The Last Bargain

Chapter XXIII: The Aftermath

Zento's eyes snapped open, his chest heaving as he sucked in a sharp breath. He felt cold earth beneath his back, his fingers digging into the soil as if trying to anchor himself to the reality that seemed to shift and spin around him. For a moment, he couldn't remember where he was, or how he'd gotten here. The darkness of Yomi's domain, the swirling mist, the blinding light—everything felt like a half-remembered nightmare.

He sat up slowly, blinking against the harsh daylight that pierced through the canopy of leaves above. The forest was alive again, filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant birdsong. Zento realized with a jolt that he was back in the woods near Seimei's hut. He glanced around, his heart racing, and saw Shin lying a few feet away, slowly coming to his senses.

"Shin!" Zento called, scrambling to his feet and rushing to his side. "Are you okay?"

Shin groaned, pushing himself up on his elbows, his expression dazed and confused. "What... what happened?" he muttered, rubbing his head. "Where are we?"

"We've been thrown out," Zento replied, his voice tight with frustration. "Yomi expelled us from his domain. Raito... he's still in there. Alone."

Shin's eyes widened, and he sat up fully, the reality of their situation sinking in. "No... no, this can't be happening," he muttered, shaking his head. "We were so close! We saw him... we almost had him!"

Zento clenched his fists, his anger simmering just below the surface. "Yomi knew we were there," he said bitterly. "He let us get close, just to prove a point. To show Raito that he's isolated, that he's alone in this... trial."

Shin's face twisted with frustration. "But why?" he demanded. "Why go to all this trouble? What does Yomi want from him?"

Zento took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside him. "Yomi wants to break him," he replied. "To make Raito believe that siding with the gods is his only option, that there's no other choice. And he's using us to do it... to make Raito feel abandoned, betrayed."

Shin's fists clenched at his sides. "We can't let that happen," he said fiercely. "We have to find a way back in. We have to reach Raito before it's too late."

Zento nodded, but he felt the weight of the task before them pressing down on his shoulders like a heavy stone. "We tried, and we failed," he admitted. "The Mirror Gate showed us our fears, our doubts... and we barely made it through. And even when we did, Yomi was ready for us."

Shin stood, brushing dirt from his clothes, his eyes filled with determination. "So what?" he shot back. "We try again. We find another way. We can't just leave Raito in there. We can't let Yomi win."

Zento looked at his friend, feeling a spark of hope reignite in his chest. Shin was right. They couldn't give up, not now. Not when Raito's fate hung in the balance.

"Seimei," Zento said suddenly, turning back toward the path that led to the hermit's hut. "He knows more than he let on. He might have another way to get us back in."

Shin nodded quickly, a hint of relief in his expression. "Right. Let's go."

They moved quickly, retracing their steps through the dense forest. The path seemed longer this time, more twisted, the trees closing in around them like a living barrier. Zento could feel his frustration growing with each step. He was tired of the gods' games, tired of the tricks and the tests. All he wanted was to find Raito and bring him back.

They reached Seimei's hut and found the old hermit sitting outside, his eyes closed, his hands resting on his knees. He seemed almost serene, as if he were waiting for them. When they approached, he opened his eyes and smiled faintly.