Shadow

Headquarters Hideout

Mitsuru finished her recounting. "That's basically how it went down."

Koni Dio turned to Kenmochi. "You don't remember anything, Kenmochi?"

"No, not a thing," Kenmochi replied.

Dio nodded. "At Mitsuru's request, your blood is being tested as we speak." He paused, frowning. "This is trouble."

"Why is that?" Mitsuru asked.

"I didn't want him to find out that we have someone like Kenmochi," Dio said.

"If I may say," Mitsuru interjected, "knowing him my guess is he knew."

Dio's eyes widened. "That's a possibility."

"Who is 'him'?" Kenmochi asked.

"He's the worst of them all," Gintama said grimly.

"No kidding," Konatsu added.

"He's the strongest crimson-blooded human," Dio explained.

Mitsuru elaborated, "A battle took place five years ago. Ten of the strongest Veymars fought against him. Everyone died but Dio."

"We managed to defeat him," Dio said, "but not completely. He's still regaining strength as we speak."

His phone rang. He picked it up, said, "I'm on my way," and vanished, leaving a trace of blood.

Gintama groaned. "God damn it, I wanna learn how to teleport so bad."

"Kenmochi," Mitsuru said firmly, "remember, whatever might happen, never break."

Kenmochi swallowed hard. "Got it."

Ginza, Tokyo

Koni Dio materialized in the bustling district. "Hello, Hina."

"Hello, old friend," Hina replied, her voice smooth as silk.

Dio stared at her quietly, saying nothing.

"Aww, why are we so quiet?" Hina teased.

"What do you want?" Dio asked coldly.

"I'll get straight to the point," Hina said. "Hand over the kid, and no one dies."

"You know I can't do that, right?" Dio replied.

"Aww, why not?" Hina pouted.

Dio's gaze turned icy. "Don't make me do this."

"I'm not here to fight you," Hina said. "But I want to tell you something." She spelled out, "K-O-N-I D-I-O."

Dio's eyes widened in shock.

Hina laughed. "Look at yourself, Dio!"

"H-How did you—" Dio stammered.

"Bye-bye, Dio," Hina said, vanishing in an instant.

Dio stood there, stunned, unable to speak.

Dio in his mind thought "h how is this possible "

Headquarters Training Grounds

Kenmochi watched Gintama and Konatsu sparring against Mitsuru in a 2v1 match. "They're going at it again," he muttered.

He turned, sensing a presence.

"Your hearing's getting better, kid," Koni Dio said, appearing behind him.

"yeah no kidding and I don't know why, but they seem slower than before," Kenmochi said.

"Mm, I get you," Dio replied. "For me, they're even slower."

"Is it true that that Oni guy is the strongest?" Kenmochi asked. "Even stronger than you, Dio?"

"He's unbeatable," Dio admitted. "His Crimson Arts are out of this world. But he's not perfect quite frankly he needs veymars blood,

Kenmochi said, "so blood is what he's after,"

Dio said. " You're blood kenmochi "

"So he wants my crimson blood huh" Kenmochi said.

"Yes," Dio confirmed.

"Is that even possible—to take someones blood as your own" Kenmochi asked.

"For almost most cases, no," Dio explained. "But he can take anyone's blood for himself, making him stronger than before. That's one of his Crimson Arts, that's what makes him so dangerous"

"How are we gonna beat someone like him, that can get stronger and stronger," Kenmochi said, voice trembling.

Dio said. "we just need to get stronger ourselves."

He extended his hand. "Let me teach you something. Take my hand."

Kenmochi grasped it, and they teleported in a flash.

"What is this? Why is the wind so strong? Where are we?" Kenmochi gasped, the gusts howling around him.

"Oh, right, the wind," Dio said casually. "We're at the mountain."

"A mountain?!" Kenmochi exclaimed. "Why the hell are we here?"

"This is the place where I was born," Dio said.

"Seriously? You were born at this place it's freezing how did they even" Kenmochi asked, incredulous.

"Not like that," Dio clarified.

"What else does it mean then?" Kenmochi pressed.

"This," Dio said, and with a sudden shove, he pushed Kenmochi off the mountain's edge.

Kenmochi plummeted, the ground rushing closer. Panic seized him—he didn't know what to do. Screaming, he flailed as the wind roared in his ears.

Dio watched from above, muttering, "Come on, kid, do it."

In his mind, Dio urged, Come on, come on…

To Be Continued…