A DUEL?

"Shiro! Wake up!" Kohta yelled as he pushed the door to their room wide open.

"I'm up. What is the matter?" Shiro answered, raising his head to look at Kohta.

Kohta replied, panting. "Saya's father is back and we're going to speak to him right now. I figured it would be great if we all went and you introduced yourself to him."

"I see, but I don't think that's all, is it?" Shiro asked suspiciously.

"Well… we'd like you to speak for us if Takashi refuses. We're still trying to convince him and we don't know if he'll agree." Kohta confessed.

"It's your idea isn't it?" Shiro chuckled.

Kohta nodded. "Sure is."

Shiro thought for a moment before smiling. "You should do it."

"No, I won't." Kohta immediately objected.

"Why not?" Shiro asked.

"Why should I?" Kohta asked in return.

"So you wouldn't?"

"Yes. I don't think I can." Kohta nodded in response.

"Well, why should I do it then?" Shiro asked in confusion.

"What? You're obviously the boldest in the squad. It's easier for you." Kohta argued with Shiro.

"I don't think I can either." Shiro nodded.

"The hell! Let's head there first. We'll talk on the way. We don't wanna keep the rest waiting."

"Sure." Shiro stood up and walked toward Kohta who was still at the door.

*****

The whole team walked to the family head's room.

Saya knocked and a voice answered from inside telling them to enter.

The whole team, with their heads, bowed in respect, greeted Suichiro Takagi, Saya's father. "Greetings to the Family Head."

"Greetings to you all." Suichiro's deep voice answered their greetings.

"I see new faces among you kids."

"Pardon us. My name's Kisuke Shiro, Saeko's cousin." Shiro introduced himself.

"And I'm Hina, a close friend of Shiro." Hina replied with a straight face.

Suichiro nodded before replying to both of them. "You're both welcome. My name's Suichiro. Takagi Suichiro and as you all know it, I am the current family head of the Takagi family."

"I know your introduction isn't the reason why you all came here together. So, what brings you all here together?" Suichiro asked.

"The thing is…" Takashi started speaking. "We are planning on leaving the estate…"

"And we wanted to inform you before we made the final decision." Shizuka continued.

"That's fine by me. You have my permission..." Suichiro agreed.

Shiro's thoughts at the moment were… 'We're here to inform you of our departure, not for your permission. Scratch that, on second thought, we'll need his permission if Saya's coming with us.'

"Provided Saya isn't leaving with you guys." Suichiro completed.

Saya's face changed as if all its blood had been sucked dry. So did the face of the others.

Shiro sighed under his breath. "I saw this coming."

"I'm going with them. If you object, I'll run away." Saya yelled at her father.

He looked at her coldly for a moment. "I'll personally track you and bring you back."

"Then I'll kill myself or let them eat me." Saya retorted.

"No. You wouldn't do any of those. I'm only trying to protect my daughter. You should understand that." Suichiro replied without a trace of emotion.

"You!!" Saya was almost crying.

'Would you look at that?' Shiro chuckled as he looked at Saya who seemed to be his greatest enemy in the group.

"We would like to prevent situations like Saya running away, but we would like to bring her with us. She'll be safer with us." Saeko finally broke the tension piling up.

Shiro immediately sensed something wasn't going to end well when he heard Saeko's last sentence.

"Yes, what if we prove she's safer with us?" Takashi added and Saya nodded.

"How do you plan to do that?" Suichiro raised an eyebrow.

"A duel? Yes, a duel with the strongest in our team." Kohta nodded.

'Shit. I knew something was up.' Shiro began to sweat.

"And who might that be?" Saya's father asked with a lower voice, intending to appear threatening.

All eyes turned to Shiro and Shiro could swear he saw Hina smiling.

'Damn it all!' Shiro yelled inside.

"No. Definitely not." Shiro declined.

"Come on… This will decide if Saya stays behind or if she comes with us." Kohta tried to convince Shiro on the spot.

"I'll do it instead." Saeko optioned and everyone stared at her.

"No, you won't." Shiro objected.

"Why's that?" Saeko asked.

Shiro ignored her and asked Saya's father. "If you accept the duel, what weapons would be used? Wooden or steel swords?"

"Hmm… I think a real sword is way better. If we fight with a real sword, I would get a better understanding of your resolve." Saya's father answered.

Shiro turned to Saeko, his cousin. "That's why you won't fight him. You told me that he recently told you he got training from your dad. I'm sure he has more experience and you'll end up with injuries if you fight him. I don't want that so… No! You won't."

"So how do we settle this?" Takashi asked.

"Do you agree to the duel?" Shiro asked.

"I don't see why not." Suichiro nodded.

"I guess I'll be your opponent then." Shiro smiled.

"We'll duel in fifteen minutes." Suichiro responded.

"That's fine by me. I just need to head back for a moment and get my sword." Shiro nodded and turned to leave.

"You should use mine. It's the one he gave me and I can assure you, it's a great blade." Saeko suggested.

"It would be better if I used a blade I'm comfortable with." Shiro declined.

"I see."

Shiro walked out of the room, heading back to his room with Kohta walking just behind him.

"I'm sorry about what I suggested earlier but it was the only idea that came to my head at the moment." Kohta apologized. If he hadn't brought up the suggestion, Shiro wouldn't be fighting with the house owner.

"It's all good. It'll be a good experience for me too, considering we learned from the same person." Shiro answered.

**********************

Thank you all for always reading every chapter I upload. I really appreciate your presence.

As I have always done, I'd be happy to receive your ideas and if they're great, the next chapter gets dedicated to you. Thank y'all.

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