Chapter 2: 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.

                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]

You are reading story XENO HUNTER: BLOOD OF FATE at novel35.com

                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

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