The Cursed Bloodline
Arc Xio: Trying to Take Off

In the middle of the lush forest, there is a water source forming a small lake. The sparkle of water reflects sunlight, fresh and clear water. It is perfect to quench thirst on a long journey

A woman with her long red hair, filled the small bamboo slats with water from the well. Her slender body, with an oversized black robe painstakingly filled the water bottle bit by bit

"That's enough......... "

He walked towards the place where Xio and Oro-ryu were. With small steps, as well as a large black robe that almost touched the ground. From far away, he saw the man in the black robe sleeping under a tree. Just when he first saw the man

Yuri slowly approached Xio, trying to shrink his steps so that Xio would not wake up from his deep sleep. A red veil was clearly visible on her beautiful face

Yuri crouched down quietly before Xio, looking at the man who no longer showed his dark black eyes due to his deep sleep.

"If she falls asleep, she looks so innocent" murmured Yuri while giggling

Suddenly Xio opened his eyes, making the woman in front of him startled and finally toppled backwards.

Xio just looked at Yuri with his typical cold gaze. He did not even say a word, it was precisely that attitude that made Yuri even more misbehavior

"A-I...... I just want to give you water! " said Yuri while giving her the water she was carrying. Yuri cursed at his attitude, why could he pay attention to Xio while sound asleep.

"Hn.... " Xio also took the Water offered by Yuri. The situation between them was a little quiet, making things even more awkward.

" O-Oh yeah! I.... This... Your cloak, I'll give it back! Thanks for lending it yesterday. "

Yuri returned Black Xio's robe, she felt uneasy to trouble the man she had even just met.

Yuri took off the robe. Appearing his body which was only wearing a thin kimono was somewhat transparent. There should have been a thicker outer layer of his Kimono, since he was released when he met his mother, now he only wears a thin layer of Kimono made of silk.

"No need. " said Xio flatly as he directed his gaze in the other direction.

" I.... Da? " Yuri fixed what she heard just now

" You just wear it. "

"B-Okay." replied Yuri with raised eyebrows.

Yuri put the robe back on, her face flushed a little, thinking Xio wanted to pay attention to Yuri.

" It turns out that you're the man who "has not finished Yuri speaking, Xio immediately cut off his words.

" It would be very dangerous, if the enemy knew the location of the 3 Pillars stone. You need to stay alert. We're in a vulnerable area! " said Xio while standing up from his seat. Yuri could only put on a sour face.

"God! I thought you were worried about me! " For a long time they were silent to each other. Both Yuri and Xio were visibly immersed in each other's thoughts. Until Xio's heavy voice again broke the silence

"How is your situation right now? " said Xio who was standing right in front of Yuri. The red-haired girl did not want to misunderstand anymore. He just looked at Xio with furrowed eyebrows in wonder

" What's the question? "inner Yuri

Yuri could only put on a pouting face. While fixing his glasses, he answered Xio's question

" I'm very healthy, I've even increased my alertness. So that the stone in my body is not targeted by others. Are you satisfied? " said Yuri annoyed

" no..... That's not what I meant...... After you met your mother. Are you all right? " Xio looked at Yuri who was still sitting in front of him. Xio's question this time was far from his usual.

Yuri was stunned, was Xio now worrying about her? Yuri immediately turned her eyes away, deliberately avoiding the gaze of Xio who was able to anesthetize her heart at any time

" me? I'm doing fine! " said Yuri while ducking. Xio knew, the girl in front of him was not doing well.

"Do you hate your mother? "

Yuri took a slow breath. A little question to himself, whether he really hated his mother at this time

" I don't hate my mother. No. gabe..... More precisely.... I can't hate him"

"Why? Even when he treats you like that? " that question just flowed from Xio's mouth. It is not usual to be curious about what other people feel. But that principle doesn't apply to Yuri. Right now, he was so curious about what the girl felt.

" Because she's my mother. Rather than hating and condemning her attitude towards me....... I prefer to let go of all my feelings...... Trying to accept my situation and start forgiving her" Yuri said slowly.

He scratched his head slightly, removing his beautiful face swept by the sunlight that infiltrated the sidelines of the leaves. When he said he was going to let go, somehow his heart became light

"Receive? " Xio raised his eyebrows, he wondered why Yuri did that. Yuri replied to Xio's question with a smile.

" If I hated my mother, I would definitely think of hurting her. Even if I managed to hurt him and avenge his actions.

If that's me.... What will I get?

I'll just get worse pain. Because with my own hands I hurt the person I love and my only mother in this world. So instead of harboring hatred in my heart, I would rather let go of all! "

Xio was stunned, by what Yuri said. Indeed, if you reciprocate the thing that makes you sick with anger, it's even more painful for you. A real example of that feeling is Revenge

"So because of that, you gave your mother medicine? " Yuri looked at Xio, with a smile

"Hm... Maybe for someone else, it was my chance to avenge my mother. However, if that's until I do...

I didn't just hurt my mom or myself. I also hurt my sister, Hito, who trusted me

Xio was stunned, with so many wounds of a cruel past for Yuri. That girl could just let go. Even the smile that Yuri aimed at Xio, seemed very sincere without the slightest burden

"You are now free. Why did you choose to follow me? You could just hand over the Stone 3 Pillar to Oro-ryu and leave" Xio said astonishedly. While frowning, Yuri answered Xio's question

"Because I want to follow where you're going. I want to be with you Yora! "

Ruby Yuri's eyes now pierced through Xio's dark Black eyes. Yuri's gaze seemed to go deep inside Xio.

"Why? " that's all Xio said

" I can see into your eyes the sadness you've been through all this time.

Eyes that exuded the same feeling as what I had once felt.

Sadness and loneliness.........

I'm sure your life is no better than what I've been through, right? "

Xio turned his face away, as if hiding his feelings from Yuri. The girl read his heart

" You don't have to interfere in my business! " Xio walked away from Yuri. Oro-ryu who had been pretending to be asleep on the rock, listened silently to the conversation of the two people. A thin smile is visible.

Yuri stood up and picked up Oro-ryu, rushing after Xio's steps.

"At least, if you want this stone. You have to protect us! Without this power, we would only be hunted by Military men without being able to defend ourselves! "

"That's why I brought you with me! " say Xio flat.

They finally arrived at a large bridge, with a high ravine and a rushing river at its base

The bridge is the border between Sora and Mizu. Yuri just looked at the big bridge in front of him, for the first time he would come out of the land of Mizu. Xio who was aware of Yuri stopped his steps also turned around

Teg!

Xio sensed something strange, something with great speed heading towards him. He quickly ran towards Yuri

Cussss...... Mmmmmm.........

A bomb was aimed at them, creating a huge explosion that destroyed part of the forest around them.

Taps!

Xio managed to save Yuri. Oro-ryu who was in Yuri's hands was curious, what was going on

"What's up, sir? "

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

In Tanuki's room, Ten was standing in front of his father. He was reporting a few things in front of the Red Cops chairman

" Aora for a few days has only handled the Solo mission of the Zen chief. Since Hoshi's country mission, he investigated the existence of an Organization called Tengu.

However, there was nothing meaningful that he found or that he had obtained as a clue! " say Ten in a typical White Cops uniform

"Hmmm..... So. He will only have his nightmares. But... It was auspicious thing." said Tanuki with a grin on his face.

Ten could only look at his father's face, wondering what his father's goal was

" good. You did your job well Ten. For that, I let Yume stay with you, he's our deal. But, if you start messing around, that girl has to accept the consequences! "

Ten's hands clenched tightly, but he only accepted the father's orders with a respectful bow.

"All right, I get it! "

"And also, you must keep an eye on that girl from Shii village! " tanuki said. Ten's eyes were rounded when Tanuki mentioned Mirai. During this time he deliberately sorted out the information that would be conveyed to Tanuki. Even the fact that Mirai is a spy is still secret

"Mirai? "

" right. I don't know why..... The first time I saw him, I remembered the little girl, if it was true that she was that child. Then Mito is the one who betrayed me! "

Ten was surprised, why now Tanuki mentioned his mother's name

" I..... Mammy? "

" I hope you don't become like her, that woman. You just keep an eye on the girl, if you see this symbol in her gyokunya immediately tell me! "

Tanuki opened a book, with the exact snow symbol that Mirai had. Ten nodded and started to disappear from that place

Tanuki closed the Book, a book with a red cover with the inscription "Book 3 Pillars of the Guardians of Heaven"

The exact same book as the Book in Xio's hands, only with a different cover color. Tanuki's Red, Xio's White