At 5:43 a.m., Kurashi arrives at the Fukuoka train station. The screeching of the brakes dulled when the train appeared on the platform. Kurashi enters the compartment and notices it is sparsely populated, so he gravitates toward an empty seat by the window. He placed his bag in the seat beside him and took a deep breath as the clattering of the wheels began again. With his eyes gradually closing from the lack of sleep, he forces himself to keep them open.
As time passed, he slowly let his head fall against the train window., his eyes fixed on the bright sun rising over the horizon, its rays casting an orange glow on the world. As the train cut through Japan, Kurashi lifted his head off the window, looking over at his bag in the other seat. Unzipping the bag, he pulled out the worn-down journal of his late father. After reanalyzing the information, he was left with even more unresolved thoughts. Kurashi couldn't escape the questions about his existence and the mysterious bloodline his father spoke of in the journal. He puts the journal back and takes his phone from his hoodie pocket, the lock screen showing "11:25 a.m."
"Now arriving at Meitetsu-Gifu Line..." the train announces in an automated robotic tone.
Kurashi grabs his bag and gets off the train. The unfamiliar city was alive with activity, contrasting sharply with the tranquility of the train ride. With his bag over his shoulder, he moves through the city streets, which gradually give way to more rural landscapes with each step he takes. The quietude of nature surrounded him as he progressed, the Hida Mountains becoming more vivid. Upon entering the forest in front of the mountain range, Kurashi places his bag down next to a tree. He then rests, letting his back lean on the tree trunk. He reaches over to his bag, grabbing a water bottle and a dried meat stick for fuel. Looking up at the sun glimmering through the leaves, Kurashi's eyes slowly closed shut.
After a few hours, his eyes began to slowly reopen. Kurashi looks over to his left and grabs the neatly folded map out of his bag. As he analyzed it, he discovered that the marked spot was nearby. Following the map's guidance, he navigated through the dense woods until he stumbled upon the hidden cache of his late father, a thin black case covered in dirt. Kurashi took off his bag, wiping the dirt from the case. Inside was a katana, its handle and guard pure black with a blade made out of high carbon steel. There also laid a black sheathe with a shoulder strap connected to it, confirming the truth behind his father's journal. The strap went over his right shoulder, tightening it for the sheathe to fit firmly on his back. He then picked the katana up, his dead eyes reflecting off of the blade. The katana gently slid into the sheathe on his back. Calmly, Kurashi grabbed his bag, hoisting it onto his left shoulder, and continued on his walk.
Exiting the forest, he encountered the view of the broad mountain range. The ascending of the mountain was not only a physical challenge but symbolized the pursuit of who he was. After a cruel hike, Kurashi had made it, the breathtaking view from the top providing a moment of reflection. A convergence of past and present unveiled the path forward. While looking at the blue sky, he heard something zip right behind him.
"Are you lost? I can't have any trespassers around here." a commanding voice emerged from behind Kurashi.
Kurashi turns around to see a young man holding a kunai in his right hand, his jet black hair parted down the middle and his eyes crystal blue. Kurashi took the situation in, concluding that this guy must have been from his clan.
"Who are you?" the guy continued to question "What are you here for?"
A moment of silence fell before them as the stranger awaited an answer.
"Kurashi Ito..." Kurashi responded in a whisper.
The stranger froze for a moment after what he heard.
"Ito...that can't be. The Ito clan has been gone for almost a decade."
The guy examines Kurashi more closely, noticing the katana residing on his back.
"Wait, is that..." the stranger questioned in disbelief while lowering his kunai "So it's true...I never would have thought."
Spinning the kunai around his fingertip, the man took a final moment to scan Kurashi.
"Sorry about that, really..." his tone shifted from serious to friendly in an instant "Names Hikari Aoirai...C'mon, I'll show you the base".
Following behind Hikari, they walked further along the Hida Mountains before coming across the base. A valley set in the core of the mountains. The base, a harmonious blend of imposing high black metal walls and traditional Japanese architecture, revealed itself. The sight of flowing water, which gives the base its power, added an element of natural beauty to the secretive location.
They reach the entrance of the base, stopping under a black torri gate to take in the view.
"Welcome to Naishotetsu, son of Yasushi."