SOSHIKI HQ

  Somewhere deep in the forest, Mount Uzumaki.

  "Please don't get carried away." Secretary Saiaka voiced out a firm tone towards V who had just crushed her cigarette with her heels.

  But ignoring her, V then summoned her retainers by snapping her fingers. Within seconds, they appeared right before her, on their knees.

  Both appeared to be Demons, a type of Spectre that holds the highest caste among them. One of the two is tall and lean, with a pair of red horns on its head, and one red-eye covering half its face. Its whole body is covered with red gemstones. The other one is a bit shorter and far more muscular. Its appearance is rather similar to a hippo and its horns have a peculiar round shape with a spiral pattern. Both are three meters tall and wearing black laced Yukata. And their presence always left Secretary Saiaka speechless, no matter how many times she’d encountered them. (*yukata: Japanese bathrobe)

  "Guard her. And her car. It's cheap but precious to her. If anything strange happens you both know what to do."

  Secretary Saiaka wasn’t pleased with V’s words –as she always is— and mumbled with annoyance until V disappeared completely into the woods.

  Mount Uzumaki belongs to the Soshiki by law. And although it is open to the public, no human other than the Soshiki themselves has ever stepped their foot into the prohibited areas such as Soshiki High and its Headquarters. There are other areas as well that are private and reserved for the high caste clans in the mountain. Soshiki Headquarter however, is strictly for the Higher-ups and the Elders. Located in a secluded zone deep in the mountain, it is protected by the Guardians –ethereal spirits who float around its place with white silk robes— who have the power as equal as Azuma and Nishi, the spirits who are guarding the Soshiki High. There’s a barrier surrounding the Headquarter and has stood there from the very beginning. There has never been a record of intruders or attacks by the Spectres. The Headquarter was created by Soshiki ancestors for those who held the high positions in the Soshiki, and entering its area means power and power alone.

  And Vivienne Ale Deveraux, by any means, shares the highest position being one of the Four Elders.

  The only gate at the Headquarter then swung open once V reached the premises.

  All the Guardians then bowed down as she entered.

  SOSHIKI HQ – HOLY CHAMBER.

  Sitting while crossing her long legs that she placed on the long oak’s table before her, V lit up a cigarette and puffed it toward the antique chandelier above her. The Revolver Tattoo on her left thigh radiates the room, always on its mark to be drawn out. The chamber is a typical ancient’s meeting room, with a square long table being placed right in the middle. There are twenty-five chairs on each side of the square table, making it fifty chairs in total, representing the fifty clans other than the Big Four. Those seats were reserved for the Higher-ups Representative –head of the clan— from the clans of Soshiki. And four golden chairs leading the room by the throne that has a different rectangle oak’s table, with a white silk veil separating the area between the seat of the Elders and the seat of the Higher-ups.

  Surrounding the room, there are sculptures of the ancestors, the founding fathers of Soshiki.

  However at the moment, the room is seemed to be empty –aside from V who is enjoying her puff of nicotine and four Guardians on her back—, until three light substances descended onto the three golden chairs on the left side where V’s sitting at.

  The Four Elders are now on their own respective chairs, as the ones who are holding the highest power in Soshiki.

  Arata Hidetada, Minamoto Yoritomo, Ikari Yoshinobu, and Vivienne Ale Deveraux.

  “I thought we’d agreed on the No Smoking Policy in this premises, Vivienne.” Yoshinobu, the eldest of the four spoke out softly.

  “My deepest apology, Ikari-jiji. Bad habits die hard.” V then put off her cigarette and put her legs down before she ordered one of the Guardians to let the Higher-ups enter the meeting room. “Let them in now. It’s getting forever.”

  “Don’t go overboard on it, V.” Yoritomo uttered.

  V kept her mouth sealed, but Hidetada responded in her place. “They started it, Yoritomo-sama. She has every right in her power to discipline them accordingly. But with that being said, the same goes to the former General. Remember that, V.”

  There was no sign of reply from the youngest Elder in the history of Soshiki, but her sharp ruby eyes said it all when the Higher-ups entered the Holy Chamber.

  And even with the white silk veil blocking their views of the Four Elders, the Higher-ups entered the room with trembling feet, sensing V’s ruby eyes that shone through the veil. They lit up with the intent to devour..

  **

  The meetings of the Elders and the Higher-ups have never been easy. Indeed, it has constantly been intense. However, no matter how perplexing the state of the affairs was, there was always, without fail, a diplomatic settlement between the parties who raised the issues.

  Political leadership is crucial in Soshiki. It was the foundation of the organization from the beginning.

  But as time passed by, clans were measured by caste, from the lowest to the highest –highest caste is rather hereditary. And by far in the history of Soshiki, the Deveraux clan has never lost its place as the fiercest clan to ever exist in Soshiki’s history, even with only one of them, one.. that is left.

  "It's too late now to save them." Yoshinobu who was sitting far left from V whispered softly.

  "I don't take sides, Yoshinobu-dono." Hidetada said in react. "At this point, we already know the outcome of this convention. But even though she's the youngest in this very room, she commands authority.. more than we could ever do." Even the Guardians bow their head down to her for the love of heaven. He said quietly to himself.

  "Yare-yare.. look at what you’ve done, Hirota-san." Yoshinobu retorted.

  **

  Once the Higher-ups settled well on their respective chairs, the Guardians closed the metal door and all lights were dimmed.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Anxiousness filled the air, an unusual one this time around.

  But a middle-aged man in his late fifties dared himself to break the ice and stood on his feet. He cleared his throat before he spoke.

  “I believe we were summoned here for the incident this morning.” Kanji from the Matsumoto clan stated out the obvious. “I, representing the Matsumoto clan, was responsible for opening the seal. We would also take the full responsibility for the betrayal of Matsumoto Hirota.. for harbouring the loose Onis beneath his establishment..” He paused, “..we have executed him with the Onis of the Southwest Gate who are all under our control. The Onis including the ones he harboured should’ve been wiped off by the Matsumoto clan by now. We had also sealed back the gate. I hope that clears everything. My deepest apology for the unnecessary convention.”

  “Kanji-san.. have you forgotten about us already?” Midori Rota who was sitting next to him, joined the report. “The Midori clan had also taken part in opening the seal. But with all due respect, even though we have committed a misconduct against the Soshiki Law, it was for a good cause.. but of course, it’s a completely different case compared to the incident a week ago, where the supposedly executioner failed to do her job." He mocked V with a scoff. "Not that she would always follow the rules, things have been inconsistent ever since she’s sitting on that sea..”

  “Rota! Have some respect!” Sakurai Genta who is sitting across of Midori Rota cut him off.

  More arguments increased about the pros and cons of the incidents. With sixteen clans in total –including the perpetrator— on the pro side and admitted themselves to have worked on the ambush at the Matsumoto Izakaya Ramen, which make up to approximately one third of the all the fifty Higher-ups. Sixteen of them have appeared to always despise the Deveraux clan, but have even a deeper hatred for V with her seat as one of the Elders.

  The Four Elders observed in the distance behind the veil, watching the arguments in silence. Until one powerful tap on the oak-wood table by V’s index finger, the room went quiet at once.

  “All sixteen of you..” She spoke out gently and rise herself up from her seat, revealing her frame from the veil, and walking down the three steps stairs from the throne “..did unsealing the gate and the ambush were an agreement within each member of your respective clan?” She paused before she continued with her tender voice. “Or was it just.. the sixteen of you?”

  Sighing with mixtures of both annoyance and fear, Midori Rota answered. “What’s the difference, the oh and mighty Miss Deveraux? The deeds have been done. Besides..” He scoffed, “..we’re just following your footsteps.” He then grinned. “You are the one who would always break the law and easily get away wi..”

  “Answer the question, Midori Rota-san.” She stared at him sharply through the eyes as she reached the head of the table. Her posture was firm, her face was calm and collective.. yet she intimidated the Higher-ups at the same time.

  Guzzling, he confirmed that it was an assembly between the sixteen Higher-ups, off the record between their respective clans. The soldiers who are attacking the Izakaya at the moment aren’t from the Matsumoto clan, but paid assassins from the unregulated clans who have no diplomatic seat.

  “I see.” V acknowledged the answer, her ruby eyes turned deadly right after. “Then, Midori Rota-san.. kindly please enunciate loudly the sentence of breaking the fundamental of Soshiki Law.”

  “Wha.. are you joking around, kid? I’ve lived longer than you have! I’ve held this position longer than you are! Don’t mess wi..”

  “Including the hiring of the assassins.. that’s a serious offence.” She stated –still with her delicate voice.

  “You are getting on my nerves now, who the hell do you think you are? Just because you’re sitting in the highest seat doesn’t mean you’re worth more than us!” He shouted louder, the other fifteen then followed, mocking V.

  “In summary, the sixteen of you have committed treason, against the Soshiki.. and us the Elders.” She added.

  “You little wench! Talking all and mighty as if you’re above us!”

  “Punishable by death.” V stated firmly, before she positioned herself on her ten-inch- high heels and drew out her Revolver from her Body Ink on her left thigh, and pulled the trigger.

  Bullets pierced straight through their brains in less than ten seconds.

  All powerful sixteen Higher-ups, died at once.

  “I found out about their deeds earlier this morning, Matsumoto Hirota is still alive. And I, Vivienne Deveraux, will execute him myself before all of you.” She ordered the Guardians to take the dead bodies out before she continued. “Meeting adjourned.”

  BACK AT MATSUMOTO IZAKAYA RAMEN.

  The assassins, twenty in total, were easily defeated by Tomo. The assassins weren't weak, but the level of strength between an elite Fighter and the hired assassins weighs too much of a difference.

  This is getting messier. So much potential has been wasted. They could've joined the Men in Black and would've lived in security for their entire lives, but no, they chose danger. Tomo sighed as he rumbled words in his mind.

  "Ryosuke, wait by the entrance for the Men in Black. They're coming over to clean this mess."

  "Tch! Don't order me around." Ryosuke replied.

  "Sure little nephew, my bad.” Tomo teased with a sly smile. “Yamachin, kindly take his place instead. Sakura and Ren, come along with me and Matsumoto-sama. We're heading underground."

  "Ha? And me? What do I do then?" Ryosuke squawked as the group walked away and started to disappear through the hidden stairs –that Matsumoto Hirota had opened in the hallway— heading underground. "Heyy! What do I do?" He added.

  But as a good of an uncle that he is, Tomo ignored him. And Sakura giggled, leaving Ren to wonder what kind of relationship the two relatives have.

  "Grrrrh!! Fine! Yamachin, wait for me, I'm coming with ya! My idiot uncle is an ass!"

  **

  That day, a hundred and twenty Onis were found beneath the Izakaya. All of them were found to be elderly, who tried to escape their realm and had wondered in the human world for years, until they encountered Matsumoto Hirota, who was willing to hear and help them out. He created a hideout that was big enough for all of them to live in peace in the past years.

  “Matsumoto-sama, honestly.. what were you thinking?” Tomo voiced out quietly once they reached the hideout, his eyes widened in in shock.

  “I did what was wrong for the Soshiki..” He inhaled a deep breath, “..but I did what was right for these creatures. I have no regrets, youngsters.” He enunciated the last word with a sincere smile, his eyes filled with water, but there were no tears that fell down on his cheeks.

  And Tomo, along with the kids, stood in both astonishment and concern.

  **

  By dusk, with a full moon shining brightly above Mount Uzumaki, Tomo had brought Matsumoto Hirota to the Headquarters, and V’s students were sent back to Soshiki High.

  "I don't get it." Ren said to the three as they arrived by the school's gate. "There must be some ways to save Matsumoto-sama, right?"

  "Well, newbie.. welcome to Soshiki. We abide by the stupid rules." Sakura replied, yawning. "I'm sleepy. I'll run to the dorm, see you all suckers tomorrow." She disappeared in an instant with her ninja technique.

  Ryosuke on the other hand, looked somewhat concerned. "I wonder if great-Gramp would pardon Matsumoto-sama.."

  Scoffing, Yamada replied with a lower voice. "We all know it, Ryosuke. Whether he thinks he did the wrong or the right thing, he did break the Soshiki Law."

  "Yes, but.."

  "Ryosuke.." Yamada cut him off. "Soshiki Law is the very foundation of the entity itself." He curled up both his palms, anger filled his spirit with a painful flashback slapped his mind. And Ren could only stand in silence, shouting in confusion quietly.

  "Well, I maybe new here, but let's hope for at least a pleasant news by tomorrow.." Ren said.

  "It's up to the Elders. But it has nothing to do with us, Ren." Ryosuke lowered his voice as he patted Yamada's shoulder. "Come on, Yamachin and I will show you your room. It's actually V Sensei's room back when she was a student here. It used to be her late brother's too. Kind of weird though, that room is reserved exclusively for the Deverauxs.. and not many of them had enrolled in this school. I guess V Sensei must've seen something special in you if she'd permitted you to use her old room. You got the keys though, right?"

  Blinking, Ren replied. "Uh, yeah. Secretary Saiaka handed it to me earlier.."

  STUDENT’S DORM.

  "Well, this is it. See you tomorrow. Class starts at nine. Don't be late. My uncle is a lawyer. He’s always on time and hates tardiness." Ryosuke greeted Ren a good night, before dragging Yamada around his collar that’s still high on anger due to his flashback. “Come, come Yamachiiiin..”

  “Uh, yea, see you guys tomorrow.” Ren then pulled out the room key that Secretary Saiaka gave him, and opened the door.

  The room happened to be neat and well-maintained, even though V hadn’t used it in over a decade. It has a queen bed size with white linen sheets, a study desk by the window overlooking the school's beautiful backyard, a fridge full of snacks, a walk-in closet with brand new clothes and shoes for Ren, and an indoor bathroom with a Jacuzzi.

  Ren was astonished, cried with a grateful heart. He had never had his own room before, yet alone a room like this.

  How could I get this lucky? He thought. V Sensei, I wish I'd be able to see you soon to give you my proper thanks. He continues to sob.

  Thank you.

  Thank you so, so much.