"WHAT!!?"
Glass shattered as it made impact on the floor. Kurosaki's fists were clenched so tightly that blood began to slowly drip onto the floor, pooling beneath him. His face contorted with a mix of rage and desperation. "What do you mean the girl is 'missing'?" There was a seeping madness in the tone of his voice, a barely restrained fury that promised violence.
The culprit of his ire stood, shaking slightly, his eyes wide with fear. "Elder, we tried to take the kid back to the mountains, but... we barely took our eyes off her. It was just a second, and... she made a break for it." His voice trembled, each word a plea for mercy as Kurosaki's small, aged figure seemed to grow in stature, his presence looming ominously over the man, who had fallen to his knees, quaking.
"…We lost her in the forest," he whispered, the words almost inaudible over the pounding silence that followed.
SPLAT!
Blood sprayed across the room, painting the walls with a grisly reminder of Kurosaki's wrath. The man's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, his plea for forgiveness ending in a brutal silence.
"Find her," Kurosaki growled lowly, his voice a dangerous rumble that caused shivers to run down the maids' spines as they cowered nearby. His eyes, blazing with unhinged determination, scanned the room. "Find her… my utopia is at risk… our peace against the monsters of this world… FIND HER!" His voice rose to a roar, echoing through the halls and instilling terror in all who heard it.
The maids and guards scattered, moving frantically to obey his command, their fear of Kurosaki's wrath pushing them to their limits.
"Now who the hell might you be?"
Kakine stared down at the girl, who stared back at him with wide, curious eyes. She slowly stumbled out of the bushes, her movements cautious yet deliberate, and strained her neck to look up at the tall, imposing teenager standing before her.
"I'm Index," she whispered, her voice soft but clear. She continued to gaze at him with a mixture of awe and curiosity, her initial wariness melting away as if simply introducing herself to him granted her a sense of safety, a belief that she had nothing to fear.
Kakine raised a brow in question, his expression one of mild confusion. "Index… what kind of name is that?" he muttered lowly, more to himself than to her. The name sounded strange to him, more like a title than a proper name.
"You?" the girl, Index, interrupted his thoughts, her voice earnest and innocent. "You?" she repeated, her eyes wide with expectation. Kakine was silent for a moment, studying her intently. A small twitch appeared at the corner of his lips, and he finally answered in an amused tone, "Kakine. Kakine Teitoku."
The girl's face lit up with surprise before she broke into a wide, bright smile. She let out an unrestrained, brief giggle, a sound so pure and joyful that it momentarily dispelled the weight of his… ordeal.
Despite the bandages wrapped around her frail form, the numerous bruises that marred her skin, and the clear signs of malnourishment, in that moment, the mysterious child looked almost divine under the sun's bright glow. Her hair, although matted and unkempt, caught the sunlight, creating a halo effect around her head. Her eyes, though tired, sparkled with an inner light that seemed to defy her dire circumstances.
For a brief moment, Kakine felt something within him waver. The face of this innocent girl, filled with an unshakable trust and pure joy, reminded him of someone from his past—someone he had long thought he'd hardened his heart against. His resolve, usually as unyielding as steel, seemed to soften, just a little.
Kakine cleared his throat, trying to push the unexpected emotions aside. "What are you doing out here all alone, Index?" he asked, his tone gruff but not unkind.
The girl flinched before looking down at her bare, scarred, and dirty feet. "I tried… to run away," she whispered, her fingers fidgeting against her soiled dress. "I don't know why… sorry." Her voice was fragile, trembling like a leaf in the wind. Kakine silently stared at her. 'What an odd kid,' he thought, apologizing for running away from an abusive situation. It made his insides twist and writhe in anger, but at the same time, he didn't feel anything. He'd seen it so many times that it had started to become far too familiar a scene for him to care.
"Hey," he said, before he could stop himself, as if taken over by someone else, "Run away if it hurts… there's nothing wrong with that." The girl stared at him with an unreadable expression on her face. It was as if hearing something so simple and obvious from a complete stranger had lifted a burden that had been weighing heavily on her heart for the longest time.
Kakine knelt to the ground, coming to eye level with the child. "Say, Index, do you mind telling me why you ran away?" He smiled at her, a gentle, calming smile, hoping to relax her. With a hesitant nod, she answered, "I… didn't want to do what they say anymore."
"What who said?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Elder," she replied.
"The village elder?"
"Mm-hmm," she confirmed with a nod of her head.
"I see, that's interesting," Kakine mused out loud. "Index, what does the elder make you do?"
"He opens my head," she replied, her voice devoid of emotion, as if she were stating a mundane fact.
"He does what now?" Kakine asked, looking baffled. 'Surgery? In this tiny village?' he thought. 'I scoured the place high and low and there was no sign of even a hospital.' A contemplative look came over his face. 'The tools and equipment required to perform any surgery would be needed, as well as a sterile area. And not to mention—' He looked at the curious six-year-old who was eyeing him with her one wide eye. '—there's no way a surgery to "open heads" wouldn't have left this kid in a critical state unless someone highly proficient in the procedure was present.'
This shitty village was hiding a lot more secrets than he had thought.
Clearing his throat, he continued, "Index, why does he open your head?" he asked, keeping a gentle smile on his face so as not to frighten the girl. She was silent for a moment, eyeing him with a new look, an expression that showed hesitation mixed with doubt before her eye gleamed with determination.
"To read one of the bad books in me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kakine's mind raced as he tried to process what she had just said. 'Bad books? In her?' His thoughts spun in a chaotic whirl, trying to piece together the fragments of information. He had encountered many bizarre and disturbing things in his life, but this was something entirely new.
He looked at Index, her frail form trembling slightly as she awaited his response. Her golden eye was filled with a mixture of fear and hope, as if she was desperately clinging to the possibility that he might believe her and offer her some kind of salvation.
"Bad books?" he repeated, his tone soft but firm. "What do you mean by that, kid?"
She took a deep breath, her fingers still nervously fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "The elder says I have bad books inside me," she explained, her voice quivering. "He opens my head to read them. He says they're dangerous and that I have to be punished for having them."
Kakine's mind reeled at her words. "… What?"
Before Kakine had any chance to delve further into what the strange girl had just said, a steel arrow, moving at the speed of a bullet, flew straight toward his arm. He reacted instinctively, his wings materializing in an instant to catch the arrow just before it struck.
'I didn't sense anyone near me,' Kakine thought, now on high alert. He grabbed Index and pulled her close, shielding her with his body. 'Guess the kind village elder's done playing nice.' An arrogant, deranged grin spread across his face. 'That's fine. I like getting my hands dirty.'
Out of the shadows emerged men in strange uniforms, reminiscent of medieval English knights. Their armor gleamed under the dappled forest light, a stark contrast to the modern world Kakine was used to. These men were armed with a variety of weapons—swords, axes, maces—but all were nonmodern, as if they had stepped out of another era.
The forest around them seemed to grow darker, the tension palpable. The rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds were the only sounds breaking the heavy silence. Kakine's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. He counted at least ten men, each one poised and ready to attack.
Kakine's wings unfurled to their full span, shimmering with an otherworldly light. "Looks like I'm going to have a little fun in this no-name hole after all," he snarled, his voice dripping with menace.
"Elder," a smooth voice called out, echoing through the grand hall where the elderly man sat on a large, luxurious chair. The chair was intricately carved from dark wood, adorned with rich velvet cushions, and positioned on a raised dais, exuding an air of authority and power. The hall itself was opulent, with tall, arched windows that allowed streams of golden sunlight to illuminate the marble floors and the intricate tapestries that depicted the village's storied history.
The speaker was a woman dressed in an elegant kimono, the fabric shimmering in hues of deep blue and silver. Her long, pristine black locks cascaded down her back, framing her cherry-red cheeks. She stood beside the elder, her head humbly bowed, her demeanor one of reverence and submission. "They've located the girl and are in the process of retrieving her," she reported, her voice steady and respectful.
The elder, an imposing figure despite his advanced age, stroked his long, white beard thoughtfully. His eyes, sharp and calculating, betrayed the wisdom and ruthlessness that had allowed him to maintain control over the village for so long. He wore a robe of deep crimson, embroidered with gold threads that depicted ancient symbols of power and protection.
"Good, good," he said, his voice a harsh rasp that commanded attention. "And the sorcerer?" he asked, his tone hardening as he spoke the word.
"The knights have encountered him as well," the woman answered, her gaze still lowered. "Would you like me to go as well? No matter the grade, a sorcerer is still a sorcerer," she suggested, her voice tinged with a hint of concern.
The elder considered her words for a moment, his brow furrowing in contemplation. He then waved his hand dismissively. "No, that won't be necessary," he replied, his voice filled with confidence. "Even if they aren't sorcerers, the Black Knights were trained in the art of magic and possess cursed weapons with skills that are said to be on par with that of the Sorcerer Killer himself."
His words hung heavily in the air, a testimony to the Black Knights' formidable reputation. These knights, clad in their archaic yet fearsome armor, were not mere soldiers but elite warriors trained in the ancient and dark arts. Their weapons, imbued with powerful cursed energy, were capable of inflicting immense damage and countering sorcerers' defenses.
The men in armor advanced, their movements synchronized and disciplined. The leader, a tall man with a plumed helmet, stepped forward, raising his sword. "Surrender the girl and we will spare your life," he commanded, his voice cold and authoritative.
Kakine's grin widened. "Spare my life?" he mocked. "You must not know who you're dealing with."
Without warning, he launched himself at the nearest attacker, his wings slicing through the air with lethal precision. The man barely had time to react before Kakine's wing slashed through his armor, sending him crashing to the ground.
Chaos erupted as the other knights charged. Kakine moved with the fluidity and speed of a seasoned warrior, his wings a blur of motion. He struck with deadly accuracy, each movement calculated to inflict maximum damage. The forest floor became a battleground, littered with fallen leaves and broken branches.
Index clung to Kakine, her golden eye wide with terror. She had never seen anything like this before. The men's shouts and the clash of metal rang in her ears, a stark reminder of the danger they were in.
One knight swung his sword at Kakine, aiming for his exposed back. But Kakine anticipated the move, twisting around to deflect the blow with his wing. He retaliated with a powerful kick, sending the knight sprawling.
"That foolish child will be brought down easily".
The woman nodded, accepting his decision without question. "As you wish, Elder," she said, her voice soft but resolute. She knew better than to challenge his judgment, for he had led them through many trials with his shrewdness and unwavering resolve.
The elder leaned back in his chair, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "The sorcerer will meet his end soon enough," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. "And the girl… she will be returned to us. Everything is proceeding as planned."
The woman remained silent, her mind racing with thoughts of the upcoming confrontation. She had seen the Black Knights in action before, their merciless efficiency and unyielding loyalty to the elder. Yet, she couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. This sorcerer, whoever he was, had already proven to be an… unpredictable… opponent. She silently prayed that the elder's confidence was not misplaced.
As she stood there, the elder's mind drifted to the ancient texts and forbidden knowledge that lay hidden within the child. The girl, Index, was key to unlocking these secrets. Her "bad books" were not mere legends but a repository of dark and powerful magic that the elders' of the village had sought for decades. He had gone to great lengths to ensure she remained under his control, and he would not let one mere sorcerer stand in his way.
The elder's gaze hardened as he thought of Kakine, the intruder who had dared to challenge his authority. He would soon learn the true power of the village and its guardians. "Prepare the ritual chamber," the elder commanded, his voice breaking the silence. "We must be ready when the girl returns."
The woman bowed deeply, her kimono brushing the floor as she did. "Yes, Elder," she said, before turning to carry out his orders.
As she left the hall, the elder's thoughts turned once more to the impending clash. The stage was set, and the players were in motion. He would reclaim what was his, and those who opposed him would face his wrath.
Another attacker lunged at him with a spear. Kakine dodged to the side, grabbing the shaft and yanking the man off balance. With a swift motion, he disarmed the knight and used the spear to knock him unconscious.
Despite their archaic weapons and armor, the knights were formidable opponents, their training evident in their coordinated attacks. But Kakine's abilities far surpassed their expectations. He moved with a supernatural grace, his wings cutting through the air like blades of light.
The leader of the knights watched in horror as his men fell one by one, their groans of pain and the clatter of weapons echoing through the forest. Desperation etched across his face, he shouted, "Fall back! Regroup!"
The knights scrambled to obey, retreating into the shadows of the trees, their once-disciplined formation now a chaotic retreat. Kakine stood in the midst of the carnage, his wings unfurled and glowing faintly in the dim light. His expression was one of cold amusement.
"I barely had to put any effort at all," Kakine sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "If this is the best your village has got, then I'm disappointed."
The knight leader, a man of imposing stature and once unshakable confidence, now grit his teeth in frustration and glared at Kakine with blazing eyes. The humiliation of their defeat burned deeply, and his hands clenched around the hilt of his sword. "I wasn't trying to kill you at first," Kakine spoke, his tone detached and void of emotion, "I wanted to see just what you were capable of, what to expect."
Kakine's shadow loomed over the fallen knight, his presence exuding a menacing aura. The knight quivered under his gaze, the rage and power emanating from Kakine like a palpable force. "But," Kakine continued, his tone darkening, "I don't think I have much of a reason to hold back anymore."
The knight's face contorted with fear as he realized the full extent of the threat before him. Kakine's wings flared, casting an eerie light over the scene. The forest, once a serene haven, now felt like a place of impending doom. The knight's breaths came in ragged gasps as he struggled to push himself up, his limbs weak and trembling.
Kakine's eyes were cold, devoid of mercy. He stepped closer, his movements deliberate and slow, savoring the fear that radiated from the knight. "Your mistake was underestimating me," he said softly, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Now, you'll pay for that."
With a swift motion, Kakine's wing slashed through the air, aimed directly at the knight.
Blood soaked the green grass, turning the serene forest floor into a grim battlefield. The metallic scent of blood hung heavily in the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest. Kakine had made quick work of the escaping knights, his speed and precision leaving them no chance to escape. His movements were a blur, a deadly dance of wings and lethal strikes that ended lives in mere moments.
"What a pain," Kakine groaned, surveying the carnage. Bodies lay strewn across the grass, their once gleaming armor now tarnished with blood and dirt. "Oh well, at least I was able to keep one alive." He turned to face the unconscious knight he had intentionally spared.
As Kakine's thoughts drifted, a broken whimper pulled him back to the present. He looked down to see Index, her small frame trembling slightly, her golden eye fixated on the blood-soaked grass with a strangely numb expression. She seemed detached, as if the horrors around her were something she had come to expect.
Sensing Kakine's gaze, Index turned her head to face him. He was used to seeing fear in the eyes of those who witnessed his power—he reveled in it, thrived on it. But Index, a child no older than seven, looked at him with no fear. Instead, her eyes held a mixture of curiosity and awe, as if she were seeing something magnificent and terrifying at the same time.
It made him chuckle, a low, amused sound that rumbled from his chest. "What an interesting brat," he muttered aloud, more to himself than to her. The innocence of her gaze, despite the bloodshed around them, was a stark contrast to the violence he had just unleashed.
A groan from the ground brought him back to the task at hand. The knight he had spared was beginning to stir, his body twitching as he regained consciousness. Kakine's eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer, his wings folding back slightly as he loomed over the fallen man.
The knight's eyes fluttered open, and he winced in pain. He looked up to see Kakine standing above him, and his face contorted with a mixture of fear and defiance. "W-what do you want from me?" he stammered, his voice weak and trembling.
Kakine smirked, crouching down to be at eye level with the knight. "Information," he said simply, his tone cold and commanding. "You're going to tell me everything you know about the village, the elder, and why he wants the kid so badly."
The knight's eyes flickered with hesitation, but a sharp look from Kakine quickly quelled any thoughts of resistance. "You have no idea what you're dealing with," the knight muttered, his voice barely more than a whisper.
"Enlighten me," Kakine replied, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous intensity.
"What?"
"I told you as clearly as I could, don't make me keep repeating myself," the older man growled in a rough voice, though there was no real venom in his words. His stern gaze fixed on the younger man before him, who leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed and a serious expression etched on his face.
"These are orders from Tengen himself," the older man continued, his tone heavy with the weight of importance. The younger man's interest was piqued as he listened intently. "A fluctuation of some sort of energy was recently detected somewhere on the outskirts of Tokyo city, and—"
"And whatever it is… it's got those wrinkled old farts on edge, huh?" the younger man interjected, his voice laced with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.
"…Yes," the older man admitted, his brows furrowing slightly. "And… well… we're not quite sure about this, but… there have been reports from people entering or leaving Tokyo from that route, about a village appearing and disappearing on sight."
The younger man's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with interest. "And you want me to check it out, right?"
"…Right," the older man confirmed, nodding slowly. His gaze softened for a moment, a hint of concern flickering in his eyes. "This is no ordinary mission. Be careful out there."
There was a momentary pause as the younger man considered the task before him. Then, he began to smirk, a confident, almost mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Alright," he said, his voice brimming with anticipation.
He pushed himself off the wall with a fluid motion, his white, messy hair subtly swaying as he moved. His round, dark glasses perched precariously on the tip of his nose, giving him an air of casual nonchalance. But it was his eyes—those alluring blue eyes that shone like jewels—that held the true spark of his character.
"Sounds interesting," he remarked, his tone light but with an underlying edge of excitement.
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