**Soft morning light seeped gently through the shoji doors, casting pale rectangles on the tatami floor.** It nudged the room's occupants toward wakefulness, urging them to rise from their slumber. The spare room, given to Taro by Takeda after the castle's destruction, was quite simple—just a futon and a twisted sheet tangled between them. The air was cool, and the quiet of the morning wrapped around them like a soft blanket, but Taro felt anything but warm.
Taro, ever alert, cracked open one eye. Even in sleep, his instincts remained sharp and ready. He felt the familiar weight against his side—Sayaka. Unlike most nights, she had chosen to stay in her physical form. Her silver-white hair, usually neat and tidy, was now a tangled mess, and her peaceful expression belied the mischief that always seemed to linger around her.
Sayaka only bothered with a physical form for trivial things—like eating or shopping for clothes she didn't really need. Taro often wondered where she even kept all those clothes. Couldn't she just conjure them up instead of buying them? It seemed like such a waste of time and energy.
But right now, none of that mattered. What did matter was that Taro was freezing cold.
He exhaled, watching his breath cloud in the chilly air. His irritation flared when he realized the reason—Sayaka had stolen most of the blanket again. Without a second thought, he raised his hand and smacked her forehead.
A loud smack shattered the morning quiet.
Sayaka bolted upright with a yelp, her once-peaceful face twisting into outrage. "What the hell was that for?!" she snapped, rubbing her forehead with an exaggerated pout.
"For hogging the sheets," Taro replied flatly as he sat up. "You do this every single time."
Sayaka groaned dramatically before stretching her arms. Then, with a huff, she dissolved into her spiritual form—a swirling mist that floated lazily toward the ceiling.
"Where are you even going?" Taro asked, already used to her unpredictable nature.
"Who knows?" she sang cheerfully before vanishing through the walls.
Taro sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration before dressing efficiently. He tied his long, dark hair back and secured his katana at his side, then stepped into the cold morning air.
**Outside the Ruins**
The scent of burned wood and fresh earth lingered in the air as workers toiled to clear the wreckage of the castle. Takeda stood among them, hands clasped behind his back, exhaustion lining his face like a heavy cloak. The destruction of the castle had left a mark not just on the land but on the people who had called it home.
"Morning," Taro greeted with a curt nod as he approached.
Nearby, workers struggled to move a massive chunk of collapsed stone. Their combined strength barely shifted it. Without a word, Taro stepped forward, gripped the slab with one hand, and effortlessly tossed it across the field. It landed with a heavy thud, shaking the ground beneath them.
Silence followed.
Takeda blinked in surprise. The workers stared in stunned awe. Even the birds seemed to pause mid-flight, as if they were waiting for the next act in this unexpected show.
A low whistle broke the moment. "You never fail to impress," Takeda muttered, shaking his head. "I swear, you're not human."
Taro dusted his hands off casually. "Wasn't that heavy," he replied, shrugging as if it were no big deal.
Sayaka, perched in a nearby tree, snickered at the scene, her laughter light and carefree.
**A Conversation in Takeda's Room**
After helping with more cleanup, Taro found himself sitting across from Takeda in his dimly lit study. The room smelled of parchment and incense, a comforting mix that felt familiar. The walls were lined with books, and the low table between them was cluttered with scrolls and maps, remnants of Takeda's planning and strategizing.
"How long are you staying?" Takeda asked, breaking the silence.
"A week or two," Taro answered casually, leaning back in his chair.
Takeda hesitated, then admitted, "Since I killed my father, my brothers will likely come for me soon. I was hoping to hire you for protection."
Taro exhaled through his nose, his expression serious. "I don't meddle in human conflicts," he replied firmly.
Takeda chuckled dryly. "Figured you'd say that. I can handle them one-on-one, but if they attack together…"
Taro scoffed, shaking his head. "They hate each other too much for that to happen."
Takeda smirked, appreciating the point. "Fair enough."
A moment of silence stretched between them before Taro spoke again, his tone more serious. "This city has more demons than before. Stronger ones."
Takeda's face darkened at the mention of demons. "More than the one that attacked my son?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice.
Taro nodded gravely. "Something is coming."
The weight of those words hung heavily in the air, a reminder of the dangers lurking just beyond their sight.
Then, as if shaking off the tension, Takeda suddenly brightened. "Oh, right! The River and Sky Festival is in a week. You should stay for it."
Taro considered it for a moment. Festivals meant crowds, distractions, and opportunities to gather information. He shrugged, deciding it was worth it. "Fine," he said, agreeing.
Back in his room, with no immediate tasks pressing on him, Taro sat at a low table, crafting talismans. His hands moved instinctively, ink flowing into precise symbols—wards against spirits and other dark forces. He didn't know where this knowledge came from; it was simply part of him, like breathing.
He stared at the finished talisman, feeling an odd sense of detachment wash over him. Each symbol held power, a connection to the world around him, yet he felt strangely disconnected from it all.
Sooner or later, something was going to happen.
And he had a feeling it wouldn't be small.
As he worked, the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting warm light into the room. Taro lost himself in the rhythm of his task, the ink flowing smoothly as he created one talisman after another. Each stroke felt like a small act of defiance against the darkness he sensed creeping closer.
Taro didn't know how he knew how to make talismans. Nor did he remember anything else about how he instinctively does things but he was thankful for them.
"I will find out sooner or later..." he mutters.
He leans on the ground and as he does Sayaka openes the slidings door and enters.
"Can't you just float through the walls?" he asks.
"I am a spirit not a ghost" she answers.
"Aren't they they same thing?"
"No!,I was born like this,they had to die to be like me!" she says with a proud face.
Taro stays silent for a while.
"That's pretty usele-" before he could finish he was met with a beautiful axe kick from her now physical body.
"...Sorry" he says while nursing his belly.
Sayaka also leans on the floor beside Taro.
"There's a festival in a week"
"I know"
"I wanna go"
"Fine"
"I wanna use my physical form"
He turns back his head in confusion.
"Why are you asking me?"
"I dunno"
Meanwhile in a unknown corner of the city,
A black snake with white white slithered into a room,fully devoid of light.
"Master....warns...you to...be careful" the snakes says in between his "hisssss's".
In the room there was a large table where three individuals sat.
"That bastard!,he dares to get in my territory!"
"Don't get so worked up now~!"
"Shut up! you two!, before I gut you!"