Black & White,

Two sides of this world 

Black brings despair and suffering 

White brings peace and prosperity 

In fear and spite we attack the dark,

Only to be consumed by it 

****

Kato’s head throbbed as he blinked into consciousness. He was strapped to a chair, the cold metal biting into his wrists, and the room around him barely pierced by dim, flickering light. Four men stood nearby, talking in low murmurs, but their voices fell silent the instant they realized he was awake.

“He’s awake,” one of them muttered.

At that moment, footsteps echoed down the hall. Gaki, a man in his late 20s entered through the door at the far end, his presence immediately silencing the room.

Gaki: Is he now? Interesting.

Kato swallowed. 

Kato: Uh… where am I? Who are you people? Where’s my mom?

“You’re asking a lot of questions for someone in your position,” another man scoffed.

“Hard to believe,” a third added, studying Kato closely, “that he’s the only one who survived the shadowfication process.”

Kato’s heart skipped. 

Kato: Survived? What are you talking about?

Gaki who now stood in front of him smiled faintly.

Gaki: Since you’re so curious, I’ll spell it out. Our organization has been searching for humans compatible with shadow energy. Those shadowfication incidents over the past two months? (gestured casually) That was us.

Kato’s blood ran cold while wondering why someone would casually claim they did something so terrible. 

Gaki: We use shadow bugs to inject shadow energy into people. Most of them fail. Some turn into mindless shadow monsters. Others don’t survive at all. (shrugs) But you did.

Kato’s voice barely came out. 

Kato: How… how is that possible?

Gaki shrugged again. 

Gaki: No idea. I don’t get it either.

The room felt smaller. He finally understood what surviving really meant and what it had cost.

Kato: So that means…

Gaki leaned in, his smile widening.

Gaki: (quietly) Yeah... You ain’t human anymore.

********

The morning had started like they usually did. The birds chirping at the sight of the rising sun and the smell of toast filed the entire house. Kato sat down by the dinning table in the kitchen eating his toast while another boy with orange hair sat opposite him waiting for him. 

Takimo: Hurry up Kato. We're gonna be late for school again. You know I don't like to miss roll calls.

Kato: (mouth full) Then go on ahead.

Takimo: No Way. Walking to school alone sucks. It's much more fun when you walk with someone.

Kato: Huh? Then go walk with someone else if you wanna get to school early.

Takimo: Walking to school alone really sucks and besides you're my best friend so I always wanna walk to school with you.

Kato then looked at Takimo with a weird look on his face.

Kato: Expecting me to blush?

Takimo: Don’t make this weird dude. Hurry up!

Kato said nothing and continued eating his toast and then Takimo continued. 

Takimo: By the way, our final exams scores are dropping today...

Kato almost choked on his toast as he heard those words...

Kato: Wait, that was today?

Takimo: Yes, it's today. How could you forget?

At that moment a woman with black hair entered the kitchen.

Takimo: Good morning Mrs Hamura.

Korra: (smiles) Oh Takimo, you're here already. How are you? 

Takimo: I'm fine ma'am.

Korea smiled back and turned to the kitchen counter to make herself breakfast. 

Takimo: By the way, what were we doing last night? I called you last night to remind you about today, but you didn't answer your phone. 

Kato swallowed hard and then began to think of a way to not answer that question but then... 

Korra: He was watching Studio Ghibli movies again.

Kato: Mom!!!! 

Takimo suddenly burst out laughing. 

Takimo: Again?! Why do you watch that piece of crap anyway?

Kato: Crap?! Youre calling Studio Ghibli content crap?! The plots of those stories are really interesting and it catches you at the first episode. You don't see these kinds of stories anywhere else! 

Takimo: How can you say that with a straight face?!

Kato: I always keep a straight face! 

Takimo: No you don't!!!

Kato: Yes I do!!! 

Korra burst out laughing which stopped the two boys from bantering further. Kato's eyes then fell on the wall clock behind Takimo. 

Kato: Let's get going. We're going to be late, Takimo.

Takimo: That’s what I’ve been saying!

Kato quickly washed his dishes and carries his bag which he kept at the side of his seat.

Kato: We're heading out now mom.

Korra: Alright dear. Take care and be careful. 

Kato & Takimo: We will.

*********

The walk to school was as normal as it could get. The streets were lively with people opening up shops, others on their way to work and kids going to the school in the neighborhood. 

Where everything began to look eerie was when the boys walked past a business district and saw that it had been destroyed and was full of people with jackets with "HFA" written on their backs or on the side of their shoulders investigating and searching for survivors. 

To other people, this would be an odd thing, but this has become a norm in the world that Kato and Takimo grew up in. 

Kato: Oh....

Takimo: Another Shadow monster attack huh?

Suddenly one of the men in the HFA jackets saw the two of them.

"Hey you two need to move back. This is a Shadow hazard scene." 

The two boys were stunned as they weren't expecting that any of them would pay them any attention at all.

Takimo: Oh, we're sorry sir.

The man stepped forward as the two of them backed away from the scene like he had told them to.

"It's okay. We're just trying to ensure the safety of everyone" 

Takimo: Right! 

Kato: So uh.... What happened here?

The man looked back at the scene of the destroyed district and sighed before he spoke.

"We got a call that a man had suddenly transformed into a shadow monster and a Hunter was quickly called to take care of it. What you're seeing the damage of the battle between that Hunter and the shadow monster." 

Kato suddenly felt down as the thought of another person dying always brought his mood down. He looked back at the scene and tightened the grip on his hand on his school bag.

Kato: (to himself) Just like that, someone else has been killed. 

Takimo's eyes suddenly lit up contrasting the emotions that Kato was experiencing in that moment.

Takimo: Which of the Hunters did they call?! What rank were they in?!

The man felt a bit overwhelmed by Takimo's attitude but still felt the need to answer his questions.

"I'm not really sure but from what my colleagues were telling me, it was Jason Thunderbolt." 

Takimo's eyes shone all the more and the man realized he shouldn't have answered that question.

Takimo: JASON THUNDERBOLT?! HE'S A LEVEL 1 HUNTER ISN'T HE?! 

Kato stepped in and covered Takimo's mumbling mouth from speaking any further.

Kato: I'm really sorry about my friend. As you can tell he's a total fanboy. We'll be taking our leave now.

"Oooh... Right."

Kato then grabbed Takimo's collar and began to drag him away before he spoke another word and the man just watched as they walked and disappeared around the corner.

Takimo: Hey! What did you do that for?

Kato: You were going to fanboy in front of that poor Hunter doing his job. Someone had to save him.

Takimo: You make it sound like I was a threat to his life. 

Kato: (chuckles) Maybe...

Takimo: HUH?! 

Kato: But you like the hunters so much, you never told me why...

Takimo: Oh really?

A memory of a younger Takimo watching a Hunter save someone on TV flashed in his mind be the spoke.

Takimo: I just think they're cool you know. Most people who are born as Clarions don't usually like enlisting in the HFA, but I always find those that do enlist brave and I feel they should be praised just for joining alone.

Kato: Then why not join them after graduation? You're a Clarion too. 

Takimo sighed and opened his palm and suddenly a small flame of fire lit up. 

Takimo: I admire the Hunters, but I don't think I'm brave enough to do what they do. It's not my thing. I’d rather use my powers differently. Maybe open a restaurant and sell grilled food.

Kato: Ooh. Do I get free food at this restaurant?

Takimo: (laughs) Idiot.

Kato: But I'm supposed to be your VIP!

Takimo: In your dreams man. You get to pay just like everyone else. 

The both of them kept walking for a while before Takimo broke the silence. 

Takimo: Hey Kato... Does it ever scare you? The ongoing crisis of Shadows and Shadows monsters? Especially this one... It was close to your neighborhood.

Kato stopped walking and thought about it for a while and took a deep breath before he responded. 

Kato: Yeah, I’m scared, but I try not to think about it. The world isn't the way it used to be hundreds of year ago because of the shadows and we could all die tomorrow or earlier than life has planned. But I still want to be me and do the things I want to do despite all that. I'm not going to let that fear stop me from living the best life I have now. You shouldn't let it scare you too.

Takimo: I'm not scared. 

Kato then gave Takimo a look which suggested that he knew he was lying.

Takimo: Okay maybe a little bit. 

Kato: (smirks) Come on, let's go to school. 

They boarded the train together, getting off at the very next station before continuing the rest of the way on foot toward school. Along the way, they passed through Times Square in Benville City, where a massive screen towered overhead, usually flooded with nonstop advertisements.

Today, it was different.

The screen switched to a news broadcast.

Kato tapped Takimo’s arm, and they both stopped to watch as the newscaster appeared.

“Last night, a total of sixteen people were reported to have transformed into shadow monsters,” she said. “Witnesses claim the individuals showed no prior symptoms and appeared completely normal throughout the day.”

Kato felt a chill crawl up his spine.

“The Hunter Force Association is currently investigating the cause of the incident,” the newscaster continued, “and urges all citizens to remain alert and report any suspicious behavior. Stay safe. This is Sarah McBarry with Benville News.”

The screen faded back to advertisements.

Neither of them spoke as they resumed walking.

By the time they reached school, the bell had already rung.

They’d missed roll call.

********

THE SHADOW AWAKENING ARC–BEGINS