A Killer's Presence

October 30, 2022...Naishotetsu has begun to go back to its normal ways under Hikari's leadership. However, there was still a lingering sorrow in the air, an unspoken grief felt by all members.

That morning at the main office, Hikari sat at his desk, his pen scratching against the papers. Even with a mountain of papers stacked at the corner of his desk, he remained diligent in his work.

But a sudden knock on the door broke his concentration.

"Come in..."

The door opened slowly, and Kurashi stepped inside, his katana sheathed on his back. His hands were stuffed casually into his pockets, and his half-lidded eyes gave him the air of someone who hadn't slept in days.

"You asked for me?"

"Yeah..."

Hikari leaned back slightly, rubbing his temple before meeting Kurashi's gaze.

"There's been trouble in Toyama prefecture. Murder...disappearances...drug trafficking...I believe there's an organized group behind it all."

Hikari lifted the pen in his hand, pointing it right at Kurashi.

"I want you to investigate."

"Why me?"

"You're more than prepared now...Besides, this is reconnaissance only. Your mission is to locate their hideout and assess their operations. Nothing more."

Kurashi stood there, staring blankly at Hikari.

"Look, if anything goes wrong, I trust you'll handle it as you see fit...But just don't take unnecessary risks, alright?"

Kurashi gave a subtle nod.

With a sigh of reassurance, Hikari stood up from the chair, retrieving a neatly folded black uniform from behind his desk. As he walked over to Kurashi, he extended his arm out to him.

"Here...I want you to take this. Wear it when you head out."

Kurashi hesitated before reaching out, taking the uniform without a word.

"You'll leave when night falls, so rest up for the time being."

Kurashi gave a subtle nod as he left the office.

As Hikari watched him leave, he thought to himself.

"He's ready...I know he is. So why am I worried?"

When night fell, Kurashi got prepared and set off on his mission. As he stepped out of the base, he took a moment to gaze up at the full moon, the black hoodie he wore over his uniform making him appear as a shadow under its light.

After a lonesome walk, Kurashi arrived at the Toyama district early in the morning. Walking through the streets to find any type of lead, his katana drew wary glances from those who passed him, as having a katana in public was illegal.

A middle-aged man, unnerved by the sight of Kurashi, decided to flag down two nearby officers.

"Officers," the man began to explain, his voice low but anxious. "There's a boy walking around with a katana on his back. I think he's up to something."

"Where'd you see him?" one officer asked.

"Right there! He's-"

The man stopped mid-sentence, as the spot where Kurashi had been was empty.

The officers exchanged skeptical looks.

"Have you been drinking, sir?"

"What? No!"

The man spun around again as if Kurashi would reappear.

"He just there!"

The other officer sighed.

"Just go home. It's too early for this."

Meanwhile, in a nearby alley, Kurashi leaned against the wall. It would be hard to find anything with all the eyes on him, so he decided to wait until the festival started to move again.

Hours passed and the festival had begun.

Kurashi walked into the crowded streets, the air now filled with excitement and blurred voices. Costumes of all kinds turned the streets into a sea of vibrant colors. With his hood pulled low, Kurashi maintained his focus, scanning the environment around him.

Amidst all the commotion, a small movement caught his eye. A little girl in a tattered nightgown, her face pale with terror, ran into an alleyway followed by a group of men. Kurashi emerged from the crowded street without hesitation, following them into the dark alley.

Kurashi slowly crept through the narrow path, not making a single sound. The alley was narrow and suffocating, the dim light from a flickering streetlamp barely piercing the darkness. When Kurashi reached the voices, he saw that the men had cornered the girl, their intentions undeniable.

The girl trembled on her knees, her voice unable to plead for any help.

"Ya' know it's dangerous for a little girl like ya' to wander off alone." one of the men said, teasing the horrified girl.

Another one of the other men walked up to the girl, an unsettling grin on his face.

"Don't worry...We're just here to help ya' get back home."

"Yeah, boss says he misses ya'. Said to bring you back by any means."

Their eery laughter echoed off the damp walls, mingling with the distant sounds of the festival.

But one of the men paused, his grin fading away as his senses caught something. He squinted into the blackness, searching for a movement that wasn't quite there anymore.

"Hey...I think there's someone-"

The man was abruptly silenced.

Kurashi moved with lethal precision, his blade slicing through the man's throat in a swift motion. The man clenched his hand around his neck to stop the bleeding, struggling to find a way to breathe.

The others turned around as they heard the body collapse to the ground, their eyes widening in horror at the sight of their comrade now lying in a pool of blood.

From the shadows, Kurashi's hooded figure gradually came into view, his blade dripping with blood as he held it in his right hand.

Before they could react, Kurashi dashed in at the remaining men, his movement a blur of motion. One by one, the men fell to his blade, leaving only one alive. Overtaken by a sudden panic, the man scampered away from the scene, trying to escape the nightmare around him.

But Kurashi wasn't done.

As the man ran away, Kurashi slowly lifted his left hand, his palm facing outward. The escaping man now stood frozen in place, his movement suspended by an unseen force. The panic in his eyes was unmistakable as he looked down, realizing that his body was no longer his own.

"My body...it won't move!"

Kurashi approached slowly, his footsteps echoing off of the cold pavement.

"Wh-who are you!"

The footsteps got closer and closer until Kurashi finally stood right behind the man.

"I am no one..."

With a swift motion, Kurashi's blade flashed through the air, severing the man's head from his body.

Kurashi then swung his katana down, ridding the blood from its blade before sheathing it on his back.

The was nothing Kurashi felt from taking those lives.

No guilt

No pleasure

Nothing

As he gazed over his shoulder, Kurash's cold eyes met the girl on the ground. In fear, she covered her eyes with her small shaky hands.

Kurashi then turned to the girl, walking towards her with a killer's presence.