"Wow, this is our room..." said Yume, looking around in awe.
"Maybe Kagura went a little overboard..." commented Kaito, glancing at the room with a touch of unease.
The room they had been assigned was visibly expensive. Upon entering, they stood on a slightly elevated level above the living area, which led to other spaces: a bedroom and a spacious bathroom. A few steps down led to the living room, where a red semicircular sofa stood proudly in front of a large TV mounted on a wall covered in stone-like tiles. The late afternoon light filtered generously through the wide windows, making the whole place feel warm and welcoming.
(I've never been in a place like this...) Kaito thought, strolling through the vast living room.
"Kaito, the bathroom is amazing!" Yume shouted from the next room.
"She's really excited…" he muttered, heading toward the bedroom with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"I wonder what it looks like…"
He froze in place.
"What the hell was she thinking?!" he exclaimed, visibly uncomfortable.
Moments later, Yume joined him.
"What's wrong?" she asked, seeing him frozen.
Kaito looked at her, his cheeks slightly flushed. With a vague gesture, he pointed at the bed.
"The bed…"
"What's wrong wi—" she began, but stopped mid-sentence. Her face turned red as well.
The bed was heart-shaped, with matching pillows and covers.
"Kagura totally misunderstood..." Kaito grumbled, clenching his teeth. "Don't worry, I'll sleep on the couch."
"Y-you don't have to… we'll just talk to Kagura…" she replied, embarrassed.
Meanwhile, the sun began to set over Shinkase. The city of the future was slowly growing darker, its artificial lights flickering to life—unaware of the incident that was about to shake it.
---
"STOP, PLEASE STOP!" a man shouted inside a construction site.
"Please, let me go! Don't do to me what you did to him!" His eyes fell on the decapitated body of a companion.
From the shadows cast by steel beams, a figure emerged: a refined-looking young man with icy eyes and tied-back hair.
"Did you really think I'd let you go, little Reikeitai insect?" he asked, his voice cold as winter.
"W-what do you want from me? You want to know why we're in Shinkase?!" the man stammered, trembling.
"You're here to stop the Fuyumi family…" the young man cut him off.
"S-so you already know?! Then… then what do you want from me?!"
"I…" A faint smile formed on his lips. "I just want to kill you all."
His hand barely moved. The air grew heavy—lethal.
(It's over.) the man thought, closing his eyes.
(W-what…? I'm not dead?)
He opened them slowly. He was now several meters away from his attacker.
"You're here, huh?" the young man said without turning around.
"Akizame!" the captive gasped, a mix of relief and disbelief in his voice.
"Get out of here," Akizame ordered, never taking his eyes off the enemy.
"Wait..." The man grabbed his collar. "That guy's a monster!"
"I told you to leave," Akizame repeated. Veins throbbed visibly on his face.
(I've never seen him like this…) the man thought, then nodded and limped away.
"Kagetsu…" the enemy murmured.
"That's my name," he confirmed.
"You're part of that organization, aren't you?" asked Akizame.
"Yes... you call us Mugentamashii, don't you? Not a bad name."
"What do you want?"
"Why should I tell you?" Kagetsu replied, slowly raising his hand. "Let's just have some fun instead."
A clean slice severed several steel beams, which crashed down loudly.
Akizame vanished. He reappeared on top of a beam, perfectly balanced.
(He still hasn't summoned his spirit...) Kagetsu thought. "Fine."
His body began to be coated in ash.
"Enzo: Lord of the Burning Ash."
From his shadow emerged a skeletal creature, cloaked in swirling gray flames.
"Shall we incinerate him?" the spirit asked, in a deep, ancient voice.
"I'd like to... but I still have some questions for him. For now…"
Akizame narrowed his eyes.
"Let's break every bone in his body."
"Very well."
The concrete beneath Kagetsu's feet shattered like glass.
"Let's see you try, Reikeitai member!"
Akizame vanished again. He reappeared with a fist charged with spiritual energy.
Kagetsu intercepted him. Their fists collided, creating a powerful shockwave.
Akizame's arm was wrapped in ash. He delivered a sweeping uppercut. Kagetsu sliced it aside, deflecting the blow.
(How is he using his power without summoning his spirit?) Akizame wondered, dodging a flurry of kicks.
"Don't lose focus," Kagetsu smirked, landing a clean kick to his face.
Akizame's body was hurled through multiple beams, stopping only when he braced himself against the ground.
When he looked up, a slash was already coming at him. He managed to block it by quickly summoning several layers of ash.
More slashes followed. Again, he blocked them with ash, but it was getting harder.
"You won't last like this..." the spirit behind him warned.
"I know. Ash can't block those cuts…"
At that moment, Kagetsu appeared beside him.
(Shit.) Akizame gritted his teeth. A slash struck his abdomen, tearing it open.
It seemed over. But Akizame smiled.
"Don't you lose focus."
The ash he had left behind surged forward, slamming Kagetsu into the ground.
Akizame staggered, then stood back up. He approached the enemy slowly.
(He underestimated me.) Kagetsu thought, trying to stand.
Another ash strike slammed him back down with force.
"Now," said Akizame, his gaze cold and veins pulsing. "What do you want?"
"You may be stronger… than me… but not stronger than him…"
Suddenly, Akizame was overwhelmed by a crushing pressure.
(What the hell…) He turned sharply.
Standing before him was a man with white hair, an unkempt beard, and a long open black coat.
"You're here, Zo."