Unbelief

Kato was in his usual hand-to-hand combat training with Arou, a few weeks after beginning his shadow technique training with Roshi. As usual, Kato was improving rapidly, and Arou was visibly impressed by his progress.

Arou: You're amazing, Kato.

Kato: Really?

Arou: You seemed good at hand-to-hand combat even before now.

Kato:Well, I did a little karate back in middle school.

Arou: It's not just that. Your body packs a ton of strength and power. Every blow you send my way is backed by incredible force. It's almost like that shadow bug gave you superhuman strength alongside your shadow energy.

Kato: (cartoonish face) You mean like superman's strength?

Arou: (cartoonish face) Let's not go that far.

Kato: (cartoonish face) OH...…

Arou: Kato, can I ask you something? Hope you don't mind.

Kato: Sure, go right ahead.

Arou: I know you probably answered this question before but how do you feel being turned into a shadow? Like one minute you were having a normal life and the next minute you're a shadow and your mom is....(suddenly stops) Sorry. I shouldn't have said that.

Kato: Oh, no, it's fine. (pauses to think) To be honest, I was terrified at first. I used to think all Shadows were evil. But after staying with you guys for a while, I realized I was wrong. I was only seeing things from one side. My time with you has been… great. And about my mom… (remembers what Yamato and the others told him)…I think I'll be ready when the time comes.

Arou: (looks at Kato and feels bad) I see. Kato.....

Roshi: (suddenly appears behind Kato, smacking him on the head) ALRIGHT, YOUNG BLOOD! TIME FOR TRAINING!

Kato: (groans in pain) Right.

Arou: (cartoonish face) So loud.

Chapter 44: Unbelief

Kato didn't fully understand what had just happened. One moment he was at home with Arou, and the next, Kayomi burst in, shouting something about "getting away from him." Then, everything blurred. He found himself in an abandoned building with shattered windows and debris strewn across the floor..

Kato: (to himself) What the hell? One minute I was home, and now I'm here? What is this place? An abandoned building? (suddenly remembers) Arou?

Arou: I'm here Kato.

Kato turned to see Arou standing on a balcony inside the building.

Kato: Huh? What are you doing up there? (looks around) Forget that—how did we get here?

Arou: I brought us here.

Kato: Huh? Why would you do that?

Arou: Because I'm kidnapping you, Kato.

Kato: (confused) What? What are you talking about, Arou? Stop messing around. Let's head back.

Arou: (expression turns cold) I'm not messing around.

Kato's heart sank. Kayomi's warnings suddenly began to make sense. Something was very wrong.

Kato: Why would you want to kidnap me?

Arou: The Kaimi Daja's goal is to gather all the pieces of the All Mother. Since you're the last descendant of the Hamorabi Clan, you became our target. We need the God Eye… once it awakens in you.

Kato: (shocked) Kaimi Daja? What the hell are you talking about, Arou?!

Arou: (sighs) I forgot to mention that part, huh? Yes, I'm a member of the Kaimi Daja. I was sent to spy on and watch you.

Everything came rushing back to Kato—the losses, the warnings, the painful realizations:

"You ain't human anymore."

"Your mom's in a coma because she wasn't compatible with shadow energy. She's going to die."

"The world doesn't work according to your desires. You're one of us now, and there's nothing you can do about it.

Kato: (to himself, horrified) How did it come to this? Mr. Ervin warned me the Kaimi Daja would come for me… but we had one of them with us this whole time?

Arou: (jumps from the balcony, landing in front of Kato) I'm sorry you had to find out like this. But we have a dream, and you're one of the keys to achieving it.

Kato: (angrily) "WE?"

Arou: It'll be best that you don't resist. You….

Kato: (shouts) DON'T TALK LIKE I'M LETTING YOU TAKE ME! GIVE ME A BREAK!

Arou: This isn't easy for me, you know. I was the one who taught you hand to hand combat and treated you like a little brother. I also wish you weren't the one we were after so we could've been...

Kato: BEEN WHAT!? (steps away from Arou) YOU'RE THE REASON WHY I'M IN THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU ASKED ME THAT QUESTION BACK THEN!? WHY DID YOU ASK ME THAT QUESTION!?

Arou:(hesitates) I wanted to understand how you were coping with everything we put you through. And I needed to confirm something… but I never got to ask.

Kato: Confirm what?

Arou: Do you believe Shadows, Lighters, and Humans can ever live in peace again?

Kato: Why are you asking me this now?!

Arou: Like I said I want to confirm something. And I won't get a chance like this again.

Kato: (thinks briefly) I believe it is possible. Despite the hatred and bloodshed, I want to believe there's a way to make peace.

Arou: And how do you intend to do that?

Kato: (looks at Arou with anger and determination) I'll start by stopping you and the Kaimi Daja from hurting anyone else and also stop the actions of the bad shadows from and eventually change the ideas and minds of everyone about shadows.

Arou: The same answer as always huh? Do you believe in that on your own accord or because Ervin told you to?

Kato: Huh?

Arou: (gets annoyed) EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME ANSWER!!!!! YOU ALL SAY THE SAME THING BECAUSE ERVIN TOLD YOU THAT WAS WHAT HE BELIEVED IN. TRY AND THINK FOR YOURSELVES FOR ONCE!!! YOU ALL THINK THAT THIS CAN BE RESOLVED BY TALKING THIS OUT AND CHANGING OUR WAYS EVERYBODY GETS A HAPPY ENDING. BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IN THAT. BUT THERE IS NO ONE WHO BELIEVES OTHERWISE ASIDE FROM ME AND THAT'S WHY I HATED ALL OF THEM AND JOINED THE KAIMI DAJA. WE DESIRE TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

Kato: And you think going after all the heirs is gonna help stop this cycle of hatred?!

Arou: Yes. Their powers are instrumental to our cause. Until you awaken the God Eye, we intend to capture and contain you.

Kato: And the people you've hurt for your goals? Don't their lives matter?

Arou: They do. But I can't bring myself to worry about them if it doesn't affect our goals. They were necessary sacrifices for our goals to be realized.

Kato: (enraged) SO YOU'RE CALLING MY MOTHER A NECESSARY SACRIFICE?

Arou: (sighs) Yeah.

As soon as Arou spoke, Kato's shadow energy spiked, and his eyes burned scarlet red, just as they had during his fight with Kenny when he was kidnapped by the Kaimi Daja. Arou remained unfazed, watching the transformation with clinical detachment.

Arou: (to himself) It's exactly how Gaki described it. His shadow energy spikes, and his eyes change color. It must be tied to his shadow technique. But he doesn't seem to know how it works, and even Ervin is clueless about it. This should be manageable.

What Arou didn't anticipate was Kato's sudden burst of speed, far surpassing anything he had displayed during training.

Arou: (to himself) He's faster? Could this be his technique? A body reinforcement ability, maybe? No matter. It's nothing I can't handle.

Kato rushed at Arou, launching a flurry of punches. Arou blocked each strike with ease, analyzing Kato's movements. When Kato threw a hard right hook, Arou intercepted it, countering with a swift punch to Kato's chest, followed by another to his face, forcing Kato to stagger back. Undeterred, Kato's fiery determination burned in his eyes as he launched another assault.

Kato's strikes came fast and relentless, but Arou remained impenetrable, blocking every blow and landing counters with precision. Kato swung his right fist again, only for Arou to deflect it and drive a powerful punch into his chest. Before Kato could react, Arou's left hand connected with his face, sending him skidding across the ground.

Kato scrambled back to his feet, frustration mingling with resolve.

Kato: (to himself) He's insanely strong. I haven't landed a single hit. So he was holding back during training? Damn it! I can't stop now. If I give up, everything everyone has done for me—Ervin, Mira, Isaiah, Takimo—it'll all be for nothing. I have to fight. I have to find a way out of this!

Memories of his friends flashed through his mind, fueling his determination. Kato rushed forward again, throwing a wild combination of punches and kicks. Arou remained calm, deflecting every blow. Each counter from Arou landed with punishing force, sending Kato sprawling to the ground time and again. Still, Kato refused to stay down.

Arou: (sighs) This isn't going anywhere. You've realized by now, haven't you? I was holding back during our training. You can't beat me.

Kato: (shouting) SHUT UP!!!

Fueled by rage, Kato lunged with a high kick aimed at Arou's head. Arou blocked it effortlessly. Kato followed with a left hook, only for Arou to counter with another precise punch, snapping Kato's head to the side. Kato retaliated with a desperate right hook that Arou dodged, grabbing Kato's hood and sweeping his legs out from under him. Before Kato could recover, Arou delivered a kick to his face, sending him reeling.

As Kato staggered, Arou pressed the advantage, unleashing a barrage of punches too fast for Kato to counter. Then, Arou uttered the words:

Arou: [BLACK: SHADOW FRAGMENTATION]

Two clones emerged from Arou's shadow, grabbing Kato's arms and restraining him. The real Arou stepped forward, delivering a brutal sequence of blows that left Kato dazed. His head swam, a sensation eerily reminiscent of the night he was taken by the Kaimi Daja. As Arou dismissed his clones, they dissolved back into his shadow, and Kato collapsed to the ground, his scarlet eyes fading back to their usual yellow.

Kato: (to himself) Damn it… I have to get up… I can't let it end here…

He tried to rise, but his body refused to obey. Looking up, he saw Arou towering over him, his victory assured.

Arou: (sighs) I didn't want it to come to this. You forced my hand, Kato. And where has that gotten you? Since you can't move, taking you back to the hideout will be a lot easier.

Arou activated his technique again.

Arou: [BLACK: SHADOW FRAGMENTATION]

Two clones reappeared, moving to lift Kato's limp body. But then…