Yami rummaged through a large wooden desk, throwing papers about. Yami paused as he found the large stack of papers that he had seen in Jitsubutsu’s past.

“Now I have everything. No more gaps.”

Walking through the exit, Yami walked into an empty dining room.

“Make? Shitto?”

A yell was heard from the back room.

“We’re back here!”

Yami set the papers on the table and walked into the back room. Shitto was asleep on the bench.

“Make?”

“One sec.”

The door to the changing room opened, and from it emerged Make, who wiped sweat off of her forehead.

“What were you doing back there?”

“Well, I figured since Shitto would likely be fighting with you, it’d be best for me to make him some better clothing as well.”

“Where is it?”

Make pursed her lips and tapped her cheek.

“Well, he fell asleep when I started taking measurements…”

“Ah. In any case, how’s Rikai doing?”

“See for yourself!”

Yami’s eyes widened. Rikai walked out from the changing room wearing nearly identical clothing to Yami’s, but the orange was replaced by a bright purple, and the fabric clung more tightly to her, shaping her figure.

“Well? What do you think?”

Yami furrowed his eyebrows and turned to Make.

“What’s the meaning of this?”

Make was taken back by Yami’s comment.

“What do you mean? I figured since she’d be helping you guys, she should be outfitted as well.”

“She’s not going to fight with us, Make!”

“But Yami, I want to help…”

“See Yami? She wants to.”

“I don’t give a damn. She just barely made it out of the last attack, and know you’re encouraging her to fight? Are you delusional?”

“Stop acting as if I’m not here!”

Yami turned to face Rikai.

“I want to help you and Shitto! You two have always been fighting without me, and for once I want to help!”

“Rikai, you can’t.”

“How about you two spar? That’ll show you if she’s ready or not.”

“Fine.”

Yami and Rikai stood twenty meters away from one another next to the river.

“Alright, Rikai. Give me everything you got, no holding back.”

Rikai nodded, then charged at Yami. Cocking her fist back as far as she could, she swung at Yami’s jaw, who blocked it with the palm of his hand. Rikai gritted her teeth, then swung with her left. Once again, it was blocked. Rikai began to breathe heavily.

“Are you sure you’re healed?”

“Yes.”

“Then you might want to speed up. I’ll start fighting back soon.”

Rikai swung with her right fist once again, which Yami grabbed. Rikai then attempted to kick Yami’s side with her right leg, but Yami dodged. The momentum swung Rikai’s body around, allowing Yami to kick her back, forcing her into the ground.

“I already told you, you can’t help fight Shippai.”

Rikai picked herself up, then charged at Yami once again. Yami evaded Rikai’s punch, then landed his own on her stomach. Rikai fell over while clenching her stomach.

“Let’s go inside before you get hurt anymore than you already are.”

As Yami began to walk away, Rikai stood up.

“No... “

Yami turned around.

“Not until I hit you just once!”

Yami frowned.

“Rikai, let’s g-”

Rikai ran at Yami. Sighing, Yami watched Rikai sprint towards him. While screaming, Rikai swung her right fist at Yami. Yami’s face turned and spit flew from his mouth. Rikai panted as she finished her blow. She looked up at Yami’s face. His jaw was heard from where her knuckles had connected. Yami looked down at Rikai.

“Good job, you hit me. Now what?”

Yami raised his fist and started to swing at Rikai, who braced for impact.

Yami fist unfolded and landed softly onto Rikai’s head.

“Rikai, you can’t fight.”

Rikai looked up at Yami.

“You don’t have any life essence. Beyond that, you’re too kind for that. Instead of fighting, you’re always trying to support others. That’s what Shitto and I need.”

Rikai looked up at Yami.

“Do you understand?”

She nodded.

“Good.”

Shitto walked up to them wearing a similar outfit, despite the blue.

“What’re you guys doing?”

“We were training just now.”

“Really? You and Rikai?”

Yami nodded.

“Wow, I didn’t know you had it in you, Rikai.”

Rikai nervously giggled.

“I didn’t either.”

“Anyways, I’ll need your guys’ help for my own training.”

“What do you need?”

Yami looked down at his palm.

“At HQ, I found research papers that belonged to a cult from a long time ago. Apparently my power is Haisen, someone who stole the souls from many Pubiàn Fanxiang to make himself stronger. Long story short, his soul is sealed within my body. His immense power seeps through when I have none to protect myself, which you’ve seen before, Shitto.”

Shitto nodded.

“These papers describe a more immense power, though. Like I said, you can think of him as sealed. But if I am careful, I can merge his soul with mine.”

“Why would you ever do that?!”

Yami clenched his fists.

“If one absorbs another soul, their own power is increased substantially. Shippai has become too strong for us to defeat as we are right now. Plus, I can’t rely on Haisen’s power as it is because I can’t control myself, and Haisen is loyal to Shippai. If I can learn to mix his soul with mine, I may be strong enough.”

“How do you even plan on doing this?”

Yami held up his right palm.

“In those papers, it describes how I can unlock this seal. I think if I slowly unlock it, I should be able to control the entirety of his power.”

Shitto shook his head, and rikai screamed at Yami.

“You can’t be serious, can you? You’ll be just as evil as Shippai!”

“Don’t think I want to do this! I can’t free the souls of the people Haisen captured, and Haisen alone is too dangerous!”

“I don’t like this,” Shitto said. “But if you think this is the only way, I can’t disagree…”

“Thanks, Shitto.”

Yami looked to Rikai.

“Can you go to Make and ask how you can help? Tell her we’ll need medical supplies for when we go back.”

“Right. Be careful, you two.”

As Rikai ran off, Shitto cracked his knuckles.

“Alright, Yami! What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to store some of your soul into some place that’s cut off from your life essence. I’m going to practice absorbing your soul.”

Shitto’s eyes widened.

“Whoa whoa whoa! I’m not gonna let you eat my soul!”

“I’m not eating your soul! Besides, I’m going to give it back to you.”

Shitto raised an eyebrow.

“You can give it back?”

Yeah. I essentially cut off the piece that’s yours and give it back. The problem with doing that with the souls Haisen absorbed is that they’ve been a part of his body for so long that his soul has completely devoured theirs.”

“I see. Well, I guess we can do this then.”

“Great, let’s get started.”

“Hey guys, it’s time for dinner!”

Yami helped Shitto off of the ground.

Rikai had a confused look on her face.

“What’d you guys do? Shitto looks beat up!”

“He’s just really tired right now. He’s gonna go back home tomorrow.”

“Already?!?!”

Make nodded.

“So the same thing is happening to him.”

“Yeah, his body can’t recover here. I’ll drop him off tomorrow, then resume my training here with Muhai. Rikai, what’ll you do?”

Rikai looked to Make.

“Would you mind if I stayed here to study with you?”

Make smiled.

“Of course not! It’d be my pleasure! Since you have no life essence, you shouldn’t have any trouble staying here for long periods of time either!”

“You really should tell your parents though, Rikai. You left them a destroyed house splattered with blood.”

Rikai looked down.

“I guess you’re right.”

“Great! I’ll go drop off Shitto right now. Rikai, you wanna come with us to say goodbye to your parents?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

“See ya, Make. We’ll be back tomorrow.”

“See ya tomorrow!”

Yami lifted up Shitto and, with Rikai, walked out of Make’s house into Shitto’s apartment. Rikai wiped her finger on a shelf and saw the amount of dust that had collected.

“He hasn’t cleaned this for months!”

Yami set Shitto onto his couch, then began to sketch something onto a pad of paper.

“What are you doing?”

“Making him a warp tag… If he places this on his door, he’ll open into Make’s house.”

“Good thinking!”

Yami left the piece of paper on the coffee table, then walked towards the door.

“Now we need to find your parents.”

“They’re probably at the police station.”

“Then let’s try there!”

Yami and Rikai walked into the police department and approached the front desk.

“Hello. Is Mr. or Mrs. Ikko here?”

The lady at the front desk looked up. It was the same officer that Frank nearly shot.

“Mr. Shinpai? Is that you?!”

“Yes, but I’m not looking for trouble.”

The officer shook her head.

“No, no, that’s not what I was implying. I just wanted to thank you for saving me that day! I recently got engaged, and I was thinking about what would’ve happened if it weren’t for you! Thank you!”

Yami rubbed the back of his neck and smiled.

“No problem!”

“Anyways, Mr. Ikko is here. He’s in the waiting room to your left.”

“Thank you. Have a good day!”

“You too, Mr. Shinpai!”

As Yami and Rikai walked away from the desk, Rikai tapped on Yami’s shoulder.

“What was that all about?”

“Don’t worry about it, worry about what you’re going to say to your parents. We’re here.”

Yami leaned against the wall next to the door. Rikai paused in the hallway.

“What’re you waiting for, Rikai?”

“Huh? Aren’t you going in with me?”

“This is your fight. If they see a wanted criminal, you think that’ll help your case? When you’re ready to leave, I’ll take you.”

Rikai took a deep breath, then grabbed the doorknob.

“Just a simple goodbye…”

Rikai opened the door to see blood coated walls.