The Cursed Bloodline
Zen Leader in Danger!

Morning in the village of Sora. Community activities seemed to be running quietly, a violet-haired girl walking to break up the crowd of people who passed by along the main road of Sora Village. The shoulder-haired girl looked beautiful with the white dres she was wearing. A smile never escaped Yume's face, humming softly he clenched his grip on a gift box in his arms.

Yume walks down the Sora market, and ends up heading towards the place where the Sora government office is located. As far as the office, Yume began to circulate her gaze.

"ah! Meet me! " the murmur was enthusiastic. He also set foot into a small garden located right next to the building.

Yume smiled softly, when she found Ten who was still busy giving instructions to some of his men. Yume decides to wait for a moment, until the brown-haired man realizes his arrival and orders his men to leave.

"Lately, it has been very difficult for me to meet you, Captain Ten! " yume said with emphasis at the end he said. He ran over to Ten

" Yume? What's the matter you got here early? "

Ten who was surprised by Yume's arrival could only put on a confused look. He immediately straightened his hair and uniform. Don't forget to check the breath itself. Overtime and all the busyness of being a military captain, the reason a young man does not seem to have time to pay attention to appearance.

"I brought you the gift you ordered earlier. Wouldn't you like to gift my knitted scarf to the Zen master? I finished it and drove myself here. " Yume handed a pretty gift box to Zen

" Have you finished it? Wuah! Chief Zen must have liked your knitted scarf. The air is getting colder, this scarf will keep the Chairman warm" said Ten enthusiastically

" I made it as fast as I could. You know, I owe the Chairman a debt of gratitude. So make sure you give this gift to her, Ten. "

" Of course, Yume. She must have liked it! " Ten looked so enthusiastic staring at the gift box he received. He is impatient, giving gifts made by the girl he likes to the figure he already considers his own biological father

......................

They decided to take a walk around the Sora Office. Ever since Tanuki became a fugitive, the people under the control of the Red Cloud Cops had suddenly disappeared just like that. Yume, one of them can finally be free from Tanuki's entanglement. Despite living a life under the shadow of darkness, he eventually became an active Military soldier of Sora thanks to the help of Chairman Zen.

Unlike before, Yume now enjoys a normal life. No more organization commands to restrict it. He is also very free to spend time with Ten, his lover. Just like now.

Yume and Ten walked together, holding hands, they seemed to enjoy the beautiful scenery presented by Sora Park. It's just that, no meaningful conversations are intertwined. Ten, the man seemed to be drowning with his own thoughts.

Yume occasionally glanced at the man who was tightly grasping her hand, she realized Ten was thinking about something. Ten's face, which was usually decorated with a warm smile, had recently turned moody.

"What's wrong? Have you still not found the whereabouts of your friend, Aora? " said Yume while stopping her steps. Ten did not immediately reply, he just stared at Yume's hand as he gently stroked the Curse symbol that was still tied on his finger.

" I still can't trace Aora's whereabouts. In addition to "

Ten stopped his words, his eyes showing guilt.

Yume begins to comfort Ten, a gentle pat on Ten's shoulder he gives as a consolation. He knew there was so much burden for the man. Either that was his true identity, or the fact that his father was now a high-ranking fugitive of the Sora military.

"Yesterday, there was someone from Red Cops who turned himself in. His name is Itasuke. Just like you, he also has a curse contract symbol in his hand. He voluntarily turned himself in and said the important information he got through his magic spying technique" Ten continued

The word Red Cops keeps Yume glued. Suddenly his hands were trembling. Even with the mere mention of the word curse contract, the girl recalled the torment she had endured in the dark organization

" Yum! You're all right? " Ten started to worry about Yume's condition.

" Ah that! I'm fine, Ten. " Despite the fear, Yume tried to comment on the smile on her face

" But Ten, did you just say Itasuke turned himself in? "

" You know that guy? " Yume nodded slowly.

" As you said, Itasuke does have a Curse Contract just like me. To my knowledge, he was assigned the Red Cloud Cops Unit to be an outside spy for organizational purposes. If I'm not mistaken, his undercover identity is to be an arms boss who monopolizes Sora's arms trade.

Just like me and the children without other parents, we were trained under the auspices of the Organization since we were children. Until we grew into an emotionless killing machine under the Red Cloud Cops. But there's something strange! "

" What is that? "

Yume raised her hand, then revealed a black symbol coiled around her ring finger. The Tanuki Curse.

" This curse, will always keep an eye on our movements as long as we are still under contract with Mr. Tanuki. As you said, Itasuke used the organization's secret magic technique without Mr. Tanuki's permission. That's pretty weird in my opinion.

Information regarding his defection should have reached Mr. Tanuki. But, why was he still left alive?

As far as I know, any of us (those with curse contracts) who tried to betray Mr. Tanuki, just as he was issuing the secret techniques belonging to the organization without permission, said Tanuki, our bodies will be bridled by the power of curse magic and be reduced to ashes! Death, that is the punishment we will receive if we dare to oppose our Master. "

After receiving Yume's explanation, Ten also discovers an oddity. Why didn't Tanuki kill him right away? Given Tanuki's nature of never allowing failure or betrayal.

" So you mean, Itasuke was deliberately left alive by my father. But what was my father's purpose in keeping him alive? "

Yume was silent for a moment, he seemed to be thinking about what exactly the meaning of the strangeness he had encountered. The same thing Ten did, he tried to guess what exactly the father planned

" If I were my father, why would I let a deserter live to this day. His men's lives for my father were only a tool to achieve his greed all along, then what was the reason for letting Itasuke live? "

" What's possible, this is a message for someone. You know, only a handful of people other than the Red Cloud Cops know about the curse contract system.

As Itasuke escapes and surrenders himself to Sora's military, all of this is probably known to Mr. Tanuki. He let Itasuke live, as an intermediary to deliver a secret message to Mr Tanuki to the person he was going to! But who is that guy? "

Ten immediately glanced at the gift box that was now in his grasp. It seems, he knows who the recipient of the implied message Tanuki sent through Itasuke.

" Could it be that person, Chairman Zen? " said Ten in disbelief

" Maybe Ten. In Sora, the Zen master is the only one who is close to and knows Mr Tanuki well! "

" Yum! I think I need to check something out. If our suspicions are correct, my father might just target Chairman Zen! "

" Go Ten! " say Yume.

Ten immediately rushed off, leaving Yume alone. With her hands scooped, Yume stared at Ten's back which began to disappear at the end of the road.

" I hope something bad never happens" muttered Yume expectantly.

Yume began to leave. However, when he started to step foot, two masked warriors of the god of death suddenly confronted him.

" You guys? " yume said with a choked voice.

" You should come with us soon. Mr. Tanuki wants you to do an assignment for him! " Yume and the two men disappeared in the thick smoke.

......................

Brakk!

Ten broke down the door of the Introgration room. Everyone in the room looked surprised, including Itasuke who was still sitting with his hands tied.

" What's up Ten? Why did you suddenly come here? " said Rou with a look of astonishment.

Just this first time, he saw Ten coming in a rough way. The man who always showed that friendly smile, always held high courtesy. But in contrast to usual, Ten comes with an irritated look and a disheveled appearance.

Ten ignored Rou's question. With a hurried breath, he walked quickly over to Itasuke and grabbed the collar of his robe firmly.

"Quick say! What is that cunning man telling the Zen master! Is he trying to kill her?! " said Ten with a furious rage.

" Ten relax! What the hell is going on! " Rou tries to stop Ten's anger.

" Keu was also aware of that weirdness?! I've been thinking all night, why am I still okay! Something must have happened" Itasuke said with a puzzled look on his face.

Ten starts to lower the collar of Itasuke's robe. It seemed that the man also knew nothing.

" When I woke up, the spider seal I planted had already vanished. So is the curse contract on my body! " Itasuke showed his hand that no longer had the curse seal

" W-how is that possible? "

" I don't know! But someone might have already made a deal and asked Mr Tanuki to remove the curse contract from inside me! If it wasn't so, how could the contract have been lost overnight? "

Ten was silent for a moment. Aware of the situation, Rou began to open her voice

" What's necessary, I investigate what happened last night? Maybe it could help explain what you are fussing about right now. "

......................

Rou finally used her mind reader magic. By activating the gyoku, he began to stick his palm on Itasuke's forehead.

" Before I start reading your mind. First you have to open the 'pandora box' of emotions inside you. It's the only way I can penetrate into your subconscious! "

Itasuke began to close his eyes, concentrating his mind. The usual emotional restraints fortifying him began to slowly detach.

" I'm ready! " summed slowly

" All right! I'm gonna start it! " purple rays began to fill his palms. Rou began to close her eyes and prepared to investigate what happened last night

On the other hand Ten seemed to pay attention to the corner of the room. A moment passed, Rou began to open her eyes. Reading Itasuke's mind, it seemed like he had finished it.

"I-this? " Rou immediately turned his attention towards his two men who were guarding the room.

" You! Did you know that last night, Chairman Zen had visited Itasuke in secret?! "

The two bodyguards looked surprised, they were staring towards each other.

" Speak up! "

" B-right Captain Rou. Last night, the Zen master visited Itasuke without your knowledge. He ordered us to keep it a secret to anyone! " revealed one of the honest bodyguards.

" Then! If the Chairman meets Itasuke, why don't you remember a little! "

Ten was filled with anger. Unlike Ten, Itasuke seemed to be thinking of something. He looked back at the finger where his curse seal was usually embedded

" From what I read. Itasuke's mind seemed to be controlled by someone. Unbeknownst to him, he delivered something to Chairman Zen when he visited him last night! " clearly Rou

" That could happen. Mr. Tanuki can control the minds of those who are under contract with him even from a long distance. Delivering a message, was not a difficult thing for him! " murm Itasuke with a look of annoyance.

" What message did that crafty man send! Hurry up, Rou! "

" 'Let's meet in the valley of life, Zen!' that's how I could hear Rou's "talk as if following what she saw through Itasuke's mind