After posing the question, I scrutinized Ketsu's reaction, observing even the smallest twitch of his facial muscles. If Sugawara decided to disregard my question, it would have been tough, but he responded exactly as I'd hoped:

"What 'why'?"

"Why did you intervene and save me?" I asked, purposely framing the question around myself rather than everyone.

"Because you are my brother," Ketsu responded, attempting to maintain an air of Japanese composure.

"Then why did you want to kill me earlier?"

"Because you are my brother," Sugawara repeated, his tone markedly different this time.

The tricky part was that I didn't know him well enough to accurately gauge if this calm demeanor was a facade or his natural state, and whether his emotional outbursts were a result of his contract with the inner Beast. Judging by his responses, it was apparent that this conversation wouldn't be straightforward. If it were just about me, I'd likely dismiss the situation and try to push it out of my mind. But given that it involved Ketsu, I felt a sense of obligation to Izao to uncover the truth about his father, and this required getting through to the young shapeshifter.

Once again, an awkward silence settled between us, but this time, it worked in my favor. After allowing the young Sugawara to acclimate to the silence and relax a little, I posed a new question:

"What is he like?"

At first, I thought Ketsu hadn't heard the question since he showed no reaction for a good half minute. After finishing his juice, he reclined in his chair, gazing up at the sky, and finally responded:

"Dead."

His answer made it clear that he perfectly understood the subject of my question. Naturally, I was referring to Izao's biological father, and Ketsu, being an astute young man, quickly deduced this, which was exactly what I'd anticipated. His response didn't stir any feelings within me, as Izao's father was a complete stranger to me. However, "Purity" reacted to Sugawara's words, the wakizashi growing slightly colder than usual.

The silence that subsequently enveloped the veranda felt somewhat oppressive this time. Nevertheless, I hesitated before asking another question. I waited until Ketsu picked up his book again, and only then did I pose my question:

"What was he like?"

I had timed my question perfectly, as evidenced by the abruptness and irritation with which Sugawara slammed the book shut. Following this gesture, the young shapeshifter suddenly straightened up and swiveled his body towards me. Ketsu's gaze, akin to a battle-ready laser, began to drill into the bridge of my nose.

"What's the difference now?" He asked, his voice brimming with anger.

"Do you think I don't have a right to know?" I retorted, mirroring his tone.

A bitter smile slashed across the shapeshifter's face.

"He's dead. And what he was like... that's a moot point. He isn't here and he won't be... That's it. Do you understand?"

Despite everything, he had loved his father deeply. His father's death had struck Ketsu hard, hence his sharp reaction to my probing questions.

"How long ago?" I asked, softening my tone.

"Five months and four days," Ketsu replied without a moment's hesitation.

He didn't say "almost half a year" or "several months," which highlighted even more just how attached the young man had been to his father.

The situation was more complex than I had anticipated at the beginning of this conversation. I might not get a chance to speak with Sugawara at all. Perhaps later, in a month or two when he's come to terms with the fact that Izao is his brother, we may have a fruitful discussion. But now...I'm not sure. The problem is, we don't have those months.

On another note, does Ketsu know how much time he has left? Knowing Zanh Kiem, I can surmise that the sensum has been forthcoming about Sugawara's condition. Also, in the look of the young man sitting opposite me, in the storm of emotions he's currently weathering, I sense a heavy hint of impending doom.

I could use this to my advantage. Yes, it's slightly underhanded to exploit someone's vulnerable state, but in memory of Izao, I should at least gather some information about his father. Regardless of how it affects Ketsu's feelings. He himself made an agreement with his Beast; he brought himself to the brink of death; it was his conscious decision; I have no part in it. Besides, why should I be concerned about the feelings of someone who nearly killed me? I understand these thoughts don't make me a saint, but they give me the resolve to proceed with my plan.

How prepared is young Sugawara to shoulder everything on his own? Even knowing that his end is near. What will prevail in him: the renowned Japanese restraint or his inner rage and youthful emotions?

Straightening up in the rocking chair, I locked eyes with Sugawara, withstood his furious gaze, and without wavering, said:

"I'm sorry our acquaintance didn't pan out." I rose from my chair and continued, "If you visit his grave, you don't have to bring flowers on my behalf."

I pivoted, making it clear that I intended to leave.

So?

Was I right or not?

I had managed only a single step when his hand abruptly yanked my sleeve, pulling me back towards the chair.

I was right.

The emotions of the young shapeshifter proved to be stronger than his façade of tranquility and composure.

"Sit down!" Ketsu practically hissed at me through gritted teeth.

Despite the shapeshifter's clear physical advantage, I could have easily stood back up and left without a hitch. I doubted Sugawara would dare to take things further than a mere tug in the Maker's house. However, anticipating such a reaction, I had chosen to remain seated.

"How dare you?!" He growled at me, throwing my own words back in my face. "'You don't have to bring flowers on my behalf!'"

"Dared I?" I retorted in the same tone. "I? I hadn't even known or seen him! I had never laid my eyes on him in my life, unlike you! He was a complete stranger to me. He was nobody to me!" "Purity" pushed into my palm and genuine, intense anger fueled my words. "And yet, my mother never married after meeting him! Eighteen years had passed! Eighteen! She never dated anyone else! Not once! And there was no call from him, no news, no letter..."

Every word I uttered made Ketsu wince as if slapped. He may have been prepared for a torrent of words, but he was certainly not ready for these. I hadn't intended to lash out at him, but I let "Purity" guide me.

"Letters?" Sugawara said, surprised, his anger and rage completely drained away, sounding somewhat lost.

The shapeshifter's shoulders slumped, and his gaze faltered. Like a deflated balloon, Ketsu sank into his chair. I had expected a variety of reactions, but this was not one of them. Why did he react like this? Unsure of what to do next, I stopped talking and filled my glass with juice, my throat suddenly dry.

Stolen novel; please report.

More than a minute passed before Ketsu spoke softly.

"Do you know... Do you know what's the most idiotic thing? I only realized something was wrong in my family when I was twelve. Can you believe it? Until I was twelve, I thought the way my father treated me and my mother was normal. That it's how everyone lives. It wasn't until I observed other families that I realized otherwise. I thought it was normal for a father to neglect his child and wife. That it was common for a father to ignore his child after returning from a month's absence. That it was regular for a husband and wife to not speak to each other for months. But I loved him. Unconditionally. He was my idol. Naturally! Who was the best in stealth in the clan? Him! Whose haiku hangs on the wall in the waiting room of the clan head? His! Who is the clan's most respected fighter? Him. How could you not be proud of such a father? And not love him? All the boys envied me, even though our family belonged to the younger branch of the clan. Oh look! It's the son of Yoshihiro himself! I've heard that countless times... But in reality... In reality, he acted like I didn't exist. Neither I nor my mother! He didn't hate us - we just didn't exist to him. We were like furniture in his house, something to put up with. I later learned that his marriage to my mother was diplomatic, forced by the clan, and not born out of love. But even so, you can't treat people like they don't exist! Especially your own son! You simply can't! But he did. I tried so hard to get him to notice me! I went above and beyond to be better than the other kids so he could be proud of me. I even made a pact with my Beast, finding old treatises and performing a ritual. All by myself. Alone. At the age of thirteen, I performed the most complex forbidden ritual! All just to get him to notice me! But he... He didn't care. And you know... I accepted it. People are different, I thought. My father is like that. Nothing is more important to him than the clan and his work. And his family? His family is just a duty that he fulfills at the clan head's orders. "Ketsu laughed bitterly. "What won't a child do to justify his father? But five months and four days ago, I learned the truth."

Sugawara's voice became drier and heavier.

"My father had to die for his son to uncover the truth about him. I found it when I accessed his personal study for the first time in my life. Oh, our father was skilled at hiding his secrets, but there is no better detective than a loving and grieving son. And I found... something that would have been better left undiscovered. I found out that my father, it turns out, knew how to love. To love... Just not me and my mother. Just not us. But someone else. Someone he met many years ago in a foreign country and with whom he spent only three months. It turns out that he could love children, or rather, one child. The one he had never seen in his life. So much so that the day the child didn't awaken the power of True Blood at sixteen was the worst day of his life. And I'm not exaggerating - I'm almost quoting his personal notes verbatim. Can you guess which child I'm talking about?"

"Yes," I managed to force out, the single word feeling difficult to utter.

"He didn't love my mother because there was another woman in his life. The one to whom he had given his heart. Forever. So much so that every... Every single day! Before going to bed, he wrote letters to her. Every damn night!!! And!.. And yet, he never once sent a single one of them. After writing them, he would burn them immediately. I only found the remains of one, the last one... From those burnt fragments, I discovered where my father's beloved resided. As you know, it turned out to be Wilflaes. I also learned that this woman is somehow connected with museums, and her name begins with 'M' and 'e', and that there's also the letter 'n' in it."

"And you came to Wilflaes..." I broke the lingering silence.

"To find my brother. The child who stole my father's love away from me. To find him and kill him. To snap his neck with my own hands..."

"Not the woman, but the child?" I sought confirmation.

"The woman?" Ketsu seemed surprised by my question. "Your mother? What for? I had no intention of seeking revenge on her. What is she to blame for? But you... You are a different story. He loved you, not me."

"Then why did you intervene? The witch was just about to fulfill your wish. Or did you want to kill me with your own hands, fearing she might interfere?"

"I..." He seemed clearly taken aback. "You know, I noticed you long before I began to suspect that you were the one I had been searching so hard for. You were ordinary, not a shapeshifter. You were a nobody, yet... Yet, you managed to gain the respect of others. It was unusual; I grew up in the clan district and was used to viewing ordinary people as nothing more than servants. Inferior. But it was only at the University of Wilflaes that I realized I was wrong. And you, you were the one who showed me this. Izao, an ordinary student, proved to be superior to me in many ways! Me! The genius of the Sugawara clan was somehow surpassed by a regular guy from the street! I both hated and respected you for it. How did you manage with my drawing? I was impressed. I gave it to you as a symbol of your humiliation, and yet you created your own comic based on it!! Incredible! And you're not even aware of how perfectly your approach aligns with the style of my clan!! You... And the more I watched you, the more I realized that you are more Sugawara in spirit than I am. Even without the Beast in your soul, you are a true Fox."

I wanted to argue with him, but my habitual secrecy, paranoia, and readiness to sacrifice others' feelings for my goals left me speechless.

"You know, sometimes I used to imagine I had a brother. And you, with your personality, intelligence, and actions, fit perfectly into those childhood fantasies," Ketsu said, standing up to pour himself some juice. "Yesterday, as I watched everything from the bushes, I understood. I realized I didn't want to kill you. I don't want you to die at all. I realized you're my brother. You're the family I never truly had... And it's not your fault our father ignored me all my life. You never saw him, you didn't know him." He took a large sip of his juice. "I understand how crazy all of this sounds as I say it. But it's my life. My entire life. I know I don't have much time left, and I'm glad you survived. I'll be gone soon, but you'll remain. For once in my life, I did the right thing. Yesterday..."

He laughed bitterly, looked me up and down, and continued:

"Even yesterday, I thought I'd save everyone and... I blew it! A highly trained fourth-stage shifter got beaten without a chance! Some girl, a witch, humiliated me. Me! Ketsu Sugawara! The genius Sugawara! And... the most insulting part is, you ended up killing that witch. You succeeded where I failed. You killed her with a simple fork!" He shook his head. "How pathetic I am..."

Looking at him, I could see, thanks to the residual effects of Mary's potions on my Spark, his inner Beast taking advantage of Ketsu's self-loathing, literally tearing pieces from his soul and devouring them. I realized that this shouldn't be happening. Man and Beast should complement each other and form a singular entity, but in Ketsu's case, it was different. His Beast had matured too early and had long since assumed a dominant position. It shouldn't be this way, but it was, and that's why young Sugawara was dying.

I stood up and extended my hand to Ketsu. I knew what to do. Other sensums referred to moments like these as Enlightenment, but I didn't care about the terminology. I simply knew.

"Can you trust me?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Completely?"

"You might be the only one I can," the young shifter replied, a bit disjointedly.

"Then give me your hand and don't resist."

"Resist what?" Ketsu didn't understand, but he placed his hand in mine anyway.

"Anything," I answered succinctly, knowing a detailed explanation would take too much time.

After receiving Sugawara's nod, I opened myself up to the Break. Not entirely, but partially, just as Maya had done recently. The wind of another dimension, visible only to me, grazed my palm before moving onto Sugawara's hand. I opened the Gate of the Break a little further, and the wind enveloped both Ketsu and me.

I was prepared to bring my brother with me when I suddenly felt a strong resistance. His Beast was fighting back. Having thrived on Ketsu's weakness, the Fox didn't want to enter the Break. Its resistance was so intense that it even pushed Sugawara's consciousness aside, causing him to collapse limply into the chair, unconscious. In response, I unleashed the wind of the Break on the Beast, twisted the currents, creating something akin to a whirlwind which enveloped the entire Fox. After securing our connection, I plunged into the Break with all the power I could muster.

"Ra-a-a-a-i-i-i-ig!!!"

I accomplished it. Not exactly how I initially planned, but it worked. I managed to pull my brother into the Break, though not fully - only his inner Beast. A massive Fox, standing at my waist height, once in this other dimension, glanced around like a hunted creature. It then turned its crimson eyes to me and bared its monstrous mouth. The Beast rightly identified the culprit, the one who dragged it here - to this foreign and terrifying place.

Unlike humans, the Beast didn't hesitate or ponder; it attacked immediately.

However, it's only in the real world that shapeshifters are faster and stronger than humans. The Break is the raigs' home turf! I could have dodged, kept my distance, even patted the Beast on its back as it zoomed past. But instead, I extended my left hand forward and allowed it to bite.

The ghostly jaws of the Fox tightened around the wrist of my projection. The jaws clenched, and the Beast instantly whimpered. It yelped, frightened, like a mischievous puppy caught by the scruff of its neck. It had reason to yelp - along my wrist, the very one it had bitten into, the "Purity" was exposed and held in reverse grip.

For some reason, I was certain that the snow-white and indestructible blade wouldn't kill the Fox. It wouldn't kill because this Fox was a part of Sugawara. Ketsu's inner Beast was as much a part of his soul as Purity was a part of Izao's soul.

The Fox tried to escape, but my right hand gripped its jaw, preventing it from fleeing. The Beast writhed and whimpered; its phantom "blood" trickled down my palm. With every drop of this "blood," the Beast grew weaker. It weakened and shrank. I held it like that for about a minute - until the Beast was the size of a regular fox.

Only then did I let go, allowing it to leave the Break. The Beast instantly bolted back, fused with Ketsu's soul, and hid within it. It buried itself as deep as it could.

And I followed the Fox back to the material world.

"Ra-a-a-a-i-i-i-ig!!!"

I bent over Ketsu and heard the steady breathing of a healthy sleep.

"And why didn't I doubt for a second that you would find a way to save the boy?" I heard Zanh Kiem's words from behind me, spoken with a slight grin.