Chapter 3
1538 Words
– Whispers from the Darkness
Rain fell lightly over Tokyo that night. The sound of droplets pattered against the apartment window, carrying a chill that seeped into the bones.
Hana sat cross-legged on the floor, watching a romantic drama on a small television. Her eyes sparkled, cheeks flushed as she followed the story too seriously. From time to time, she glanced at Rei, who was wiping down the table.
“Rei-san…” Hana called softly. “When I’m fully recovered, can we go to the park? I want to eat ice cream under the sakura trees…”
Rei turned, looking at her hopeful face. Such a simple wish, yet so precious. He gave a small nod. “Of course.”
Hana’s whole face lit up like a child receiving a gift.
---
But the warmth shattered.
Rei’s phone vibrated—not a normal call, but an encrypted one, the voice distorted.
> “Kurogane. Did you really think you could hide behind that girl?”
Rei’s expression hardened. He stepped onto the balcony, closing the glass door behind him so Hana wouldn’t hear.
“Who are you?” his voice was cold.
A low chuckle answered, then sharpened.
> “You can’t escape the shadows, Kurogane. You belong to us. And if you refuse… we’ll take what’s most precious to you.”
The call ended. Rei gripped the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.
---
When he returned inside, Hana looked at him innocently. “Rei-san… you seem troubled. Is something wrong?”
Rei paused, then shook his head. “Nothing. Just… old work haunting me.”
Hana stood and walked toward him with small steps. She tugged gently at his sleeve, gazing up at him with wide eyes full of trust.
“I don’t know what you’re hiding… but I believe you won’t leave me. So don’t wear that scary face, okay?”
Rei froze. Her simple words pierced through his icy walls. Slowly, he placed his hand on her head, making her smile shyly.
---
That night, Hana fell asleep on the sofa, still clutching the remote. Rei covered her with a thin blanket, then returned to his place by the window.
The rain still fell, but amid the patter, his trained ears caught something.
A faint whisper.
The sound of footsteps on the rooftop nearby.
Rei narrowed his eyes. The shadows of his past were no longer watching from afar. They were drawing closer.
> A new battle was about to begin.
And this time, he had more to protect than just himself—he had a fragile, precious world beside him.
– Attack in the Shadows
The night wind blew strong. The rain had stopped, but the Tokyo streets remained wet, reflecting the city lights.
Rei sat on the sofa, pretending to read the newspaper. But his eyes flicked to the window from time to time, his ears sharp. Ever since those rooftop footsteps, he knew the threat was near.
Hana, unaware of anything, sat on the floor folding origami from scrap paper. She laughed at her clumsy attempts. “Look, Rei-san! It’s a bird… eh, more like a frog, right? Ahaha…”
Rei glanced briefly, the corner of his lips twitching. “A crippled bird.”
“Hey! Don’t be mean! My bird is special!” Hana pouted, proudly placing her creation on the table.
That warmth made the room feel safe. But only for a moment.
---
Suddenly—
Crash!
The window shattered.
Rei reacted instantly, pulling Hana into his arms. She screamed, “Kyaa!”
From the shadows, three men dressed in black leapt inside, masks covering their faces. Their movements were sharp, trained—clearly not common thieves.
“The target is here,” one whispered.
Hana froze, her heart racing. “R-Rei-san… who are they?”
Rei stood slowly, placing Hana behind him. His gaze turned cold—not the calm man who cooked breakfast with her, but a dangerous figure, merciless and sharp.
“Don’t be afraid,” his voice flat. “As long as I’m here, no one will touch you.”
---
The fight exploded.
The first man lunged with a knife—Rei blocked effortlessly, snapping his wrist with a sharp c***k.
The second charged, only to be kicked hard, sent flying into the table until it splintered.
The third tried to attack Hana from the side. Rei spun instantly, moving faster than Hana’s eyes could follow. He slammed the man to the floor, pinning the knife just before it reached Hana’s face.
Hana gasped, tears welling, covering her mouth in shock. She saw a side of Rei she had never imagined—cold, lethal, terrifying.
Within seconds, it was over. All three men lay broken on the floor.
Rei stood tall, breath steady, eyes still burning.
---
The room fell silent.
Hana gripped Rei’s sleeve, her hands trembling. “R-Rei-san… you… who are you, really?”
Rei looked at her. After a long pause, he finally spoke in a low voice.
“A man trying to leave his past behind. But it seems… that past will never let me go.”
Hana fell silent. Fear lingered—but stronger than fear was the feeling that her heart was bound tighter to him.
She clutched his arm harder. “Then… let me stay with you. Even if I don’t understand anything, I want to be by your side.”
Rei’s eyes softened faintly. But deep inside, he knew: with Hana’s choice, the danger would only grow.
> The battle had just begun.
And now, not only Rei’s life was at stake—but also the heart of the girl who had placed her trust entirely in him.
– Wounds Unseen
The apartment remained in chaos. Shards of glass littered the floor, the table broken at the side of the room. Dust mixed with the dampness of rain clung to the air.
Rei stood in the middle, still tense despite the fallen men at his feet. Only after confirming they were unconscious did he notice the cut on his arm—blood seeping, staining his white shirt.
“Rei-san…” Hana’s voice shook. She stepped closer, fear still in her eyes, but also worry.
“You’re hurt…”
Rei shook his head. “Just a scratch. Forget it.”
But Hana wouldn’t accept that. She grasped his hand gently but firmly. “No. You protected me… so at least let me do this.”
Rei froze. Her face was pale, but her gaze stubborn. He wasn’t used to anyone insisting on tending his wounds—he had always done it himself, alone. But Hana… was different.
At last, he sat on the sofa. “Fine. If it eases your mind.”
---
Hana rushed to the small first-aid kit in the kitchen. Her hands trembled as she opened the antiseptic, almost spilling it. Rei watched silently, something warm yet strange stirring inside.
“Don’t move too much,” Hana mumbled, more to herself than him. She dabbed the cotton, pressing it softly on his wound.
“Ahh—!” Rei flinched slightly, holding back his breath.
Hana gasped. “Does it hurt? I’m sorry! I’ll be gentler, I promise.”
Her voice was so pure, filled with regret, as if she felt the pain with him.
Rei looked at her closely. Her cheeks flushed, lips pursed in concentration, eyes glistening. She seemed fragile, yet so sincere.
“Hana,” Rei spoke quietly.
“Aren’t you afraid of me, after what you saw?”
Her hand paused. She looked into his sharp eyes—the same ones that had been so deadly moments ago. But now… she saw deep loneliness within them.
“I am afraid,” Hana admitted. “But I’m more afraid of losing you.”
Rei said nothing. But those words hit harder than any blade.
---
When she finished bandaging him, Hana gently placed a plaster on his wound, even blowing softly on it like a child. “There. Now heal quickly. Don’t act tough anymore.”
Rei let out a rare chuckle. “You’re… too innocent.”
“Innocent is better than pretending to be cold when you just need someone by your side,” Hana retorted without thinking. Realizing what she said, her face burned red.
Rei’s chest tightened. His heart raced—not from the fight, but from the girl before him. For the first time in years, he felt alive.
“Hana,” he whispered. “You don’t know what you’ll face if you stay with me.”
Hana clasped his bandaged hand, her eyes serious. “Then let me learn. I won’t run. I want to stay.”
Rei closed his eyes briefly. Inside his frozen heart, something cracked. From this night on, Hana was no longer just someone to protect—she had become someone who had already entered too deep.
---
Outside, police sirens wailed faintly.
The three men in black were dragged away by
other lurking shadows.
A voice spoke coldly through a radio.
“The old executioner still lives. And he has a girl with him.”
“Then,” another deeper voice replied, “we’ll make that girl his weakness.”
- Writer
