Hakkenden Fanfiction: All Alone

Chapter 2

Koori lead Shino and Sousuke in a run-down church.

"Take a seat," he said, signaling towards the rows of church seats.

Sousuke nodded and dragged Shino over to sit by hand.

"So. Tell me. What kind of relationship do you guys have with this Genpachi?"

"He's just our friend," Sousuke answered. He wasn't ready to give away anything just yet.

"I see. And what two beads do you guys hold?"

"That's none of your business. Please get to the point." He could see Shino was growing impatient.

"Now, now. There's no need to be hasty. All I want is a little information. You can give me that much, right?"

"Sorry, but we don't have time here. If you aren't going to show us the way to Genpachi, then we'll just have to find him ourselves." Sousuke got up. He really didn't like this guy.

Shino got up as well, but decided to speak.

"Koori, how do you know about the bead holders? There's no way you're one of them. So that must mean..."

Both Shino and Sousuke looked at eachother. They pretty much exchanged words within that short glace.

Is he an enemy or a friend? they both thought.

"Let's go."

Shino nodded and followed Sousuke out of the building.

"Wait!" Koori called from behind. "Alright, I'll tell you what I know about Genpachi. But you two better answer my questions back after."

"We will answer them if we feel that we can trust you," Shino replied.

Koori only sighed and waited for the two to take a seat again.

"Your friend Genpachi was taken by demons. I'm not sure why. I know about the bead holders because my friend, Shinobu just happens to be one of them."

"You're friends with Shinobu?!" Shino asked, interested.

"That's right. Shinobu and I are childhood friends. But as time went on, we gradually stopped talking to eachother. Finally, we got into a fight, and completely separated."

"I see..."

Koori only smiled in response. But Sousuke wasn't convinced.

"What kind of proof do you have that you're Shinobu's friend. From what he tells us, he's been shut away for most of his life."

The silver-haired boy flinched.

"Why must you doubt me? I've known him from when we were six. The two of us had such great times together, you know? And I'm sure he told you all about me," he said, smirking.

Then the two of them realized. A white hair boy who had suddenly disappeared from Shinobu's life. Could this really be him?

Koori smiled again.

"Alright, just spill it already. What do you want?" Shino half-growled.

"I just want to know what beads the two of you hold."

"I hold the De-," he started, but was cut off by Sousuke.

"Neither of us hold the beads."

Koori's smile turned into a glare. "Don't bother hiding it. There's no need to be afraid. I'm bound to find out sooner or later anyway."

Shino tugged on Sousuke's shirt.

"Let's just tell him."

"No Shino, we don't have the beads. We can't lie to him like this."

"You're the one whose lying! He already knows we have them. There's no point in hiding it anymore."

The two brothers continued to bicker for a while. Finally, Sousuke gave up. He couldn't fight against this stubborn kid.

"Ok, fine. Go ahead and tell him then."

Shino smiled and turned towards Koori again.

"I hold the Devotion bead, and my brother Sousuke holds the Duty bead. Is that all you want to know?"

"Yes, that's enough. The two of you can leave now."

"What about Genpachi? You said that you knew where he was."

"I told you what I know about him. The rest is up to you to find," he urged, and nudged them towards the exit.

Sousuke and Shino eventually just gave up and left.

"Well we didn't get any clues there," Sousuke grunted.

"Then we'll just have to look somewhere else."

They turned to the sun, which was setting. It was going to get dark soon.