CHANGE -「Last Embryo」

Chapter 5

A white-haired person lay gravely injured. On his back, where the tattoo of an oni's face had once been distinguished, there were now five deep cuts that had distorted the image, as if a knife had torn it apart. Most alarming was his left arm, which had been cleanly separated from his body. In addition, a diagonal cut went through his torso, from his shoulder to his abdomen, getting dangerously close to the solar plexus. In that area, a small opening revealed that a sword had pierced him, although the wound was hidden under the blood that gushed from his neck. It was a miracle that he was still alive, considering the deep cut in his throat.

In front of the seriously injured person, there were two young teenagers. A blonde-haired, black-eyed girl, with several visible wounds on her body, was firmly holding a golden spear as she resolutely watched the white-haired individual. Beside her, a boy with reddish-brown hair and golden-brown eyes, also seriously wounded, wielded a golden spear identical to the girl's. They both looked firmly at the young albino, as if the confrontation was not over yet.

"Brahmastra..." muttered the albino, enough for the two teenagers to hear.

"It's time for you to die, Sengo." It was the blonde girl who spoke first, her gaze full of determination.

"Too many have died in this war, all with the sole aim of finishing you off," the reddish-brown haired boy said, slowly shaking his head. "No, with the aim of destroying the [Absolute Evil] and bringing peace to this world."

The white-haired boy twisted his lips into a smile.

"Good, good..." they saw a strange happiness on Sengo's face. "Come, Izayoi Saigou and Shirou Emiya."

Without waiting any longer, the two young men rushed towards him, ready for another decisive fight.

Where a flash of white light that appeared in the clash of the spears prevented the fight from continuing to be clearly observed.

Beep, beep, beep!

The sound of an alarm clock was heard in Senji's room, interrupting the sleep he was having earlier today.

I raise my hand to reach for the screeching sound of his alarm clock to turn it off.

Sighed. "It's the first time I've had this dream." he slowly got out of bed after turning off the alarm clock. "It's been 16 years since I reincarnated in this life, haha." he let out another sigh. "Time passes quickly."

He began to walk to the bathroom that was in his room and think about what he can do this day that is Sunday, tomorrow is when he will start classes for him.

After 15 minutes, Senji left the bathroom and went to his closet to dress comfortably.

Once ready, he went to the dining room and found on the table a grilled salmon fillet and miso soup. While enjoying his breakfast, he took the newspaper that had been handed to him and examined the front page. CEO Takashi Yamada was doing everything he could to save his neck.

"Good," Senji commented. "As you may already know, all businesses deemed illegal will be on hold until further notice," everyone present nodded. "With the news published yesterday and today, it is likely that there is a minority that doubts the veracity of Ai Hoshino's article about the Muramasa Clan. To avoid conflicts, we will concentrate solely on public business."

With those words, the others optimistically accepted what Senji said.

So Senji continued to enjoy his breakfast before leaving, escorted by Sato.

"Though Senji-sama," Sato said. "I think it is time to put aside the trafficking of weapons and medicines. We have generated an immense amount of money with China and North Korea. At this point, it would be better to dismantle that business."

Senji thought about it for a few seconds.

"I suppose you're right," he said finally. "Tell others that we will stop doing business with China and North Korea. I think it's time to focus solely on the hotel, jewelry, hospital, and casino businesses."

"Thank you for listening to me, Senji-sama."

"Yes, yes. Although it is for the best, it will bring more problems to the Muramasa Clan if we are found to be doing illegal business with China and North Korea."

Their conversation ended abruptly due to the presence of someone.

"Senji!" Ai Hoshino was dazzling animatedly from the other end of the hall. "What are you going to do now, Senji!"

Ai quickly arrived at Senji, who was looking at him with a monotone expression.

"I'm going for a walk around the city. After all, it's Sato's job."

"Huh, just that?"

"Did you expect anything else?" Senji raised an eyebrow at his daring.

"Mmm." Ai brought her index finger to her mouth. "Something like doing shady business with a politician, maybe." Ai's smile gnawed at Senji's mind.

"She sure researched more about me."

"No," Senji replied. "Sato will drive around the city, and then we will go to Mrs. Mitsuki's onsen. After all, someone interrupted my bath in the onsen by posting a scandalous article about my clan."

Senji looked at Ai without hiding his annoyance.

"Oops." Ai stuck out her tongue trying to be funny to calm Senji's annoyance. "My mistake, I thought I was forgiven for that."

Seeing that his action was not effective on Senji, he lowered his gaze by weakly tapping with his index fingers making it tender in Senji's eyes.

"You were forgiven," Senji said, putting his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "But even so, the article bothers me."

He began to walk to Ai's side to keep moving forward.

"Can I go with you?"

Senji glanced sideways into Ai's eyes.

"Good."

"Thank you!"

"He's not going to leave me, is he?"

Flashback...

Japan's Prime Minister Kaito Takahashi was at a crossroads. For weeks, he had been avoiding the men of the Muramasa Clan, constantly moving from one private property to another, each day in a different house. He knew he couldn't hide in places named after him, as the Muramasa Clan had begun tracking every known possible hiding place.

That night, Kaito was in a luxurious villa on the outskirts of Kyoto, a property belonging to a close friend who trusted his discretion. However, luck was not on his side. As he relaxed on the terrace, trying to relax after days of stress, the quiet of the night was interrupted by a group of men dressed in dark suits and with an air of imminent danger.

Members of the Muramasa Clan, led by Yuto Tanaka, one of the clan's top lieutenants, had followed the trail to the village. Yuto, known for his investigative skill and relentless determination, had finally found Kaito's hideout. The villa was luxurious, with high walls and a large garden, but the Muramasa Clan's experience allowed them to evade the security measures that the Prime Minister had deemed sufficient.

Kaito was inside the house, when he heard the sound of glass breaking in the garden. His eyes widened in panic; I knew that I had been discovered. Speeding up the pace of his thoughts, he made a hasty decision. In desperation, he made his way to the back exit of the villa, intending to escape along a path that led to a small jetty on the nearby river. He hoped that he could lose his pursuers in the water, using a speedboat that he had hidden there.

But fate played a trick on him. As he prepared to board the boat, he heard footsteps behind him. The members of the Muramasa Clan were quickly approaching, and although he tried to hurry up, they knew exactly where to go.

"Kaito Takahashi!" Yuto's voice echoed through the night, cold and authoritative.

Kaito turned to face them, his face pale with despair. The boat was a few meters away, but the distance was not enough. The men of the Muramasa Clan moved precisely, blocking every escape route. With no options, Kaito dropped the bag of compromising documents he had brought with him and raised his hands in surrender.

Kaito knew there was no other way out. As the men of the Muramasa Clan surrounded him, he understood that his life was about to change irreversibly. He had played cat and mouse for weeks, but now the game was over.

End of Flashback...

Ring, ring!

In the middle of the trip through the city, the annoying sound of my phone broke the peace I wanted so badly. With a sigh, I accepted the call.

"Speak."

「Senji-sama, we have the Prime Minister in our hands at the Kiryu Hotel. We'll be waiting for your arrival.」

Son of a bitch, I wanted to relax in the onsen.

"Well, we'll go now." I replied with a dry tone before hanging up abruptly.

I turned toward Sato, who was driving.

"Change of plans. We headed to the Kiryu Hotel."

Sato nodded without saying anything, turning the steering wheel precisely to change course.

Relaxing at the onsen will have to be another day.

After 15 minutes we arrived at the Kiryu Hotel, a majestic construction that rose hundreds of meters, projecting luxury and grandeur from every angle. As I stepped on the stairs leading to the entrance, the guards straightened up when they saw me.

"Welcome, Senji-sama," they said, bowing respectfully as they opened the glass door for me.

Ai Hoshino, who had been walking behind me, couldn't help but express his astonishment.

"Wow!" his eyes shone as brightly as the gleaming interior of the hotel. "This place is amazing! It's the first time I've entered a place like this! Seeing how you were treated, this hotel must be yours, right?"

Ignoring my presence, she began to move around the lobby with the excitement of a little girl discovering an amusement park.

"You should calm down," I said, trying to hold back a smile at his behavior. "Enjoy the amenities offered by the hotel while I attend to an important matter. It won't be long."

"Got it!" she replied enthusiastically, and then headed towards the SPA area, surrounded by attendees who rushed to follow her. "You can take the whole day if you want, Senji! I'm going to enjoy it to the fullest!"

I sighed lightly and moved towards Sato, who was already prepared.

"Walking."

"Yes, sir," he replied immediately as we headed towards the elevator, straight to the top floor.

» ━━━━━━ « ♔ » ━━━━━━« � «

Kaito Takahashi was scared. On the outside, he maintained his usual composure, but on the inside, fear slowly consumed him. I was locked in the office of General Manager Haruka Nishida, waiting for the inevitable.

In front of him, Haruka, a beautiful and enigmatic woman, watched him carefully. His long black hair fell in soft waves over his shoulders, and his eyes, equally dark, had an intensity that made him feel uncomfortable. There was something in her presence that unsettled him, a calculated coldness that disarmed him more than any open threat.

The manager did not take her eyes off Kaito, as if analyzing every little detail of his person. It was evident that he knew what he was doing. His smile, barely perceptible, seemed to enjoy the moment. "She knows," Kaito thought, trying to control his breathing. "You know I'm scared."

Despite her attempts to hide it, Haruka seemed to pick up on every little sign of her fear. He didn't show it openly, but the way his lips curled into a sadistic smile made it clear that he was having fun with his façade. He didn't need Kaito to tremble or beg to know he was terrified.

"Takahashi-san, you don't look as calm as you usually are in parliament," she commented in a soft, but razor-sharp tone.

Kaito swallowed discreetly, his eyes meeting hers for only a brief moment before turning away. I knew that showing nervousness in front of this woman would be a mistake. Stand firm, Kaito. Don't let it control you, he thought to himself.

"It's funny that you say it," he replied in a measured tone, trying to regain control. "I feel pretty comfortable, considering the circumstances."

Haruka let out a small laugh, one that didn't reach her eyes. He leaned forward slightly, his fingers drumming on the table, in a kind of silent game.

"You don't have to lie to me, Takahashi-san. I know it's not easy for a man in your position. So many commitments, so many decisions... and now this." He paused, watching him intently before continuing. "But I'll tell you something, you don't have to worry here. As long as you're at Kiryu Hotel, you'll be safe. For now, no one is going to hurt you."

Kaito tried to unravel the hidden meaning in his words, but, surprisingly, something in his tone allowed him to let go of some of the pent-up tension. He inhaled deeply, allowing himself to let his guard down slightly.

"I appreciate your hospitality," he said, bowing his head in a formal gesture. "This place is... impressive."

Haruka smiled again, this time without the sadistic edge on her expression.

"I hope you enjoy it. Not everyone has the privilege of being here, Takahashi-san. Take your time, relax." His eyes softened for an instant, as if he was trying to really reassure him. "Everything will be easier if you are calm."

Kaito nodded slowly. Although he didn't fully trust Haruka, the words she had spoken to him managed to calm the chaos in his mind even a little.

The atmosphere in the office remained tense calm, but that tranquility was broken as soon as the doors of the room burst open. Senji Muramasa entered accompanied by Sato, his faithful lieutenant. Both projected an imposing presence, but Senji's was particularly suffocating, almost as if the air itself became denser with their arrival.

Kaito felt a lump instantly form in his throat. The weight of Senji's gaze on him was overwhelming, as if his entire body crushed him under the pressure of that leader feared by many. Although he didn't let his face betray his growing fear, inside, he felt like every fiber of his being was trying to flee from that room.

"So this is the man..." Kaito thought, maintaining his posture, but his mind was spinning. He had heard rumors about Senji Muramasa's brutality and coldness, but being in his presence was something else entirely.

Senji, with his usual calmness, advanced until he was in front of Kaito, his eyes sharp as blades assessing him without uttering a single word. Beside him, Sato stood firm, without needing to say anything, but with a palpable tension in his posture.

"Takahashi-san, it looks like you've made yourself comfortable," Senji finally said, his voice calm but charged with unwavering authority. There was no need to raise the tone; His mere presence was enough to fill every corner of the room.

Kaito swallowed hard, his mouth dry. That lump in his throat tightened with each passing second under Senji's watchful eye. As much as I wanted to speak, any word I thought I could say seemed to be trapped, suffocated by the weight of the situation.

"M-Muramasa..." Kaito began, but the words faded almost instantly. He felt tiny before the man in front of him, as if the power that Senji emanated made him gasp for air.

Haruka, from her seat, watched the scene in silence, enjoying every second of the growing tension. He knew that the real storm had just entered the room.

"You don't need to talk now," Senji interrupted, leaning slightly toward Kaito, her eyes piercing his. "I'm going to use you, because your power as Prime Minister is necessary."

Kaito's heart was beating frantically in his chest, but with a titanic effort, he managed to maintain control over his expression. Inside, though, he felt like a man about to fall into the abyss.

"And what I'm going to teach, it's going to be important for everybody."

Senji slowly straightened up, his eyes still fixed on Kaito, who was trying not to lose control. Then, with a subtle wave of his hand, the air around him began to vibrate. In the blink of an eye, several katanas appeared, gently levitating around them as if they were part of a deadly dance. The gleam of steel glistened in the dim light of the office, casting ghostly shadows on the walls.

Kaito felt his breathing stop for an instant. The stories he had once heard, the myths and legends about supernatural powers, were beginning to take a terrifying form in front of him. Senji was showing it right then and there, and he was doing it with a naturalness that made it all seem too real.

"This world," Senji murmured, his voice full of authority. "It hides something that will soon be revealed. Monsters, deities, beings beyond human comprehension. Everything you ever read or heard... exists."

The atmosphere in the office became dense, laden with overwhelming pressure. Even the members of the Muramasa Clan, men accustomed to dealing with violence and danger, began to sweat under the weight of what they were witnessing. The katanas slowly swirled around their master, creating a scene that seemed to be straight out of a terrifying dream.

"When the time comes," Senji continued, not taking his eyes off Kaito. "I'll be the one to take care of those monsters. Your only task is to make sure that the truth remains hidden. Japan is not ready for this... and you know it."

The silence that followed his words was deafening, as Kaito felt a lump form in his throat, unable to escape the oppressive presence of Senji and the swords around him.

While in the office the tension became almost unbearable, Ai Hoshino walked nonchalantly through the elegant corridors of the Kiryu Hotel. Polished marble floors reflected the soft golden lights of the ceiling, and paintings by famous artists decorated the walls, filling the atmosphere with an opulence that fascinated her.

"Wow!" she muttered to herself, her eyes shining with excitement as she looked around, reveling in every corner of luxury she discovered.

The hotel employees greeted her with courteous smiles and constant attention. A butler guided her to the SPA area, opening the doors of a room enveloped in floral scents and with bubbling water fountains that created a relaxing atmosphere. Ai let out a small excited laugh as she gazed at the thermal pools, massage beds, and gentle steam floating in the air.

"This is like a dream come true..." she whispered, as his bare feet touched the edge of the private pool he'd been assigned.

He slowly immersed himself in the warm water, letting the warmth relieve any tension from his body. Her thoughts wandered freely, completely oblivious to the dark encounter that was happening in the general manager's office. Ai had only one thing on her mind: to make the most of the hotel's amenities.

"I hope Senji takes a while to finish his meeting..." she muttered to herself, with a mischievous smile as she closed her eyes, letting herself be carried away by the pleasure of the moment.

As time passed, Ai enjoyed luxury without any worries. To her, the Kiryu Hotel was a paradise, an escape from the chaos and responsibilities of the outside world, where there was no room for intrigue or dark mysteries.