Kami-Jutsu: The Yakuza's Son is Aware-Chapter 3: Wolves in Tokyo

Like the tin can in the alley—I twisted his head quickly until it popped off like champagne.

Blood sprinkled everywhere, his hand still resting on his hip, indicating the fool didn’t even know he was dead... until he was.

The sheer terror in the eyes of the men made me almost walk away, merciful.

But not today... Death to all present here, equally.

Besides, they’d shoot me the second I turned my back.

I clapped my hands hard.

Space ruptured around a 20-meter radius.

A woman in suit had her head caught in the distortion and crushed inwardly.

The force sent chairs and tables flying; some got crushed under the wreckage, others hurled from the third floor, falling to their deaths.

The few left emptied their clips, desperation reeking from their wild shots.

When the last shell hit the floor, I tore them all apart.

Humans... were so fragile, it marvelled me. To me, they were soft like slightly tough bread.

Though, one man still breathed.

I noticed him. He was sitting on the ground, frantically trying to load bullets into his piece.

As I walked toward him, slow, I stretched my hand out.

But he finished first, and he shot himself in the head.

I turned away from him and looked at the lifeless scene I made.

Literal innards swayed in the bulbs.

A man’s chest was blown open, his ribcage split like a treasure chest.

Many were without heads—even though I had only beheaded one.

Some had been torn into shredded meat.

Others stuck to the walls like food scraps after a slaughterhouse brawl.

Why did I do this again?

Am I a murderer now?

Maybe even a mass murderer...

How do I feel, taking lives I didn’t create?

Am I a god?

What I just did... was it wrong?

All these questions.

I probably can’t answer them right now. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

But for my family’s sake—for my clan—I’ll be ready to dive into hell itself and challenge the demon lord there.

For now, I needed to go home.

This was their headquarters, but I know many Spiders still crawl in the shadows.

That man wasn’t their Don.

Turning my head—

BANG!

A gunshot. A headshot.

I hit the floor.

As my consciousness began to fade, I heard footsteps.

Did I miss someone?

Were they playing dead?

The steps stopped by my body.

Then a trembling hand pulled back my hood.

"K... Kurosawa Ken?!" he yelled.

His arm twisted immediately, bone shards piercing out as he screamed in agony.

I sat up lazily, holding my head.

That was pain?

It felt somewhat different than the otherd I had experienced.

I could feel my cheeks getting warm...

Was I... blushing?

I glanced at the table beside me. It was clear enough for me to catch my reflection.

I was truly blushing.

Yet, my poker face stayed pasted on.

"I thought I told you to go home, onii-san?" I said to the writhing man on the ground, "I would’ve let you go, still... because you—" I squinted at him "—you don’t seem like a bad person. Not like me."

He began to cry. Snot and tears meeting in an orchestra of pathetic pleading.

"P-Please! I swear I won’t tell anyone!" he whimpered. "I just got flustered and shot when you turned, I didn’t mean to—please!"

"Hmmm? That bullet was pretty painful, you know. I would’ve died if I hadn’t shielded my skull at the last minute."

"Wh... who are you?"

He was trembling like a soaked pup in the snow.

"I told you before," I stood up, stretching my arm toward his face, "I am Shenigami Ō."

"Please, don’t kill me, man!"

The tears wouldn’t stop flowing—and I liked it.

I envied it. Considering my own tears only came and went suddenly.

No warning, and nigh-meaningless.

"Why should I spare you?" I asked. "I killed every other Spider here. Why should you be the exemption?"

"I... I have a family. I beg you..."

"..."

"If I die, they won’t make it. I’m their only lifeline!"

I watched him closely, sensing his emotions.

Measuring his desperation...

Then I made my judgment:

"I COULDN’T CARE LESS ABOUT ANY OTHER FAMILY THAN MINE. THAT’S A WEAK EXCUSE TO ESCAPE DEATH, ONIISAN."

"Please!! I be—"

***

As I walked away from the building, a wave of disheartenment set in.

How the hell was I going to get rid of the blood soaking this cloak?

It’s black and deep purple, so it doesn’t show much. But I could feel it—heavy and sticky against my back.

Tsk. What a pain.

I didn’t kill that last guy after all. Only knocked him out.

What if he outs me?

...Though, for some reason... I don’t think he will.

Crap.

I should’ve killed him after all.

I looked up.

The full moon was beautiful tonight, staring down at me and my sins.

So I stared back.

Because I take full responsibility for my actions.

But then I noticed something else.

A creature...

It was watching me from the rooftop.

A white and black wolf?

If I didn’t know better, I’d say the color was subtly shifting between black and white...

No. Wolves don’t come this close to people. And they don’t come alone.

Last I checked, there weren’t any wolves in Tokyo.

Maybe it was a dog?

I didn’t care.

I had to get home before Mother disowned me.

She’s still the scariest person I’ve met so far.

*

Back in Azabu-Juban.

A week had passed.

When I got home that night, I had a lot of meddlesome explaining to do.

Ultimately, I lied. Said I went to see my girlfriend.

Now that girlfriend is expected to come greet the family soon.

...I wonder—if I paid a random girl, would she pretend well enough to deceive my family?

If she fails and gets caught...

She’ll disappear, though.

I better add that to the job description.

About the Spiders... as I thought, they still crawled Tokyo like the bugs they were.

But my attack on them made them too defensive to continue their evil comfortably.

The police are apparently looking for me—the "people" who staged the gruesome attack on the Spider Mafia.

Hmph. I spit-laugh.

If they think people did that, it’d take eternity before they find me.

I was sitting on the floor in the living room, reading a book on historical murderers and their techniques, when Najima suddenly hugged me.

"Onii-sama," a soft, almost husky voice, "I got a perfect score on my test today."

"That’s good. As expected of a Kurosawa."

"Onii-sama, I beat up some bullies who were threatening a little girl. Praise me."

"That’s my girl. I hope you didn’t stop till they bled?"

"Yes. I made sure to remove some teeth."

"Wonderful. That’s what the Kurosawas stand for: defending the weak and locals. Who knows, maybe you’ll make for a better heir than me."

"Onii-sama, I love you."

"Mhm. Likewise."

"I love you so much I could kill anyone if you asked me to."

"..."

"I could even murder Father for you."

Father, watching the news not far from us, flinched from the sudden death threat.

Then Mother came and dragged Najima by the cheek, scolding her.

"I TOLD you; Daddy is off limits!"

SIGH.

Najima could be extreme sometimes, but trust me, she’s a good girl... I think.

"Boss, there’s someone at the gate asking for Ken-sama."

One of our men came in with shocking news.

I have no friends. Who could that be?

"Ah, is it his girlfriend?!" Mother yelped, clearly gladdened by the news.

"No, it’s actually some shady guy in a dark robe," he answered. "...He said if I said ’Spider, moon, rooftop,’ that Ken-sama would remember him."

I immediately got up, startling everyone.

"I know this person. He’s a friend of mine," I answered.

"Really?" Father raised a brow. "I’m happy you’re finally making some friends... and girlfriends. But no creepy creeps allowed, you hear me?"

Was he teasing me?

That’s what you tell the ones that try to befriend me.

Heading to the gate, I entered battle-ready mode.

I wouldn’t like my family to see me manifest my power yet... but if this person is a threat, I’ll have no choice...

Spider, moon, rooftop?

This person definitely knows it was me who did the massacre.

Are they going to blackmail me? Then I hope they came ready.

I reached the gate and saw a robed person.

"Yes? I’m Kurosawa Ken. What do you want?" I swallowed, balling my fist.

"Kurosawa... Ken..." His voice was almost inaudible. "Can we talk in your room?"

I was about to absolutely disagree, but what happened next made me rethink.

He looked around and noticed that our men were slacking off instead of watching the obviously strange person that appeared in the night.

He raised his hood a bit, and I saw—