Apathetic

Ch. 18

"Are you sure?" Hisashi's voice was edged with concern.

"Yes, Hisashi-San! Kotoha-San has not been seen for two days. We've checked her chamber thoroughly, asked every member we encountered about her whereabouts, and Kotoha is nowhere to be found." One of the female maids said, her voice trembling slightly as she wrung her hands.

"We must alert the founder immediately and initiate a full man-hunt. Her sudden absence is unprecedented and deeply troubling."
Hisashi nodded grimly, his expression etched with a mix of worry and resolve.

He moved with a swiftness that belied his years, his gaze fixed on the grand entrance of the temple.

————

He pushed open the heavy wooden doors, the rhythmic creak echoing through the silent halls as he strode purposefully towards the corridor that led to their leader's private chambers.

The air within the temple felt thick with an unspoken tension, a stark contrast to the usual serene atmosphere. He stopped abruptly in front of the ornate paper shoji doors, clearing his throat before delivering two sharp, respectful knocks.

"Yesss, who is it?" Douma's voice drifted through the door, a low, unnerving purr that hinted at a deceptive tranquility.

"Uhm, my Lord, may I come in? This is very urgent," Hisashi said, his tone firm despite the tremor in his hands.

"Ohhh, Hisashi-San! Yes, come on in!" Douma's voice chirped with an unsettling cheerfulness.

Hisashi slid open the door, stepping into the lavish chamber with a sense of trepidation. He found Douma casually lounging on a plush beanbag, a long, ornate kiseru pipe held delicately between his fingers as he exhaled a plume of sweet-smelling smoke into the air. The scent of an unknown, fragrant incense mingled with the tobacco, creating a dizzying aroma that filled the room.

"Ahh, Hisashi-San! How are you? What brings you here today?" Douma's voice was light, almost dismissive, as if anticipating a trivial matter.

Hisashi bowed deeply, his old, fragile frame momentarily bent in deference. A grim determination set his jaw, but it didn't deter him from delivering the grave news of Kotoha's disappearance.

"It's Kotoha Hashibira. She is missing."

————

A palpable unease spread through the Eternal Paradise Temple. Every single member and servant was dispatched, fanning out across the temple grounds and into the surrounding woods. Their voices echoed through the ancient trees, calling out her name, their pleas carried on the crisp evening air.

"I am so worried for her!" One of the male members exclaimed, her voice thick with genuine concern as she scanned the dense foliage.

"Do you think she may have wandered off?" A younger member asked, her brow furrowed with apprehension.

"Or do you think she doesn't want to be here anymore?" Another speculated, a hint of resignation in their tone.

"That can't be," Hisashi interjected, his voice firm, refusing to entertain such a thought.

He knew Kotoha; she wouldn't simply abandon her duties or the community without a word. Despite his advanced age, he tirelessly continued his search, his movements fueled by a deep-seated fear. He feared something terrible had happened to her.

Or someone had made something happen.

Hisashi pressed on, his gaze sweeping over every shadow, every hidden path.

"Kotoha-San. Where are you?..." he murmured, his voice a strained whisper lost in the growing darkness. But full of concern.

Kotoha is too frail and vulnerable to wander off on her own in this dangerous world. Delicate like a hothouse flower. Hisashi doesn't want to think of the terrible things that might have happened to her.