A World In Disarray

KNOCK

KNOCK

"Hey, Dawn, we need to talk. You can't stay in here forever," Joki called, but silence answered him.

Kazu sat on the floor just outside, hoping Dawn would eventually open up. Dawn hadn't eaten or seen the outside world in days. Yet even through the walls, they could feel his Reiki leaking out in waves as he struggled to suppress it.

"He's hurt in a bad way," Kazu murmured, eyes fixed on the door. "But right now, Dawn is crucial to the plan. If I have him by my side, I can continue on what to do next. All of you…for the most part, it seems like you're focused on revenge."

"There's more to it," Joki said quietly, his voice growing harder, "but I hate the idea that the person who took away such an amazing woman gets to walk free. He'll die no matter what." His eyes darkened with rage.

Joki knocked again. Still no reply. Kazu's expression tightened; he feared Dawn might no longer be stable enough to face anyone.

"Kazu, step back," Joki said at last. "I'll go inside."

Kazu nodded. Joki gripped the doorknob, exhaled, and pushed the door open. What he saw stopped him cold.

Dawn was curled up against the wall, his body frail and trembling, his limbs thinned from hunger.

"When was the last time you ate…Dawn?" Joki asked, voice low.

"…It's been two days," Dawn rasped, his stomach growling.

Joki approached the bed and sat beside him. He looked over and saw a tear slip down Dawn's cheek.

"Is she really gone…?" Dawn whispered.

"Yeah," Joki said softly. "I'm really sorry. But before the tears claim your spirit—before sorrow devours the edges of your heart—remember this: you aren't alone in feeling that level of hurt." His hand balled into a fist.

Dawn stared, unblinking, face blank. For two days he'd broken in silence, heart and soul sunk in darkness. Losing someone he loved wasn't new—but even though he'd known Nyssa only a short while, she'd given him the comfort he'd longed for since his brother's death.

"Joki…I trained so hard. I never took days off. I worked to control my power…but I couldn't. It's my fault she's gone…I knew when he came rushing at her, if I tried to stop his attack, I'd have been the one to die. It's all my fa—"

"And so…instead of facing reality, you shoulder all the blame, huh?" Joki interrupted sharply. "Dawn, I thought I taught you what patience was."

Joki stood, walking to the doorway. He looked back, and Dawn's eyes widened. That familiar respect and trust made Dawn instinctively want to listen.

Dawn hesitated, then stood and followed Joki out into the kitchen.

Kazu looked up and smiled as Dawn appeared.

"Your friend here, Kazu—he stands out in a special way," Joki said. "The plan to find you? All him. It would have taken me much longer, and who knows how much worse things could have gotten. You know what that means, don't you, Dawn?"

Dawn shook his head, still confused. He looked at Kazu's calm smile, bewildered how anyone could be at peace after what happened.

"No…I don't know. But, Kazu…how could you smile knowing that a woman's life was just taken? Someone who meant so much to everyone?"

"Because in the end…I learned from Joki how caring she was. He had a lot of experience with Nyssa, as you can probably tell," Kazu said gently. "The truth is, don't you think she got the ending she wanted? I never knew her well—same with you—but I'd imagine, up there in the sky, she's smiling knowing you're okay."

Dawn closed his eyes. He could hear Nyssa's voice in his mind, remember her kindness, her smile. The memory twisted painfully—and then, finally, he broke. He collapsed to his knees, sobbing.

Joki and Kazu knelt beside him.

"The reason she can be happy—and the reason we're happy—is because you made that possible, Dawn," Kazu said. "You being here was the best possible outcome. What we need from you now is strength—and that happiness you showed me back at the cave."

"Are you guys done whining?"

Everyone looked toward the door as Kashikoi stepped inside, expression flat.

Kazu and Joki fell silent. Dawn got up and slowly approached Kashikoi, who shifted his weight, expecting an attack. But instead, Dawn bowed low.

"I don't know if I'm doing this right…but I wanted to say…I apologize," Dawn said quietly.

Everyone stared in disbelief. Kashikoi awkwardly looked away. In everyone's eyes, he should have been the one apologizing.

"Dawn…what the hell could you possibly be apologizing to me for, considering everything I did?" Kashikoi asked.

"Because in the end…I couldn't keep Mom safe. I couldn't stop that man from attacking her—and I couldn't save her once the damage was done. I may have been given the right to call her 'Mother'—but…I could tell you did everything in your power to protect her."

Kashikoi sighed. Dawn's words cut deeper than he expected, but he had already wept all his grief. Now there were more important things. He stepped forward and extended a hand.

"Weakness is something you can't control. Besides…Nyssa would have been devastated if you died. In a strange way, I'd rather she went out happy than lived in misery. So…as you call her your mom, that makes us brothers. Whatever decisions you made—whatever weakness you have—we share it together."

Dawn smiled faintly and shook his hand. He'd thought his pain would only grow—but maybe it was meant to bloom into something greater.

Kashikoi walked past him and sat at the table across from Joki and Kazu.

"So…Joki, you called me here for this plan. What exactly have you come up with?" Kashikoi asked.

"Actually…it wasn't me." Joki gestured to the boy standing quietly. "It was him."

"…Him?" Kashikoi studied Kazu in confusion.

Kazu calmly stepped over to the table, gathering a stack of papers and laying them out in a perfect line. Each sheet bore a name and carefully noted contingencies.

"Kashikoi," he began, voice precise, "I waited until you arrived so I could walk you through everything at once. Joki briefed me on your capabilities, so I finalized the plan—though I'd have preferred more time. The man who killed Nyssa told us to meet him in Tokyo. That's obviously a trap."

"Yeah, but Tokyo's huge," Kashikoi said, glancing over the papers. "He didn't give any specifics. How did you make a plan without knowing where he'll be?"

"The specifics were surprisingly straightforward." Kazu met his eyes without flinching. "Joki keeps an entire shelf of reference books. I've spent two days researching everything—Tokyo's geography, its history, recent reports. I learned Reiki first emerged in Japan—and Japan still maintains some organized governance around it. If this man chose Tokyo, he almost certainly has ties to whoever controls order there."

He paused. "That alone narrowed our possibilities."

Kashikoi stared in disbelief.

Suddenly, Dawn dashed up, grabbing Kazu by the shoulders.

"Kazu! Since when were you this smart? When we met, I never would've imagined it!" Dawn shouted, eyes wide.

Kazu blinked, then let out a quiet laugh. "Dawn…honestly, it really isn't that remarkable."

Kashikoi scanned the assignments, frowning.

"Hey, kid," he said. "Me and Joki—our roles are almost identical. You want to explain that?"

"Of course." Kazu nodded. "You two are, without question, our strongest assets. If anyone can enter Tokyo, gather intelligence, and test my theory, it's you both."

"…Fair enough." Kashikoi sighed. "But then explain this—why are you and Dawn going to Africa? Lalibela? That sounds insane."

"Not insane. Just necessary." Kazu's voice never wavered. "There are aspects of Reiki we still don't understand. From everything I've discussed with Joki, I suspect a technique exists to regenerate Reiki mid-combat. Any enemy in Tokyo will probably have mastered it. If we don't prepare, we're gambling our lives."

He met Kashikoi's skeptical gaze.

"Lalibela is an underground church. Some of the oldest written Reiki records are stored there. I visited once before I met Dawn—it was abandoned, but I saw books that looked newer, as if they'd been placed there recently. Back then, I didn't care. Now…" he glanced at Dawn, "things have changed."

Dawn startled under his stare, feeling the weight of everything. The plan was flawless—but the execution had to be, too.

"So, that means…when the time comes, we have to be ready. Kazu, when do we leave?"

"In a month," Kazu said evenly. "Once a full month of extra preparation and training is done. We start today—Joki, Dawn, you two will begin—"

"Actually, kid—you're going a bit overboard," Kashikoi interrupted. "Dawn's coming with me."

Joki and Dawn turned, startled. Kashikoi stepped over and placed a firm hand on Dawn's head.

"From the kid with the huge brain—and you, Joki—I can see you two would help each other more. Dawn, you interest me. I'll train you. And maybe, along the way, we'll grow closer as family. Any objections?"

No one spoke.

Kashikoi turned to leave, but Dawn suddenly ran to Joki and hugged him tightly.

"Joki—thank you for everything you've shown me. When I get back, all the things I couldn't master—all the things I was stubborn about—I promise I'll master them. And I'll make you proud!"

Kashikoi's confusion softened into a smile as he saw Joki smile back.

Dawn ran to Kashikoi, and together they stepped out into the ruined city. Explosions lit the horizon, eerie screams echoing through the air. Neither flinched—they walked on, side by side.

The world was broken—no peace, no order. Only power mattered. Without it, you were no one.

Dawn stopped, fists clenched, thinking of Joki and Kazu.

"Kashikoi…I want to become strong enough to protect even someone as strong as Joki. So strong I'll never fear an enemy again. Can you promise me that?"

"…I can't promise you strength," Kashikoi said, looking him straight in the eye. "But I can promise you this—I'll give you the resolve to stand against any foe. Is that good enough?"

A breeze stirred, and Dawn stepped past him, determination burning in his eyes.

Kashikoi smiled, following behind.

"As I grow, and learn more about this life," Dawn said clearly, his voice steady, "I've decided…I won't just grow on my own. I want this world to grow with me. I'll do it with undeniable strength."