[Ch. 16] Taira Ryu

Ryu sighed when he watched the two guardsmen leave. He really just wanted to be back in his room sleeping.

All of this was too troublesome.

Suddenly, he was struck with the feeling of killing intent coming from behind him. He turned around to see Panzram glaring at him with overwhelming anger and hatred.

Panzram grabbed onto Ryu and pulled him over so hard it nearly broke his wrist. Panzram grabbed the identification tablet and looked at it closely. Even though he couldn't read, he knew the symbol of the great Taira clan.

A swallowtail butterfly was as clear as day, etched into the wooden tablet.

Panzram was overcome with the desire to kill. He glared at Ryu, "You… You belong to the Taira clan?"

Ryu chuckled awkwardly, "Yes and no. I'm the fourth son of the main branch in the Taira clan, but I wouldn't say I belong to the Taira clan."

Panzram may have been in prison, but even he had heard about the fourth young master of the Taira clan. The fourth young master was a good for nothing pretty boy. He hung around prostitutes all day and didn't take anything seriously. As such, he was kicked out of his ancestral home.

However, knowing that Ryu was kicked out didn't mean Panzram would take pity on him.

He threw Ryu against a wall again causing him to gasp. Then Panzram punched his stomach with all his might, causing Ryu to double over from the breath being knocked out of him. Panzram grabbed his throat and held him up high. Ryu's feet swung, kicking from being picked up in such a way.

Panzram's voice was cold, "You... You deceived me. You are a no-good Taira scum."

Ryu choked out, "Didn't…. Deceive…"

Panzram hesitated after hearing him choke out these words. Sure enough, Ryu never said he was not a Taira member. He had only told him his first name. Not his last. Panzram was suddenly irritated by the confused feeling swirling inside him, so he tossed Ryu on the ground.

Ryu gasped for air and held his throat. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He thought to himself: Did Panzram intend to choke me every single time he saw me?

When Ryu noticed Panzram walking away, he gasped in a panicked, raspy voice. "At least take the charm so you don't get thrown in prison again."

Panzram froze then turned to him with a glare. He picked up the charm and put it into his pocket before disappearing. Even though Panzram hated Tamashii energy, he knew he needed help if he wanted to escape the crowded city without being caught. Ryu stood up and sighed as he watched Panzram leave.

There he goes again…

Ryu returned to his room, once again in poor spirits. He continued his daily life as usual trying not to think about Panzram and if he was safe. However, his mind always seemed to be on Panzram. Even the working girls began to notice his listlessness.

The group of girls stuck their heads into his room to see Ryu lying face down on the ground like a flounder. They hadn't heard him play the biwa or even share poetry with them lately. They were concerned by his lack of energy and made sure to prevent him from going to the kitchen to gorge himself. He was usually lounging around, but he usually did so in a carefree manner.

Now he was lounging around in a depressive manner.

One girl spoke to the rest, "Is he alive?"

"He looks alive. I see him breathing."

"What do you think happened?"

"He was so happy until recently."

"Could it be love problems?"

The girls got quiet.

Then they all turned to each other with excited faces. "Yes! It must be!"

"Why didn't we notice it sooner?!"

"He stopped going to that other job of his. Maybe he had worked with them there?"

"It must be!"

"That's right! He's never looked forward to going to work before then!"

"Ai, who do you think it is?"

"A beauty?"

"A strong man?"

They grew quiet once more. Then erupted into callous laughter at the suggestion. "It's definitely a strong man!"

"Kekeke! I bet he takes our little Ryu-kun in his arms and-"

"Stop!" Ryu lifted his head with a flushed face, "For the last time! It isn't like that!"

The girls all giggled in response and crawled over to him. They wore bright gaudy kimonos that were revealing and left little to the imagination. However, Ryu had never once felt tempted around these girls. Nor did he feel tempted around men. He simply had no sexual drive. He had always been out of touch with that part of himself.

The girls laughed as they poked him in a teasing fashion. "What's wrong Ryu-kun? Are you upset that we figured it out?"

"Upset that your lover boy isn't here?"

He frowned, "For the last time! You haven't figured out anything! That man was just a-" He wanted to say friend, but then he realized that wasn't the case either.

The girls noticed his hesitance and broke out into rambunctious laughter. "He can't even finish his sentence!"

"He was definitely a lover!"

"He was not!!" Ryu shouted in embarrassment. A new red shade passed over his face. The girls were instantly stunned into silence from the heaven-defying beauty in front of them. He looked down bashfully, "He was just an acquaintance."

One spoke in a hushed tone, "A one-night stand?"

"Could be. Could be."

"Arggh." He put his face back against the ground. There was just no reasoning with these crazy girls!

The madame strolled down the hallway and looked at the girls laying all over each other, teasing Ryu endlessly. She frowned, "Girls! Just what are you doing? Shouldn't you get ready for work? Why are you lounging around bugging our little Ryu-kun!?"

The girls pouted, "But Madame… Little Ryu has a crush on somebody."

"I do not!" Ryu objected.

"See? Look how embarrassed he gets!"

The Madame smiled a big grin, "It seems so! Well little Ryu, if you ever want to let him come over, we will serve him graciously."

Ryu frowned, "Serve him?"

The girls and the Madame burst into laughter. The Madame shook her head, "Don't worry we won't touch your precious lover like that."

Ryu didn't know whether to get angry or be embarrassed. He surely thought they meant something else. But why would I get so irritated at that thought? The Gods had shown Ryu clearly that Panzram didn't care for women. He also saw that Panzram had never once hurt a woman. He only attacked men.

The Madame continued, "We will serve him properly. With tea and food. And if he wants to stay with you, then that is also okay."

Ryu stuck his tongue out, "Well you don't have to worry about it. He probably isn't even here in the territory anymore."

The Madame nudged him, "Don't feel too upset. The gods are mysterious in their plans for us mortals. Perhaps your paths shall cross again."

Ryu sighed. Speaking of gods, Panzram had the potential to become one. Ryu wanted to help him along that path. He wondered if perhaps the Gods didn't want Panzram to become one, so they chose to make it difficult for the two of them to be together.

After all, they merely showed him visions. They never once directed him to do a thing.