The sun set quicker than the dungeon appeared–a traumatizing experience for the villagers, one that couldn't be forgotten so easily as they had to live anticipating the appearance of the local guild.
On one of the many buildings on a street, a figure could be swiftly and stylishly making his way up a building. Using the tree beside the house as leverage, he leaped to a window grabbing onto the edge, he raised the window up with his other hand before pulling himself up and entering into the room.
Kishio let out a sigh as he closed the window behind him after entering. "That was easier than I expected." he muttered, commenting on his successful infiltration into his own room.
He had decided to slip in through the 'back door' in order to avoid meeting Yanran or Yue. It was already so late into the night, already he had gotten rid of his kogami, traces of blood were still stuck to his hair, even the stench followed him.
He had better get himself clean before anyone walked into his room, he turned around to proceed into the bathroom before he suddenly froze.
A light skinned woman could be seen seated on his bed, she was staring directly at him, and from the looks on her face, she had been there for a long time, her hair a bit rough, but her eyes apparently lost in worry.
'Did she wait..' Kishio's trail of thought was cut off by Yanran.
"What part was easy? Why are you just coming back this late? Where have you been?" Yanran spouted many questions from her mouth at once, but she immediately stood up, rushed over to Kishio and gave him a hug, concern and relief washed through her body.
Kishio wanted to say it was none of her concerns, but the look on her face, like she had been worried sick hit a spot in him, the embrace just now, seizing any such words of dismissal from his tongue, he opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out, closing his mouth he just let his body enjoy the feeling–the motherly love being showered on him.
He wanted to spread his arms to return the embrace, but Yanran suddenly pulled back, it wasn't to avoid his embrace though, she immediately started checking his body all over.
She rolled his sleeves up a bit–no injury, she bent down checking his feet–he was fine, she used her hand to sway his hair a bit–still no injury, she looked at his face, he was fine. Only then did the concern in her face loosen up considerably.
Kishio placed his hand on her cheeks, her eyes were almost teary "I'm fine." He said softly to reassure her.
Yanran slowly looked down on hearing his words, Kishio followed her gaze, she was looking at her palms, blood stains on her palm.
Yanran raised her head to look back after a short while, her mind seemingly processing multiple things. Her gaze met Kishio's and her eyes demanded an answer from his.
Kishio stared, his mind raced a bit, but he had no answer. "Everything's going to be fine." Kishio spoke softly, those were the only words he could muster.
Yanran turned her head to look away from his face, his words were obviously not the answer she sought, but she was willing to let it slide. So far he was back safely, she turned to leave slowly before stopping at the door, she turned her head back to Kishio seemingly to say something, but then she decided against it and left, shutting the door behind her after leaving.
Kishio felt a heavy emotional weight on his heart, the fact there was someone that sacrificed hours of sleep concerned about his well being was heavy enough.
"Emotions make a man weaker," Kishio heard a ghostly whisper in his head, but he ignored it, not this kind of emotion, this one strengthened him to steal the world for the only ones he could call family in this world.
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Darkness…a young man with long black hair looked around him, all he could see was darkness.
What could he sense? Nothing.
What could he smell? Nothing.
"Where am I?" Kishio mumbled to himself but then he realized he couldn't also hear his own voice, if his mind hadn't processed the words he might not have realized he had attempted to speak.
"Uragami! What is this!" Kishio screamed, his voice demanding. But no response, everywhere felt awfully silent.
He couldn't make sense of what was happening, was he floating, standing, he had no idea.
He attempted to take a step forward and he felt his body move. Good. Progress.
But then what? Which direction was he to move him.
"Little Kiyo…" Kishio's being froze, his eyes shaky on hearing those words.
He looked left, right, where did those words come from, they seemed to reverberate through the entire dark voice, he placed his hands on his head his facial expression twitching as he tried to keep his mind in one piece, maybe he was just hearing things, he couldn't have heard those words right?
"Little Kiyo…come" he heard the same words again, this time with a calling, his heartbeat sped up, he looked in a direction, was it from there?
"Come…" he heard the voice again, it sounded conspicuous, but at the same time not entirely clear.
His being unintentionally took a step forward towards the direction the voice had come from, his next step soon followed suit as he continued to hear the voice.
His slow steps soon turned into a jog, and his jog into a mild sprint, he could see it, light in the distance, like refugees saw the light at the end of the tunnel as paradise, the light he could see seemed to be his only haven.
It drew closer and closer as the voice became clearer and clearer, he stretched his hand forth as if reaching for paradise.
The lights seemed to blind him a bit forcing his eyes shut as he closed his eyes, the end second though, he opened his eyes.
The scenery around him had changed, he could see a woman with distinct facial features as him seated on a couch, beside her a man with almost the same facial features as him.
A baby could be seen crawling towards them, the smiles on their faces seemed to brighten the entire room, although it appeared a bit rundown they obviously didn't care.
All of Kishio's experience seemed to just disappear that instance, he took a step forward, his very appearance changing to one of being slightly younger.
"Mum, Dad," Kishio muttered, the words left his lips harder than splitting a rock with a blade, not because he didn't want to, but the pain he felt in his chest.
He approached them slowly, his steps seeming less forced and freer, as his hands were about to make contact with his father.
The man suddenly shrugged his own arm hitting Kishio's hand away from him, Kishio's heart tightened, he thought they couldn't see him.
He looked up at his father and gasped, immediately stumbling back. His father had multiple stab holes in him, a bullet hole through his head, blood stains all over his face and his cloth dried in blood.
"You made a promise. Now you go off running. Making yourself a new family." Tears streamed down little Kishio's eyes. His father's words hurt him more than knives, he shook his head refuting the words, he didn't run.
"You left us to suffer. Our sorrows, nothing but useless whimpers to you. So that's what your word accounts for. Is that what being an Akatski is about! Are our words so easily broken." His father continued, raising his voice with every sentence.
"Go on. It will all crumble again in front of you. The ones you care about again. You will abandon them. It will all crumble in front of you." His father finally said as if setting him free.
Kishio shook his head, his hands against his ears like he refused to hear more with tears constantly streaming down his face, he looked to his mother, more tears. Hers even more painful than his.
"What are you waiting for!" His father demanded "Go!" Kiyome shouted.
Little Kishio screamed.
–Gasp–
Immediately Kishio woke up panting, his heartbeat unstable, a drop of tear streamed down his face.
He raised his hand to touch it, that tear drop spoke more than words.
"It-was a dream?" He muttered.