Chapter 2
Running through the streets for what felt like the millionth time Sosuke let out a deep sigh. Slowing down he looked up to notice the dark sky had gained an orange tint. "Shino where are you?" he whispered to himself before changing direction to head back to the Inn which housed the remaining bead holders. "Please let them have good news".
After finding Shino missing Sosuke had furiously ran through the town for hours before reason had caught up with him. Realizing he couldn't search alone he had gone in search of the bead holders, informing them all of the situation. After they all agreed to each to take a section of the town and outskirts, then meet back at the Inn at Dawn, they had all gone their separate ways.
As Sosuke approached the Inn he was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, running through the front doors he was glad they were all there. All eyes fell on him as he came to a stop at their table. As he looked at each one in turn, his gaze fell into a grimace as they shook their heads. "I'm sorry Sosuke" Genpachi sighed looking down to the ground "we couldn't find anything to us lead to him" A small tear fell as he said this, sorrow in his voice.
"We've looked everywhere! He's nowhere in town and we can't seem to find this cottage he mentioned…. It could be anywhere, HE could be anywhere by now. I'm so sorry Shino, I failed you" Sosuke snarled, the last part but a whisper.
"Aww … poor Sosuke. Shino could be hurt or even worse dead, and you're here feeling sorry for yourself." A voice sounded from the door behind him.
Anger taking over him Sosuke spun on his heel to confront this new party. His Anger instantly replaced by shock, he stumbled back a few steps. Standing before him was a person he could never forget. Everything about her was the same from her long blond hair and blood red eyes to her delicate snow white skin and Long Fuchsia Kimono "T...Tamazusa" he stuttered in shock. Everyone in the room gasped at the revelation, eyes fixed on the now smiling female in the doorway.
"And here I was looking forward to helping you to remember me. Oh well guess we'll have to find some other way to have fun" She replied the smile widening into a crazed grin. "Hmmm… where to start I wonder? Ooh, I know… how about a game? Let's play… 'Find Shino before it's too late' shall we" Her face took on a murderous glare the smile falling before continuing "… Here's a hint, he's somewhere in town that you'd never think to look. However, like most fun games there is a time limit. My poor Shino hasn't a lot of time left, maybe a day at the most. So unless you want a corpse I suggest you hurry. Oh… and do try to amuse me on the way or I may just get bored and do something to reduce that time" At the last statement she spun on her heel and disappeared in a puff of rose-coloured smoke.
Sosuke couldn't move, no one could. All eyes fixed on the spot Tamazusa once stood. Her words ingrained into their souls. "Shino… No" Sosuke muttered before falling to his knees, tears falling freely down his face.