A DEAL WITH THE PAST

The Path to the One He Abandoned

The dusty road wound through the forest, hidden far from the main paths where other yokai creatures roamed. Naru rode in silence, while Kaito and Akihiro trailed a few steps behind him.

"I can't believe you've known where she lives all this time," Kaito muttered, trying to shake off the unease creeping into his bones.

"I didn't care," Naru replied without turning around.

"Cold," Akihiro commented, though his tone was more observational than judgmental.

Naru had always known where his mother was. He also knew that his father had passed away in the meantime, but he had no mercy. His brother… was somewhere. Maybe here, maybe not.

But he didn't care.

The only thing that mattered now was Leyla.

When they finally arrived, the sight before them was far from what they had expected.

A House of Dreams and Memories

At the top of the hill, surrounded by ancient maple trees, stood an elegant house made of dark wood, its roof covered in leaves shimmering under the moonlight. It wasn't grand, but it carried the spirit of the past—somewhere between an old shrine and a family estate.

The garden was perfectly maintained, with a stone path leading to the large doors. Clearly, someone lived here with care.

"Doesn't really look like someone 'ruined' ended up too badly," Kaito murmured, nudging Naru with his elbow.

Naru shot him a sharp look before stepping up to the door and knocking.

Only a few seconds later, the door opened.

A woman stood before them.

Tall, elegant, with long, silver-white hair and eyes that held both wisdom and pain. There wasn't a trace of surprise on her face. As if she had been expecting him.

"Naru," she said simply, as if she had seen him just yesterday, not after so many years.

Naru remained silent.

"Well? Aren't you going to say something?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No."

She sighed like someone who was used to his nature.

"Of course not. Well, then. Come in."

The house was just as peaceful and balanced inside as it was outside. Wooden walls, the scent of tea drifting in from a nearby room.

She sat down on a cushion by the low table and gestured for them to do the same.

"You know, I thought you'd show up one day," she said, pouring tea.

Naru ignored her comment and got straight to the point.

"I need you."

She laughed then, for the first time, with a touch of irony.

"Really? I wasn't needed for years, and now suddenly I am?"

"It's not about me," he cut her off.

Her eyes narrowed.

"It's about a girl."

"Leyla," he corrected her.

Her face grew serious.

"And what do you expect from me, Naru?"

"To open a portal. To help me go back for her."

She shook her head.

"You can't go back there."

Naru's expression hardened.

"What?"

"The laws of magic don't work that way," she explained. "You've already crossed into her world once. If you try again—the magic won't let you. But you can send someone else."

Silence fell.

Kaito and Akihiro exchanged glances, while Naru just stared at his mother.

"Why didn't you tell me this rule earlier?"

"Because you never asked."

Naru clenched his jaw.

"Whoever goes needs to be someone I trust," he said. "And someone strong enough to protect her."

"That's not the only problem."

Everyone flinched.

"If it's discovered that I helped… I'll be destroyed."

"No one will find out," Naru said firmly.

"You always talk like you can control everything," she said, a little weary. "But let's say I believe you. Who's going to go?"

Naru looked at Kaito and Akihiro.

They sighed.

"You really expect us to volunteer?" Kaito asked.

"I didn't expect anything from you," Naru replied. "But you're the only ones I have."

His mother watched him closely.

"You've changed so much," she said quietly. "But you're still the same stubborn boy I raised."

"Don't remind me," he muttered.

"I'll need some time to prepare the ritual," she finally said. "Come back tomorrow."

Naru nodded, then stood up without another word.

Kaito and Akihiro followed him to the door, but just as they were about to leave, her voice rang out behind him.

"Naru."

He turned.

His mother was looking at him.

"I'm glad you came."

Naru stared at her for a few seconds.

"Don't be," he said softly.

And then he walked out.

___

Sitting in the grand chamber of the palace, Naru, Kaito, and Akihiro finally faced the key question—who would be the one to cross into Leyla's world?

The silence was heavy.

"Well," Kaito was the first to speak, glancing at Naru. "Who's going? I assume it won't be me, because I'm not insane."

"You're not even capable," Naru muttered, leaning on his hand thoughtfully.

"We're not discussing that right now," Kaito waved him off. "So, who then?"

Akihiro let out a quiet sigh and raised his hand.

"I'll go."

Everyone turned toward him.

"What?" Kaito blinked. "Wait, wait, wait. Did you just voluntarily offer to step into the mortal world?"

"That's right."

"Well, now I know the end of the world is near."

"Very funny," Akihiro muttered. "But seriously. I'm the only logical choice."

Naru observed him, arms crossed.

"Why you?"

Akihiro sighed, looking at Naru with a mix of exhaustion and determination.

"First, I'm strong enough to protect her. Second, I think I'm the only one here, besides you, who actually managed to form some kind of friendship with her. Kaito is too incompetent, and you… you'd just kiss her instead of focusing on the task."

"I'm not that weak," Naru growled.

"Did I say something incorrect?"

"Yes."

"What exactly?"

"Everything."

"Oh, thank you for the clarification, how very polite," Akihiro rolled his eyes.

Kaito slammed his fist on the table.

"Guys! We have a serious mission here! We can't bicker like old women at the market!"

"I agree," Akihiro nodded. "I'm going, and you're staying here with Naru because someone has to make sure he doesn't self-destruct."

Kaito immediately raised his hand.

"I want it officially noted that I object to this decision, but if something happens and Akihiro fails…"

"I won't fail."

"If you do fail…"

"I said I won't."

"IF YOU FAIL, can I go then?"

Naru and Akihiro sighed in unison.

"No," they said at the same time.

Preparing for the Mission

Once they finally settled on a plan, Naru decided to spend the entire night explaining to Akihiro what he needed to do.

Sitting on cushions in the library, Naru sketched a map of the temple on a piece of parchment.

"This is the entrance," he pointed at the drawing. "If you get there, the first thing you'll see is a monk. Tall, gray-haired, looks like he knows everything but always acts mysterious. If you see him, you're in the right place."

"Got it," Akihiro nodded.

"If you don't see him…" Naru paused, thinking.

"Well?"

"Then pray to the gods that you're somewhere in Japan and not in some random parallel dimension."

Akihiro immediately stopped writing.

"You're joking, right?"

"No."

"Great. Fantastic. Just wonderful."

"Moving on," Naru ignored him. "If you make it to the right world, you'll find Leyla in one of the following places: her apartment, her workplace, or some bar where she's trying to cope with stress. But knowing how rational she is, she probably won't be drinking."

"So I have to search offices and Tokyo's streets?"

"Exactly."

Akihiro frowned.

"And how am I supposed to know where she works?"

Naru pulled a small piece of paper from his sleeve.

"This is her company's address. Memorize it."

Akihiro took it and studied it.

"I don't know if you realize this, but I've never been to the mortal world. Do you know how hard it'll be for me to navigate?"

"You're a genius, you'll figure it out," Naru waved dismissively.

"You have too much faith in my abilities."

"Well, I have to."

Kaito, who had been silent until now, decided to lighten the mood.

"I think we should disguise you before you go. You can't just show up looking like you stepped out of the samurai era."

"Good point," Akihiro admitted.

"So, modern clothes, normal hair, no sword," Kaito listed.

"Fine, no sword. But can I at least carry something for self-defense?"

Naru looked at him.

"You don't trust the human world?"

"No. I don't trust you when you're worried and irrational."

Naru opened his mouth to snap back but stopped himself.

"Fine, you can take one knife. But don't draw it unless absolutely necessary."

"Of course, because I just love causing chaos," Akihiro said sarcastically.

The Decision

When everything was finally ready, Akihiro sighed and looked at Naru.

"I hope you know what you're doing."

"I hope so too."

"This is not reassuring."

Naru remained serious.

"Bring her back, Akihiro. By any means necessary."

Akihiro nodded, and Kaito patted Naru on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, prince. If anyone can handle this mission, it's him."

Naru didn't respond.

Deep down, he knew—if Akihiro failed, he might never see Leyla again.