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THE BLIND MAIDEN

{This Light Novel Story Is Set In The Japanese Shōwa Era.}

Author: GigaTOONZ

"XENO HUNTER: BLOOD OF FATE"

Chapter.02

[At dawn, in the thick snowy forest, Kazuki and Kaya hold hands and walk through a violent blizzard in search for shelter. They breathe heavily and nearly collapse with fatigue.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...How?

[Thoughts]

...How could i let

this happen?

[Kazuki gets a quick flashback of his family's death.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...I promised that

i'd always protect

them no matter what!

[Thoughts]

...And i broke that

promise!

[Kazuki gets another quick flashback of his family's death.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

Okaa-San...

[Thoughts]

Hiroto...

[Thoughts]

Teruko...

[Tears flow down Kazuki's face.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...I'm sorry.

[Thoughts]

...I'm so sorry.

________________________________________________________________________

2.

[Kazuki and Kaya slowly try to find their way through the violent blizzard. Tears flow down Kazuki's face.]

Kazuki - ...Kuh...!

[The heavy blizzard wind roughly blows in Kazuki's face.]

Kazuki - Ngh!

[Thoughts]

Focus!

[Thoughts]

I can't mourn now!

[Thoughts]

This blizzard just

keeps getting worse!

[Thoughts]

If we don't find

shelter soon, we

might not make it out

alive!

[Kazuki looks at Kaya and notices her shivering and breathing heavily.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

I don't think Kaya

can take much more

of this.

[Thoughts]

It looks like she

can hardly breathe.

Kaya - K-K-Ka...zuki.

Kazuki - Oh!

Don't worry, Kaya!

We'll be out of this

blizzard soon!

I promise!

Just hold on.

Kaya - I...c-c-can't...

I'm s-so...rry...

[Kaya collapses and faints in the snow.]

3.

Kazuki - Ah!

Kaya?!

Kaya!!

[Kazuki kneels down and inspects Kaya.]

Kazuki - She's completely out.

[Kazuki feels Kaya's wrist for a pulse. He then places his head on her chest and listens for a heartbeat. He sighs in relief as he kneels back up.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

I can still feel her

pulse, so that's

good.

[Thoughts]

Her heart's still

beating, but it's

awfully slow.

[Thoughts]

It must be the

hypothermia setting

in.

[Thoughts]

Kaya...

[Thoughts]

I'm sorry you had to

go through all this.

[Thoughts]

It's not fair to

you, is it?

[Thoughts]

Although...

[Thoughts]

It's not like

anything has ever

been fair to any of

us.

[Thoughts]

That's just

something we have to

accept.

4.

[Kazuki takes off his haori and wraps it around Kaya to keep her warm. He then carries her on his back and ties her body to his.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...You did your

best, Kaya.

[Kazuki smiles.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

I'm proud of you for

being so strong.

[Thoughts]

And i'm sure THEY

are too.

[Kazuki continues to walk through the blizzard with Kaya on his back.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

You can rest now.

[Thoughts]

Know that your big

bro will always be

with you when you

need him.

[Thoughts]

And i'll protect you

no matter what.

[Thoughts]

That's a promise...

[Thoughts]

That i'll never

break!

[Later on, Kazuki walks through the violent blizzard, carrying a sleeping Kaya.]

Kazuki - Ngh!

[Thoughts]

This is getting

harder and harder by

the second!

My legs are about to

give out!

Ah...!

5.

[Kazuki stops and notices a cave high up on a mountain.]

Kazuki - ...A cave?

[Thoughts]

A cave that high is

sure to keep us safe

from this blizzard.

[Kazuki looks at Kaya sleeping and smiles.]

Kazuki - All right!

Let's go, Kaya!

[Halfway to the top of the mountain, Kazuki climbs with all his might.]

Kazuki - Ngh...! Ngh...!

Kuh...!

[Kazuki breathes heavily.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...The air up here

is so thin!

I can hardly

breathe!

[Thoughts]

It feels like my

lungs are about to

rip apart!

[The cold wind blows Kazuki, making him shiver.]

Kazuki - Ngh!

[Thoughts]

It's so cold!

[Thoughts]

I can feel my heart

slowing down!

[Kazuki tries to grab on to a small ledge but it breaks.]

Kazuki - Ahhh!!

[Kazuki nearly falls off the mountain with Kaya but quickly grabs another small ledge.]

Kazuki - Ngh!

6.

Kuh...!

[Kazuki struggles and drags himself and Kaya back up and continues to climb the mountain.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...Don't...stop...

now!

[Thoughts]

You...have...to keep

...moving!

[Thoughts]

...Give it your all,

Kazuki!

[Thoughts]

Give it your all!!

[Kazuki musters up all his strength and continues to climb the mountain.]

Kazuki - Ngh...! Kuh...!

Hrgh...! Gahh...!

[Kazuki finally makes it high up the mountain where the cave is. He breathes heavily as lies down on his stomach on the ground, still carrying Kaya.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...We did it!

[Thoughts]

Thank God!

...Ngh!

[Kazuki stands up with Kaya on his back and heads into the cave.]

[In the cave, Kazuki walks and looks around.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...This place is so

dark.

I can barely see

anything in here.

[Thoughts]

It IS pretty warm

and quiet, though.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Much better than

outside.

7.

[Kazuki places Kaya in a sitting position on the ground and leans her back and head on a stalagmite. He then places his haori over her to keep her warm.]

Kazuki - There.

[Kazuki sits next to Kaya. She then gently leans and rests her head on Kazuki's lap.]

Kazuki - Oh...

Kaya - Mmm...

[Kazuki smiles, gently pets her head and strokes her hair.]

Kazuki - Oh, that's right!

How could i forget?!

[Kazuki pulls out his mother's note from his pocket.]

Kazuki - O-Okaa-San's note...

[Kazuki's expression saddens.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

She wanted me to

read this after last

night.

[Thoughts]

What did she mean

when she said it'll

tell me what i need

to know?

[Thoughts]

Did she really know

what would happen

that night?

[Kazuki opens the note.]

Kazuki - Ah!

[Kazuki sees that most words in the note are smudged and can't be read. He sighs in disappointment.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...Its all smudged.

[Thoughts]

This must've

happened during the

blizzard.

8.

Oh?

[Kazuki notices a sentence, still readable on the note.]

Kazuki - Looks like a few

words are still

intact.

It says...

"Find The Xeno

Hunters".

Ah!

________________________________________________________________________

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...She wants me...to

find the Xeno

Hunters?!

[Thoughts]

Wh-Why?!

How am i even

supposed to-

[Kazuki suddenly senses a horrible vibe.]

Kazuki - Ah!

[Kazuki slowly turns around in horror and notices the vibe coming from deeper inside the cave.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...What was that?!

[Kazuki hesitantly gets up and walks into the deeper, darker parts of the cave.]

Kazuki - Ah!

[Far deeper in the cave, comes across a horrific, bloodcurdling sight. The ground is littered with several bloody and massacred human dead bodies and body parts.]

Kazuki - Ah..Ahhhh!!!

[Kazuki is horrified and runs away. While running, he hears Kaya's scream.]

Kazuki - Ah!

Kaya!!

9.

[Kazuki reaches where Kaya was and gasps in horror.]

Kazuki - Kaya...

[Kazuki sees Kaya held high above the ground by her neck by a xeno, shrouded in blood and multiple mouths on its face. One of the tongues from its mouth is what suspends Kaya.]

Kaya - K-Ka...zuki...

[The xeno sniffs the air and psychotically smiles.]

Cave Xeno - That smell!

That smell!

Blood!

Meat!

Children!

Meat!

Meat!!

Kazuki - Ngh!

[The cave xeno brings out several tongues from all the mouths on his face and licks his lips. One of the tongues stretches up to Kaya and licks her face, making her squirm and wet herself in fear.]

Kazuki - Kuh...!

[Kazuki's heart begins to beat in anger. The cave xeno then turns and looks at Kazuki.]

Cave Xeno - Oi!

Kazuki - Ah!

Cave Xeno - This girl...

She's your sister,

isn't she?

You two look alike.

Kazuki - Ngh!

[The cave xeno's psychotic smile grows wider.]

Cave Xeno - So she IS your

sister!

She's a beautiful

girl, isn't she?

After i devour you,

maybe i'll have a

little fun with her.

10.

[The cave xeno slides one of its tongues high up and in-between Kaya's thighs and tries to violate her.]

Kaya - Ngh!

Kazuki...!

[Kazuki tightens his fists in anger.]

Kazuki - You bastard!

Get your filthy hands

off my sister...!

[Kazuki rapidly charges at the cave xeno.]

Cave Xeno - Ah!

Kazuki - Arghhh...!

[Kazuki violently jumps at the cave xeno, smashing both of them through the wall of cave and sending them roughly tumbling down the mountain.]

Kazuki - Ngh! Urk!

Gah...!

Kaya - Kazuki!!

Ngh!

[Kaya runs out of the cave and uses her immense sense of hearing to detect and follow Kazuki's sound. She then begins to quickly run down the mountain.]

[Still tumbling down the mountain, Kazuki continuously slams and brutally injures his body on jagged rocks.]

Kazuki - Urk! Urk!

Gahhh...!

[Thoughts]

If i keep rolling

down at THIS speed,

i'm done!

Cave Xeno - Damn you, brat!

Kazuki - Ah!

[The cave xeno leaps into the air at Kazuki.]

Cave Xeno - I'll rip you apart!

[The cave xeno unleashes multiple, long, mutated tongues, shrouded in teeth from all the mouths on his face.]

11.

Kazuki - What the...?!

Cave Xeno - Arghhh...!

[The cave xeno's serrated tongues violently flail at Kazuki, trying to sever him to pieces.]

Kazuki - Kuh!

Harghhh...!

[Kazuki grabs all the flailing, serrated tongues in his hands, making his hands violently bleed from being severely wounded.]

Kazuki - Ngh!

Arghhhh...!!

[With one powerful pull, Kazuki violently drags the cave xeno out of the air and towards him.]

Cave Xeno - Gah!

Kazuki - Ngh!

[Kazuki quickly pulls out his pickaxe from behind him in one hand.]

Kazuki - Urahhh!

[Kazuki slams the pickaxe in the cave xeno's head, sending him violently flying across the air and falling to the ground at the bottom of the mountain.]

Kazuki - Urk! Gah...!

[Kazuki rolls down and slams into a huge rock at the bottom of the mountain, making him stop.]

Cave Xeno - Kuh...!

[The cave xeno continues to lie on the ground and begins to slowly regenerate his smashed head.]

Cave Xeno - Kuh...!

Damn those brats!

I'll kill them!

I'll kill them all!

Ngh!

[The cave xeno tries to get up but Kazuki quickly climbs on top of him, pinning him back down.]

Cave Xeno - Ah!

12.

Kazuki - I'm sorry...

But i can't let you.

Cave Xeno - Grrr!

Damn you...!

[Kazuki lifts up a large rock in his hands. Tears flow down Kazuki's face]

Kazuki - Forgive me.

Arghhh!

[Kazuki begins to repeatedly smash the cave xeno's head with the large rock.]

Kazuki - Hrgh!

Hrgh!

Hrgh!

Hrgh!

[The cave xeno tries to regenerate his head but Kazuki continuously smashes it without stopping. The cave xeno's arms and legs violently sway about in an attempt to escape, slashing Kazuki's arms, chest and eyes with his claws in the process.]

Kazuki - Garghh!

Ngh!

Arghhh!

[Kazuki continues to gruesomely smash the cave xeno's head as it tries to regenerate.]

Kazuki - Hrgh!

Hrgh!

Hrgh!

[In the horizon, the thick, snowy clouds slowly open up and exposes the sun. Sunlight falls upon Kazuki and the cave xeno and begins to melt the the xeno's body.]

Cave Xeno - Ah!

No!

No!

Arghhh...!

Kazuki - Ah!

Cave Xeno - It burns!

It burns...!!

Arghhh...!

13.

[The cave xeno's body is nearly completely melted.]

Cave Xeno - [Thoughts]

No...

[Drops of tears flow out of the cave xeno's eye.]

Kazuki - Ah!

[The sunlight completely melts the cave xeno's body and kills him, leaving nothing but a pool of blood.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...He's dead!

[Thoughts]

...There's nothing

left!

[Kazuki looks down at his bloody hands.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...Only blood!

[Thoughts]

"Xenos Are

Vulnerable To

Sunlight".

[Thoughts]

So THIS is what

Okaa-San meant.

[Kazuki closes his eyes, puts his hands together and begins to pray for the xeno.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...Dear God.

[Thoughts]

This poor man has

greatly sinned.

[Thoughts]

And i know well that

he has to be greatly

punished for those

sins.

[Kazuki opens his eyes.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

But right before he

died...

14.

[Thoughts]

Rather than malice

or hatred...

[Thoughts]

His soul reeked of

so much sorrow and

regret.

[Thoughts]

Much like mine.

[Thoughts]

If he must be

punished for his

sins...

[Thoughts]

Please don't be too

harsh.

[Kazuki stands up.]

Kazuki - Urgh!

[Kazuki begins to stagger as his horrible injuries begin to bleed faster.]

Kazuki - Ngh...!

[Kazuki holds his bleeding chest.]

Kazuki - Kuh...!

[Kazuki's sight becomes blurry as his eyes bleed from their injuries.]

Kaya - Kazuki!

Kazuki - Oh!

[Kaya runs down and reaches the bottom of the mountain.]

Kazuki - Kaya?

Kaya!

[Kazuki runs over to Kaya and they fall into eachother's embrace. Streams of tears flow down their faces as they cry with joy.]

Kazuki - Uwahhh...!

Kaya - Uwahhh...!

Kazuki - Thank God!

15.

Thank God you're

alright!

Kaya - Idiot...

That's MY line.

I was so scared!

Kazuki - Its okay.

Its okay.

Everything's okay.

[After a while, Kazuki and Kaya ease up and slowly break their embrace. Kaya smiles.]

Kaya - I'm just really glad

your alright.

Don't ever worry me

like that again.

[Kazuki smiles.]

Kazuki - I'll do my best.

Ngh!

Kaya - Oh!

Kazuki?!

Kazuki - Kuh...!

Ugh...

Ka...ya...

[Kazuki collapses to the snow and faints from loosing too much blood.]

Kaya - Kazuki...!!

Urgh...!

[Kaya becomes dizzy and weak from exhaustion.]

Kaya - Ka...zuki...

[Kaya holds Kazuki's hand and falls next to him, passing out. Just then, a mysterious person, Mira, walks over to Kazuki and Kaya's unconscious bodies. Mira picks up Kazuki's mother's note laying in the snow next to them and reads it.]

[FLASHBACK]

16.

[At night, in the Kayne residence, Kazuki's mother writes her note.]

Mother - [Thoughts]

My dear Kazuki...

[Thoughts]

I know there's so

much you don't

understand right

now.

[Thoughts]

I know you're

scared.

But it seems fate

has led us to this

moment.

[Thoughts]

Hiroto, Teruko,

me...

[Thoughts]

Our deaths were

inevitable.

There was nothing

you could've done.

[Thoughts]

You're already

carrying the weight

of so much on your

shoulders.

[Thoughts]

I know its a burden.

[Thoughts]

I don't want you to

carry the burden of

guilt as well.

[Thoughts]

Kazuki...

[Thoughts]

I want you and your

sister to be happy

no matter what.

17.

[Thoughts]

You two are the last

surviving members of

the Kayne family.

[Thoughts]

Be proud.

[Thoughts]

This country is very

vast...

But also very

dangerous.

[Thoughts]

Every night, our

land is prowled by

evil lurking

everywhere in the

shadows.

[Thoughts]

And i'm afraid the

time has come for

you AND your sister

to face that evil.

[Thoughts]

Hiding just isn't an

option anymore.

[Thoughts]

Find the Xeno

Hunters, Kazuki.

[Thoughts]

When you've done

that, everything

will start to be

clear to you.

[Thoughts]

Please protect Kaya.

[Thoughts]

You're all she has

left.

[Thoughts]

Always stay by her

side and cherish her

life.

As well as yours.

18.

[Thoughts]

I know i'm asking

you for so much.

[Thoughts]

Please forgive me.

[Thoughts]

But i know you can

do it.

Because you're my

son.

And your father's

son as well.

You are Kazuki

Kayne.

[Thoughts]

I love you two so

much.

[Thoughts]

You are my children.

[Thoughts]

And my children...

are my world.

[Thoughts]

I pray for your

safety.

[Thoughts]

Goodbye...

[Thoughts]

And good luck.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

Mira - ...Hmmm.

[Mira sighs.]

Mira - Just my luck...

[At night, in a small cabin, Kazuki lays on a futon and slowly wakes up.]

Kazuki - Ugh...

NOW where am i?

[Kazuki slowly sits up.]

19.

Kazuki - Oh!

[Kazuki gently feels his face and notices a blindfold wrapped around his eyes. He feels his chest and notices his wounds have all been bandaged.]

Kazuki - Oh...

Mira - So you're finally

awake.

Kazuki - Oh!

Mira - Your eyes should be

better now.

You can take off the

blindfold.

[Kazuki takes off the blindfold and looks to his side.]

Kazuki - Ah!

[Kazuki sees a beautiful girl with short white hair, clad in a flower patterned yukata and wearing a dark blue blindfold with a large moon kanji written on it kneeling down.]

Kazuki - Ah...

[Kazuki blushes.]

Kazuki - Oh!

[Kazuki then looks to his other side and sees Kaya sleeping next to him.]

Kazuki - Ah!

Kaya!-

Mira - Your sister's fine,

but clearly tired.

That's why she's

asleep.

Are you THAT stupid

enough to wake her

up?

Kazuki - Ah!

N-No!

I just...

Well i...

Mira - ...Her injuries

weren't severe.

She'll live.

20.

However, yours was a

different case.

Not only were some of

your bones smashed

from falling down

that mountain, but

you were also

poisoned from every

single injury that

Xeno gave you.

Kazuki - Ah!

[Kazuki looks at his bandaged hands and feels the slashes on his eyes.]

Mira - Luckily, the

poison wasn't that

lethal.

So i was able to

extract it from your

system just in time.

Kazuki - Oh...

I see.

So you were there.

YOU were the one who

brought us here.

You saved us.

[Kazuki gets on his knees and bows his head to the ground.]

Kazuki - Thank you.

If it weren't for

you, we wouldn't be

alive right now.

We're truly grateful.

Mira - Hmph!

Spare me the

gratitude!

I only helped you

because i needed you

two answer my

questions.

Kazuki - Questions?

21.

Mira - ...Why are you

searching for the

Xeno Hunters?

Kazuki - Ah...!

[Kazuki's head slowly droops down in sadness.]

Kazuki - ...I don't know.

Mira - ...Hah, you "Don't

Know".

Wow.

Kazuki - It was my mother's

last wish before she

died.

Mira - ...And how did she

die?

Kazuki - ...She was murdered.

Along with my younger

siblings.

Mira - By who?

[Kazuki's fists clenches and tighten in anger.]

Kazuki - ...A Xeno!

A Xeno who's vibe

felt completely

unbelievable that

night.

That night...

It was almost like

staring right in the

eyes...

Of the devil.

Mira - [Thoughts]

"Vibe"?

Oh!

[Thoughts]

Impossible!

Is he a

clairvoyant?!

22.

[Thoughts]

I see.

[Thoughts]

So he's just like

me.

[Thoughts]

This is getting even

more interesting.

And how would you

compare the Xeno you

encountered earlier

to one that was in

your home?

Kazuki - Your asking me to

compare a grain of

sand to a desert?

Mira - Oh!

...I see.

[Mira gets up.]

Kazuki - Oh?

[Mira walks over to the cabin door. She then turns around and faces Kazuki.]

Mira - Your sister will be

safe here.

Now, come with me.

[Late at night, Kazuki and Mira walk in the thick, snowy forest. Kazuki breathes heavily.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

...I'm having

trouble breathing

again.

[Thoughts]

The air must be

really thin up here

as well.

Oh...

[Kazuki looks at Mira walking in front of him.]

23.

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

She doesn't seem to

be having thesame

problem i am,

though.

[Thoughts]

Who is she?

[Kazuki smiles.]

Kazuki - ...Oh!

By the way, i never

did tell you my name.

Mira - Did i ask for your

name?

Kazuki - No, i guess not.

But it wouldn't hurt

knowing it.

I'm Kazuki Kayne.

My sister's name is

Kaya Kayne.

Mira - ...I'm Mira.

Mira Makoshima.

[Kazuki's smile widens.]

Kazuki - Nice to meet you,

Makoshima-San.

[Mira stops, making Kazuki stop as well.]

Kazuki - Oh...?

[Mira turns to Kazuki. She then pulls out a blindfold from her yukata and hands it over to him.]

Mira - Take this and put it

on.

Kazuki - Oh...

Why?

[Mira stays silent and doesn't answer. Kazuki hesitates but slowly takes the blindfold and puts it on.]

Mira - Now hold out your

left arm.

24.

Kazuki - Oh!

[Kazuki hesitantly holds out his left arm. Mira then brings out a tiny knife from her yukata.]

Kazuki - Wait, what are you-

[Mira slashes Kazuki's arm and makes a tiny cut.]

Kazuki - Gah!

[Blood begins to drip from Kazuki's cut.]

Kazuki - Ngh!

Kuh...!

Just what do you

think your-

Mira - The blade i just

slashed you with

now...

It contains a special

drug.

Kazuki - Ah!

What?!

Mira - It won't kill you,

but it will greatly

weaken you.

Kazuki - Ngh!

Mira - I don't want you to

be able to see

either.

That's why you're

wearing a blindfold.

Kazuki - Kuh!

What do you want?!

Mira - Earlier, you

mentioned that you

had the ability to

sense "Vibes" as you

called it.

So do i.

Kazuki - Ah!

What?!

25.

Mira - What i want is for

you to use that

ability.

Kazuki - Ngh!

To do what?!

Mira - ...To fight me.

Kazuki - Ah!

Huh?!

[Mira raises her index finger.]

Mira - One hit.

If you can land at

least one hit on me

before the sun rises,

i'll help you AND

your sister.

Right now, you only

have a few minutes to

make that happen.

Kazuki - And if i can't?

Mira - Then you take your

sister and get lost.

Kazuki - Ah!

Tsk!

That isn't fair!

Mira - You're at my mercy.

What i say is fair is

fair.

Kazuki - Kuh...!

Fine.

Mira - The drug SHOULD be

having its effect on

you...

Right about...now.

Kazuki - Urk!

[Immediately, Kazuki's body becomes highly weak, making him stagger.]

26.

Kazuki - Ngh! Urgh!

Kuh...!

[Thoughts]

I'm getting...weaker

and weaker by the

second?!

[Kazuki's heart begins to beat slower and he starts breathing heavily.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

I can...barely even

stand!

[Mira walks over to Kazuki and delivers a powerful blow to his face.]

Kazuki - Gah!

[Kazuki rapidly flies across the air and falls to the ground.]

Kazuki - Ugh! Argh!

[Mira begins to walk over to Kazuki.]

Kazuki - Ngh...!

[Thoughts]

Wh-What was THAT?!

Ugh...!

[Thoughts]

I feel like i just

got slammed with a

tree!

Ngh!

[Kazuki quickly gets up on his feet.]

Kazuki - Harghh!

[Kazuki tries to punch Mira but she effortlessly moves out of the way and punches his stomach.]

Kazuki - Argh!

[Mira punches Kazuki's face, sending him falling back down to the ground.]

Kazuki - Gah! Urgh!

[Kazuki begins to painfully cough out blood.]

27.

Kazuki - Ugh...

Mira - ...Let me ask you

something Kazuki.

What do intend to do

IF you find the Xeno

who murdered your

family?

Kazuki - Ah!

...What do mean?!

Mira - Oh?

Kazuki - What else is there to

do?!

[Kazuki slowly stands back up.]

Kazuki - Ngh...!

I'll murder him for

what he did!

I'll make him feel

thesame way i felt

that night!

Mira - Kuh!

[Mira rapidly appears behind Kazuki and punches him down.]

Kazuki - Urk!

Mira - You worthless trash.

Do you really think

you have takes?!

Do you think its THAT

simple?!

Do you even have any

idea what you're

getting yourself

into?!

Kazuki - Ngh...!

Mira - I asked you earlier

why you were

searching for the

Xeno Hunters!

And you tell me you

"Don't Know"?!

28.

Kazuki - Ngh!

Ahhh...!

[Kazuki tries to punch Mira but she dodges and begins to deliver several, powerful punches on Kazuki.]

Kazuki - Ngh! Urk! Gah!

[Mira continues to brutally assault Kazuki.]

Kazuki - Ngh!!

[Thoughts]

My God, her punches

are like falling

boulders!

Mira - The Xeno Hunters have

been battling the

Xenos for millennia!

Its been nothing but

an unending war!

Do you really think

trash like you could

just step in and make

a difference?!

Kazuki - Ngh...!

Mira - Do you think you have

the resolve to take

action?!

To take matters into

your own hands?!

Kazuki - Kuh!

Mira - To hunt down the

enemy who ruined your

life?!

To protect the only

family you have

left?!

Don't make me laugh!

Kazuki - Nghh...

[Kazuki's body trembles in Pain as he slowly stands up again. His brutally bruised face and body bleed as he breathes heavily.]

Mira - Tsk!

You just don't learn,

do you?

29.

Kazuki - I...may not know much

...about the Xeno

Hunters.

Mira - Oh?

Kazuki - And i may not know

much...about the

Xenos.

Still...

If facing them is the

only way to have MY

questions answered...

If facing them is the

only way to fulfill

my mother's wish...

If facing them is the

only way to keep Kaya

safe...

Then that's exactly

what exactly i'll do!

[Kazuki clenches and tightens his fists.]

Mira - Oh...

[Kazuki proudly stands and faces Mira.]

Kazuki - Ngh!

I'll join the Xeno

Hunter Corps no

matter what it takes!

I'll face every

single Xeno if i

must!

And i'll fight till

my dying breath!

Mira - Ah!

Kazuki - No matter how many

obstacles may come

my way, i'll always

pull through!

30.

I'll hunt the man who

murdered my family!

And i'll keep my

promise while doing

so!

I'll protect my

sister no matter

what!

Mira - ...Those are big

words.

If you really think

you have what it

takes to do all

that...

[Mira takes a fighting stance.]

Mira - Then prove it!

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

Calm down...

[Thoughts]

Focus.

[Kazuki slowly breathes in then breathes out.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

Every single

being...

Living or

non-living...

[Thoughts]

And every single

element, has their

own specific vibe.

[Thoughts]

Earth...

[Thoughts]

Fire...

[Thoughts]

Wind...

[Thoughts]

Water...

31.

[Thoughts]

All i have to do is

decipher them.

[Thoughts]

Decipher her

specific vibe.

That way i'll be

able to tell where

and when she'll

strike next.

[Kazuki hones his clairvoyance to greater heights. Just then, Mira rapidly charges at Kazuki.]

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

Here it comes!

[Mira rapidly appears behind Kazuki but he instantly senses her vibe.]

Kazuki - Ah!

[Thoughts]

There she is!

Mira - Hargh!

[Mira throws a powerful blow at Kazuki.]

Kazuki - Ngh! Hrgh!

[Kazuki quickly reacts and deflects Mira's blow.]

Mira - Ah!

Kazuki - [Thoughts]

I did it!

I did it!

She's wide open!

Now's my chance!

[Kazuki tightens his fist.]

Kazuki - Arghhh...!

[Kazuki delivers a powerful blow but his fist stops right in front of Mira's face before it's able to make contact.]

Kazuki - ...Ughhh.

[Kazuki slowly looks down and sees Mira's deflected fist buried in his stomach. He coughs out blood once.]

Kazuki - Ugh...

32.

[Kazuki falls to the ground and faints. After a few moments, Mira slowly kneels down next to him and gently cleans the snow and moves strands of his hair from his face. She then softly smiles.]

[In the horizon, the sun slowly rises.]

Mira - ...Well done Kazuki.

From this moment

on...

You are now my

student.

THE END

TO BE CONTINUED