𝙠𝙣𝙮, 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙚

10. Crumble

"Did [name] tell you what happened?" Tengen asked, a little angry as he rubbed the bruises on Kyojuro's shoulders. Applying a little too much force, causing Kyojuro to yelp in pain and turn to shoot a look at him. He then mumbled an apology, and then looked at Mitsuri who was trying her best to control her anger.

"Why not, I tell you guys instead?" a voice spoke out and everybody panicked. They quickly turned to look at who had spoken out and their eyes widened. He then placed a finger against his lips as his hood covered his entire face still.

He had on a coat, the same one as [name]. Unable to see his features at all due to his hood, he then sat down with his legs crossed.

"My, my, my, she sure is beautiful, right Kyojuro?" he asked and Kyojuro looked confused. How did this stranger know his name, and how does this stranger know [name]?

"Don't go thinking so far ahead my boy, it is very simple," and then he chuckled when Sanemi pointed his wand directly at his throat, and he soon held his hand in his, with not much force. However, to Sanemi, it felt like a death grip instead.

"Don't be so hasty young ones," and soon let go of Sanemi's wrist that was now bruised badly. He chuckled and then sighed, looking at [name] who was still with Kage, sitting in the middle of the field under the heavy downpour.

"Who are you?" Mitsuri asked, and he chuckled once more.

"Who am I, is not the important question that needs to have an answer. How is [name] going to move on after having her heartbreak again, that's the question," and then his smile turned sad as he heard [name] crying out loud.

"You have all heard about the marks on our bodies. Those with the marks are deemed to become a Shadow Wizard, and often they are the reason why the magical balance in the realm is unbalanced. They are far worse than evil wizards, far worst than everybody else combined. Because, they can engulf this whole world, in total darkness," he explained and leaned forward, using his finger as little specks of dust appeared as he created a scene with the shadows leaking from his fingers.

"Y-You're the previous Shadow Wizard," Shinobu stuttered out and he smiled at her.

"Good eyes, my lady," he answered and then sighed.

"But I'm far different from the rest," he whispered out.

"We have choices, we can make our own decisions. It has been portrayed that all Shadow Wizards must not exist and must be killed off. And to identify a Shadow Wizard, it is simple," he spoke and soon cast a spell to show the mark in the form of shadows.

"We're dirty. We should die. That's what everybody says to us," he answered and then stood up once more, chuckling with a smile on his face. He watched as Kage had picked [name] up with his largemouth, and walked towards them.

With a smile on his face, Kage soon reached and he bends over, caressing [name]'s sleeping face now. Obanai and Sanemi then stared at how gently the man was caressing [name]'s face. He then chuckled, and soon leaned forward, planting a kiss on her cheek.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you. I won't let you go astray like how I did before," he whispered, and [name] squirmed a little as she continued to sleep.

"Kage, your breath stinks..." he whispered out and Kage narrowed his eyes and he chuckled as he brought [name] out of his mouth and laid her gently on the bench, with the extra coat that was lying on the bench nicely folded as a pillow for her. He then settled himself with the coat-pillow on his lap and [name]'s head resting against it. He smiled as he caressed her face gently.

"How long has it been since [name] live with you, Kyojuro?" he asked and Kyojuro thought about it.

"5 years, soon to be 6," Kyojuro answered and he nodded in response with a smile on his face.