"And that's all you need to know, kids", said Kyosuke Honogami, as his gleaming red ponytail moved slightly across his face. A groan followed after, in his tiredness.
"Old man Kyosuke, how come you didn't stop the traitor yourself? Ryuji asked with a sharp grin. "Maybe you could've saved us the trouble of hearing this tale."
"Brat, how old do you think I am?" Kyosuke shoots back, beginning a sword-drawing motion.
"Very young sir", Ryuji replies nervously while wiping the sweat off his forehead.
"Mr Honogami… if I may," Kuro Kurai stands up, speaking softly.
"Hm?" - Kyosuke raises an eyebrow
"I don't understand why we hide from the truth of our own history. From our own pain?"
"Those in the dark have a desire to seek the light. However, they must wait. We don't steal light-we endure until it returns to our very hands."
"I see," Kuro looks off into the distance.
The sun rises gently over the isolated island of Koseki. Kids chased one another across the grassy hilltops. Plenty of chirps could be heard from the birds. For a brief moment, all was peaceful in these lone, untouched lands.
Kaji tied his sandals and hollered toward the door.
"Alright, Mom, we're heading out now! Love you!"
"Don't let me catch you with Mr Yushiro's daughter again!" his mom laughs from the kitchen.
Ryuji leaned over and grinned:
"So you're talking to her now? We really do have the same taste."
The three boys walked down the dirt road together. Blacksmiths hammered violently within their sheds, almost in rhythm. Morning stalls were set up by vendors.
"So…Kaji," Ryuji smirked, "how is Luna Takasumi"
Kaji rolled his eyes. "Nothing is going on, you idiot. Besides… she's into Kuro"
Kuro stumbled.
"Wait.. what???"
"Oh, Mr. Nonchalant really does get it his way, huh?" - Ryuji grins
"I mean… I've never really spoken to her," Kuro sweats
"Doesn't matter, Kaji teased. "When is she not watching you?"
A few miles on the trail would be walked across before they came to a brief pause. "I know it's our day off, but do we really have time to waste?" Kuro said.
"C'mon man, lighten up will ya?" For once," Ryuji shrugs
"I usually don't agree with him, but he's right. The Honogami and Kurai have been in hiding for a few decades now. Like my dad said. Vulnerability is forever existent to possibility," Kaji nods. They stood in silence. "We can't run forever."
"Right," Kuro agrees as Ryuji doesn't reply.
"I say we enjoy the peace we have left. The Hyoga have been untouched in Koseki for many generations longer after all."
"C'mon, let's go already." Kaji pushed forward.
"Oh, you're serious?!" Ryuji protested and crossed his arms.
They resume their walking motion.
Steel clashed immediately after they arrived at an empty, plain field.
"You've gotten faster, Kuro," Kaji said mid-swing.
Kuro deflected multiple swings, standing as calm as ever.
"Luna's not watching, you know," Ryuji shouted from the side.
"You're not even training," Kuro yells.
"I'm Hyoga. Strongest of the Hyoga even. It's my day off," Ryuji grinned.
"Why risk being here? Your parents would lose control if they found out you were training with us." Kaji narrowed his eyes.
"Tch. Just catch up to me, will ya?" Ryuji countered.
Kaji and Kuro continue to swing at each other using wooden swords. Their exchange lasted until past lunchtime.
"That's enough for today," Kaji sighed. "See you both at tomorrow night's shrine meeting."
"Right." Kuro nodded.
That night, Kuro tossed and turned repeatedly.
"Kuro… Kuro!!!" voices whispered.
Screams. Blinding red mist. It was as if he were being torn apart.
Kuro rose quickly from bed, being drenched in sweat.
"What the hell?!"
Grabbing his jacket, he walked alone through the deafening silence of the evening.
A Hyoga priest stood intensely with his Hyoga follower standing by his side. It was the night before the meeting at the exact shrine for Koseki's main figures to discuss.
"Place it here, Lori," Shizuka Hyoga ordered.
Lori hesitated. "Master… are you sure? Why go this far?"
"The Hyoga will rise again," Shizuka replied. "With this fruit, we will rise even farther than the many clans below us. But I won't be the one to consume it."
"…What?" Lori looked shocked.
Then, the shrine door creaked open very slowly.
"Kuro Kurai… what in the hell might you be here for?" Shizuka hissed.
Kuro wipes his eyes and yawns. "I was just—"
"Kill him."
"Master, I—"
"Now, Lori!"
"Wait! I don't mean any harm!"
But the moment Kuro laid eyes on the fruit, his left eye flashed white. He collapsed to the ground, blinded and overwhelmed.
"Did he absorb it?" Shizuka muttered. "No… could it have chosen him?"
"Lori—draw your sword! Now!"
Kuro raised a trembling hand. "Please… no…"
But Lori's cry pierced the air—and the next moment…
White light erupted from Kuro's eye.
Once it cleared, both Lori Hyoga and Master Shizuka lay dead.