---
-The Shadow's of welcome
The night bled into dawn, and the first light of morning painted the horizon in pale gold. The air felt heavy—too heavy—like it carried the weight of yesterday's nightmare.
No one had slept well.
Kage stirred, his body still aching from the battle. Every breath reminded him of wounds not yet healed. He rubbed his eyes and glanced beside him.
Hakari wasn't there.
He searched the room. The house. Nothing.
Stepping outside, he found him—standing beneath a lone tree. Leaves drifted lazily down, brushing against Hakari's hair. Dust swirled in the soft wind, clinging to his face. He didn't move, didn't blink, just stared at the morning sky as if waiting for it to speak.
Kage approached and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Hakari… are you okay?"
Hakari turned, his expression empty, but in that emptiness hid something darker—confusion, worry, maybe even fear.
"I don't know," he murmured. "I don't know anything anymore. I can't understand what's happening to me. I feel… sorry about something. I'm remembering something, but I don't know what it is. I'm worried, but I can't figure out why."
Kage frowned. He had no answers—no idea why Hakari had acted so strangely the night before or who had brought them here.
With a sigh, Hakari said, "I think we should continue our journey."
Kage simply nodded.
They walked on in silence. Nature itself seemed loud—the rustle of leaves, the hiss of the wind, the distant cry of unseen creatures.
Then—
"Hakari! …Hakari!"
Kage froze.
He glanced around. Nothing. The voice echoed only in his head. Hakari kept walking, lost in thought, oblivious.
Kage considered telling him… but decided against it.
It's just my imagination.
Moments later, an elderly woman staggered toward them. Her steps were uneven, her breath ragged. Blood covered her from head to toe.
They ran to her without hesitation. Hot wind whipped against their faces, sand biting into their skin, but none of it mattered.
"Are you okay? What were you running from?" Kage asked.
Hakari's eyes widened. "Kage… look at her back."
Kage turned—and his stomach twisted. Fifteen arrows protruded from her back, each buried deep.
"W-what happened? Who did this?"
The woman's lips trembled.
"Help… Akuma… help."
They exchanged a glance.
"What about this place?" Kage pressed.
"This place… is full of mystery. You should be careful… careful about Akuma."
Her voice shook with each word.
Hakari crouched beside her. "What about Akuma? Who did this to you? What are you talking about?"
Her breathing grew frantic.
"No… no… help—"
And then she went still.
The silence that followed was heavier than the heat around them. They didn't know who she was, or why her final breath had been spent on that single name: Akuma.
They carried her body to a graveyard. With dirt-stained hands and tear-filled eyes, they dug.
"I knew something like this would happen," Hakari said, his voice breaking. "But I didn't think it would hurt this much."
Kage rested a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay to cry. I know it hurts. I… lost someone not long ago."
Hakari's voice cracked. "I'm sorry I couldn't save your mother. I'm sorry."
"But you did," Kage replied softly.
Hakari blinked. "…What?"
"You saved her. You saved me. My sister. You're still saving hundreds—thousands. A madman with a kind heart risks his life for others, Hakari. You can't save everyone, no matter how much you want to. Those who die suffering in silence… their pain shouldn't be met with a sympathetic whisper, but with a cry of the immortals. They were brave. And they are with us—now, and always. So wipe your tears… and let's bury her."
They covered her with earth. But her face, her wounds, her final words… followed them long after they resumed walking.
---
Hakari broke the quiet first. "What now? Where are we supposed to go? Is it… over?"
Kage shook his head. "We have to think carefully."
Suddenly, images blurred through his mind—flashes of something he couldn't place.
"It's not over yet," Kage muttered, his tone sharp. "Not yet."
Hakari's voice pulled him back. "What?"
Kage blinked. "What?"
"You just said it's not over yet. What was that about?"
Kage hesitated, then shrugged. "The battle. No—the war. It's already begun. We have to win."
Hakari narrowed his eyes. "What made you say that?"
"I don't know. Last night… I felt something. A cry. Helplessness. A dream, maybe? But it felt too real. Like a warning. I don't believe in omens… but even if a dog tells you to be better—you be better."
Hakari smirked faintly. "…So, where are we going then?"
Kage shrugged again. "You're the leader."
"Then… we'll explore for now."
---
The sun blazed overhead, the wind carrying heat like fire.
"Oooof… the heat," Hakari groaned.
"You should've gotten used to it by now," Kage said flatly.
Hakari gave him a look. "It's been a few days. How the hell am I supposed to get used to this? What are you made of—stone? Glass?"
"…Just keep walking."
"Easy for you to say," Hakari muttered, slapping his cheeks to wake himself up.
---
Hours later, they stumbled upon a quiet village.
A small restaurant welcomed them in. The owner smiled warmly, even serving them sweets. From afar, the place seemed perfect—cheerful laughter, friendly neighbors, a peaceful life.
But soon… something felt wrong.
The villagers' movements became unnatural—jerky, erratic. People acted without reason.
Kage and Hakari tried to ignore it—until a man grabbed an elder, raising a weapon to strike.
They rushed forward—only to see the elder laughing. It wasn't joy. It was a deep, endless cackle that froze the air.
Then—
A shadow appeared. Its laugh cut through the village like a blade. The world shifted. Darkness swallowed everything. The villagers vanished. Mist coiled around them, thick and suffocating.
From within it, the shadow's mask gleamed.
Hundreds of eyes blinked open across its form, all fixing on them.
"This is the beginning of your journey," it said, its voice curling like smoke.
"And I must welcome you… my master. My master, Yamazaki Kage!"
The shadow dissolved into the fog—leaving them frozen in place.
---.
Dear Readers,
I want to apologize for not updating in the past 4 days. Some unexpected personal matters kept me from writing and uploading during this time. Thank you for your patience and understanding — it really means a lot.
Starting this Friday, I'll be back to posting regularly. Some days it might be twice a day, sometimes three times a day, and yes… maybe once in a while, zero times a day if life gets in the way again — but I'll always do my best to keep the chapters coming.
Thank you for sticking with the story. Your support means everything!
— [Afaqkun]