That morning, the air felt fresh after the rain from the previous night. Dew still clung to the leaves of trees lining the path toward the dojo. Musashi walked along the quiet street, feeling the chill of the morning breeze brushing through his hair. His mind drifted back to the mysterious man he met yesterday before the dojo. The sharp gaze of that man lingered in his thoughts, intensifying the curiosity that had yet to be answered.
When he arrived at the dojo, the sliding door was slightly open as if welcoming him. Musashi stepped inside, greeted by the familiar scent of wood that always brought him peace. Inside, Sensei Tsurugi stood with a straight back, staring at the dojo wall adorned with old paintings.
Sensei Tsurugi (without turning) :"You're here, Musashi. Right on time, as usual."
Musashi bowed slightly in respect :"Is there something you wanted to discuss, Sensei?"
Sensei Tsurugi turned slowly, his expression severe yet gentle as if he had something heavy he wished to convey.
Sensei Tsurugi :"Musashi, there's someone who wants to meet you. Someone who may provide you with a new direction in life… or perhaps, bring even more challenges."
Heavy footsteps echoed toward the dojo door. A tall man entered with calm yet cautious movements. His slightly messy hair and thin beard gave him the look of someone who had been through many hard times. His eyes were sharp and calculating, like someone who never missed even the smallest detail.
The man, Takuya, entered with a solid presence. He wore an old but neat leather jacket and slung a small, heavy-looking bag across his back. Takuya looked at Musashi with piercing eyes, studying the man before him.
Sensei Tsurugi (speaking with respect and calm) :"Musashi, this is Takuya-san. He's a private detective who has handled many difficult cases. He came to me, hoping to find someone with skills like yours."
Takuya nodded slightly, his expression unchanging, as though he were assessing Musashi from head to toe.
Takuya (in a deep, firm voice) :" Pleasure to meet you, Musashi. Sensei Tsurugi has told me a lot about you. I hear you're a tough individual who knows when to fight and when to hold back."
Musashi nodded, sensing Takuya's cautious and somewhat guarded demeanor. He could tell that this detective was no ordinary person.
Musashi (with a respectful yet calm tone) :"Pleasure to meet you as well, Takuya-san. However, many others are out there if you're looking for a fighter. I am just a former warrior seeking peace."
Takuya gave a faint, barely visible smile, one full of meaning.
"I'm not looking for an ordinary fighter, Musashi. I need someone with the courage to face uncertainty, someone who can read the emptiness… and sometimes, it's within that emptiness that we find the clues we seek."
Musashi looked at Takuya more closely, realizing that this man's words had a deeper meaning than a job offer. He sensed a mystery hidden behind Takuya's eyes, something hard to guess.
Musashi (in a calm yet curious tone):"What kind of job are you offering, Takuya-san?"
Takuya (taking a deep breath) :"You may have heard of ancient artifacts with dark histories, objects with great secrets. My work often deals with such items. And this time, I've found a lead on a lost ancient artifact, one that's said to unlock a person's past… or destroy their life."
Musashi remained silent, listening intently. Takuya's words seemed to touch a part of him that had yet to heal from Aiko's shadow fully.
Sensei Tsurugi (looking at Musashi with hope) :"Musashi, I know you're searching for peace. But sometimes, finding peace means we must first face our shadows."
Musashi took a deep breath, pondering his teacher's words. Something was calling him to accept this task, though he wasn't entirely sure what awaited him.
Musashi (in a steady tone):"Very well, Takuya-san. I'll come with you and help as best I can. But if this job goes against my principles, I won't hesitate to walk away."
Takuya nodded in agreement, appearing satisfied with Musashi's response.
After their discussion at the dojo, Takuya and Musashi walked together to the detective's office. They passed through city alleys bathed in morning sunlight, illuminating the old buildings around them. Takuya's office was on the second floor of a quiet old building.
When they arrived, Takuya opened the door, revealing a modest room. Inside was a large wooden desk with scattered documents, a board with various notes and photos, and a bookshelf filled with old books. A young woman was reading a document in the corner of the room. Her long hair and composed face exuded a calm, assertive presence.
Takuya (gesturing toward the woman) :"Musashi, this is my assistant, Ayumi. She organizes all the information we need."
Ayumi looked up and smiled at Musashi, her eyes reflecting a deep yet investigative calm.
Ayumi (with a soft yet confident voice):"Pleased to meet you, Musashi-san. I've heard much about you."
Musashi returned Ayumi's smile with a slight nod.
Musashi:"Pleased to meet you as well, Ayumi-san."
Takuya walked over to the board filled with notes and maps, pointing to a picture of an ancient artifact resembling an intricate, engraved pendant.
Takuya (with a serious tone):"This is the item we're looking for. An ancient artifact said to have the power to connect someone to their past. We've received reports that others are hunting for this item and aren't the patient type."
Musashi stared intently at the image. Its intricate, mysterious engravings reminded him of his last encounter with Aiko when she was still alive.
As they spoke, a loud noise came from the floor below, followed by hurried footsteps. Takuya quickly signaled Ayumi to hide while he and Musashi prepared to face the possible threat.
The door burst open with enough force to echo across the floor. Three masked men entered, each wielding long knives glinting under the lights. They moved quickly as if well-acquainted with the chaos and tension of every fight.
Musashi and Takuya immediately took defensive positions. In hiding in the corner, Ayumi quickly ducked behind a large shelf, clutching a sharp object in case things became critical.
Masked Man 1 (in a threatening, heavy voice):"You know what we're after. Hand over the document, or we'll ensure you don't leave this room alive."
Musashi took a step forward, no sign of fear on his face. His gaze was sharp, like a beast ready to pounce. He flexed his wrists, feeling his blood run hot as he prepared for a brutal fight.
Musashi (in a cold, firm tone):" If you're looking for trouble, you've come to the right place."
Without warning, the first man swung his knife toward Musashi with a swift motion. Musashi dodged with a grace almost like dancing, then seized the man's wrist and twisted it with enough force to sprain the attacker's joint. The sound of cracking bones echoed in the air.
But the other two men didn't remain idle. They charged simultaneously from the left and right, swinging their knives with deadly speed. Musashi only had seconds to react. He released the first man and rolled to avoid the next attack.
As he rose, one of the men swung at him. Musashi blocked with his forearm, then rotated his body, striking the man's ribs with a hard elbow. The man groaned in pain but remained standing, only staggering slightly.
Meanwhile, Takuya took the opportunity to attack the third man, who appeared taller and more muscular than the others. Takuya punched him squarely in the chin with a steady stride, forcing him back. But the man quickly regained balance and lunged at Takuya with a deadly knife strike, slicing through the air right in front of his face.
Takuya (breathing heavily, in a cold tone):"You're no amateurs, but this might be the last day you stand."
With full force, Takuya delivered a powerful kick to the man's knee, making him kneel. But the masked man didn't surrender; still gripping his knife, he countered, slashing Takuya's arm.
Elsewhere, Musashi faced two attackers at once. They struck together, trying to trap him in a confined space. One man stabbed toward Musashi's stomach with a swift, decisive motion, but Musashi caught the man's wrist, twisted his body, and slammed the attacker's shoulder to the floor with enough force to make the wooden floorboards creak.
As the other man closed in from behind, Musashi kicked his back, sending him crashing into the wall. A loud thud echoed as he hit and fell, but he quickly got up, eyes filled with hatred.
The first man who had fallen began to rise, pulling out a longer knife and attacking with a spinning motion, trying to throw Musashi off balance. Musashi ducked, avoiding the blade that came within inches of his neck. Then, with a swift move, he grabbed the man's arm and broke his elbow joint with a powerful twist, causing the knife to fall to the floor with a loud clatter.
Masked Man 2 (angrily, through gritted teeth): "You… will pay for this!"
Musashi looked at the man with a cold and resolute gaze. With a quick move, he spun his body and struck the man's chin with his knee, sending him crashing to the floor, his face now bloodied.
Meanwhile, Takuya was fiercely battling the third man, who was beginning to show signs of fatigue. The two of them locked into each other, each trying to bring the other down. Takuya grabbed the man's arm and struck him with his elbow, but the man retaliated with a hard kick to Takuya's stomach, causing him to stagger.
Ayumi, hiding in the corner of the room, realized the situation was growing more intense. Quickly, she grabbed a knife nearby and threw it toward the man attacking Takuya. The knife lodged in the man's shoulder, causing him to scream in pain and lose his balance.
Noticing Ayumi's action, Musashi shouted, "Ayumi, get out of here! This place is too dangerous!"
However, Ayumi refused to retreat, her gaze firm with determination. She stood tall, ready to help if needed, though an unmistakable fear was hidden in her heart.
Musashi saw one of the men still trying to attack him, and with a swift move, he swung his hand and struck the man's temple with full force. The man fell to the floor, no longer moving.
Masked Man 3 (groaning angrily, clutching the wound on his shoulder): "You think this is over? This is just the beginning…"
With a burst of anger, the last man attempted to attack Takuya again, but Takuya dodged and brought him down with a powerful punch to the jaw. The man fell to the floor, this time completely helpless.
Musashi stood, breathing heavily, looking at the bodies sprawled around him. Blood stained the floor, and the metallic scent filled the air, reflecting the brutal intensity of the recent battle. Although the situation seemed under control, Musashi knew this was only the beginning of a more significant threat.
After confirming that all the attackers were no longer moving, Musashi turned to Takuya and Ayumi, but his breathing was still not steady. The three stood in tense silence, processing the events they had just endured. In his mind, Musashi sensed something bigger behind this attack that would lead him further than simply seeking the truth.
Just as Musashi thought of calming down, he noticed something on the floor—a piece of paper that had fallen from the pocket of one of the masked men. He bent down, picked up the paper, and saw a strange symbol printed on it. The symbol looked like an eye surrounded by a mysterious circle.
Musashi (whispering to himself):"What does this mean…?"
The symbol seemed familiar as if he had seen it in a distant memory. Musashi felt the tension growing, a foreboding sense that this journey had only begun.