The ship's hull creaked as it cut through the black sea.
The air crawled gently through the sleeves of Jinrei's half-tattered kimono. It was cold.
He had his eyes on the horizon, his arms crossed behind him. Now, he began to wonder what would happen to everyone on the ship if they encountered an aquatic kaidan. Right now. Right here.
They could all die, including himself. It wasn't just about their wounds or abilities, but their will to keep fighting. Which had been perfectly destroyed during the battle against the ghosts in Tsukigahara.
To beat your opponent isn't by breaking their legs or going for a stab in the chest. It's to kill their ego, their willpower to keep on fighting.
Step… Step… step…
He glanced over his shoulder upon hearing the footsteps. Behind him, a military steersman bowed, his white headwrap facing Jinrei.
"What have you got?"
Jinrei queried with a resting calm face.
The steersman rose from his bow. He had a grey beard, old enough to be over fifty summers already.
He reported.
"The kid is awake, Commander…"
Jinrei instantly focused his eyes on him and frowned. The steersman froze for a moment; he understood right away.
"The ghost of Kuronami is awake."
"Very well. Get the knights back on top here. They have rested enough. We do not know when the next Kaidan might appear."
"Understood, Commander."
Jinrei then walked past the man. After getting some metres towards the staircase into the basement, he stopped.
"Don't be fooled by age or stature. All that matters is what the inside of a person embodies. We aren't dealing with a little kid anymore; he's a complete monster. If he poses a threat to you, see killing him as slaying one of those evil Kaidans."
The steersman gasped for a second. But then, he swallowed his saliva and bowed in affirmation.
"Forgive me, Commander Jinrei. I was being foolish."
The great samurai proceeded down the stairs. He pushed the door open into the basement. The noises of the few civilians on board were the first things he heard.
Some were busy arguing with the knights blocking the paths to leave the ship. At the same time, lone kids who had lost their families cried loudly.
Jinrei walked into the space and pulled the knight off the pathway.
Everywhere went quiet in an instant, as all eyes turned at him.
… The samurai sighed.
"Listen up. Things have resulted in ways no one foresaw. The hard truth is also that the environment that we all lived peacefully in is now a playground for the monsters. If you trespass, you die. So, it's our duty to keep you guys safe. But if you aren't okay with that, maybe you have other means or just can't adapt to this new system, you can off-board the ship at the next stop."
All the other knights turned to him with looks of wonder. He wasn't done talking, though.
"That's what I would say if I won't later account for the safety of each and every one of you. That said, we are sorry you can't be allowed to step outside. I hope your kind hearts are able to reason with us. If that's all…"
Before he turned into the corner to the left, he saw a mother clutching her child. But he left anyway, and the indistinct noises continued behind him.
In no time, he reached another door just by the corner, opened it and crept inside. There, the boy cursed by the Weeping Mother was on his knees. His hands were still tied to his back, the same way Jinrei had left them.
"You were unconscious next to a dead boy on Mount Kuronami…"
Jinrei spoke, pacing here and there.
"... and his heart was missing. I followed you there. Speak, did you eat it?"
The small room was quiet. The only sound came from Jinrei's footsteps, softly snapping the dry leaves on the floor.
Ren looked up at him.
Jinrei suggested.
"You're new to doing such a thing, so it's normal you're too shocked to speak. Nod your head if you agree, and shake it if you disagree…."
"No, I can speak."
Ren cut in.
The samurai stopped, turned to him and crossed his hands behind him.
"Why did you eat the heart?"
"It's because…"
But the words froze in Ren's throat. His chest ached, and he turned his eyes down to the floor. Clenching his fists behind him, he asked:
"Do you think the Sun Goddess will forgive me for what I have done?"
The samurai glanced at the ceiling.
"Amaterasu-omikami's light illuminates our world and guides our path. In her endless canopy of mercy, she surely forgives those whose hearts wish to be forgiven."
Ren slowly raised his stare back at him. They both locked eyes.
Ren mumbled.
"I suppose I'll never be forgiven then. My heart won't stop cursing me after I got my hands stained."
For a while, the samurai added nothing. Suddenly, he moved to Ren's back and unsheathed his sword.
Ren gasped non-stop with wide eyes until a second later when the man simply cut the rope binding his hands.
But that called for wonder.
'Why is he freeing me?!'
Later, Jinrei returned to his front and put his sword back. Ren stared at him while gentle breaths escaped his lungs.
The samurai's eyes were cold, almost emotionless.
"Someone with a very high mastery of dark sorcery and knowledge about Kaidans removed the seal. That's what I believe. And when this happens, it's very difficult to put the seal back."
Ren swallowed.
"What this entails is that we might never be able to live like we did days ago. Earth is a playground for monsters and humans once more. We have been ordered to the capital. Now, the little civilians in Tsukigahara that could be saved are on board. Everyone else is as good as dead."
Ren gasped out loud.
"Everyone…?"
"You're different from them. From us. Naturally, you don't belong either on this ship or the Great Wall at the capital. So, choose… Either jump off this ship right here, right now. Or become an asset for humanity. We'll study Kaidans through you, cut you open, launch missiles at you, and so on. In summary, you might be the first human to die the most horrible way if you don't leave the ship right now."
"Make your choice."
***
In hours, the ship sailed to shore near a coast between the capital kingdom and Tsukigahara. Twelve more ships had pulled over there as well, each controlled by Deputy Commanders in earthy Kimono.
When Jinrei noticed that two ships were missing, he spoke to one of the deputies about it.
The young samurai said no signs of the ships have yet been seen.
In the aftermath, Jinrei gave the forward order. They must leave now and assume the others have been killed on the way. But he tied a strap of his kimono to a stick close to the shore. If those ships did make it there, they would know the others had gone to the capital.
By twilight, the rescue team finally crossed to the near entrance to the capital. But that also meant the borderlands were some kilometres away from them. If they kept on moving, it was very likely that the night would catch them there.
Even without monsters, the borderlands are still very dangerous. Skilled bandits and sorcerers hide there, ready to attack travellers.
At this moment, if there were no bandits, that means Kaidans have replaced them. That was why Jinrei ordered all the ships to halt at the next coast and wait until dusk before taking off.
….
In the small room inside the ship controlled by Jinrei, Ren sat quietly. His back was pinned close to the wall. He was quiet, staring at the dry-leaf-covered ground as though it were speaking to him.
In a second, the creature appeared mid-air before him. It breathed in, its hands clasped behind.
"Hm. You didn't seem surprised when that chunk grounded you on the ship even though you chose to leave. Did you already predict he would do that? You didn't, right…?"
Ren's fingers trembled slightly. His heart hammered faintly against his chest. The demon was here again.
But… the air between them felt different now. Like they were accomplices.
"He is a samurai bound by an oath to slay evil and protect humans."
The creature focused on him, even though Ren would not look up.
"So someone like that would never release a thing like me."
The creature stayed quiet, clearly expecting Ren to continue. But he didn't.
"Right, it would be foolish of you to trust me with what's on your mind. I must say, whatever you did to manipulate him into taking you in is a smart move. Good job, kid…"
Ren looked up with a slight mischievous grin.
"So… you really can't read my mind, can you? I was afraid you could do so."
…
The creature smiled faintly.
"Tch, that's one goofy grin there. Brace yourself. The ship is now in the capital. We're in for more fun, kid…"
"Wait."
Ren interposed.
"You promised to show me what my parents looked like. I w-want to see them now!"
The creature stared down at him for some seconds.
"Not now. You have got more important things to worry about."
Then it vanished into black mist.
Ren clenched his fists, gritting his teeth so hard he might crush them.
"Curse you!"
But in a split second, the door into the room opened in a sling. Ren looked up - up to five tall, muscular and armed men were standing there with frowning faces.
Ren gasped lightly.
One of them pronounced.
"The commander has ordered us to get you out. I'd tell you to cooperate, or we might gladly use our rights to kill you right on the spot."
Ren nodded, then he stretched his arms forward.
"Take me."