Kaito's House
Kaito arrived home, still feeling the adrenaline from the battle and recent events. He entered through the front door, trying to maintain his calm and composure. The familiar smell of the house and the soft sound of the television welcomed him, providing a momentary relief from the tension.
Entering the living room, Kaito found his mother, Miki, and Asia sitting on the couch, chatting animatedly while watching a TV show. The environment was peaceful and cozy, contrasting sharply with the day's events.
Miki, seeing Kaito enter the door, widened her eyes in surprise. "Kaito! What are you doing home? Shouldn't you be at school?" she asked, her voice full of surprise and concern.
Kaito smiled slightly, trying to calm his mother. "I had to take care of some important things, Mom. But everything is fine now."
Asia, sitting next to Miki, blushed intensely upon seeing Kaito. She tried to look away, but couldn't avoid her cheeks turning red. The memory of the kiss Kaito gave her earlier and the conversation she had with Miki about it left her visibly embarrassed.
Miki noticed Asia's blush and smiled softly, understanding the situation. She looked at Kaito with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You know, Kaito, Asia and I were talking about you earlier."
Kaito raised an eyebrow, curious and slightly worried. "Oh? About what?"
Asia blushed even more, nervously holding her hands in her lap. "A-about... what happened earlier," she murmured, her voice almost inaudible.
Kaito approached and sat next to Asia on the couch, putting a protective arm around her. He looked at his mother, waiting for an explanation.
Miki smiled, trying to ease the tension.
Kaito looked at Asia, who was still blushing and trying to avoid his gaze.
He gently held her chin, lifting her face so he could look into her eyes. "Asia, you don't need to feel nervous or confused. I care a lot about you and want you to feel comfortable and safe with me."
Asia smiled timidly, feeling a bit more relieved with Kaito's words. "Thank you, Kaito. I care a lot about you too."
Miki watched the scene with a warm smile, feeling happy to see the connection between her son and Asia. "You two are adorable together," she commented, leaning back on the couch and relaxing.
Taxi
Meanwhile, in a taxi on the way to another city, Freed was visibly irritated. His face was contorted in an expression of rage, and he was constantly fidgeting in his seat, making the driver increasingly nervous.
The driver, a middle-aged man with graying hair, looked in the rearview mirror, trying to stay calm. "Sir, is everything okay?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Freed scoffed, glaring at the driver through the rearview mirror. "Of course, it's not okay, you idiot. Just drive and shut up!" he growled, impatiently tapping his foot on the taxi floor.
The driver swallowed hard, turning his attention back to the road. He drove more cautiously, trying not to provoke Freed's fury further. The atmosphere inside the taxi was tense, each second stretching out endlessly.
Freed crossed his arms, huffing in frustration. "Those damn Devils will pay for this. I'll find a way to finish them all," he muttered to himself, hatred burning in his eyes.
The driver continued to drive in silence, praying for the journey to end soon. Freed's presence was oppressive, and he wanted to get rid of this passenger as quickly as possible.
Time Skip
Kaito's Room
It was already early morning when Kaito, feeling the need to train his new powers, quietly left his house. Asia slept peacefully in her bed, her face serene under the soft moonlight coming through the window. He looked at her for a moment, feeling a wave of protection and affection, before turning and leaving the room.
Kaito descended the stairs carefully to avoid making noise and waking his parents. Upon reaching the front door, he looked back one last time, making sure everything was in order. With a deep sigh, he activated the teleportation magic circle under his feet, a soft glow enveloping his body before disappearing in a flash of light.
Kuoh Forest
Kaito materialized in an isolated clearing in the middle of Kuoh forest. The full moon shone brightly in the sky, illuminating the area with a silver light. The trees around swayed gently in the wind, creating a calming sound that contrasted with the internal tension he felt.
He took a deep breath, feeling the energy of the forest around him. The air was fresh and filled with the aroma of pine and damp earth. Kaito extended his hand and, with a thought, activated the ring on his finger. A soft light emanated from the ring, and it transformed into an ethereal spear, Vendetta, with a golden shaft and a sharp blade that gleamed under the moonlight.
Before starting any training, Kaito knew he needed to ensure no humans approached. With a firm gesture, he created a magical barrier around the clearing, an invisible field of energy that would ward off any human intruders. Feeling safer, he turned his attention to the spear in his hand.
Kaito concentrated, trying to move the spear with just the power of his mind. He closed his eyes, focusing all his energy on the mental connection with Vendetta. Gradually, he felt the spear begin to respond, moving slightly in the air, as if floating on its own. He opened his eyes, watching in wonder as the spear moved around him, controlled only by his mind.
A movement caught his attention. A small tanuki, a typical animal of Japanese fauna, was inside the magical barrier, curiously watching Kaito. The tanuki seemed unaware of the potential danger, approaching the clearing further.
Kaito looked at the small animal, an idea forming in his mind. He needed to test his ability to turn objects to stone and, more importantly, reverse them to their original form. Feeling a pang of remorse, he pointed the spear at the tanuki and, with a gentle touch, the spear's tip touched the animal's skin.
A bluish light radiated from the spear's tip, quickly spreading over the tanuki's body. In seconds, the small animal was completely petrified, turned into a stone statue. Kaito observed the result, feeling a mix of satisfaction and concern.
'Now, let's see if I can bring it back,' Kaito thought.
He concentrated again, this time focusing on the magical energy needed to reverse the process. With a delicate movement, he touched the spear's tip to the stone statue, imagining the tanuki's original form in his mind. The bluish light began to recede, and slowly, the tanuki returned to its living form, looking around, confused but unharmed.
Kaito smiled, feeling a wave of relief and accomplishment. He had managed to turn the tanuki to stone and bring it back to life. It was a significant step in mastering his powers. The small animal, realizing it was no longer in danger, ran into the forest, disappearing among the trees.
Feeling more confident, Kaito turned his attention to the trees around the clearing. He needed to continue practicing, testing the limits and possibilities of his abilities. He moved the spear with his mind, striking another tree and watching the bluish light spread over the bark, turning it to stone.
With growing control, he reversed the transformation, watching the tree return to its original form. He repeated the process several times, each time feeling more secure and skillful. The night advanced, but Kaito was determined to continue his training until he fully mastered Vendetta and its capabilities.
As the moon shone in the sky, Kaito continued to train in the isolated clearing, each movement, each transformation, and each reversal bringing him closer to understanding and controlling his new powers. The forest, under the moonlight, became his training ground, a place where he could become stronger and more prepared for the challenges to come.
Time Skip
After hours of intense training, Kaito felt exhausted but satisfied with his progress. He looked at the clearing, now with several trees and vegetation partially turned to stone and reverted to their original form. Feeling responsible for taking care of the environment, Kaito decided to fully restore nature to its natural state.
Kaito raised the Vendetta spear before him, concentrating. With a thought, he made the spear transform back into a ring, which slid smoothly onto his finger. The spear's soft glow disappeared, leaving only the golden ring with green pearls.
He closed his eyes, feeling the magical energy flowing through his body and connecting to the earth around him. With a deep breath, he extended his hands, invoking nature's magic. The energy began to pulse from his hands, glowing with a soft green light.
Gradually, the trees and vegetation began to respond to Kaito's call. The tree leaves glowed with a vibrant green, and the trunks began to regenerate, becoming stronger and healthier than before. The plants around the clearing bloomed, their bright and vibrant colors contrasting with the moonlight.
The sounds of nature filled the air, the rustling leaves and the soft whisper of the wind creating a harmonious melody. Kaito maintained his concentration, feeling in tune with nature as the clearing restored itself.
Within minutes, the clearing was completely revitalized, the trees and vegetation grown and lush. Kaito opened his eyes, observing the result with a satisfied smile. Nature had been restored, and he felt at peace with his surroundings.
With one last look at the now rejuvenated clearing, Kaito activated his teleportation magic circle. A soft glow enveloped his body, and in an instant, he disappeared from the forest, leaving only the tranquility of nature behind him.
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