Chapter 8
The sniper hidden in the shadows didn't give the two much time to bicker. Yamato no Kami Yasusada was about to say something when he felt a gust of wind past his ear, and the next second, Kashuu Kiyomitsu kicked him away, sending him tumbling backward in a disheveled state. Just as he thought this man was definitely there to murder him, the sound of a bullet whizzing through the air followed, and in the blink of an eye, a crack appeared in the wooden plank where he had just fallen.
There's an assassination attempt! And it seems to be aimed at him!
A series of thoughts immediately surged through Yamato no Kami Yasusada's mind. Years of experience in escaping made him react instantly. He covered his cheek, which was still burning from being kicked, with one hand and grabbed Kashuu Kiyomitsu beside him with the other. Based on his previous memory of the structure of the Okita Dojo, he quickly found a gap in the corridor where miscellaneous items were piled up, opened the paper door, and hid inside.
However, upon entering, Yamato no Kami Yasusada immediately shook off Kashuu Kiyomitsu's hand, his expression shifting between light and shadow. His previous playful demeanor vanished completely, replaced by a chilling glint in his eyes. He wasn't stupid; the assassin and Kashuu Kiyomitsu appearing here simultaneously must have a reason. Although he liked this man very much, he couldn't allow his only family member to be harmed.
Seeing Yamato no Kami Yasusada's face, which was so cold it was almost icy, Kashuu Kiyomitsu knew he was in the wrong. His previous arrogance subsided considerably, and he touched his nose somewhat helplessly, reluctantly saying, "Actually... that was just a joke from a while ago."
Although he only said that one sentence, Yamato no Kami Yasusada, who knew his temperament well, had already filled in the whole story in his mind. It was nothing more than the boring and clichéd plot of being very angry and wanting to put up a bounty, oh my god, the bounty was actually accepted, no, this guy can't die at someone else's hands. Yamato no Kami Yasusada was so angry that he laughed. He rubbed his throbbing temples and gritted his teeth, saying, "I never knew that being tsundere could be life-threatening."
"That's all because of you—" Kashuu Kiyomitsu was about to retort reflexively, but then mumbled a few words under Yamato no Kami Yasusada's almost tangible, piercing gaze, complaining about something.
If it were anyone else, Yamato no Kami Yasusada would probably have been so angry he'd pulled out his gun by now. But he'd run into his nemesis, the kind who could probably keep him at bay for life, so naturally, he couldn't pull the trigger. He scratched his head in frustration, then looked up at Kashuu Kiyomitsu and said, "How many of them are there? Don't look at me like that. With your limited understanding, you must have a radio plugged into your ear. Tell me the situation."
Kashuu Kiyomitsu rolled his eyes silently where Yamato no Kami Yasusada couldn't see, but still obediently adjusted the receiver in his ear and whispered to Horikawa.
While Kashuu Kiyomitsu was muttering to himself, Yamato no Kami Yasusada wasn't idle either. Who could have imagined that simply attending his mentor's birthday party would lead to such a situation? Even Yamato no Kami Yasusada was caught off guard. He only had a dagger and a gun; he hadn't brought any of his preferred weapons and had no idea of the enemy's movements—he was completely in the dark. Frustrated, he checked the time on his phone. There were still three hours until dinner; he had to eliminate those assassins within that time. His eyes darted around, finally settling on Kashuu Kiyomitsu leaning against the door. In an instant, an idea formed in Yamato no Kami Yasusada's mind.
“There are only three enemies: a sniper and two close-quarters fighters.” Kashuu Kiyomitsu had barely finished speaking when he saw Yamato no Kami Yasusada's expression change completely. As if an iceberg had melted, Yamato no Kami smiled warmly. But Kashuu Kiyomitsu, who had known him for five years, was on high alert. He took a half-step back without leaving a trace, ready to pull open the paper door and rush out at any moment.
"To be fair, Kiyomitsu, you're the one who caused all this trouble." Yamato no Kami Yasusada seemed oblivious to his little actions, still smiling.
"So what if it is?" Kashuu Kiyomitsu remained unmoved, raising an eyebrow in disdain.
"So I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself. Your partner on the other end of the radio will definitely be a great help. You don't need to do much; just help me scout out the situation, and I'll take care of them myself."
"Hmph, how can you be so sure I'll help you? I'd be happier if they beat you to death, you scumbag." Kashuu Kiyomitsu snorted coldly after hearing this, as if the other person was telling the biggest joke in the world.
"I don't know who rushed over to me in such a hurry, I don't know who had their ears turn red when Mr. Okita dragged them away, I don't know who grabbed my collar as if afraid I'd get shot, I don't know who..."
"Who knows which idiot that is!" Kashuu Kiyomitsu's cheeks grew redder and redder as he listened, until finally he couldn't take it anymore and roared, even the tips of his ears turning pink. He angrily yanked open the paper door and was about to walk out when Yamato no Kami Yasusada quickly stood up straight and was about to chase after him.
"Hey, hey, hey, where are you going?"
"Go gather intelligence for that idiot!"
Why am I so sure? Probably because I know you like me that much.
Kashuu Kiyomitsu shifted awkwardly, and the person next to him immediately turned his head, his eyes filled with helplessness. In order to maintain his professional image, Kashuu Kiyomitsu had no choice but to continue crouching, maintaining this strange posture of curling up next to Yamato no Kami Yasusada, staring angrily ahead with wide eyes.
It's no wonder he was restless and acting like he had ADHD; the shock of working with this person was simply too great, and he was finding it hard to accept at first. After all, even if this guy was cunning and mischievous before, he at least seemed like a good young man with good character and upright values, always helping the elderly and being considerate to children. But then he turned into a grim reaper roaming the night, making Kashuu Kiyomitsu wonder if this guy had ever thought of doing something terrible during their arguments. His imagination ran wild, and if it weren't for Horikawa's loud shouts over the radio, he probably would have imagined things that were definitely not suitable for children.
"It seems the sniper has separated from the other two. They must be carrying counter-surveillance equipment, blocking satellite signals." After a flurry of keyboard clicks, Horikawa's slightly anxious voice came through.
Since they had agreed to cooperate temporarily, Kashuu Kiyomitsu relentlessly repeated his words to Yamato no Kami Yasusada. The two crouched among the bushes deep in the courtyard. Yamato no Kami Yasusada pondered for a long time, then spoke with a determined air: "Since these people are all coming for me, I'll act as bait to lure away the two assassins who have already infiltrated. Kiyomitsu, you take out the sniper and then come back to meet me. Did you bring the pistol silencer? Remember not to let Mr. Okita find out."
"Of course I brought it. Do you think everyone is as stupid as you?" As if to prove something, Kashuu Kiyomitsu pulled out a Glock 18 from his clothes, skillfully installed the silencer, opened the safety, and waved it at Yamato no Mori Yasusada in a showy manner.
"Yes, yes, Kashuu Kiyomitsu is the smartest person in the world." Yamato no Kami Yasusada shrugged, finishing his Beretta in his hand with a few quick flicks of his fingers. He opened his phone and saw Kashuu Kiyomitsu's real-time satellite location, with red dots representing enemies flashing. Yamato no Kami Yasusada mentally estimated the current location of Mr. Okita and the other guests, then leaned close to Kashuu Kiyomitsu and told him their rendezvous point.
Unexpectedly, Yamato no Kami Yasusada suddenly moved so close. Despite knowing the situation, the hot breath on his ear still made Kashuu Kiyomitsu's heart flutter. When was the last time he was intimate with this guy? Oh no, no, damn Kashuu Kiyomitsu, what is he thinking about all day!
After Yamato no Kami Yasusada finished speaking, he was about to ask what the other party thought when he saw Kashuu Kiyomitsu staring at him with a flushed face as if he were a class enemy. Then he swallowed back the words that were about to come out of his mouth and said, "Please be careful later." Little did he know that his actions just now were seen as ill intentions by Kashuu Kiyomitsu.
Brushing the fallen leaves off his body, Kashuu Kiyomitsu crouched down, ready to dash out. He was even in starting position when he tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then slightly turned it towards the person looking down at a map on their phone, whispering, "You watch out, you idiot." However, Yamato no Kami Yasusada kept his head down as if he hadn't heard him, until Kashuu Kiyomitsu, cheeks puffed out, angrily ran off. Only then did he let out a soft chuckle, silently replying to himself.
Um.
After temporarily parting ways with Kashuu Kiyomitsu, Yamato no Kami Yasusada found himself in a precarious situation without his partner who had been secretly providing intelligence. He had been dressed in a suit and tie to look presentable, and although it was slightly wrinkled from Kiyomitsu's violence, it couldn't hide the fact that the clothes were inconvenient for movement. Yamato no Kami Yasusada knew that those in the shadows were not benevolent; if they discovered anyone else with him, they would attack indiscriminately. After much deliberation, he decided to find a secluded place and take matters into his own hands.
Fortunately, the remaining two were still being monitored by the satellite. Yamato no Kami Yasusada straightened his clothes and emerged from the bushes, pretending to stroll casually down the corridor while keeping a close eye on the other party's movements with his phone. Sure enough, the next second the two also made a move, following him as expected. Yamato no Kami Yasusada didn't dare to be careless. He turned around, rounded the corner of the corridor, and then took off running.
He and Kashuu Kiyomitsu had agreed to meet at an abandoned training ground in the back mountains. It was Yamato no Kami Yasusada's favorite secret base when he was a child. Although it was dilapidated, it was spacious and open. Later, Okita Souji sealed it off, intending to demolish it and rebuild it as a training ground, but he was hampered by a lack of funds and had not yet taken action. Now it seemed to be the perfect place for a fight. Because he didn't know if Kashuu Kiyomitsu had taken swift action to eliminate the sniper, Yamato no Kami Yasusada, although he seemed to be running in a panic, was actually looking for cover and trying his best not to expose himself.
After several twists and turns, the training ground's seal was finally visible. But before Yamato no Kami Yasusada could feel much joy, the footsteps behind him grew louder. In a flash, he estimated the distance and, without hesitation, bent his knees, his upright body collapsing into a low stance. Although he didn't hear any gunshots, he could clearly feel the heat of the bullets as they passed. When he looked up again, there was a bullet crater on the pillar in front of him.
Yamato no Kami Yasusada quickly rolled to the side, hooked his gun with one hand, steadied himself, and pulled the trigger. But his opponent was no pushover; a dark figure flashed past, swiftly dodging the bullets, which thudded into the rafters. Yamato no Kami Yasusada wanted to fire again, but suddenly realized that there was only one person in front of him; the other was nowhere to be seen.
The idea of flanking from both sides flashed through his mind. Yamato no Kami Yasusada didn't linger in the fight. He fired one more threatening shot, then turned and ran, quickly pulling out his phone as he ran. His fingers flew across the screen, and he didn't forget to occasionally tilt his head to dodge attacks from behind. Sure enough, the two dots on the screen had separated, and the rapidly flashing point was exactly where he was about to reach the next intersection. Yamato no Kami Yasusada didn't even have time to curse Kashuu Kiyomitsu in his mind again. He put his phone back in his pocket. Seeing that he didn't have dual pistols, he could only use his dagger to defend himself.
Counting down the seconds in my mind, one, two, three.
Before anyone could even appear around the corner, Yamato no Kami Yasusada, as if anticipating his move, exerted force with his left wrist, bent over, tensed all his muscles, and stomped forward with his right foot, throwing the dagger out!
"ah--!"
The next second came a scream. The assassin who rushed out from around the corner was still in a shooting position, but a dagger stuck in his thigh obviously prevented him from making any further moves.
Seeing his attack succeed, Yamato no Kami Yasusada immediately rushed forward, bending down and delivering a powerful side kick that knocked his opponent to the ground, blood gushing out and staining his suit trousers. He then used a backhand strike to disarm the man and grab the gun from his hand, but just as he was about to succeed, a soft gunshot startled him, causing him to immediately withdraw his hand. The man who had been lying on the ground, enduring excruciating pain, rolled over to subdue Yamato no Kami Yasusada. Without time to think, Yamato no Kami Yasusada clenched his fist and struck the man in the abdomen. A muffled groan was heard, and then he used both hands to throw the man backward. However, his plan was good, but fate had other plans. While trying to dodge a bullet from behind, he misstepped and fell backward.
"Damn it!" The curse that had been pent up inside him finally burst out. In a moment of quick thinking, Yamato no Kami Yasusada had no choice but to release the person he was carrying, bracing his palm against the ground to cushion the fall. But his initial advantage was gone. He awkwardly rolled over to dodge a barrage of bullets, but in doing so, he accidentally dropped his phone from his suit trousers. Before he could pick it up, there was a loud "snap," and the phone was pierced through by a bullet.
"Damn it, do you even know that's a matching couple's item with Kiyomitsu?!"
While lying on the roof, Kashuu Kiyomitsu suddenly sneezed, rubbed his nose, and muttered in confusion, "Could it be that I've caught a cold?"
"Kiyomitsu, what are you saying?" Horikawa asked from the other end of the radio.
Kashuu Kiyomitsu quickly shook his head to indicate it was nothing, and continued crouching, searching for the sniper who was hiding somewhere. While Horikawa was using thermal imaging to search, Kashuu Kiyomitsu could only stare wide-eyed, relying on the most primitive detection equipment. Actually, he was still somewhat out of it; the heat in his ears hadn't subsided for a while, and his mind was hazy with the deep voice of Yamato no Kami Yasusada and his serious expression with downcast eyes. "Oh no," he thought, "I'm really too deeply addicted."
"I've found it! I've found Kiyomitsu!"
"Huh? Ah!" Kashuu Kiyomitsu quickly shook off the jumbled thoughts in his mind, jumped down from the eaves to the ground, and began to act according to Horikawa's instructions.
I expected a fierce battle, but it turns out that Yamato no Kami Yasusada is truly an anomaly when it comes to close-quarters combat as a sniper. A simple backflip, a draw shot, and the only difficult part was kicking him off the roof and disposing of the body. Kashuu Kiyomitsu isn't actually that strong; he mostly relies on technique. Even dragging such a burly adult man, he was still panting heavily.
"Damn it, that guy is such a handful. We can't have any gunshots, but we still have to deal with the aftermath. Ugh, I'm so angry!" Kashuu Kiyomitsu threw the man into the haystack, clapped his hands angrily, and thought to himself, "Let that bastard deal with all this himself."
Because they didn't know the way, they had to rely on Horikawa, their human GPS, to guide them to the meeting point. But halfway there, there was hardly anyone around. In Yamato no Kami Yasusada's own words, this place was already an abandoned land. But if they listened carefully, they could clearly hear the sounds of fighting not far away.
Kashuu Kiyomitsu's eyelids twitched, and he almost immediately rushed over. What he saw was Yamato no Kami Yasusada, panting heavily behind a wall. His usual composure was gone; his clothes were disheveled, his ponytail was askew, and the hem of his trousers was covered in dried, dark red bloodstains. As if noticing him, Kashuu Kiyomitsu was about to ask if Yamato no Kami was injured when Yamato no Kami Yasusada suddenly lunged at him. The two rolled across the pebbled path. Kashuu Kiyomitsu looked up, his face covered in dust, and saw a row of bullet holes where they had been.
"You haven't taken care of them yet? How many are left on the other side?" Dragged behind a pillar by Yamato no Kami Yasusada, Kashuu Kiyomitsu disregarded the ambiguous position of being nestled in the other's arms and anxiously asked, "And what happened to your blood? Are you injured? Who hurt you... No, how come you're so weak!"
"Stop, stop, stop!" Yamato no Kami Yasusada quickly stopped Kashuu Kiyomitsu's machine-gun-like questioning. The tense atmosphere was greatly relieved by this person. After all, looking at his face full of worry but stubbornly refusing to admit it, it was hard not to laugh.
"This isn't my blood. Look carefully, and stop worrying about it."
"who……?!"
"Alright, let's not waste time with this." Yamato no Kami Yasusada shook his head with a laugh, pointing the muzzle of his gun at the bushes not far away. "Two people, one of whom I stabbed in the leg, but both of them are pretty accurate, so I didn't dare get close and had to wait for you to come."
The last sentence clearly pleased Kashuu Kiyomitsu, who raised his eyebrows smugly, as if he had a tail wagging its tail.
Yamato no Kami Yasusada pretended not to see and continued to whisper his plan. "So now that you're here, the next step is..." His voice trailed off as he spoke, his lips brushing against Kashuu Kiyomitsu's ear. After a long while, he shook Kashuu Kiyomitsu, whose face was already flushed, and said, "Did you hear that?"
"Nonsense! You're so close, only an idiot could hear you!" Kashuu Kiyomitsu quickly distanced himself from the man, looking like he was saying, "Don't forget we're mortal enemies now."
"This plan will really test our teamwork. Kiyomitsu, don't let me down." Yamato no Kami Yasusada shrugged, turned around and glanced outside again, preparing to make his move.
"If it weren't for the special circumstances this time, who would want to cooperate with you..." Kashuu Kiyomitsu muttered a few words, but in the end he still obediently leaned his head in and occasionally fired a couple of shots to test the situation.
Feeling that the time was about right, Yamato no Kami Yasusada whispered, "Let's go!" Then he bent down and dashed off like an arrow. Kashuu Kiyomitsu didn't dare to delay and quickly followed.
The plan was actually quite simple: one would act as bait, and the other would ambush. Since the enemy was after Yamato no Kami Yasusada, no one was more suitable for the role of bait than him. That being said, seeing that guy charge into the hail of bullets all by himself, while he could only keep changing cover to avoid being discovered, still made him a little annoyed.
Pshaw, what's with all this heroism? Does he think he's some kind of hot-blooded protagonist? He's got an invincible aura, but you idiot don't.
Yamato no Kami Yasusada, engrossed in the fierce battle, clearly didn't hear the man's mutterings. Years of experience allowed him to accurately predict his opponent's next move. One hand gripped the gun, the other engaged in hand-to-hand combat; every turn of his head and sidestep was a conclusion drawn from tens of thousands of life-or-death experiences. The silenced pistol didn't have a deafening roar, but the barely audible sound was all the more nerve-wracking. Because the slightest mistake would mean bloodshed the next moment. With a final roll, the discarded magazine dangling from his mouth, his eyes calm, he held his breath, pulled the trigger, and a textbook example of close-quarters gunfighting brought down the previously wounded enemy.
Before he could even relax for a moment, Kashuu Kiyomitsu's voice suddenly rose sharply behind him, and the approaching death made Yamato no Kami Yasusada's hair stand on end.
"stable--!"
Oh no! I forgot about the person who just got kicked over!
Fine beads of sweat rolled down his temples, and his tense nerves made Yamato no Kami Yasusada feel that this second was passing particularly long. He could almost hear the sound of sparks exploding in the gun barrel, the beating of his own pulse, and the shouts that were getting closer and closer as Kashuu Kiyomitsu ran.
"Kiyomitsu—!" Summoning strength from who-knows-where, Yamato no Kami Yasusada's muscles tensed to their limit. He shouted with all his might, lunging towards Kashuu Kiyomitsu, his left hand outstretched. As if by telepathy, Kashuu Kiyomitsu threw his Glock 18 directly at him. The instant he caught the gun, Yamato no Kami Yasusada rolled to the side, kneeling to steady himself, raising his hand to control the recoil, and killing him instantly.
Looking at the enemy lying dead in front of him, and the bullet crater less than five centimeters from his feet, a feeling of relief, like he had survived a near-death experience, washed over him. Yamato no Kami Yasusada watched as Kashuu Kiyomitsu rushed towards him, frantically shaking him. His mind was blank; he only knew he wanted to do one thing. And so he did.
Yamato no Kami Yasusada held Kashuu Kiyomitsu tightly in his arms, and amidst the other's astonished gaze, he cupped the dust-covered face and kissed him fiercely.
-TBC.
Chapter 9, Page 9
In truth, if he had wanted to, Kashuu Kiyomitsu could have found a hundred ways to evade the attack from this man, including Yamato no Kami Yasusada's next outrageously foolish move. But despite all that, he did nothing, nor did he try to evade it.
What a coward! How could anyone be such a coward? He cursed himself inwardly.
But the force of the sucking between his lips and teeth quickly pulled his thoughts back. Kashuu Kiyomitsu frowned as he watched Yamato no Kami Yasusada's rough movements, which were like gnawing on a piece of bone. The other's sharp canines easily bit through his tender lips, and the pungent smell of blood filled his mouth. Even so, Yamato no Kami Yasusada continued his actions arrogantly.
How capricious! How could someone be so capricious? Kashuu Kiyomitsu inwardly scorned Yamato no Kami Yasusada.
So we can't let this guy keep acting recklessly. Damn it, someone has to come and end all this nonsense, right?
Kashuu Kiyomitsu didn't know what he was angry about. Well, anything involving Yamato no Kami Yasusada made him angry. Long-standing, estranged feelings were fermenting and simmering in his increasingly weakened heart. Every intense clash, every heated confrontation, only amplified these inexplicable feelings. He felt he was about to break down; his heart, not large enough to bear the weight, was about to explode. He thought he would never compromise. He had always been this stubborn, and he would continue to be so, unchanging because of others, circumstances, feelings, or anything else.
At least that's what he thought.
But when he saw the assassin pointing a gun at Yamato no Kami Yasusada's head, when he saw the strong wind from the bullet finally suppress Yamato no Kami Yasusada's stupid ahoge (cowlick), Kashuu Kiyomitsu realized that Yamato no Kami Yasusada's influence on him had reached a level his heart could no longer bear. An uncontrollable scream erupted from his throat, a shrill voice that seemed to pierce his vocal cords. Kashuu Kiyomitsu couldn't even imagine what would have happened if Yamato no Kami Yasusada hadn't reacted, what would have happened if he hadn't instinctively thrown the gun, what would have happened if Yamato no Kami Yasusada had been hit... He couldn't even continue thinking, because even the slightest thought of it made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
Then he finally realized, belatedly, what those inexplicable emotions were.
That was an uncontrollable love for Yamato no Kami Yasusada.
Realizing this, Kashuu Kiyomitsu's face suddenly turned red. He suddenly found the strength from who knows where and pushed away Yamato no Kami Yasusada, who was lying on top of him. He sat down heavily on the ground, panting, ignoring the enemy's blood that had stained his trouser legs. He stared at a point in the void in disbelief.
Yamato no Kami Yasusada, who was just getting into a passionate kiss but was cruelly pushed away, stood in front of Kashuu Kiyomitsu with a displeased expression, staring blankly at the guy on the ground, even his tone of voice became a bit fierce.
"Come on! The bullets are already loaded, and you suddenly pull the safety pin?!" Yamato no Kami Yasusada's face turned a little green.
"What are you doing, Kashuu Kiyomitsu?!"
"Shut up!"
Yamato no Kami Yasusada thought his fierce tone would scare Kashuu Kiyomitsu away, but the other party actually suppressed him with a voice an octave higher. Yamato no Kami Yasusada was stunned by the shout and looked at Kashuu Kiyomitsu sitting on the ground as if he had been humiliated. The guy's face had turned from red to green and then to black, like a fuse burning to the end of an explosive, probably about to explode in the next second.
"How could I... how could I..." Kashuu Kiyomitsu staggered to his feet, first glancing with disgust at his trousers, which were now filthy and almost black, then glaring viciously at Yamato no Kami Yasusada in front of him, muttering something repeatedly. Before Yamato no Kami Yasusada could even strain to hear him, Kiyomitsu had already shot forward like an arrow, rolled to pick up the Beretta that had been thrown to the ground, his knuckles on the trigger, the muzzle pointed directly at Yamato no Kami Yasusada.
"Hey... what's going on here? Wasn't he just being kissed so passionately he was practically in a trance?" Yamato no Kami Yasusada muttered under his breath. Although he didn't know what Kashuu Kiyomitsu was up to this time, he still gripped his Glock 18 tightly in his right hand, just in case. What kind of situation was this? Had they dealt with the external enemies and were now turning on each other? Or were they each holding the other's guns?
"I thought we'd made up." Yamato no Kami Yasusada glanced around to make sure no one else had intruded, then spoke to Kashuu Kiyomitsu, who seemed to be on edge, with a slightly teasing tone.
"Keep dreaming," Kashuu Kiyomitsu spat out, replying disdainfully. Although his mind was currently reeling from the terrifying reality that "I actually love Yamato no Kami Yasusada," emotion was on one side, and reason on the other. Regardless, it was a given fact, and what he wanted now was to erase it all. To return to the unrestrained Kashuu Kiyomitsu he once was.
“You know what, Kiyomitsu.” Facing the dark muzzle of the gun, Yamato no Kami Yasusada remained calm. He even chuckled and rubbed the ground with his toes, letting the blood stain his shoes. “Actually, I almost wanted to do it with you right here.”