Yamato no Kami Yasusada scratched his head in frustration, deciding it was time to devise a plan to catch that guy and have a proper talk with him. He only had this plan in mind, but he didn't expect the opportunity to come so sooner than he anticipated.
-TBC.
Chapter 7
Despite the headaches caused by the Kashuu Seiko incident, Yamato no Kami Yasusada still remembered an important day a few days later when he checked the calendar.
July 8th is the birthday of my mentor, Okita Souji.
Yamato no Kami Yasusada rarely spoke of his past. Even those within the organization felt that he had been there from the very beginning, but when it came to tracing the origins, no one could say for sure. So naturally, no one knew that this legendary sharpshooter was just an orphan who had been taken in by the dojo as a child.
Most childhood memories fade with age, perhaps because they were discarded too early. In Yamato no Kami Yasusada's memory, the first person he saw in this world was that gentle-smiling man the moment he opened his eyes. Despite losing his parents, Yamato no Kami Yasusada never felt like an unfortunate person. The existence of Okita Souji almost filled all the voids in his childhood.
Having grown up in Okita Souji's dojo since childhood, Yamato no Kami Yasusada, who barely knew how to read, had already learned how to beat people with a wooden sword. Back then, he was unbeatable in the alleyways, a true king among children. Okita Souji finally managed to get him into school, but he was expelled after only a few days for fighting. Okita Souji almost lost his temper several times, but finally sighed, thinking that perhaps the boy truly lacked academic talent, and handed him over to a friend who was doing well in society, hoping the boy could find his own way.
However, what no one expected was that before he even entered society, his inherent violence was unleashed, and he was spotted and taken in by Yamato no Kami Yasusada, who discovered his talent for sniping.
However, Okita Souji was unaware of all this. Yamato no Kami Yasusada was so good at disguising himself that the old man still believed this little rascal had reformed and truly become a hardworking salaryman striving for his future. This is why Yamato no Kami Yasusada was able to keep Kashuu Kiyomitsu from discovering his true identity for so many years; after all, practice makes perfect.
To create the impression of someone who had been working away from home for many years and was now returning, Yamato no Kami Yasusada stayed up for a full day and night, developing dark circles under his eyes like a panda. Izumi no Kami watched in amazement as he booked a series of flights and hotels to complete this disguise.
"Hey An Ding, you're really good at playing the victim card, but I don't see you doing that to your partner."
Yamato no Kami Yasusada, who was picking out clothes for himself, looked up and snorted disdainfully, "That would only work if Kiyomitsu stood there so I could show off my skills."
"But your partner is really good at hiding. I feel like I've turned the whole city upside down and still haven't found him."
"Of course, otherwise how could it be mine?" Yamato no Kami Yasusada said with some pride as he straightened his collar in front of the mirror.
"Oh, oh, oh, now you're starting to feel smug. I wonder who that was standing next to the Jaguar with that 'I've run away with my wife' look on his face when I went to pick him up the other day?" Izuminokami leaned over and replied in a very smug tone.
"If you keep quiet, no one will think you're mute." Yamato no Kami Yasusada paused, his hand moving slightly, and pushed his friend's face aside with a look of disgust.
Without Izuminokami's banter, Yamato-no-kami Yasusada quickly got dressed, habitually strapping his dagger and pistol to his belt. He hesitated when loading the second gun. After all, he was meeting his master this time, and carrying too many guns might lead to mistakes. After thinking for a while, he put it back, greeted Izuminokami, and pushed open the door to leave.
Due to housing prices, Okita Dojo had moved once a few years ago, from the city center to a remote suburb. Yamato no Kami Yasusada drove for over an hour before finally spotting the dojo's sign in the distance. Perhaps because he was about to meet the person he had admired since childhood, Yamato no Kami Yasusada inexplicably smiled.
This is a feeling that no one else can match. No matter how much he likes Kashuu Kiyomitsu, Okita Souji's place in his heart will always remain irreplaceable. From that fleeting glimpse upon first arriving in this world to the meticulous care he received during his childhood. Although Okita Souji always likes to smile and carry a wooden sword to discipline disobedient Yamato no Kami Yasusada, he knows that beneath that cunning lies a deep and unyielding love. This is why, even after years on this path of no return, Yamato no Kami Yasusada would rather go to great lengths to conceal his identity than sever ties with Okita Souji. If Kashuu Kiyomitsu is the guiding light on his path, then Okita Souji is the spark of his initial heart that ignited before he embarked on this path.
As the car drove on, the outline of the dojo gradually came into view. Yamato no Kami Yasusada, with his sharp eyes, spotted the person waiting eagerly at the entrance from a distance.
Yamato no Kami Yasusada was so excited that he slammed on the brakes, left the car at the door, and jumped out hastily. If Okita Souji hadn't quickly raised his hand to stop him, he probably would have picked him up and spun him around.
"Mr. Okita, I'm back!" Yamato no Kami Yasusada smiled brightly, as if he were not a sharpshooter who kills without leaving a trace in the underworld, but just a young man who had finally returned home after a busy day.
"Yasusada." Okita Souji smiled gently and slowly walked forward. Just as Yamato no Kami Yasusada thought the other was going to pat his head, Okita Souji slashed him on the forehead with his right hand, gritting his teeth and saying, "How am I supposed to leave if you're standing at the door!"
Yamato no Kami Yasusada climbed back into the car, looking somewhat aggrieved, and parked it again. As soon as he turned around, he heard a sighing sound from the person behind him.
"Welcome home, An Ding."
Yamato no Kami Yasusada followed Okita Souji through the winding corridors of the dojo. Along the way, they encountered many children learning kendo. Upon seeing Okita Souji, they all chattered and gathered around him, all very happy.
"Mr. Okita is still as popular with children as ever." Yamato no Kami Yasusada looked at Okita Souji, who was surrounded by children, touched his nose, and said with a hint of nostalgia.
“But they’re all very obedient now, they’re not as mischievous as you were back then.” Okita Souji said a few words to each of them, and finally, as if recalling the various misdeeds of the person in front of him in the past, he glared at him with a bit of a laugh.
"Oh, that was all because I was ignorant when I was little." Yamato no Kami Yasusada stuck out his tongue and chuckled twice. Just kidding, he's nothing like the kid he was back then.
As soon as Yamato no Kami Yasusada spoke, the little brats seemed to notice that there was someone standing there. They let Okita Souji go and then surged towards Yamato no Kami Yasusada like a tide.
"Was your older brother also in the dojo before?"
"Isn't big brother amazing?!"
"Big brother, have you ever had your hand slapped by Mr. Okita?"
"Big brother..."
The children's barrage of questions made Yasusada's head spin, but his kingly nature remained dormant in his heart. Even though he was being harassed and unable to stop, he didn't find it annoying. Instead, he squatted down with a smile and told the little kids about his past achievements.
"Oh my! I was amazing back then, unbeatable in every dojo! And forget about getting slapped on the palm, several times Mr. Okita would circle the dojo several times trying to catch me, but he just couldn't. Guess what Mr. Okita came up with later?"
"What method?" The little rascals all widened their eyes.
“He waited for me at the cafeteria entrance because Mr. Okita knew I hadn’t eaten that day!”
"Ha ha ha ha……"
Watching the children laughing heartily, Okita Souji shook his head helplessly, but a smile lingered on his face.
Having had their fun, it was time to prepare for the important matters. Okita Souji didn't want to be extravagant, and besides, at his age, birthday celebrations weren't really a big deal; it was just an excuse to get everyone together. He didn't invite many people; aside from a few close disciples, most were his peers from the same dojo. Although they had all gone their separate ways, they would still travel great distances to attend on this occasion.
Yamato no Kami Yasusada wasn't idle either. After playing with the children for a while, Okita Souji dragged him over to entertain the guests. But since these people were all elders and he had a special status, he couldn't say more than a few words before making an excuse to slip away.
The reception area for guests was a traditional Japanese house behind the dojo. Opening the paper door revealed a meticulously tended courtyard. A rare treat without the life-or-death situation, Yamato no Kami Yasusada sat by the corridor, gazing at the various plants arranged in the courtyard. Each breath was filled with the fragrance of flowers and grass, and his mood was as bright as the sun overhead.
But this good mood didn't last long. Years of heightened vigilance told him that someone was secretly watching him. Yamato no Kami Yasusada almost immediately straightened up, discreetly observing his surroundings. The problem was that the garden was excessively large, surrounded by layers of traditional Japanese houses, making it difficult to pinpoint the source of his gaze.
Yamato no Kami Yasusada frowned, pretended to stretch as he stood up, muttering to himself, "I forgot what Mr. Okita said earlier," then patted his wrinkled trousers and walked towards the other end of the corridor, feigning a hurry. The man was probably a professional, seeing that Yamato no Kami Yasusada had almost reached the end of the corridor without moving. But Yamato no Kami Yasusada was no pushover, and besides, he knew these rooms like the back of his hand. As a child, he had crawled through almost every nook and cranny while playing hide-and-seek. He knocked on the paper door a few times, quickly found a spot where he wouldn't be discovered, and turned to hide inside.
He hid behind the door and, sure enough, heard footsteps after only a short while. But the footsteps were extremely light; if he hadn't been so experienced, he probably would have been fooled. Yamato no Kami Yasusada silently counted the seconds in his mind. When he saw a dark figure flash past the door, he immediately pulled open the paper door and pounced on it like a hungry wolf, dragging the person behind the paper door with a single pull.
In the chaos, Yamato no Kami Yasusada was only focused on subduing his subordinate, but as his vision cleared, he felt the man looked increasingly familiar. Then, when the man's baseball cap fell off during the struggle, revealing a familiar face, Yamato no Kami Yasusada immediately froze.
"Qing, Qingguang?!"
Kashuu Kiyomitsu felt a deep, agonizing bitterness in his heart. It was as if fate truly intended to destroy him, which was why trouble kept piling up at him.
Having barely escaped Yamato no Kami Yasusada's clutches, another devastating piece of news arrived just days later: the arrest warrant he'd initially made as a joke to vent his anger had actually been accepted by someone! Kashuu Kiyomitsu felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, nearly collapsing onto Horikawa. And the person who accepted it was a rather well-known assassin duo. Kashuu Kiyomitsu repeatedly told himself that Yamato no Kami Yasusada was a deceitful and cheating scumbag, but in the end, he couldn't overcome the inexplicable forces within him. He grabbed Horikawa's hand, urging him to use every means at his disposal to monitor Yamato no Kami Yasusada's recent activities.
Although Yamato no Kami Yasusada had sent people to track him again, according to Horikawa, their technology was incredibly poor. The confident junior technician had easily set up a few counter-surveillance devices and completely disoriented the man. Fortunately, Yamato no Kami Yasusada had been relatively well-behaved for the past few days and hadn't run around much. Kashuu Kiyomitsu was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when he checked the calendar and almost slapped his thigh in dismay.
Yamato no Kami Yasusada rarely mentioned his past, but Kashuu Kiyomitsu still knew about his habit of disappearing for a day every July 8th. In the past, he would have just let it go, but now it was like a bolt from the blue.
Kashuu Kiyomitsu transferred the map Horikawa gave him to his phone, packed up all his disguises and weapons, and continued to verbally attack Yamato no Kami Yasusada before leaving.
Kashuu Kiyomitsu had been curious before, but everyone has their own secrets, and he had no right to interfere. After the affair, he decided to make this day a date between Yamato no Kami Yasusada and his mistress. But today, after seeing the address Horikawa gave him, he felt conflicted again.
Okita Dojo... This doesn't look like a place for girls at all. Does Yamato no Kami Yasusada like tomboys? Does he have a thing for tough girls? Or does he have some kind of fetish?
Kashuu Kiyomitsu was startled by his own thoughts and quickly straightened the steering wheel, heading towards Okita Dojo.
Of course, the car couldn't just be parked there openly, but the area around the dojo was in the middle of nowhere. After finally finding a place to park, he realized it would be another twenty minutes' walk to reach his destination. Kashuu Kiyomitsu couldn't help but curse Yamato no Kami Yasusada in his mind again.
Infiltrating was second nature to Kashuu Kiyomitsu, and it seemed the dojo was hosting some kind of event today, with several cars parked outside. Kashuu Kiyomitsu crouched low, and as another guest got out of their car and exchanged greetings with the people at the entrance, he quickly slipped out. Finding Yamato no Kami Yasusada in this vast dojo wouldn't be easy, but thankfully, he had Horikawa as a brilliant teammate, saving him the trouble of wandering around aimlessly in the dark.
Kashuu Kiyomitsu's original intention was to secretly protect this guy and take care of the assassins who came, keeping it a secret and remaining anonymous. However, reality is always different. Kashuu Kiyomitsu clearly forgot that Yamato no Kami Yasusada was a fighter of his own caliber. When he was dragged behind the paper door and pinned to the ground, Kashuu Kiyomitsu sincerely cursed himself for being an idiot.
Why would someone like that need his protection? Just ask someone to shoot him!
"you……"
Yamato no Kami Yasusada looked at Kashuu Kiyomitsu, who had gotten up from the ground and was glaring at him angrily, and for a moment he didn't know what to say. He had been searching the whole world for him just a while ago, and now this guy had delivered himself right to his doorstep. He was the one who had been sneaking around following him, and even after being caught, he still looked angry. What was wrong with this world?
Before Yamato no Kami Yasusada could continue asking questions, Okita Souji's voice came from outside the door. Just as Yamato no Kami Yasusada was about to answer, he saw Kashuu Kiyomitsu immediately put on his hat and try to find a place to hide. He quickly grabbed him, afraid that he would run away again. However, the noise was too loud, and the paper door was pulled open with a "whoosh." For a moment, the three of them faced each other, all dumbfounded.
"Yasusada, who is this...?" It's no wonder Okita Souji looked hesitant; the two's actions were simply too inappropriate. Yamato no Kami Yasusada was holding onto the other's hand tightly, while the other was blushing and trying to pull his hand away. Coupled with their somewhat disheveled clothing, it was hard not to misunderstand.
"Mr. Okita, let me explain!"
"Ah, is that the boyfriend you mentioned last year?" Yamato no Kami Yasusada was speaking when Okita Souji, as if remembering something, clenched his right fist and tapped his left palm. Then, with a kind smile on his face, he grabbed a piece of old newspaper from behind the paper door and hit Yamato no Kami Yasusada on the head.
"I told you to be nicer to your family, and look, you've almost made them cry!"
So, amidst Yamato no Kami Yasusada's wailing, Kashuu Kiyomitsu was pulled out by Okita Souji. The familiar look on Okita's face sent a chill down Kashuu's spine for no reason; it looked like an ugly daughter-in-law meeting her in-laws.
Pshaw, he's not ugly at all.
But if he could have foreseen what would happen next, Kashuu Kiyomitsu would have insisted on breaking free from Yamato no Kami Yasusada's shackles and finding a crack to hide in. He used to be most afraid of his boss causing trouble, but now, compared to this Mr. Okita, Kashuu Kiyomitsu missed his mischievous boss for the first time.
How old is Qingguang?
"Two, twenty-four."
"When did you get together with An Ding?"
Five years ago.
How did you get together?
"..."
They can't exactly say they're together to hide their identities, can they?!
Kashuu Kiyomitsu was utterly exasperated, while Okita Souji waited with a smile for him to continue. Kashuu Kiyomitsu glanced at Yamato no Kami Yasusada, who was also fidgeting beside him, and noticed that the guy was giving him a meaningful look as well.
But that eye contact was terrible! Was it an eye twitch?! There was absolutely no coordination!
"What? Can't you say?"
"Ah, no, no." Kashuu Kiyomitsu quickly shook his head, a bunch of plans instantly popping into his head. But he was worried that Okita Souji would ask Yamato no Kami Yasusada later, and the two of them hadn't rehearsed their lines beforehand. What if they messed up?
"Actually... it's just... one night..." Kashuu Kiyomitsu struggled to make up the story. He glanced at Yamato no Kami Yasusada out of the corner of his eye, but this time the guy was acting innocent again, sitting up straight like a primary school student.
That damn bastard.
"The two of us are..."
Ouch! My foot hurts so much!
Before Kashuu Kiyomitsu could finish speaking, a howl came from the side. The guy was rolling around on the tatami mat, clutching his feet. If Okita Souji hadn't rushed over worriedly, Kashuu Kiyomitsu thought he would have burst out laughing. It's amazing this guy could come up with such a thing.
Although Okita Souji wanted to continue asking, Yamato no Kami Yasusada cried out even louder the moment he opened his mouth. Having no other choice, he had Kashuu Kiyomitsu help him to the bedroom to get some medicine. Kashuu Kiyomitsu seemingly obediently supported the "unable to walk" Yamato no Kami Yasusada, firmly promising to take good care of him despite Okita Souji's repeated instructions. Then, after helping Yamato no Kami Yasusada out of sight, he immediately let go and threw Yamato no Kami Yasusada to the ground.
"Ouch—please be gentle, are you trying to murder your husband?"
Kashuu Kiyomitsu glared at him and turned to leave. Yamato no Kami Yasusada hurriedly got up from the ground and tried to grab his sleeve, but his hand slipped and he grabbed the belt instead, and the two of them fell back down in the corridor as history repeated itself.
"You—!" Kashuu Kiyomitsu turned around, ready to curse, but as soon as he did, he heard Horikawa's loud warning through the radio in his ear. Sure enough, the next second he saw a familiar infrared sight moving across Yamato no Kami Yasusada's back. Ignoring the guy's screams, Kashuu Kiyomitsu grabbed him by the collar, and the two of them rolled around in a heap.
"you……"
Yamato no Kami Yasusada seemed to want to say something more, but Kashuu Kiyomitsu shot him a glare and said coldly, "If you keep talking, I'll tell Mr. Okita that you seduced a minor back then."
"Didn't you say you were an adult back then?!"
"According to the ID card, it's still one day short."
"Shit!"
-TBC.