The forest was eerily silent, the wind whispering secrets among the trees as Unmei, Hanzo, and Daichi trudged through the underbrush. They had been following Kazu's trail for hours, their worry mounting with every step. The weight of Kazu's emotional turmoil from earlier hung heavily in the air, intensifying their urgency.
"Kazu wouldn't just vanish without a reason," Unmei said, his voice strained with concern.
Hanzo's sharp eyes scanned their surroundings, alert for any sign of their friend. "You're right, but something feels off. It's too quiet," he replied, unease creeping into his tone.
Daichi stopped suddenly, his gaze fixed on a clearing ahead. "Do you smell that?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Unmei frowned and sniffed the air. "Blood," he confirmed grimly.
They broke into a sprint, bursting into the clearing. The sight before them made their blood run cold. The ground was littered with the remnants of a fierce battle—fallen trees, scorched earth, and deep claw marks etched into the soil. The aftermath of the violence was undeniable and chilling.
In the centre of it all was a massive pool of blood, glistening ominously in the moonlight like a dark omen. Nearby lay the dismembered corpse of a yokai, its grotesque form torn apart with precision and fury—a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows.
Daichi knelt beside the bloodstains, his hands trembling as he touched the crimson splatter. "This is Kazu's," he whispered, dread filling his voice as he struggled to process the implications.
Unmei clenched his fists tightly. "Where is he? He couldn't have just disappeared!" His frustration mounted as panic threatened to overtake him.
Hanzo's usually calm demeanour cracked as he scanned the area for any signs of life. "There's no sign of him leaving. This much blood... he must be badly hurt," he said, feeling a knot of fear tighten in his stomach.
Daichi closed his eyes, his hands glowing faintly as he reached out with his healing energy. "I can feel remnants of his power. He was fighting hard—pushing himself to his limits," he explained, trying to maintain hope amidst the grim evidence surrounding them.
Hanzo cursed under his breath. "Why would he take on something this powerful alone?" The question hung heavy in the air, laden with unspoken fears.
Unmei's jaw tightened as realization dawned on him. "Because he didn't feel like he had anyone to rely on," he murmured, recalling Kazu's earlier words that had echoed through their minds since they began their search.
Daichi stood with renewed determination etched on his face. "We need to find him. Now."
As they fanned out to search for any further clues, Hanzo found a trail leading deeper into the forest—drops of blood staining the foliage like breadcrumbs leading them toward Kazu's fate.
The trail ended abruptly near a riverbank where the rushing water seemed to mock them as they searched desperately for any sign of their friend.
"Damn it!" Unmei shouted in frustration, slamming his fist against a nearby tree. "He's hurt, and we're wasting time!" His anger was fueled by helplessness; they had to find Kazu before it was too late.
Hanzo placed a reassuring hand on Unmei's shoulder. "We'll find him. He's too stubborn to give up now," he said firmly, trying to instil confidence in their mission.
Daichi's eyes were glued to the riverbank; hope flickered within him despite the grim circumstances. "He's alive," he said softly but with conviction.
Unmei and Hanzo turned to him, hope flickering in their eyes at Daichi's assertion.
"How do you know?" Hanzo asked cautiously.
Daichi gestured toward the bloodstains that trailed into the water. "This much blood should've killed anyone else. But not Kazu. He's strong. He wouldn't leave without a reason," he explained, drawing from both knowledge and intuition about Kazu's resilience.
Unmei nodded firmly, determination steeling his resolve. "Then let's keep moving. We'll find him, no matter what."
As they pressed on through the thickening darkness of the forest, a shadow watched from a distance among the trees—silent and hidden. It retreated quietly, carrying news of Kazu's plight to an unseen master who awaited eagerly in the depths of night.
Kazu was out there somewhere—wounded but alive—and whatever danger he faced wasn't over yet; it was only just beginning. The storm brewing on the horizon mirrored not only nature's fury but also the escalating conflict that lay ahead for them all—a battle that would test their bonds and challenge everything they believed about loyalty and strength in times of despair.