In the small, dusty room of the inn, a muffled voice broke the silence.
(In sleep) Hakari: "You wanna play, little kitty? Where are you going, my baby? Come here… let me pet you. Oooh, sweet kitty…"
Kage: "…Hakari."
(Still asleep) Hakari: "Nah, don't bite me now, you little sweet kitty. Say meow."
Kage: "Hakari!"
(Still asleep) Hakari: "No… say meow!—"Hakari: "Oooouch! What the—"
Kage: "What?"
Hakari: "You bit me, that's what."
Kage: "You bloody—! Do you even know what you were doing?"
Hakari: "…What?"
Kage: "You were petting—"
Hakari: "So I petted your head, and you bit me?"
Kage: "No, you were petting my ass, you sick bastard!"
Hakari: "…Oooh, shit."
Hakari sniffed his hand.Hakari: "…Ooooh hell no. Oh, fuck no."
Hakari: "Why didn't you wake me sooner?!"
Kage: "You know, Hakari, I had respect for you. Now I just want to curse you. I tried waking you up, even slapped you a few times, but you kept mumbling 'Don't bite me, kitty.' And what the hell is this kitty obsession anyway?"
Hakari: "Well… it's a long story. And I'm sorry for what I did to your a—"
Kage: "Woo, woo, calm down. You didn't do anything to me or my… ahem. Just forget about it and let's get breakfast."
Hakari: "You're right. Let's go. And… sorry again."
Kage: "It's alright."
They stepped out of the inn, the morning heat already clinging to their skin.
The sun wasn't just shining—it was pressing.
The air wavered above the sand, the ground breathing out heat like a living thing. Each step Hakari took sank into the dust, his boots leaving faint, dry prints that vanished almost instantly.
Sweat gathered on his temples, but the air was too dry for it to drip—it just vanished, stolen away by the heat.
A faint metallic tang hung in the breeze, like rust baking under the sun. Every breath felt thicker than it should be, the heat sliding down their throats and settling in their chests.
Even the shadows here felt strange—thin, brittle things that clung to walls but offered no real relief.
Somewhere, a wooden sign creaked lazily in the wind. No birds. No insects. Just the steady hiss of sand shifting against stone.
The streets of Akuma were unusually quiet, only the faint hum of the wind and the smell of grilled bread guiding them forward.
Kage: "Smells like something's cooking… over there."
Hakari: "Lead the way, oh mighty nose."
They walked past rows of faded clay houses, sunlight breaking through the dusty air like shards of gold. A few villagers peeked from behind half-open doors, their eyes lingering just a second too long before vanishing again.
Kage (under his breath): "Yeah… still creepy."
Hakari: Yeah a little but"Creepy or not, if they've got food, I'm in."
They pushed open the wooden door. A faint chime rang, and a wave of warm, savory air rolled over them.
Hakari: "Ooooh… smells like heaven."
Kage: "Smells like someone's trying too hard to make us hungry."
They found a table near the corner and sat down. The waitress approached—face hidden under a long scarf—and took their order without saying a word. Hakari didn't seem to notice.
Minutes passed.That's when Kage noticed them.
A group of villagers filed in, one by one, and sat in the row of chairs against the wall… all directly facing them.
Hakari (leaning in): "Uh… they're all staring at us."
Kage: "Yeah. I can see that." His hand drifted to the dagger under the table.
None of the villagers spoke. None blinked. They just sat there—watching. The air felt thicker, the smell of grilled meat almost too sharp, too perfect.
The waitress returned with steaming plates, sliding them onto the table. Hakari instantly grabbed his chopsticks.Hakari: "Finally! Let's dig in!"
Kage began eating too—but slow, measured bites, his eyes flicking between the villagers and his food.
(This place… it's attacking our senses. The smell, the taste—it's too overwhelming. Even people without Codes would fall under it. But I'm an exception…)
His gaze shifted to Hakari.(…and I'll protect him.)
---
Hakari leaned back in his chair, exhaling.
**Hakari:** "Alright… done."
Kage wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
**Kage:** "Finally. Let's pay and get out before something else happens."
They stood and walked to the counter.
**Hakari:** "How much?"
The counter lady smiled warmly.
**Counter Lady:** "It's on the house."
Hakari frowned.
**Hakari:** "…We'll pay."
**Counter Lady:** "No charge."
Kage raised a brow.
**Kage:** "We insist."
The woman shook her head.
**Counter Lady:** "I refuse."
There was a brief pause. Neither Hakari nor Kage liked the way she said it.
**Hakari:** "…Fine."
He turned toward the door.
Hakari stepped outside first.
The moment he did, his expression hardened.
**Hakari:** "Kage. Stay right where you are."
**Kage:** "What is it?"
**Hakari:** "Just… look."
Kage stepped up beside him and froze.
The street was full.
Not busy.
Full.
Hundreds of villagers stood shoulder to shoulder, forming a wall of bodies.
Their eyes glinted with something between hunger and madness.
In their hands — cleavers, carving knives, butchers' tools.
A man in the front row took a step forward.
**Man:** "Did you feed them?"
The counter lady, still at the door, answered quietly.
**Counter Lady:** "Yes."
**Man:** "Did you take their money?"
**Counter Lady:** "No."
The man's lips curled into a smile.
**Man:** "Good. We don't charge outsiders for food… just like you don't charge sheep before slaughtering them."
Hakari's fingers twitched.Hakari: "…Wrong sheep."
Hakari: "Hai-Key!"
A sharp pulse of energy burst from his legs, crackling through his veins.Sand crunched under his feet—then he was gone.
The first villager didn't even see it coming.Hakari's fist smashed into his jaw. Bone gave way with a muffled crack, and the man crumpled.
Hakari: "Next."
A cleaver came swinging from the side.Hakari's foot slid back, hips twisting—his elbow slammed into the attacker's ribs.Another crack.The man folded, choking on his breath.
Inside, the wooden tables screeched across the floor as Kage fought his own battle.
Kage: "You idiots picked the wrong target!"
He swung a chair in a wide arc—splinters flew as it shattered over someone's head. Another lunged at him, blade flashing—Kage grabbed the man's collar and drove him into the wall hard enough to shake the shelves.
Back outside—blood now streaked Hakari's knuckles.He kept moving.One step, one strike, one body down.
The ground beneath him was no longer yellow sand—it was red mud.
Hakari: "You just… don't get it, do you?"
Then—A shout split the air.
Villager: "Stop! Surrender, or she dies!"
Two men dragged the counter lady forward. A blade pressed against her neck.
Hakari's jaw tightened.Hakari: "…Tch."
The crowd parted, and a tall man stepped out, sword broad as a door in his hands.Tall Villager: "Kneel."
Hakari: "Make me."
The man's mouth curled into a grin.Tall Villager: "Gladly."
The blade rose—its shadow cutting across Hakari's face.
Inside—Kage was still surrounded.Kage: "NO! DON'T!"
[Flashback]
Hakari leaned against the wooden post, smirking.Hakari: "You always care too much about me. Relax."
Kage didn't smile back.Kage: "I know you think it's a joke… but for me, your life is everything. Maybe not to you… but it is to me."
Hakari tilted his head.Hakari: "…You know, you're like my big brother."
[Present]
The sword began its deadly arc—
Kage: I promised… I will protect you.
Kage: "Command… Vanish."
The world seemed to hold its breath.
And then—the sword was simply gone.
The tall man stumbled forward, hands clutching empty air.Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Hakari: "…What… did you just do?"
Kage: "I… I don't know."
For the first time, the villagers hesitated.