Chapter 7: I will wait for you...Always
Rei walked out of the alley with Shisui at his side.
Once again, scattered gazes—some sharp, some curious—fell upon him, but this time no one dared approach. Everyone had seen the three drunken men enter the alley; now only Rei and Shisui emerged. No one needed to ask what had happened inside.
In chaotic times like these, the deaths of two or three people were hardly remarkable. No one wished to invite misfortune upon themselves, especially when the youth at Rei's side bore a short blade on his back—a clear sign he was no ordinary traveler.
From Shisui's apparent age, Rei could already deduce the rough timeline they were in. The Great War had ended, yet smaller conflicts still simmered in scattered regions.
When Rei had said to Shisui that it was his "first time coming outside," it hadn't been a complete lie. For someone like him—reborn into this new form—it truly felt like stepping out into the world for the very first time.
His restless curiosity led him from stall to stall until his steps halted at a small vendor selling handmade clay figurines. Only then did he remember—he had no money.
"..."
Awkwardly, he set the little figurine back down.
How embarrassing.
He had wanted to play the part of a cute, charming girl—buying a trinket would have completed the act—but instead he came off as a penniless waif.
Perhaps, when his shadowy ally arrived, he could ask for funds. In this era, survival without coin was nearly impossible.
Before Rei could step away, Shisui silently paid the vendor. Without a word, he avoided Rei's gaze, ears tinged red, and pressed the figurine back into Rei's hand.
Rei hesitated, fingers curling around the gift. Then, slipping into character, he looked up with feigned emotion and said softly:
"This is the first gift I've ever received. I'll treasure it forever."
Shisui blinked rapidly, throat tightening. A faint cough escaped him, and color rose further across his cheeks.
Rei: "..."
Seriously?
This boy... he's so painfully pure.
Manipulating him would be almost too easy.
A flicker of pity passed through Rei—for the briefest moment—before he buried it under his own hunger. For a taste of Shisui's flesh, Rei was willing to smile, to flatter, even to wield seduction as a weapon. And as it turned out, such tactics were devastatingly effective.
Clutching the figurine, Rei walked alongside him, exchanging basic details as they wandered the streets. When Rei learned Shisui was seeking a place to stay the night, he seized the opportunity:
"If you don't mind... you could come to my home for tea."
He added softly, almost shyly, "It's a bit far, and... not very tidy. But we're friends now, aren't we? It's normal for friends to offer each other shelter, isn't it?"
The words shifted the air, making Shisui feel as though he were the one harboring improper thoughts.
"...Wouldn't I be intruding on your parents?" Shisui asked carefully.
Rei lowered his eyes, voice quiet. "My parents... are gone."
"I'm sorry," Shisui murmured, regret flickering in his expression.
Rei shook his head and smiled gently. "My home's been empty for a long time. Having you come... makes me happy."
And truly, what man could refuse such a line, spoken by someone so heartbreakingly beautiful?
Just as Rei expected, Shisui agreed.
Men understand men. Rei's heart remained calm, steady—like still water hiding sharp stones.
Leading Shisui up the mountain path toward his secluded home, Rei schemed silently. How could he claim this prize of flesh without being discovered?
The more he pondered, the more he likened himself to a spirit from old ghost tales—a demon luring scholars into its lair to devour them. Yet Shisui was no defenseless scholar; this boy could strike down three such men in a single blow. Perhaps even devour demons themselves.
He could not afford to make a mistake — not against someone like Shisui, a genius whose strength far surpassed that of ordinary shinobi.
Who was the hunter, and who the prey?
Patience, Rei reminded himself. The hungrier he became, the more dangerous his desire. Since becoming what he was, his craving for flesh had become relentless, feral. But a hasty move would cost him everything.
When they arrived, Shisui's gaze fell on the battered gate and the overgrown courtyard. A pang of discomfort struck him—this place hardly seemed fit for anyone to live in.
Rei, in his elegant kimono, seemed almost out of place here—like a fallen noble stranded among ruins. He noticed Shisui's look and lowered his head, speaking softly:
"This kimono... my mother prepared it for my wedding."
He smiled faintly, as if embarrassed. "I thought... I would wear it to leave this world behind."
Shisui's eyes widened, then tightened with sudden understanding.
So that was why she had shown no fear in the alley. She had been prepared to die.
"I had no friends, only my parents," Rei continued, eyes glistening as he looked directly at Shisui. "After they died... it was just me. Alone."
Then, softer—warmer:
"But now... it's different. I have a friend."
In that instant, her gaze seemed alight, as if Shisui's presence alone had rekindled life in her hollow soul.
A tremor ran through Shisui's heart. Without intending to, he had become the reason for her to live. The weight of it both frightened and moved him
"You're different from anyone I've met," Rei whispered. "You're kind... you saved me. You even bought me a gift."
Holding the little figurine close, he smiled at Shisui with rare sincerity. "You're the best person I've ever known."
Silence stretched. Shisui's ears burned red; all he could hear was the hammering of his own heartbeat.
Rei himself nearly winced at the sweetness of his own lie — they were so sweet they hurt his teeth. Any man raised in modern times would recognize it instantly—a line whispered to every willing fool. But Shisui, untouched by cynicism, accepted it wholeheartedly.
Pushing open the weathered wooden gate, Rei apologized softly: "I haven't cleaned this place in a long time..."
"It's fine," Shisui said quickly. "I'll help."
Someone who had abandoned hope for life would hardly care for the state of a house. Shisui felt strangely grateful to have crossed paths with her that night—to have reached out his hand.
"Let's do it together," Rei said lightly.
Free labor, at last.
The two of them spent the night clearing years of dust and decay. By the time they finished, the first light of dawn touched the horizon.
They sat beneath the eaves, gazing at the rising sun. Rei's heart thumped nervously.
He had to send Shisui away before daylight fully broke. His body could endure sunlight, yes—but why waste sunlight value if he could avoid it?
"You're my only friend," Rei said softly. "Will you come back... to see me again?"
His gaze brimmed with longing, raw and unhidden.
Shisui's own night felt unreal, dreamlike. Looking at her face, he answered with quiet resolve:
"I will."
"I'll wait for you," Rei replied, equally solemn. "Always."
Always... until I taste your flesh.
Shisui smiled unconsciously at her words. He turned toward the gate, an unfamiliar melancholy settling in his chest. At the foot of the mountain, he glanced back one last time at the lonely little house.
This night felt like a dream, he thought. And he would return.
The moment the gate closed behind him, Rei darted inside. Sunlight spilled across the threshold but stopped there, barred from entry.
He sank onto the freshly cleaned floor, a flicker of nostalgia tugging at him—for the strange comfort of the phone he no longer had. Ten seconds later, the floor rippled, and a black figure with round, bead-like yellow eyes emerged.
Rei's disdain melted away at once when he saw what it carried.
Two fresh corpses.
Dinner had arrived.
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