The explosion caused by Kaito threw the train passengers into a panic.
Screams, confusion, shattering glass, and whispers filled with fear echoed through the corridors.
"Stop him immediately!" a woman shouted, grabbing the conductor's arm.
"What's happening on this train?!" a group of people asked, huddling together with terror in their eyes.
The man responsible for the train looked out of the cabin, unable to give an answer.
(What do I do? Should I stop the train? What if it's dangerous?) he wondered, gripping the controls with sweaty hands.
Meanwhile, in the wrecked cabin where the battle had taken place, Kaito was still pressing his foot against Shirogane's body.
He was panting, trembling, unmoving. He seemed absent, trapped in a state between rage and unconsciousness.
It was only when he heard Yume's voice that he returned to reality.
"Kaito...?" she whispered.
Kaito's gaze lit up again, as the adrenaline slowly left his body.
He turned toward Yume, who was shaken at the sight of him: he was covered in blood, and not all of it was his.
When Kaito realized this, he wiped his face with his sleeve. Then he looked at Yume and, with a tired but genuine smile, said:
"Hey, Yume."
She ran to him and grabbed him by the collar.
"Why did you come here? Look at you… idiot."
Her voice was starting to break. Without realizing it, tears began to stream down her face.
Kaito looked at her, stunned. He didn't know what to do.
Then he followed his instincts: he gently stroked her head.
Yume froze for a moment, surprised by the gesture, while tears continued to fall.
They stayed like that for a while, until suddenly the train began to slow down.
"What's going on?" Kaito asked, looking around.
"They're stopping the train," Yume replied, stepping away from him as she wiped her tears.
He stared at her for a moment, then said seriously:
"Yume, we have to go. They'll definitely call them."
Her eyes tensed.
"You mean the Reikeitai?"
Kaito nodded.
The Reikeitai.
A special police unit, formed jointly by the four great nations: Kairen, Fuyoko, Raikan, and Yuriko.
Made up exclusively of individuals bonded to Spirits, their mission was simple yet ruthless:
to intervene in any incident involving spiritual entities by any means necessary.
Kaito looked at her again, then said in a tired voice:
"Yume, I'll take you ba—"
He couldn't finish the sentence.
A small dagger, made of pure shadow, pierced his side.
Kaito fell to the ground with a muffled groan.
"Kaito! What's happening?!" Yume shouted, rushing to him.
In pain, he looked up. His eyes narrowed in both pain and anger.
Then, a hoarse, gasping voice reached them:
"I'll… kill you…"
Yume turned quickly.
Shirogane was on his feet.
Wounded, bleeding profusely, but still alive.
Kaito, grimacing in pain, pulled the dagger from his side. The weapon vanished in an instant, dissolving into shadow.
(I have to get up...) he thought, gritting his teeth as blood dripped from his wound.
His gaze fell on Yume, frozen in fear.
(H-How is this possible? He's still alive… it's over…) she thought, wide-eyed.
Shirogane stared at her with a sharp gaze, his voice hoarse and full of fury.
"Yume… heal me. Then I'll finish him."
Those words, said with such coldness, hit her like a punch to the gut.
In that moment, she realized she hadn't escaped him. Nothing had changed.
She was still a prisoner of his shadow.
But then, that oppressive feeling vanished.
A warm hand rested on her shoulder.
"Yume… it's okay. I've got this."
Kaito's voice was tired, weakened by pain, but the smile he gave her was sincere.
He stepped forward, picking up the blade used earlier. He staggered for a moment, but regained his footing.
His eyes were locked on Shirogane, full of determination.
"Shirogane… this ends now. GOT IT?!"
The enemy laughed, bloodstained.
"What do you think you can do in that condition? Don't you see? Yume will heal me. She's mine.
I made her perfect. She's my partner. It's over."
Kaito clenched his jaw, furious.
But then Yume moved.
She walked up to him, slowly. Her eyes trembled, but her voice was steady.
"Kaito… please… save me."
The boy's eyes widened in surprise.
And in that instant, his wounds began to heal.
Yume had asked for something she hadn't asked anyone since leaving the village.
She had asked for help.
Kaito's injuries began to close—slowly, but steadily. His battered body began to move again, fueled by new strength.
"YOU BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU!"
Shirogane screamed, lunging at Yume with a punch full of spiritual energy. She couldn't even follow his movements.
It seemed like the end.
But the blow never landed.
A hand stopped it in midair.
Shirogane's eyes widened.
Kaito was holding him back.
"It ends here, Shirogane."
His voice was calm. But beneath that calm was a cold, burning rage.
A moment later, the enemy's body burst through the roof of the now-stopped train and crashed into the rocky ground with a dull thud.
At his side appeared Kuroyami.
"Get up! Come on, we have to fight!"
"I… I can't move!" Shirogane growled, furious and trembling.
Kuroyami looked at him, confused.
"What's wrong with you, Shirogane?"
But he didn't answer. He was staring at something ahead.
When Kuroyami turned, her eyes widened.
A figure was approaching with two blades in hand. Kaito was coming for them.
"We have to go! NOW!"
But it was too late.
Kaito appeared in front of them.
Kuroyami tried to strike him, but was blown away by a sharp slash from his blades, sent back into the shadow of her host.
Shirogane stared in disbelief.
"SHIT… shit… it's over…" he whispered, terror consuming him.
"You're a disgrace," Kaito said with contempt.
"To get your revenge on the Mugentamashii, you became just like them."
Shirogane's expression cracked.
A memory surfaced—of a boy on his knees, surrounded by his family's blood.
"They took everything from me…
My family was feared and respected… they were criminals, yes, but they were mine.
And they… they slaughtered them.
I became this way for revenge!"
"I lost everything too.
But I didn't become like you."
Kaito's voice was sharp. Resolute.
Shirogane fell silent. Deep down, maybe he knew Kaito was right.
His knees buckled. His eyes half-closed.
"Goodbye, Shirogane."
Kaito raised his blades.
"SPIRIT SLAYER!"
The strike engulfed the enemy's body completely.
(It's over… I lost…) was his final thought.
Silence fell.
Kaito took a long breath, then turned. Yume had reached him, still shaken.
In a low but firm voice, he said:
"Let's get out of here."
Hearing those words, Yume looked at him.
And through her tears… she smiled.