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Among them was the Chinese clan of Peng— a family entirely composed of hunters and part of the Triad.
Then there was the Aldini family— a group of European vampires associated with the Italian mafia that had integrated into the modern city. They were generally inactive, with many members working in the medical field, making it easier for them to acquire fresh blood or corpses for their survival.
The Great Wolves— a group comprised of the Russian Mafia and a pack of werewolves, had the least influence in the underworld of the city as they were the newest faction in the area. However, this was relative to the other factions and not representative of their real capabilities as their influence was still significant in the city.
The final group, like the Peng family, consisted of humans. However, they were not Hunters.
The Hanekawa family, known to humans as the Yakuza group, held control over Little Japan inside the city of Los Angeles. In reality, they were more akin to Shinto priests or Shaman Exorcists, deriving their power from contracts with gods, ghosts, or even the Yokai— Japanese folklore ghosts and spiritual beasts.
What made them special was their ability to use their bodies as vessels to house spiritual entities that were unlike any other powers out there. Their status was determined by the level or number of entities they could seal within themselves to use as a vessel.
This was why they were respected.
This was why they were feared.
Fighting against them was one thing, but the moment they died, they could choose to bring the entity to hell with them or release it into the world and wreak havoc on the enemies.
They were no different from walking nuclear bombs, capable of detonating at any given moment. And for that very reason, most people made their best efforts to avoid provoking their wrath.
In this way, they were the most influential of the four families watching over the city of Los Angeles. Their role was simply too vital for them to be insignificant no matter how low-key they acted.
...
...
...
Presently, within the Hanekawa family mansion, a grand ritual was taking place.
Scores of individuals dressed in ceremonial kimonos, their faces concealed by talismans and heads covered by large traditional bamboo hats, chanted in unison as they recited a sutra of otherworldly origins.
At the center of the vast plaza where the ritual was held, a large white cocoon stood in place and the praying monks gazed at it with eyes filled with fear and horror.
With each prayer, the cocoon pulsed like a beating heart, causing the monks to endure immense physical and spiritual torment with each beat.
Yet, they did not cease their prayers. This was perhaps one of the most critical sealing rituals they had conducted in decades and failure was not deemed as an option. They would win or they would die.
Their fervent prayers intensified, knowing that ultimately, only the young woman fighting within the cocoon could resolve the situation for them.
As the night wore on, a sigh of relief escaped their lips, illuminated by the rays of the rising sun.
A cry filled with indignation and fury resonated through the air, but they paid it no heed.
Slowly, time trickled by, and the cocoon disintegrated into nothingness, revealing the figure of the person who had been trapped within all this time.
Everyone present prostrated themselves in the most respectful dogeza position possible before the enchanting figure— their foreheads touching the ground and never moving up.
After all, how could they dare to gaze upon the naked body of their mistress?
"Congratulations, Young Lady!"
The few who had failed to avert their eyes and caught a glimpse of her unclothed form promptly employed their Prana to blind themselves for the rest of their life for the blasphemy they had conducted.
The sin of beholding her naked form could only be absolved through blindness or death.
Such was the creed of their family.
"We beg for your forgiveness!"
The young woman was breathtakingly beautiful— her long pink hair, going below her rambunctious waist, shimmering with an atypical exotic hue.
Her body exuded a form of softness that was pleasing to the eyes, and her curves, while not exaggerated, were certainly above average.
It didn't take long for women dressed in white and red kimonos to approach the enchanting girl, carrying a large Haori to cover her holy body.
Once they had performed this duty, they knelt down in succession, offering their backs as a makeshift pedestal for their mistress.
She frowned at the unnecessary display, but understanding the hackneyed tradition, she stepped upon their backs while two women held her hands and escorted her from the central plaza into the house.
Sitting inside, a mature blonde-haired woman wearing a loosely tied Kimono, which accentuated and even revealed her impressive curves, leaned on her hand with a pipe between her lips, observing the approaching young woman.
"So, how did it go?"
"Hello, Mother. With your blessing, the sealing of the Tsuchigumo was successful." [1]
The blonde woman scoffed in derision at her words, "My blessings brought nothing. It's honestly a miracle that you managed to seal a Tsuchigumo while hosting the Jorogumo. Take credit where it's due." [2]
"It pales in comparison to what you have accomplished."
"Heh... Nothing, she says. Haha. This is why geniuses are a pain in the arse."
Letting out a sigh, she waved her hand dismissively. "I understand why you were so eager to seal the second evil spirit within you and I won't hold it against you for doing that. Now that it is part of the supernatural world, you may do as you wish."
For the first time, a genuine smile appeared on the pink-haired girl's face as she bowed her head repeatedly, "I am grateful."
"Now go. Oh, and Tsubasa, while everyone is free to do as they please, I must say... Your room is quite unsettling."
"I do not comprehend the meaning behind your words, Mother…."
The two exchanged a gaze, but the mother's interest waned almost immediately, and she returned to her drinks, placing her pipe down on the mahogany table.
Bowing once again, clasping her hands, Tsubasa turned and walked toward her room.
Upon reaching her destination, the attendant halted and kneeled before departing from the vicinity. They were well aware that no one had the right to enter this sanctum.
Stepping into the room, an overwhelming sense of devotion and possessiveness pervaded the air.
The walls were adorned with an extensive collage of meticulously arranged photographs, creating a tapestry of obsession and delusion. Every available inch of space was adorned with snapshots capturing the object of her love.
Soft, diffused light bathed the room, casting the pictures in varying sizes and qualities, forming a haunting mosaic that narrated the tale of her unwavering fixation. From stolen moments to intimate gazes, each snapshot captured the essence of her beloved, frozen in time.
The progression of photographs along the walls told a story, unveiling the evolution of her obsession. Initially, the images depicted innocent encounters and sweet smiles, evoking a sense of purity and budding love. Laughter and joy radiated from these early captures, painting a picture of an idyllic romance.
However, as one's gaze traced across the wall, a subtle shift in tone became apparent. The expressions of her love changed. The pictures now captured stolen glances through windows, clandestine rendezvous in hidden corners, and intrusion into private moments.
Scattered amidst the collaged masterpiece were handwritten notes clinging to certain pictures. Once tender and innocent, these declarations of love and possessiveness now carried an unnerving weight to them that was hard to look past.
Amidst the sea of captured memories, a solitary chair occupied the room's center.
Adorned with a plush cushion, its surface delicately embroidered with the letters A and T, the chair held a pink teddy bear on top— a prized possession of hers as it was the sole gift given by her beloved during their short relationship.
Approaching it, she hugged the teddy bear tightly, her gaze absent-mindedly drifting over the pictures.
How long had she restrained herself? The moment she was ordered to separate from Adam had been nothing short of a death sentence for her.
That was why she had chosen to seal the Jorogumo within her despite how dangerous it would have been according to her current capabilities.
As she contemplated, her pupils changed, taking on the shape akin to a spider's.
In an instant, her consciousness connected with a spider that resided many kilometers away.
Through this shared vision, she glimpsed at Adam's house.
This was the ability she had acquired— not only summoning special spiders with different attributes but also sharing her senses with any and all spiders within a certain range.
This was perhaps one of the most effective espionage techniques in the world, allowing her to observe and follow Adam for years without anyone suspecting a thing.
Thanks to these spiders, she knew nearly everything about Adam.
However, she regretted that her spiders couldn't enter his house, fearing that Adam's mother would sense their presence.
This prevented her from gazing upon his sleeping face— a true disappointment like none other.
But soon... Soon they would be reunited.
Meanwhile, in the depths of her soul, one spider shivered while making sure to stay as small and invisible as possible while avoiding the gaze of a much smaller spider.
One of the weak points of the sealing method was that the one doing the sealing needed to constantly fight against the corruption of the sealed being.
It was not strange for some of the shamans to become crazy and lose control, which was why the contract method was largely favored over the sealing one though the latter gave far more power to the wielder than what a mere contract could ever entail.
Tsubasa, though, never faced any such problem.
The reason was rather simple all things considered.
When the Jorogumo was first sealed in Tsubasa around 6 years ago— there was already nothing left in her to corrupt, only the darkness and malevolence to be accepted.
———
[1]: Tsuchigumo is a type of giant spider tarantula. They are known for their battles against Minamoto no Raiko, the one who defeated Shuten Doji. They possess the strength of an Oni and the speed of a tiger.
Note: In this story, Minamoto no Raiko is an ancestor of the Kaminari family.
[2]: Jorogumo, also known as "entangling newlywed women," is a spider yokai that can shape-shift into a beautiful woman. They are depicted as spider women who manipulate small fire-breathing spiders. They are often portrayed as evil creatures, tricking or devouring men. It is noteworthy how many yokai transform into women to corrupt or prey upon men.
(AN: After much anticipation, Tsubasa finally makes her appearance. Haha. I hope you like her. For those familiar with SHK, you could consider Tsubasa as a character similar to Milia or Skuld in this story, though more akin to Skuld.)
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