The Next Day
Early Morning came quickly and Sukiko energetically got up yet again.
"Mom, Mom can I go play with Nagomo today ?"
She was eager to train and become stronger to protect her beloved mother.
Okada smiled softly. "Of course, sweety. We'll head over to their house after breakfast. Just make sure you eat first, okay?"
"Sure mom"
Sukiko then practically inhaled her breakfast, before running to wash her dishes. Within minutes, she was ready to leave.
It took Okada and Sukiko a few Minutes until they came close to Nagomo's Home. Something felt off. It smelled odd, sweet but also oddly rusty.
"Mom, do you smell that?" Sukiko asked making sure she was not the only one.
Okada ignored her and frowned "Stay close to me, Suki."
As they approached the house, the smell became stronger, iron, thick in the air. Sukiko's heart began to race. Okada stopped suddenly, her body tense.
"Suki, stay behind me!" Okada Commanded.
'What's going on, why am I shivering so much, I'm scared.'
To Ease her feeling just a bit Sukiko gripped the back of Okada's clothing as if it were the only thing keeping her from falling into the abyss of fear.
After cautiously walking slowly, they reached the door, which was slightly ajar. Okada pushed it open cautiously, her hand resting on the hilt of a kunai strapped to her side.
The moment the door creaked open, the smell hit them full force. Blood. Lots of it, the smell was intense, Like Metal with a foul odor mixed in .
Sukiko gasped, her eyes wide as she saw the horrific scene inside. The house was in shambles, with furniture knocked over, broken glass scattered on the floor.
'What Happened, Where's Nagomo, Where are his parents ?'
Okada took a couple of steps in and Sukiko holding onto her Mothers clothes for dear life instinctually followed when her hand was pulled along.
Once Inside, Sukiko immediately spotted a person. His Body was covered in dried Blood, his skin was turning pale and his eyes had no life in them.
"Mom!" Sukiko cried out, but her voice was barely a whisper.
Okada didn't answer and instead continued to walk through the house.
After turning around the Corner, Sukiko let go of her Mothers clothes and her knees went weak as she collapsed onto the floor.
She could never forget the scene in front of her eyes. Before her laid the Body of Nagomo's father, Kuromuro, lying in a pool of blood.
Sukiko's earlier Breakfast felt wrong in her stomach and she puked it out and collapsed onto the floor unable to handle the gory scene.
Sukiko Cried out as loud as she could, tears forming in her eyes. "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!"
Okada heard her and rushed over as fast as she could. But she also froze seeing the Body.
She then saw movement from the corner of her eye and got into a defensive position trying to shield Sukiko.
She saw a woman, on closer inspection it was Sabuki.
She was almost unrecognizable. She was breathing Heavily, her legs were bent in ways they should not be and her body was covered in many cuts of different depth. Her skin was pale from Blood Loss and her clothes were all torn. Her hands and feet were tied together with rope, leaving marks on her skin.
Shocked by the scene, she took a few seconds to compose herself and rushed over.
"Sabuki!" Okada yelled. Trying to get a response.
No matter how hard Okada tried, she got no response out of Sabuki, she decided to do the only thing she could and bandaged her wounds as best as she could with cloths that she grabbed from the bathroom.
Meanwhile as Sukiko slowly started to adapt to her surrounding, also heard movement. She wanted to scream for her mother, but she left the room to get more cloths to stop Sabuki's bleeding.
She held her breath and slowly went towards the sound she heard.
Nagomo sat against the wall, alive but catatonic.
Sukiko upon seeing it was Nagomo, was relived, but as she took a closer look she paled.
His eyes were hollow, his face streaked with tears. His small frame shook uncontrollably, his hands clutching his knees as he rocked back and forth.
"Hey Nagomo, hey, It's me Sukiko. I'm here, hello…"
Nagomo was completely response less to her words and he continued to rock back and forth.
Sukiko tried to hold him and to stop his movement, it was then when Nagomo finally looked at her and stared for a few seconds and he asked a question that horrified Sukiko.
He said "Who are you ?"