"I don't want to alarm you, Akira," Ito said evenly,"but you have a Yokai inside you."
Akira froze—
Then clawed at his chest.
"What?!" His fingers scraped skin in blind panic. "How do I get it out?!"
Ito moved instantly, catching both wrists before Akira could tear himself open.
"Stop," he snapped. "I said don't panic."
Akira's breath came fast, shallow—teeth clenched like he was bracing for something to tear its way out of him.
"This," Ito continued, forcing Akira's hands down without releasing them,"is exactly why I didn't start with punching trees or flaring Tao."
Akira stared at him. "…You knew?"
"I suspected," Ito said. "Yeah, that Yokai is way too strong to try and hide his scent." His gaze narrowed.
He stepped back. The pressure in the room eased—but only slightly.
"Sit."
Akira hesitated, then lowered himself cross-legged onto the dojo floor.
"Tao is everything," Ito said, crouching across from him,"it's weird it's impossible to grab everything, you'll first have to see the difference between the Tao in you and the Tao floating in the world"
Akira frowned. "So… what do I do?"
Ito smiled faintly.
"Nothing."
Akira blinked. "That's it?"
"You're a prodigy. So I'm hoping this will end well."
He placed two fingers lightly against Akira's sternum—not on the mark, but just above it.
"I'm going to inject My Tao into your body, hopefully awaking your body to the different types of Tao around it."
Akira obeyed.
At first, there was nothing.Heartbeat.A dull ache in his ribs.The faint itch where Ito's fingers rested.
Then—
Warmth.
Not heat. Not energy.
Presence.
Like standing in a crowded room without hearing a single voice.
"…Something's there," Akira murmured.
Ito pulled his hand away instantly. "Feel it and sense the Yokai's Tao, then chase it."
Akira clenched his fists. "Man, that feels strong."
Ito chuckled quietly. "Distugish between you and the Yokai's Tao"
Akira cracked one eye open. "What?"
"What happened?" Ito said.
Akira closed his eyes again. " I could feel my body slowing, finding the differences in the Tao around and inside it, although when I tried to grab on my own, the Yokai's Tao blocked my own." "
"Yes," Ito said. "And it isn't hiding."
"Then why didn't I feel it before?"
Ito folded his arms. "Because it didn't want you to."
Silence settled.
Ito paced once, thinking.
"Normally," he said, "When a Yokai contract is formed, the human gives up something for the Yokai's power."
He looked down at Akira.
"This one is fused."
Akira's jaw tightened.
"Because it's fused, both of you are basically fighting for the right to learn Tao," Ito continued. "Basically, just convince the Yokai in your body to support you in learning Tao."
Akira tilted his head. "Alright, that's cool and all, but is he not something physical that i can touch or speak to?"
Ito's gaze flicked to Akira's split-colored hair.
"You have to enter the True realm, a space in the mind where the ability to control Tao is located, and where Yokai contracts are formed, normally only Taoists are supposed to be able to do, but because you already have a Yokai contract i think, it will be fine to make an exception, also I really wan't to see what a prodigy can do."
Akira stands "Just tell me what to do."
Ito nodded. "Try your hardest, it's really weird, it's not something that you can go to easy on, but if you got to light it won't work."
Akira stiffened. "What does that mean?"
Suddenly
The warmth inside him reacted instantly.
Pressure deepened.
The world tilted.
The floor vanished.
Akira floated.
No up. No down. Reality blurred like it hadn't decided what it wanted to be.
At the center stood a throne.
Not desire—
Recognition.
Akira leaned—
His body locked.
Something massive stepped into view.
A lion-like humanoid. Golden mane streaked with silver flame. Eyes calm. Ancient.
"Who are you?" Akira demanded. "Where am I?"
"I am Arthur," the being said."And this is your mind."
Akira exhaled. "…Figures."
Arthur inclined his head toward the throne. "That is your true realm."
"Then why can't I reach it?"
"Because you haven't earned it," Arthur said. "Most Taoists never do."
"You've been stealing my Tao."
Arthur shook his head. "If I stop," he said calmly, "we both die."
Images flickered—
A crying infant.A clawed hand brushing his forehead.Rain.Running.Arthur carrying him to an orphanage.
Akira swallowed. "If we're working together, you have to let me learn Tao."
"No," Arthur said, turning away.
"What?!" Akira snapped.
"I want a quiet life," Arthur replied. "Tao guarantees suffering."
Akira stepped forward as far as his body allowed. "You've known me since birth. You really think I'd give up?"
Arthur paused.
"…Very well."
"I'll let you learn Tao."
Akira glanced at the throne. "Why did you protect me?"
Arthur smiled faintly. "I don't know."
The world snapped back.
Akira collapsed forward—
Ito caught him.
"You understand Tao yet?" Ito muttered.
Akira groaned and raised a shaky thumb.
Ito laughed.