Kaoru jolted awake, his heart thumping so hard it felt like it might burst. For a split second, he thought he was back in Tsukikage, curled up on the roof with Sayuri and Rei, the moon shining down like a big, friendly lantern. But then the ache in his chest came crashing back, cold and heavy, and he remembered—Mama's scream, Papa's shout, the fire swallowing their house. It wasn't a dream. It was real, and they were gone.
He blinked, his eyes stinging as he looked around. It was morning, the soft gray light of dawn creeping through the cracks in the hut's walls, making the blue flames in the hearth look pale and tired. The air smelled like cedar and damp earth, but there was something else now, something sharp and smoky, like the forest was holding its breath. Sayuri and Rei were still on the woven mat, curled up together like they always did when they were scared. Sayuri's brown hair was a mess, strands sticking to her tear-streaked face, and Rei's little hands were wrapped tight around that dull blade he'd found, clutching it like a lifeline. Kaoru's throat tightened. At nine, he was supposed to be the brave one, but he didn't feel brave—not even close.
He sat up, his bare feet cold against the wooden floor, and looked around for Yorimitsu. The old man wasn't in the hut, but the door was cracked open, letting in a sliver of misty morning light. Kaoru's stomach twisted. Had Yorimitsu left them here? He wasn't sure if he wanted the old man to come back or not—he still didn't know if they could trust him—but the thought of being alone in this strange forest made his hands shake all over again.
A soft whimper broke the silence, and Kaoru turned to see Rei stirring, his little face scrunching up as he woke. Rei's blue eyes blinked open, red and puffy from crying the night before, and he sat up slowly, still gripping the blade. "Kaoru?" he whispered, his voice small and shaky, like he was afraid Kaoru might not be there. "Where… where's Mama?"
Kaoru's heart sank, a lump forming in his throat. He scooted closer, wrapping an arm around Rei. "She's… she's not here, Rei," he said softly, hating how the words sounded. "We're in the forest now. Remember?"
Rei's lip trembled, and he pressed his face into Kaoru's side, his small body trembling. The movement woke Sayuri, who gasped softly as her eyes flew open, her hands reaching for Rei like she thought he might be gone too. She sat up, her brown hair falling into her face, her eyes wide and scared as she looked around the hut. "Kaoru?" she said, her voice hoarse from sleep and tears. "Where are we? Is… is he still here?"
"We're in the forest," Kaoru said, trying to keep his voice steady for them. "That man—Yorimitsu—he brought us here last night. To his hut." He pointed at the door. "He said he'd keep watch."
Sayuri followed his gaze, her eyes narrowing like she was trying to figure out if that was good or bad. At eight, she was always the one who thought things through, the one who'd ask questions when Kaoru just wanted to run ahead. "Do you think he's still out there?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't know," Kaoru admitted, his chest tightening. He stood up, brushing the dirt off his torn pants, and crept toward the door, his bare feet silent on the floor. He peeked through the crack, squinting into the misty morning. The Forest of Whispers looked different in the daylight, the glowing leaves dimmer now, the air thick with fog that swirled around the trees like ghosts. He couldn't see Yorimitsu, but he heard something—a low, rhythmic sound, like someone tapping a stick against a rock. It was steady, almost calming, but it made Kaoru's stomach twist all the same.
He pushed the door open a little more, the creak loud in the quiet, and stepped outside. The morning air was cool and damp, sticking to his skin, and the ground was soft with moss that squished under his feet. He followed the sound, his heart thumping, until he saw Yorimitsu sitting on a flat stone a little ways from the hut. The old man was carving something with a small knife, the blade flashing in the faint light, his scarred hands moving slow and careful. He looked up as Kaoru got closer, his eyes sharp but not unkind.
"You're awake," Yorimitsu said, his voice rough like gravel. He set the knife down, revealing a small wooden carving—a crescent moon, rough but pretty. "Didn't want to wake you. You needed the rest."
Kaoru nodded, his throat tight. He wanted to ask a million questions—why had Yorimitsu helped them, what did the Shattered Court want, where were they supposed to go now—but the words wouldn't come. Instead, he just stood there, his hands clenched at his sides, staring at the old man like he might disappear if Kaoru looked away.
Yorimitsu tilted his head, his silver hair falling over one shoulder. "You're scared," he said, like he already knew. "That's okay. You should be, after what you saw."
Kaoru's eyes burned, and he blinked fast, not wanting to cry in front of this stranger. "What do we do now?" he asked finally, his voice cracking. "We can't… we can't go back to Tsukikage. It's gone."
Yorimitsu's face darkened, his scars looking deeper in the misty light. "No, you can't," he said quietly. "But you can't stay here long, either. The Shattered Court… they'll come looking. They always do."
Kaoru's heart skipped a beat, his breath catching in his throat. "Looking for us?" he asked, his voice small. "Why? We're just… we're just kids."
Yorimitsu didn't answer right away. He picked up the crescent moon carving, turning it over in his hands, his eyes far away. "Not just kids," he said at last, so quiet Kaoru almost didn't hear him. "Not anymore."
Before Kaoru could ask what that meant, a sharp, piercing cry cut through the air—like a bird, but wrong, too loud and too angry, echoing through the forest. Kaoru jumped, his hands flying to his ears, and Yorimitsu was on his feet in an instant, grabbing his staff from where it leaned against the stone. The blue runes on the staff glowed faintly, and Kaoru felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Inside," Yorimitsu said, his voice sharp now, all the softness gone. "Now."
Kaoru didn't argue. He ran back to the hut, his heart pounding, and burst through the door just as Sayuri and Rei scrambled to their feet, their eyes wide with fear. "What was that?" Sayuri asked, her voice shaking, her hands clutching Rei's shoulders.
"I don't know," Kaoru said, pulling them close as Yorimitsu came in behind him, shutting the door with a heavy thud. The old man moved to the window, peering out into the fog, his staff gripped tight in his hands.
"Shadowhawks," Yorimitsu said, his voice low. "Scouts for the Shattered Court. They're closer than I thought."
Kaoru's stomach dropped, his arms tightening around Sayuri and Rei. "They're coming for us?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Yorimitsu turned, his scarred face grim. "Maybe," he said. "Or maybe they're just searching. Either way, we can't stay here. We need to move—soon."
Sayuri let out a small sob, and Rei pressed his face into Kaoru's side, his trembling starting up again. Kaoru's mind raced, his chest so tight he could barely breathe. They'd only just escaped Tsukikage, only just found a place to rest, and now they had to run again? He didn't know if he could do this, didn't know if he was strong enough to keep Sayuri and Rei safe, but he had to try. They were all he had left.
"What do we do?" Kaoru asked, looking at Yorimitsu, his voice shaking but determined. "Where do we go?"
Yorimitsu looked at them, his eyes softening just a little, like he could see how scared they were. "There's a place deeper in the forest," he said. "A clearing with old wards—magic that can hide us for a while. We'll go there. But we need to be quick."
Kaoru nodded, even though he didn't feel ready. He helped Sayuri and Rei gather their things—just the bread Yorimitsu had given them and Rei's dull blade—their hands cold and trembling in his. The shadowhawk's cry echoed again, closer this time, and Kaoru felt a chill settle in his bones. They weren't safe—not here, not anywhere. But as he held onto Sayuri and Rei, their small bodies pressed against his, he made a silent promise. He'd keep them safe, no matter what. They were his family, blood or not, and he wouldn't let the Shattered Court take them too.