Chapter 33: Subtle Change
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Wearing his new clothes Reiki walked out of the bathroom and went towards the kitchen where some of them were. With his hair still being somewhat damp he used his hands to brush it back to prevent it from sticking from his face giving him a new look with a hint of ferocity around him. The moment he opened the door Kiru had a big smile on her face and said. "My! Little brother, you look dashing!" Kanzei also made a small nod of approval and said. "I would have never believed you were the same person a few minutes prior."

Arashi, Yuko, and Seijo were also looking Reiki up and down. Kiru stood up from the chair and walked towards Reiki, she dragged him inside by the hand and closed the door. Kiru brought Reiki in the middle of the kitchen as she walked around him in circles to appraise him. She said. "Long white sleeved t-shirt, short sleeve unbuttoned red checkered polo, black pants that look loose but not too much." Stopping for a second to look at his new hairstyle and said. "Your hair could be better, but I can easily fix that..."

Kiru made eye contact with him once again, for a bit she was in a daze before she caught herself staring with a cough she asked. "Little brother. Your eyes... Were never this... Captivating before. It feels like... A shadow! It feels like a shadow is hiding something underneath it, which makes me want to dive in and find out." Arashi who was suddenly next to Reiki said. "Now you're just spewing nonsense. Lil bro's eyes are fine-..."

Reiki turned his head sideways to her as she was talking and also made eye contact with him. Turning his head to face Kanzei, Reiki said. "Kanzei, what happened to the two of them here? They're acting weird. Well, weirder." Kanzei didn't say anything and just had a sly smile on his face. Yuko was still sitting on her chair next to the wall with a glass of water in hand.

Seijo on the other hand was looking at random places in the room with curiosity on his face. Reiki saw him at the corner of his eye as he remembered he's letting his mana show. He thought. Shit. As he immediately tried to hide it again.

『Mana Flow Has Been Activated. Mode: Suppressed by 100%』

The source of the mana engulfing the house suddenly disappeared as some residue was still sticking to the house. Everyone in the room seeing this gave Reiki a compelling look as he kept a poker face. Seijo narrowed his eyes at him as he looked at the residue that was left on some of the walls.

Kiru said. "Little brother, don't you think you have something to explain to Onee-san?" Arashi next to him coldly said. "You're not his Onee-san! I am!" Reiki decided to feign ignorance and said. "Explain what? To who?" Kiru made a smirk while Arashi had a big smile on her face seeing Reiki refused to acknowledge it.

Kiru grabbed Reiki by the hand again and dragged her towards the table that was filled with an array of sandwiches. Kanzei had already tidied all the things he used to make as he was already pouring hot water into the teapot. Kanzei brought another chair from another end of the table next to Kiru's chair and started to serve tea in four cups. Kiru sat on the chair with Reiki in tow, Reiki sat in the middle of the table with Arashi on his right who brought the chair Yuko gave her.

Kiru said. "Little brother, eat to your heart's content. You don't have to worry, all of these are high-quality monsters and the plants were planted in mana-rich soil." As she took a sandwich that was diagonally cut that had mayo, lettuce, some tomatoes, and a few thinly sliced cured meat of some kind and took a small bite.

Reiki looked at the different types of sandwiches and took one of the mini ones that were sliced into three parts. It had cucumber, a thin layer of whiteish condiment, and some sort of cream that had some herbs in it that was starting to turn light green. Reiki tasted the fresh cucumber followed by a somewhat spicy sauce that was cooled by the cream with herbs. He said. "It's good..."

Arashi was just leaning back on her chair next to Reiki. Staring at his cup of tea he said. "Is my teacup the first one poured?" Kanzei back on the left of Kiru said. "Yes." Reiki looked at Kiru teacup and then at him. Kiru said. "What the matter little brother?" Reiki said. "The first cup is too light for me... Can we switch?" As he held the teacup towards her. With a helpless smile, she said. "Fine." As she ruffled his hair that was starting to dry, switching cups Reiki holding the teacup in hand started to smell the fragrance and took his first sip.

Kiru said. "How is it, little brother? Everything up to your standards?" Reiki said. "Yes..." The voice said. [Really? You're eating food from her?] Reiki thought. Truth be told I am kinda hungry again. The voice said. [... You and Q are the same...] Arashi flicked the side of his head Reiki looked towards her and said. "Kiru-san, can you get Nee-san a cup?"

Kiru didn't change expressions but kept her cool and said. "I'm sorry little brother but, I only carry around two. I usually use this when I'm meeting someone." Reiki looked at the tea and said. "Nee-san do you want some? We can share my cup." Kiru started to cough and spat out a bit of tea she hastily said. "Kanzei! Get a cup from the cabinets!"

Kanzei hurriedly started to search all the cabinets and brought a cylinder-type one to Kiru but saw Arashi was already holding the cup of tea Reiki gave her. With a sip in the same place, Reiki took Arashi, pondered for a bit and said. "It's good but a bit too black for my taste." As she passed the teacup back to him.

Before Kiru could say anything else her phone started to ring, looking to see who called with a few taps she answered. "Madam. What brings you to call me?" The woman on the other line said. "Kiru darling! Can you tell me where you currently are?" Kiru answered. "I'm at a shop called. Ramen Made Simple, The one that Arashi knows the two owners."

The voice on the other line said. "Perfect. I don't have to change my direction. Oh, be a dear and pass your phone to her. I have a few words to say." Kiru looked at her phone for a few seconds before turning her head and passed the phone over to Arashi. Kiru said. "Madam said she has something to say to you."

Arashi placed the phone to her ear, she said. "Madam, what are your orders?" The voice on the line said. "Quick question Arashi. Who did you send to pay his debts off what was her name again?..." Arashi said. "Hoshi, madam." The woman on the line said. "Ahh, yes yes. Anyway, I had a small talk with her. I told her she can keep the money as long as every one of them, grunts, middlemen, spies, and heads are killed. I hope you don't mind me doing this behind your back but in return, I can pay you the money you lost."

Arashi was taken aback for a bit and realized what madam just said. Keeping her calm she took a deep breath and said. "It's fine madam. It is safer this way." The voice on the line said. "Splendid that we could see eye to eye on this matter. Now do me a favor and stay in that shop for a few more minutes."

______________________________________________________

At The Same Time

At a high-class office that had all their windows tinted, a simple water dispenser, and one large table in the shape of a circle that had a few dozen men meeting about something. The one who had a long scar across his neck coldly said. "Who did you fuck with." Everyone else was silent not wanting to be the one to bear the blame. Seeing no one was answering he got angrier and repeated. "Who did you fuck with! We have rules people! We don't mess with anyone bigger than us! I don't care if it just one man or a difference of an entire army! We only aim for the weak!"

Smashing his hands against the table as some cracks appeared underneath his hands. The man with the scar continued to shout. "We lost everything! All our manpower! Our eyes and ears! That we've spent years building! Gone! In a single day-!" Before he could say something again everyone heard the water dispenser being used. All of them turned their heads and saw a woman that had long hair close to her waist as her left eye by her bangs. She was wearing a dark blue sweater and black pants that hugged her curves with red and white rubber shoes.

Drinking all of the water in one go she dropped the paper cup to the ground and said. "I was enjoying my day off... I planned to spend an entire spa day. Full body massages, exotic meals, maybe even splurge some expensive wine here and there... But here I am. Cleaning up, some third rate wanna be yakuza clan..." One of the men said. "Who are-." But was suddenly engulfed in flames as he screamed at the top of his lungs for a few seconds before hitting the ground. The smell of burnt flesh permeating the air as a charred corpse lay on the floor.

The woman's right pupil was slowly being turned into a red color as she said. "From the start, I didn't want to kill everyone. The mission was I give you the money and you guys vanish..." Trailing off a cold smile appeared on her face as her hair started to slowly levitate upwards revealing her gorgeous looks, she said. "But since I've been given a very big bonus a year worth of vacation days with pay and overtime... But hey, I don't get paid to ask questions. I get paid to do my job."

The leader with the scar reached inside his suit to pull out a modified revolver as he was about it aim towards her. The metallic parts of the gun turned a blazing red and white in the middle. He threw the revolver towards the window with a tap. The gun made an explosion that made everyone except the Hoshi cover their ears. 

Looking at his hand parts of his skin came off as it showed muscles and bits of bone as blood started to ooze out from his palm. Hoshi's left pupil had a blue color as the temperature around her drastically dropped as the water dispenser was frozen and some ice spikes formed both at the top of the ceiling and on the floor. Dozens of needles that were made out of ice were being created out of thin air as she was creating them in batches.

The leader shouted. "Aim!" Ripping a part of the suit he was wearing to cover his hand he shouted. "Fire!" As everyone brought out an AR15 and half of them started shooting at her. The sounds of six rifles shooting an entire magazine mixed with the smell of gunpowder. Hoshi stood still in place with a smirk on her face as the ice needles intercepted the bullets they fired at her mid-air as the needles buried halfway into the floor in front of them as they saw the bullets were pierced by the ice needles. 

Half of them emptied their magazines as the other half started shooting as the same result happened, halfway into their magazine they stopped as the men behind them were just looking at her in horror. With a snap of her fingers, all of them except the one with the scar was swallowed by flames.

The sound of men screaming at the top of their lungs except one while on fire ran towards her, as the needles around here were quickly turning into a large thin needle easily taller than a human was floating above her head with another snap the large needle went through the right shoulder and out of his left thigh as the one running towards her was pinned into the floor standing up.

With another snap, the one who was hit by the large needle was surrounded by another round of flames as he let out a ghastly scream, all the bodies were completely charred black. But somehow the large ice needle was completely intact, not even a single drop of water that could indicate heat was near it.

Their leader took out a phone and was trying to connect to a number but it just stayed on ringing. There was no answer, just an endless loop, with the sound of footsteps getting closer to him, he said. "Wait! I-I'll give you everything I have and I'll disappear for good!" Hoshi said. "You mean that large safe that had bombs underneath it that would blow up if you input the wrong combination on your third try? Yeah, I already emptied it by freezing both the bombs and the hinges..."

Hoshi whispered to herself. "You outlanders are so poor... Don't even know why I bothered to open it in the first place." With one last snap of her finger, the entire man was set ablaze as he let out a hysteric scream. Trying to wrap his hands around her neck the large needle behind her snapped into two and pierced one of his shoulder and leg as he was 4 feet off the floor pinned against the wall. After a few seconds, the flames slowly dissipated as the man was wheezing.

She snapped her fingers as the man let out another short scream before stopping abruptly a talisman slowly appeared in the palm of her hand as it slowly turned black she walked towards the door and left the room. The hallways were covered in charred bodies and ice with the smell of burning flesh so thick it was enough to make someone hurl.

One of the bodies were sliced below the waist as it was pinned by multiple large needle spikes in the wall, some entrails were exposed as a puddle of blood was already below it. Dozens of ice needles were stuck into walls, floors, and ceilings that were coated in blood that was frozen on them, most of the bodies were just charred beyond recognition. As she was nearing the end of the hallway she met another person and said. "Hey, cleanup... Person? You're right on time."

The man wearing a robe that covered his face looked behind her and said. "You people from the tiger clan are always so messy..." Hoshi said. "It was supposed to be my day off. But I don't care, a year of vacation with overtime pay here I come." As she walked past a body that had three large needles that pierced its head into the body as it died with its eyes open. The man took another look at the hallway and said. "Well, I better get started."

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Back In The Kitchen

The woman on the other line said. "Oh, and I also gave her the year off with overtime pay." Arashi's said. "Madam... I... Uhh..." The woman on the line said. "Don't worry Arashi, I already told your parents about it. They couldn't say no the moment I decided to intervene. Anyway, I don't want to take up more of your time so I'll make this quick. I'll be visiting you and the boy."

The woman hung up the phone as the call was disconnected. Arashi stared at the phone for a few seconds. Kiru lightly coughed as she indicated with her hand that she wanted her phone back. Passing the phone back to her Arashi was in a daze for a few seconds noticing this Reiki said. "Nee-san Are you okay?" Arashi nodded and replied. "Yeah, I'm fine I was just told that... My end of the deal has already been done."

Reiki was able to suppress a smile from his face as he said. "Already?!..." Not expecting it to be paid before Saturday he trailed off as he said. "Then, do you want something to eat? I can cook you some... Dishes that I've made in the past." Arashi thought for a bit and was about to refuse but remembered that someone was visiting them. She said. "That baked potato was really good. Can you make a few more of those and a few extras?"

Reiki answered. "Sure." Reiki moved his chair as he went walked back inside the kitchen. Kiru said. "Little brother. Don't forget to make some for me and Kanzei." As he started to raid the fridge again Kiru turned her head to Kanzei and said. "Kanzei I think you should watch him. You never know you might learn a thing or two."

Kanzei had a weird look on his face for a split second before nodding and walked inside the kitchen where Reiki had already brought out two dozen large potatoes, one A5 wagyu beef, two medium pieces of sharp cheddar, butter, flour, and milk. Turning the oven on the highest heat for a few minutes, Reiki noticed Kanzei was watching him. With a clueless look on Kanzei's face, Reiki shrugged as he continued to cook.

~30 Minutes Later~

Reiki placed everything on a different tray that was filled with stuffed potatoes with thin slices of meat and melted cheese on top and a large bowl with mashed potatoes in the middle. Walking behind him Kanzei's eyes were wide as Kiru took a picture of him with her phone as she had a small on her face. Placing down the tray on the table Arashi immediately took one and started eating while Reiki said. "Is someone going to visit here?"

Arashi had some melted cheese on the side of her cheek as she nodded to answer his question. Reiki rolled his eyes as he wiped the cheese off her face using her thumb as he licked his thumb clean he thought. Hmm... A bit on the watery side but passable I guess... Arashi had a light blush on her cheeks as Reiki, using his hands grabbed a stuffed potato he said. "Nee-san who's visiting if you don't mind me asking?"

Arashi was about to take another bite but instead said. "It's... Someone important, so be on your best behavior." Reiki said. "Okay." As he started to eat. Standing next to the table he saw Kiru elegantly using a knife and fork to eat, Kanzei was standing by her side using a napkin to hold the potato, Yuko already had one in her hand while she was still sitting in the chair refusing to share a table with Kiru, while both him and Arashi were using their hands.

Before he could say anything he turned his head to the wall on the opposite side of Yuko on the left and stared at it for a few seconds before turning his head to face Arashi. Arashi said. "What's the matter Lil bro?" Reiki shook his head using his hand to subtly pick the fork next to Arashi, he said. "Nothing, I thought I heard something behind me for a moment. It must've been the wind." With a sudden movement, he threw the fork on the left wall before the fork hit the wall. It started to slightly distort as a hand came out of the wall and caught it.

The wall started to distort even more as a beautiful woman with healthy white skin like Reiki's came out and was wearing a kimono that showed the curves of her body. It was in different shades of red with flames as an accent at the edges. With dark brown eyes, she scanned the room, her hair was neatly combed and was reaching a few inches past her waist with the side of her hair reaching to her chin and her bangs were nearing her thin eyebrows.

Twirling the fork in her hands she said. "Interesting... You were able to notice me before Seijo did... I don't mean to be rude but. Due to how different your hair is I thought Kiru brought an apprentice for Kanzei. But guessing by the trajectory of that throw... You were aiming for the throat..." Trailing off she let out a giggle and said. "Nice to meet you Reiki." As she was suddenly in front of him with her hand reaching out for a handshake. Before Reiki moved she said. "Now that I've got a good look of you... You look oddly familiar... Have we met before?"

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