CHANGE -「Last Embryo」

Prologue (2)

In the early morning gloom, atop a mountain, the echoes of a fierce battle echoed through the shadows of the trees. Senji Muramasa, barely 12 years old, moved with impeccable lethality, eliminating one by one the members of a criminal organization known as "Blue Dragons," a constant threat in the Japanese underworld. For the Muramasa Clan, this was just one more clean-up mission.

The criminals hid in a makeshift base, a cave reinforced with steel walls, and several guarded entrances, but the surprise factor and young Senji's skill gave them the upper hand. His gaze was cold and determined, without pity or weakness. The remaining members of Blue Dragons barely had time to react before falling under the edge of his katana. The men of the Muramasa Clan, hardened in war and violence, ensured that no trace of the presence of this criminal organization would remain.

Finally, with the first ray of sunlight illuminating the mountain tops, Senji emerged from the hiding place and pointed with one hand towards the road, where the clan's black vehicles waited patiently. The car doors opened, and Senji, followed by his men, descended the mountain.

As they made their way down the winding path towards the main road, Senji sank into thought, but a flash at the edge of the road caught his attention. In the distance, he noticed two small figures walking with hesitant steps, and something in them made him stop the car.

"Stop here," he ordered in a firm voice.

The cars stopped, and Senji got out, watching the two girls curiously. He approached with a confident step, observing the faces and the disheveled appearance of both. They were two girls with long black hair and reddish eyes, their clothes threadbare and dirty, and their faces reflected a mixture of tiredness and bewilderment.

Carefully, he reached out a hand to one of the girls and gently took a strand of her hair between his fingers. The texture and depth of black reminded him of something familiar.

"I like it," he said quietly, staring at the girls. "They will be part of the Muramasa Clan from now on."

Akame and Kurome, surprised, looked at each other, confused. However, they had no home to return to and no reason to turn down the offer. With a slight nod, both accepted the proposal without questioning the consequences too much.

Current Weather - Niigata

Rumors of a criminal organization, a remnant of the "Blue Dragons" that had re-emerged in Niigata, quickly reached the ears of the Muramasa Clan. The response was quick and forceful. Now, years after that encounter along the way, Akame and Kurome, turned into lethal trained assassins, led several clan groups on a clean-up mission in the streets of Niigata.

Both moved silently through the shadows, cleaning up the remnants of the organization they were trying to revive. There was no compassion in their looks; the Muramasa Clan's training had honed their skills and shaped their loyalty. The few criminals who tried to escape were met with the edge of their swords, unable to comprehend how the clan had arrived so quickly and accurately.

Finally, after finishing off the last members of the organization, Akame and Kurome exchanged a look of satisfaction. They knew that there was no room for rats in the clan, and that they were the silent force tasked with maintaining order from the shadows.

As Akame and Kurome finished the final phase of cleansing in Niigata, a man from the Muramasa Clan appeared in the shadows, approaching with a respectful bow. He wore the clan's characteristic dark uniform and wore a serious countenance, a sign of the importance of the message he brought.

"Akame-sama, Kurome-sama," he said in a firm voice. "We just received an urgent call from Senji-sama. They are ordered to proceed immediately to Tokyo Airport. Two teenagers will arrive shortly: Kurumi Tokisaki and Sawa Yamauchi."

Akame and Kurome exchanged a brief glance. It was unusual to receive an instruction from Senji in the middle of a mission, which suggested that these two people must be of considerable importance to the clan. Both nodded with a barely perceptible gesture and, without wasting any more time, went to one of the vehicles parked nearby, ready to start the journey to Tokyo.

During the journey, Akame's mind began to fill with questions. Kurumi and Sawa... he didn't remember hearing those names before, and Senji had never shown interest in receiving strangers like that before. The silence in the vehicle reflected the seriousness of the mission, and both Akame and Kurome focused on anticipating the possible reasons why Senji had assigned them this new task.

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Tokyo Airport

Kurumi Tokisaki and Sawa Yamauchi stepped off the plane, their steps firm and determined as they made their way through the crowd that filled the Tokyo Airport terminal. The two had grown up under the guidance of Shiroyasha, who had taken them outside of Japan to live with her for a while.

The reunion with Senji, when it finally happened in Italy, had been unexpected. Both knew that their father had also been reborn, but the phenomenon of reincarnation was always unknown, and there was no certainty about when or where their paths would cross again. Years ago, Senji had unsuccessfully searched for his reincarnated daughters in Japan, not knowing that they were no longer there, that their lives were unfolding on another continent under the watchful eye of Shiroyasha. That long waiting time had made this meeting much deeper.

"It's weird to think that we're back here after all this time," Sawa said quietly as he looked around, as if trying to reconcile memories of the past with the present.

Kurumi nodded, her crimson eyes staring at the crowded terminal. Although Japan had always been part of his identity, he felt that the country was a bit alien to him, as if a part of his life was divided into two worlds. But the smile on his lips showed that, deep down, there was some satisfaction in this return. They knew that someone from the Muramasa Clan would be waiting for them.

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Akame and Kurome were waiting at the entrance to the airport, keeping their posture calm, but alert, as they were accustomed to on every mission. Although they knew that this time it was not a conventional mission, the two sisters remained silent, watching the flow of people passing by, searching the crowd for the people Senji had ordered them to pick up.

Suddenly, they both noticed two girls advancing through the terminal, attracting stares as they passed. Akame and Kurome, for an instant, were speechless at the sight of them. They were teenagers her own age, but there was something about them that radiated a special presence.

The first young woman had long black hair, which fell into two pigtails perfectly tied with red ribbons, giving her an elegant and enigmatic appearance. Her reddish eyes, identical to those of Akame and Kurome, shone with an almost hypnotic intensity, as if they held deep secrets. The girl wore an elegant black dress that seemed to envelop her in an aura of mystery, with details that highlighted her slender figure and that combined perfectly with her demeanor and confidence.

Next to her, walked another young woman just as beautiful, but with a completely different essence. Her brown hair was gathered in two braids that fell delicately over her shoulders and passed over her chest. His deep, warm brown eyes complemented his soft, calm appearance. She wore a light and simple outfit, with soft colors that contrasted elegantly with the dark presence of her partner, highlighting her own style with a natural delicacy. While the first girl radiated an aura of mystery, this second girl had a calmness and serenity that was almost comforting.

Akame and Kurome exchanged a quick glance, understanding that those two teenagers must be the people Senji had ordered them to receive. The mixture of contrasts between black and white, the enigmatic and the serene, made them stand out in the bustling atmosphere of the airport.

Kurumi and Sawa advanced through the crowd in the direction of Akame and Kurome, who, noticing their approach, stood firm, watching them with a mixture of curiosity and respect. There was an immediate connection between the four of them, something that seemed to flow naturally, despite it being the first time they had met face to face.

Upon arriving at where the sisters were, Kurumi was the first to break the silence, smiling a friendly and elegant smile. In a soft and polite tone, he asked:

"Could you answer a question for me, if it's not a lot of hassle?"

Akame, surprised by Kurumi's kindness, nodded with a slight nod.

"Of course," he replied, his tone direct and calm.

Kurumi continued, her reddish eyes shining with genuine curiosity:

"I was wondering... how did they get into the Muramasa Clan?"

Akame exchanged a brief glance with Kurome before replying. She clearly remembered the moment they met Senji, the unexpected decision he had made when he found them in the mountains.

"It was... strange, actually," Akame said, evoking the memory. "She found us when we were just kids. He walked up to me, looked at my hair, and gently took it between his fingers. And then, he said: I like it. They will be part of the Muramasa Clan from now on."

Hearing the words, Kurumi felt a spark of recognition and almost let out an involuntary laugh. Senji's reaction made sense now, more than anyone else could imagine. With a thoughtful expression, she looked away for a moment, realizing that deep down she had been the one who had sparked her father's interest in black hair. It had all been part of subtle manipulation in the past, a touch of mind control meant to create a taste in Senji, aligning it with something characteristic of herself.

Thinking to herself, Kurumi smiled almost imperceptibly, as she concluded that perhaps she should have corrected that "detail" much sooner.

"Oh, father... I'll have to fix that little problem at some point."

Kurumi and Sawa exchanged a meaning-laden glance before turning their attention to Akame and Kurome. There was something solemn about their expression, as if they already knew what fate had in store for them in the coming months.

"Akame, Kurome," Kurumi began in a soft but firm tone, "I know you don't know it yet, but you two will become our personal guardians."

Akame and Kurome looked at each other, surprised. The news was unexpected, but not as unexpected as what Kurumi added later.

"We will go to the Seiren Private Academy together," Kurumi continued. "We're all the same age, so it's a good opportunity to get in as students."

The thought of becoming Kurumi and Sawa's guardians was enough, but the fact of attending the Academy also took them by surprise. Kurome, unable to avoid his confusion, raised an eyebrow and asked with some trepidation:

"Is there any special reason for this? Is it that perhaps... will something serious happen in the Academy?"

Sawa, who had been silent up to that point, smiled calmly and shook his head, replying in a reassuring tone:

"For now, there is nothing to worry about. The Academy is just a place of study... for the time being."

However, the emphasis on Sawa's last words did not go unnoticed by Akame and Kurome. Although the danger was not immediate, it was clear that something important could happen there in the future. And as part of the Muramasa Clan, it would be their duty to be prepared for any situation.

Kurumi folded his arms and added in an enigmatic tone:

"Nothing is written yet, but our presence at the Academy will be necessary... more than they imagine."

Akame and Kurome nodded, taking the hint. With a mixture of uncertainty and determination, they accepted their new role as guardians of Kurumi and Sawa, understanding that what awaited them at Seiren Private Academy would be more than just days of study.

The four of them climbed into the vehicle, a black car that looked sober but was wide enough for them to sit comfortably in the back seat. The atmosphere inside was quiet at first, until Kurome, curious and always worried about her leader, broke the silence.

"And what about Senji-sama?" asked Kurome, his tone respectful but betraying genuine uneasiness. "Won't he come to Japan?"

Sawa, maintaining her characteristic calmness, smiled slightly before answering.

"Senji-sama will still be spending some time in Italy with our tutor, Shiroyasha. They talked about something... important, about the future," he explained, carefully choosing his words. "So, so far, that's all we know."

Kurumi, listening silently, nodded slightly, with an expression of understanding on his face. Time and distance seemed to be commonplace in Muramasa Clan life, and both she and Sawa were already used to it. Akame and Kurome, though disappointed, also accepted the answer with respect; they knew that Senji's leadership always involved responsibilities that went beyond what they could comprehend.

As the vehicle began to travel on the roads of Tokyo, the conversation gradually shifted to lighter topics, such as the expectation of starting at the Seiren Private Academy and life in Japan.

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In a private room of a club in Italy, the atmosphere was calm, only interrupted by the soft echo of billiard balls crashing on the table. Senji Muramasa, with his typical calmness, watched the game, assessing the best angle to hit the number 8 ball. As she braced herself, she directed a glance towards Shiroyasha, who was engrossed in her own shot.

"So... the human world could be headed for its doom," Senji muttered, his tone carefree but enigmatic.

Shiroyasha, without taking his eyes off the table, let out a slight smile before answering.

"That's it, Senji. Little Garden or the Outside World... Both realities can be intertwined, and the destinies of both worlds are more connected than many imagine."

Senji nodded slightly, processing his words as he watched Shiroyasha fail in his turn. It was at that moment that, almost instinctively, he decided to activate one of his [Gifts], a power he rarely considered using: the ability to glimpse the future.

Suddenly, his thoughts were swept into a dark scene of chaos and destruction. He saw the world in ruins, engulfed in an apocalypse; cities reduced to rubble and humanity on the verge of extinction. However, in the midst of this gloomy panorama, something caught his attention: a group of young people who stood out among the chaos. A boy led the group, surrounded by several women, all fighting with a ferocity that spoke of unwavering determination. Together, they fought monsters and faced impossible challenges, proving that humanity, even in its worst moments, found ways to survive and resist.

Senji felt a slight surprise as he contemplated that vision of the future. Despite the devastation, humanity seemed determined not to give up easily. Perhaps, after all, Shiroyasha's plan would work... though not in the way she had imagined.

Returning to the present, Senji let out an almost imperceptible sigh, turning his attention to the pool table.

"I see that your idea has potential," he said, as if the vision was only a small curiosity. "Although it seems that fate has some unforeseen twists."

Shiroyasha, noticing the change in Senji's gaze, cracked a smile, almost as if he knew what he had seen. He knew that while his plan might not be foolproof, the human will had an unpredictable role in the story that was about to be written.