Chapter Two: Murasame's Missing
For someone who knew Shino, it was quite like a routine for him to go to the Konaya's inn where he would have his breakfast sometimes. If there was something troubling him, he would sat by the pond and stared on his own reflection as the Koi swam here and there. When he has nothing to do he would either stay in there or ask Satomi to give him his allowance so he could wander around the town and buy some curry buns. Whenever they have a meeting he was always the one, aside from the demon brothers and Keno who seemed to stay there, who would arrive first together with Sousuke. However, it was already noon and Shino and Sousuke had yet to arrive.
"What's taking them so long?" chin on his palm and tapping on the table, Kabungo grumbled under his breath.
"He always comes here on time, right?" Daikaku said as he closed his eyes upon folding his arms.
"Maybe he overslept? Since he is still growing." Dousetsu guessed, adjusting his glasses.
"You're right. He is just like a cat, eat, play, and sleep..." Keno huffed.
"But we are not just talking about Shino. What about Sousuke? He is probably done with his errands if there is." Shinobu pointed out and everyone fell silent for a moment until Shinobu spoke. "Do you think there's something bad happened to them?"
"Hmm...Shino has Murasame and Sousuke is with him, I think, so they would be fine-" Keno said thoughtfully, a hand holding his chin as he looked up while the other was supporting his elbow. "-unless...there really is something wrong."
"Then, he would just send Murasame to inform us, no?" said Kabungo.
"He might have gotten himself killed again and Murasame has gone berserk and Sousuke couldn't handle it by himself." Daikaku said his thoughts aloud.
"Ehhh...!? No way!" worried for his friend, Shinobu exclaimed as he slammed the table and stood abruptly.
"Isn't that a bit too much?" Dousetsu asked, feeling a sweat rolled down his cheek.
"What are you imagining, Daikaku? Satomi and Kaname are there. And, if anything is wrong they would send the fox or something to tell us." Kabungo elaborated.
Genpachi, who was silent all the time, felt like their voices were drowned by his own thoughts as he, too, was worried. His instinct was telling him that something was not right. Fed up with the nonsense guesses of his fellow warrior, he made up his mind to go to the mansion where the Four Sacred Beasts live.
"Ah, aniki, where are you going?" Kabungo asked when he noticed Genpanchi stood and was about to walk out.
"I'm going to see them. There is no point discussing these trivial things." he replied without looking back and opened the door.
"W-wait! I'm coming!" Kabungo scrambled up and rushed outside.
"Me, too!" Shinobu seconded followed by the rest.
.
.
.
.
.
"How are you feeling?" standing by the bed with Kaname while Sousuke gave him a glass of water, Satomi asked.
"I'm fine now." Shino replied after gulping the water and gave the glass back to Sousuke who placed it on the tray he was carrying and settled it on the night stand.
"You got us worried Shi-chan. What happened anyway?" asked Kaname.
"I passed out?" he said sarcastically and Sousuke sighed as he sat at the edge of the bed.
"I know, right...?" Kaname said.
"Last night...do you not remember what happened before you collapsed?" Sousuke asked worriedly.
"...No..." Shino replied thoughtfully, head casted down. "Ah! Have you seen Murasame?" snapping his head upwards, he asked.
This question brought Satomi's and Sousuke's frown and Kaname blinked, confused.
"What are you talking about? Did you let him out?" Kaname asked.
"No, I did not. When I woke up this morning he wasn't in me."
Silence engulfed the four as they thought of anything that would explain them why Murasame was not around. The crow never left Shino's side unless he was told to and he would return imediately.
"Maybe it has something to do about last night when you collapsed." Sousuke guessed.
"That is not impossible." said Satomi.
"Then, what will happen to Shi- chan if Murasame won't return?" both Satomi and Kaname did not know the effects in Shino's body of not having Murasame for a long period, so Kaname asked.
Shino's brow furrowed as he recall the time when he ordered the crow to ran an errand and returned late. Sousuke was worried sick at him that time and he don't like it to happen again. Not this time.
"...Shino's body will..." Sousuke trailed off and was not able to continue because a knock on the door was heard.
"What is it?" Kaname asked as he made his way to the door and opened it to see one of his five foxes.
"We have visitors. They are waiting in the lounge."
"Visitors? I hope it is not Lord Finnegan." he prayed.
"Nope. They are Shino's and Sousuke's friends."
"Oh, I forgot. We are supposed to discuss some things regarding to our search for the missing bead. Come on Sou, let's meet them." Shino said and hopped out of bed, pulling Sousuke out of the room.
.
.
.
.
.
"WHAAAT!?" six of the eight warriors exclaimed when Shino explained why he did not come to meet them, but their shock was directed at the missing Murasame.
"You heard him right." on a comfy chair sat Sousuke.
"What the hell is going on?" Kabungo asked to no one in particular.
"Why are you still alive? Will you not die if he is not with you?" curious, Dousetsu asked the youngest of them.
"Well, I'm not like you. As you know I can send Murasame away." Shino answered.
"How did he disappeared?" Genpachi asked.
"...er... I don't know... I just woke up and he's gone."
Keno sighed, rubbing his temple. "We are missing Sousuke's bead and now Shino's Murasame. Anyway, let us search for the bead first at the North then once we find it we can look for Murasame. That is if he won't come back sooner."
"No." Sousuke deadpanned, shadow covered his eyes. All gazes landed on him, surprised at his sudden reaction.
"What do you mean?" Daikaku asked.
"We have to find Murasame first. The bead can wait." he said.
"What!? You expect us to do that? Last time when your bead got stolen you almost disappeared! You will die without the bead!" Kabungo protested as he stood.
"You...you don't understand."
"Then let us understand, Sousuke. Tell us what we don't understand." Keno ordered.
"...Shino... Shino's body will..." he trailed off, worried that Shino had not spoken for a while. He knew the boy always avoiding the topic, but he can't avoid it now. Sousuke glanced at Shino with brows furrowed. Shino noticed this slight movement and looked up at him with a smile, and then he turned his head towards his friends with defiant eyes.
"I used to be sickly." Shino started. "I have a frail body since birth and wouldn't be able to reach adulthood. Heck, the doctor said I only have one to two years left. Well, that was five years ago. I'm eighteen in case you don't know."
"..." everyone, except Kabungo, stared at him in disbelief. "No way..." they breathed.
"Then that means we are alike." Shinobu proclaimed.
"A bit. But, you are growing normally since you were found while I am stuck in this body for five years."
"You told me the doctor said you won't reach adulthood, but you never said you only have one to two years left." Sousuke said menacingly as he glared at Shino's direction. Shino paled at this.
"So-sorry. I forgot to mention it. A-anyway... Without Murasame by my side for a long period of time will weaken my body to the point I will puke blood and it is not always a good thing to lose too much of blood because Murasame will be in a bad mood again."
"We just have to find him before your body weakens, right?" Genpachi asked and he nodded.
"Then what are we slacking for? Let's go look for that crow." Dousetsu said as he stood.
Thank you for reading. I hope you like it.
: )
#CBA
