Chapter 114: Things That Haven't Been Said

  "Ahhh!"

  Raito sat up in the plush guest bed, his mouth wide open like a baby bird waiting for a worm. He looked expectantly at the girl sitting on the stool beside him.

  Yukari sighed, the sound heavy with a mixture of exasperation and deep-seated affection. She picked up a slice of apple from the plate on the nightstand, the fruit crisp and pale yellow.

  "I said we need to take care of whatever is happening to you," she grumbled, leaning forward to pop the apple slice into his mouth. "Not take care of the whole thing. You have hands, you know."

  Crunch.

  Raito chewed happily, the sweet juice bursting in his mouth. "But you are still feeding me," he pointed out, swallowing with a satisfied grin. "So I am happily obliged to accept."

  "Idiot," Yukari murmured. She tried to maintain her scowl, but the corners of her lips betrayed her, curling into a soft, relieved smile.

  Raito watched her for a moment, his gaze dropping to her leg. "How is your ankle?" he asked.

  "Healed," Yukari answered simply. She lifted her leg, rotating her foot to show the full range of motion. The bandages were gone, leaving only smooth skin.

  "That was fast," Raito commented, raising an eyebrow. "Did we get a high-level healer?"

  "Well..." Yukari hesitated, her smile faltering slightly. She looked away, focusing on the fruit knife in her hand. "It's been three days, Raito."

  "Three days?!" Raito shouted, nearly choking on his second slice of apple. He sat up straighter, eyes wide. "How did I sleep for three days?! I really need to know what happened to the case! Did Tanvir catch the guy?"

  Yukari watched his reaction closely. The genuine shock. The lack of any dark shadow behind his eyes.

  "He really doesn't remember," she whispered under her breath, a cold chill touching her heart.

  "Hohoho!"

  A familiar, booming laugh announced the arrival of visitors before the door even fully opened.

  Bob stepped into the room, his massive frame filling the doorway. He wore his usual jovial smile, though the lines around his eyes seemed deeper than usual. Beside him, contrasting his warmth like ice against fire, stood Zhu Lihua. Her arms were crossed, her expression a stern glare that could strip paint from the walls.

  "Bob," Raito greeted, waving.

  "Mother," Yukari nods

  Zhu gave a sharp nod.

  "This is a really unusual pairing," Raito commented, looking between the merchant and the War Empress.

  "Well, we both wanted to see if you were finally up," Bob said, walking over to the bed. He looked Raito up and down. "But it seems you are more energetic than we thought! You don't look like someone who has been asleep for three days, hohoho!"

  "Yeah, apparently my sleep is very deep," Raito laughed, scratching the back of his head. "So! What happened with Kaden? Did we solve the case? Did he talk?"

  The room went quiet. Bob's smile stiffened. Yukari looked down at her hands.

  "I'll be blunt," Zhu said, her voice cutting through the awkward silence like a blade. She stepped forward, interrupting whatever softening words Bob or Yukari might have offered.

  "Kaden died," she stated. "He succumbed to his injuries."

  Raito froze. The smile slid off his face. "Injuries?" he asked, his voice quiet. "Who gave him such severe injuries? Another mystery, huh? Was it the hooded man?"

  Zhu didn't answer with words. She simply raised a hand and pointed a single, accusatory finger.

  At Raito.

  "What is with the pointing?" Raito blinked, looking behind him, then back at Zhu. "Wait. Me?" He pointed at his own chest, shocked. "I injured Kaden?"

  "Yes, you did," Zhu said, her voice hard and unyielding. "You gave him injuries that I didn't think were possible without weapons of war. It's more fair to say you brutalized him."

  "That's a lie!" Raito shot back, defensive anger rising. "If I did that, why do I have no recollection of that ever happening?! I remember chasing him... and then waking up here!"

  "That," Zhu said, stepping closer until she loomed over the bed, "is precisely what makes your current state dangerous."

  She leaned down, her fiery eyes boring into his confused brown ones. "You brutalized Kaden to within an inch of his life. You attacked me. And you don't remember any of it."

  She straightened up. "Tell me, boy. Do you even know the color of your flames?"

  "Of course," Raito scoffed, holding up his hand as if to summon a fireball. "It's crimson. Like always."

  "Wrong again!" Zhu barked.

  She grabbed his wrist, stopping him. "It is deep black. An all-consuming, deep black flame that eats light and heat."

  She let go of his hand, letting it drop to the sheets.

  "We seriously need to do something with you," she said, her voice grave. "Before you lose control again. And next time... you might not wake up as yourself."

  "No, you're lying!" Raito insisted, looking frantically between the stern woman and his wife. He turned to Yukari, his eyes pleading. "Yukari, please tell your mother to stop lying. It's not funny."

  "Unfortunately... that is the truth," Yukari said, her voice small. She avoided his gaze, staring intently at the bedsheets. "Everything she said is the truth. Every time you use that power, you never remember your actions. It's like... like you are possessed."

  She looked up, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "This is what I have been trying to tell you. There are times where you haven't been yourself." She reached out, taking his trembling hands in hers. "Let's try to fix this, okay?"

  "Not you too..." Raito whispered, pulling his hands away. He couldn't believe it. His partner, his wife, was not on his side. "This is all a lie. A ruse. How come I'm the only one who doesn't remember?!"

  He looked past them, searching for an ally. "Bob?"

  Bob flinched, looking away. The giant merchant rubbed the back of his neck, his usual cheer gone. "The reports did say... you were the one who did Kaden in," he admitted quietly. "I... I couldn't believe someone like you could ever do that yourself, Raito. But the evidence..."

  Raito stared at him, betrayed. The silence in the room was deafening.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  "So, believe me now, kid?" Zhu asked, her arms crossed again.

  "No," Raito said, shaking his head stubbornly. "Not at all. There has to be some proof that I'm... what? Essentially sleepwalking and murdering people?"

  "You got me," Zhu raised her hands in a gesture of defeat. "We don't have proof that you are not behaving correctly currently."

  She lowered her hands, her expression hardening into stone. "But, trust me. Keep this up, and you will hurt someone near you."

  "Is that a threat?" Raito asked, his voice dropping an octave.

  He stared at Zhu. Slowly, the warm brown of his irises began to cloud over, darkening, swirling into a deep, abyssal black. The air in the room grew heavy and cold.

  "No," Zhu said, her own eyes flaring with crimson fire, ready to counter. "Just concern. We want to help you, kid, but you have to let us. You are making Linlin worried, and as her mother, I have obligations to stop you."

  Raito turned his head slowly. He looked at Yukari.

  She was shrinking back, her hands covering her mouth, her eyes wide with fear and horror as she looked at him. Not at her husband, but at a stranger wearing his face.

  The sight shattered him.

  Raito blinked rapidly. The blackness receded from his eyes, the brown returning in a rush. He shook his head, the fog lifting.

  "Sorry," he gasped, reaching out a hand but stopping short. "I didn't mean to... I'm sorry."

  "Don't be," Yukari said quickly, grabbing his hand and holding it to her cheek. "I know it's not the real you. So please... let us help."

  Raito looked at her, then at his own hands. He felt helpless, trapped in a body he apparently couldn't control.

  "I would let you," he whispered, his voice cracking. "But I don't even have a clue what this condition you guys are talking about."

  "Lucky for you, that is for us to deal with, kid," Zhu said, her voice softening slightly now that the danger had passed. She stepped closer, her fiery gaze losing its edge. "All I want you to do is to stay put. Please. No fighting. No Cores. No sword. Understand?"

  Raito looked at her, then at Yukari's hopeful face. He slumped back against the pillows. "I guess... I'll try."

  "Good." Zhu reached out and ruffled his messy hair, a rare gesture of affection from the warrior.

  Yukari smiled, squeezing his hand. "See? Everyone is here to help you. Don't worry. Just stay still. And please... no more Shilook."

  "That last part," Raito said, a faint, mischievous glint returning to his eyes, "unfortunately, I cannot comply with. Shilook is already engraved deep in my being."

  "Huh!" Yukari reached out and pinched his cheek hard.

  "Hohoho!" Bob laughed, the sound warm and reassuring. "Now this is a much more familiar scenery!"

  He stepped forward, his expression turning solemn. He bowed deeply, his turban dipping low.

  "I'm sorry," Bob said.

  "For what, Bob?" Yukari and Raito asked in unison, surprised.

  "For dragging you two into this mess," Bob said, straightening up but keeping his head bowed slightly. "This trip to Kah-Kamun... it was supposed to just be my niece's wedding and free time for you two. A vacation. But somehow, you two got involved in an issue that was sown from Kah-Kamun's dark past."

  He looked at them, his eyes filled with regret. "As the Prince, I feel like it is my responsibility to say sorry." He bowed again.

  "It's alright, Bob," Raito said immediately, waving his hands. "It's not your fault."

  "Yeah, what he said," Yukari added, smiling warmly. "You have already done so much for us, even though we are not family. It's not your fault that we have such bad luck with events. Chaos just seems to follow us."

  "You two... don't blame me?" Bob asked, looking up, surprised by their forgiveness.

  "Why should we?" the two answered with matching smiles.

  Bob's face crumpled. Tears welled up in his eyes, spilling over onto his cheeks.

  "You two!" he cried.

  He lunged forward, wrapping his massive arms around both Raito and Yukari in a crushing bear hug.

  "ACK!" Raito wheezed. "My backbone... shattering..."

  "Bob... air... need air..." Yukari gasped, trapped against Raito's chest.

  "Oops! Sorry about that!" Bob said, releasing them quickly, though he was still sniffing. The two runaways gasped for air, massaging their ribs.

  "Got caught in the moment, hohoho," Bob chuckled, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

  "We... can see that," Raito said, wheezing slightly.

  Bob straightened his turban, his expression growing serious again, the lingering traces of his jovial laughter fading into something more somber.

  "I... I guess this is the correct time for you two to meet my family," Bob said, his voice quiet, almost cracking with emotion. "Time for me to reveal everything. Will you two come with me?"

  Raito and Yukari exchanged a glance. They sensed the weight of the request, the history hidden behind the merchant's usually bright demeanor.

  "Of course, Bob," they said together, nodding.

  Zhu Lihua watched them, then gave a short, decisive nod to Bob. She turned to the couple. "Go with him. I'll be here looking for a solution with that shorty."

  "Thank you, Lady Lihua," Bob said, gratitude in his eyes.

  "Then, Bob," Yukari said, swinging her legs out of bed and standing up. "Please lead us."

  Bob nodded. He turned and walked toward the door, leading the two of them out of the room and toward the secrets of his past.

  They walked away from the bustling heart of the city, toward the outskirts where the buildings thinned and the dense jungle began to reclaim the land. The path was narrow, overgrown with ferns and dappled with sunlight filtering through the canopy.

  "We are here," Bob said softly, stopping at the edge of a small clearing.

  It was a serene, quiet space, a pocket of peace carved out of the wild forest. In the middle, three simple stones were erected next to each other, worn smooth by time and weather.

  And in front of one of them, a figure was kneeling.

  It was a woman, her back to them. She wore a simple, elegant white dress that flowed around her like water. Her head was bowed in prayer, her shoulders shaking slightly.

  "Are those...?" Raito whispered to Yukari, his voice hushed.

  "I think so," Yukari whispered back, squeezing his hand.

  They took a few steps closer, the soft crunch of leaves under their boots the only sound.

  "Mila," Bob called out gently. "You're here."

  Mila? Raito and Yukari exchanged startled looks.

  The woman turned around. It was indeed Mila. Her usual armor was gone, her fierce expression replaced by one of raw, open vulnerability. Fresh tears tracked through the dust on her face, and her eyes were red-rimmed.

  "Master," she said, quickly wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She stood up, smoothing her dress. "Sorry. I will leave now."

  She moved to pass them, her head down. Unlike usual, Bob didn't stop her. He didn't offer a joke or a command. He simply stepped aside, letting her go.

  Raito and Yukari watched her pass. They didn't say anything; they figured Bob would explain in his own time. But as Mila walked by, a flash of metal caught their eyes.

  On her right hand, adorning her ring finger, was a simple silver band. It was an odd sight; Mila, the warrior who lived for the sword, wearing a symbol of eternal commitment she had never worn in all their journeys together.

  Before long, Mila had left the clearing entirely, vanishing into the green shadows of the forest.

  "So," Bob asked, not turning around, his gaze fixed on the stones. "You two noticed the ring on her right hand?"

  Raito and Yukari nodded silently, stepping up beside him.

  "That silly girl," Bob murmured, a sad smile touching his lips. "She was supposed to be my daughter-in-law. But she would never stop calling me Master, hohoho." His laughter was quieter, hollower than usual.

  He stopped, taking a deep breath. He turned to the gravestones, then back to Raito and Yukari, his eyes shining with unshed tears.

  "So here we are," he said, gesturing to the three markers with a trembling hand. "They are my family."

  He pointed to the center stone. "Raito, Yukari... meet my lovely wife, Meri."

  He pointed to the one on the left. "My son, Rami."

  And finally, to the small stone on the right. "And my daughter, Layla."

  Bob sank to his knees in the dirt, bowing his head before the graves. He placed a hand on the cool stone of his wife's marker.

  "Sorry," he whispered to the stone. "This time I was a bit late. There was something that happened recently. But... I am back. I am here."

  He looked up at the two runaways standing behind him. "And here are the two kids who have been traveling with me. They remind me so much of you two."

  "Bob," Yukari said quietly, her heart aching with empathy for his loss. She stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder.

  Raito moved to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist.

  Raito and Yukari then moved forward quietly, kneeling next to Bob on the cool earth. They hugged him, their bodies pressing close to offer silent comfort, before turning to face the gravestones.

  "Hello, ma'am, and you two," Raito said, his voice respectful and soft. "Sorry we have to meet in this condition."

  "Bob has given us so much in our journey," Yukari said, tears glistening in her eyes as she looked at the names carved in stone. "He is the kindest, most generous person we know. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for him. We are eternally grateful for him."

  Bob's shoulders shook. "You two..." he choked out. "Thank you very much."

  Finally, he let go. The giant merchant, the pillar of strength and laughter, wept openly. He cried as much as he had been holding back for years, his grief pouring out in the safety of the clearing, with the two runaways acting as his support, holding him steady as the storm passed.

  Moments later, the sobs subsided into sniffles. Bob finally stopped, taking a deep, shuddering breath.

  "Thank you, again," he said, wiping his tears with his sleeve and giving them a watery smile.

  The two didn't say anything. No words were needed.

  "I have to admit," Bob said, his gaze drifting back to the graves. "Seeing Kaden... the culprit... being another father in grief, being used for a sliver hope of resurrecting his daughter... it really reminded me of myself."

  He clenched his fist, staring at the dirt. "I guess that is why I had to be there when Tanvir went to interrogate him."

  "But he is not you, Bob," Yukari said firmly, squeezing his shoulder. "He... he is long gone." She ended the comparison with finality.

  "I know," Bob whispered. "But somewhere deep inside, I know I feel like I could have turned out like him. There are part of me that can’t forgive myself."

  He looked up at them, his eyes serious. "You two... while we are here... will you two be willing to listen to my story?" Bob asked.

  "Go ahead…..," Raito said, his voice warm. "We're here for you, Bob."