Chapter 50: The Hunt Begins

Morning came too fast. The rain had stopped, leaving behind the damp scent of earth and wood, and the sky was that pale shade of gray before the sun fully wakes up. Hotaru sat on the shrine's worn steps, polishing her sword.

Behind her, the others stirred awake in the mess they called camp — Mira was wrapped in three blankets like a burrito, Ryuuji slept half-off his mat, and Tora was snoring loudly enough to scare away crows. Sai, as usual, was already awake, standing near the tree line with his arms crossed, eyes scanning the horizon like a ghost from his own past.

Hotaru didn't need to ask — she could feel it. Today wasn't going to be normal.

Kuro hopped onto her lap, purring softly as she scratched behind his ears.

"You ready for this, genius cat?" she whispered.

Kuro gave a confident meow.

"Alright, everyone!" Hotaru stood up, voice cutting through the quiet morning. "Wake up! We've got a clan ghost to hunt!"

Mira groaned. "It's too early to fight the undead…"

"Then wake up faster so they don't get a head start," Hotaru grinned.

Within minutes, they gathered around the smoldering remains of their campfire, chewing on whatever snacks were left. Sai tossed a small notebook into the center.

"I spent the night digging through old encrypted files Tora hacked from Kurogane's systems," Sai said. "And I found something disturbing."

Tora blinked. "Wait, I hacked that? I thought I was drunk that night— oh wait, I was."

Mira snatched the notebook and flipped it open. Pages were filled with coordinates, old names, and cryptic notes. One name was circled in red ink: Kaede.

"Who's Kaede?" Mira asked.

Sai's face darkened.

"She was the oldest trainee in the House of Crimson Frost. When I was still a kid, she was already a legend — ice-cold, deadly accurate, and terrifyingly loyal to the clan."

Ryuuji whistled. "And you think she survived?"

"I don't think." Sai's voice was cold. "I know. That message, the handwriting on the scroll — it was hers."

Hotaru's grip on her sword tightened.

"Then we find her. Before she finds us."

Kuro pawed at the map, tail flicking toward the eastern hills.

Tora leaned in. "Smart cat's got a point. If Kaede survived, she wouldn't be hiding in some city. She'd stick to places where no one looks — old training grounds, ruins, places that feel like home to her."

Sai nodded. "There's an abandoned Crimson Frost outpost near the Shadowed Cliffs. It's dangerous terrain, full of traps. But if she's hiding anywhere, it's there."

Mira stretched, popping her neck. "So, we're walking into a death maze after a revenge-obsessed assassin? Great. Love it."

Ryuuji grinned. "Don't worry, babe. I'll protect you."

"Please fall off a cliff."

Hotaru rolled her eyes but smiled at the banter. "Alright, team. Pack up. We're heading for the Shadowed Cliffs. Let's see if Kaede's ready for us."

As they marched out, the shrine stood silent behind them, a temporary home left behind like so many others. But this time, they weren't just running. This time, they were hunting.

And the hunt had just begun.

End of Chapter 50