Kaito stared at the ring in disgust, trying to shake it off his hand. But it refused to budge, sticking to his skin like glue. He tried to pry it off, but it wouldn't move. Frustration boiled over, and Kaito hurled the ring across the alley. But instead of clattering to the ground, the ring hovered in mid-air, spinning slowly. Then, with a soft whoosh, it flew back to Kaito's hand, reattaching itself with a strange, pulsating glow.
Kaito's eyes widened in shock. What kind of ring was this? He stumbled backward, tripping over his own feet. As he fell, the world around him began to blur and distort. Colors swirled together, forming a kaleidoscope of hues. Kaito felt himself being pulled apart and put back together again.
When the distortion cleared, he found himself standing in a world unlike any he had ever seen. The air was thick with a misty, ethereal quality. Trees with glowing, iridescent bark stretched toward the sky, their leaves shimmering like stardust. A soft, pulsing light permeated the atmosphere, casting no shadows.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the mist. It was the old man, his eyes twinkling with a knowing glint.
"Welcome, Kaito," the old man from earlier said, his voice low and soothing. "I see you've received the ring. This is the Realm of the Ancients, a place where former Cat Spirits' owners come to rest, train, and pass on their knowledge."
Kaito's mind reeled as he stared at the old man. "What do you mean? What's going on?"
The old man chuckled. "All will be explained in time, young one. For now, let us focus on your training. You have much to learn, and little time to waste."
With that, the old man reached out and placed a hand on Kaito's shoulder. Kaito felt a surge of energy flow through him, and suddenly, he was flooded with visions and knowledge.
But Kaito refused to accept the old man's words. "Look, I don't know what kind of crazy cat spirit stuff you're involved in, but it's not my problem. I'm just a normal high school student."
The old man's expression turned serious. "Kaito, you're not listening. This is now your problem. You've been chosen to inherit the Cat Spirit's power, and with that comes great responsibility. If you don't learn to harness that power, you'll be putting your friends and family in danger."
Kaito snorted, rolling his eyes. "Oh, spare me the hero speech. How long did you practice that one?"
The old man's expression didn't change, but a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. "Just think of leaving, Kaito, and you will leave. But remember, when you're ready, you know where to find me."
Kaito grinned, feeling a sense of triumph. "I'll keep that in mind. But for now, I've got school tomorrow, and I don't have time for dimensional training and being a cat hero."
With a wave, Kaito turned and walked away, disappearing into the mist.
He found himself back in his own world, standing in front of his family's dojo. As he entered the dojo, he was greeted by his parents, Kenji and Akane Yamato. Kenji, a sturdy man with a thick beard, was scowling, while Akane, a petite woman with a kind face, looked worried.
"Kaito, where have you been?" Kenji demanded. "You're late for dinner, and your mother was worried sick."
Kaito shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "Sorry, I lost track of time. I was just out for a walk."
The next day, Kaito walked into school, confident and carefree. He was a popular student, known for his martial arts skills and charming smile. As he walked down the hallway, he noticed a group of students staring at him, whispering among themselves. Kaito's instincts told him that something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
After school, Kaito and his best friend, Akira, walked home together, chatting about their day. As they turned a corner, Kaito accidentally bumped into a man wearing a jacket with a gang symbol.
Kaito quickly apologized, trying to defuse the tension.
"Sorry about bumping into you earlier," Kaito said, trying to sound sincere. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
The gang member, a burly man with a menacing scar, looked at Kaito with a mixture of surprise and amusement.
"It's okay, kid," he said finally, his voice a little softer. "No harm done."
Kaito and Akira continued on their way, but as they walked, one of the gang members, a lean man with a sharp jawline, sensed something unusual about Kaito.
He frowned, his eyes narrowing as he focused on Kaito's spiritual energy. Their gang leader, Kuroba no Akuma, the current Dog Spirit owner, had taught them about spiritual powers and how to recognize them.
The lean gang member's eyes lit up with excitement as he realized that Kaito possessed a spiritual energy similar to that of the Cat Spirit.
He quickly gathered the other gang members and told them about Kaito's spiritual energy.
Kaito and Akira, oblivious to the danger lurking behind them, continued walking until they saw the gang members following them.
Without hesitation, they took off in a sprint, racing down the street as fast as they could.
Kaito and Akira sprinted down the crowded streets, weaving through pedestrians and dodging market stalls. They darted into a narrow alleyway, hoping to lose the gang members in the maze of passageways.
But as they emerged from the alleyway, they saw the gang members waiting for them at the end of the street. Kaito and Akira quickly changed direction, racing through a nearby park.
They leapt over benches and dodged low-hanging branches, but no matter how fast they ran, the gang members always seemed to be one step ahead.
Suddenly, a muscular, tall police officer stepped into the street, blocking the gang members' path.
"Halt!" the officer commanded, his voice firm and authoritative. "You're not going anywhere."
The gang members snarled and sneered, but the officer stood his ground. For a moment, it seemed like he was going to be able to stop them.
But then, in a flash of movement, the gang members charged at the officer. He tried to defend himself, but they were too fast, too strong. They punched and kicked him, sending him crashing to the ground.
Kaito and Akira watched in horror as the gang members continued to beat the officer, their movements a blur of speed and violence.
Just when it seemed like they were going to kill him, the gang members suddenly stopped, their chests heaving with exertion. The officer lay motionless on the ground, his face bloody and bruised.
The gang members turned to Kaito and Akira, their eyes gleaming with malice. And then, in an instant, they vanished.
Kaito and Akira stared at each other, confused and frightened. But before they could react, the gang members reappeared in front of them, their movements so fast they seemed to teleport.
"Found you, kitty boy," the lean gang member sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Now look what kind of hero you are, leaving this defenseless policeman to shield you. That's not heroic, kitty boy."