In the peaceful night the four of them are sleeping together in their own futons‚ hakari sleeping peacefully‚ Noelle sleeping under blanket but Noboru almost dragged inside Kaito's futon his leg over Kaito's stomach. "Hot springs.." Noboru mumbles.
Tomorrow morning Kaito is first one to wake up‚ he gently move Noboru's leg away before getting up and walking to the bathroom. Kaito washes his face looking in the mirror before going back to room and sit down on his knees to shake Noboru softly by shoulder. "Noboru-san‚ it's already morning wake up I've to fold futon. Kaito says softly but Noboru doesn't seem to wake up at all. "30 more minutes.."
"No now‚ it's better to wake up early." Kaito says but Noboru continue to sleep so Kaito go in the bathroom turning on the tap to fill the bathtub and goes back to carry Noboru in his arm. "Since you don't wake up" Kaito throws Noboru into the bathtub causing Noboru to stir out with a surprised scream. "I was with cute girls just now‚ why am i in a sea?! Help I'm drowning!"
"No‚ you're just in the bathtub." Kaito says before leaving the bathroom and goes back to fold the futon‚ hakari and Noelle also wakes up. "Goodmorning Kaito-kun." Noelle said.
"Goodmorning."
"Goodmorning big bro‚ already busy with work?" Hakari said knowing how Kaito wakes up early and get busy with his chores. "Goodmorning.." Kaito says folding his and Noboru's futon. "I can fold both of your futons too so go on take bath or something."
Noboru walks out from bathroom his clothes soaked in water taking noelle by surprise. "Did you fell into the flush?!"
"No‚ Kaito-kun throw me in the bath..i thought that was a sea‚ i was having good dream damnit!" Noboru said kicking his foot on the floor. "You will dirty the floor so change the clothes." Kaito said calmly. "You're speaking like you're not the one who did this." Noboru said.
"Well‚ you were not waking up so that's why. It would be good if we look around the village as long as we are here." Kaito said while folding Hakari's and Noelle's futon. "Kaito-kun you would make a good husband one day you're almost like the maid haha!" Noelle teases Kaito. "W-what don't say absurd things!" Kaito blurted out with a small blush. "Well she isn't lying‚ you work a lot big brother." Hakari said confirming Noelle. "Haha‚ see even your sister says that!" Noelle teases Kaito.
"But Kaito-kun is the type of person who would show no mercy to a demon." Noboru said having seen Kaito fight demons before.
After 10 minutes all of them leaves the inn to get some breakfast outside. "So what should we eat‚ my stomach feels lonely." Noboru said holding his stomach. "You know i saw you eating three bowls of rice just some time ago‚ we should be the one buying breakfast. Infact where does the food even go‚ after eating so much yet your body is still toned." Noelle mentioned.
"It was two hours ago‚ I'm practically starving." Noboru said holding his stomach. "It's not even been an hour since you woke up‚ don't lie Noboru-san." Kaito said correcting Noboru lie. "Haha‚ liar pants on fire!" Hakari laughed at Noboru.
Kaito glazed towards a vendor roasting sweet potatos over a charcoal pit. "Get that‚ then."
Noboru beamed. "Kaito‚ you do understand me."
The vendor a kindly man with burn-scarred hands smiled as they approach. "Travelers or Soul Slayers should i say by your clothes‚ You've got the look of people who've seen more roads than rest."
Noboru leaned in to see the sweet potatos looking unbelievably delicious. "They look so good and warm‚ i wanna get some!"
They all look towards Noelle. "E-eh‚ fine since you're new Soul Slayers i'll pay for you!"
The man handed them roasted sweet potatoes wrapped in paper. "Rest while you can. Roads don't stay safe for long. Not for Soul Slayers atleast." Kaito takes his share. As the four of them sat on the edge of a stone fountain. Hakari notice something strange. Kaito wasn't wearing his usual serious and protective look. He was calm and smiling as he bit the potato.
Hakari smiles softly. "Big brother‚ our life is getting better isn't it‚ you're starting to act normal too."
Kaito blinks at her. "I'm normal.."
Noboru chuckles softly. "Says the guy who can crack open a demons head."
Noelle giggles. "It's so peaceful like this with all of you‚ I can get used to it."
"Should we go visit kansuro‚ I wanna see the progression." Kaito said. "You're too excited for mine and yours new swords aren't you Kaito-kun‚ well I'm not since captain Kazuki is gonna make me fight some demons with it anyway." Noboru says.
"Perhaps we should go take a look and I'm curious about it too‚ are you hakari?" Noelle asks to Hakari looking at her with a smile. "Yeah I'm curious too‚ we should visit the merchant."
Later they all visited the forge to check the progression of their swords. The rhythmic sound of the hammering echoed from within.
As they enter yami walks up to them excitedly. "Oh! You all are back!"
Noboru smiles. "Yeah‚ Kaito here was getting excited and wanted to take a look at the progression of the swords so that's why we came here." Yami looks up at Kaito and Noboru. "Oh that's unfortunate but kansuro said not to let anyone near the room because he don't like interruption." Kaito looks a little disappointed. "Wait really‚ i just wanted to take a look.." Noelle chuckles softly trying to cheer up Kaito. "I think he want to surprise us also it would be worth the wait don't you think."
"Mhm Noelle-san's right it will be worth the wait." Noboru said.
Suddenly kansuro screams causing all of them to flinch. "Kansuro-san is everything alright?!" Yami shout back looking concerned. Kansuro runs out from the room. "Kaito-kun! Good thing you're here. We have a small problem."
"What problem?" Noelle asked. I've ran out of Scarlet Ore and the swords for Kaito and Noboru isn't ready yet‚ the stones are hard to find!"
"What you ran out of the ore?" Noboru says with worried expression. "Does that mean we won't get the swords but Kaito-kun was looking forward to the swords!"
"Isn't there any way to get the ore?" Hakari says.
"Well there is if any of you are willing to go to the mountains and the mine." Kansuro exclaim.
"I'll go." Kaito speaks up. "W-wait i will go too if you're going there big bro!" Hakari says.
"No‚ only one person can go at a time or the spirits of the scarlet mine haunts them down. Choose wisely." Kansuro tells them‚ Noboru already sweating after hearing about the spirits. "I thought spirits are only in Light Novels..i mean demons are real too after all."
"So it's settled then I will go there but what if something bad happens while I'm gone and i can't leave hakari alone.." Kaito says with concerned expression.
"Oh‚ in that case I've something for you." Kansuro says before looking inside one of the boxes in his shop searching through everywhere. "Where is it gone..where‚ ah here!" Kansuro pulls a pair of hanafuda earrings.
"Wear those earrings and when those who are close to you are in danger‚ these earrings will give you a signal. In that way you can look for the ores without any concern." Kaito takes the earrings and wear them the rectangular earrings matching his profile. "Thanks for the earrings.."
"Take this pouch and get a bounch of those ores‚ the way is to the north the mines are quite‚ make sure you return by nightfall." Yami says giving Kaito a pouch to collect the ores.
Kaito waves at them before walking away. "I'll be back."
"Be careful big brother!" Hakari says slightly concerned. "Don't worry hakari‚ your brother is strong he will be alright." Noelle said. "Don't you die on me Kaito-kun!" Noboru said shouting and jumping.
After sometime when Kaito leaves the sky had turned purple. The village's central square are alight now with paper lantern. To their surprise‚ the villagers had begun preparing a small evening event‚ not grand but beautiful in it's simplicity‚ Strings of colored paper Swayed in the air‚ and a few musicians played soft tones on shamisen and flute.
"Festival?" Noboru eye's widened. "Now that's my kind of peace! I wonder if there's any cute girls around."
An old woman overhead him and chuckled. "It's an offering night‚ we alight lanterns for the spirits of those who we have lost."
That made them pause. Hakari looked at the rows of flickering lantrens floating in the air and whispered. "Then..can anyone light one?"
"Of course child‚ everyone has someone to remember."
They each lit one. Noboru‚ Hakari and Noelle.
Noboru lantern bobbed playfully in his hands before he sets it afloat down the small stream cutting through the square. "That's for my gramps" he said quietly. "He was strict but i love him."
Hakari held hers close to her chest‚ the soft glow reflecting her eyes. "For my father and mother‚ i wish Kaito was here right now."
Noelle lights hers‚ The flame caught‚ trembling faintly. "For everyone that I wasn't able to protect as Soul Slayer."
As the three lantern drifted together under the upcoming moon light‚ their light merged together small but bright.
Later the night the three of them sitting outside the porch outside their inn‚ listening to circkets chirp.
Noelle leaned back. "You know this feels too peaceful‚ like the World's holding it's breath."
Noboru lay flat on his back‚ arms spread out. "Don't jinx it. For once‚ i want to wake up without Kaito-kun throwing me into bathtub. Wish he was here with us right now..but he went to collect ores after all."
Hakari eyes fixed on the distant mist creeping down from the hills.
Noboru asks. "Is something wrong?"
"The fog wasn't this thick earlier." She murmured.
The evening felt cold suddenly.
Noboru yawned‚ unfazed. "Probably just the weather. You're getting paranoid‚ hakari-chan."
Noelle speaks up. "The winter is close so fog is expected."
Hakari thinks to herself. "Brother come back soon."
While they all sit at the inn a shadow appears from the the mist stepping through the mist outside the village gate. His bare feet touched the dirt leaving prints behind.
"It was easier to find this village than i expected. The smith building has the magic stone hidden huh? Lord Ren wants the magic stone hidden here." Tanzai steps inside his golden eyes glowing in the fog as he smirked.
"I sense some similar majutsu around here Lord Ren told me about‚ one's missing huh? Who cares. They want some vacation time hm? I'll give them one."
Kaito reach the mine through the peaceful hills path‚ Kaito collects the scarlet Ore one by one in his pouch. His earrings moving softly to his movement. "Just few more and I can return to Hakari-chan." Kaito unaware of who has finally arrived in the village.
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Tanzai: Race demon‚ height 182‚ pink spikey hairs‚ marking over torso and face.