Kage no Jūnin

Chapter 2: Another world

"What’s taking him so long” a busty young woman paced around the school yard patiently waiting for a certain someone, “Did they catch him, or something worse”

Tsubasa, the lady who tasked Yoru with obtaining her desired book kept waiting patiently for him, “Or could he be” she contemplated about the safety of Yoru.

“I’m getting a bad feeling”

The weather started changing like it’s about to rain, staring at the library from outside Tsubasa kept having unpleasant thoughts, until she heard a scream from the library.

*Dash* she dashes forward to a tree close to on of the library window and burst in, shattering the glass. She ran to the opposite side of the library only to meet dark figure creatures, “Tsk, it’s the Shades” Tsubasa said in relief

But all were floating except one, “Oh no” she gave the Shades an intense stare and they all disappeared leaving only the unconscious dark figure,

“I’m sorry you had to experience that.. Yoru” she stared at Yoru who looked like a dying old man, “All I can do for you now is freez…” She paused and saw the book which she sent him to fetch. *Sigh* with a sigh of relief she took the book and took the gem and passed her mana into it until it shone blue.

“With this travel your body might heal and restore itself, I only hope it does” She placed the stoned on his body and instantly it vanished.

“I did give you your gift after all Yoru”.

*tweet tweet* *chirp chirp*, the sounds and bird chirping echoed, the gentle breeze and the smell of roast beef filled the air

“A nice day to take a bath in the open, with no one to bother me”

A certain woman with a beautiful figure came out of the cottage with a towel,

“A beautiful day for a hot open bath, I’d made sure to check the traps I put around so I have nothing to worry about” the cheerful girl said and headed to the open bath in the yard, she takes a dip into the water and felt a little comfort

*sigh* “That’s the spot” she said with relief, “I’ve been working all day, watching over the princess, it’s kinda of a drag” she looked up to the sky and raised her hand to the sun

“Thank God my shift’s over”

*dum*

“Huh? What was that” the girl turned in reflex after suddenly having an uneasy feeling. But nothing was around her only the birds in the sky and the gentle breeze, “Must be the wind”.

Suddenly a dark entity dropped in front of her out of air.

Yoru materialized outside the bathhouse, his eyes adjusting to the sunlight and the sounds of birds

He stumbled upon a young lady relaxing in a warm bath, Yoru’s eyes widened, and he face-palmed himself. “Of course, I’d walk in on the one person who’s naked.”

‘I mean she looks naked, she appears to be dipped in something and I assume that’s water’

“Uhm are you ok, why do you look like you’ve seen something horrifyi…”

The lady who’s been staring at him the whole time became cautious, and threw her kunai at him with lightning speed, Yoru jolted out of the way out of fear for his life

“Who are you? Talk, or I’ll turn you into a human pinata!”

She said holding a blade in one hand.

Yoru hesitated, then stepped forward, hands raised. “I come in peace! I’m Yoru, the… uh, shadow person.”

Akane lowered her blade, eyeing him with amusement. “A shadow person, huh? Well, Yoru, you’re definitely the most interesting thing that’s happened to me this week.”

The lady asked, “So, Who are you? And why’d you suddenly appear here, are you a summon, a spy?”

She asked cautiously while raising her blade up at him.

“I’m not a summon girl, I .. was human, all I remember was being eaten alive by shadows and next thing I knew I woke up her” he folded his arm and stared at her,

“Not like I’m complaining or any..” A blade swung just a few centimeters across his face, slicing the tree behind him, with a feared look he saw a color change at her face.

‘Hold up I’m I imagining things, her base color was white, right after I said something inappropriate she had a red aura.. now all I see is a red face, I have to learn more about these color emotions’

“I’m sorry just keep your blade down” he plead with the embarrassed lady and she withdrew.

“Now who are you really” She asked cautiously

“I already told you, you can’t expect me to say it again” Yoru said feeling a bit irritated. “Sounds rich for someone appears in front of a naked lady and be cool as a cucumber, have you no shame” she asked feeling slightly embarrassed.

“Oh sorry, I lost my sight and my vo…”

‘Come to think of it, I could speak early, why I’m I talking now’ the thought of it raced Yoru’s mind but was snapped back by the lady in front of him

“You’d better talk fast before I cut you open”

She said still embarrassed.

“Sorry, I lost my sight, all I can see is colors so you need not to worry” he spoke trying to relieve her,

“Fine, now explain why you’re here”

Yoru launched into a hasty explanation of his mysterious transportation. Akane listened intently, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

When he finished, she chuckled. “Well, Yoru, you’re certainly the first shadow person I’ve met. I think we can help each other. I have skills you might find useful, and you… well, you’re a mystery waiting to be solved, how bout you stay here until you’re ready to venture out.” She asked with a big smile on her face,

“ok? Don’t get the sudden warm treatment but I like it, but first, what’s your name” he asked with curiosity.

“Just call me Akane” she said.

Yoru accepted Akane's offer to stay at her place, a modest but cozy ninja hideout on the outskirts of the village. Over the next few days, he learned about the world he had entered - a realm of medieval fantasy, where magic and mythical creatures existed alongside humans.

Akane taught him about the local customs, the politics of the nearby kingdom, and the dangers that lurked in the shadows. Yoru proved a quick learner, eager to understand this new world and find his place in it.

But danger came sooner than expected. One evening, as they walked through the nearby forest, a ferocious roar echoed through the trees. Akane's eyes narrowed, her hand on the hilt of her blade.

"What is that?" Yoru asked, his heart racing.

"Forest beast," Akane replied, her voice low and serious. "A creature born from dark magic and malice. We need to be careful."

As they rounded a bend in the path, a massive creature emerged from the underbrush. Its body was a twisted mass of fur and scales, eyes glowing red in the fading light.

As the forest beast charged, Akane drew her blade and assumed a fighting stance. Yoru, on the other hand, stood frozen, his eyes fixed on the creature’s razor-sharp claws.

“Uh, Akane? I think I forgot to mention I’m not exactly a fighter,” Yoru said, his voice trembling slightly.

Akane shot him a sideways glance. “You’re a shadow person, Yoru. I assumed you’d be, I don’t know, shadowy and stealthy?”

Yoru shook his head. “Nope. More like clumsy and prone to tripping over my own feet.”

The forest beast lunged, and Akane leapt into action, her blade flashing in the fading light. Yoru, meanwhile, tried to follow her example but ended up stumbling over a root and face-planting into a nearby bush.

“Okay, maybe I need to work on my ninja skills,” Yoru muttered, extracting himself from the underbrush.

Akane rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “Just stay out of the way and let me handle this.”

As Akane battled the forest beast, Yoru tried to contribute by throwing rocks and sticks at the creature. Unfortunately, his aim was off, and he ended up hitting Akane instead.

“Yoru, what are you doing?!” Akane exclaimed, ducking as a rock whizzed past her ear.

“Just trying to help!” Yoru called back, throwing another stick that missed the beast by a mile.

The Shadow Beast charged, its jaws wide open, revealing razor-sharp teeth stained with dark, tar-like substance. Its eyes glowed like embers, casting an eerie, flickering light on the surrounding trees. The ground trembled beneath its feet, like a drumbeat in the darkness.

Yoru tried to join the fight, but his clumsiness betrayed him. He tripped over a root and face-planted into a nearby bush, the scent of damp earth and leaves filling his nostrils. “Okay, maybe I need to work on my ninja skills,” he muttered, extracting himself from the underbrush, his clothes tangled with twigs and leaves.

Akane rolled her eyes good-naturedly, her gaze flicking to Yoru before refocusing on the beast. “Just stay out of the way and let me handle this.”

The battle raged on, Akane’s blade slicing through the shadows, striking true time and again. The sound of steel meeting darkness echoed through the forest, a rhythmic clash of light and shadow. The Shadow Beast retaliated with dark tendrils, like grasping fingers, but Akane dodged and weaved, avoiding its attacks with ease, her movements a blur of leather and steel.

Yoru tried to contribute by throwing rocks and sticks, but his aim was off, and he ended up hitting Akane instead. “Yoru, what are you doing?!” Akane exclaimed, ducking as a rock whizzed past her ear, the sound of stone scraping against steel ringing out.

Despite Yoru’s hapless attempts, Akane managed to defeat the Shadow Beast with a final, decisive strike, the blade slicing through the darkness like a ray of sunlight. The creature dissipated into nothingness, leaving behind a dark, misty energy that swirled around Yoru like a vortex.

“Well, that was embarrassing.”

Akane chuckled. “Don’t worry, Yoru. You’ll get the hang of it. Eventually.”

As they walked away from the battle scene, Akane turned to Yoru and said, “You know, that was a Kage no Kemono – a Shadow Beast.”

Yoru’s eyes widened. “A Shadow Beast? What’s that?”

Akane explained, “It’s a creature born from dark magic and malice. They’re rare and usually appear in areas with high concentrations of negative energy.”

Yoru nodded, intrigued. “And what happens to them when they die?”

Akane hesitated, as if unsure how to explain. “Well, their souls… they can be absorbed by others.”

Yoru’s eyes lit up. “Absorbed? You mean, like, acquired?”

Akane nodded cautiously. “Yes, but it’s not something to be taken lightly. Acquiring a Shadow Beast’s soul can grant immense power, but it also comes with risks, and it’s usually done with special devices.”

Yoru’s gaze drifted back to the spot where the Shadow Beast had fallen. He felt an strange sensation, like a pull or a tug. Suddenly, a dark, misty energy began to swirl around him.

Akane’s eyes widened in surprise. “Yoru, what’s happening?”

Yoru’s eyes glowed with an otherworldly energy as he spoke, “I think I’m acquiring its soul…”

The misty energy enveloped Yoru, and he felt a surge of power course through his veins. When the energy dissipated, Yoru stood tall, looking more confident than before.

Akane approached him, a mix of concern and curiosity on her face. “I didn’t think it’ll be possible but I guess since you’re a shadow person, how do you feel?”

Yoru grinned, feeling the Shadow Beast’s power coursing through him. “I feel… amazing.”

As they entered the hideout, Yoru tripped again, and this time, he accidentally pulled Akane down with him. They found themselves in a tangled heap on the floor, with Yoru’s face buried in Akane’s chest.

Akane’s eyes widened in surprise, and she tried to push Yoru away, but he was too heavy. “Yoru, get off me!”

Yoru’s face turned bright red as he realized his predicament. “Ah, sorry! I’m so sorry!”

As he tried to extract himself, his hand accidentally brushed against Akane’s breast. Akane’s eyes flashed with embarrassment, and she slapped Yoru’s hand away.

“Yoru, what are you doing?!”

Yoru’s eyes went wide, and he scrambled to his feet, tripping again in the process. “I’m so sorry, Akane! I’m just… really clumsy, okay?”

Akane stood up, her face flushed, and her hair disheveled. “Just… just go to your room, Yoru. And try not to break anything.”

Yoru nodded vigorously and made a hasty retreat, leaving Akane to wonder if she’d made a mistake taking him in.