Chapter 19: 19 Kamo clan's mess
Yuki climbed off her bike, her arms felt stiff after the long journey. She stretched her back, turning too look behind her..
There a taxi also stopped, its back door opening to reveal Jotaro. Almost at the same time, from the front seat, Shino emerged. The three of them now stood in front of a massive mansion, the Kamo clan headquarters loomed ahead, bathed in the golden light of the morning sun.
Jotaro smirked at the irony, it had been about a week since he said goodbye to Tokyo, and now he was back here.
"Let's finish this already. I'm exhausted," Yuki muttered, dragging herself to Jotaro's side.
"The barrier's down…why" Shino murmured, his brow furrowed with concern. Without hesitation, he pushed the gates open and walked inside.
Jotaro and Yuki followed behind him in silence. Shino moved through the compound with growing urgency. The old man called out as he passed through empty rooms.
"Anyone!" Shino's voice echoed through the silent building. He shoved open door after door, his agitation growing with every unanswered call. Finally, he made his way to the clan's successor personal room.
"Young leader!" he shouted, stepping inside, his voice hoarse. At first, he didn't notice anyone and his heart skipped a beat, but then he spotted a small bump beneath the covers of a futon. Rushing forward, he ripped the covers away to reveal a boy with long black hair, no older than ten.
The child flinched and tried to retreat, but Shino grabbed him gently by the shoulders. "Noritoshi! You're fine!" His voice cracked with relief as he shook the boy lightly.
Noritoshi blinked, his wide eyes slowly calming as recognition set in. "Grandpa Shino!" he cried, throwing his arms around the old man.
Shino returned the hug briefly before pulling back to look at the boy. "Where's your father... the clan head? And everyone else?" His questioned
Noritoshi's face crumpled as tears spilled from his eyes. "Father… Father had transformed everyone intro monsters!" he sobbed.
Shino froze, his expression a mix of shock and denial. "What nonsense are you spouting, boy? How could Master Masayasu do such a thing?"
(A/N: I couldn't find Noritoshi's father's name, so I named him myself.)
"I'm not lying!" Noritoshi protested. "I was so scared I ran away and hid in my room!"
Shino's hands trembled as he released the boy, he turned to Jotaro "Young man, remember our deal! Help me deal with this mess, and I'll give you the mask!" the elderly man was desperate.
Jotaro raised an eyebrow. "I think you're misunderstanding the situation," he said in a calm tone. "Your home is in shambles, and you don't even know where the mask is, so I don't need your help anymore."
Shino clenched his fists.
Jotaro ignored him and turned to Noritoshi. "Brat, you said your father turned people intro monsters?" His direct question made the boy flinch. After a moment, Noritoshi gave a hesitant nod.
"That makes things clear." Jotaro let out a heavy sigh and turned toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Shino demanded, his voice rising.
"Stop yelling, old fart. I already told you, I need that mask. Where else would I go but to find your shitty leader?" Jotaro said without looking back.
Shino scowled at his rude words but eventually followed. "The clan leader's room is this way—" His sentence cut off as a shadows appeared in the hallway.
"Who's there?" Shino called out, his voice edged with caution.
Then the figure stepped into view.
A woman with short black hair, her movements unhurried and slow. Jotaro felt his face grow stiff as his fist clenched. 'You...'
Her forehead bore the unmistakable stitches of a cursed user Jotaro knew all too well. An ominous and nasty cursed energy seemed to seep from her very presence.
"In the end, the result of vampiric mind control truly is inferior," she remarked with a faint smile, her voice devoid of emotion.
"Who are you? Where is the clan leader?" Shino demanded in anger.
The woman ignored the old man, her gaze shifted between Jotaro and Yuki before she let out a soft sigh. "A special-grade sorcerer… should I consider this a pleasant surprise?"
Yuki was the first to come forward with a smile. "Of course, don't tell me you weren't prepared for our arrival."
"I apologize for that," Kenjaku said in a sarcastic tone then another shadow appeared behind her, stepping in between her and the sorcerer. Seeing the figure, the old man rushed forward. "Clan head, you are fine!" Shino exclaimed.
"Hold on!" Jotaro shouted, knowing very well that Kenjaku was also capable of brainwashing people. The current man in front of them was definitely under his... her control.
Nonetheless, Jotaro's warning wasn't enough. In the next moment, two fingers plunged into Shino's neck. His eyes widened in shock as his body went limp, collapsing to the ground.
"Unfortunate. It's far too early for us to face each other, but don't worry, it won't be long before we meet again," Kenjaku said smoothly. She then reached into her clothes and pulled out an object, the mask.
"I assume this is what you're looking for," Kenjaku said, making direct eye contact with Jotaro. "Take it," she continued, tossing it at Jotaro's feet.
His eyes widened in surprise. 'Why is she giving up the mask so easily?'
"Don't act all surprised now. It just has no use to me anymore. Its power isn't worth the cost of its weakness." Her gaze flicked to the clan head, who stood still beside her. "And the results are disappointing... except the unnatural regeneration and a few tricks, the level is below even a cursed womb, if I say so." With that, she turned and began to walk away.
"Make sure you cause enough mess, foolish puppet," she said one last time as the vampire beside her flashed an evil grin.
Jotaro stepped forward, but suddenly, an intense purple glow from the clan leader's eyes stopped him in his tracks. Behind Yuki and Noritoshi looked suprised.
"Yuki! brat! Get behind me!" Jotaro yelled. "Star Platinum!" The Stand manifested in front of him in a defensive pose. Then the blinding beam of purple energy shot toward them, colliding with Star Platinum and trailing upward, blasting the ceiling.
"Big brother!" Yuki rushed to Jotaro's side as she saw him kneel in pain, his hands scorched and trembling from the heat. The attack was strong enough to damage his Stand, causing the injuries to reflect on his body.
"Ugh," Jotaro gritted his teeth. "... This hurts like hell."
Seeing Jotaro in pain, the vampire smiled and began advancing. Sunlight streamed through the hole in the roof burning his hand and forcing the creature to avoid direct contact with the rays. It twisted its path, eyes fixed on Jotaro, but then Yuki stepped forward and blocked its way. Yuki noticed this but said nothing.
"Ho? Are you approaching me?" she taunted, cursed energy gathering around her body. "Since you hurt my big brother, I won't hold back."
Yuki launched herself forward, her punch directed at his head.
"How!" The vampire frowned. Even with his vampire enhanced reflexes and body strengthened with cursed energy, he barely dodged out of the way.
However, he did not let this stop him as he went to snatch Yuki's extended arm. But to his horror, Yuki's fist changed its trajectory, landing on his palm. The force of her blow caused one of his hands to explode backward and twist unnaturally upon impact.
"Garuda!" Yuki called out as her Shikigami manifested, striking the vampire and piercing its torso.
The vampire hissed in pain but managed to land his already healed hand on the Shikigami, freezing its lower half.
Yuki was surprised, not expecting such an ability. She immediately delivered a powerful kick, separating the two. The vampire staggered back. "You bitch, how dare you touch me!" he growled as his body was now fully healed.
"Don't worry, I'll kill you in one strike next time." She laughed, but then a hand pressed against her shoulder, pushing her out of the way. Jotaro stepped forward, his voice low and filled with irritation as a purple aura surrounded him
"I haven't been this angry in a while," he muttered, remembering the first time he was injured facing a special-grade curse.
Seeing Jotaro approach, the vampire braced himself, but before it could react, a fist imprinted itself on his face, sending him crashing into the next room.