Genjo did his best to listen, as tricky as it had been. It took all his might to not visibly cringe at the very first mention of Ukoku, even more so at the mention of Kami. Right, Koumyou wasn't aware of how much he did know about that. Of course, if it were merely a few years before, he may not have.

But he didn't flinch. He felt his hands clench, but he did not withdraw even as he felt the anger consume him with confirmation of something that was once pure suspicion.

Of course that man had something to do with Koumyous death. It made sense with how the Seiten had managed to find itself in the hands of Gyumaohs revival practices.

But no amount of emotion or rage would change his original statement. Was it warming to hear that Koumyous love for him was so strong that he became dedicated to protecting and caring for him? Of course. But he was not worth all that had happened. The Koumyou Sanzo should not have been sacrificed for the sake of a small weak child like him.

In the end, he was still a liability. And one that ended the life of his master at that.

"It must have been hard for you. Dealing with that," Genjo wanted to argue that to Koumyou. He wanted to scream at him. Tell him that his life wasn't so unimportant as to sacrifice it as he had. That Koumyous life was just as precious. No, it was even more so. "I've seen him, you know. Quite recently at that."

Was Genjo's existence such a hindrance to the crow?

"He's an asshole."