Back home in the dim light of the Ancestral District, Kaito sat alone, the enigmatic token from the museum cradled in his hand. The gentle breeze that followed one of Neo-Eden’s typical hard rains played through the trees above him. He turned the coin over and over, alternatingly scrutinizing the crest and the luminous, circuit-like pattern woven into the dull bronze.

He muttered under his breath, "What are you trying to tell me?"

His thoughts drifted and carried him into a memory.

“Kaito, one day you’ll take up my mantle as Guardian. You know what that means, right?” Katashi Yamazaki asked. Before Kaito could respond, Katashi added, “It means you’re honor bound to protect this city. Even though it’s changed and most of the citizens have forgotten our ways entirely, you still have to protect it.”

“I know, father,” young Kaito said. “The Blade of Ages will one day pass to me when you retire, and I’ll need to take care of the sick and the poor. You’ve told me a hundred thousand times.”

“And I’ll tell you a hundred more if it means the lesson sticks.”

Kaito let out a long sigh and followed his father into the Hall of Guardians. He struggled to focus on the lecture his father had prepared and instead found his eyes drawn to the intricate battle scenes being projected in the closest display. He watched as shinobi leapt from tree to tree to deliver messages to the warring Daimyo.

“Kaito, are you listening to me?” his father asked and turned to the next display. “Where does your mind always go, boy?”

A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. "Pondering new mysteries, Kaito?" Masaru stood beside him, his aged eyes observing the token with a mix of curiosity and wisdom. It was as if he materialized from nothing next to Kaito.

Kaito looked up, a slight relief in his eyes. "Masaru, I found this at the museum. It’s old, probably belongs in the museum, but it was never in the Guardians exhibit. I’ve been there dozens of times. The crest is something I kind of recognize, but these digital patterns, they don’t belong. I think the thieves left this on purpose."

Masaru leaned in, squinting at the faded but intricate engravings. "That is curious. The old meets the new," he mused. "That coin, it's a bridge, Kaito. You'll need more than knowledge of the past to unlock its secrets."

Kaito nodded, the weight of Masaru’s words settling over him. "I have an idea of how to get the answers."

Masaru placed a reassuring hand on Kaito's shoulder. "Just remember, the wisdom of the past can still guide you in the world of tomorrow."

With a determined nod, Kaito pocketed the token and stood up. "I'll remember," he assured. He’d made his mind up and his next destination was clear.

***

In the shadowed veins of Neo-Eden, Kaito pursued his quarry – a known member of the War Dogs. Marco dealt in patches and pills. The ravers referred to them as p&ps. He wasn’t the boss, and that’s how Kaito preferred it. Even though Marco wasn’t the boss, or even in the inner circle, really, he would likely have heard something. He would have some clue that would lead Kaito to his ultimate target. Like a specter, he moved across the rooftops, his eyes fixed on the thug weaving through the crowded streets below. The neon glow of the city cast a surreal light on the chase, painting it in hues of danger and urgency.

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The War Dog, oblivious to the silent hunter above, continued his hurried pace, occasionally glancing over his shoulder with a mix of paranoia and haste. Kaito, using his training, kept pace effortlessly, closing the distance with each calculated leap and dash.

Finally, in a narrow, less-traveled alley, Kaito made his move. He descended swiftly, landing behind the thug with barely a sound. Before the man could react, Kaito grabbed him, spinning him around and pinning him against the wall with Kaito’s sword drawn against the thug’s throat.

"Tell me about the museum attack," Kaito demanded, his voice low and menacing.

The thug, caught off guard, struggled against Kaito's iron grip. "I don't know what you're talking about!" he spat, fear beginning to eclipse his initial shock.

Kaito's response was immediate. He tightened his grip, allowing the edge of his blade to catch the dim light, a silent threat. "The Blade of Ages. What do you know?"

The War Dog's eyes widened, a mix of confusion and realization dawning upon him. "I swear, I don't know anything about your blade," he stammered, desperation creeping into his voice.

As Kaito prepared to press further, a sudden, deafening explosion rocked the alley. The ground shuddered, throwing both men off balance. Kaito instinctively shielded himself, his senses blinded by the flash and the bang. The War Dog slipped from his grasp in the confusion and scrambled away.

Through the settling dust and debris, a figure emerged – Rez. The flickering flames of the explosion he had just orchestrated illuminated his wild grin.

"Looking for answers, samurai?" Rez called out, his tone mocking and playful. "You're barking up the wrong tree."

Kaito rubbed at his eyes to clear the halo left by the explosion. Slowly Rez’s bright flame colored hair and cybernetic arms came into focus. Instantly, Kaito recognized the gang member for who he was, Co-Leader of the War Dogs. Now, Kaito faced a new, much more dangerous opponent.

“Rez, right?”

“Ya! You are quite the detective.”

“Glad you could join us.” Kaito expected to extract some information from the flunkies before moving on to bigger game, but he would accept the gift as presented. “The Blade of Ages. Speak.”

“That’s not how this is going to work, Guardian. I’m the one giving the orders here.”

Kaito launched a throwing knife at Rez who didn’t flinch as it grazed his cheek. A thin line of blood surfaced and started to trickle down his cheek.

“You shouldn’t have done that. Now I’m not gonna play nice,” Rez said.

“Tell me what you know and I’ll let you go. That was a warning.”

The tone of Rez’s voice lifted with a manic energy. "If you know what’s good for you, you’ll drop this one, samurai. This one ends in death for you. Please don’t drop it. Don’t drop it. No. Please don’t!" he taunted and leapt up onto the nearby fire escape.

Kaito lunged forward to catch Rez, but Rez’s servos twitched faster than Kaito’s muscles pushed. He bounded into the air dropping three more explosives into the alley below him as he sped off.

Kaito dove behind a nearby dumpster as the trio of detonators went off. A cacophony of flames and concussive force filled the alleyway and slammed into the dumpster. The dumpster slammed into Kaito, and Kaito slammed into the wall behind. Darkness took him.

In the pitch black, Kaito heard a voice - low and persistent like a whispered chant. At first, it felt distant, muffled by the darkness, but then he began to discern the words that filled the void around him. The soft, feminine voice ramped in intensity until Kaito could clearly understand.

“Hey, guy. You gotta get up.”

“Huh?”

“Rez’s gonna send a clean-up crew in, and if they find you here, this dumpster’ll be your permanent home.”

“Who… who are you? What…” Kaito blinked. At once there were thousands of people standing over him, his vision still blurry and unfocused. A few more blinks and stark neon blue and green hair came into focus. And then darkness, again.