After that horrific night‚ two days passed. More than half of the village has been destroyed‚ few people died but mostly survived.
Villagers moved like ghost through the rubble‚ carrying buckets of water‚ patching walls‚ some crying for who they've lost in the fight.
Near the edge of the village‚ inside a small hut Kaito layed still. His chest rose and fell slowly beneth layers of bandages. His broken hands‚ injuries on torso and face.
Noboru stood by the window‚ his body aching but fully conscious. The burn mark along his arms and small scars.
He clinched his fists.
Two days since the battle that nearly cost them everything.
Noboru could still see flashes‚ Tanzai's monstrous grin‚ the crater where they'd been clashed‚ Kaito's final strike breaking Tanzai's core barehanded.
"You idiot.." Noboru muttered‚ glancing towards his sleeping friend. "You really thought punching a demon's heart was a great idea."
Behind him Hakari sat on a stool‚ wringing the cloth into a basin. Her own arms was bandaged from wrist to shoulder.
"Atleast Brother killed the demon.*
Noboru sighed his mischief and weirdness gone for the moment‚ said sitting on the floor.
"Yeah‚ but look at him. He hasn't moved in two days.*
"He will" Hakari said softly. "He's just....resting. Kaito's the type who would break his limits everytime he fights. His body's just catching up.
"You sound like you're used to it" Noboru said.
"Because I am." Hakari smiled faintly‚ brushing Kaito's hair aside. "He's always been reckless‚ stubborn and impossible to stop when it comes to his friends."
Outside Noelle arrived with Tansuro and Yami.
Her usually calm and tsundere expression was tense‚ her long coat coated in dust. "The villagers are clearing what's left of the eastern quarter. The forge still stands‚ though barely. Most folks would've been ash after that fight."
"He got the same fire in his eyes." Noelle said. "Just like captain Kazuki."
Kansuro's brow lifted. "Hah. Then maybe there's hope left.
Later that Day.
Children running around the ruins‚ laughing softly as if the light itself brought courage back.
Noboru stepped outside‚ stretching his arms. His moments were faster after finally releases‚ no‚ after accepting his gramps powers.
He clinched his fists.
"Still can't believe I'm standing after that. He murmured.
Noelle approached‚ leaning against a broken fence. "You're healing fast. Guess that lightning runs on stubbornness."
Noboru chuckled. "Guess so."
Noelle expression turned serious. "But your power‚ it's not normal. You tapped into something your body wasn't ready for‚ right?"
Noboru gaze dropped to his hands. "Yeah. My grandpa always warned me..Lightning's alive. It doesn't like to be controlled. It'll eat you up if you don't keep it in check.
"But you still used it" Noelle said.
"I had to. Hakari was dying. Kaito was gone.
What else could i do? My stone majutsu isn't as strong."
Noelle smiled softly. "Then you did the right thing."
Inside the hut‚ Hakari sat besides Kaito again‚ humming quietly while replacing his bandages. The air smelled faintly of herbs.
She noticed a faint tremor in his hand‚ his fingers twitched‚ just slightly.
"Brother?"
He didn't respond but the faintest sound escape his lips‚ a whisper‚ barely audible.
"....Tanzai.."
Hakai froze. Then smiled softly.
"It's over‚ you can rest now."
Kaito hand relaxed his breathing steady now.
Meanwhile a crow of the Slayers flew over the Soul Slayers village far from the smith's Village‚ lands where all the 6 captains were at sitting with the head of Soul Slayers and lands on the ground. "Smith's village been attacked‚ smith's village been attcked!"
All of their eyes widened. "The Village attacked‚ by who? It's meant to be hidden Village."
"By bloodfang Pentad demon!" The crow said.
Kazuki speaked up. "My team members were there! What happened to them?"
The crow speaked again. "The bloodfang demon has been killed by Noboru and Kaito‚ the demon is dead."
The old head's expression shocked. "They killed the bloodfang?! They did?! It's been over 6 decades since one of the bloodfang demon has been killed!"
All the captains especially Takuma says. "Oh really?! Then Kaito-kun must have gotten even stronger‚ I wanna fight him!"
Akane speaks. "Those brats really did it."
"I knew there was something special about them after all." Kohaku said.
Captain kazuki didn't said anything just smiled with slightly worried expression.
"Half of the village was destroyed in the fight‚ few guards and villagers died but Kaito and his group is safe!" The crow confirmed.
Later that night.
The village glowed softly under the hanging lanterns. Kansuro's forge was alive again. The rhythmic sound of hammer and metal echoing through the night.
Noboru sat nearby watching Kansuro work on his and Kaito's new swords with the scarlet ore that Kaito had collected.
Kaito looked at the pieces of his katana. "This sword saved me more times than I can count. But now it's gone. Guess I'll have to start over with new sword but this time stronger one that Kansuro is making.
Kansuro called out from the other room. "Then stop moping and come help‚ boy! The faster we work‚ the sooner you and Kaito get a new sword.
Noboru blinked. "We all only came to this village to get new swords but it dragged to fight a BloodFang Pentad and now Kaito-kun's unconscious for two days. I wanna go back already!"
"You think I'll let a Soul Slayer walk around with a stick!" Kansuro said getting fired up for finally making the swords.
Hakari laughed softly at them for the first time after the battle with Tanzai.
Next morning.
Kaito stepped outside from the small hut‚ awake at last‚ his arms and hands wrapped in bandges.
The village was half in ruins but life still pulsing. He saw villagers waving‚ children playing‚ smoke rising from rebuilt chimneys.
Noelle looked up from carrying supplies and grinned. "Look who's finally awake."
"How long was I out" Kaito asked.
"Two days." Hakari said‚ hugging him from the side. "Guess i overdid it."
Noboru approached suddenly jumping on top of Kaito both falling on ground as Noboru hugs him and cries with snots. "Kaito-kun you're finally awake‚ i thought you'd died!"
Noelle said. "Punching through a demon's core? That's something."
Kaito smiles for once. "Atleast it worked."
Hakri replied. "Don't try that again!"
"No promises"
Kansuro and Yami walked towards them as Yami is first one to talk. "Kaito-kun you're finally awake!"
Kansuro smiles holding two long boxes. "Alright flocks I guess now is the perfect time to show this to you."
Kansuro places the boxes on nearby table before opening them to show two katanas.
Kaito's kanata's handle is wrapped in black cloth with faint red lining‚ the sheath is plain white. The handguard is simple round with gold and red edges.
Noboru's katana's handle is with golden yellow dots‚ the sheath is white with golden ends. The guard is circular with four small triangular edges‚ resembling a lightening bolt.
Kaito's and Noboru's eyes shines and so does Hakari's and Noboru.
"These are perfect." Noboru said.
"Alright now give me your hands." Kansuro asks. "And remember black color means bad luck and short life span truly for weak people while red and yellow color resembles long life span and strong."
Kansuro takes Noboru's hand first and with a small pin he makes a small cut in Noboru's thumb to draw blood on the dark blade.
"Ow what're you trying to do oldman?!" Noboru said.
"Just watch." Slowly the katanas's blade turns golden yellow with a thunderbolt on it resembling exactly Noboru's lightning majutsu.
"Woah! So cool!" Noboru said his eyes shining.
"It looks so cool." Noelle said.
"My turn." Kaito said holding out his hand and his eyes own eyes glowing softly from excitement.
Noelle‚ hakari and noboru whsipers to each other. "Didn't know Kaito-kun eyes can be this peaceful and soft looking. Mhm mhm!"
A drop of Kaito's blood touches the sword‚ for 10 seconds nothing happens then suddenly his katana's blade turns even darker leaving all of them dumbfounded and Kaito's mouth left open. "Eh?"
Kansuro's starts chasing Kaito while Kaito runs away for his dear life. "I was expecting a red color not dark‚ you had my hopes high you brat!"
"Not my fault." Kaito said as he hide behind Noboru and Kansuro end up sending Noboru flying. "Ahhh!"
Kaito held his Katana in his hands. "I'll name it
Kurenai no Hono."
"Oh‚ that's a good name and resembles your flame majutsu." Noelle said.
"I want to name mine too!" Noboru said.
"Then do it‚ no one's stopping you." Hakari said with a smile.
"Hm what should I name it..oh! How about Rajin no Koe since I can use both stone and lightning majutsu." Noboru said excitedly.
"That's a fine name." Kaito confirmed.
Later in evening‚ Kaito‚ Hakari‚ Noboru and Noelle leaves the village finally.
They walks once again on the clear dirt path in the evening.
"Finally we are going back to Soul Slayers village but now Captain Kazuki will get me hooked up with training again." Noboru said dragging his feet behind all of them.
"You're once again acting lazy Noboru‚ you're injured you can just ask Captain Kazuki for some days off." Noelle said.
"As if he will let me get some days off!"
They all followed the crow that had leaded them to the smith village before.
Later after few hours they finally enter the Village‚ few of the Villgers waving at them and some complimenting them on their victory over one of the Bloodfang demon.
"But I only remember people looking at us weirdly when we three first came here." Kaito mentioned.
"Then you three earned it." Noelle said with a smile.
"Cute girls are waving towards me!" Noboru said excitedly.
Noelle pulled him with them. *C'mon we don't have time for this‚ we have to get to captain Kazuki's base and inform them that you and Kaito got your new swords."
"Huh? Not fair!" Noboru said quietly dragging his feet again.
Soon they reach the familiar base. "Finally we're back!" Hakari said.