Kyo sat on the edge of his bed, dripping with sweat. Another nightmare. His heart was still racing, and the images of the Death Shadows seared in his head. He'd had these for days: dreams of darkness sweeping over the academy, with him at its core, unable to stem the tide.
Kyo: "What the hell is going on with me?
He muttered to himself, running a hand through his messy hair. No one else was awake at this hour, and that was probably for the best. He didn't want anyone knowing just how rattled he'd been lately.
Trying to shake off the lingering fear of the nightmare, a soft knock came upon his door. Kyo frowned-who could this be visiting him? He opened the door to find none other than Professor Shinigami, leaning heavily on a cane, still pale from his injury.
Professor Shinigami: "Still awake, I see. That's good. We need to talk."
(Kyo stepped aside and let the professor in, although he was quite surprised. Shinigami had barely left the infirmary since the injury. Why now?)
Kyo: "Uh, sure, but. what's this about?"
Professor Shinigami: (Lowering himself in a chair near him, he let out a deep sigh.) "You've been having nightmares, haven't you?"
(Kyo's stomach twisted. How did he know? He hadn't told anyone. He was trying to keep it all under wraps.)
Kyo: "Nightmares? Pffft, nah. Just. restless sleep, I guess."
Professor Shinigami: (Raising an eyebrow, unimpressed.) "I'm old, not stupid, Takahashi. Don't try to hide this. The Death Shadows… you've been seeing them, haven't you?"
(Kyo froze, his mind racing. He hadn't told anyone about the visions. Was it really that obvious?)
Kyo: "I mean… maybe. I don't know. It's not like I'm exactly thrilled about it."
Professor Shinigami: "You shouldn't be." His tone sharpened. "The connection you do have with them is not something to be dismissed so easily. The shadows are awakening, and they seem. drawn to you. And that is no coincidence."
Kyo shifted uncomfortably as the weight of his professor's words sank in. Drawn to him? That was not something he wanted to hear.
Kyo: "What's that even supposed to mean? You're saying this is somehow my fault?"
Professor Shinigami: With a sigh, the professor leaned back. "Not your fault, no. But connected to you? Yes. There's a lot we don't know about the Death Shadows, but one thing's for certain: they've taken an interest in you, Kyo. And that could be dangerous-for you, and for the academy."
Kyo: Crushing his fists, frustration rising, "So what am I supposed to do? Just forget it? Just act like it's not going on?"
Professor Shinigami: (Shaking his head.) "No. That's why I'm here. Headmaster Kuroshi suspects there's something off with you, but he doesn't know the full picture. Yet. I'm going to train you, in secret, until we figure this out."
(Kyo blinked, caught off guard.)
Kyo: "Wait, you're going to teach me? But you're still injured. Shouldn't you—"
Professor Shinigami said, "You don't have the time to wait for me to get back to full health." The seriousness in his voice was captured in his eyes, turning a shade darker. "If you let this power go unchecked, it'll devour you, Kyo. And then all of us are in danger. So, are you ready to do this? Or are you going to keep acting like there's nothing wrong?
(Kyo didn't answer immediately. A part of him wanted to refuse the suggestion-he hadn't asked for any of this. Still, deep within, he knew the professor was right. Whatever these nightmares were, they were getting worse, and it wasn't something he could keep ignoring. He clenched his jaw, nodding once.)
Kyo: "Fine. I'll do it. Just. what do we do first?"
Professor Shinigami: A faint smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. "First lesson? You learn to face the shadow inside you, kid. For if you can't even control your own power, then you will never stand a chance against the real Death Shadows.".
The next morning, Kyo felt like a different person. His usually carefree attitude clouded by everything the professor had told him-the thing growing inside him, darker still that gnawed on his thoughts.
At the training later that day, he found himself distracted, going through the motions without the usual reckless abandon which got him into trouble, Mei ever observant, noticed his unusual behavior.
Mei: "What's wrong with you today? Usually you're causing more chaos than anyone."
Kyo:|(Grimacing.) "Nothing. Just tired, that's all."
Mei:|(Not buying it for a second.) "You're a terrible liar. Something's off."
(Before Kyo could respond, Ren appeared out of nowhere, his usual calm but slightly mischievous grin on his face.)
Ren: "Oh, so now you are the brooding type? That is new. Let me guess, Professor Shinigami finally told you about the Death Shadows."
(Kyo blinked in surprise. Ren had that habit of knowing more than he let on.)
Kyo: "Wait, how did you—"
Ren: "He's told us all before. You just weren't paying attention, as usual." Ren smirked, clearly enjoying the jab.
(Kyo groaned, running his hand over his face.)
Kyo: "Of course he did."
Mei: Arms across her chest, unimpressed. "It is about time you take this seriously."
Kyo searched between Mei and Ren, the weight of their words. The truth of it was, he had been starting to take it seriously. Perhaps a little too seriously.
Standing here on the training grounds, with the sun low behind his back, he realized the battle he was about to embark upon wasn't against some rogue spirit or Death Shadow; it was the growing darkness inside of him.
And that, somehow, scared him more than anything any nightmare could dream up.