The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows through the ancient trees that surrounded the Takeda family's estate. The rich green canopy above swayed gently in the breeze, and the earthy scent of the woods mingled with the faint trace of flowers blooming at the forest's edge. The Takeda family home lay far behind, nestled at the edge of the forest, where the ancient Shiro Castle stood. But today, the wide expanse of trees and wild paths was the perfect place for adventure.
Kaito, his siblings, and a few of the other children from the nearby villages had decided to spend the afternoon playing a game of hide and seek in the woods. It was their favorite game, one that let them stretch their legs and explore places they'd only ever heard about in stories.
The wind rustled through the branches as Kaito crouched behind a large boulder, trying to stifle his giggles. He was certain that no one would find him here. His heart raced with excitement as the countdown continued in the distance. His brother Yuuto was "it" this time, and he was known for being incredibly serious when it came to finding his siblings. But Kaito had learned the forest well, and he knew exactly where to hide.
From his vantage point, Kaito could hear his siblings calling out, their voices carrying through the trees, competing with the whisper of the wind.
"Ten, nine, eight…" Yuuto's voice echoed.
Kaito held his breath, trying to stay as still as possible. His eyes darted around, searching for any sign of movement, any trace of his siblings' footsteps. It was thrilling, the sense of mystery that came with playing in the woods, and Kaito reveled in it. It wasn't often he could get away from the castle walls, away from the weight of his responsibilities, and just be a child.
"...Three, two, one! Ready or not, here I come!" Yuuto's voice rang through the air, and Kaito's pulse quickened in anticipation.
He peeked around the boulder, watching as Yuuto began to move through the woods with surprising speed, his sharp eyes scanning every shadow, every hiding spot. Kaito stifled a giggle, pressing himself deeper into the crook of the rock.
After a few minutes of intense silence, Kaito's confidence began to waver. He was sure Yuuto would find him soon. But instead of hearing his brother's footsteps, Kaito heard something else—a soft rustling in the underbrush, followed by the faint sound of someone—or something—breathing quietly nearby.
His heart skipped a beat. He hadn't heard anyone else approach. He peered around the boulder again, scanning the area.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement.
It was quick—a blur of motion between the trees. Kaito's breath caught in his throat. Was it Yuuto? Or had someone else wandered into the woods?
He was about to call out when a voice spoke—soft, almost playful, but clear in the quiet of the woods.
"Well, well, looks like I've found you, little one."
Kaito froze, his eyes widening. He had been sure he was alone. But standing at the edge of the trees, just a few feet away, was a figure—a boy.
The boy looked to be about Kaito's age, maybe a little older. His features were sharp, his dark hair wild and untamed, and his pale skin glowed faintly in the dimming light of the forest. There was something peculiar about his eyes—violet, not quite human, but not entirely unnatural either. They glimmered with a strange amusement as they fixed on Kaito.
Kaito opened his mouth to speak, but the words stuck in his throat. This boy wasn't one of his siblings. He had never seen him before.
The boy tilted his head, his smile mischievous. "Are you lost, little one?" he asked, his voice light, almost teasing.
Kaito swallowed, confusion flooding his mind. "Who… who are you?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
The boy chuckled softly, taking a step closer, his bare feet making no sound on the forest floor. "I'm no one you need to worry about. Just someone passing through. But what about you? What are you doing out here alone, hiding behind a rock?"
Kaito's chest tightened. Something wasn't right. He had always been taught to be wary of strangers, especially in the woods. Yet, there was something in the boy's presence that felt... safe. Almost too safe. The way he smiled, the way he moved—it was too fluid, too graceful to be normal. Kaito felt his instincts flare up, his unease growing.
"I… I'm playing a game with my brothers and sisters," Kaito said, his voice sounding more uncertain than he intended. "We're playing hide and seek."
The boy's violet eyes gleamed, and he crouched down to Kaito's level, his smile widening in amusement. "Hide and seek, huh? That sounds like fun. But you seem a little lost, little one. Maybe I could help you find your way back?"
Kaito's pulse quickened. "I'm not lost!" he said, though he wasn't sure if that was entirely true. "I just need to find my brothers and sisters." His voice faltered a bit.
The boy stood up again, dusting off his hands. "Well, if you say so." He cocked his head. "But you're sure you don't need help?" His voice was more insistent now, the playfulness giving way to something darker, something unfamiliar.
Kaito swallowed nervously. "I'm okay. I just—what's your name?" he asked, trying to regain control of the situation.
The boy smiled even more widely. "My name?" he mused. "Well, that's an interesting question, isn't it?"
Kaito stared at him, unsure of how to respond. Something about the boy's answer unsettled him. It was too vague, too distant, like the boy wasn't used to giving his name—or perhaps didn't even have one.
"You can call me whatever you like," the boy said after a moment, his smile softening a little. "But I'd like to hear what you call me, little one. It's a simple thing, don't you think? A name. It's yours to give."
Kaito blinked, unsure of what to say. The boy's odd request made him feel strange, like this whole encounter wasn't quite real. But his young mind was too innocent to question it too deeply. He glanced around, trying to think of something.
"I guess... I'll call you..." Kaito hesitated. He had never had to name someone before, especially someone so strange. But then, he just blurted out, "Nori."
The boy's eyes brightened at the name. "Nori?" he repeated, as though tasting the word on his tongue. "I like it. That suits me." His grin grew wider, but there was something a little unsettling about it now.
Before Kaito could say anything more, the boy—Nori—took a step back, turning toward the trees.
"Well, little one, I suppose our time together has come to an end," Nori said with a casual flick of his hand. "But remember this: names are powerful. Don't forget the one you gave me."
Kaito opened his mouth to ask another question, but when he blinked, the boy was gone. One moment, Nori was standing there, smiling at him, and the next, he had vanished into the shadows of the forest, as if he had never been there at all.
Kaito's heart pounded in his chest. He stood there, frozen, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Had he imagined it? The boy had seemed so real, but now the forest felt eerily silent, as though nothing had disturbed its peace.
A rustling sound broke through the tension, and Kaito whipped around to see his siblings—Sora, Raiko, and Keiko—emerging from the trees.
"Kaito!" Sora exclaimed, her face filled with concern. "Where did you go? We've been looking for you!"
Kaito blinked, still trying to wrap his mind around the encounter. "I… I was hiding. But something strange happened. There was a boy, a... a person, in the woods." He felt a shiver run down his spine as he spoke.
Raiko raised an eyebrow. "A boy? In the woods? Who?"
"I don't know," Kaito replied, shaking his head. "He was different. He said his name was Nori. He… helped me, I think. But then he just disappeared."
Sora exchanged a skeptical look with Raiko. "A boy named Nori? There's no one else out here. We've been through these woods hundreds of times. There's no one else."
"But he was there!" Kaito insisted. "He looked strange. His eyes were... they weren't normal."
Keiko frowned. "Are you sure it wasn't just your imagination? Maybe you were just so lost, you started to see things."
Kaito shook his head, a mix of confusion and unease swirling in his chest. "I don't know, Keiko. But it didn't feel like I was imagining it. He was real. And he… he wanted me to give him a name."
Sora put a hand on his shoulder, her expression softening. "It's alright, Kaito. Maybe you were just scared. But we're here now, and we'll help you get back home. Let's just head back to the castle."
Kaito looked up at his siblings, their faces full of concern. But even as they spoke, the strange feeling that something wasn't quite right lingered in his chest, heavy and unanswered.
The woods around them seemed to hum with quiet mystery, as if they held secrets of their own—secrets that Kaito might never fully understand. And deep in the shadows, something stirred.