With a sharp flash of light, the two reappeared in Inosuke's home.
He landed gracefully on his feet. Kaena, however, face-planted into the floor.
Inosuke looked around the room. "Everything's just like I left it…" he muttered. Then he glanced down at Kaena, still sprawled on the floor.
"Get up," he said with a sigh.
Kaena slowly lifted her head, tears welling in her eyes. Inosuke frowned, confused. "Why are you crying?"
She didn't speak. Instead, she held out her hand.
It was empty.
The meat… was gone.
Inosuke blinked, then turned away, not understanding the gravity of what she was trying to show him. "You're crying over that?" he mumbled as he walked off.
Kaena stood and quietly followed.
Moments later, Inosuke pushed open a door. Inside was a small, dimly lit room. A frail figure sat in a chair by the window—his little sister, sick and pale.
"Go in," he told Kaena.
She entered, then froze. Her heart dropped. The child's condition in front of her seemed dire.
"Who is she…?" Kaena asked softly.
"The last remaining reason I'm still alive," Inosuke replied, stepping inside and closing the door behind them.
Kaena turned to face him, confused. "Why… show me this?"
"You said you'd serve me, right?"
She nodded. "Of course, my lord."
He placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "Then please… protect her. Watch over her."
Kaena saw something rare in his eyes,tears, tightly held back, years of pain buried under a stone facade. She placed her hand over his.
"I will," she said with a reassuring smile. "You have my word."
"Thank you, Kaena."
"It's nothing, Master," she replied, turning toward the little girl. Carefully, she lifted her and laid her down in bed. "A child like this shouldn't be left sitting in a chair…"
"Yeah… you're right," he murmured.
"What now?" she asked.
Inosuke pulled out the beast-hide clothing he'd brought with him. "Now? We make some money with these."
Kaena inspected the garments with a skeptical eye. "They won't get you much… Just loose change."
"That's what you think," he said with a grin. "I've studied these hides closely… and found something interesting."
"What did you find, my lord?"
He smirked, turning to leave. "You'll know soon enough."
=====
In a dimly lit backroom of the underground market, Inosuke stood before a young dealer guarded by four burly men.
"Well, I gotta say," the dealer muttered, examining the hides, "for someone with no real backing, this is high-quality stuff."
He leaned forward. "How's 17,500 zen? For the whole batch."
Inosuke raised an eyebrow. "You mean for all of them?"
The dealer nodded. "It'll be hard to sell something this rare. You know how it is."
"Hard pass," Inosuke said flatly, standing up with his goods and heading for the exit.
Before he could leave, the four guards stepped in his path.
"We're sorry, but these items are staying here," one said coldly.
Inosuke narrowed his eyes. "So that's how it is…"
He sighed. "I didn't want to do this."
Seconds later, the four guards lay crumpled on the ground. The dealer collapsed to his knees, trembling, sweat pouring from his forehead. His eyes were wide with terror.
Inosuke stood over him. "This place is mine now," he declared. "And you… you're going to work for me. You'll tell me everything,suppliers, clients, where you get your stock. Got it?"
The dealer frantically nodded, unable to speak.
Later, back at home, Inosuke stepped into the living room and froze.
It was a disaster.
Furniture was overturned. Items were scattered. The ceiling fan hung sideways, spinning in reverse. Books were stacked in odd shapes, like ritual towers. The TV remote was in the fridge.
Kaena stood at the center of it all, arms folded, looking overwhelmed.
"Sorry," she said awkwardly. "I don't know how things work in this world… everything's weird."
Inosuke didn't respond. He walked into the kitchen. It was worse. Pans in the sink. Flour on the floor. Meat… taped to the ceiling?
He dropped to his knees.
Defeated.
Broken.
"Master…" Kaena's voice was soft.
"…Kaena!!!"