Shinichi's escape from the run-down temple seemed easy. He spent two years getting ready. During this time, he tucked away 60 yen in secret, which would let him leave Matsudaira Prefecture in under two hours.
Dealing with Ohei Saburo was simple too. The man loved his drink. If Shinichi pretended to bring in a "big catch" one day, Ohei Saburo would be happy and spend all night drinking at the local bar. That single night would give Shinichi enough time to catch the last ride out of Matsudaira Prefecture.
To be sure, Shinichi put in a lot of effort for this chance.
The night was still. Ohei Saburo's face showed his gloom. He hadn't earned much money for a while. His bad mood made him hurt a kid's leg yesterday. This scared all the children in the run-down temple. They didn't even dare to breathe loud.
Shinichi saw his chance. Tomorrow! If he showed 10 yen, it would get Ohei Saburo excited. After days without a drink, he couldn't say no. Tomorrow! He'd escape this awful place! And he had to take Junbo with him. This sweet child shouldn't spend his whole life in this place for beggars.
While Shinichi pondered, a skinny kid burst into the crumbling temple. He yelled to Ohei Saburo, "Sir! Sir! Great news! A well-dressed nobleman is walking alone on the road!"
This news made Ohei Saburo, who was about to explode with anger cool off right away. He even cracked a grin. A man in a suit? In Japan back then, suits meant money. People who wore suits were often rich folks influenced by foreign ways. They tended to be more stuck-up but also more open-handed than the usual wealthy types.
Ohei Saburo imagined a flood of coins or even paper money coming his way. He knew how to take advantage of the pride and kindness of wealthy people sure he could get cash from them by using his orphans as lures.
"Junbo! Get over here! Your turn!" Ohei Saburo yelled. Junbo, who had been next to Shinichi, got up . "I'm on my way!"
"Brother Shinichi! Where's the rich guy in a suit? Maybe I can ask for some food we haven't tried! Hold on, Brother Shinichi! I'll bring back something tasty to share with you!" Junbo's small face lit up with joy, but Shinichi felt his heart drop.
What the hell? This wasn't supposed to happen! Shit! They had to push back the plan again. Thinking this, Shinichi slipped out of the wrecked temple fast. Ohei Saburo, all worked up, missed Shinichi's slight move as he grabbed the cash tree he thought would come in handy and hurried off to find the rich guy in a suit.
Shinichi hid the yen he meant to use at first, took a quick peek at Enji's hideout on the way then headed back to the wrecked temple. He could've run off by himself right then. If Junbo wasn't in the picture, he'd be sure he could get away.
The moonlight shone as Shinichi ambled down the dirt road deep in thought. He stopped .
His nose caught a whiff of blood, faint but clear. He wondered how blood could smell in this place. Something seemed off!
Shinichi picked up his pace, the smell growing stronger and making him feel sick with each step.
Splat! Lost in his mind, Shinichi's foot sank into a small pit full of sticky fluid. As he looked down, he saw dark red liquid that stank under the moonlight. Splat! Out of nowhere, a shadow emerged from the pit—a head appeared!
A child's head half gone, gazed empty at the sky, its eyes blank.
Pah! Shinichi dropped to the ground, his heart pounded, eyes big with terror. He knew this child; one of the orphans in their group. How could half his head vanish? Did the blood in the pit belong to him?
Junbo! The idea hit Shinichi like a bolt. He jumped up, fear rushed through him as he sprinted back to the crumbled temple.
Hah! A weird noise came from Ohei Saburo. His eyes had gone red by this point. A long pointy whip stuck through his belly coming out of his mouth, as hot blood poured out everywhere.
Following the bone whip, a slim figure stood still in front of the broken temple. He had on a clean fancy white suit, with a bold black tie, and his curly black hair looked smooth and neat. In the moonlight, his pale face showed a good-looking face that seemed almost devilish.
The most striking feature was his red eyes, which showed both pride and meanness. "Silly human even the worst of you dares to make me mad? You're filthy, awful; your blood makes me feel sick," the odd man said , but his words chilled to the bone.
"But for such low beings like you to walk free in daylight is a slap in the face—you bugs!" As he talked, the man moved, and the spiked whip tied to his arm flew up.
Boom! Ohei Saburo's tough body tore apart in an instant scattering bloody bits everywhere. enough, not one speck of blood landed on the man.
In front of the destroyed temple countless chunks of flesh and blood covered the ground—smashed limbs, guts of different hues, and cracked skulls turned the place into a hellish sight.
Thump! Thump! Thump! A heartbeat's rhythm pounded in Shinichi's ears. He gazed, terrified, as the suited man ripped Ohei Saburo apart exposing the nightmarish scene by the damaged temple. He seemed bewitched, frozen with terror gripped by an unmatched sense of fear coming from the man.
"Hmm? Well?" The red eyes moved . Before Shinichi could respond, a massive force hit him, and , he stood in front of the man. Crack! His bones snapped, his face twisted in pain as he coughed up blood. The spiked whip wrapped around his waist squeezing him.
"How dirty, sad, and feeble. What kind of look are you giving me? Is that hate I see, besides fear? Ha, that's interesting! You're the first of these lowly bugs to dare show hate towards me. How dare you? How dare you look at the great Lord Muzan like that?" Muzan spoke in a calm voice that sent chills down the spine.
But even with the terrible pain in his waist, Shinichi felt sorrow and rage. At the entrance of the destroyed temple lay what remained of the body, and Junbo's once-happy face now showed no life endless terror.
"Junbo... cough ho..." Blood rushed up Shinichi's throat making him utter nonsense sounds. Muzan looked curious and moved closer to catch what Shinichi tried to say. The bone whip twisted dragging Shinichi nearer to Muzan.
"A puny bug's final cry? How entertaining." Muzan's lips curved into a grin showing his pointed teeth. But right after, Shinichi—who Muzan saw as a bug—jumped up.
Squeak! Muzan felt shocked, his scary red eyes growing big. Boom! Snap! An unseen force burst out turning everything around him to powder.
"Blood? Bleeding?"
A tiny stream of blood ran along Muzan's creepy face.