4-39: The Children’s Burden (3/6)
I dont mind actually, I just dont know where to begin, Ryou said.
This wasnt usually a topic he spoke about, so he had no idea where to begin.
You can start from the circumstances that led you down that path. Though I do know that its related to the exorcist clans, Shinichi said.
In that case, Ill leave the explanation to Tomoe since I dont know much about those guys either, Ryou said.
Although he seed sowhat apologetic when he left the job to Tomoe because of his lack of knowledge, at the sa ti, there was also a tinge of hatred that kept him from wanting to touch the topic.
Tomoe knew about his situation and how he felt, so she tolerated his refusal and turned to Shinichi.
Ill start then. Lets start with why the exorcist clans of Japan had to exist in the first place. If I dont start from there, the later events will be difficult to understand, Tomoe said.
Shinichi expected this, so he didnt even bother to nod, and just listened attentively, urging her to continue with his eyes.
Shinichi didnt an anything with his actions other than to show his sincerity, but his rapt attention reminded her of how close they were earlier.
The fact that he wasnt trying to play a prank on her this ti just made that sincere gaze affect her even more.
Im not inford enough to know the specifics of the exorcist clans history, but during the tis when people knew the world only in the scale of a single village, the existence of exorcists were known, and people relied on them, Tomoe said.
But Tomoe focused and expelled all those unnecessary thoughts, then spoke dispassionately as she spoke the story that her beloved mother told her a long ti ago.
The war against demons was originally taken care of by the local schools and religions, as well as the rituals, but as ti passed and the sphere of human activities expanded, so the did the demons grow more nurous and varied, but the exorcists themselves did not grow
Normal people cannot see demons unless their aura is sufficiently dense.
When people gained knowledge and common sense, the exorcists were mocked, and so of them were even labeled as swindlers.
Even the Bureau of Onmyo that once played a central role in politics was dismantled during the iji Era.
But of course, by then they were already nothing more than Onmyoujis officially(), and the move itself seed to have been politically motivated, but thats another story altogether.
Having predicted that an era where the existence of the spiritual would not be acknowledged publicly, the exorcists then chose to unite regardless of their origin, lineage, and religion.
Although there were other various factors at play as well, such as human ambition, self preservation, the pursuit of knowledge etc., no one could deny the necessity of the exorcists.
Because so long as humans existed, there would always be darkness in the world for demons to be born.
An existence who could exorcise those demons and maintain the balance of the yin and yang of the world was needed.
And so, was born the organization that would eventually beco a clan connected by blood. The bonds within the clan grew stronger, but on the other hand, they beca clannish, and they grew to resent any external interference, Tomoe said.
But the you denied yourselves first, no? Are you kids? Shinichi asked.
P-Putting it really simply, an emotion of that sort was No, Im sure sothing similar to a grudge mustve been passed down I do agree with you, though, Tomoe said.
In the face of that remark that was as crude as it was fatal, Tomoe wryly smiled.
They couldnt cut off their relationship with society completely, but they couldnt exist officially either.
They exorcised demons for the sake of the world, but before long, they started thinking carnally and considered that perhaps they didnt do it for the sake of others.
Once that reaches a peak and blows over, a group like the Ootsu, who saw themselves as special, would be born.
And
But the clan has been recently paying the price for that. The clan was too tight knit with just their own relatives, so Tomoe said.
So after many generations of marrying between relatives, more and more children are dying early or are being born with defects?
It was a topic hard to say for a girl, so she stamred, and Shinichi finished her words for her, while doing his best to maintain a neutral expression.
You sure are inford, Tomoe said.
When a clannish and exclusive group overdoes it(), thats usually what happens. Since theyll want to improve their blood to show off their power and history. Its such a dumb story, really, trampling over tomorrows al in exchange for imdiate benefits, Shinichi said.
Indeed, Tomoe nodded in agreent. Ironic too.
After no longer concerning themselves with the outside other than for exorcist work, they started arguing among themselves.
Despite being united as a whole, they couldnt avoid the mundane struggles for power.
It is said that a faction is born when three are gathered, but despite intentionally keeping their distance from society, the exorcists ended up creating a microcosm of society.
Moreover, since they were in an isolated space and with a common sense that only proved common among each other, their conflicts were more unconcealed, more cunning, and uglier than modern societys.
Thats why regardless of the changes outside, they continued having political marriages.
They tried to improve their blood by selectively breeding like that, but unfortunately, the only thing waiting for them was the limit of their own blood.
Ahh, but thats So, in other words, thats the reason why? Shinichi said.
Of course, there was nothing funny about this to these two, who were born precisely because of this history.
As such, not even Shinichi dared to ask directly.
Yep, thats it. The solution they settled on was to introduce outsider blood. The reason my mother was a half was also because they tried to build a relationship with a foreign exorcist organization, but because of the difference in the way the two groups thought, in the end, it didnt work out, Tomoe said.
My grandmother was also the daughter of so influential guy from outside because of so political consideration. My moms spiritual power was strong enough, so she could keep her honor, but in the end, she still left, Ryou said.
With their mothers being cousins and having similar circumstances, it was only a given that their friendship would deepen, and that they would beco skeptical about the way the clan did things.
Although they didnt know about it then, and they didnt ask their mothers either, but the things theyve overheard and the reactions of the adults around them were enough to give them an idea of what was happening.
Because of that, or perhaps because of the natural eting that would occur between people, after they left the clan and started living normally, they fell in love normally too.
They werent completely without spite, though, Tomoe said.
Our mothers t with our respective fathers outside and got married, Ryou said.
Ryou and Tomoe hadnt been told the specifics, such as what was so good about their dads or how they fell in love with them, but regardless, one thing led to another, and they got married, and then gave birth to them.
We played together a lot before going up to primary school. It was really fun back then I suffered a lot because of Tomoe, though, Ryou said.
Perhaps due to embarrassnt because hed rembered a scene from the past, Ryou ended up muttering sothing unnecessary to hide his embarrassnt, starting an argunt with his childhood friend.
W-What are you saying!? Didnt I save you every ti you cried your throat dry!? Tomoe said.
When did you ever save !? You just treated like your henchman!? Ryou said.
Or perhaps, they unconsciously didnt want to talk about what ca after this.
But of course, when they noticed the boy laughing at them, they beca embarrassed and stopped.
Either way, that was the last of their families happiness, and they continued the rest of the story with an expressionless face.
Confronted with harassnt and unreasonable demands, they gave up on the clan altogether.
They considered running away together, but after considering that the clan might send people to pursue them and the risk of being found, they decided to live in completely different regions.
That was the last ti the two families t, and they didnt even know that each others parents had died until they t again at the academy.
My mother wasnt really the sickly type, but she also wasnt very active. Despite that she had to live at an unfamiliar place, while doing an unfamiliar job and raising on her own. To make things worse, the people who didnt think well of us found us. Although they didnt force us to go back, they never stopped harassing us. Eventually my mother got sick and passed away Well, its not really that rare of a story, Ryou said.
The usual sob story, he said in an attempt to make fun of his own tragedy.
If he didnt do that, a different emotion might just co pouring out of him.
Shinichi didnt say anything and just looked at him.
Tomoe also quietly hung her head beside.
Is that your motivation? Shinichi asked.
Right Theres soone who needs to pay. I hate the clan, but I hate that guy even more, so Im going to find him, and Im going to beat the s**t out of him, Ryou said.
Sounds dangerous, Shinichi said.
Ryou tried to suppress his emotions as much as he could, but he still failed to hide the hate in his words.
Despite that Shinichi did not beco upset, and his voice remained flat.
Ryou figured that he mustve already predicted this, so he continued.
I rember saying during the exam that I want to join the army. The reason is because the highest chance for to fight against that guy is there. Ah, but you dont have to worry, that guy is definitely a villain. In fact, hes already a wanted man to both worlds, Ryou said.
He said that matter-of-factly, but his eyes were brimming with hate, and his hands have balled into fists so tight over the table it seed as though he was trying to hurt himself.
Even alone though she was alone, my mother protected . She knew what kind of fate was waiting for her, but she still gave birth to and raised . She left our family because she was concerned about my future.
The problematic way of life of the exorcist clan that caused this ss, and the unsympathetic words of those people.
Ryou hated those too, but there was sothing else he hated more.
My mother was so kind, and yet He abandoned her. Theres no way I can forgive scum like that. Because of him My mother worked herself to the bone. Because of him She died alone!
He never ntioned who exactly it was he was referring to, but it also neednt be said.
After all, the one person that shouldve already been ntioned was yet to make his appearance.
Ryous voice was weak, but it was precisely because of that that the anguish behind it could be felt.
Thats why Shinichi ignored the blood that had begun to drip from his hand.
Ive been searching for him desperately all this ti, and when I found out where he was, to my surprise, he was already scum wanted by Garesto, so I decided then That one day, with these two hands of mine, Im going to
Ryou cut his words at that mont, and downed a glass of water to calm his emotions, then he shook his head as he exhaled. Hes been trying not to let his emotions get to him, but just talking about him was enough to get him emotional.
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