Confused, Hajime stood before Chihiro's desk. Cain, Natsumi, and Makoto silently stood behind him. For some reason the air felt tense amidst the silent. He could tell just by looking into Chihiro's eyes that there was something weighing on his mind. Eventually the leader of the village spoke.
"There's no easy way of saying this…," Chihiro sighed. "Due to a flood of complaints, I have to ask that Natsumi and Makoto stay out of the village."
"What?!" Hajime asked. "Makoto's only been here for an hour and Natsumi was just unpetrified, how could people be so quick to complain?"
"Words travel fast when they're aren't that many people," Chihiro said. "Everyone is on edge and having a half shade and living skeleton wandering around just makes it worse."
"Well they can learn to deal with it," Hajime growled. "Just like they did with Cain.
"That was years ago just when all these calamities began and there were more of us," Chihiro said. "But now we're so close to oblivion, no one wants to take the risk and let more people in."
"Just like the Aerie," Natsumi growled under her breath. "But hey I'm used to it."
"Yeah, it'll be okay since I can sleep next to Natsumi," Makoto said.
"No you two are sleeping here in the village and if anyone has a problem with it then I'll punch them in the face!" Hajime shouted.
"Hajime, we can't cause anymore stress for the villagers," Chihiro said. "Your friends have accepted it and you should too."
"Frankly sir, you disgust me with your incompetency," Cain growled. "Do you not understand the immense strength these two hold. Strength that can protect this crumbling village far better than that miserable alcoholic guard Akane."
"I'm sorry but my decision is final," Chihiro said. "I won't argue any further."
Hajime gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. At that moment he wanted nothing more than to strangle Chihiro. Strangle him so hard the light drained from his eyes and he'd be just a breathless shell. He was so close to attempting it, but upon realizing his violent urge, he chose to storm out instead. Only Cain followed behind him.
…
He couldn't stay in this village, not while knowing it was full of cowards. People that were kind and warm but only to those they knew. If he saw anyone's face, even if it was a friend like Mikan, he knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself. The burning anger just kept building through his body, just like the day Kana was taken from it. But now the source of his anger was not out of reach. Instead it was all around him. Knowing this, he stormed out the gate into the meadow. Fortunately there was a half bull half cat shade he could take his anger out. Once he yelled and stabbed the beast over and over again, he felt his anger wane. The shade faded away and he came back to his senses. Now he remembered Cain was with him, the spirit fox silently staring at him.
"What?" Hajime asked.
"Nothing," Cain said.
"I can tell you're judging me," Hajime said. "Just be honest."
"Well, it's just been a while since I've seen you this worked up," Cain said. "Why?"
"Why?!" Hajime shouted. "Our friends are being shoved out of the village they helped save. It's wrong!"
"Is that it?" Cain asked. "That's the only reason?"
"It's just so hypocritical they treat you nice and won't even try to understand Natsumi and Makoto," Hajime said.
"Who said they all treated me nicely?" Cain asked.
"They let you walk around the village and Gundham loves you," Hajime said.
"A good number of them are nice but the rest just tolerate me," Cain said. "That's how it works when a new element is introduced into a group. You just don't notice because you've lived here for so long you think everyone here shares your beliefs."
"Well it's still bullshit the way they are treating Natsumi and Makoto" Hajime growled.
"Geez, the way you talk about us is like we're helpless mutts," Natsumi's voice echoed from above.
Soon after Natsumi leapt down from the canyon landing perfectly on her two shadow legs.
"I can deal with people treating me as a monster, but if you're thinking I'm some sensitive little bitch over it, well then, I'm going to have to remind you who I am with my shadow claws," Natsumi growled.
"I wasn't-," Hajime tried to explain only for Natsumi to thrust her shadow claws within an inch of his throat.
"Need I remind you I've lived perfectly fine on my own, even with those Aerie assholes as neighbors," Natsumi growled.
"Okay, but what about Makoto?" Hajime asked. "He's just a kid."
"He's tougher than you think," Natsumi said before retracting her claws. "You can't treat him like some fragile egg. It's just as dehumanizing as the villagers treating him like a monster."
"I believe she has a point," Cain said.
"You agree with her?!" Hajime asked.
"From what I've seen, humans are a mix of positive and negative qualities," Cain said. "To ignore one over the other is to ignore the equation that makes humans human and thus dehumanizing them."
"I guess you both are right," Hajime sighed after thinking it over. "But if you and Makoto are sleeping out here I'll sleep here too."
"You really don't have too," Natsumi said.
"Nope, I made up my mind and there's nothing you can do about it," Hajime said getting a chuckle out of Natsumi.
"Fine, but you're using your own equipment," Natsumi said.
"I suppose I don't have a choice," Cain said. "But at least I won't have to listen to the incessant chatter of the inn occupants."
"And no more favors for Hiyoko," Hajime said.
"That's a relief," Cain said. "Somehow she's more annoying than you Natsumi. You wouldn't happen to have a lost sister?"
"Nah, I'm an only child through and through," Natsumi said. "Anyway that Chihiro guy had something else to say."
"What is Cain being kicked out too?" Hajime asked sarcastically.
"No, he said some sailor found a sea cavern that leads to a second entrance to the forsaken shrine," Natsumi said. "It could be where the beast king bastard is hiding. Makoto went ahead with the map."
"It better be a good lead after that crap he pulled," Hajime said. "Let's go."
"Hold on," Natsumi said.
Hajime stopped in his tracks before Natsumi punched him in the side with all her might knocking the wind right out of him.
"Gagh what was that for?!" Hajime gasped while rubbing his side.
"That's for thinking any less of me and Makoto," Natsumi said. "So now you'll remember not to do that again or I'll hit you with my shadow claws instead."
"Noted," Hajime groaned, his side still aching.
…
By the time the trio made it through the eastern gate, Hajime's side had mostly recovered. Close by they saw Makoto floating near the shore alongside a rowboat.
"How did you find a boat so fast?" Hajime asked.
"It just rolled over here on the waves as soon as I got here," Makoto said. "It doesn't look like it belongs to anyone."
"Let's hope not," Hajime said.
"In that case, I shall store myself away," Cain said.
"Wait-" Hajime tried to say before Cain leapt into his eye. "Gah you're supposed to warn me!"
'You should be used to this,' Cain echoed in his head.
"The waves look kind of rough," Makoto said. "Maybe since I float now I can push the boat."
Makoto tried to give the boat a push, but his muscleless body made it near impossible.
"Here, I can paddle, you just let me know if there's rocks or dangerous stuff ahead," Natsumi said.
"Okay," Makoto sighed.
"Are you sure you can row by yourself?" Hajime asked.
"Relax," Natsumi said. "I got this."
…
Despite her confidence, Natsumi wasn't exactly the best rower and nearly snapped one of the paddles in half. The constant rocking of the boat by the waves did not help and made Hajime seasick. Halfway through the secret sea cavern, Hajime jumped in to help Natsumi row. She yelled at him making Makoto scream, but soon after she agreed to have Hajime help her. Of course the two were woefully out of sync and barely managed to avoid crashing into the rocks in the water. By some miracle though they did manage to make it to the forsaken shrine and docked their boat by an old dock behind the towering shrine. There a wide open doorway stood. Soon as they stood on dry land, Cain leapt out.
"How curious we did not know of this secret entrance," Cain said.
"Kinda hard when the rest of the place is so big," Hajime said.
"I wonder who built this place," Makoto stared up at the shrine.
"I think it's from the old world," Hajime said.
"Sounds right," Cain said.
"Who cares?" Natsumi said. "Let's go find that king of beasts bastard so we can kick his fucking ass and and cram it up where the sun don't shine!"
"Alright, we're going," Hajime said.
Inside this section of the shrine was a lot wetter than above. Barnacles and mildew grew on the cracked walls and the place wreaked of dead fish. Nonetheless the group persisted and climbed up some old stairs before encountering a few half cat half bird shades. Swiftly the group dealt with them using their own abilities. None of the shades were much of a challenge. Especially for Hajime and Cain.
"Here I thought they'd put up more of a fight," Hajime said.
"It just proves our mastery of fighting over these past years," Cain said. "Though I suppose these shades, being hidden down here, are woefully inexperience with combat."
"It's kinda sad," Makoto said.
"Don't waste your emotions on shades," Natsumi said. "They're evil through and through."
"I agree with that," Hajime said.
"As do I," Cain said.
"Okay," Makoto said a little downhearted. "Anyway, what are we going to eat tonight, Natsumi?"
"Figured I could kill some wild sheep and we could eat that," Natsumi said.
"I can get food from the village," Hajime said only to get a glare from Natsumi.
"We don't need handouts," Natsumi growled.
"Fine, mutton it is," Hajime said. "Hopefully we can get one big enough for all of us."
"Oh you're going to camp with us too?" Makoto asked.
"Yep," Hajime nodded.
"This is gonna be so fun then," Makoto wagged his tail. "I hope we find Kana so she can join us. Although would I be scary to her?"
"No, she'd probably think you were cute," Hajime smiled. "Because she finds all reptiles cute."
If Makoto has cheeks they would definitely be red. Remembering his daughter, Hajime decided to leave the conversation there and march on ahead.
…
The group climbed up one last flight of stairs. This floor definitely didn't smell as bad and was at least a lot drier than the previous floors. Surprisingly there weren't any animal carvings on the walls, they were just blank. After they killed more weak hybrid shades, the group came upon a large pair of stone doors. Two similar yet distinct dragons were carved on the doors looking at each other. Just as Hajime was examineing the carvings, Natsumi slammed open the doors with one powerful kick. Inside, the room was very tall and long with a few windows leaking in light. At the end of the room was a stone altar and something else behind it. Before he could tell what it was, a loud distorted roar shook the room. A large figure bursted through the ceiling and landed on all fours.
"It was alive this whole time?!" Cain asked.
The white stone lion shade now stood before them. It's cracked stone exterior was now broken off it's left back leg, right front leg, and the right half of its head. Revealing underneath that it was a maneless lion shade all along. Staring at the group, the lion stood firm and snarled no doubt looking for an opening to attack. Just as Hajime raised his sword, two small cat shades leapt down from the ceiling. As soon as they landed, the cat shades rushed towards Hajime and Natsumi. Both easily killed the shades with one slash of their respective weapons. A miniscule amount of blood came out of the two cat shades before they faded away.
"Pathetic," Hajime said and pointed his sword back to the lion shade. "You're next.
The lion shade responded with another distorted roar, this one louder than the last, and charged at Natsumi head on. Unafraid, Natsumi ran at the beast and slid under its stone covered torso scratching it along the way, but barely left scratch in the stone.
"Damn this thing is hard," Natsumi said before dodging a tail whip.
"Attack it's exposed hind leg then!" Hajime shouted. "I'll distract it."
"Makoto, I need your help!" Natsumi shouted.
"On it!" Makoto glided over catching the lion shade's attention.
"Hey focus on me ugly!" Hajime shouted as he lightly slashed the lion shade's exposed front leg.
The lion shade snarled and tried to swipe at Hajime with its stone leg. In that time, Makoto summoned a ring of white light and petrified the lion shade's hind leg. Swiftly Natsumi slashed the leg off with two swipes of her claws. The lion shade roared and shook, but refused to fall. Instead it tail whipped Makoto and Natsumi before charging at Hajime. Cain bolted around it and grabbed its tail in his mouth, then using his tail fists flipped the lion shade over on its back. Some of the cracked stone broke off its body upon impact. Yet the lion shade refused to stay down and tried to get back up again. Before it could, Hajime ran and stabbed it in the back of its exposed head. A fountain of blood gushed out upon removing the sword. The lion shade roared again trying to rub its wound before collapsing. Just to be safe, Hajime stabbed the lion shade's exposed face. No sound came from the beast, it's faded crimson eyes a clear indicator it would perish.
"Are you okay?" Hajime ran to Natsumi's side and helped her up while Cain did the same for Makoto.
"Yeah," Natsumi grinned.
Suddenly, Natsumi pushed Hajime aside as the dying lion shade managed to muster enough strength to lunge at Hajime one last time. In the blink of an eye, the lion shade sunk its fangs clean through Natsumi's torso. For one brief and chilling moment, the others saw the lion shade hold Natsumi up with its fangs. Then the lion shade completely faded away dropping Natsumi to the floor and leaving behind its stone armor.
"Natsumi!" Makoto shouted, gliding right by her side.
"Damn it!" Hajime shouted, also coming to Natsumi's side. "This can't be happening! Hang in there! We can get help!"
"No…," Natsumi struggled to speak. "Stay… BACK!"
"What?" Hajime asked.
"The shadows!" Cain said. "They're consuming her."
The shadows grew and engulfed Natsumi's torso.
"No! Don't let it consume you!" Makoto cried.
It was too late, the shadows had grown thick with crimson stripes. Now Natsumi's whole head was consumed by the shadow and transformed into the face of a tiger shade. Her eyes opened revealing piercing crimson.
"No…," Hajime said.
Suddenly, the shade possessed Natsumi bolted up and nearly scratched Hajime's face had Cain not pushed him aside. The tigress shade leapt onto the altar prepared to strike again. Hajime couldn't believe his own eyes.
"Snap out of it!" Cain shouted. "We must strike this shade down at once!"
"No, that'll kill her!" Makoto cried.
The tigress shade bounced from wall to wall before trying to attack Hajime again. He managed to hold up his plated arms just in time to defend himself, but the shadow claws left big marks. Swiftly the tigress shade leapt back. Cain attempted to corner it using his multiple tail spears only for the sleek shade to slip past them.
"Natsumi!" Makoto yelled, "come back to us!"
The tigress shade turned its attention over to Makoto and charged. Hajime intercepted the attack and hit the tigress shade in the side with the handle of his sword kicking the beast to the wall. It landed on all fours and twitched its long striped tail.
"It's going to attack again unless we petrify it," Cain said.
"No, I'm never petrifying Natsumi again," Makoto said.
"Then you better have some other kind of magic to bind it," Hajime said.
The tigress shade lunged at Hajime yet again. Before it could lay a claw on him, Makoto screamed and summoned white force field around the shade. Infuriated, the tigress shade roared and snarled. When it tried to attack the force field, its claws were zapped by it, driving the tigress shade mad. For one whole minute the beast paced and tried to claw itself out eventually becoming tired and falling down. The trio watched as the shade withdrew into Natsumi's body. Makoto put down the force field, allowing the three to surround her. By some miracle she was alive and her wounds had completely healed. Slowly she woke up.
"Shit...," Natsumi held her head.
"Natsumi!" Makoto embraced her.
"I couldn't… hold it back," Natsumi said.
"It's okay," Makoto said. "No one got hurt. You didn't do anything wrong."
"He's right," Hajime said.
"But what if I did?" Natsumi asked. "What if it takes control and-"
"Then we'll beat it again!" Makoto interrupted. "Again and again if we have to, to get you back! You're important to us, to me! Because of you I'm not afraid to sleep outside. I don't even care if everyone else is afraid of me, because you accept me for how I look!"
"Okay, Okay, stop crying," Natsumi sighed, "I'm okay, thank you."
"We're glad you're okay," Hajime smiled.
"Yeah," Natsumi got up to her feet. "So what did I almost die for anyway?"
"It appears to be a door," Cain said after running behind the altar. "A locked door with three keyholes."
"Let me see," Natsumi said.
The door in question was made of stone. Carved into it was a dragon with six wings, six horns, and six beams of light around its head. Natsumi attempted to kick the door open like before, but it didn't budge.
"Damn it!" Natsumi growled. "Where are we supposed to find three keys?!"
"Found one!" Makoto shouted from over where the lion shade's armor was. "The lion shade must have had it in its stomach."
"Isn't that convenient," Cain said. "Perhaps we'll find the other two keys in bellies of powerful shades."
"Sounds about right," Hajime said.
For the first time in years, Hajime felt close to finding his daughter. If she was behind this door along with the beast king, then he would kill every last shade he could find to get the final two keys.