The shops were opening, and people were busy talking amidst the bazaar. Some woke up after working so hard the previous day and some even commenced their accustomed jobs.
Kageyama drops Kamui and Toji off at the school and bids them farewell. He moves towards the basement of the school. He glares at the stairs leading to dismal sheen. As he steps down, the footstep echoes in the corridor. There is a huge door amidst the darkness. Kageyama opens it slowly, and the chattering from inside paves its way out.
"Well it's Akira, isn't it ?"
A huge hall with ancient symbols encrypted on the walls, lanterns lighting the hall, and in the middle, the conference hall.
"Take a seat" The Indo leader who is sitting on the big chair, facing Akira, orders.
Akira paces towards the round table; all eight other commanders were sitting. They all have a white cloak upon their black robe. Kageyama was dressed in a black robe with a white badge on his left shoulder, glamouring, "Team 9".
He takes the seat and sees his friend itching his dense beard, the captain of team 8, Siddarth Gupta.
Yama opens his mouth to speak, "Finally, with the presence of all commanders and two captains, the meeting shall begin."
Kageyama looks at the map of the three nations sculpted on the wall behind Yama. The walls hold history till now explored, some portray the nine divine dragons and some portray the god gifting us.
Yama continues, "Firstly, I would like to announce that our great team 7 commander passed away a day ago. This unfortunate event mourns us all, and in honour of the team 7 commander, let's pray for his soul's peace in the afterlife."
All join their hands and close their eyes to pray.
"With this, I would also announce the retirement of Team 8 Commander Parth. After his immense contribution to the nation and its people, he feels satisfied and just wants to feel the beauty of nature. We shall thank him for his guidance to us, the inspiration he gave to us. Now, you all must be entangled in the doubts about why Mr. Kageyama and Mr. Siddarth are here. The reason is that these two skilled Susans, who portrayed their loyalty to the nation and proved their worthiness in our eyes, are to fill the vacant seats of the two commanders. Kageyama Akira and Siddarth Gupta will be the commanders of team 7 and team 8, respectively, on the day of the Susan ceremony, which will be held the very next day in the evening when the mighty Sun will behold the new commanders of Indo."
"It's so nice to have new commanders but, sir, pardon me, I know it's not the cause we have been called today. I would be highly obliged to you if you consider sharing the cause with us." Says the short tempered team 5 commander.
Yama replies, "My child, Steve Henderson, I respect you, and you are very correct to say that this is not the real cause for which you all are summoned today. Yet I must tell you all that the representation of Indo is equally important."
He moves his palm towards Kageyama and spreads his fingers, pointing at him.
"Kageyama Akira adopted a new brother around two days ago. His name is Toji Kazama-"
"So you have opened an orphanage, my friend?" Says Siddarth, moving his eyebrows up and giving an idiotic grin.
"I must say that you should learn some manners, Mr. Gupta," Yama yells.
All get silent and stare at Siddarth.
"Mr. Kageyama, what do you think about Toji? I saw him yesterday and I don't want to hurt your heart pounding for him but he seems to be a threat to our-"
Kageyama stands up and yells, "He is not a threat to anyone. My brother is not! He was just a tool for war and trained like that. He is just a gullible child treated wrongly."
Yama sees the fire inside the eyes of Kageyama. He replies calmly
"It's a trace of fact that you are speaking. If you had seen his performance the previous day, you would say that there is a wolf in the sheep's clothing."
"Well, it could be that what Kageyama is speaking, may be the truth," says the only female commander among them, tall and polite.
"I truly consider this, but he was suddenly found behind a lamp pole. If we consider recent happenings, this can be ominous." Yama replies with his cold command.
"Will someone tell me what 'recent happenings' we are talking about ?" Asks the team two commander, Julius Shawn.
"Is he truly back ?" Steve questions Yama.
"He ?" Asks the team ten commander politely with a voice full of horror.
Yama sighs and says, "Yes, he truly has come back."
"What a pest he is! I thought that the goddamn traitor was dead already." Says Julius in irritation.
"It's not good, it's not good", Akshay holds his head in fear.
"Do not fear team nine commander, but at least you should have told us before." Team ten commander looks at Yama with her perplexed eyes.
Yama replies, "Be silent! The reason I like Shika is that he is different from you all. See how calm he is."
All look at the team one commander, recalling the events by closing his eyes.
Yama continues, "Kageyama himself met him not long ago. He truly has 'explored the unexplored'. His powers are even greater than a divine dragon, he touches it, and it fades like vapour."
Siddarth raises his voice, "Wait, wait, wait, I don't understand whom we are talking about."
"You don't know ?" Steve raises his eyebrow in astonishment.
"Well, he was not part of the war." Says Kageyama, "his mother didn't allow him to see the bloodshed".
Yama says, "It's Menos who has returned after the betrayal. His ambitions are unknown to us, but he certainly wants Kageyama to regain his memories of the war. Maybe to manipulate him for taking him with his side."
He paused and sees at Kageyama's eyes,
"Maybe, he sent Toji to-"
"Enough!" Kageyama slams his hand on the table and stands up in pure anger taking birth inside him.
"I have heard enough from you. Toji is....not.....a...threat!"
"For sure, let's keep the matter of Toji aside for now, let's discuss the dangers lingering upon Indo or even the whole world," Yama says.
Siddarth asks, "So, he is that powerful ?"
Yama replies, "We don't know his power but we can imagine that he has power beyond our imaginations."
"He had a great mind, I mean, he has" finally Shika opens his eyes and speaks.
"He was a member of the special unit during the war." He continues
"Let's not remember the war," the Team Ten commander says.
"Very well, Commander Alexa," says Shika.
Yama says, "The war was dreadful to all of us, but let's forget about that thing, as it may eager Kageyama to learn more about it, and it would definitely not benefit us, but the devils living in the shadows."
Kageyama asks, "I have only one request old man, just tell the name of the war that no one even talks about"
"The In-hin-jin war" Siddarth speaks suddenly.
"Well, my best friend, that war was named after the three nations." Says Siddarth to Kageyama.
"Oh my friend, thank you for ever listening to me for the first time" he says.
Siddarth turns his head to Yama, and his spine goes chilled as Yama stares at him dreadfully.
"Listen, Kageyama, I must not talk more about it, but I just want you to keep an eye on your brother," Yama says.
Kageyama stands up, looking down at the floor, turns around, and paces towards the door silently. He gets out of the hall.
"Well, you hurt my best friend" says Siddarth.
"I think your friendship with Kageyama has gotten so strong, right ?" Alexa says with a smile.
"Of course, we were friends since we were wetting our pants." Siddarth replies.
On the above floor, Abel enters the classroom where, the same day, all students were present.
"I must say that not all of you did quite well in the practice. Tomorrow is Susan's ceremony. I would like to tell you that you all must be thinking about what happened to the graduation examination. Well, it already had taken place. Yes, the practice matches, they were indeed."
All makes hue and cry.
"You cheated with us!" The voice Abel hears from every corner.
He clears his throat and speaks, "That's not cheating, it was the real test of a Susan. Susan must take every practice seriously, and those who do, congratulations to them, but those who do not may repeat the year."
All replied with negative comments to Abel.
Abel shouts and announces,
"The winners are, of course, those who took the practice seriously: Sasori Suwara, Toji Kazama, Priya Gupta, Bob Batra, Anukul, and Kamui Kazama. Rest, see you again this year." With this, Abel leaves.
Sasori grins and looks back, gets astonished by the face Kamui is making when he hears his name on the graduated students' list."
"Aren't you happy" says Priya to the flabbergasted Kamui.
No response from Kamui.
Well, here a smile shines on the faces of the graduated students but those who failed are abusing their master. Declaring it cheating and not understanding the worth of a Susan.
The Sun slowly sets and in the street, Kamui and Toji again walk alone towards their home.
"I find it rather strange" says Kamui.
"What? You graduating ?" Toji asks.
Kamui nods and Toji replies,
"No, it isn't. You were awesome, especially your will is the strongest."
"Oh really ?" says Kamui.
Suddenly, both brothers see a bunch of bad people taking a little girl into an alley.
"Kidnapping !" Both exclaimed while looking at each other.
They enter the alley and reach an abandoned scrapyard. There were three of them, loading the girl into a truck. One of them sees the brothers.
"Here, there are kids" he alerts.
The three black-covered men stare at the kids and say,
"Get away, it's not your matter to solve."
Both don't move an inch.
One of them gets near them and says again in anger,
"Get out of here now."
Kamui punches the big man. Toji guards the back of Kamui. The big man stands up and charges towards Kamui. Kamui jumps out of the place and Toji murmurs-
"Vayu: almighty push"
A push so powerful, it made the big man knocked at the white shutter. The other two approach Toji with their knives; both of them attempt to stab simultaneously.
Toji holds the knives with his hands like he saw it coming.
"Toji!!" Shouts Kamui behind Toji, a signal for him to step aside.
The wooden piece of Earth hit the face of the brutal men.
"Deserves right," says Kamui, putting his foot on the top of the two men.
"You kids are annoying" the voice comes from the big man covered in dust.
"Agni: ocean of fire"
Yells the big man, Kamui got scared and couldn't dodge, but Toji, as his brother, pushed Kamui off, along with the two men, with his Vayu.
"Nooooo" Kamui shouts as he sees Toji amidst the fire.
Suddenly, a small tornado behind the big man distracted him and he got captured inside it.
"Do not ever hurt my brother !" says Toji joining his hands, with a tone unfamiliar to Kamui.
"Wow! You were amazing," says Kamui, and asks Toji how he did that.
"It was Athma. " Toji replies
"Athma? You didn't tell us that you could perform that." Kamui says.
"Well, I learnt it at the very right moment in rage," Toji says
Both brothers, after defeating the evils lingering in the street, rescued the child.
"Stay alert okay. Don't let others hurt you and whenever you are scared, remember the Susans, they would definitely save you." Kamui says
The girl thanked the brothers and walked away to her home with a smile.
Both brothers see each other and smile as they have done a work today that humanity needs to learn.