The darkness had swallowed him whole.
He had felt it -
that presence.
The presence of a demon shrouded in shadow,
a god gone astray,
a being forged by the abyss.
An entity that could deliver judgment with a whisper.
Wake up, Rai…
Wake up.
Are you okay?
"RAIZEN!" Grandpa Enro's voice tore through the void as he shook me back to life.
"ARE YOU OKAY? WHAT HAPPENED?!"
My breath hitched. I forced myself back to consciousness, shaking my head to clear the ringing in my ears.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," I said, prying his hands off my shoulders. "Just got stuck in a thought or something."
I couldn't tell him.
Not this. Not now.
But he knew I felt his presence.
A chill ran down my spine.
"Are you sure, son?" Grandpa asked, worry etched across his face.
I grabbed my wrist to stop the trembling.
A deep breath.
Relax.
"Yeah. I'm good."
I forced a grin.
I had to.
"Come on, gramps. Don't kill the mood. You treating me is already a divine miracle!. You better not back off now!."
I slipped back into the crowd
the noise, the movement, the life
as if it could drown the echo of the darkness still ringing in my mind.
Maybe it really was just a dream.
"You coming, Giyu?"
"Yeah, of course!"
"Maybe we should rest a bit, Rai," Grandpa said, guiding me into a nearby shop and handing me a glass of cool water. "At least for a minute."
"I'm okay, gramps. I promise I'm not going anywhere," I reassured him, taking a sip.
Then I raised the glass dramatically.
"Now—ONWARDS! To our feasting!"
For a while, we didn't talk about the incident.
We let the market distract us - the colors, the crowds, the smells.
—
Meanwhile -
Vulcor flinches mid-flight,
He felt a presence.
"…A being other than Enro?"
"Judgement shall arrive early."
He narrowed his blazing eyes.
"To think there would be more than one here…
I must hasten. A day is far too long."
—
Grandpa brought us to a well-known restaurant, famous across the United Nexus for its legendary barbeque.
"The chef here has the ability to precisely read the temperature of any being whether it be living or lifeless. So it is a given that he lives onto his name". Grandpa remarked as we entered.
"Boys, don't over-order," Grandpa warned as he placed our request. "Waste is a sin, and One should always know when and where their limit lies"
"Yes, gramps, don't worry," I grinned. "I'm just going to eat double today. Come on, Giyu, join me!"
"This boy is going to run me dry…" Grandpa sighed, leaning back.
The food arrived steaming, sizzling, glorious~
and all three of us devoured it.
Grandpa hated talking during meals, so we ate in silence.
Only after we finished did he finally speak.
Giyu excused himself to get some fresh air.
And that was when Grandpa broke.
Something crushed him inside.. like he was carrying centuries of weight.
"Gramps?" I leaned forward. "You… wanna talk?"
"…Yes."
His voice cracked. just barely.
"Rai… earlier today, when you went into that trance… I was terrified," he said, taking my hand with both of his. "I know I am old and feeble… and I know I annoy you more than I should. But listen to me."
His grip tightened.
"I love you as if you were my own son."
My heart froze.
This wasn't normal.
This wasn't casual.
This sounded like a goodbye.
"Grandpa… are you okay?" I whispered.
"Yes, boy. Can't an old man love his son?"
He chuckled softly, patting my wrist.
"You are precious to me. Ever since I found you, crying in the remains of a burned village raided beyond recognition."
He swallowed hard, voice trembling.
"You are the best thing that ever happened to this old man. You made me feel. You kept me away from my own thoughts… and my own demons."
He placed his other hand gently over mine.
"So, Rai… whenever something troubles you - anything at all -come to me. Even if I'm not there physically… reach for me."
He smiled. A soft, aching smile.
"Grandpa… you won't leave me, right?"
My voice cracked. Tears stung my eyes.
Everything inside me knew something was wrong.
He squeezed my hand.
"Never, my son. Never."
But..
You lied.
Grandpa…
you lied to me.