ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪꜱᴛ | ᴛᴇɴᴛᴇɴ ꜰꜰ|

Chapter 74.

Ugetsu woke up to the sunlight beaming down on his face, the warm rays nudging him awake from his peaceful slumber. He sat up in his heavenly futon and rubbed his eyes before opening them, feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep. Naruto was still sleeping soundly beside him, sprawled out in his own futon, blissfully unaware of the world around him.

Yawning and stretching his arms overhead, Ugetsu finally got up and wandered over to the window. He slid it open, and a gentle breeze swept through the room, carrying the fresh scent of morning dew and blooming flowers.

"A beautiful morning..." A smile spread across his lips as he breathed in the crisp air. That was when he noticed Sai walking on the deck outside. Sai glanced around before he settled down and began rummaging through his small bag, pulling out supplies.

Feeling curious, Ugetsu made his way to the bathroom, washed up, and changed into his usual outfit—his dark blue jacket hugging his frame and his black headband tied firmly around his forehead. With a spring in his step, he jumped out of the window, taking a shortcut to the wooden harbor. The sun bathed everything in a golden glow, and the sound of water lapping against the dock filled the air.

As he approached, he noticed Sai sitting quietly by a flowing stream of water, his focus completely absorbed in his work. Ugetsu stopped at a distance, silently observing him for a moment. He watched as Sai expertly wielded his pencil, capturing the essence of the scene in front of him. It was mesmerizing; Sai was drawing something abstract, filled with vibrant colors that seemed to dance across the page.

"An artist, huh? This kinda suits you," Ugetsu spoke up, stepping closer. Sai looked over his shoulder at the white-haired boy, his expression inscrutable.

"Is there something you needed, Ripper?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone. Ugetsu crouched down beside him, peering at the sketchbook.

"I was just curious about what you were doing. And this is amazing," Ugetsu replied, his admiration evident in his voice as he took in the swirling shapes and bold strokes that adorned the page. The colors seemed to pulse with life, each hue telling its own story.

"Your smile..." Sai said suddenly, making Ugetsu look at him. "For someone who has darkness inside, your smile is genuine."

Ugetsu felt a warmth bloom in his chest at the compliment, but the weight of Sai's words hung in the air like a lingering mist. "Yeah, well... everyone has their battles, right?" Ugetsu replied, trying to brush it off. He thought of the shadows that sometimes clouded his mind, remnants of his past. "It's all about finding moments like these to make it all worth it."

Ugetsu put his hands on the deck, and his fingers brushed against something. He looked down and realized it was a small, worn book.

"A picture book?" Ugetsu picked it up, examining the cover. There was a drawing of a young boy on it. He looked at Sai and then back at the book, curiosity piqued. "Is this you, Sai?" Ugetsu asked, handing the book back to him.

Sai took the book, his expression as blank as ever. "It belongs to my brother," he said matter-of-factly, without looking at Ugetsu.

"You've got a brother? You two must've gotten along really well," Ugetsu said, smiling at the thought of Sai having a sibling. But Sai's response caught him off guard.

"He's dead." Sai's voice was as flat as his expression, but the words hit Ugetsu like a ton of bricks. He watched as Sai gave him that same fake smile that never seemed to reach his eyes.

Ugetsu's eyes widened in shock, and he felt a pang of sorrow for the boy in front of him. "I'm sorry... that's really sad to hear." His voice softened as he looked at Sai, expecting some shift in his expression. But Sai's face remained unchanged, not even a flicker of emotion.