Chapter 10: Family Time

After a long and exhausting mission, Katakuichi and Kimikage finally found a moment to rest. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the Yami District. As they sat on a bench, catching their breath, Kimikage's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Hey, Katakuichi! I want to introduce you to my foster family," he said, practically bouncing in his seat.

Katakuichi raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Oh, c'mon, now is not the time, Kimikage. We just finished a mission."

Kimikage leaned closer, his enthusiasm unwavering. "Oh, come on! They'll love you! It'll be fun!"

With a resigned sigh, Katakuichi relented. "Fine. Let's go."

The two friends made their way to Kimikage's house, the familiar path lined with trees swaying gently in the breeze. When they arrived, Kimikage knocked on the door, his excitement palpable.

Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Kimikage's foster family. They enveloped him in warm, wholesome hugs, their laughter filling the air.

"And who is this you brought with you?" his parents asked, their eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"This is Katakuichi! He's a friend from Kage no Daigaku!" Kimikage beamed.

"I'm glad you made some friends there, son," his father said, a proud smile on his face.

Katakuichi, feeling slightly out of place but appreciating the warmth, nonchalantly replied, "Hi."

As the family welcomed him inside, the atmosphere was filled with laughter and stories, a stark contrast to the weight of their recent mission. Katakuichi found himself relaxing, the tension of the day slowly melting away.

Meanwhile, far from the warmth of Kimikage's home, a different scene unfolded. Sensei Gaki and Sensei Shidou faced off against a mysterious masked man, the air thick with tension as they fought to protect a shadow relic of immense power. The masked man moved with a fluid grace, his intentions shrouded in darkness.

With a sudden burst of energy, the masked man unleashed his ultimate move, a dark wave of energy that struck Sensei Shidou. Gaki watched in horror as his comrade fell, the life extinguished from his eyes. The masked man laughed, a chilling sound that echoed in the night.

But Gaki, fueled by rage and grief, refused to let this stand. "You won't get away with this!" he shouted, pulling out his trump card. "Void Pulse!"

The air crackled with energy as Gaki unleashed his technique, the shadows around him swirling and coalescing into a powerful force. The masked man faltered, his laughter turning to panic as Gaki's attack overwhelmed him. With a final surge of power, Gaki defeated the masked man, but his victory was bittersweet.

Rushing to Sensei Shidou's side, Gaki knelt beside his fallen friend, desperation clawing at his heart. "No… not like this," he whispered, grief washing over him.

As Gaki prepared to head to Kage no Daigaku to relay the grim news, a chilling transformation began. Sensei Shidou's corpse shuddered, shadows swirling around it, and in a horrifying moment, it began to morph into a shadow demon, its eyes glowing with malevolence.