The journey to Japan passed under a cloud of uncertainty. As the ship moved through the gray waters, Akihiko spent most of his time on deck, deep in thought. Renji's words echoed in his mind: "This isn't just about the Clan. This is personal."
With each kilometer traveled, the memories of the past seemed to surface more vividly. Akihiko recalled his childhood, when the world had seemed a vast place full of possibilities. Back then, he had been just an ordinary boy, unaware of the intrigues of the Tree of Eden and the fate that awaited him.
It was Renji who had brought him out of that innocence. He remembered a specific moment: a rainy night, when Renji had found him hiding in an alley after an attack on the clan. "This world has no room for the weak, Akihiko," he had said as he handed him his first weapon, a small dagger. Since then, he had learned to toughen up.
Arrival in Japan
When the ship finally docked at a clandestine pier on the outskirts of Yokohama, Akihiko was greeted by a middle-aged man dressed in an impeccable suit. Hideo Tanaka, a loyal intermediary for the Sora Clan, bowed his head slightly in a gesture of respect.
"Welcome to Japan, young master," Hideo said in a firm but respectful voice. "Everything is ready for your meeting with Kaede Takasugi."
Akihiko nodded, adjusting the belt securing his katana. "Any news on its readiness?"
Hideo hesitated for a moment before answering. "Kaede is as unpredictable as ever. She seems willing to listen, but I wouldn't trust her hospitality."
"I never do," Akihiko replied, his tone cold and clear, as if he was prepared for any eventuality.
A Tense Encounter
The meeting with Kaede Takasugi took place in a tatami room in the Takasugi family's main residence, an imposing traditional building surrounded by carefully landscaped gardens. Kaede, dressed in a black kimono decorated with delicate gold patterns, awaited him with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Akihiko Sora," Kaede said, a mixture of curiosity and disdain in her voice. "The young prodigy of the Sora Clan finally appears on my doorstep. To what do I owe this honor?"
"I'm not here for honors," Akihiko replied, bowing his head slightly. "I need access to your clan's archives. There is crucial information related to the Tree of Eden and the recent attack on the Nebula."
Kaede raised an eyebrow, interested. "The attack on the Nebula? I thought that was European business. Why would a Sora be interested in it?"
"Because it wasn't an ordinary attack," Akihiko replied, his voice firm. "The shadows that manifested there can't be the work of just any skill. You know as well as I do that points directly to the Tree."
Kaede watched him silently for a moment, assessing him. Finally, she let out a sigh. "Fine. I'll allow you access to the files, but on one condition. I want you to explain exactly what you're looking for and why. If you're playing me, Akihiko, I'll know."
The Secrets of the Archive
The Takasugi Clan archives were hidden in a secret room beneath the residence. Hideo and Kaede escorted Akihiko to the entrance, where an intricate system of seals and keys ensured that only authorized persons could gain access.
When they finally entered, Akihiko was impressed by the number of documents and relics stored there. Among them were old manuscripts detailing the history of the Tree of Eden and its connections to mafias around the world.
Kaede watched him as he examined the texts. "What you're looking for may be in that box," she said, pointing to a wooden chest decorated with ancient carvings. "It's a journal from one of my ancestors, who claimed to have seen the Lux Aeterna with his own eyes."
Akihiko carefully opened the box and began to read. The pages spoke of an era when the Tree had been worshipped as a god, and fragments of its power had created alliances and conflicts that shaped the criminal underworld today. But most interesting was a description of the Lux Aeterna: "A fruit that shines with the intensity of a thousand suns, capable of granting absolute power, but also of destroying anyone unworthy of possessing it."
A Latent Threat
As Akihiko immersed himself in his texts, a shadow moved in the gardens outside. One of Kaede's guards was silently taken down by a hooded figure. Soon, the unidentified intruder was inside the residence, moving like a specter.
Kaede was the first to notice the strange presence. "We have company," she said softly, reaching for a hidden knife.
Akihiko closed the journal and drew his katana in a single, fluid motion. "Stay back. This isn't a coincidence."
The hooded figure appeared in the entrance to the archive, and the shadows seemed to twist around him as if they were part of him. "The Tree belongs to no clan," he said in a deep, resonant voice. "It is time for the false kings to fall."
Kaede, far from remaining motionless, threw her knife with deadly precision. The intruder easily deflected it using a strange shadow barrier, but the attack gave Akihiko time to advance.
A Challenging Battle
The fight was fierce. Akihiko attacked with calculated precision, using his katana to deflect the intruder's shadow attacks. However, he soon realized that his opponent's skills were anything but ordinary. The shadows seemed to have a will of their own, attempting to envelop and suffocate him.
Concentrating, Akihiko called upon the "void," that energy he had learned to master. The shadows seemed to waver as a bubble of distorted space repelled them. "You are strong," the intruder admitted, backing away slightly. "But you have no idea what's at stake."
Kaede also sprang into action, launching a series of rapid attacks that forced the intruder back to the archive entrance. "Who sent you?" she demanded, but the figure only responded with a dark laugh.
Finally, after a brutal exchange, the intruder vanished in a swirl of shadows, leaving behind only a warning: "The Tree will reclaim what is its own."
The End of the Introduction
The sound of steel echoed through the room as Akihiko and Kaede caught their breath. Although Akihiko could sense that his opponent's power was connected to the Tree, he also knew that his own "emptiness" was the key to countering it. As the battle drew to a close, one thing became clear: Akihiko's fate and the Tree of Eden were more intertwined than he had imagined.