Chapter 2 Decision

Remain as a memory that's enough for me... -- U, Baekhyun (EXO)

xxxxxx

ONE NIGHT.

One night was all it took to change everything.

One night gave way for one girl to feel an immeasurable pain.

On that one night, everything that she had to protect disappeared.

That fact remained in Kourin's mind after all that had happened. She was naïve back then. She was a carefree teenage girl. She enjoyed all the privileges to become a normal girl even though it wasn't the life meant for her. In other words, she enjoyed the life of being a princess.

But Kourin never realized that the privilege she received for possessing such freedom would come with a price. It was a terrifying price that took the lives of the people she cared about, trampled the loyalty of those who remained by her side, and trashed the honor that her clan had protected and upheld for so long. Until that moment, she wasn't sure what happened, if it was all still a dream.

Kourin's tears fell as she recalled that night. Those tears were the proof that not everything would remain a dream. She was sitting in the prayer room where another proof of the truth opened her eyes to the harsh reality of the world was placed. She had a lot of questions, but none of them had any answers until now. No one could give her the answer she so desperately needed.

"Lady Kourin..."

Kourin turned in the direction of that voice. She saw two people slide open the prayer room's shoji door. A man and a woman-both were a few years older than her-had entered.

"Kana-san... Takeru-san..."

Both of them sat behind Kourin a few feet away from where she was sitting. Kana was sitting in a seiza-style while Takeru was in an Indian position. It was obvious to them that they were estimating the atmosphere first before speaking.

"Everything's ready. All that's left is your order and we'll proceed with the plan," said Kana.

But as for Kourin, there she was, still facing the altar where the framed pictures and urns of those that she had lost were placed. Her mother, her father... and even her older brother Hitoshi. In a blink of an eye, she had lost those three in her life. She lost them in a battle she never thought she would face in her entire life.

"Are you sure about your decisions?" Kourin asked them out of the blue.

Kourin didn't hear any reply from them. But it wasn't a problem for her. After all, her decision wasn't something she came up with easily after the events. Almost all of those who heard it, even Kana and Takeru, had a reluctant expression on their faces. But it was the only way she could think of until their missions were all over.

Kourin already made a choice ー and she needed to stand firm to it. She hadn't only thought about her welfare here when she decided that. She also thought about the others ー the remaining ones who still showed their loyalty to her despite everything. Simple gratitude wasn't enough because of the loyalty they had shown towards her and her family.

"We already made our decision, my lady. Nothing could ever change that," Kourin heard Takeru answer.

"So don't ever doubt us again. We'll continue serving you and protecting you in every way possible," Kana added.

Kourin's tears fell once more. She didn't know what to say in response to what they had told her. She no longer hid those tears out of joy and gratitude. But she knew they were telling the truth. At the very least, she trusted her instinct on that one.

With a smile as Kourin wiped her tears, she stood up. Kana and Takeru followed soon after. She faced those two once more after giving one last look at her family's pictures. Those photographs were the last proof that they had once been alive with her.

"We'll proceed. Let's go."

That was all and Kourin went out of that room, along with Kana and Takeru.

xxxxxxx

OUTSIDE of Izumi Temple where Kourin stood at the moment, she saw everyone involved there. She knew they were waiting for her.

"It's time."

All of them, including the other monks working in that temple, kneeled on one knee as they bowed their heads in front of Kourin. Was it weird for her to be treated like this? No. They did that because of one reason.

Kourin was chosen to be their leader. Well, soon-to-be and the next in line. The heiress to the position, to put it simply.

For a girl like Kourin, the responsibility she had to bear was immense. The responsibility to restore the honor of her clan rested in her hands. But as she said, she already made a choice. She chose to carry the burden as the princess of the Shinomiya clan. She knew she had just come of age a year ago. To their family and even to the three other clans his family serves, the coming-of-age was 14 years old. They were handed over the position that they were destined to inherit early and for another three years, they would be trained so that they could properly carry out the responsibilities entrusted to them. So by the time they'd reach the age of 17 when the succession ceremony would take place, they would be ready. But it doesn't matter.

What was important for Kourin at the moment was to do everything right. She had to carry out the responsibility of being the next leader of the clan. Not just her clan. She also had to lead even the three other clans.

Carrying out an immense duty such as this was the only way for Kourin to continue her dead father's legacy. At least that way, she would be able to end a battle she never thought would end all the hard work of the people around her over the years.

"My lady, we're all ready to leave."

Kourin nodded as a response to what the monk had said. She faced the others soon after. She could've laughed at the sight. Just by looking at them at that moment, she could see that they were determined and unbelievably stubborn as she was. Stubbornness seemed to be inherited. It was the one thing on her mind at the moment.

Starting from that day, Kourin won't only leave Kyoto. Along with the path she had chosen, she chose to kill a certain someone.

Weird as it might have sounded, she had to kill Shinomiya Kourin for good. She had to destroy her existence as the Shinomiya family princess.

This was the only way for another persona in her to be born. A persona with a life Kourin had to live from that moment on. A persona that, hopefully, would help her protect what was left of her since that night.

A persona... that Kourin now named Fujioka Rin.