Class was in session.
Ryūshiki began, "Strictly speaking, the Shikotsumyaku is a hereditary disease—a genetic defect in our clan. It's caused by a missing gene that suppresses osteoclasts, so people with it rarely live past a hundred. Most die young."
He gave Kaguya a reassuring look. "But you and I are lucky. We're protected by 'auspicious power,' which cancels out the worst side effects."
Kaguya glanced down at her own hands. "Do I really have Shikotsumyaku…?"
Ryūshiki grinned. "You do. Like me, your skin's got that unusual gray-white tint."
Kaguya frowned. "But lots of our clan are pale."
Ryūshiki shrugged. "Fine, I'm just saying you're extra pale. Anyway, I'm sure you have it. Here—try channeling chakra into your bones like this…"
Swish, swish, swish—
The sound of bone breaking through flesh filled the air.
Ryūshiki reached behind his neck, grabbed the tip of his spine as it jutted out, and pulled the whole thing free.
"Give it a shot."
Kaguya hesitated, holding her breath. Her body trembled, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't do it.
Ryūshiki rubbed his chin. "That's odd… Oh!" Suddenly, he snapped his fingers. "You're afraid of pain, aren't you?"
Kaguya bristled. "I am not!"
She forced herself to channel chakra into her bones, but the moment the bone sprouted, tears welled up in her eyes.
Ryūshiki sighed. "So timid… yet you had the guts to break off your own horn. Unbelievable."
Kaguya felt a wave of embarrassment.
Ryūshiki shook his head. "You're hopeless." He stood, moved behind her, and gently parted her hair at the nape of her neck.
Kaguya shivered, startled.
"Hold still," Ryūshiki murmured. "Let me help…"
He pressed his fingertip to the back of her neck.
"Okay, try again. It won't hurt now."
Kaguya gathered her courage and followed his instructions. This time, the pain was gone—just as he'd promised.
Ryūshiki stepped back, a sly smile on his lips. "See? It was all in your head."
Truth was, Ryūshiki hadn't done anything. He'd just given her a mental cue—a suggestion that made her believe she was protected.
Once Kaguya overcame her psychological barrier, progress came fast. She even started playing around, controlling the growth of bones all over her body like a kid with a new toy.
Ryūshiki groaned. "Look at you—acting like you just got the coolest gadget."
Swish, swish, swish—
Suddenly, Ryūshiki piped up, "Leave the ribs alone."
Kaguya blinked. "Why?"
He scratched his nose. "You'll pop the balloons…"
Kaguya glanced down, finally catching on to what 'balloons' meant. A faint blush colored her cheeks, but she stopped messing with her ribs.
Back to business, Ryūshiki said, "Alright, you've got the Shikotsumyaku down. That's the foundation for the All-Killing Ash Bones."
Kaguya asked, "What does 'All-Killing Ash Bones' actually mean?"
Ryūshiki explained, "It's when you fuse the 'gray curse mark'—from my All-Killing Curse—into the white bones of Shikotsumyaku. That turns them into ash bones. Watch."
He picked up the spine he'd pulled out earlier. Gray curse marks snaked across its surface, spreading until the entire bone was transformed—inside and out—into a deadly 'ash bone.'
"This is the All-Killing Ash Bones. When you strike an enemy, the curse mark inside triggers, destroying them along with the bone. Regeneration won't save them—unless they've eaten a chakra fruit, or possess some kind of absolute life-protecting dōjutsu."
In other words, for anyone who hadn't consumed chakra fruit, this technique was a one-hit kill.
Ryūshiki continued, "Actually, I created a 'red curse mark' even stronger—enough to kill chakra fruit users. But it's too dangerous. You're not ready for that yet, so let's stick to the gray mark."
He placed his hand on Kaguya's shoulder. "I'm transferring some of the All-Killing Curse's power to you. Try to feel it, and practice replicating it. You're the 'Rabbit' with an exquisite heart—if you focus, you'll get it."
Six months passed in the Tsukuyomi world before Kaguya could finally extract and apply the curse mark herself.
Ryūshiki encouraged her, "Alright—give it a try."
Kaguya gripped a small bone rod, concentrated, and managed to cover it in gray curse marks.
Ryūshiki inspected it. "Only the surface is coated. You need to push the mark deeper—otherwise, it's just for show. Try harder."
Kaguya redoubled her efforts. After a bit more work, she got the curse mark to penetrate all the way through.
Ryūshiki nodded approvingly. "Nice. Once you're comfortable, you'll be able to produce bones that come out already marked—no hand signs needed."
Kaguya stared at the ash bone in her hand, itching to test its power.
Her target? Herself.
Ryūshiki saw what she was about to do and quickly intervened. "Hey, that's not All-Killing Ash Bones—that's Suicide Ash Bones!"
Kaguya looked up, innocent and confused.
Ryūshiki sighed. "Fine. Why don't you try it on me?"
Kaguya hesitated. "But… you haven't eaten the fruit, right?"
Ryūshiki winked. "Trust me. I won't die."
Stab! Stab! Stab!
Kaguya went to town, gleefully testing her new technique.
When the lesson ended, the two of them—after more than a year in Tsukuyomi—finally returned to reality.
Same courtyard. Same fruit tree. Same moon.
Only a single day had passed in the real world.
But in that day, they'd become close friends, able to talk about anything.
They discussed everything—clan secrets, humanity, and more.
Kaguya hinted at her wish to coexist with humans.
Ryūshiki teased, "Careful. If women from our clan get too popular with humans, they end up pregnant. I'm dead serious…"
Kaguya just stared at him, silent.
Ryūshiki offered, "I could teach you some contraceptive techniques."
She didn't respond.
He joked, "Or you could just become a man?"
Kaguya shot him a glare. "Get lost…"
Ryūshiki saw the conflict in her eyes—the gap between her ideals and reality.
Carrying out the King's command would force Kaguya to choose.
Planting the Divine Tree meant draining the life from an entire planet—directly opposing her dream.
It was a problem she couldn't avoid, no matter how much they joked.
Ryūshiki grew serious. "Time's running short. Let me teach you a few more tricks…"
They sat facing each other.
Ryūshiki lowered his head. Kaguya waited, expectant.
But nothing happened for a long while.
An hour passed. Ryūshiki still hadn't moved.
Kaguya waited, patient.
Three hours later, her patience wore thin. Her brow furrowed.
"You…"
"ZzZ~z…" Ryūshiki was snoring, nose bubbling with each breath.
Kaguya was at a loss.
Another hour slipped by. Ryūshiki still slept.
Finally, Kaguya reached out and waved a hand in front of his face.
Snap!
Without warning, Ryūshiki grabbed her wrist and threw her down onto the grass.
"Eh?" Kaguya's mind went blank, completely flustered.
Under the moonlight, on the silent lawn, their eyes met—time seemed to freeze.
Ryūshiki's gaze was sharp as a blade.
"This move is called the 'Surprise Attack Kill Method.' Got it?"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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