The Soutou estate was oddly quiet as Sosuke pulled into the driveway, his driver as silent as usual offered no explanation as to why Raizen had surrendered the title of clan head so suddenly.
Said Driver [Shibo] had been the main driver of the Soutou clan since Sosuke could remember, the man even older than his father was as short as a child with a painful looking hunchback and a head so bald and thin you could see the very indents on his skull's structure. His eyes sunk in to the point of being nothing more than black pits; he rarely spoke other than “Welcome Master.” and “Of course Master.” To whoever he escorted. Yet this time he’d offered not even so much as an “Of course Master.” To Sosuke's questions as he normally did. Including when it wasn’t a yes or no question.
Why am I thinking of such things? Sosuke growled, rubbing his brow. To say he rarely thought wouldn’t be incorrect; it was simply how you defined the concept of thought. He could barely recall thinking about something that did not benefit him, he never posed the question of “Why is the sky blue.” only “How can the sky being blue affect me?”
He’d never been one for reading either, he could never picture in his mind what the words had described. If you asked him to imagine an apple in his head he’d see nothing but the void looking back. Yet he was far from unintelligent, he’d graduated as valedictorian from the country's most esteemed university and only the age of 20 and had a successful career for the past 6 years as a politician. It’s more correct to say that Sosuke simply didn’t think like a normal person would.
The car came to a stop and the old man Shibo climbed out from the front driver's seat and limped his way over to the back door which he opened with a huff. “We have arrived, Master Inuaki.” The old man said with a bow.
“Thank you, Shibo.” Sosuke said, crawling from the back seat and straightening his clothes. He’d not even thought to take note of how Shibo had called him the name of a man over one hundred years deceased. “Do as you wish until I return.” He said before walking to his estates front door. The cobblestone path clicked beneath his feet with each step; lifting the cold metal handle which laid in a frame the shape of a lion's mouth Sosuke opened the manor's front door and entered.
The house as always was cold and empty, cold metal armor from Iboria and Edolands history lining the walls in pristine condition, fantastical paintings costing a fortune from artists around the world hung across the walls of the entrance hallway and the floor was a clean brick colored tile.
Taking his shoes off at the front door and putting on the red fluffy slippers he’d left that morning, Sosuke walked down the hallway and turned left, walking someways through the empty poorly lit brick hallways lined with expensive decoratives until he arrived outside the family conference room.
Pausing before he opened the mahogany door he hesitated and felt his teeth grit. “Why am I hesitating?” he hissed to himself, his hand trembling and sweat dripping down his chin. “Never before have I felt such shame at myself!” He growled pushing the door open, by the time he entered the room his expression warped into a wide smile.
As soon as Sosuke entered the room his fathers voice echoed like the clacking of a gavel. “Sit, Sosuke.” He commanded.
“Of course, Father.” Sosuke bowed. With grace he quietly shut the door behind him with a click of the lock and walked to his seat at the round sweet chestwood table. The room itself was decorated with oil paintings, expensive silks and wooden furniture carved with fine ornate detail. Bits of ivory acting like accents carved into the furniture. Books with leather spines and covers with titles in many languages were tucked into the shelves and a single chandelier hanging from the roof illuminated the room.
In the rooms farthest back center and before a black board was the current clan head and father of Sosuke, Soutou Raizen. Thick with muscle and a head of spiky black hair he wore a small squared mustache below his hawk nose. His clothing, a Kimono colored deep red with black highlights and a black undershirt.
To the right of Raizen were his two younger brothers, the youngest of which being Soutou Ryuda who was rather thin and gaunt with sunken cheeks and deep wrinkles. His salt and pepper hair combed to the side messily. The 2nd oldest, only younger to Raizen however, was far from frail looking. Standing 8 feet tall and with shoulders as wide as a bull his skin was dyed black like burnt leather and hair a mane of black coils. Atop his heavy brow sat a white scar shaped like a star. His brows bushy and eyes narrowed he glared at the man who sat between him and his brother Ryuda.
Also present in the room was Soutou Tatsugara son of Ryuda, his coarse black hair pulled into a messy bun he squinted one sharp eye as the other brow was raised. Between his teeth he rolled a cigarette which puffed out thick fumes of grey coiling smoke. His jaw ripe with sharp needle-like facial hair. There was also Soutou Zouten son of Rikidouzen, short with ruffled black hair; he had a long scar covering one and a white scarf pulled over his mouth and jaw. Next to Zouten was Komusubi, grandson of Rikidouzen and nephew to Zouten; he had flat brown hair parted over his forehead and squared glasses hovering over almond shaped eyes. His nose, flat with broad nostrils and beauty marks around his face.
The final member in the room and the one who Sosuke sat next to was his elder brother of two years, Soutou Inurashi. Black hair cut like a wolf's man and narrowed eyes shining gold he was tall and thin but not frail, visible muscle layered under his pale almost girlish flesh.
“The stupid bastard himself has arrived at last.” Huffed Tatsugara, the large cigarette in his mouth blowing thick plumes of smoke across the table.
“Watch yourself Tatsugara.” His father Ryuda growled, “You are speaking to a peer no longer, he is now your and my superior.”
“No way in hell I’m gonna listen to a stupid bastard damn near half my age!” Tatsugara yelled, slamming his fist on the table which creaked under the weight.
“Silence Tatsugara! Your father may have never been strict enough to punish you but I can more than make up for the three decades of that absence myself!” Rikidouzen growled, raising his calloused fist.
“You might be the biggest here ya stupid bastard, but you’re far from the strongest ya stupid bastard. That title belongs to me alone ya stupid bastard.” Tatsuagara laughed loudly, slapping his hand on his thigh.
“Enough from your lizard mouth.” Zouten scoffed, reaching for the Katana at his side which was hidden under a baggy dark blue jumper.
“Here to defend daddy huh? Aren’t ya too old for that?” Tatsugara chuckled, reaching at his own side where a white and golden Otachi Katana lay.
“I will cut your hand before you can even lay a single finger on that oversized blade, fool!” Komusubi sneered, showing his unsheared shiarasay already hovering over Tatsugara's hand.
“Enough!” Raizen screamed, slamming his fist down onto the large stone stool before him it shattered into literal dust from the impact. “If another of you speaks out of turn I will kill you!” He said, his old eyes narrowed and staring daggers at Tatsugara.
“Fine.” Tatsugara frowned, throwing his hands up.
“Tch, Now then.” Raizen gruffed, clearing his throat, “Inurashi, Sosuke stand.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Obeying his command, both sons quickly stood up tall and straight in unison. “Yes father.” They said aloud.
'As of today I will abdicate my title of clan head to Sosuke, and you Inurashi will be given a new title of chancellor, you two brothers in unison will lead the clan into the future, Sosuke as clean head and you Inurashi as his assistant.’
“If I may post a question, father.” Inurashi said, raising his hand which Raizen raised his brow at.
“Yes?”
“Why is this occurring so suddenly? If you don’t mind me making assumptions this seems to be out of character.” A bead of sweat dripped down Inurashi's chin as he spoke.
“I assume you would like to know as well, Sosuke? Raizen sighed, turning to his youngest son who nodded.
“Yeah we’re wondering too.” Tatsugara yelled, throwing his feet atop the table which everyone seemed to grit their teeth at.
“Then let me begin from the start.” Raizen began.
# # #
Raizen explaining his POV of the Soutou Situation, don't worry I wont make you read all of that.
# # #
“Is this true, father?” Sosuke asked his face one of shock despite not a bead of sweat dripping down his face.
“Yes, it is.” Raizen nodded solemnly, but I think it’s time for me to surrender my title anyways, hoarding it until my last breath will do the Soutou clan no good. A strong leader knows when to pass the torch and to do so when he can still watch over the next generation. And if this is all that is asked to ally with the Venator Society and free Edoland then I can say it was a price too small to pay with my departure alone.”
“I- I can’t believe it!” Inurashi shouted out, veins rippling across his neck and face. “T-that Stupid fucking foreign sand monkey!” He screamed between grit teeth. Something which made not only his father but everyone in the room take a breath in disbelief, Inurashi had never before raised his voice as far as they could recall let alone seethe as he was now, saliva coated with blood dripping down his chin. “I-I’ll take my own life right now father- no Soutou Raizen.” He began falling to one knee. “I will take my own life here and now if you would forgive me for allowing that foreigner to do this! He had approached the estate before and I thought a warning and threat of death with further involvement would be enough but I was a fool!”
“Stand.”
The command came not from Raizen but from Sosuke, his tone ice cold with authority.
“Stand, Inurashi, you will not spill a drop of your blood for such a minor inconvenience, it is as father has said, time for him to pass the torch and if he thought not he would have killed the foreigner himself. Am I correct, father?” Sosuke said, looking at his father.
“Yes you are.” Raizen nodded after a short moment of hesitation. “You will surely atone for this sin by having it haunt you for the rest of your days, that is a punishment worse than death ever could be Inurashi.”
“Father, I must now ask as well, am I to inherit the Import and Export business as well or is that to stay within your hands?” Asked Sosuke.
“...That will stay in my control for the time being, I want to see how you fare with only the clan politics alone, I have also submitted your withdrawal from parliament already.”
“I see, thank you then.” Sosuke bowed, though it was hidden a vein bulged on his temple, hidden behind his blonde dyed hair. Withdrawn for parliament, do you take me for a coward!?
“Wait a moment Raizen.” Rikidouzen called out. Standing up it seemed like the room itself shook, his head nearly touching the ceiling. “You cannot truly be surrendering the Clan to your son for a reason such as that, correct?” He asked, veins bulging across his neck and brow.
“Do you have a problem with that?” Raizen frowned, his jaw wrinkled.
“The question is who doesn't?" Growled Rikidozen. The other clan members present hummed quietly, shaking heads and muttering. “A blood pact is a blood pact but to have even ended up in this position in the first place is proof of your failure as clan head, surrender your throne to me and die knowing the clan will not fall into the dishonor you brought onto it.”
“Is that how you truly feel brother?” Raizen laughed, “You may be big but you overestimate yourself, even as children I alone was able to defeat both you and Ryuda countless times. After all that nasty scar on your forehead is from my knuckles!” He said pointing to the scar
“!”
In a flash Rikidouzen leapt at Raizen, his fist cocked back and full of rippling aura and Raizen coated his own fist in a conjured black metal, ready to slay his brother.
“Oh, how the greats have fallen…”
The raspy voice cut through the room like a katana swarmed in an inferno and both Raizen and Rikidouzen halted their attacks. Suddenly appearing in the room and sitting atop the desk was the eldest member of the Soutou clan, the uncle of the three brothers and a man nearly 100 years in age, Soutou Kikuko.
“Truly foolish of you all to react in such a way is it not?” He laughed, his thin fingers running across the blade which he held in his bony hands. The treasure of the Soutou clan and one of the 13 legendary blades of Edoland forged by the Dwarven father [Kill Thunder] Himself,
[祖梧西: Sogosei].
“You’ve awoken? We thought you were for sure dead this time, it’s been 6 months.” Ryuda said, his face long in surprise.
“When such an upset is occurring how could one as myself not?” Kikuko laughed. “I am after all the wiseman in this clan.”
“You’re no more wise then you are senile!” Raizen roared, spit flying from his mouth as he spoke.
“Oh, you have the temper of my father in you, Raizen boy, but you don’t have the same venom that he did.”
Before Raizen could continue it was Sosuke who spoke. “Why have you come, Honorable Uncle?”
“To give you the blessing of the clan that is! Has your father not told you? It has been long since the crown has shifted but surely he’s not too thick headed to remember such an important thing now is he?”
“What is that exactly if you don’t mind me asking?” Sosuke asked as he tilted his head to the side.
“Ha- enough with your acting! Your mask is no better than a woman moaning in sympathy!” Kikuko scoffed.
“...”
Sosuke bit his tongue and the other other clan members watched Kikuko with hands turned to fists and sweat down their brow.
“Long ago when our ancestors crossed the horrid seas from the mother land of Iboria, when they sailed between the Doggerland strait and fought against the monsters and demons which lived beneath the cold waters there was a ritual they held in their own blood.”
“The Soto?” Sosuke asked.
“Correct, the Soto family was once of notable nobility of Iboria able to stand under the Aragon, Calata?azor, Osuna, Ravenna and Barbossa families proudly. But after they committed a great sin they were banished from the country and our ancestor Xaiver Soto fled to Edoland. Taking Kusunoki Nanako as his bride from the Kusunoki clan, one of the 5 original great clans which descended from the Touda imperial blood line. With that his blood line gained legitimacy in Edoland and the Soutou clan was formed, which we have descended from over two thousand years later.” Kikuko explained with a decrepit smile, his teeth no more than nubs from nearly a century of being worn down on gold chips and expensive meats. “The ritual they brought with them was a simple one, though we have no longer hold any claim to the blades of ancestral homeland which the modern Soto now own we do have this here, [祖梧西: Sogosei] to act as our crown. Whoever the blade is tied to rules the clan afterall.”
“Enough of your riddles old man.” Raizen barked, “You could’ve reflected on your memories in the coma you should’ve died in.”
“You are a truly cruel Raizen boy.” Kikuko laughed hollowly. “The Ritual that is needed to pass the title of Clan Head from one to another is simple, both father and son will use the blade to draw their own blood and drip it into one another's wine. And when it comes time they will drink each other's blood infused wine. The son will take the blade and claim it as his own. It’s quite a simple ritual but one of the utmost importance to our clan.”
“When does the ritual need to be geezer?” Komusubi asked.
“You dare to ask a question to me, boy?” Kikuko growled looking at Komusubi who flinched and shrunk down in his chair. “But that is a necessary detail, only when the sun sets can this ritual be done, so we have not much longer.” Kikuko sighed.
“Then we should hurry, father.” Sosuke said, turning to Raizen.
“Then we should.” Raizen sighed, “It is custom I suppose.” He muttered under his breath.
[雷全] Raizen - Complete Thunder, sounds cool.
[祚佐] Sosuke - “Imperial Throne” and an an older version of the “Suke” Kanji a common suffix in masculine last names.
[聴高] Kikuko - the first Kanji means “Head Strong” and the 2nd “Tall” or “Expensive”. Uncle of Raizen and brother to his father Akira. I think he's in his mid 90s.
[龍達] Ryuda - “Dragon” and “Achive” or “Acomplish” As you can see I love the Kanji “Ryu” as in Dragon.
[力道戦] Rikidouzen - Really cool name it means “Strength” “Path” and “War”. Both he and Ryuda are Raizen's only two siblings. Raizen is the oldest, then Rikidouzen, then Ryuda.
[龍柄] Tatsugara - Son of Ryuda and the same guy who was talking to Kanashi over the intercom in chapter 69. He’s pretty cool and actually strong enough to back up what he says.
[臓纏] Zouten - means “Wrap intestines around something.” Son of Rikidouzen and Orona Todoroki meaning he’s technically the 2nd cousin with Nordon.
[径術] Komusubi - “Path” and “Method” Grandson of Rikidouzen through his 2nd born Ozeki. He has another older brother named Juryo who works as a Sumo promoter.
[戌羅士] Inurashi - The same Kanji in Inuaki's name for Dog as well as “Latin” and “Samurai’.
[祖梧西] Sogosei - “Ancestor” “Phoenix Tree” and “West”, it’s supposed to sound kinda poetic as are all the of the 12 Legendary Edoland blades. I think I’ve only revealed 3 so far huh? Well I intend to show at least another 3 in the future. I have all of them named at the very least. I’ve been trying to write down all of the swords that I have ranked and which group they fall into. So far I have 26/100 Sidus, 37/500 Supra, 8/1000 Magna, 3/5000 Meilor and 1/10,000 Stark. I hope to at least fill up both Sidus and Supra.
Speaking of which, why don't I just go ahead and dump the blades owned by the Soutou clan in this chapter since I doubt I’ll have the chance to show them off.
[象牙: Ivory] Magna - Tatsugaras Otachi, Kanji literally means Ivory. Again Tatsugara is pretty strong, maybe #5 in the clan currently. I’d put it as Raizen > Rikidouzen > Inurashi > Zouten > Tatsugara.
[百刃: Hyakujin] Magna - Zoutens Katana, Means “100 blades” He’s less of a straight up brawler more of a sneak assassin kinda guy. Quick and deadly but he is physically strong enough to overpower the average man.
[終審: Shushin] Meilor - Komusubis Shirasaya means “Final Trial”. I like his name, Komusubi but he’s not very strong nor politically powerful.
