The next morning, Hajime sat down at the table to eat some breakfast with Kana. Remembering he was meeting Kana's "penpal" today, made his leg bounce up and down. Kana didn't seem to notice as she munched on some berries, but Cain certainly did.
'What's there to worry about,' Cain echoed in his head, 'if you can slaughter shades five times your size, you should have no trouble meeting your future son in law.'
Hajime growled.
"What's wrong Papa?" Kana tilted her head.
"It's nothing," Hajime forced a smile.
"I wish I could see Makoto and help him out," Kana sighed.
"That's his name?" Hajime asked.
"Yep, he lives in a big house on the west side of the meadow in this forest," Kana said. "Oh since you're going to meet him, can you give him something."
"What?" Hajime asked as Kana scurried in and out of the kitchen.
"I picked him some flowers," Kana smiled holding a bouquet of wildflowers.
"Where did you get these?" Hajime asked.
"Usami showed me a spot in the village and helped me pick them," Kana smiled.
"That's very nice of her," Hajime smiled. "Did you say thank you?"
"Yep," Kana nodded.
"Okay, then I'll go take these to Makoto and see what he needs," Hajime said as he got before patting Kana on the head. "In the meantime you stay here and rest."
"Okay," Kana said. "I love you."
"I love you too," Hajime smiled.
…
Outside the village, Cain leapt out of Hajime's eye. Sleeping by the gate was Natsumi curled up like a cat. Now that he looked at her again, he noticed she had a strange bulge between her legs, but he shook it off as just her eyes still adjusting to waking up. The thought of trying to wake her up made Hajime flinch, so he decided not to. Cain on the other hand didn't have that fear.
"Wake up Hussie!" Cain shouted.
Instantly Natsumi leapt onto her feet, shadow claws ready to tear whoever woke her to shreds.
"Woah!" Hajime raised his hands. "It's okay Natsumi, it's just us."
"Try that bull shit again and I will seriously claw you in half," Natsumi snapped.
"Sorry," Hajime said.
"Fine," Natsumi sighed. "So what shade is on the chopping block today."
"Actually we're going to go help somebody today," Hajime said.
"Who?" Natsumi asked.
"Just Hajime's future son-," Cain tried to say until Hajime knocked him on the head.
"Some kid Kana's been exchanging letters with," Hajime said.
"Kana's your daughter right?" Natsumi asked.
"Yes," Hajime said.
"Well if this kid turns out to be a creepy shithead, I wouldn't mind helping you break all the bones in his writing hand," Natsumi grinned.
"Hopefully it doesn't come to that," Hajime said.
…
West of the meadow, the trio found an entrance to a forest. It looked like any standard forest minus the shades lurking about. As they walked down the path Cain started to look around more than usual, his tail predominantly swaying to his left.
"What's up with you?" Natsumi asked Cain. "You gotta piss on all these trees?"
"No! I do not require such a thing!" Cain snapped. "I just felt… a prescience."
"A prescience?" Hajime asked. "Like a shade?"
"No, no it's something different that I can't quite describe," Cain said. "It doesn't matter because it's gone now."
"Hopefully it stays that way," Hajime growled as he looked around at the empty trees.
Walking deeper into the forest, the trees started to get whiter and whiter. Looking closer, Hajime noticed none of the branches shook in the wind. When he touched a white trunk it felt as cold as stone. Going even deeper into the woods, the grass turned white and stiff too.
"Cain, have you ever seen something like this?" Hajime asked.
"No," Cain said, sniffing the stiff white grass, "It appears the Flora is solidified like white stone."
"Who cares?" Natsumi asked. "Weird shit happens everyday."
"I guess," Hajime said.
Eventually the trio made it to the end of the path where a large iron gate was sitting. Pushing it open, they entered a forest clearing with a large manor standing in the center. Just like the trees and grass, the manor also looked to be solidified in some strange way. At the entrance to the manor was a woman with long lavender hair wearing black leather gloves
"Welcome," the woman bowed upon the trio's arrival and said in a monotone voice. "I am Kirigiri, the caretaker of this manor and it's master."
"Makoto, right?" Hajime said. "What's the issue?"
"Follow me," Kirigiri said.
"Aren't you going to ask about the big white fox?" Hajime asked.
"Many tales of your heroics have reached my ear," Kirigiri said. "So I am well aware this spirit is your companion and not a shade."
"I guess you can stay out then Cain," Hajime said.
"Good," Cain said. "Your head is too small for comfort."
Hajime groaned while Natsumi snickered.
…
Inside the manor, chandeliers illuminated the main room and the many paintings of animals on the wall. Everything from the chandeliers to the floor were also white and stiff as stone. Kirigiri did not address the strange discoloration and kept silently leading the trio. Eventually she stopped at a seemingly random door in the hallway and opened it.
"Please wait here while I fetch the young master," Kirigiri said.
"Couldn't he just wait at the entrance like you?" Natsumi asked.
"No," Kirigiri said. "I apologize for the inconvenience."
"Come on Natsumi we can wait for a bit," Hajime said.
"Fine," Natsumi groaned.
Once the trio entered the room, Kirigiri closed the door behind them. Inside the room was a long dining table completely set with silverware and food. However all of it was turned to stone and therefore unusable.
"The maid really didn't think to get rid of this inedible stuff so it wouldn't taunt the guest?" Natsumi asked. "The least she could do was put out some fruit or whatever since we're waiting here."
"Interesting how you of all people are giving a lecture on hospitality," Cain said.
"Relax," Hajime said. "I have an extra sandwich in my bag."
Seconds after Hajime took out the sandwich, Natsumi snatched it out of his hands with her shadow claws. Then she proceeded to devour it like a wild animal, leaving crumbs everywhere.
"When was the last time you ate?!" Hajime asked.
"This morning," Natsumi said before burping.
"Considering your manners it's no wonder you're a hermaphro-" Cain was saying till Natsumi hit him on the head.
"Don't ever fucking say that again dumbass!" Natsumi growled.
"Apologies," Cain walked away with his tail lowered.
"Good," Natsumi said before licking her shadow claws clean like a feline.
…
An hour passed and they were still waiting for Kirigiri. By this time Natsumi was furiously pacing back and forth impatiently. Meanwhile Hajime just sat and the stone table and Cain looked out the window.
"Why the hell are we waiting this long?!" Natsumi groaned.
"I don't know," Hajime said. "Hopefully nothing bad happened to Kirigiri."
"Given this manor's atmosphere I doubt it," Cain said.
"We should go check to see what's going on," Hajime stood up.
"Finally," Natsumi said.
"Actually, Natsumi can you stay here?" Hajime asked. "It's possible she'll come back."
"What?!" Natsumi snapped.
"Please it's just easier," Hajime said.
"Fine," Natsumi groaned and leaned against the wall.
"Don't destroy the place while we're gone," Cain said.
"Don't fucking die while you look for the maid," Natsumi said in a surprisingly friendly tone.
…
Out in the hallway the air felt stagnant and the eyes of the paintings all felt like they were watching the two. Just to be safe, Hajime tried to remember their path with the paintings. Afterall not one looked alike and they had some interesting depictions of animals both real and fictional. While navigating the halls he saw paintings of a white buck impaling a black buck, a white lion biting a black lion, and most interesting a white dragon pinning down a black dragon. Even Cain seemed to take interest in the last painting.
"I wonder why these monotone animals have so much art dedicated to them," Hajime said.
"Perhaps different colored paints were more expensive than just black and white," Cain said.
"I guess," Hajime said.
Continuing deeper into the manor, Hajime checked each door only for all of them to be locked. Eventually he gave up trying to open any doors and just kept walking in the halls. He was walking down a hallway with windows when Cain froze in his tracks.
"It's here again!" Cain said.
"Where?!" Hajime took out his sword.
"Above us," Cain pointed with his snout.
Hajim saw nothing on the ceiling, but then he heard two pairs a feet, or more accurately paws, running. Soon after the paws moved away, two other pairs of louder paws followed behind it.
"What is that?" Hajime asked.
"Get back here you bastard!" Natsumi's voice could be heard above.
"Natsumi," Hajime and Cain both said knowingly.
"It seems she couldn't wait not even a minute more," Cain said. "Well, at least that hussie might actually be handling the issue for once instead of making it worse."
"Based on the sound, it seems like that prescience is some kind of shade," Hajime said. "Maybe your new skill is shade tracking."
"I doubt it," Cain said. "It feels more powerful than a mere shade."
"Well if anyone can handle it, it's Natsumi," Hajime said as he kept walking. "So let's find this boyfriend."
"So you've accepted it?" Cain asked.
"No, I have to meet him first," Hajime growled.
Suddenly, just as Hajime walked to the center of the hallway, the window in front and behind him shattered. Standing and hissing amongst the fallen window shards were rat shades. Although there were just two of them, both rat shades were unusually big, almost the size of cats.
"This shall be no trouble at all," Cain grinned and licked his lips.
While Cain pounced on one rat and shook it violently, Hajime tried to stab the other rat. Hajime's shade proved to be too swift for him, despite his light blade. Once Cain snapped his shade's neck, he ran over to the other one and did the same thing.
"Thanks," Hajime said.
"Sometimes I question how useful you are in a fight," Cain said.
"I might not have powers like you and Natsumi, but I'd never stop fighting for the ones I love," Hajime said. "That has to count for something."
"Technically our pact does allow me to strengthen your own attacks even when outside your body," Cain said. "Of course now is the first time you realize it."
"Sorry," Hajime said, "and thanks."
…
The two kept walking through the manor until they came upon a pair of doors leading out to a courtyard. There a grey fountain stood dry as bones and surrounded by statues of horrified men and women. Hajime was about to pass it off as just normal statues, but the details were strikingly life-like.
"You don't think…," Hajime said.
"I have no doubt these statues were once people," Cain said.
Shivering, Hajime decided it was time to leave the courtyard. He walked to the door opposite of the one he came out of. On the other side the hallways were exactly the same as before. However this time the animals in the paintings and swapped places. The black buck impaled the white buck, the black lion bit the white lion, and now the black dragon overpowered the white dragon. Just as he observed the dragon painting, he heard the sound of a piano echoing from down the hall. Following it led to a door that looked like all the others, except it was unlocked. Cain bared his fangs in preparation for a fight, but when Hajime opened the door there was no shade. Sitting at the keys of the piano was a rather plain looking young boy with short brown hair dressed in an aristocrats suit. As soon as the two entered, the boy stopped playing.
"Male, about 30 and a shade?" The boy mumbled to himself. "No the footsteps of that last one aren't as monstrous as a shade's."
"Are you the master of this house?" Hajime asked. "Makoto?"
The boy turned his face to Hajime's voice, revealing his eyes were covered by a long cloth.
"Yes, that's me," the boy spoke softly. "Are you the warrior known as Hajime?"
"Yeah," Hajime said. "I came here cause you sent a letter to my daughter asking for help."
"I don't remember sending a letter…," Makoto said. "But I guess we have had some trouble lately with shades. Wait, where is Kirigiri?"
"We don't know," Hajime said. "She just disappeared so we went looking and found you."
"Oh dear," Makoto said. "If I may be so bold, could you please help me find her."
"Sure," Hajime said.
"It's not like we have a choice," Cain said.
"Agh, you can talk!" Makoto jumped.
"Don't worry, Cain is snarky but he's on our side," Hajime said.
"Are you perhaps a white fox?" Makoto asked.
"How'd you know?" Hajime asked.
"I think a read a book about you, but it was so long ago," Makoto said.
"Well looks like you are a legend afterall Cain," Hajime grinned.
"As it should be," Cain smiled with pride.
"Alright, let's find that maid," Hajime said.
"If it's not too much trouble," Makoto spoke up, "may I join you. I know I'm small but my eyes are very strong against shades."
"What do you mean by that?" Hajime asked.
"If we encounter a shade, just stand back and I will show you," Makoto said.
"Okay," Hajime said.
…
Back out in the halls the three carefully walked through the halls. Although he was blindfolded, Makoto easily walked by himself.
"So…," Hajime awkwardly spoke, "have you lived here all your life?"
"Yes," Makoto said. "Same with Kirigiri."
"Where are your parents?" Cain asked, gaining a shocked look from Hajime.
"They died soon after I was born so I have no memory of them," Makoto said.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Hajime said.
"It's okay since I have Kirigiri," Makoto said. "She acts very stoic but she has her softer side."
"At least she's well composed," Cain said.
"Agh, she's close by!" Makoto shouted and ran ahead.
Makoto ran ahead into one of the random rooms with Hajime and Cain following close by. There Kirigiri was fighting five rat shades all at once using kunais. Although she was almost out of breath she still managed to stab four of them. The fifth one squirmed behind her and leapt to attack from behind.
"Kirigiri get down!" Makoto shouted and put a hand to Hajime and Cain.
In an instant Makoto ripped off the cloth concealing his eyes. A bright white light emanated from them and nearly blinded Hajime and Cain. The rat shade froze in the air and landed on the floor completely petrified. While Makoto put his cloth back on, Kirigiri took her last kunai and stabbed the rat shade clean through the neck.
"Thank you," Kirigiri bowed. "Apologies Mr Hajime, I intended to come back with the master yet when I went to look for him I kept hearing his voice calling out for me all over the manor."
"It's most likely a shade that mimics voices," Makoto said. "I heard it before but I couldn't sense it's footsteps, so I thought it was just my mind."
"Most likely because it's a flying shade," Kirigiri said.
"So that's the trouble from the letter," Hajime said. "Even though Makoto didn't send it."
"That was me," Kirigiri said. "I apologize, Makoto, but I forged your signature. I knew this manor was infested by a powerful shade not even I could defeat."
"It's okay," Makoto said.
"Yeah, we're here to help," Hajime said.
"In that case I believe the shade fled back to its nest in the library," Kirigiri said, forcing herself to stand. "I will guide you there."
"No Kirigiri you're tired from fighting shades," Makoto said. "You should go back to the front of the manor and rest."
"Very well," Kirigiri said.
"I'll take you two to the library," Makoto turned to Hajime and Cain.
"Okay, we'll follow behind you," Hajime nodded.
Fortunately the library was close by behind two grand doors. Similar to the town hall, the manor library had packed bookcases on every wall and extending to the ceiling. All the lights were burnt out making the large room only illuminated by the hallway lights. Before they could think how to approach the shade's nest, the doors slammed behind them throwing them all into darkness.
"Damn it," Hajime growled. "Makoto, are you okay?"
"Yes, what happened?" Makoto asked.
"This shade intends to blind us with darkness," Cain said, "but that isn't an issue for you now is it."
"No," Makoto said. "If only I could reach the candles and light them."
"Show me where they are and I can do just that," Cain said.
"Now you can breathe fire?!" Hajime asked.
"Yes, now distract the shade while we illuminate the room," Cain said.
"Easy," Hajime grinned. "You hear that you ugly shade?! I'm going to kill you so just try and stop me!"
In response, a loud distorted screech blasted towards him. Although the horrendous sound made him want to keel over, it did allow him to hone in on the source. Just in time as Cain lit the first light. Hajime took out his sword and swung at the flying figure only to miss.
"Damn," Hajime growled.
Cain lit another light illuminating the left half of the room, but the shade managed to flee into the shadows of the right side. Fortunately the shadows were just small enough for Hajime to corner the shade in them. He prepared to swing his sword down on the hidden shade, even as it screeched more. Yet halfway through his slash something surprised him.
Suddenly the library door swung open just as Cain illuminated the right half of the room. The force that opened the doors leapt to the center of the room. It was a fox spirit just like Cain, but instead of being white with violet eyes, this beast had tangerine fur and emerald eyes. Following close behind it, Natsumi also leapt into the room, shadow claws and tail out. Cain took one look at the other fox and completely froze in his tracks.
"You…," Cain said. "You are the presence I sensed."
The wild fox spirit gekkered in response expressing aggression.
"This bitch has been leading all through the damn manor," Natsumi growled.
Hajime, realizing he had forgotten the shade, turned to see it fly out from the shadows and towards the wild fox spirit. In the light, the shade was revealed to be a small horned bat shade with four wings.
"It looks like these two are on the same side," Hajime said.
"Whatever, it's three against two," Natsumi grinned.
"I can fight too!" Makoto said.
"Alright, Cain and I will take the bat, Natsumi, work with Makoto to take out the fox," Hajime said.
"Seriously, how will he help?" Natsumi asked.
"He can petrify shade's with his eyes," Hajime said. "Be careful."
"Okay." Natsumi said. "Time to prove yourself kid.
"Okay," Makoto nodded nervously.
"Let's rip this bitch to fucking pieces!" Natsumi roared.
"The dulcet tones of the beast woman ring in my ear once again," Cain said. "Now let us clip this winged rat."
Natsumi lunged at the fox trying to scratch its face. Meanwhile Cain leapt for the bat and managed to catch and fling it away from the fox and towards Hajime to slash. As Hajime and Cain attempted to corner the bat and cut off its wings, Natsumi kept trying to slash the fox.
"Stay! Still!" Natsumi shouted with each slash the fox dodged.
The fox countered by summoning two extra tails to create a lance. Natsumi dodged the lance which soared past her and stabbed one of the bookshelves.
"Figured you'd have the same attacks as that bleached mutt," Natsumi growled.
Just as the fox proceeded to create another small lance, it's tails suddenly froze thanks to Makoto. Natsumi saw her chance and leapt behind the fox to slash off its tails. The fox howled in pain, but refused to surrender, using its back leg to kick Natsumi in the stomach.
"You bitch!" Natsumi wheezed.
"It's so strong," Makoto said. "I'm so sorry for getting you involved."
"Please," Natsumi growled and sprung back up. "I eat bigger shades for breakfast and shit them out before lunch."
"Okay," Makoto nodded. "If I could petrify it's face that could help you."
"Then I'll make sure you get a good look," Natsumi grinned
The fox gekkered again. Natsumi leapt forward tackling the beast head on and locking her shadow claws around its neck. Digging her heels in, Natsumi managed to wrestle the fox to the ground.
"Okay, kid, you're turn," Natsumi struggled to keep the fox pinned.
Carefully, Makoto aimed his eyes to avoid Natsumi then lifted the cloth. A bright light flashed making the fox's body up to its neck completely petrified.
"Now to shut you up for good," Natsumi raised her shadow claws.
Before she could swing it down, the fox shot a barrage of leaves in her face. Natsumi snarled and tried to swipe the leaves out of her face, but then the fox regenerated it's tails and turned them into a pair of fists to pin both Natsumi and Makoto to the walls.
"Damn you!" Natsumi growled.
At the same time as Natsumi and Makoto began fighting the fox, Hajime and Cain tried to corner the bat shade. Many times they came close only for the bat shade to scream in a human voice and break their concentration. Not helping was Cain looking every few seconds at the other fox from the corner of his eye.
"Hey!" Hajime shouted. "Stay focused!"
"Right," Cain shook his head. "I'll just shoot this thing out of the air with my fire."
"Good idea except we're in a library!" Hajime said.
"Well then what's your solution?!" Cain snapped.
"Use those weird fist things you got and crush it like a fly," Hajime said.
"That's actually a smart idea," Cain said. "How did that not occur to me sooner?"
Cain summoned more tails to turn into the pair of fists. The bat shade kept sporadically flapping around until Hajime started to herd it in Cain's direction. Finally once it was in place, Cain crushed in between the palms of both fists. When he opened his fists the bat shade fell out, wings completely crumpled out. It fell to the floor like a swatted fly allowing Hajime to easily stab it through the chest and kill it. With its dying breathe, the bat shade gave one final screech that was louder than any heard before.
Hearing the bat shade's dying screech, the wild foxes turned its head to Hajime and Cain. Somehow the petrification wore off and the fox managed to stand up just as Cain looked at it. But before Cain or Hajime could make a move, the fox spirit sprouted large wings that it flapped to create a gust of wind. The gust knocked Cain and Hajime off their feet and sent books flying. Amidst the chaos of wind, the wild fox spirit dropped Natsumi and Makoto before swiftly escaping out of the library doors. Natsumi was about to chase after again, but upon seeing Hajime and Cain trying to get up, she decided against it. Instead she walked over to Hajime and lended him a hand to get back up.
"Here I thought you would go after that beast again," Cain said.
"I made that mistake once," Natsumi said before looking over to Makoto.
In the fury of wind, Makoto's cloth had flown off his face forcing him to keep his eyes shut while searching for it. Noticing this, Natsumi found the cloth and walked it back to Makoto.
"Here," Natsumi said, dropping the cloth in his hands.
"Oh… thank you," Makoto bowed before tying the cloth around his eyes, "and thank you Hajime for helping take care of that shade."
"Too bad we couldn't get that fox either," Hajime said.
"I don't think it'll come back anytime soon after…," Makoto said, "what is your name lady?"
"Lady?" Cain laughed. "I'd hardly call that a lady."
"It's Natsumi," Natsumi ignored Cain.
"Well after Natsumi beat that fox up, I don't think it'll come back anytime soon," Makoto said.
"What was that fox even doing here?" Hajime asked.
"What color was it?" Makoto asked.
"Orange with green eyes," Cain said.
"Of course!" Makoto said. "Now I remember the page I read."
"What page?" Hajime asked.
"It's where I read about Cain," Makoto said. "Cain, Abel, and Johanna the guardian foxes of the resurrection seed."
"Ring a bell Cain?" Hajime asked.
"Unfortunately no," Cain said. "But it does explain how I recalled being able to heal others. Perhaps that is what this resurrection seed refers to."
"Makoto, is the page in here?" Hajime asked.
"I don't know," Makoto said. "But I can look for it with Kirigiri."
"Good, in that case I'll leave it to you two," Hajime said.
…
Once the four made it to the front of the manor, Kirigiri walked to Makoto and patted his head. Hajime supposed that was the most affection she could display. Once Makoto explained the situation, Kirigiri nodded in agreement.
"Thank you Mr Hajime," Kirigiri said. "However can we repay you?"
"I'd like you two to keep writing Kana letters," Hajime said. "She doesn't have a lot of friends, so it makes her very happy."
"Of course," Kirigiri said.
"Oh!" Hajime remembered the flowers and handed them to Makoto. "She wanted you to have these."
"They smell very nice," Makoto said.
"Allow me to put them in a vase for you master," Kirigiri said.
"Okay," Makoto nodded and handed the flowers to her.
While Kirigiri took the flowers back into the manor, Hajime began to walk away with Cain, until he noticed Natsumi didn't follow. Instead she walked up to Makoto and looked down at him.
"Hey, Makoto," Natsumi said as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Listen."
"Yes?" Makoto shivered
"Your eyes are not a sin," Natsumi spoke softly as she delicately moved her hand up to stroke his blindfold. "Don't ever be ashamed of them. They're part of you. A vital part of you. Do you understand?"
Makoto slowly nodded prompting Natsumi to lift her hand and summon her shadow claws. Sensing their energy, Makot gasped, but then took his hand to touch her shadow claws.
"This arm… this creature… it's me," Natsumi sighed. "I thought I'd need it until I found my vengeance and once that happened. I figured it was all over. But there's a reason I'm alive… that my arm is alive. And there's a reason for your eyes too."
"Natsumi…," Makoto said.
"But listen, if the monster should ever take over," Natsumi said then leaned in to whisper something to Makoto only he could hear.
Upon hearing her words, Makoto flinched, yet Natsumi walked away.
"Natsumi, I promise I'll never give up," Makoto said. "But you can't give up either!"
After Natsumi rejoined them, she gave Hajime and Cain a glare warning them not to comment on her exchange with Makoto. For once Cain restrained his commentary on Natsumi and just walked to Hajime's side. Strangely he didn't comment on Makoto either, as if there was something else he was contemplating.
"You okay, Cain?" Hajime asked.
"Agh, yes… just pondering," Cain said.
"Did you find that other fox attractive?" Hajime asked.
"Absolutely not!" Cain growled despite his clearly flustered face. "The next time I see that fox I will be the one to overpower her."
"So it's a girl fox," Hajime grinned.
"Hold your tongue dear man!" Cain growled.
"You two are like an old married couple," Natsumi shook her head, hiding a smile.
