The night sky was fully draped over Hanamura as he turned down an alleyway in a place that he once called home. Though there was not a star in sight, a brilliant, nearly full moon peaked far above the man and machine made monstrosity called a city. Tucked away, he fixed his gaze upon the moon, shining like a crown upon an emperor's head lighting the way for the mortal beings below. He was never fond of the city, the fumes and noise, the paved roads and glaring lights. It robbed humans of their connection to the natural world, to what they came from. In the city, residents scurried like rats, and acted as such. Leaning against the concrete wall, water still dripping from the rain minutes prior that cleared the rats from the streets, forcing them inside their fluorescent holes.

Bloop…

Bloop…

The fresh rainwater trickled down onto his soaked black hair, pulled back from his face aside from the single strand he allowed to hang. Many may find it an uncomfortable setting, or perhaps had somewhere to be at a certain time but he was not one of the rats racing around in their trap, and had nowhere to be; not for another 24 hours. Though he spent most of his time wandering from place to place with not a soul but himself to keep him company, this time he allotted himself to ponder was different. The next 24 hours were dedicated to something, someone specific. A place he does wish to dwell in for long, he came here for a purpose, a personal pilgrimage he has completed year after year for the past decade. To which he will swiftly leave Hanamura afterwards to continue his aimless wandering.

"10 years..." he muttered to himself, pulling himself out from the trance of the moon. He squeezed his eyes shut, gently shaking his head. The adjacent alleyway wall returned his gaze upon opening his eyes, slate and blank. Though it returned his stare, it was nothing but his own muttered words to answer.

He let out a deep sigh, pressing the back of his head against the wall, "How could it be? A world without you."

It had been a treacherous decade for him, he had hoped once upon a time that the revolutions around the sun would heal the self-inflicted wounds that still ached in his soul. Each visit back to Hanamura was as bitter as the other, it never got easier. He felt that each passing day upon Earth would be proof to present in the afterlife of his punishment served. Though he often wondered if it would suffice. Whatever lies ahead is destiny taking its course, and he would endure as he always has.

The cool breeze from the storm still lingered gently passing him, whispering words from the darkness and leaving behind goosebumps on his arms. He didn't mind, it kept him alert, a much needed function for visits to his hometown.

His presence was not welcome, as he was reminded of upon his annual return.

It was important for him to remain centered, and focused. Though his mind was busy, he could not let it wander too far, or else it would not come back in time if someone paid him a visit. He continuously curled and opened his fingers, keeping the circulation flowing and his hands as warm as he could.

That is when his thoughts came to a halt. His ears now doing the thinking, instead of his mind, he listened. Past the consistent drops of rain, the gentle breeze whistling past him, the roars of the city, and his own heartbeat. There was something else. His hands swiftly drew his bow and arrow, swiveling his body to his right, all in perfect muscle memory.

"If you wished to join me you could have brought a jacket. It's awfully chilly tonight." His voice echoed down the alley.

This time, his voice was answered by another. In fact, it was sweet yet direct, "Don't worry, you won't need one where you'll be going."

He squinted his eyes, searching the shadows for a target, to fit a voice with a body. "Mm, you and many others have said something similar."

The voice gave a soft chuckle.

There. In a split second his hand let go, sending an arrow barreling into the darkness, only for it to pass by a beam light headed his way. Slamming his body up against the alley wall to narrowly dodge it, he projected himself to the parallel wall, scaling the building. More beams of light followed him up, nothing he hadn't dealt with before. He was an excellent climber.

Gaining his footing on the rooftop and flipping around while drawing his bow and arrow once again, "A gun is a senseless weapon, no skill is required to fulfill its purpose." He called down. Then he saw a foot step out of the shadows, as soon as his eye met the appendage, an arrow was sent just above and to the right.

This was followed by a thud. As quickly as the situation escalated, it was finished. He slung his bow behind his back and made his way back down. As he approached he heard quiet moans, a sound he was all too familiar with. He stood looking down upon the voice, finally putting a face to it. A pale, slender brown haired woman met his eyes. Her face glowed like a festival lantern under the moonlight, a normal face, the only thing that now set her apart from another face was her gaping mouth gasping for air and the body convulsions. Her eyes were of a wild beast's. Her moans quickly turned to labored breaths. He knelt down to see where his arrow pierced through her chest. A crimson fluid he had seen countless times flowed like a gentle stream down her black clothes, and onto the pavement.

"May your soul cross in peace" He retrieved his arrow from her chest and used it to finish the job. "Another fool sent to take my life, what a shame and waste" he closed her eyelids.

There was no use in checking the body or lingering around, he knew who sent her and knew why. No mystery to uncover.

He quickly fled the scene, jumping from roof to roof to settle in somewhere else for the night. He headed further out the city, settling in a valley amongst a haven of tree's. Once again, gazing up into the sky, this time the moon only peeked through spaces between the leaves.

"All these years of attempts on my life, perhaps one of these days one will succeed" he thought.

As his eyes shut his mind began to fill again, "Perhaps it will be nice" he exhaled "One day I will see you again, brother."