Kaito repeated the elder’s name, still shaken.

An instant later he lunged forward without hesitation, throwing an uppercut aimed straight at the chin.

«I knew I shouldn’t have told you anything…» Genzō huffed, utterly impassive as the punch stopped a few centimetres from his face.

A dull thud echoed through the forest.

«You acted quickly. Excellent sense of judgement.»

Fuyumi complimented him with an almost disarming calm.

—I don’t believe it…— Kaito ground his teeth.

His fist was completely still.

Held in the man’s palm, as if it were nothing.

«What you should have done, however…» he raised an index finger.

«Is this!» With a lightning movement he struck Kaito between the chest and the left shoulder.

Pain doubled him over.

«Aaagh!» Kaito couldn’t hold back the scream.

He kept thrashing even on the ground.

The pain wouldn’t stop.

—I can’t… I can’t think of a strategy…—

«You were the one who attacked first.»

He looked down at him.

«You are the one who brought down the Tenshō Tower…» His gaze changed.

«So, it’s your move now.»

The veins on Kaito’s face became more pronounced.

He pushed himself up with his legs.

Red veins crossed his eyes; his mind wasn’t clear, his body began to sweat.

«I’ll give you this, kid… you’ve got guts.»

He stepped closer.

«But that’s enough for now.»

Kaito collapsed again.

Before his body hit the ground, Genzō caught him.

Unconscious, a line said earlier returned to his mind.

«Yume… I promise, I will come for you.»

Hearing those words, Kaito jerked awake.

Short of breath, heart pounding.

He was back in bed.

It was the dead of night, and the warm light of the house gave him a faint sense of safety.

A figure sat at the dining table.

—Genzō…— he recognised him immediately.

The man was eating a plate of eggs and bread.

The television on the mantel was on.

«The newscaster is talking about you…» the elder said, without taking his eyes off the screen.

«Breaking news: after the collapse of the Tenshō Tower two days ago, police forces are still scouring Shinkase in search of the person responsible…»

A mugshot appeared on the screen.

His.

«Wanted under the name Kaito.»

The boy’s eyes widened.

«What does all this mean?!» he snapped.

«Does it surprise you so much?» Genzō asked, continuing to eat.

«What do you mean?!»

«The Reikeitai…» he began calmly.

«They couldn’t exactly take responsibility for what happened.»

He turned to Kaito, resting his elbow on the table.

«While you were sleeping you kept repeating a name… Yume. I imagine they took her. But not you.»

«It doesn’t make sense! They should believe I’m dead!» Kaito shot back, remembering the rubble that had collapsed on him.

«And what would change?» the elder replied, as if it were obvious.

«They didn’t find your body. And they know you’re no slouch.»

Genzō set down his plate, folding his arms.

«In the worst case they’ll never find you. But if you’re alive… they’ve taken precautions.»

Kaito clenched his jaw.

He understood perfectly.

Reikeitai didn’t want to take any responsibility.

«I can’t say I blame them…» Kaito murmured.

Genzō stared at him, puzzled.

«What do you mean?»

«The fall of the Tenshō Tower was the result of my combat strategy…» he admitted in a low voice.

«But… I hadn’t foreseen how it would collapse. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out there were casualties…»

The sheets in his hands tightened, then he let go with a long breath.

«Tell me the truth. Why did you bring me here? And now that you know what I did… will you kill me?»

There was no trace of fear in Kaito’s voice. Only exhaustion.

Genzō burst into laughter. «Kill you, you say? Hah! Maybe years ago… but I haven’t been a Fuyumi for a long time.»

His gaze suddenly grew melancholic.

«And anyway… I wasn’t the one who brought you here.»

Kaito looked at him, confused.

«I don’t know how you managed it,» the elder continued, «but you came here on your own two feet. When I saw you, you were still standing. Then, simply, you collapsed.»

«What do you mean when you say you’re no longer a Fuyumi?» Kaito asked, still puzzled.

«Let’s say… I no longer share the vision of the family heads,» Genzō replied vaguely.

«I’d like to ask you one more thing.»

«Go on, kid,» the elder urged.

«Exactly where are we right now?»

Genzō shifted his gaze to the window, watching the outside for a few seconds.

«We’re in the northern part, just outside the city of Shinkase.» he said.

Kaito sat up on the bed.

«Then… maybe she’s still here…» he muttered. With the little strength he had left he rose, staggering.

He grabbed his wakizashi, left on the bedside table.

—What will he do?— Genzō wondered, watching him closely.

Kaito closed his eyes and focused.

A faint blue light began to slide along the blade, stretching like a ribbon that vibrated in the air.

—She’s not here… not in Shinkase anymore— he thought, continuing to concentrate.

After a few seconds, the light vanished.

«Genzō… what lies east of here?» the boy asked, with a serious, determined look.

«East, you say?» The elder closed his eyes for a moment, thinking.

«There’s Yorigakure.»

He gave a wry smile.

«And what’s so funny?» Kaito snapped.

«So you don’t know…» Genzō seemed almost surprised.

«Our world is divided into four great nations: Kairen, Fuyoku, Raikan and Yuriko,» he listed them one by one.

«All governed by the Council.»

He crossed his arms.

«And law enforcement is handled by the Reikeitai.»

«Yorigakure,» he continued, «is the fortress-city where the worst criminals arrested here, in Fuyoku, end up.»

Kaito couldn’t hide his astonishment at the elder’s words.

«Now tell me one thing,» Genzō interjected, curious. «What was that you did a moment ago?»

Kaito lowered his eyes to his wakizashi.

«This blade is connected to another,» he began to explain. «If they are separated, one indicates the position of the other. It’s not a simple technique…»

«It took me a long time to learn how to sense its call.»

He bent to gather his few belongings. He put his shirt back on, now reduced to rags.

«I gave the other blade to Yume, my companion.»

His gaze hardened, became focused.

«And now I know where they are. Both of them are in that city.»

He raised his eyes to Genzō.

«They’re in Yorigakure.»