Next chapter is hereeee, but don't be disappointed in who it's all about now dearies, because next chapter will soon be up and about. It has been some time since my last update, four days or so? And that is because I have been out in the wiild, oh yeah, you heard me. We slept in tents and yah.
Akira, Shinrei and Hotaru walked silently trough the deep forest they were passing trough, it was like all the sound had been sucked out of this world and chewed up and then been spit out as silence. Because this was no normal silence, it tugged on their minds, at the very edge of their visions they could almost see monsters from the dark time appear out of thin air and be gone the very next second. It was disturbing to all of them, even Hotaru who most of the time seemed like nothing could affect him was being sharp eyed. Akira furrowed his brows and was constantly on guard, as was Shinrei. Hotaru did not give any sign of weariness, but Shinrei could see an almost invisible itching in the corner of his eyes. Hotaru as well, was ready to leap up into the air and slash whoever might appear in half.
"Where supposedly would you expect finding this couple of annoying nurses?" Akira asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Someone strong was watching them. Someone from their past was hunting them, and had a strong intent to kill.
Shinrei threw a quick glance at Akira and smiled.
"If we shall start looking somewhere, it should be at the Mibu castle." Shinrei answered lightly, but with an edge of insecurity. Would it be all right to come bashing into Mibu castle without knowing who lived there now? Four years after the incident with Nobunaga and Kyo had occurred, Sakuya and Shinrei gave up on the Mibu clan, and the clan was scattered to all directions. Who might have inhabited the castle afterwards only the Gods knew. If there was someone who could revive people from the dead, there was no end to who could be alive again: Fubuki, The crimson king, Nobunaga? Shinrei didn't dare think further back, if some of the old samurai warriors came back to life, this country would once again fall into chaos.
He avoided telling the two other men about his thoughts and kept on walking, as he believed at least Akira thought in the same ways as he did.
Suddenly a shadow came leaping out of the forest and a fair haired ninja stood in front of them. All three of them had their weapons out and ready to strike at the smallest sign of a threat.
"I am Kotaro, ninja of the former Mibu clan. I bring news about Shiina Yuya and Onime No Kyo." Shinrei put away his swords and nodded in greetings towards the ninja. Hotaru stared blankly at Kotaro, but put away his sword as both Akira and Shinrei had done so.
"What is it?" Akira asked the ninja. Kotaro nodded.
"There's a reunion, a reunion of the century. You will all be able to gather around the only woman who held all of you together. She cried for you, laughed with you and stayed with you all, even though she was at the risk of dying. You all owe her this much." Kotaro presented and bowed deeply, probably to hide the smirk on his face.
"So Yuya and Kyo are together?" Hotaru asked, everyone turned towards him with a shocked expression on their faces.
"What?" He growled and crossed his hands in front of his chest and glared back at them.
"He asked a question, about them." Akira whispered to Shinrei.
"I'm not sure if I heard correctly, but if you say so." Shinrei answered and blinked confused.
"Yes, they are together, Kyoshiro is there with them." Kotaro answered and the stares moved from Hotaru to Kotaro.
"WHAT!" They shouted, even Hotaru did so. Kotaro smiled mystically and pecked his lips with his finger.
"It's a se-cr-et." He laughed and jumped away from Akiras' twin blades, Shinreis wicked blades and Hotarus sword. He landed gracefully up on a branch and shook his head.
"They're at the Tigers Claw Inn, in Edo. You should manage to go there in three days, no? Fine, I'll see you there then." And with that he ran off into the forest, jumping easily from branch to branch. Akira stared after the strange ninja and wondered what had happened to him. The Kotaro Akira had known was silent and right on the case, but something had changed.
"Well, off to Edo then?" Shinrei asked and Akira nodded, Hotaru just followed them without a word.
"We should inform Tokito and Saya, right? Hotaru-san?" Akira said to Hotaru and Hotaru nodded agreeing.
"We should." And he fell silent again. Something is on his mind, Akira thought, I wonder if it's the same thing that is on my mind? And probably on Shinreis mind as well.
Yuya-san?