The forest clearing was deathly silent after Kage disappeared.
Yuna lay on the ground, breathing heavily, fresh wounds bleeding from her arms, torso, and forehead. The force of Kage's casual attack had left her badly injured.
Kanashimi, still bound and bleeding himself, lifted his head weakly.
"That crazy brother…" he muttered hoarsely. "He is our brother… not your nephew."
Senior Kanji, Haru, Yoshi, and Akari had all gathered anxiously around Yuna. Haru was crying again, clutching her sleeve with his tiny hands.
Kanashimi tried to stand. His legs shook violently. Blood dripped from his wounds as he staggered forward, barely able to stay upright.
"Move…" he rasped.
He reached Yuna and collapsed to his knees beside her.
"Hey… get aside," he told the others.
Kanji and Akari hesitated but stepped back.
Kanashimi looked up at them with tired, desperate eyes.
"Open my hands."
Senior Kanji shook his head firmly. "No. I will not."
Kanashimi let out a weak, bitter laugh.
"Fine… Then close Haru's eyes and turn away."
Yoshi frowned. "Why?"
Kanashimi didn't answer. Instead, he looked at them with quiet intensity.
"Then don't."
Before anyone could react, Kanashimi bit down hard on his own tongue. Blood instantly filled his mouth. Ignoring the sharp pain, he leaned forward, gently cupped Yuna's face with his bound hands, and pressed his lips against hers.
A mouth-to-mouth kiss.
His blood — carrying his rare healing properties from Infinite Drops — flowed into her mouth.
For a split second, time seemed to stop.
Senior Kanji's eyes widened. "What the—?!"
He and Yoshi lunged forward immediately. They grabbed Kanashimi and violently threw him backward. His body flew through the air and slammed hard into a thick tree trunk with a sickening thud.
Kanashimi slid down the tree and fainted on the spot, fresh blood pouring from his mouth.
Yuna's body suddenly glowed with faint crimson light. The blood she had received from Kanashimi began healing her wounds rapidly. The deep cuts started closing, and her breathing steadied.
Haru blinked in confusion, still being held by Akari.
"Brother… how did he teleport? He flew so far…"
Akari quickly leaned down and whispered everything into Yuna's ear.
Yuna's eyes slowly opened. She sat up, touching her lips instinctively, a complicated mix of emotions flashing across her face — shock, anger, confusion… and something softer.
Haru wiped his tears and puffed his cheeks.
"Brother slept again! When he wakes up, I'm going to scold him properly! He didn't even give attention to my Sister-in-law!"
Yuna looked at the unconscious, bloodied Kanashimi leaning against the tree. Her hand unconsciously went to her chest.
Yuna's inner thoughts:
You idiot…Even now… even after everything I did to you…You still gave me your blood to heal me?Why…? Why are you like this?
She slowly stood up, still a little unsteady, and walked over to Kanashimi. For a long moment, she simply stared down at his pale, injured face.
Haru ran over and hugged Kanashimi's arm, sniffling.
"Brother… wake up soon, okay? Sister-in-law isn't crying anymore…"
The night wind blew gently through the trees.
Yuna knelt down beside the two brothers — one unconscious and bleeding, the other small and crying — and for the first time in three years, she didn't know what she felt anymore.
Hatred? Pity? Pain? Or something far more dangerous… something that felt like the beginning of forgiveness?
The journey to the village continued under the quiet moonlight, but the weight in everyone's hearts had grown even heavier.
The rest of the night passed in heavy silence.
Yuna sat against a tree, staring at the unconscious Kanashimi. His head rested on Haru's lap, while the little boy gently stroked his brother's hair, refusing to sleep. Every now and then, Haru would whisper, "Wake up soon, okay? Sister-in-law is waiting…"
Yuna said nothing. She simply watched them — the blood on Kanashimi's lips, the tear stains on Haru's cheeks, and the way the small boy kept looking at her with pure hope.
By dawn, they resumed their journey.
Kanashimi remained unconscious for most of the day, carried on a makeshift stretcher by Senior Kanji and Yoshi. Haru walked beside him the entire time, holding his hand tightly. Yuna walked ahead, silent and distant, but she kept glancing back every few minutes.
The deeper they moved into the Kingdom of Freewings' ancient forests, the thicker the spiritual energy became. Tall trees with glowing leaves formed a natural canopy, and faint silver mist floated between the trunks — the protective barrier of their hidden world.
Haru looked around in awe, but his small voice was filled with worry.
"Onee-chan… is the village beautiful? Will they be nice to brother?"
Yuna didn't answer immediately. After a long pause, she spoke softly.
"…It used to be beautiful."
Yuna's inner thoughts:
Three years ago, I imagined dragging his dead body through these same trees.Now I'm bringing him back alive… because a four-year-old boy begged me with tears in his eyes.How did everything become so twisted?
By evening, the trees began to thin out, revealing the grand entrance to the Hidden Village of Special Fighters.
Massive torii gates made of white stone and glowing silver runes stood tall. Beyond them lay the village — a breathtaking sight of traditional wooden houses built on elevated platforms, connected by hanging bridges and glowing pathways. Lanterns floated gently in the air, and in the center stood the Grand Hall where the elders gathered.
Villagers began to notice them.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Is that… Kanashimi Oketo?" "The traitor is back…" "And the child… is that his brother?" "Look at Yuna… she actually brought him alive."
Some villagers glared with open hostility. Others looked confused. A few mothers pulled their children away as if Kanashimi carried a plague.
Haru gripped Kanashimi's hand tighter, sensing the hostility.
"Why are they looking at brother like that…?" he whispered, voice trembling.
Yuna stepped forward protectively, her presence alone silencing some of the louder whispers.
Senior Kanji announced loudly, "We are bringing the criminal Kanashimi Oketo back as ordered. Make way."
They moved through the main path. Kanashimi finally stirred when they reached the central plaza. His eyes opened weakly, taking in the familiar yet distant sight of his childhood home.
Kanashimi's inner thoughts:
I'm back…After three years of running… I'm finally back.But not as a hero.As a prisoner.As the man everyone hates.And Haru… my poor Haru has to see all of this.
Haru's eyes sparkled despite everything.
"Brother! Look! So many pretty houses! And the lights are flying! Is this our real home?"
Kanashimi smiled faintly and nodded once.
Yuna walked beside the stretcher now. She didn't look at him, but her silver threads gently hovered around Kanashimi, keeping his wounds from worsening.
They reached the Grand Hall.
The massive doors opened. Inside, several elders were already waiting, along with a crowd of high-ranking fighters. The atmosphere was tense and heavy.
Elder Mizu, the head of the council, stood up slowly, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Kanashimi.
"So… the runaway traitor finally returns," he said coldly. "Bound and bleeding, just as he deserves."
Haru immediately stepped in front of his brother, spreading his tiny arms.
"Don't talk bad about my brother!" he shouted bravely, though his voice shook. "He's not bad! He makes me breakfast and plays with me and protects me!"
The entire hall fell into stunned silence.
Even the elders looked taken aback by the small child's courage.
Yuna stepped forward, her voice steady but tired.
"Elder Mizu… there have been new revelations during the mission. Kanashimi's elder brother, Kage Oketo, appeared. He claimed that Shime framed Kanashimi to protect the village from an outside organization. He also mentioned… C. Oketo."
A ripple of shock went through the elders.
Elder Mizu's face darkened.
"Enough. We will discuss this matter privately. Take the prisoner to the detention hall. The child will be placed under Yuna's care for now."
Yuna nodded silently.
As guards moved to take Kanashimi away, Haru started crying loudly and clung to his brother.
"No! Don't take him! Please don't take my brother away! I want to stay with him!"
Kanashimi looked at Haru with heartbroken eyes.
Kanashimi's inner thoughts:
This is it…The moment I feared the most.Haru is watching them take me away like a criminal.He's only four… He shouldn't have to go through this pain.
Yuna walked over and gently pried Haru's small hands away from Kanashimi.
"Haru… come with me. Your brother needs rest. I'll take care of you tonight."
Haru looked up at her with teary eyes but eventually nodded, sniffling.
As the guards carried Kanashimi away into the detention hall, Haru waved his small hand sadly.
"Brother… I'll wait for you… Don't sleep too long, okay?"
Kanashimi gave him one last weak smile before the heavy doors closed behind him.
Yuna stood in the middle of the plaza, holding Haru's hand.
The villagers continued to whisper. Some looked at her with pity. Others with suspicion.
Yuna looked down at Haru, who was still staring at the closed doors with trembling lips.
Yuna's inner thoughts:
I brought him back alive.Not because I forgave him.But because this little boy's tears were heavier than my hatred.What am I supposed to do now?
She gently squeezed Haru's hand.
"Let's go home, Haru."
As the moon rose high above the hidden village, the weight of truth, lies, love, and hatred hung thick in the air.
The real storm was only beginning.