"Good..." Sato sometimes failed to fully understand his Young Master.

"I guess that place is where Elder Suou lives," Senji said, as the car approached the imposing residence.

"Yes. Don't tense up when talking to the Suou's head," Sato warned, with a mixture of respect and caution in his voice.

Senji didn't answer, he just watched as Elder Suou's mansion grew bigger as the car approached. He knew that the meeting would not be easy, but he was clear about his objective.

"This will be quick, enter and decline to return home and play GTA V."

A nervous sweat appeared on Sato as he heard what Senji said.

The car pulled up in front of the main entrance. Senji got out of the car, adjusting his jacket as he stared at the massive wooden door that led inside.

Upon entering, he was greeted by one of the servants, who guided him to a meeting room adorned with ancient art objects and portraits of past generations of the Suou family. In the center of the room, sitting in a dark leather armchair, was Elder Suou, his stiff posture and stern expression making it clear that he was not an easy man to please.

"Senji Muramasa, thank you for accepting my invitation," Elder Suou said in a deep voice, his piercing eyes fixed on the young man in front of him.

"It's my pleasure, Elder Suou," Senji replied, bowing his head slightly in respect as he took a seat across from him.

Elder Suou wasted no time and went straight to the point.

"I heard you've been very busy, Senji. But I would like to offer you a job that I think will be of interest to you. I want you to become the bodyguard for my granddaughter, Yuki Suou."

Senji was not surprised by the proposal, but kept his expression neutral. Elder Suou continued:

"Yuki is a young woman with a great future, and I want to make sure that she is well protected. I don't trust anyone else for this task. You are more than capable, and I am willing to pay you handsomely for your services."

Senji nodded, as if he was considering the offer.

"How much are we talking?" he asked calmly, though his eyes showed no real interest.

Elder Suou mentioned a considerable figure, enough to tempt anyone. But Senji just smiled slightly.

"It's a generous offer, Elder Suou. But I must refuse it," he replied without hesitation.

Elder Suou raised an eyebrow, surprised by the answer.

"May I know why?" he asked, keeping his tone firm.

"I already have my own business to handle, and frankly, I prefer to avoid additional responsibilities," Senji said, his tone calm but confident.

Elder Suou stared at him silently for a few moments, gauging his answer. Finally, he nodded slowly.

"I see that you are a man of convictions, Senji. Although I regret your decision, I respect your honesty. I hope you will reconsider in the future if circumstances change."

Senji stood up and bowed again as a sign of respect.

"I'll keep that in mind, Elder Suou. Thank you for the offer."

With that, Senji turned around and walked out of the ward, leaving Elder Suou to ponder his decision. As he walked out of the mansion, Senji glanced sideways at two girls of his own age with long black hair walking with older servants following them in the garden.

"I guess one of them is Yuki Suou," he muttered as the door closed behind him.

"Did everything go as expected, Young Master?" asked Sato, waiting for him in the car.

"Sort of." Senji replied nonchalantly, climbing into the car.

As Sato began to drive, the calm atmosphere was abruptly shattered as Sato's phone began ringing. Seeing the number on the screen, Sato frowned before answering.

"What's going on?" he asked, his tone more tense than usual.

On the other end of the line, the voice spoke quickly and urgently, detailing the situation. Sato's countenance hardened, and Senji noticed it immediately.

"What's wrong, Sato?" Senji asked, his voice cold.

"Young Master... the Muramasa Clan is being attacked by four Yakuza families. They're trying to dismantle us."

Senji's eyes narrowed, and an air of danger began to surround him. Without saying another word, Senji gestured for Sato to turn around.

"Let's go home," he said, his voice icy. "It's time to remind those families why the Muramasa Clan is the most feared in Japan."

As the car turned to head back, Senji mentally prepared himself for what was to come. He knew that this was not just an attack, but a declaration of war. And he was more than ready to respond.

Elsewhere...

Night was falling, and the full moon was slowly rising in the sky, its pale light barely managing to penetrate the dense darkness that enveloped the Muramasa Clan's mansion. The air was charged with tension, the kind of silence that precedes a storm. Suddenly, the explosion of an explosion broke the stillness of the night, causing the walls of the fortress to tremble as if alive.

The men of the four enemy clans: Saito, Kurogane, Aoyama, and Takeda, emerged from the shadows like hungry predators, advancing with lethal precision. Bullets began to fly, piercing through windows and doors, cutting through the air with a deadly hiss. The first to fall were the outer guards, their bodies torn apart by gunfire before they could even draw their katanas.

Inside the mansion, chaos broke out. The men of the Muramasa Clan, taken by surprise, rushed to defend their home, but were met with a storm of death and destruction. The corridors echoed with the echo of explosions, the clanging sound of swords clashing, and the heart-rending screams of the wounded. Blood stained the walls and floor, forming scarlet rivers that stretched throughout the mansion.

The leader of the Muramasa Clan, a man hardened by years of battle, cut through the invaders with his sword, slashing with lethal precision. Beside him, his wife fought with equal ferocity, her face a mask of cold determination as she faced waves of enemies. But the number of attackers was overwhelming, and little by little, the Muramasa's resistance began to crumble.

The leader of the Muramasa Clan, hardened by countless battles, cut through his enemies with unrelenting coldness. Every movement of his sword was a perfect bow, a deadly dance that left bodies in its wake. As he advanced among the invaders, his wife held the rear, her combat prowess matching her determination. It protected any flank, knocking down enemies who tried to approach by surprise.

Despite his valiant resistance, the numbers were stacked against him. The attackers were moving like an unstoppable tide, and the mansion, once a bastion of security, was beginning to give way to the relentless assault. The walls, now splattered with blood, vibrated with each impact, while the floor became slippery under the weight of the fallen.

Far from giving in to despair, the leader of the Muramasa Clan was consumed by an unrelenting fury. His eyes, ablaze with the rage of treachery, were fixed on every enemy that fell under his sword. The sound of steel tearing flesh and the cracking of bones echoed through the mansion, a macabre symphony that fueled his anger. The blood of the intruders stained his face and clothes, but that only drove him to fight more ferociously.

Beside him, his wife continued to guard the rear, knocking down anyone who tried to attack them by surprise. His movements were swift and precise, each blow of his sword a reminder of his lethal skill. Although they were surrounded, neither of them showed a hint of fear; only fury and the determination to defend their home until their last breath.

The walls of the mansion, now dyed red, vibrated with the intensity of battle. The ground, covered with bodies and blood, became a field of death where every step they took was an affirmation of their resistance. But the tide of enemies did not stop, and the leader of the Muramasa Clan knew that the battle was coming to an end. However, in his mind, there was only room for one thing: to take as many enemies as he could with him before he fell.

As the battle intensified, the clan leader's fury only grew. He lashed out at enemies with deadly precision, each slash and thrust finding its target, knocking down attackers who tried to advance. The leader's wife, despite the blood staining her face and clothes, continued to defend her position with lethal efficiency. His movements were calculated and accurate, every enemy that approached was knocked down before he could do damage. But the number of attackers continued to grow, and although none of them showed weakness, the reality of the situation became apparent: they were being overwhelmed by the relentless tide of enemies.

The halls of the mansion became death corridors, where blood flowed freely and bodies piled up mercilessly. The screams of the wounded and dying were mixed with the sound of swords clashing and explosions that continued to shake the structure. But neither the leader of the Muramasa Clan nor his wife showed signs of surrendering. Every enemy that fell before them was one more step toward a death they knew was inevitable, but they would face with the same fury they had lived with.

Finally, as the strength of the invaders began to overcome the clan's resistance, the leader of the Muramasa Clan felt a burst of bullets pierce through his chest. He did not let himself be carried away by pain or imminent death; In his final moments, he lunged with one last brutal charge, taking as many enemies as he could. The mansion, once a symbol of power and respect, became a battlefield marked by blood and destruction, a silent testament to the slaughter that had been unleashed.

The leader's wife, exhausted, but not relenting, continued to fight until the ambush reached its climax. Surrounded by the bodies of her enemies, she finally fell, her sword still in her hand, her eyes open with the same determination she had shown from the beginning.

When the battle was over, the men of the four clans moved between the bodies, ensuring that none of the Muramasa were left alive. But what they didn't know was that their brutality had ignited a flame that couldn't be easily extinguished.

Senji arrived at his home. When they arrived, the outlook was bleak. The ruined mansion and scattered bodies told the story of a brutal massacre. Senji, his face impassive, watched the chaos. Anger burned within him as he saw the devastation and suffering that had befallen his people and his parents.

"Sato, stay here. I will take care of this with my own hands."

Sato nodded, watching as his Young Master entered what was left of the Muramasa residence, now reduced to rubble.

"Five, ten, twenty... fifty are still alive. Seeing how this place turned out... a total of 400 dead, including my parents."

Senji's eyes darkened, releasing a dangerous energy that was reflected in his gaze.

"He is the heir of the Muramasa! We have to finish him off!"

The screams echoed as the men saw him approaching. Each of them raised their weapons, firing at point-blank range. A dense cloud of dust rose into the air, covering Senji, as his enemies waited, expectantly, to see if their target had fallen.

Crack!

The sound of a broken bone pierced the silence, chilling the blood of the remaining 50 men.

"There are 49 left."

"Who said that?"

"The leader is dead! Keep an eye on the surroundings, Senji Muramasa is still alive!"

"Too late for you."

"What...!"

Crack! Crack!

Senji moved with overwhelming swiftness and lethality, breaking necks with ease and leaving bodies in grotesque positions. The enemies, unable to locate him, trembled in the darkness. Shooting became a dangerous task, as they could kill each other in desperation.

"Ugh!"

A man fell when he received a brutal kick that broke his neck, twisting his head in an unnatural direction.

"Shit!"

Crack!

Every second that passed, two men fell. If they were together, they all perished instantly, victims of Senji's relentless fury.

The blows they received to the skull were devastating, breaking it instantly and turning their heads in impossible directions.

"There are 10 left."

"AAAAAHHHH!"

One of them, panicked, began to shoot randomly, not considering that his companions were in the line of fire. Those who were not killed by Senji fell under the bullets of his own ally.

"Then you're left."

The last man looked back, following Senji's voice. As soon as he did, Senji grabbed his head and, with cold cruelty, turned it until the man's jaw pointed towards the dark sky.

When he finished, Senji turned to Sato, who was watching from a safe distance.

"I'm in charge of handling this. It will be a problem if this spreads to all of Japan. Work as you please to achieve it."

Sato nodded determinedly.

"Understood, Young Master. I'll make sure everything is kept under control and that the information doesn't leak."

With one last glance towards the Muramasa Clan's mansion, Senji turned and headed for the vehicle that would take him to his next destination. Fury still burned within him, a flame that would not be extinguished until justice had been served.

Senji's first destination was the residence of the Saito Clan. The elegant complex, once a symbol of wealth and power, was now in the crosshairs of Senji's fury. Mercilessly, Senji stormed into the place. The guards, surprised by the sudden invasion, tried to react, but were quickly subdued by Senji's unstoppable force. Within minutes, the Saito Clan was devastated, its leaders and its men wiped out without a trace of their existence.

Senji wasted no time. He made his way to the Kurogane Clan's residence. Upon arrival, the attack was even more violent. The men of the Kurogane Clan, like their rivals, were met with an unleashed force that left no room for resistance. Every room was razed, every enemy encountered was eliminated with deadly precision. The headquarters of the Kurogane Clan was reduced to rubble, its influence and power completely extinguished.

Without stopping, Senji moved towards the residence of the Aoyama Clan. Senji's arrival was like a hurricane of destruction. The men of the Aoyama Clan attempted to mount a defense, but Senji's strength was unstoppable. Strategies and tactics were of no importance in the face of the brutality of their attack. In less time than they realized, the Aoyama Clan had become another victim of Senji's relentless vengeance.

Finally, Senji made his way to the Takeda Clan's residence. The last stronghold of enemy clans. The attack was methodical and devastating. Senji advanced through the corridors with a cool determination, eliminating every member of the Takeda Clan who crossed his path. The resistance was in vain, and before long, the Takeda Clan was completely annihilated.

In just one hour, Senji had eradicated the four clans that had allied to attack the Muramasa Clan.

With the last of the enemy mansions reduced to rubble, Senji remained at the center of the chaos he had created, his grim gaze reflecting the bleak work of his vengeance.

"In the end, happiness doesn't always shine for everyone."

Current time...

Tokyo Cemetery

Senji and Julie were silently advancing through the cemetery, their footsteps echoing softly on the ground. The tombstones surrounding them were a grim reminder of the devastation that had occurred years ago. The graves of the men who died defending the Muramasa Clan lined both sides of the road, each marked with names that still resonated in their memory. Arriving at his parents' graves, Senji paused, his gaze hardening as Julie stood beside him in respect. The clansmen who accompanied them scattered, bowing their heads before the graves of those who gave their lives to protect what was once a mighty legacy.

Senji approached his parents' graves with a solemnity that only those who have lost the most precious can comprehend. He knelt in front of the tombstones, carefully laying white flowers on them. With precise movements, he poured water over the stones, wiping away any traces of dust, a gesture of respect he had learned since childhood. Julie, watching intently, retorted his every move, silently, showing her respect for the fallen of the Muramasa Clan.

After complying with customs, Senji remained silent for a moment, observing the tombs. Then, he tilted his head and closed his eyes, allowing the words to flow naturally.

"It's been a while since I've visited you, father, mother." Senji paused, looking at the tombs in front of him. "I've been in juvenile prison for the past three years, and it's only now, when I get out, that I've come to see them."

Senji paused, letting the cold wind from the cemetery caress his face before continuing.

"I want you to meet Julie Sigtuna." Senji gestured towards Julie, who stood by his side in silence. "During my time in prison, she has managed the Muramasa Clan for me. Under his leadership, the clan has grown in power and influence, accomplishing things we didn't imagine possible."

Julie bowed her head slightly in respect to the graves, her eyes reflecting determination and pride.

"We have only one target left: the Prime Minister." Senji's voice hardened. "I will fulfill that task myself. Once we do that, Japan will be at our feet, just as you dreamed of it, father."

Senji was silent for a moment, letting his words echo through the air before continuing their conversation in front of his parents' graves.

"I should also mention that Homura wants me to attend the Seiren Private Academy. Maybe I'll accept to have a normal life, something my mother would have wanted, even though I'd be pretending to have a normal life with myself."

He turned his gaze to Julie, who stood beside him, unmoved.

"Would you like to come with me to study there?"

Julie, her face stoic and showing no emotion, simply nodded.

"Okay."

Senji nodded, satisfied with the answer, and together they prepared to go back.

"I'll come back to visit you another day, father, mother."

Senji and Julie began to retreat, followed by the members of the Muramasa Clan. With one last glance towards the graves of Senji's parents, they headed towards the exit of the cemetery. The afternoon was fading, the sky began to take on warm and golden tones as they approached the car.

Once inside, Senji addressed the Clan members who accompanied him.

"I need you to take care of two important things. First, take care of the necessary paperwork so that Julie and I can enter Seiren Private Academy. Make sure everything is in order as soon as possible. Second, I want someone to be assigned to investigate the Prime Minister's location. I need to know exactly where he is in order to plan our next move."

The Clan members nodded and dispersed to fulfill their new tasks, leaving Senji and Julie with Sato.

"I guess it was time to negotiate with the Prime Minister," Sato said as he started the car's engine.

"Yes, and I'd also like to bathe in the hot springs."

"Understood, then we'll go to the usual onsen."

Senji and Julie calmly watched the scenery as Sato drove along the way to reach the onsen Senji always visited to relax while drinking sake calmly when he didn't want to be scolded by his mother as he was in the past when she was alive.

As the car moved forward, Senji was lost in thought, anticipating the moment when he could enjoy that simple luxury again. The image of the onsen, with its serene and welcoming atmosphere, grew closer as Sato followed the familiar path.

"Well, it seems that the author is exhausting his ideas, so it's time to make a transition. Get ready for Monday, when we will enter the Seiren Private Academy, and so, maybe the author can have a break."

At that moment, a newspaper was flying in the air, carried by a light breeze. On its front page stood a disturbing headline: What happened five years ago where more than 600 people died? —Written by Ai Hoshino.