Somewhere far from golden crowns and rose-scented balconies, Kirihito Kurama lay curled on the thick branch of an ancient tree. His head rested against crossed arms, one bare leg dangling loosely over the side.
" look at him , how chilling like craving a master bed to sleep..I should.. try to catch him "
The figure thought while observing kirihito .
Kirihito's blindfolded eyes twitched under the black silk, long hair spilling like shadows over bark and leaf. The small white snake, his silent companion, coiled gently around his neck and shoulder, its scales cool against his heated skin.
Sleep should have been peaceful — but broken visions stabbed at him like needles: images too sharp, too near, yet too far to name. He shifted restlessly, frowning.
"Stupid mind…" he scolded himself in a rough whisper, still half-asleep.
Then, something small and alive crawled through his hair, scratching lightly at his scalp, then skittered down to bite the soft skin of his chest.
Kirihito's whole body jolted. His breath caught in disgust, heartbeat stuttering. "Ah! What the— what is crawling in my hair and biting my chest?!"
The snake, startled awake, hissed softly — but wisely froze, pretending not to exist.
Kirihito's expression twisted in horror. "AHHH — REAL INSECTS ! GET DOWN ! GET DOWN ! GET . DIWN !" His hands flew, slapping wildly at his chest and hair. "Do I look like your food? Your playground? Those tiny legs feel dirty!"
His hair swished like whips, throwing off the crawling bugs; his lips tightened to keep down a gag.
In his flailing panic, the branch betrayed him. His balance broke — and he slipped.
"Ah! I'm gonna really break my hips tonight!" he yelped, voice cracking.
He hit the ground on his back with a muffled thud, the wind knocked from his lungs. Dust rose around him.
For a moment, he lay there, chest heaving, hair spread around him like black water. His fingers shook as he patted himself down, checking every fold of his yukata, peering under the collar. Still disgusted, still afraid of what might cling.
His voice came out thin, nearly trembling. "How dare they… how dare they touch me… do I look like rotten fruit on the ground?"
He sat up, coughing out the last shiver of disgust. "I… I can't stay here. Not without at least dragon fruits… and a place to sleep without crawling filth."
His face, pale under the blindfold, tightened into quiet frustration.
"And where is that Kyoren's kingdom? I have to find it! I can't stay among these lowly places forever!" His tone sharpened, stubborn and proud.
Then, quieter, guilt slipping in, "Snakie… where are you?"
He felt something shift under his back. Panic flashed across his face. "D-did I crush you?!"
He quickly turned, finding the white snake half-dizzy, half-embarrassed, its forked tongue peeking out, breath quick.
Kirihito's chest squeezed with relief. "Ah… you're alive… you silly thing…"
" He seems strange too..what is he doing "
The figure thought while his excretion puzzled into his golden owl mask .
Kirihito lifted it gently, pressing his ear to its smooth body to feel the heartbeat. It drummed fast and steady. The snake, still pink around the jaw, hissed softly in answer, as if to say, I'm fine.
"Good…" he whispered. His voice, despite irritation, softened. "Sorry, snakie… it was the bugs…"
The calm broke a heartbeat later.
A spiritual black arrow cut through the morning air, aimed straight for Kirihito...the figure finally made a move silently..yet almost no use...
Because his hair — living threads darker than night — moved faster than thought. They snapped, slicing the arrow into splinters before it could come close.
Kirihito's playful annoyance vanished. His lips pulled back, expression sharpening into something far colder, deadly.
He turned his head toward where the arrow had come from. His blindfolded eyes seemed almost to see through the cloth, and his hair twisted behind him like silent snakes.
" what the hack ?? Was it that easy?? "
The figure cursed into his mind , his body tensed for next moves .
A warning hiss escaped between Kirihito's teeth, lips trumbling with rage as . His fingers tightened around the white snake protectively.
The forest, so loud with insects and night owls , fell into an eerie silence — waiting to see what happens next .
[ End of Chapter 36 ]