Chapter 3 – My Greatest Friend

A/N: Hey, everyone. This chapter was quite fun to write. I wanted to try flushing out the relationships between the characters a little more and I like the way how it turned out here.

Enjoy!

XXXXXXXXXXX

After the chaos died down, the ruins have fallen quiet again. The distant cries of demons faded away in the tunnels and caverns. Hide followed his two friends out of the massive building. William was still back there restraining that woman, but promised she would not cause them any more trouble.

"I never thought I would be walking on this earth again, yet here I am!" Tokichiro said cheerfully, breathing in the cool air and looking around. "And look at this. The three of us together again, just like the old times!"

Mumyo gave a half-hearted eye roll. "Someone is as boisterous as ever,"

"Try to mask it as much as you like, dear Mumyo, but I've known you long enough to see through it all. You missed this. Admit it!" grinned Tokichiro.

"Hardly," she said sarcastically, but Hide could see a wistful glint in her eyes. She did miss their company.

He really did too. Just standing here like this took him back to seemingly more carefree days, despite the hardships; wandering from town to town, facing demons and bringing peace.

He also remembered days of training under the warm sun and sparring with each other. Those were the best.

"Alright, Hiddy. Come at me with all you have!" said Tokichiro, sword in hand and a smirk on his face.

Hide lowered his odachi, hesitating.

"Don't look at me like that! I can handle it. I will have you know that I took on three warriors at once when you weren't around!"

Koroku snorted from his spot on the grass. "I remember you flailing that sword around as if you were being attacked by bees,"

"Shut up!" Tokichiro yelled, his face flaming up. "Now Hide, don't hold back!"

The peddler was down on the ground weaponless with only two strikes.

Mumyo shook her head from under the shade of a tree while Koroku roared with laughter until he looked ready to fall over. "Can we eat now? This is embarrassing to watch," she asked.

"Fine," mumbled Tokichiro as Hide helped him up and led him to the tree. They sat in the shade as the smell of steamed buns and meat wafted around. Koroku and Mumyo seemed to be trying to wolf down the entire meal in seconds.

"Are you two caught in a race or something?" grumbled Tokichiro.

Mumyo swallowed and huffed. "I have to eat as much as possible. I won't be able to fight as good on an empty stomach,"

Koroku hummed, his shark-like teeth ripping the roasted meat with ease. "I respect a warrior who appreciates food as much as I do!" he said, eyes glinting with mischief moving to Tokichiro. "Speaking of warriors….I have never seen a man crumble faster,"

Tokichiro glared at him. "Are you out to torment me today?"

"Well-"

Hide gave the other shiftling a look and he stopped smirking.

"Alright, alright. Jokes aside, you have to stop trembling in the face of your opponent. Stand your ground, Tokichiro, and swing with all your might!" Koroku clutched his fist and brought it down on the ground to demonstrate, making the peddler flinch. Hide could have sworn the ground beneath them shook.

"I personally wouldn't ask Tokichiro to fight anyone," said Mumyo, surprising them. "He's too…soft," she added, probably remembering their encounter with that wind yokai in the forest.

"I'm not!" protested Tokichiro. "Besides, if I let Hide do all the fighting, I won't be able to impress Lord Nobunaga or Lady Oichi!"

"We should invite her to one of your sparring matches. She'll definitely be impressed," said Koroku. Tokichiro deadpanned before snatching the last bun out of the shiftling's bowl. He ate the whole thing in one go and his cheeks puffed up, but he made sure to maintain eye contact with the shiftling the entire time. Koroku's face went from stunned to simmering. Hide barely managed to back away as he pounced on the peddler. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

"Hiddy, please. Help!" cried Tokichiro as the two wrestled on the grass. While Mumyo sighed as if witnessing children fighting, Hide watched them roll around back and forth and felt a tug on his lips.

"HE SMILED!" Tokichiro shouted from underneath Koroku, bringing everything including the shiftling wrestling him to a stop. He pointed wildly at Hide. "I saw it! He actually smiled!"

Hide blinked and touched his lips confusedly, ducking his head as he became the center of attention.

Koroku eased his grip on the peddler, amused. "Well then. I didn't think it was possible,"

Despite his less than comfortable position, Tokichiro beamed and held a fist in triumph. "Ha! See? There is truly nothing I can't do!"

"I guess your suffering is that amusing," said Mumyo, a light teasing note to her voice.

"Mumyo!"

Hide watched the three continue bickering and teasing each other, yet somehow found himself thinking he wouldn't wish to be anywhere else.

"So, Hide…" That snapped him out of his thoughts and he turned to Tokichiro. "How were you faring while I was gone? Any new adventures? Deals? Putting that demonic charm of yours to good use?" he gave Hide a wink.

"He's been asleep since you left," said Mumyo.

"What?!" Tokichiro gaped and Hide winced.

"It was a result of sealing the spirit that possessed you," she explained.

Tokichiro's face fell at the mention of that. "Oh…I see. Sorry," his eyes darted away briefly before turning to her again. "Hey, Mumyo? Could you leave the two of us for a moment? I have some catching up to do with my old friend,"

Sensing the tension, she nodded. "I'll be right here if you need me," she walked away a bit and glanced back. "Tokichiro, it is good to see you…as your old self again," she said quietly. He beamed and gave her a thumbs-up before she left.

Now it was just the two of them.

Hide waited for him to say what was on his mind. His friend's eyes kept wandering around but never quite meeting his. He began awkwardly. "Uh, so, Hide. There is something I want to know. Back when I was corrupted by that demon…" he finally met his gaze. "Did you hate me?"

The question caught Hide off-guard and for a moment he stared at him, unsure of how to answer that.

To be honest, he did.

Even after coming to realize something was horribly wrong with the way the man was acting, he couldn't help resenting him for all his crimes. He hurt and killed so many innocents just to gain power and control, sometimes even for the sake of it. No matter the reasons, there was no changing the reality of what happened and Hide had wanted to make the tyrant pay for his deeds.

"What did I expect from a yokai?"

Tokichiro was one of the first people to acknowledge Hide's humanity despite his demon side and deep down that meant a lot to him, so hearing him talk with the same disgusted and belittling tone many had used toward him in the past had stung like nothing else. The corrupt man had even used the once innocent nickname 'Hiddy' almost to patronize him whenever they ran into each other. It became harder and harder to see him as his old, cheerful friend with every meeting.

"Hey, it's alright. I don't blame you," Tokichiro placed a hand on Hide's shoulder, smiling understandingly. "I may have not been myself, but I still remember all the things I've done. I was a monster. I caused so much bloodshed, ruined countless lives, and tried killing you and the others so many times. If only I hadn't fallen for the temptation of the stones, hadn't been so blind…" his eyes darkened with guilt, the weight of a thousand lives seemed to settle over him. Hide tried reaching for him only for the man to lower his hand and look at him earnestly.

"To tell the truth, during my madness a twisted part of me enjoyed watching you struggle and fail," Hide was taken aback by that. "In all the time we spent together, you were amazing to everyone, with your skills and yokai abilities. There was just nothing you couldn't do. And me? All I did was live in your shadow, never being noticed no matter how hard I tried. Deep down, I envied you so much. When you refused to come back to my side and help me rule the land, I wanted to see you get knocked over again and again while I stood over everyone else, but no more of that," Hide was surprised when his friend suddenly hugged him, shoulders shaking. "I won't be here for long. I had my share of adventures, but even if I disappear again and you end up all alone one day, remember that you will always be my greatest friend. Thank you for being there, while I chased my dreams…"

Hide remained caught there, stunned. He then felt a familiar tightness around his heart and he slowly held him back. It always came down to this. He would have to let another person go; his parents, his siblings, his friends…it never ceased to hurt, but this time it felt different. He felt ready.

"Goodbye…Hiddy,"

XXXXXXXXX

A/N: Because I enjoy giving myself feels.

Anyway, I'm hoping for this story to have at least six chapters, unless I have more ideas, so three more chapters to go!