Seated within the cubed holding cell, Mura squirmed against the shackles. He gazed at Kishin through the magical barrier with disinterest, having expected the likes of his master to be here and not some psychopath.

“Oi! How ya doin’ there, Mura??” Kishin crooned, his eyes narrowing into an intrigued glare.

“Peachy.”

“Hey now, don’t be like that, Mura!” he said feigning hurt in his voice. “Your Thrall, your teacher?? They ain’t here takin’ time outta their lovely day to see your bright and shinin’ mug!”

Kishin’s expression shifted once again, this time towards anger as he slammed his fist down on the shimmering barrier between them. It flickered and rippled, but remained ultimately unphased just as Mura was currently.

“How do you expect me to feel? I’m chained up, convicted for something I tried to do for the betterment of a single girl… might even die for it.”

“So? Was it not worth it, then?” Kishin asked bluntly.

“What do you mean?”

“You gave away pretty much everything you had goin’ for ya; so I’d imagine with a decision that drastic, it’d be somethin’ worth your while. Somethin’ potentially worth buyin’ the farm for. If it wasn’t, then I’d say you’d have to be pretty goddamn stupid.”

Kishin leaned in towards Mura, as close as he could before reaching the sheet of magic separating them.

“But from what I’ve seen from ya already, you’re probably the smartest outta all of us,” Kishin said in a calmer tone.

Mura was surprised by how Kishin treated him. He was definitely not as bad as Grendel, per say. But he still expected Kishin to be up there, especially with how his reputation built him up.

“Why are you so interested in me, Kishin?” Mura asked somberly.

“Why?! Well, that’s like asking why dogs rotate in little circles before lyin’ down! No clue why the tiny guys do that shit, but whenever you see it, it makes ya stop for a second and think as you watch ‘em.”

Tapping on the barrier right in front of the imprisoned demon’s forehead, he sat back down and crossed his legs with a grin.

“And you, Mura? You’re makin’ such an awfully large circle, yet refusin’ to lie down. It was just a while ago that I thought you’d piss yourself like a little bitch whenever you saw me. But now I see you’re capable of running with the big boys.”

“Thanks… I suppose,” Mura smiled slightly.

“Attaboy!” Kishin chuckled. “Now listen, here’s the skinny. Take it from me, since I’m kind of a pro at getting convicted.”

Mura’s interest was more piqued. Is this why the infamous Golden Devil of Yomi came to visit?

“You screwed up. Badly. Like, really badly. So badly, in fact, that’cha might just wish for death in the end. But no worries!”

“What do you mean? What do they have planned?”

“Well for starters, you’re outta the Jikininki. Kiss that shit goodbye, because the folks in charge are already eyeballing that captain as your replacement.”

—Does he mean Kirin?? I probably shouldn’t push my luck in trying to ask.

“Second off, if they convict ya, well… You’ll either be executed or exiled.”

“Executed?!”

“Crazy, right?? But trust me, that’s better than banishment in my humble opinion.”

“And… why is that?” Mura asked hesitantly.

“You’re branded for eternity, stripping ya of your ability to cast magic. That and you’ll be sent to live in the human world among them. You’re denied help by all others and whoever has the balls to make an attempt on your life can do so by legal decree,” Kishin said. “Dying peacefully or living out your days in fear… screw that! I chose neither and look at me now!”

Kishin laughed loudly, so brashly that Mura almost wondered if Kishin was trying to distract himself from whatever thoughts were floating around in his mind.

—Why did he kill his Thrall? I don’t understand it, he doesn’t really seem like the type to do so now that I’m seeing him like this. I guess he’s caught my attention as well.

“Thank you for telling me everything, Kishin. I really appreciate it right now,” Mura said, bowing as much as he could in his affixed position. “Do you know where they’re keeping Lilith?”

“The pipsqueak? Couldn’t say, you’ll see her when ya see her.”

“I see. Thank you.”

—Damn, I hope she’s doing alright…

With that said, Kishin stood up out of his chair.

“Take care, maybe I’ll catch ya around someday? But make sure you weigh your options carefully. Maybe you’re the type who prefers to struggle rather than end it all here?” Kishin said with a dark chuckle.

“I don’t know anymore…”

“Then keep yourself alive until ya do know, got it?”

Kishin grinned with a wink before turning around to leave.

“I’ll see ya around, Bloodstrider. Somewhere, at least!” he said walking away.

Mura sat in silence. It was nice to have someone visit him and offer some insight into what was happening. But something was still lingering in his mind regarding the golden-haired demon.

“Wait, Kishin!” Mura shouted out. “Your scar! You said you’d tell me sometime how you got it. Might as well be now, since I might wind up dead soon.”

Kishin stopped in his tracks. His face wasn’t visible, but Mura could tell his demeanor had changed.

“… Guess I did say that, didn’t I?” Kishin sighed. “Well shit…”

He turned back to face Mura, still standing with his long scar zigzagging up towards his neck.

“I got this scar because I chose to struggle. Whatever cost that entailed, I’d pay it in full,” he said in a more serious tone. “They were about to execute me for murderin’ my Thrall. I had so much hatred within me, so much rage. The executioner, he had a naginata pointed at me. I guess the intention was to let me bleed out nice and slow, so the bastard slashed me up the middle with the blade.”

Mura grimaced, almost feeling the agony a wound that severe must have caused.

“It sliced me open like a fish. My insides half falling out, my ribcage was practically torn in two… I was just lyin’ there dyin’ as those shitheads cheered my killer on with clappin’ and hollerin’, like a goddamn circus. I couldn’t control myself… Couldn’t let everythin’ end there, ya know?” Kishin said somberly. “That day was the first time I activated that thing they call, what was it… a Primal Release? Well anyway, I killed the executioner. Pretty horrific too. Every one of those fools in the peanut gallery went from havin’ a good time to shittin’ their slacks real quick.”

Mura couldn’t believe it. To be that much on death’s doorstep and still get the final say. Just what kind of insane power did this man wield?

“So before I could die, well, a benefactor came to my aid. Turns out our lovely Emperor was watchin’ in the audience. Mara saw how good I was at killin’, so he had them spare my life. Healed me up right quick and sent me on the path towards becomin’ a Jikininki.”

Kishin walked towards Mura, his usual smile gone.

“I chose my own destiny that day, because I refuse to have it dictated to me. We all struggle through this shit-filled existence in some way or another. This scar reminds me of the debt I owe every day, reminds me of my choices and screw-ups every time it aches! But I keep on goin’,” Kishin spoke, letting his fingers trail over the serpentine mark on his flesh before letting them fall to his side once more.

“I see…” Mura said quietly.

“Just make your choice and stick to it. I’m not sorry for anything I’ve done to get to where I am now. Embrace what you are and it’ll keep you alive.”

Kishin eyed the prisoner before turning to leave again.

“What was your Thrall’s name?” Mura asked. It was indirect way of inquiring on Kishin’s murder, but he wanted to know if he felt any guilt whatsoever.

Kishin replied with silence as he stood still momentarily. A few seconds passed before he broke the quiet using the sound of his footsteps, leaving towards the exit.

A voice spoke out above Mura’s head. It was the same he had heard within his cell.

“Your visitation period has now expired. Prepare to be returned to your holding cell.”

Without a moment to prepare, Mura disappeared from the chair and shackles in a small flash of blue light. Kishin had already left the area, walking down the hallways leading out of the prison. His hand was resting on the inside folds of his haori, clutching at the locket that remained there.

❇ ❇ ❇

Batō Kōkyo — Conference Hall of the Jikininki Ten. Located near the top spire of the imperial palace was the meeting room of the ten greatest killers alive. As of the moment, there were only nine within the ranks. Emperor Mara had called the organization together for an emergency meeting. While some could make it in person, others were present in the form of a magical projection.

A long table of polished ivory marble was fixated in the windowless room at the very center. Coming in to the room, one would see the back of an ornate chair at the end of the table. Along each side of the table were four other chairs respectively while at the head of the table on the opposite end was another lone throne. The throne at the head of the table was reserved for the figure ranked First within the order, with every seat closer towards the entrance assigned to ranks of descending importance. The seat at the opposite end of the table in front of the entrance belonged to Tenth.

As the lofty room filled with the most revered assassins in the country, the tenth chair remained empty. All that broke the silence as the Jikininki waited was a small manmade waterfall towards the side of the softly-lit chamber. It provided a relaxing atmosphere as the stream of water fell into a stone reservoir. Fresh blossoms clung to the antiquated branches of the trees planted on the corners of the room. To the new inductee, it would appear more like an indoor garden than a meeting hall.

Kishin walked through the doors and towards his designated spot at the table, located at the leftmost side on the middle chair. He had arrived late. The meeting wasn’t supposed to officially began for another three minutes, but he was expected to be present seven minutes prior. Luckily his ride was able to deliver him from the prison to the palace in time.

Seated directly across from him was Grendel, accompanied by a trio of what appeared to be members of his harem.

—Great. I’ll just let the bosses say somethin’ to him about his hookers. Won’t end well after what happened last time.

Suddenly, everyone stood to attention as the emperor entered the room alongside Nergal. Kishin looked down at the waxed floor, just as he always had.

Mara walked on the leftmost side of the table, past Kishin and the others. He felt a shiver run down his spine, despite not even seeing or feeling him.

As the emperor made his way to the throne designated for First, Nergal walked over to his throne; the one assigned to the rank of Third.

“You may be seated,” Mara commanded in a relaxed tone.

Everyone present bowed and sat after he had taken his seat. Mara lifted a slender finger towards the entourage by Grendel. Without a word, the scantily-clad ladies were suddenly sucked into a portal behind Grendel; their bones and bodies snapping and crumpling as they were pulled into the small hole. The screams didn’t even last for a second before being snuffed out forever.

“What the hell was that for?!” Grendel shouted, looking around at his missing partners.

“Watch your disgusting tongue before I tear it out, wretch,” Nergal spat. “You speak to your Majesty as you would a god.”

Mara smiled to himself behind his black veil. He interlaced his bony fingers tipped with nails black as the void.

“I told you what would occur should you bring concubines to another assembly, Grendel. Do not let this happen again,” Mara ordered calmly.

Grendel scoffed underneath his breath, defeated but not pleased.

“It would appear the majority that could arrive have arrived,” Mara said. “First and Second could clearly not make it, so I will be taking the seat of First for today. Tenth, as you have heard, has been expelled and imprisoned.”

“Oh, that kid who killed off Behemoth?” Wendigo said, crossing one leg over another. “I should have just shot him that day in Tel Megiddo.”

Lamia looked directly at Wendigo with crossed arms, wearing a different and more extravagant dress than she had the previous meeting.

“Please now, dear. Mura was very useful for us, wasn’t he? Without him, we wouldn’t have discovered those Poachers.”

To the left of Lamia was the magic projection of an older man with tanned skin and a hulking, massive body. Not one ounce of fat appeared to be on his frame; only pure muscle that rippled over his massive physique like mountains of rock. His white hair was braided back with a long beard obscuring his mouth. The old man's eyes were sunken in, revealing only two blue dots at the center of each; like chips of ice floating in a marsh of black.

Spiral archaic tattoos were carved into his skin, creating artistic grooves over his arms and chest. His body was so large, in fact, that only his bust was visible within the projection. Hanging from his thick neck was a large silver linked necklace, adorned with two wolf heads clutching a T-shaped metallic bone from their mouths.

The grizzled man spoke, his voice so deep it nearly shook the table with every syllable.

“Two Tenths so far, both disappointments. That seat barely stays warm before the fool sitting in it dies a pathetic death!” he growled.

“Well maybe if we did away with that rule of nearly any Odokuro being able to join, we wouldn’t go through Tenths so much like water on the Sun’s surface!” Wendigo said back towards the grizzled man.

“Watch yourself, boy. You’re lucky to even be among us after what your bastard father pulled eons ago. Filthy man-eater!!” he shouted.

“Enough!” Nergal shouted. “Jormungandr, please refrain from mentioning those who are exiled within this room. Wendigo is well aware of his past… and more of a man than his predecessor could ever be.”

Nergal smiled at Wendigo, which was more like his usual frown cracking upwards at the corners for a brief moment. The sight unsettled Wendigo more than Jormungandr’s yelling ever could.

Grendel sat on his seat crossed-legged, his eyes shut in disgust.

“You know what I’m wondering here, guys? We should be asking where the fuck goddamn First is!! He’s always missing, right? I can’t be the only one who’s ever noticed this,” shouted the green-haired Jikininki.

“That is confidential information,” Nergal said, turning his head to face his junior.

“Confidential?! How can something that doesn’t even fuckin’ exist be confidential!!” Grendel laughed. “I mean, I know Second is always busy executing fuckers, but where’s First? Is he hiding under the table? Is he even a guy? Maybe it’s some broad for all we know—“

An unseen figure walked through the doorless frame of the meeting hall, causing everyone to fall silent. It was a woman, crested in a newly-crafted suit of mystical armor. Without a word, she bowed to the emperor and took a seat at the chair belonging to Tenth.

“Everyone, I’d like to formally bring our meeting to a start,” Mara declared. “I present to you, our faithful captain and final replacement for the rank of Tenth: Kirin.”