*The Evening Before the Moonfang Incident*
The evening slowly descended over Kenkai Base, and the golden streaks of the setting sun cast long shadows across the ground. Aki and Tatsuo had retreated to a quiet corner, away from the noise and chatter of the other Sentinels. It was one of those rare moments when they weren't preoccupied with training or missions.
Tatsuo sat on a large rock, his head tilted back as he gazed at the sparkling night sky. "Aki," he began quietly, "have you ever thought about what it really means to be a Sentinel?"
Aki, sitting beside him and idly tossing small stones onto the ground, turned his head. "What do you mean?"
Tatsuo pulled his knees up and wrapped his arms around them. His face suddenly looked more serious than usual. "I mean… what if one day we're not here anymore? What if we don't make it? What will we leave behind?"
Aki was taken aback by Tatsuo's sudden seriousness. Usually, Tatsuo was the one who made light of everything, even the most difficult situations. "That's a pretty grim question for someone who usually jokes about being invincible."
Tatsuo chuckled softly, but it sounded bitter. "Maybe. But… sometimes I think about it. I've changed, you know? I used to fight just for myself. I only wanted to get stronger, for me. But then… then you came along, and so did the others. You all showed me there's more to life than that. That there are people worth fighting for."
Aki felt a lump forming in his throat. He knew Tatsuo didn't say things like this often, and it touched him deeply. "You're not just fighting for yourself anymore," he said softly.
"No," Tatsuo replied, looking at him. "I'm fighting for you. For everyone. Because you're my family. And I know you don't need me to save you, Aki. You're strong—stronger than anyone I know. But… I want to be there, just in case you ever do."
Aki turned his head away, but not fast enough to hide the tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. "You're an idiot," he mumbled, but his voice trembled.
Tatsuo grinned widely, as if he had just won something. "An idiot, yeah. But your idiot."
The two sat in silence for a while longer before Tatsuo draped an arm around Aki. "No matter what happens, Aki. No matter how bad it gets. I promise, I won't leave you alone."
Aki swallowed hard. "And I promise you, I'll do everything to protect you."
Tatsuo grinned again. "Alright. Then we're even."
Moonfang Arc
Episode 19 – Brothers (Special)
The sun was slowly setting over the wide training grounds of the Sentinels, and its last rays bathed the surroundings in golden light. Aki leaned against a tree, watching the gentle breeze rustling the leaves. In his hand was a water bottle, but he wasn't drinking from it—he was too lost in thought.
"Hey, daydreamer!" Tatsuo suddenly appeared beside him, clapping a broad hand on Aki's shoulder. "What are you doing out here alone? The others are already in the canteen."
Aki flinched slightly but quickly relaxed. "I just wanted to get some fresh air."
"Come on," Tatsuo said with a mischievous grin. "Fresh air? That sounds like a cheap excuse. You're back in your 'I-have-to-take-everything-seriously' mode again, aren't you?"
Aki rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling. "And what's your excuse for being out here? Let me guess: you forgot we were meeting in the canteen?"
Tatsuo shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe I just wanted to make sure you weren't sulking somewhere alone again."
Aki snorted. "How thoughtful of you."
"You know what?" Tatsuo said suddenly, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's ditch this place. Just for tonight. No training, no rules, no missions."
"What?" Aki asked, confused. "You do realize we have a mission early tomorrow morning, right?"
"Exactly!" Tatsuo exclaimed, grabbing Aki's hand and pulling him away from the tree. "A little fun will do you good. Come on, before anyone notices we're gone."
Before Aki could protest, Tatsuo had already half-dragged him across the grounds. Despite his initial reluctance, Aki couldn't help but be swept up by Tatsuo's boundless energy.
The two snuck out of the training grounds, climbed over the fence, and ran in a direction only Tatsuo seemed to know. It felt strange to break the strict rules of the Sentinels, but Aki trusted Tatsuo completely.
After half an hour of walking, they reached a small hidden field. It was a peaceful spot, surrounded by tall trees, with a small stream trickling through the grass. The sky had now deepened into a rich blue, and the first stars were beginning to shine.
"So this is where you go when you need your 'fresh air,' huh?" Aki asked with a hint of sarcasm.
"Not bad, right?" Tatsuo said, flopping down onto the grass. "Sometimes you just need a place to clear your head. And now," he pulled out a small bag, "I even brought the perfect picnic."
Aki sat down beside him, hugging his knees. "You planned all this, didn't you?"
"Maybe," Tatsuo replied, opening two small containers that held sandwiches. "I knew you needed this, even if you wouldn't admit it."
The two sat in silence for a while, the chirping of crickets and the babbling of the stream the only sounds around them. Aki took a bite of his sandwich and sighed softly.
"You're a strange guy, you know that?" he finally said.
"Oh, I'm the strange one?" Tatsuo asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're the one who's always overthinking. So, what's on your mind?"
Aki stayed quiet for a moment, then set his sandwich aside. "I don't know. Sometimes I wonder if I can handle all this. The missions, the responsibilities… the expectations."
Tatsuo chuckled softly. "Aki, you're the guy who never gives up. You're the reason I'm even here. Without you, I'd probably be out there somewhere, messing up my life. If you could teach me that, then you can handle anything."
Aki looked at him, surprised by the sincerity in Tatsuo's voice. "You mean that, don't you?"
"Dead serious," Tatsuo said, patting him on the shoulder. "You're like a brother to me, Aki. And brothers don't let each other down."
Tatsuo suddenly jumped up. "Alright, enough with the deep talk. Time for a challenge."
"What?" Aki asked skeptically. "What are you planning now?"
Tatsuo pointed to the stream winding through the field. "We're racing. From here to that tree over there."
"That's not a race; that's nonsense," Aki protested, but Tatsuo was already getting into position.
"Go, before I win!" Tatsuo shouted, sprinting off without waiting for a reply.
Aki laughed, stood up, and ran after him. The two dashed through the grass, leapt over the stream, and finally reached the tree, where they stopped, panting.
"I… won…!" Tatsuo gasped, leaning against the tree.
"In your dreams," Aki replied, equally out of breath.
As they finally calmed down, they collapsed onto the grass and stared up at the starry sky.
"You know," Tatsuo began, his voice unusually quiet. "Sometimes I feel like I don't belong here. With the Sentinels, I mean."
Aki turned his head toward him. "Why? You're one of the strongest fighters I know."
"Maybe," Tatsuo said. "But sometimes I wonder if I'm really good enough. If I deserve any of this."
Aki placed a hand on Tatsuo's shoulder. "You're more than good enough. And if you can't believe that, then believe it for me. Because I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
Tatsuo looked at him, a small smile on his lips. "Thanks, Aki."
They stayed there for a while, watching the stars, their thoughts far from missions and expectations. It was a moment that deepened their friendship even further—a moment neither of them would ever forget.
As they finally snuck back onto Sentinel grounds, the night was well advanced. Though exhausted, Aki felt lighter, freer.
"You know, Tatsuo," he said as they parted ways, "maybe you are good for something after all."
"Wow, was that almost a compliment?" Tatsuo grinned. "Careful, or I'll get cocky."
Aki shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Good night, Tatsuo."
"Good night, brother."
Tatsuo woke Aki early, before the sun had fully risen. "Aki! Get up!" Tatsuo called energetically, yanking the blanket Aki had desperately pulled over his head.
"What…? It's still the middle of the night!" Aki mumbled, trying to tug the blanket back.
"Wrong! It's the perfect time for an adventure," Tatsuo said with a grin, holding up a map he had somehow gotten his hands on. "I heard there's an abandoned temple nearby. We have to check it out!"
"A temple?" Aki asked skeptically. "And why exactly do we have to go there?"
"Because it's cool," Tatsuo explained, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Come on, you can't spend your entire life just following the rules. We're Sentinels! We should have adventures outside of missions too."
Aki groaned, but when he saw the excitement on Tatsuo's face, he couldn't help but give in. "Fine. But if we get in trouble, it's your fault."
This time, the two snuck out more prepared than the night before. Tatsuo led the way down a narrow forest path, lined with tall trees and dense underbrush. The trail was uneven, and Aki tripped over protruding roots more than once.
"You're really not cut out for hiking, huh?" Tatsuo teased as Aki picked himself up again.
"Maybe because I'm not usually forced to run through the woods at dawn," Aki shot back.
Despite the banter, the mood was light and carefree. They laughed about old stories, shared memories of pranks they'd pulled on other Sentinels, and reminisced about moments that had strengthened their bond.
After an hour of walking, they finally reached the temple. The old structure was covered in ivy, with its roof partially collapsed in places. Despite its state of decay, the place exuded an awe-inspiring tranquility.
"Wow," Tatsuo whispered as they stood before the grand entrance. "Isn't this amazing?"
"It's… more beautiful than I expected," Aki admitted.
The two entered cautiously, their footsteps echoing on the stone floor. Inside, the walls were adorned with faded murals depicting stories of ancient times. In the center of the room stood a large statue of a mysterious figure holding a scythe.
"This is kind of creepy," Aki said as he examined the statue.
"Creepy? This is epic!" Tatsuo exclaimed, climbing onto the statue's pedestal. "Imagine if this were our next mission—to protect an old temple like this."
Aki laughed. "If we even survive long enough to make it back."
As they explored the temple, Tatsuo's attention was caught by a loose stone on the floor. Curious, he lifted it, and the room suddenly began to shake.
"What did you do?!" Aki shouted, jumping back as a wall to their right slid aside, revealing a hidden staircase.
"I… have no idea," Tatsuo said, looking entirely unbothered. "But this is definitely the best coincidence of the day!"
"Or the start of a huge problem," Aki muttered, but he followed Tatsuo down the staircase anyway.
The stairs led to an underground chamber decorated with golden embellishments and glowing crystals. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, holding a small silver pendant.
"This is incredible," Tatsuo said, marveling at the chamber. "We've found a real treasure!"
"Let's not touch anything," Aki warned, but Tatsuo had already picked up the pendant.
The moment Tatsuo touched the pendant, the room began to shift. The walls lit up, and strange creatures emerged from the shadows—half-human, half-animal.
"Tatsuo!" Aki shouted, drawing his module. "What did you do?!"
"Apparently, nothing good," Tatsuo replied, dodging one of the creatures charging at him.
The two had to work together to fend off the creatures. Aki used Blue to keep the enemies at bay, while Tatsuo created barriers with his earth abilities. It was a tough battle, but eventually, they managed to drive the creatures back.
As the last creature vanished, Tatsuo slumped onto the pedestal, breathing heavily. "Okay, maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all."
"Maybe?" Aki asked sarcastically, though he couldn't help but laugh. "This was the craziest idea you've ever had."
Tatsuo smiled. "But we pulled it off. And only because we're an unbeatable team."
By the time they returned, the sun was already up. The other Sentinels were awake, and Maki immediately spotted them.
"Where were you two?" she asked sternly.
"Uh… getting some fresh air?" Tatsuo tried, but Maki wasn't convinced.
"You two are impossible," she sighed, though she couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips.
Later, when they were finally alone, Aki sat beside Tatsuo. "You know, you're the most chaotic person I've ever met. But I'm glad I have you by my side."
Tatsuo grinned. "Right back at you, brother."
The memories blurred as Aki was thrust back into the present. His eyes, filled with grief, anger, and determination, locked onto Shinigami. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, and Tatsuo's words echoed in his mind.
"I won't leave you alone."
With a steady voice, barely more than a whisper, Aki said:
"Tatsuo, this is for you."
Next Week the final episode of the first part of Akuma, The Moonfang Arc, will air. Following this special episode, the climactic finale will take place next Friday! However, this also means that Akuma will go on a hiatus, with no set return date. Everything will be decided in Episode 20 – Legacy.
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Stay tuned for the next chapter, and don't forget to share your thoughts and feedback in the comments. See you next time!