Part 3
Shibutsu Day care facility – an ordinary orphanage / affordable day care institution. It was opened in the poorest of neighbourhoods in Tokyo, with the aim of providing child care services to those who could least afford it. It was recognized by the government for its charitable and noble efforts and even granted a special status, enabling it to receive government funding. It was also recognized by the neighbourhood community for providing children a safe shelter to live and grow up in. That was indeed the case till about last week – when two children of unknown origin made their way to this institution. Of course, the two children were Inoue and Akito and neither of them were dangerous. However, to the mundane world, lost children of the Murim were signs of unspoken dangers to come.
There is a story amongst those form the Murim – if you spot a lost child from the Murim, be sure there will be violence to follow. The rules of the Murim world are the harshest – survival of the fittest. Although, ever since the Murim integrated with the Mundane world, things have been a lot calmer, such peace does not last long in the Murim world. Usually, the fights are limited within the clans and rarely do wars amongst clans break out. However, when wars do break out between two clans of the Murim world – there is in no way it ends with a simple slap on the wrist. Some of the bloodiest conflicts of the Murim often result in entire clans being cleansed clean – being annihilated.
To prevent complete destruction of a clan, during emergencies the young children of the clan are sent away to safety. The Night Clan of Korea, had prepared such a measure. They had never dreamt that such a day would come that they would actually need to employ such a survival tactic but life at times takes unexpected turns. The Elders of the Night Clan were ever so happy that they had never been too proud like the other Guardian Families of Korea and had prepared contingency plans. With tears swelling in their eyes, the Night Clan dispersed the young children across hidden towns, villages across Korea. The Patriarch of the Night Clan went one step ahead – he sent his children and a select few to Japan. The future of the Korean Night Clan rested on the shoulders of these children.
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One week ago….
“Papa!” Inoue cried out tearfully as she hugged her father and mother one last time. Two big streams of tears were rolling down her cheeks as she refused to let go of her father. “Don’t send me away! Inoue will be a good girl!”
Her father smiled and hugged her tightly before forcefully pulling her away and handing her to an air hostess who was waiting on the side.
“Please take care of them.” Inoue’s father instructed the air hostess, who curtly nodded in acknowledgement.
Beside, Inoue’s group was another group from the Night Clan – Akito and his parents. Unlike Inoue, Akito stood emotionlessly as he faced his parents.
“Akito, do you understand the situation of our Clan?” Akito’s father asked him as he bent down to Akito’s eye level.
Akito nodded his slowly.
“As protectors of the Night Clan, we live to serve and die for the Night Clan. You must protect Hime-sama with all your might.” Akito’s father spoke sternly.
Akito continued to nod his head.
“Do not contact us once you reach. It is likely we are being watched.”
Akito nodded once more.
“Once you land, you will find someone with the Night Clan emblem waiting for you. That is your contact in Japan and he will keep you safe. Once the danger here passes, we will come for you.”
Akito nodded and then asked, “And if we come under attack in Japan?”
Akito’s father frowned at the question. “You do not have to worry about that. The person I am sending you to live within in Japan will keep you well protected. No one would dare to attack him. Further, the Baem tribe has been struck off the Family Tree. They will not be able to travel into Japan.”
“Then father, why don’t you all come with us?” Akito asked with a pained expression. This was the first time he revealed his true feelings.
“Akito, although, your training is not complete, I will give you one last lesson before you depart. A man is only as good as his word – in our promise lies our honour. We are the protectors of the Night Clan, we live and die by the Night Clan. Not everyone can escape the calamity facing the Murim. Who will protect the less fortunate, if those with power flee? We cannot choose to be strong as we please but must be strong when we want to be weak. The Patriarch of the Night Clan is a man of honour and he will keep the promise of his forefathers to remain the Guardians of Korea till the very end. And so, we will stay by his side and fight along with him.”
Before Akito could say anything else, his father closed in and hugged him. While hugging Akito, he whispered, "Protect Hime-sama and trust her. If anything goes wrong in Japan, you can use your power.”
Akito’s eyes widened temporarily and he hugged his father tighter. “I will protect Hime-sama.”
A single tear rolled down his father's eye.