It was a beautiful morning in the village of Kamakura, with the sun rising above the clouds and shining brightly across the roofs and the lively town. The joyful sounds of the children's laughter filled the air as a group of kids ran along the market streets, their feet kicking up little dust.
"Try and catch me!" a young boy shouted with a smile on his face, holding firm to his wooden toy sword in his fist as he ran ahead of them to keep them from getting close to him.
"Hey, get back here!" another girl yelled loudly, her silk and long hair bouncing along with her as she chased after him as fast as her legs could carry her. The group of children ran past a fruit stand with energy and excitement, trying to avoid the baskets and tables as they caught up with each other.
Everything seemed to be going on quite well until, all of a sudden, one of the younger boys tripped over a loose stone and crashed hard onto the ground, falling hard on his chest. The laughter froze in an instant. The boy looked around and blinked, stunned for a moment, his lower lip trembling, his eyes already watery.
But just then, someone's shadow fell over him.
"Are you alright there? Remember I told you to always watch your steps while playing to avoid any injuries?" Kaito said with a warm and gentle voice.
The boy raised his head, recognizing the voice that had just spoken. Kaito smiled so brightly with his cheek bumping out, extending his palm over the boy's head.
"Are those tears I see, Kirito?"
"No, it's not. It's just that I have got dust in my eyes," Kirito mumbled silently, trying to avert his gaze from him as he tried to wipe his watery eyes with his hands.
Kaito still had those smiles on his face. He knelt to the boy's level, stretching an arm on his shoulder.
"Always remember that a demon hunter never cries, no matter how hard things get. Have you forgotten?" Kaito said, trying to appeal to the little boy's adventurous nature.
Kirito's sad expression took a drastic turn in an instant, a smile instantly blooming on his dirt-stained face.
"Here," Kaito said, handing over the fallen wooden sword to Kirito. "Make sure to take good care of it. You might just need it someday."
Kirito nodded with excitement, dusting away the dirt on his clothes and turning to his friends.
"Asuna, Sai," Kaito said, his hand reaching their way to ruffle up their hair. But before he could even get the slightest chance, they all took off, running so fast, making an escape from Kaito, infamous for roughing up hair.
Kaito couldn't help but chuckle at the scene.
Kaito made his way through the streets of Kamakura, and along the way, he was greeted with gestures, warm and gentle smiles everywhere he went. The villagers cared for him, and he cared for them just as much.
"Hey, Kaito! Could you let your old man know I've got the best and latest drinks in town and the best part of it is that they are cheap?" a large bearded man behind a liquor cart said, his voice booming across the market street.
"Kaito, come try these herbs out, they're good for young men like you," another middle-aged woman said with vigor, trying to persuade him to buy them.
"Ah, no, thanks. Yeah, I'll definitely tell him." Kaito couldn't help but sigh helplessly, offering rapid responses while quickening his pace. The villagers' banter met him every day; their smiles and vigor were an everyday routine at this point.
They had seen him grow from a scrappy young boy into a promising and strong warrior in Kamakura town, and they all took pride in his accomplishments.
As Kaito walked past the streets, he could hear whispers of conversation, gossip about him that only made him roll his eyes away.
"Your daughter should be of age, right?" some groups of women gossiped among themselves, their voices hushed in silence. "Yeah, she and Kaito would be a perfect couple..."
Kaito ignored the murmurs. Instead, he focused his attention on the tension that was rising in the atmosphere. Kaito felt something was definitely wrong.
On the way, he also came across another group of villagers together in a corner, whispering amongst themselves.
"Old man Tanaka, is there something going on?" Kaito asked, interrupting one of the villagers, a frail-looking old man named Tanaka.
The old man, stroking his beard with his hand, turned to Kaito, his voice heavy with fear and nervousness.
"I—it's the demons, Kaito."
"Demons?" Kaito froze in shock, surprised, but the old man continued.
"Yes, demons. This morning we just received news of demon activity in the south. They've been attacking villages all over the region, and just days ago Hanamura was found in ruins with no survivors."
The old man paused for a bit, allowing everyone around to digest his words.
"We're preparing for the worst."
His words left many solemn and fearful, and by the looks of things, it was clear the rumors were already spreading through the village at a fast, alarming rate. It was no wonder the atmosphere had become somber.
"I wonder what the demon hunters are doing about it," a voice added among them, but many refused to comment.
Kaito's expression remained dazed for a while. He'd heard rumors of demon attacks over the days, but those had just been rumors. Many like him had ignored them, not giving them a second thought, but now a nearby village was found in ruins. It seemed the rumors might just be true.
When Kaito arrived at his home, a small cottage on the outskirts of the village, he tried to open the door.
"I'm home."
But before he could react, all of a sudden, the door was pulled open, and before he could notice what was happening, a sudden reflection of light caught his eye. He recognized it in an instant: this could only be the sharp edge of a blade.
Kaito's reaction was extremely rapid, his years of rigorous and dreadful training coming in handy. A leap backward saved him from being pierced through the chest. He immediately raised his guard, drawing his blade from its scabbard.
"Sensei, it seems you still haven't parted with your cheap tricks," Kaito said, a little smirk on his face as he got into his stance ready to fight.
A middle-aged man with grey hair stepped out of the cottage, with a sword in his hands as he stared down at Kaito without any worries.
"I had to make sure you haven't forgotten your training."
"You might just kill me someday," Kaito said, shoulders tensing up. He readied himself, maintaining a proper stance and handling his sword with the right precision, while actively reading his opponent.
Matsumoto lunged at Kaito with deadly intent, his blade crashing down like a mountain. Kaito, with his previous experience, knew it was foolish to block the attack. It would leave him open and at a disadvantage. The best option was to dodge—
Kaito countered with brutal efficiency. He quickly pressed the opening, but his sensei was not a slacker either. Their blades clashed together, sending sparks dancing through the air. The dance of blades was both captivating and deadly.
Both countered each other with brutal strikes. Their movements were so fast that their blades caused visual effects in the air. Both fighters were masters of the art; it was a clear show of skill that few could ever hope to match.
As captivating as the spar was, the ending was fascinating. The spar ended shortly after with Kaito using an adaptation of the sword style. He countered sharply, his talent and experience were clear. The spar ended with Kaito's blade at Matsumoto's neck.
Matsumoto did not show any signs of bitterness. Instead, he nodded in satisfaction and admitted defeat.
"I lost," Matsumoto said, sheathing his blade. "It seems you've almost surpassed me already, Kaito. Perhaps it is time."
Kaito similarly sheathed his blade, puzzled at Matsumoto's words.
"Time for what?"
"Let's talk inside," Matsumoto said.
They both went into the cottage, seated together, cross-legged over the mat. Kaito stared at the old man before him, his thoughts filled with confusion. Matsumoto, both Kaito's trainer and father figure, stared at the boy before him with complexity, as if he had something on his mind that was clearly hard to say.
He had raised him from childhood, from an infant to the promising young man he has now become. The boy was never his own from the start, but he had raised him as if he were his. He made sure that the boy grew up as a strong and capable young man, and now, sitting here today, he is truly proud of his achievements.
Together with the people of Kamakura, Kaito had grown up with so much love and support.
Matsumoto sipped his tea gently, taking his time, but Kaito impatiently interrupted.
"Father, what do you want to say to me? Does it have anything to do with rampaging demons?"
Matsumoto placed his tea on the table, then nodded briefly, looking him straight in the eyes.
"Seems like you must have heard the rumors."
"Are they really rumors?" Kaito pressed, but deep down he already knew the answer.
After a brief moment of silence from both of them, Matsumoto spoke.
"No, they are not, but that's beside the point. Kaito, do you still wish to learn of your past?"