Objective

Nox couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could this be possible? It didn't make any sense. The shadow was crawling towards her house? But why? There had to be an explanation, right?

"Hitsu?" Nox said with a shaky voice, "shadows normally act like that right?"

She turned her head as if she needed to see his answer, she needed to see him say no. Her hope leaked from her body as she watched Hitsu. He stood absolutely still, his face filled with just as much fear as hers.

"Nox," Hitsu said after what felt like an eternity.

"Y-yeah?" Nox asked unable to keep her voice from shaking.

"I've hunted shadows for years. I've seen them and been around them for longer than most people ever will. I've been through hundreds of different situations involving shadows. I know what they do, how they live, how they act."

"Y-yeah?" Nox repeated as her brain was flooded with thoughts, not a single one of them good.

"Never in my life has a dying shadow crawled towards me, because most living creatures will crawl away from what will kill it."

Hitsu's morbid words sounded like they belonged to a devil rather than a hero, but somehow that was the least terrifying matter to Nox at that moment. Her emotions flared and she lunged towards the hero and grabbed the collar of his collar tightly.

"Well, I have one guess," Hitsu said smoothly.

Nox stared into Hitsu's calm eyes. His gentle reaction to Nox made her aware of her own actions. She quickly let go of the boy and stepped back.

"What is it?" Nox asked as panic flowed through her veins.

Hitsu's finger once again pointed at the lone house on the hill.

"There's something in that house they were sent to get."

"Wh-what?"

Before Nox could receive any more answers a familiar voice broke her train of thought.

"Queen," Nox's father said between heavy breaths.

Nox's head whipped to her right to see her father standing by her side. His breathing was rapid and his hands were on his knees as he panted.

"Dad? What happened to you?" Nox asked concerned.

"I came running as soon as I saw that explosion," he explained, "but running ain't my strong suit and that crowd sure was slowing me down. Are you alright Nox?"

"Oh yeah, I'm fine dad, well thanks to him I am." Nox pointed at Hitsu only to find he had disappeared. "Huh?" Nox said in confusion. She quickly looked around the area and found the hero kneeling on the ground nearby. As Nox and her father approached the boy Nox could see clearly what he was inspecting. In Hitsu's hand lay the burnt and broken remains of the necklace he had bought. Juno stared at the broken jewelry and let out a sad meow. As Hitsu comforted his upset pet a heavy hand fell on his shoulder.

"My boy I have to thank you," Nox's father said with a genuine smile, "not only did you save my daughter, but this whole town."

"No need to thank me," Hitsu said as Juno jumped onto his head. With his companion firmly in place, Hitsu stood and continued his conversation. "I was only doing my job as a hero."

"And what a hero you are," Nox's father praised, "If there's any way I can repay you don't hesitate to ask."

"Perfect," Hitsu said instantly, "first I need this fixed if you can." Hitsu handed the large man the necklace he was holding.

"Wow," Nox thought, "he took the don't hesitate part of that very seriously."

"Second," Hitsu continued, "I need to stay at your place for a few days."

"Wh-what?" Nox and her father asked in unison.

...

"Well, here we are," Nox's father announced as he and Nox entered the house. Hitsu and Juno soon followed. The two guests scanned the room, Hitsu much more thorough than his feline who seemed only interested in the nearby couch.

"It ain't much but I hope you can make yourself at home while you stay Mr. Hero," Nox's father said with a grin.

"That will be easy in a place as nice as this," Hitsu responded, "thank's again Mr. Etena."

"Please, call me Akihito," Nox's father said.

"Only if you call me Hitsu," the boy replied.

The two laughed as Nox watched on. On the way to the house, Hitsu had explained everything to her father. The plan was for Hitsu to stay at their home for a few days for their protection and to find what the shadows were looking for. Even though Nox's eyes were on Hitsu and her father, her mind was lost deep in thought. Something Hitsu said to her and her father lay fresh in her mind.

_____

"Shadows wouldn't bust into town on their own," he said with a serious look, "somebody sent them for you something you have."

_____

"This doesn't make any sense. We're poor. We don't have much and it's not like our social status is that high. So why would somebody come after us?"

Nox was ripped from her thoughts as Juno leaped onto the counter in front of her. The feline let out a meow and looked at with concern. Nox pet the cat's head to reassure her. Nox's attention gradually turned to Hitsu as he walked around the small house. She watched as he inspected every item he crossed, looking for any clue. He looked under the rug, behind the television, and on every shelf, as he eliminated any doubt he could miss whatever the shadows were looking for. Nox looked around as well and realized she was alone in the house with Hitsu and Juno, her father nowhere to be found.

"He must have gone back to the shop," Nox thought.

As Nox turned her attention back to the cat she continued to pet a question slipped through her lips.

"Why did you call yourself Vansu?"

Nox surprised herself at her sudden question but Hitsu didn't seem fazed.

"It's my hero name," he responded casually as he continued to search.

"Hero name?" Nox asked.

"Yeah, a name I get recognized by," Hitsu explained, "If everyone knows me by my real name it defeats the purpose of calling myself a hero."

"What do you mean?"

"Being a hero is more than just having a strong power and saving people, you have to be a symbol."

"A symbol? Like what you did earlier?" Nox asked remembering Hitsu's pose and performance before his battle.

"Exactly," Hitsu said, "a hero is supposed to give people courage, give them hope, give them something to lllllooooo..."

Hitsu's words trailed off as he stopped at the door against the far wall, the same door Nox's father had exited that very morning.

"What's in this room?" Hitsu asked as he reached for the door handle.

Before his hand could grab the handle his entire arm was forced to stop. Nox held his arm in place, her grip so hard her nails dug into Hitsu's skin. Hitsu stared at the girl in shock at both her speed and aggression.

"You can't go in there," Nox said under her breath, "I'm begging you...

...I won't let you."

...

End of Episode 6