In the lavish lights of Tokyo at night, neon lights illuminate the bustling streets. Amidst the skyscrapers, a man in a black leather jacket with a hood partially covering his face walks through a narrow alley.
The man is MIYAMOTO MUSASHI.
Musashi: "This world, I once thought of it as an endless battlefield. But since she left, everything has changed. I am no longer a warrior. I am merely a shadow lost at a crossroads."
A drizzle dampens the ground, and the sound of raindrops echoes around. The distant sound of police sirens is faint. Musashi pauses, his gaze fixed on a weathered poster on a wall, blown by the wind. On the poster is a photo of a young woman smiling, with the word "MISSING" printed in large letters below it. Musashi sighs deeply and lowers his head.
#Flashback to Musashi's memory.
In a sunny park, Musashi is practicing with a wooden sword with a woman named Aiko. Aiko is a woman full of smiles.
While training, they both look happy, exchanging swift movements with laughter.
Aiko: "Musashi! You're too slow! Are you letting me win on purpose?"
Musashi raises an eyebrow with a smile, "Don't be so confident. I'm just waiting for the right moment."
Aiko attacks quickly, but Musashi gracefully dodges, spinning around and holding his sword to her neck.
"Like this," Musashi says with a hint of mockery.
Aiko laughs and lowers her sword, but suddenly, silence falls between them. They exchange a gaze, and in the quiet, words are no longer necessary.
Back to the dark streets
Musashi heads to a hidden bar on a city corner. Loud music blares from inside the building. He steps in, met by suspicious glances from a few large men, some wearing masks.
Musashi approaches a man seated in the corner, wearing a hat and a leather jacket.
Musashi: "Sato. I need answers!"
Sato chuckles mockingly, "You always come with the same questions, Musashi. But the world doesn't answer those who are already lost."
Musashi sits calmly across from Sato, but his gaze is filled with menace. Tension begins to rise.
Musashi: "You know something. Aiko… she's still alive, right?" he asks, hopeful.
Sato stops laughing, his face turns serious, and his gaze grows cold, "Why do you care? Do you think you can save her? This world has changed, Musashi. There's nothing left to save."
Musashi clenches his fist under the table, holding back his anger. He leans slightly forward, his voice low and threatening, "I'm not leaving without answers, Sato. Tell me where I can find her!"
Sato smirks coldly, shaking his head slowly, "You're still as foolish as ever, Musashi. You're chasing a shadow that's already vanished. Forget her, and maybe you can save yourself."
Losing his patience, Musashi grabs Sato's collar and pulls him close. The men in the bar stand, watching with interest.
Musashi: "You can keep hiding in the shadows, Sato. But if you know something, you'll tell me now… or… I'll make sure you never speak again," Musashi whispers with menace.
Sato, slightly trembling, yet arrogant, replies, "You're desperate, huh? You've sunk this low just to…"
Musashi tightens his grip, his gaze unyielding.
Finally, Sato, feeling the fear, softens his tone, "Alright… alright. There's one place. An old warehouse outside the city, near the docks. But don't expect to find anything there. They'll make sure you never return."
Musashi releases Sato with a shove, causing him to stumble back, gasping. The men who had been watching closely now step forward, with one attempting to restrain Musashi.
Man: "You think you can just come here and make trouble?"
Musashi turns, giving the man a cold but cautious look. The tension escalates, and more people around start to rise, ready to confront him.
Sato shouts angrily, "Get out of here, Musashi! You've got what you wanted. Leave before you regret it!"
Realizing the situation is worsening, Musashi takes a deep breath, stepping back slowly, his gaze sharp, making sure no one tries to strike him from behind. "I know what I'm looking for is there. And none of you can stop me."
With determined steps, Musashi leaves the bar, leaving a shaken Sato behind.
****
As the night deepens, Musashi leaves the bar quickly. But as he walks, he realizes he's being followed. The soft footsteps behind him grow closer.
Musashi (thinking): "There's no safe place on this path. Around every corner, there's always someone waiting to stab your back. But I won't stop… not now."
Musashi quickly turns into a narrow alley, finding himself surrounded by tall, dark walls. A shadow appears at the end of the alley, revealing the silhouette of someone approaching.
Musashi: "If you want something from me, don't hide. Show yourself!"
The masked man from the bar steps forward, a cold smile visible beneath his mask, "I don't want you, Musashi. I'm just making sure you're on the right path… or maybe, the deadly one."
Without warning, the masked man lunges at Musashi. Musashi dodges, drawing his sword to block the attack. A fierce fight ensues in the narrow alley, the clash of metal ringing in the air. Musashi realizes this man is no ordinary opponent.
Masked Man: "You're still hoping, aren't you? Hoping that girl is still alive?"
Musashi controls his anger, blocking with full force, "What do you know about Aiko?"
Masked Man: "Musashi, don't you see? Your foolish hope is a blade that will only pierce your soul. You'll perish if you keep chasing that shadow."
Musashi gains the upper hand, cornering the masked man. With a swift move, he disarms the man and places his sword at his throat, leaving only millimeters between the blade and skin.
Musashi: "I don't have time for games. Tell me what you know! Or prepare to die here."
The masked man is silent for a moment, then lets out a small laugh as if resigned to his fate, "Are you ready to know the truth, Musashi? Sometimes, the truth is worse than death."
Musashi: "Don't play with words. Tell me what you know now!"
The masked man sneers, "Alright. That girl, Aiko… she's no longer in this world. But there's one thing you should know—she chose this path herself, long before you realized."
Hearing this, Musashi falls silent, his spirit shaken. Unknowingly, he lowers his sword from the man's throat.
Taking the opportunity, the masked man steps back, fading into the shadows, "Perhaps you'll find her, Musashi, in a place where shadows no longer hide secrets."
The man disappears, his voice fading with the wind, leaving Musashi alone in the dark alley, accompanied only by the sound of the falling rain.
After a moment of silence, Musashi continues his steps, lost in turbulent thoughts. Memories with Aiko haunt him, shadowing every step.
Musashi recalls their moments together, training in the peaceful park before their lives were engulfed in chaos.
"I know this path is filled with darkness. But even if she's gone, I can't just let go of her memory. I must find answers. If this is the end for me… then I'll make sure I find peace for both of us, Aiko."
*****
Musashi arrives on the city outskirts, in front of an old, near-collapsing warehouse. Moonlight and flickering streetlights cast a tense atmosphere around the place. Musashi steps cautiously, ensuring he isn't being followed. Shadows surround him, and the sound of the night wind sweeps up dust and papers around.
Musashi (thinking): "Step by step, bringing me closer… but also further from the path I once knew. If this is where the truth lies, I'll face it, whatever the outcome."
He enters the warehouse carefully, his sharp gaze scanning every corner. His footsteps echo in the silence.
Suddenly, he spots a half-open wooden crate at the end of the room. He approaches it. But at the same moment, he hears footsteps behind him. Musashi quickly turns, drawing his sword, ready.
A masked man steps out of the darkness, clad in a long coat and black gloves, holding a weapon in his hand.
Masked Man: "You shouldn't be here, Musashi."
Musashi grips his sword tightly, "Who are you? And what do you know about Aiko?"
The masked man chuckles, "Still hoping, aren't you?… She's been gone for a long time… but her trace still lingers on people like us."
Musashi frowns, trying to understand the man's words.
Musashi: "What do you mean? Are you involved in Aiko's disappearance?"
Masked Man: "That's a secret you won't like, Musashi. But if you insist… I'll lead you down an even darker path."
The man attacks swiftly, his sword gleaming under the dim light. Musashi blocks it deftly, and a fierce battle erupts amidst the shadows of the warehouse.
Their fight is intense, the clash of blades creating a deadly rhythm. Every strike is powerful, but Musashi notices that the masked man has a familiar fighting technique.
Musashi (thinking): "His moves… they resemble a technique I've seen before. Who is he? Why does he use the same fighting style as Aiko?"
The masked man becomes increasingly aggressive, but there's hesitation behind his attacks as if he's hiding something. As the fight intensifies, Musashi manages to knock off the man's mask, revealing a face that is all too familiar.
Musashi: "No way… it's you…"
Musashi is stunned.