Life After Death: The Strength Of Suffering

"Hello, Ryuuma-sama!" I looked down at the brats passing by and gave them a nod before returning my attention to the old Taoist leading me to the Head of the Sugawara Clan.

"Hoho~ You seem to have a knack for children."

I snorted in response and ignored his words, my mind focused on a question that had been bothering me since I first arrived here over two months ago. "Why am I being called Ryuuma?"

He hummed as we walked across a pond in the compound, then replied, "You saved the daughter of the Sugawara Clan."

'I did?'

"Seems like you don't remember."

I shook my head as I didn't.

"The young lady snuck out one night and ventured north, hoping to see the flowers her mother had told her about. During that time, she told us she was attacked by Sorcerers from a clan that uses Techniques based around darkness."

'Ah, the Kurogami Clan.'

"She described how a man stepped in front of her and a dragon's maw rose from the ground beneath him, devouring the Sorcerers."

'Huh, so I accidentally saved a daughter of a clan?'

"Since then, among the Sugawara Clan you've been called Ryuuma."

With that, we walked in silence until we reached the main compound, where I sensed multiple signatures gathered in one spot. Cracking my neck the Taoist and I entered. I took note of the Elders seated around, watching me nervously and the Clan Head who sat with an air of authority, which I rolled my eyes at.

"Ryuuma-sama, I thank you once again for staying after the events." one of the Elders spoke.

I nodded and moved to a chair in front of the Clan Head as he spoke gesturing to a woman with snow white hair. "This is my daughter."

I nodded to her, noting the bundle of cloth in her arms. 'So, she must've been the one giving birth... but why does a baby need seals?'

My unspoken question was soon answered as she stepped forward, holding out the baby. "Please hold her. It will help you understand why all of this is necessary."

Nodding, I extended my hands to take the bundle into my arms. The first thing I saw as I looked down was a pair of bright blue eyes.

'It's like I'm looking at the fucking sky.'

I ran my Cursed Energy through the seals to deactivate them. I heard the Elders panic slightly, but I ignored it in favor of focusing on the energy the baby was releasing.

'The total opposite of Sukuna's Cursed Energy.'

As the baby reached out with its pudgy small hand, I stared at it. Tilting my head, I pointed my finger at it for the baby to latch onto. But I felt nothing.

'Did I really think a baby would be able to do something to me?'

I snorted and reactivated the seals handing the child back to the worried mother with a nod and a few words. "Good luck."

She bowed before leaving, and I turned back to the Clan Head. "Where's my payment?"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop at my words, and I could see the nervousness on everyone's faces. 'They better have what they promised after I fought in the fucking mud like a mutt.'

The Clan Head paused thinking for a moment before sighing and gesturing to one of the servants to bring something. As they left, I kept my gaze fixed on the Clan Head pondering what to drink on the way back.

"Ryuuma-sama, please see this as no disrespect, but may I ask you a question about the war two months ago?"

I shrugged and nodded signalling him to continue. The Elders sat in anticipation and the few Taoists who stood around looked ready to listen.

"A few hours after the birth of the child, we felt two Domains. Our Sorcerers stated after checking the bodies that the first belonged to the Blood Thread and the second to the Iron Judge."

I hummed in agreement while resting my head in my palm as he continued.

"My question is..." He took a deep breath in before releasing it. "How did you fight against an army of three thousand and survive four of the strongest in the land with only a burn?"

I glanced down at the burn mark on my left arm, then smirked and looked back at him, tilting my head.

"What burn?"

In an instant, the burn scar faded as new skin stitched itself together.

"To answer the actual question you want to know of how am I not half dead? Simple. I'm stronger."

No one in the room could accuse me of arrogance after those words. The ones I fought were dead and I was still standing. The Clan Head sighed and nodded, signaling the same servant from before to enter with a chest full of my payment.

"As discussed, your reward is gold—"

Another servant entered with a second chest.

"And one part of the agreed upon amount of paper."

I nodded and stood, picking up the chests and moving them onto my shoulders as I started heading for the door. 'I need to head back to the mountain.' This was the longest I'd been away, and while the chances of someone having the balls to attack were low, it didn't mean it couldn't happen.

"Ryuuma-sama, please stay!"

I turned from the door opened by a servant and to the Clan Head, who raised an eyebrow.

"The Sugawara Clan is holding a festival in honour of you and the blessed child. It would be an honor for you to stay for that time."

I looked at him, then at the hidden hopeful expressions on the Elders faces, and sighed.

"No."

My response was quick, and my actions spoke louder than words as I walked away without a second thought.

'A festival? Fuck off.'

~Scene Change~

The leaves on the trees and the blades of grass were still a fresh green from the rain that had passed. All was peaceful as I walked with my payment on my shoulders, along a silent path leading back to my mountain. 'Wonder what I should do when I get back?'

I snorted at the thought. 'Obviously, I'll be drinking till I drop...'

"Sasaki-san."

I slowed to a stop and turned to my left where the scar faced weirdo was leaning against a tree.

"I truly am surprised."

Raising an eyebrow, I sat the chests down on the ground fully turning to face him as he continued speaking.

"I must apologize for not seeing you after the war. I was both busy and you stayed far longer with the Sugawara Clan than I thought you would."

He stopped leaning against the tree and walked toward me until he stood directly in front of me, wearing that weird,creepy smile. His expression dimmed as I spoke.

"This'll be the third and last time, fuck off."

We stared at each other for a moment before he sighed raising his hands in mock surrender.

"Very well. Though, I thought I should mention something you may have missed."

I hummed as he began walking away, disappearing into the darkness created by the trees.

"The Sakurazawa Clan was wiped out sometime during your war. I'm not exactly sure who it was, though."

'What? Who the fuck would touch a clan that I'm personally associated with?'

I felt the itch of one of my seals, reminding me to calm down. Before the weirdo vanished completely, I spoke.

"What was the aftermath?"

He merely chuckled and raised a hand without turning back.

"I left a few notes at your home~"

I narrowed my eyes as he disappeared with those words, then sighed. Grabbing the chests, I started walking again, a frown now clearly visible on my face.

'Was it another clan that felt threatened? A group of Sorcerers? No, that wouldn't make sense, as the other bandits in the area would've jumped at the chance to get a favor from me.'

Gritting my teeth at the complications this could bring, I froze in my steps, before shaking my head.

'That girl managed to get information about the drinks I get from the Sakurazawa Clan. That might mean someone else found out about it and thinks it could be the key to weakening me?'

Sighing, I looked up at the sky.

'Whatever. I have a backup of alcohol from them—'

"Sasaki-san!"

I froze as the increasingly familiar scent reached me, my frown deepening.

'What now?'

Looking ahead on the path, I saw horses and a carriage with a woman who had short black hair, dark honey colored eyes, and a wide smile.

I watched as a wrinkled hand grabbed the back of her yellow kimono and pulled her into the carriage. That's when I realized the Cursed Energy. 'Takahiro? Wonder if he's heard the news.'

I waited for the horses to stop and almost dropped my chests as Kaede kicked open the carriage door and jumped out, running straight into me.

"Sasaki-san!"

'I should've k-'

"I was so worried about you!" She backed away and grabbed my kimono, and I felt my eye twitch in annoyance as she smiled even wider. "You must be tired, please ride back with us?"

I stared at her for a moment, then glanced toward the carriage where Takahiro's head was poking out. Sighing, I nodded, causing Kaede to release my clothing and pump her fists up in excitement.

"Come on!"

Walking behind her I entered the carriage, setting the chests down before sitting next to Takahiro. He shifted aside as Kaede stared at him and then took his seat as I sighed.

"Takahiro-san, what brings you to these parts?"

He hummed as the carriage began to move. Making tea, he spoke. From the corner of my eye, I saw Kaede's honey-colored eyes still on me, but I focused back on Takahiro.

"Umemura-sama was worried about you fighting alone, so she went to the town nearby and watched the battle through a talisman."

I raised an eyebrow at that, took the freshly brewed tea and decided not to dance around the subject I had just learned about.

"The Sakurazawa Clan is gone."

I grabbed the cup Kaede had dropped and ignored the boiling tea spilling onto my hand as I stared at Takahiro. His tired eyes met mine and after a heavy sigh, he spoke.

"I'm aware."

He closed his eyes again, and I handed Kaede her cup as Takahiro poured her more tea. Suddenly, she yelled. "W-Why didn't I know about this?!"

I sat in silence as Kaede continued her yelling. I closed my eyes, thinking about what other complications might arise from this.

'Others will take advantage of the clans that relied on the Sakurazawa Clan's techniques. Other clans similar to them will most likely try to strike a deal with me.'

In the end, it meant one of the things I fucking hated. 'More paperwork.'

I opened my eyes just as Kaede stopped yelling, now huffing as she sat down closer to me while rubbing her eyes. I glanced back at Takahiro, who was silently drinking his tea.

"Where will you go next?"

He looked down at his tea before responding.

"I'll search for any others who were out at the time…" He looked at me with a resolute expression. "I am aware that I'm useless to you, as I do not possess the ability to make the alcohol you're fond of."

I nodded at that, raising an eyebrow at his next words.

"I do have a request though, if you find out who did it."

I thought about it before nodding.

"Do not kill them."

I blinked.

"Have them go through the law, be judged and if they are deemed guilty, make sure their punishment is carried out."

I stared into Takahiro's eyes for a moment, then nodded with a hidden smirk though it was quickly wiped away as Kaede began yelling again. I tuned her out.

'Why did I agree?'