The apartment was deathly silent except for Haru's broken sobs.
Kanashimi knelt on the blood-stained floor, holding his little brother tightly against his chest. Haru's small body shook violently in his arms, tears and snot mixing with the drying blood on his cheeks.
"Shh… Haru, it's okay… Big bro is here," Kanashimi whispered, his voice cracking. He rocked Haru gently, one hand stroking his messy black hair while the other kept wiping his face with the clean cloth.
Haru kept crying, his tiny fists clutching Kanashimi's shirt.
"You're scary… You killed Uncle… There was so much red… I don't like it… I want the nice big bro back…"
Every word felt like a kunai stabbing Kanashimi in the heart.
"I know… I know, baby. I'm so sorry you saw that." Kanashimi's own tears fell silently into Haru's hair. "That man was very bad. He wanted to take big bro away from you. I had to protect you… I had to."
Haru pulled back a little, looking up with red, puffy eyes full of fear and confusion.
"Will you… kill me too if I'm bad…?"
The question broke something inside Kanashimi.
"Never," he said fiercely, cupping Haru's bloody little face with both hands. "Listen to me, Haru. I will never, ever hurt you. You're my everything. You're the reason I wake up every morning. Even if the whole world comes after me… I will always protect you. Okay?"
Haru sniffled, still trembling, but slowly nodded. His small voice came out weak and scared.
"…Promise?"
"I promise." Kanashimi pressed a soft kiss to Haru's forehead, ignoring the metallic smell of blood everywhere. "Now close your eyes for a minute. Big bro will clean everything up. Then we'll take a bath, change clothes, and I'll make you hot milk with extra honey. Sound good?"
Haru buried his face back into Kanashimi's chest and mumbled a tiny "okay…"
While rocking Haru, Kanashimi's mind was screaming.
What have I done…?
He had used his Special Art after three years of silence.
Lightning Bird.
The moment he activated it, he felt it — the Special Drop leaving his body like a flare shot into the sky. A massive surge of energy that anyone connected to the village's tracking techniques could sense for miles.
Especially Yuna.
Back in the hidden village…
Yuna was sharpening her blades under the moonlight when it hit her.
A powerful pulse of familiar energy exploded in her senses — bright, electric, unmistakable.
Her eyes widened. The silver threads around her fingers flared to life on their own.
Kanashimi…
She stood up slowly, a dangerous smile spreading across her lips even as her heart twisted painfully.
"So you finally used it… After all this time."
She closed her eyes, letting the lingering trace of his Lightning Bird guide her. The location was clear — a normal city, not too far from the veil. The signal was strong, fresh, and still pulsing.
You're there. With that little brother of yours.
Her grip tightened on the hilt of her blade.
My death is near… No. Your death is near, Kanashimi Oketo.
She turned and walked toward the village elder's hall, her steps fast and determined.
"I sensed him," she announced the moment she entered. "He used his art. I know exactly where he is now."
The elders looked up in surprise. Her father stood frozen.
Yuna didn't wait for their response.
"Prepare the hunting team. We leave at dawn."
Back in the apartment, Kanashimi had finally managed to calm Haru enough to stop the loud crying. The little boy was now sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, sipping warm milk with honey while Kanashimi furiously cleaned the blood from the floor.
But Kanashimi's hands were shaking.
She knows.
The moment I used Lightning Bird… Yuna felt it. She knows where we are.
He glanced at Haru, who was still sniffling but slowly getting sleepy from the warmth of the milk.
My death is near.
She's coming. With the entire hunting squad. And this time… she won't stop until she sees my body.
Kanashimi dropped the blood-soaked cloth into a bucket and sat down heavily beside Haru. He pulled his little brother into his lap and hugged him tightly, resting his chin on top of Haru's head.
"I'm sorry you had to see that tonight," he whispered. "Big bro made a mistake. But I promise… I'll fix everything."
Haru yawned softly, his eyelids drooping. "Don't be scary again… okay?"
"Okay," Kanashimi lied, his voice thick with emotion. "I won't."
As Haru finally fell asleep in his arms, Kanashimi stared at the wall, eyes hollow.
Yuna… if you come for me, please don't touch Haru.
I'll let you kill me. I'll even kneel if you want.
Just… don't make him watch.
He looked down at his sleeping brother's peaceful face — the only pure thing left in his broken life.
My death is near…
But I'll make sure you live a normal life, Haru.
Even if it costs me everything.
Outside the apartment, the night wind blew colder than usual.
Somewhere far away, Yuna was already preparing her blades, silver threads glowing with deadly intent.
The hunt had officially begun.
Haru's breathing finally evened out. The little boy had cried himself to sleep in Kanashimi's arms, still clutching his brother's blood-stained shirt like a lifeline.
Kanashimi gently laid Haru down on the futon, covering him with a clean blanket. He stared at his sleeping face for a long moment — so peaceful now, so innocent.
Look at you… You shouldn't have to see any of this.
With a heavy heart, Kanashimi stood up and walked back into the hall. The floor was still smeared with dark red. The metallic smell hung thick in the air.
He took a deep breath.
"Special Art: Blood Manipulation."
A faint crimson glow appeared around his fingers. The scattered blood across the floor, walls, and furniture slowly lifted into the air, gathering into a single dense, dark red dot floating in front of him. With a small wave of his hand, the blood sphere shrank and disappeared completely, as if it had never existed.
Kanashimi then dragged the lifeless body of the mysterious man outside. The jungle behind their apartment building was dark and thick. He threw the corpse deep into the undergrowth, far enough that no one would find it easily.
When he returned to the apartment, he washed his hands and changed into clean clothes. Exhaustion weighed on him like stones.
He sat beside the sleeping Haru and whispered to the quiet room,
"This world is too cruel, Haru…"
His voice was soft, tired.
"It is divided into many parts — democracies, kingdoms, shinobi states, and hidden territories. Our village… the one we ran from… is inside the Kingdom of Freewings. It's hidden deep inside dense, ancient forests. The king, Genova, is a kind man. He supports the village, gives us protection and resources in exchange for our fighters guarding the kingdom's borders. Life there used to be strict but safe… We trained every day, lived by honor, and protected each other."
Kanashimi's eyes darkened.
"But right now… we are in a democracy. A normal city full of normal people who know nothing about Special Energy or hidden villages. This place can't save us. The laws here mean nothing when hunters from our world come looking."
He ran a hand through his hair, voice cracking slightly.
"I could run again… but I'm so tired, Haru. Three years of hiding, pretending to be normal, working in that café… I don't have the strength to keep running forever. And even if I die… I think I want it to be by Yuna's hands. At least then… it would be her."
A bitter smile appeared on his lips.
At least she would be the last person I see.
Suddenly, Haru stirred and sat up, rubbing his eyes.
Kanashimi blinked. "Haru? What happened?"
"Washroom…" Haru mumbled sleepily, already climbing off the futon.
Kanashimi quickly helped him to the bathroom. While Haru stood in front of the toilet, peeing, he looked up at his big brother with curious, still-red eyes.
"Hey brother… who is Yuna? And… you can use powers like superheroes too?"
Kanashimi froze for a second.
"Y… yes."
Haru tilted his head, still peeing. "And Yuna?"
Kanashimi swallowed hard.
"Yuna is my wife."
Haru's eyes widened. He turned around completely, forgetting what he was doing.
"Means… my sister-in-law?!"
Kanashimi's face turned bright red. He quickly covered his eyes with both hands.
"Haru! Wear your underwear first!!"
Haru blinked, looked down, then hurriedly pulled up his pants with a small "oops."
Kanashimi lowered his hands slowly, sighing deeply as he helped Haru wash his hands.
How do I even explain this to a four-year-old…?
Yuna… the woman I still love more than anything… the same woman who now wants me dead.
If she comes here, she'll see you, Haru. She'll see the little brother I risked everything to protect.
And she might hate you too… just because you're connected to me.
He led Haru back to the futon and sat beside him.
"Listen, Haru… Yuna is very strong. She has beautiful silver threads as her Special Art. She was my wife since we were both eleven. But something bad happened… and now she thinks I'm a bad person. She's angry at me. Very angry."
Haru crawled into his lap, still sleepy but listening.
"So… she's coming to scold you?"
Kanashimi smiled sadly and hugged him closer.
"Something like that."
Or kill me.
My death is near, Haru.
The moment I used Lightning Bird, I basically sent her a signal. She knows where we are now. The hunters will be coming soon.
And when they arrive… I don't know if I'll be able to protect you without becoming the monster you saw tonight.
He stroked Haru's hair gently.
"Go back to sleep, okay? Big bro will stay right here."
Haru yawned and snuggled closer.
"Promise you won't be scary again?"
"I promise… I'll try."
As Haru drifted back to sleep, Kanashimi stared at the ceiling, eyes empty.
The Kingdom of Freewings… the hidden village… King Genova… all of it feels so far away now.
But Yuna is close.
Too close.
My death is near…
And the only thing I fear… is what will happen to you after I'm gone, Haru.
The night grew deeper.
Somewhere beyond the city, in the dense forests of the Kingdom of Freewings, Yuna was sharpening her blades, silver energy crackling around her with deadly purpose.
The countdown had begun.