A bullet.

Followed by three more.

You grit your teeth, wincing as you feel one of their bullets shot to your leg. Though no matter how painful it is, you kept dodging and moving forward.

The urge to kill was there, but you didn't want to be sentenced to life in prisom or death because you murdered someone-so what are you going to do?

You turn to one of them, successfully hitting their arm and making them let go of their gun. When they fall down to the ground, caressing their wounded appendage, you kick away their firearm.

One down!

"Crap!"

A bullet grazes your cheek before you had the chance to dodge it. You look to the other man holding a weapon, him looking visibly scared due to his colleague who' on the ground bleeding.

Just as he was going to fire once again, you already swung the blade down his hands, making him drop the gun and let out a scream. Like the first man, you kick away the firearm.

You wince, feeling the pain in your leg worsen. You swear you're going to beat the years he has left on this earth out of Sato the moment you see his sagging and old face.

Sparks of electricity surrounds the katana you held. You're transferring cursed energy onto the weapon.

You then open the door, quickly rushing down the staircase leading to a hall with three doors. Two on the left and one on the right. You click the roof of your tongue, deciding to feel for any energy in the area.

'Not here..'

'Not..'

You rush to the door on the right side of the small hall, raising your not injured leg and forcing the wooden door to open by kicking it.

"Fuck! Let me in!" you exclaim, frustrated as it seems to be locked shut. You tried to kick it open once again before deciding that you'll use your whole body and ram it againts the wooden door.

'I didn't came here for nothing..!'

With that, it finally slams open.

Kamei, whom already has tears streaming down her face, turns to where the loud bang came from. Her eyes widen. Sato, on the other hand, is shocked to see you so soon.

The man was tightly grabbing Kamei's hair with his other hand before you came, whispering about the girl rejoining and staying at the clan while also threatening her with a knife that he has. He's crazy, that's for sure.

"Sato!" you call him, now mad, "let Kamei go you fucking psycho!"

The seal placed on the door is useless from how your cursed energy gets overwhelmingly strong by the second. You tighten your grip on the katana as it glows.

"No need to get violent." Sato says, keeping his calm, "If you do, then i will!"

Kamei's eyes widen when the knife is brought to her face, now grazing her cheek. Your blood boils.

What are you going to do now? Your gunshot wound is beginning to get distracting, and you don't know how long until you run out of adrenaline which was the only thing that's been keeping you going.

.. !!

"Sato."

You start, now dropping the katana in your hand. You keep your eyes on your tied up cousin and the weapons dangerously close to her face.

"Let Kamei go and i'll take her place."

"What? No!" you hear the girl scream, "You can't! You can't! Fuck you!"

While Kamei begins to sob harder, Sato on the other hand, is considering the offer. His interest his piqued, wondering how stupid you have to be.

Well, it's a win for him!

"Fool! You're a fool!"

The old man laughs, now backing away. He removes his hands from Kamei along with the knife. He ignores her cries and incoherent protest about you replacing her position.

"But i must admit, i can't refuse this offer."

You smirk.

'I can feel energy around me because my technique is constantly looking out for a source. Finding energy to strike with lightning. Even the tiniest of spirits can't get past me.'

'A sorcerers cursed energy.. Can be a target of mine. It's both their weakness and strength.'

'It's surprising that after loosing your technique, you still have cursed energy in your body, Oji-san.'

"You're the fool."

As Sato was about to question why the sudden change of expression, he froze when he sees a very familiar taiko appear on the side of your waist, floating. You've got him away from Kamei, so now's your time to strike.

Just when he was about to aim the knife back at Kamei, you slam your palm down to the taiko.

With that, Sato felt his heart being shocked, electricity spreading through his entire body. As he's being paralyzed, the man drops the knife he had, his body being the next to hit the ground.

"Kamei..!"

You limp towards her, dropping to your knees before pulling her into a hug.

"Thank.. Thank you!"

She says in between sobs, returning the embrace back by leaning into you. While she cried in your arms, you began untying her from the pole.

"You're safe, dumbass." you reassure her, "Your mom's here with me."

"But.." she stammers. Once you free her hands, she's quick to wrap her arms around you, "But you're hurt!"

You sigh, letting out a chuckle as relief fills your system. You're glad nothing changed between the two of you-she's still the Kamei you know. Caring, prideful, and most of all, a crybaby.

You would then hear footsteps coming from outside the room, and you assume it's Mikami.

Just in time.

"I can handle a little pain, Kamei."

"And i kicked his ass."

Maki sweatdrops as you tell her and the others about what happened in the basement.

After the incident, Sato Hokori is apprehended along with all eight of the men that tried to attack you and Mikami. Kamei, on the other hand, had thanked you once again for helping her and also thanking your friends for accompanying you even if they didn't do anything.

Back at the Tokyo college.. Gojo, is well, a bit mad that Okkotsu had joined since the trip to Kyoto might've been an opportunity for Geto to take him and that one of his students is hurt. Though he can't be angry for long.

It's you who got hurt. And what's pain to you?

Now, in your dorm room at seven in the evening, is Okkotsu, Maki, and Inumaki. Plates with food in their hand as they ate with you, careful not to stain your sheets. Panda is nowhere to be seen as Yaga had to discuss some things with him. He'll catch up later.

"You should be more careful, Hokori.."

You scoff, taking a spoonful of rice and food. You avoid making eye contact with him before speaking.

"Address me by my first name. After what happened today, i don't think i can stand hear that surname anymore. Thanks." it was an exaggeration, you still like your name since it's a part of you, but not as much.

Okkotsu is surprised, but agrees nonetheless.

"Takana?" Inumaki ask, looking up from his bowl. Like your classmates, he's worried about you. Dare he say more than everyone else in the room.

He thought he was going to lose you when he finally has an answer for the question he asked himself back when you and him were watering flowers.

Seeing you alright has brought him relief.

"I'm fine, Toge." you say, showing a small smile, "A bullet on the leg won't do much."

"But even so.." Okkotsu feels shivers run down his spine, "Getting shot is still scary."

Just what the hell were you thinking? Utahime should've let them come with you, but she understood that the situation earlier is between family only.

And she's glad that it has been solved.

Maki would then ask,