A voice softly echoed through Itoshi's mind. Gentle. Quiet. And unmistakably clear.
"Itoshi-kun."
It called again, the same soft urgency.
"Itoshi-kun."
His eyes were closed. Calm. Composed. Yet confused as he wondered:
"Ah... where am I? Miz-sama... she's calling out to me..."
All he saw was darkness. He couldn't open his eyes.
"W-what? I can't open my eyes? Or... is it just really dark? Where am I?... It's cold... and the air—musky..."
"Am I... lying down or standing up?.. I... I cannot tell."
He pondered even more.
As the silence rolled over him, Miz's voice continued to reach his ears, echoing softly through the dark.
"Itoshi-kun."
"Yes?.. Miz-sama?.."
Itoshi replied, the words leaving his lips—soft, but wary.
"Open your eyes!"
Miz answered, excitement in her voice, though the softness still lingered.
Itoshi slowly fluttered his eyes open. And there—he saw her once more.
The white-haired woman who kept appearing in his dreams: Miz.
She smiled down at him, his head resting comfortably on her thighs.
Itoshi turned red, though he remained calm.
"Y-Yo... Miz-sama..."
Miz waved at him cheerfully.
"Yo! It's been a while, Itoshi-kun."
"Ye-yeah..."
Itoshi slowly sat up.
Miz's gaze followed him the whole way, her eyes locked on him. Once seated, Itoshi took a breath and quietly wondered just where they were.
He looked around. A massive plain stretched endlessly beneath a pale sky, winds rushing past with a sharp, icy bite.
Behind them... the sea. Vast and endless, its waters brushed quietly against the towering edge of white stone.
The two sat near the precipice of the White Cliffs of Dover—majestic, gleaming, and impossibly high.
"Where are we?.. Miz-sama?.."
"Ah... just a place I loved."
Miz replied softly, her silver hair swaying with the wind.
"They say spirits from old wars still whisper here. Some believe the wind itself carries the voices of those who waited for someone who never came home."
She looked out toward the sea with a distant gaze.
"Others believe... if you're lucky, you'll hear the cliffs sing back your name when your heart feels truly lost."
Itoshi remained quiet, listening to the wind swirl around them.
"I heard a story once... one that stayed with me for a long time,"
Miz said softly, her gaze fixed on the endless horizon.
"It was about a girl—a girl with an unbreakable belief. Ever since the last war, she's been said to wait right here, on these cliffs. Waiting for her lover's return."
Itoshi blinked, his attention sharpening as he listened.
"Her lover... he left to protect everyone from the ravages of war. He was her one and only true love, the kind that you only hear about in old songs or stories. He left from this very spot, promising to come back someday."
Miz's voice dropped to a whisper, carried away slightly by the wind.
"And the girl? She stayed behind, waiting day after day, year after year. They say she waits still—to greet him, whether he returns as a living, breathing man or as a spirit, roaming free among the clouds and stars."
She looked over at Itoshi, eyes shining faintly.
"Some say the cliffs remember her hope, and the wind carries her prayers out to sea. That's why this place feels so alive, even when no one is here."
Then.. Silence..
"Miz-sama?.."
Itoshi called softly.
Miz turned, her silver eyes meeting his.
"Y-Yeah?.."
"You've been waiting too?.. Weren't you?"
Itoshi asked, voice low and curious.
Miz smiled, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.
"Eh?.. Am I right?"
Itoshi pressed.
"Itoshi-kun... You never change,"
She said warmly.
"Still as straightforward and as sharp as ever..."
"But still a fool though!"
She teased, a playful grin tugging at her lips.
"E-ehh?!"
Itoshi howled, caught off guard.
Taking a deep breath, Miz stood up, hands clasped behind her back. The sea breeze tugged at her black dress and the white streaks in her hair.
As the sun slowly rose over the horizon, Itoshi watched her quietly—heart stirred by the gentle, familiar sight.
"About Hoshi..."
Miz softly muttered, her voice almost carried away by the gentle sea breeze.
"Are you still mad about her?"
She asked quietly, searching his eyes for an answer.
Itoshi didn't respond immediately. He closed his eyes briefly, as if turning over the feelings in his mind, then spoke carefully.
"Hm... I'm not really sure. It's complicated."
"Ah... she still can't take your trust, huh?"
Miz murmured, a hint of sadness in her tone.
"I... I don't know,"
Itoshi admitted honestly.
"It's not just about trust. It's about everything that's happened—her attack on Ayro, how close it came to hurting Kara. It's hard to just forget that."
Miz chuckled softly, the first light of morning catching the silver strands of her hair and making them shimmer like stardust.
"I understand... That's how humans truly react when faced with danger—fear, doubt, even anger. It's natural. You're all still trying to find your way in a world filled with uncertainty."
Itoshi's gaze remained fixed on her, drawn by the quiet wisdom in her voice.
"But even so... people always have reasons for the actions they take, no matter how painful those actions might be."
She paused for a moment, eyes distant as if recalling something far away.
"She attacked Ayro, right? And I guess almost hurt Kara too."
"But what did Kara do? Despite her... I guess, "untrustable" nature?"
Itoshi thought carefully, searching his heart for the truth.
"Kara... gave her a chance. Even after everything."
"That's right... Kara-san gave her a chance to prove herself once more,"
Miz added softly.
Itoshi looked down at his hands, lost in thought.
"A chance?.. Do I deserve one too?"
It was on his mind, but Miz heard everything clearly.
"Yes... Itoshi-kun. Everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves. If one isn't given that chance... they'll spiral into desperation—especially if they truly mean it."
Itoshi thought carefully.
"Miz-sama is right... But... what about me? Do I deserve it, despite all the sins I've committed?"
Miz chuckled, hearing every doubt crossing his mind.
"You truly are a fool, Itoshi-kun."
"E-eh?.."
"You're still too young to call yourself a sinner. You haven't even proven yourself to the world yet."
Itoshi listened closely, heart stirred.
"But... that's exactly what I honestly love about you."
Itoshi turned red and shot upright.
"Eh... Ehh!?"
Miz turned around, eyes locked onto his, cheeks tinged with blush.
"What do you mean?! Who are you?!"
Itoshi muttered to himself.
"Now you're asking that question, Itoshi-kun."
Miz replied with a teasing smile.
"Bro! Who would fall in love with a fool!"
Itoshi growled playfully.
Miz chuckled as she turned back to watch the sunset.
"We'll see, Itoshi-kun."
Suddenly, Itoshi stood beside Miz, both gazing at the fading light, eyes drawn to the soft green grass beneath them.
"Hoh?.."
Miz muttered.
"When will I wake up?"
Itoshi asked quietly.
"Eh? Excited, are we?"
Miz teased.
"You wanna leave me already? I might never come back, you know!"
"Eh?!"
Miz cackled lightly.
"I'm kidding! I'm kidding!! I'm still committed to my job as your guide... Though... my job will be useless if you can't listen to me."
Itoshi thought again.
"The kunoichi, huh..."
"Indeed. She's not really a stranger to you either."
Itoshi looked up at Miz once more.
Suddenly, he flinched—her eyes were filled with tears. Before darkness pulled him away again, he saw her lips curl softly as she muttered words just barely audible
"Se i v ev e ri wa n."
"I once again fell into darkness before waking up after talking to you... Why do you always look at me that way? Like I'm someone you've known for years... someone who looks at me with pity and... sadness. Every time I leave... your eyes flood with tears... Even though you can easily bring me anywhere you want in my dreams... Miz-sama... just... who are you?.."
The world slowly came back into focus as Itoshi finally woke up inside the cramped SUV. His bright red eyes took in the familiar, confined space once more.
A voice suddenly whispered in Itoshi's ears, distant but trembling in the dark.
"I'm going... to die..."
He flinched.
"Who was that?!"
The voice came again—faint, breaking.
"I don't want to die... Nee-san..."
It was her.
The kunoichi.
In the blink of an eye, Itoshi's vision flashed with a wave of images—Hoshi's breathless escape across the ship, Seele closing in, her blade slipping—
And then—her fall.
"S-She's gonna fall!"
Without warning—BOOM!
The roof of the SUV exploded open, and a column of blue flame surged upward, tearing through steel and sky alike.
Time froze.
The azure blaze outshone even the orange inferno devouring the ship above—its light clean, piercing, alive.
Il-Min-Song's single eye widened, locked onto the blue fire.
"A-Amazing!"
He whispered, stunned.
And then—
Itoshi shot up into the air like a missile, his body wreathed in flame, propelled by the strength he'd earned through tireless training.
Above, he moved like lightning.
Silent. Controlled. Certain.
His arms extended—
And he caught her.
Softly.
As if she weighed nothing.
As if this was always meant to happen.
A confident smile played at the corners of his lips .
"F-Flame boy..."
Hoshi murmured under her mask, her voice barely audible—but filled with joy.
Then her eyes fluttered shut, body going limp in his arms.
"Sleep tightly."
Itoshi whispered, landing gently on the upper deck with her still held close.
There stood Il-Min-Song, eyes glinting with curiosity.
Itoshi looked down at Hoshi, about to speak—
And then his calm snapped.
"AHH! YOU'RE BLEEDING!"
He panicked, holding her tighter. His composed mask cracked.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Il-Min-Song applauded, eyes gleaming.
"Bravo, bravo! That was amazing, young man! Your fla—"
BANG!
A shot rang out. A burst of blue flame cracked past his head, forcing him to freeze.
Il-Min-Song blinked in shock, momentarily speechless. But as Itoshi scrambled to find a way to help Hoshi, a crooked smile curled on the bald man's lips—not out of malice, but something else.
Pride.
Itoshi's eyes widened as an idea sparked.
"AH! KARA AND JAYU!"
Without hesitation, he lifted Hoshi back into his arms, spinning toward the edge of the deck.
He pointed dramatically at Il-Min-Song.
"YOU WAIT HERE, BALDY! I'LL FACE YOU LATER!"
Il-Min-Song raised his hands and shrugged, still smiling.
Itoshi leapt—
Flames burst beneath his boots as he descended, slowing his fall into a clean, fire-kissed landing below.
High above, Il-Min-Song remained still, arms crossed as he looked toward the skies.
"Blue flame, huh?.."
He whispered to no one in particular.
His smile widened, the edge of madness replaced by admiration.
"We're going to lose."
—an attack came from the side.
CLANG!
A blade screamed against metal.
Ayro's sword, aimed clean for the bald man's head, was intercepted mid-swing—caught by the thick gauntlet on Il-Min-Song's arm.
Il-Min-Song didn't even flinch. His head turned slowly.
"Hm?.. Oh. You're still standing."
Ayro was shaking.
His body was battered, blood dripping from a gash at the top of his head. Burns scorched across his arms and neck.
The healing administered earlier wasn't enough—it kept him moving, but it didn't restore what was lost.
He stood there, chest rising and falling rapidly, sword trembling in his grip.
He didn't say a word. He didn't have the strength to waste.
He just swung again.
At the lower deck, Itoshi landed hard through the hole he made in the SUV roof—dropping straight onto the rear seat with Hoshi cradled in his arms.
Kara, Jayu, and Aldrin jolted in surprise.
"EEP!!"
"Kara! Jayu! She's wounded!"
Itoshi barked, already laying Hoshi down carefully across the seat.
Without hesitation, Kara and Jayu snapped into action, rushing to her side. Jayu grabbed the medkit while Kara assessed her condition with trembling hands.
Itoshi stood up again, flames flickering around his boots.
He stepped up onto the SUV's roof glowing green behind him—his eyes locking onto the scene outside.
There, across the battered steel and smoke filled deck—
Ryujin and Kirashi were locked in combat, struggling against seven Seele swarming around them, their movements slowing, exhaustion written in every swing and step.
Itoshi's jaw dropped.
"AHH! HOW THE HELL DID I NOT NOTICE THIS?!"
Kirashi knelt behind Ryujin, steadying himself on his knees.
Ryujin leaned heavily on his spear, his body weakening from the relentless fight.
They were surrounded—seven wind-type Seele weaving between twisted metallic ship parts, closing in with deadly intent.
Itoshi's eyes scanned the chaotic scene, calculating their next move.
Itoshi quickly leaped down from the SUV roof, flames bursting around his feet as he sprinted toward the frontline.
He slid beside Ryujin, who was bruised, bloodied, and barely standing.
"Ryujin-san! I'm back!"
"Took you long enough, fool!"
Ryujin muttered, coughing.
He tried to straighten up, forcing strength into his voice.
"You take care of these, Itoshi... I'll go take care of the flame abo—"
Before Ryujin could finish, a violent blast of red flames erupted around them.
The heat surged like a furnace unleashed, flames curling and snapping through the air. Sparks ignited debris, and the deck shook beneath their feet.
Ryujin grabbed Itoshi and Kirashi, pulling them close to shield them from the worst of the inferno.
Itoshi's eyes glowed brighter as the fire threatened to consume everything. The roar of flame drowned out all else.
Within the blaze, dark shapes moved forward—relentless and merciless.
For a moment, there was only flame.
Then—
Darkness.
~~~To be Continued~~