The Arrival of the Hunter

It was a long night, but Emiko wouldn't sleep. Though her limbs were heavy, though the dizziness from the surge of energy was still in her head, she forced herself forward.

She continued to train with the spirit core, and Kaito watched her with his arms crossed. She could read the lines craved into the stone like an open palm; in its burnt and calloused palm, that pulsed and flickered with dim light in time with her heart. She was improving — slowly, but surely.

"That's quite enough for tonight," Kaito finally said, his voice round and easy.

Emiko let out a sharp breath, unwilling but aware that there was no arguing. Her body felt dry, as if it had been wrung out, her energy zapped. She placed the spirit core in her lap, and leaned against one of the old shrine pillars.

Kaito: You held out longer this time. "Not bad."

Emiko shot him a tired glare. "You always say that. Did you ever just say 'good job'?"

Kaito smirked. "Don't want you getting too cocky."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't keep the tiny smile from creeping onto her lips. But the moment of peace did not last long.

There was a chill in the air.

Kaito tensed.

It was small at first — a change in the wind, a dim pressure against his senses. But he knew not to ignore it. A presence was drawing near.

And it wasn't friendly.

Emiko felt it too. She shivered, rubbed her arms. "What is that…?"

Kaito's gaze sharpened. "Someone's coming."

A split second later, the wind shrieked between the trees and a black shape darted toward them from the darkness.

Kaito reacted instantly.

He pushed Emiko but to the side and deftly, a curved blade swept through the air where she'd been. Sparks flew as that weapon collided with Kaito's sword, the shockwave blasting through the shrine.

Emiko crashed to the ground — her heart thumping in her chest — scrambling to get back on her feet. She barely caught a glimpse of their attacker before they disappeared again, too fast for her eyes to follow.

Kaito didn't miss a beat. He spun on his heel, slashing upward. The clang of steel sounded as if his opponent had blocked him, the force propelling both men backward.

Out of the shadows sprang a figure, a man cloaked in a long black coat with his face hidden by a hood. His weapons, a pair of glistening curved daggers, oozed leftover energy.

"Well, well," the stranger said, his voice smooth and yet chilling. "It's been a while, Kaito."

Kaito clenched his sword tighter. "The Tsubaki," he growled, irritation bleeding into his voice.

Emiko's gaze flickered back and forth between them. "They know each other?"

Tsubaki tilted his head. "You don't look so glad to see me. I assumed you would want to be thankful for the reunion."

Kaito scoffed. "I'd be more thankful if you weren't trying to kill us."

Tsubaki chuckled. "Orders, Kaito. You of all people should know."

Emiko stiffened. "Orders?"

"You're a Hunter," Kaito said bluntly.

Tsubaki nodded and spun one of his daggers between his fingers. "The Council isn't pleased with you, Kaito. You know the rules. "A Shinigami without a master is just a loose end."

Kaito's jaw clenched. "Them, so they sent someone after my ass finally."

"Not just anybody," Tsubaki said. "Me."

Emiko swallowed. She could sense it—the raw, crushing force radiating off Tsubaki was overwhelming. He was nothing like the other Shinigami they had battled. He was quicker, sharper, more dangerous.

However, Kaito did not seem fazed. "You should have brought backup," he said.

Tsubaki smirked. "Cute. Then we'll see if you're still so big when I carve you apart.'"

And then he vanished.

Emiko had hardly had time to react before the fight exploded in front of her.

Like a ghost, Tsubaki danced around the field, twin daggers glinting in the moonlight as he jabbed at Kaito, seemingly piercing him five or ten times in one second. Their blades clinked for a deadly dance of steel as Kaito deflected each blow with ease.

But Tsubaki was relentless.

He spun midair, his dagger arcing toward Kaito's ribs. Kaito tried blocking, but Tsubaki pitched forward and flipped over her opponent, landing in perfectly graceful form. Even before Kaito could rotate, Tsubaki was attacking again.

"He's so fast!" [Emiko thought, fists clenched.

Kaito parried another swipe, but they were beating him back. Tsubaki's speed was overwhelming, even with centuries of experience.

But then Tsubaki suddenly switched his target.

He lunged—straight for Emiko.

Her breath caught. The world around her seemed to freeze as the blade approached her throat.

But Kaito was faster.

He redacted, booting Tsubaki out of harm's way just before his knife could breach. The force made Tsubaki skid back a few feet, but he caught himself as if it were nothing, smirking meekly as if it were expected.

"You're protecting her?" Tsubaki mused, amused. "That's adorable."

Kaito didn't respond. His face was cold, arch, unreadable.

Tsubaki shook his head, letting out a sigh. "The Council will not allow this to pass, Kaito. You can't run forever."

"Then let them come," Kaito said. "I'm not going to play by their rules anymore."

Tsubaki's smirk died just a little. "Pity," he murmured. "I would've rather arrested you alive."

Then he moved back a step and, without another word, in a flash of motion was out of there, disappearing into the shadows as if he'd never been there at all.

And the night fell quiet again.

Emiko exhaled shakily. "That was… insane."

She glanced toward Kaito, who remained still as a statue behind her, his grip still tight on his sword. His eyes were fixed to the place where Tsubaki had gone, his face dark.

"Kaito," she said softly.

He didn't respond at first. Then, finally, he exhaled. "They'll keep coming," he said tersely. "We don't have much time."

Emiko frowned. "What do we do now?"

Kaito glanced at her, silver eyes glistening in the darkness. "We get stronger. Fast."