The road stretched west like a scar across the land, paved now but still following the old pilgrim route. Bullet trains screamed past in the distance.
Shoto: (skipping ahead) "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?!"
Ashura: "We left an hour ago."
Temari: (deadpan, scrolling on a phone) "At this rate we'll die of boredom before we die of enemies."
They laughed. For the first time in months, it felt easy.
By midday they reached Karasu City — a massive urban sprawl built between two rivers. Skyscrapers cast shadows over ancient shrines. Vendors sold ramen next to monks selling omamori charms. Prayer flags hung between billboards.
The smell of grilled yakitori and car exhaust filled the air.
Shoto's eyes went wide. "WOAH. The shrine has a vending machine?!"
Temari: (scanning the crowd) "Eyes up. Too many people. Too many places to get lost."
Ashura: (hand resting on his katana, hidden under a trench coat) "...And too many memories."
Because this place felt alive. Too alive.
[FLASHBACK – NIGHT BEFORE THEY LEFT]
The inn was quiet. Firelight flickered on Iroh's old face. He poured tea for all three of them.
Iroh: "The path ahead won't be kind. You'll need more than strength, Ashura."
Ashura: "Then what?"
Iroh set a cup down. Steam curled between them.
Iroh: "You need balance. Control. The artifact in you… it's not a curse. It's a river. And right now, it's flooding."
Temari: "So how do we stop it?"
Iroh: (smiling faintly) "You don't stop a river. You learn to swim."
He pulled out an old, folded map. The edges were burned, the ink faded. He tapped one spot — a small temple drawn in the mountains north of Karasu City.
Iroh: "There's someone there. An old monk. Name's *Master Ren*. He doesn't fight anymore. Hasn't in 40 years."
Fuyuko, smoking in the corner: "Stubborn old bastard. Taught me half of what I know about healing."
Iroh: "He walked away from the war to understand himself. If anyone can teach you to control that mark without breaking… it's him. But he won't come to you. You have to find him."
Ashura: "Where exactly?"
Iroh: "*Karasu City. Northern district. The Shrine of Whispering Bells.* They say he tends the garden there. Talks to no one. But if you're sincere… he'll hear you."
Iroh looked Ashura dead in the eyes.
Iroh: "Don't go looking for power. Go looking for peace. The power will follow."
(END FLASHBACK)
(PRESENT – KARASU CITY)
Ashura exhaled, the memory fading. He looked up at the skyline. Somewhere in that mess of steel and shrines… was the temple.
Temari noticed his expression. "You okay?"
Ashura: "Yeah. Iroh told us where to go. Northern district. Shrine of Whispering Bells. Old monk named Ren."
Shoto: "A monk?! Are we gonna meditate and eat rice?!"
Temari: (smirking) "Don't complain. You need it."
Ashura pulled his coat tighter. "Then let's find him. Before this thing in me decides to act up again."
They stepped into the crowd — past neon signs, past stone lanterns, past people praying and texting at the same time.
No enemies. No hunters. Not yet.
Just three kids, looking for an old man who might teach them how to survive themselves.
Above them, a crow cawed and flew toward the northern mountains.
(NIGHT TIME)
Neon reflected on wet streets. Somewhere a temple bell rang once, and a car horn answered it.
Shoto was bouncing on the inn bed.
Shoto: "This mattress is so bouncy!! Watch!!" _boing_
Ashura: (face down on his own bed) "Shoto. If you break it we sleep on the floor."
Temari: (at the small table, counting their ryo) "He's already tried to order 3 bowls of ramen. We can't afford it."
Shoto gasped. "But I'm hungry AND adventurous!!"
Ashura sat up, rubbing his eyes. The artifact mark on his hand throbbed faintly. He'd been ignoring it all day.
Ashura: "...We'll eat. Cheap ramen. Then sleep. Early. We're finding Master Ren tomorrow."
Temari glanced at him. Dark circles under his eyes.
Temari: "You didn't sleep at all last night, did you?"
Ashura: "...Didn't want to."
Silence. Shoto stopped bouncing.
Temari stood, grabbing her coat. "Come on. Both of you."
Ashura: "Where?"
Temari: "If we're gonna be serious tomorrow, we get one normal night tonight. My treat."
[LATER – SMALL RAMEN SHOP]
Steam, laughter, and the clack of chopsticks.
Shoto slurped noodles like it was a sport. "THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!!"
The old shop owner, Mr. Sato, smiled, setting down three extra pieces of chashu. "On the house. You kids look tired."
The bell above the door jingled.
In walked a guy in his early 30s. Messy black hair, gray hoodie, worn sneakers, and a beat-up backpack. Had that tired-but-happy energy. Like he'd been working all day but still had jokes left.
Guy: "SATO-JIISAN!! The usual! Extra spicy, extra noodles, and if you skimp on the pork again I'm telling your wife!!"
Mr. Sato: (laughing) "HA! Crow-boy! You're late! And you still owe me for last Tuesday!!"
Crow-boy: (grinning, sliding into the seat next to Shoto) "I don't owe you. The city owes me. Big difference."
He glanced at Shoto, who was on bowl 2.
Crow-boy: (poking Shoto's bowl) "Whoa, little man. You trying to eat the whole shop?"
Shoto: (mouth full) "I'M STILL GROWING!!"
Crow-boy laughed. "Fair. Sato-jiisan, one more bowl for the kid. My treat."
Mr. Sato: "You sure? You're always broke."
Crow-boy: "I'm rich in other ways. Like ramen."
Ashura and Temari didn't pay him much attention. Just some local. Friendly. Loud.
Crow-boy kept Shoto company, telling dumb stories about crows stealing his bento, about getting lost in the northern mountains. He had garden dirt under his nails and small scars on his hands. Easy smile. Laugh lines.
Then Shoto reached across and bumped Ashura's arm.
Ashura's sleeve slid up for half a second.
The mark. Black and red, swirling. Faint glow.
Crow-boy's eyes caught it.
No shock. No questions.
Just a tiny smirk. Gone in a blink. Like he saw something interesting and decided not to comment.
Then he was back to normal.
Crow-boy: (to Ashura, casual) "Careful with that arm, man. Looks heavy."
Ashura froze. Temari's hand went to her sleeve.
Crow-boy raised both hands, grinning. "What? What? Just saying you look tired. Eat more ramen. Fixes everything."
He winked. Paid. Stood up.
Crow-boy: "Big day tomorrow, huh kids? Don't be late to... wherever you're going."
Mr. Sato: "See you next week, Crow-boy!"
Crow-boy: "If I'm not lost in the mountains again!"
And he was gone. Hoodie up. Whistling. Into the night.
Mr. Sato shrugged. "Weird kid. Calls himself 'Crow-boy'. Says he takes care of the old shrine gardens up north. Pays when he can. Good kid though."
Ashura stared at the door.
Temari: (quiet) "He saw it."
Ashura: "...Yeah."
But the mark had stopped throbbing.
[BACK AT THE INN]
Shoto was already asleep, sprawled across both beds, drooling.
Temari sighed, pulling a blanket over him.
Temari: "He's gonna be a menace tomorrow."
Ashura: (quiet) "Yeah."
He stood by the window. Karasu City glowed below — ancient shrines lit up next to skyscrapers. Crows on power lines.
Ashura: (thinking) _Iroh... I hope this monk can actually help._
Temari came up beside him, not too close.
Temari: "We'll find him. And then you'll learn to sleep without flinching."
Ashura smirked faintly. "You planning to be my nurse again?"
Temari: (smacks his arm) "Shut up and sleep."
He did. And for the first time since the festival... he didn't dream of fire.
[Morning.]
Sunlight. Shoto yelling. "WE'RE GONNA FIND A MONK TODAY!!"
(The real journey starts now.)