Sewn mouth, now separated from Minosashi, carved his path toward the mountain of Odake. His childhood home, the village of Dark Shadow Assassins. The place, where it all started...
"hmph... I believe the cave is right here..." he thought. Examining the stony mountain until he found it. The symbol of his village. A red snake, combined with an I, carved in the forehead of a crow.
He pushed the mark with his index finger. The stone, slowly moved in, and the hidden cave doors were opened before him.
"Been a long time... My home..." he whispered.
Sewn mouth slowly walked inside, examining the area after years of absence. Glancing at the spiders who have created webs everywhere on the entrance. One black spider, was weaving its web. Sewn mouth slowly raised his hand, touching his lips the cursed string.
Sewn mouth : how cruel... A simple spider, weaving it's home, reminding me of that night...
He walked deeper in the cave. His crimson eyes, allowing him for sight in the dark. His palm traced the drawings on the wall.
"I remember these paintings... Symbols of crow and their assassinations..."
He then glanced at the ground. Brushing it gently as if tasting the past itself. The smell of stone and fresh water in the cave brought him back to memories...
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"This was when I lost them... She just handed me to the elder... And my father held the half drakes back. My mom... She also died outside. Alongside father..." he clinched his fist in anger and shame.
"they were... Doctors. Yeah I remember it now... That was the reason they took me in... My father helped them to survive a plague in the village..." a faint smile spread across his face.
"I was seven back then..." he said quietly.
"My family were not warriors... They were weak... That is why I lost them... But their heart... It was vast... An endless ocean of love. Not for me... But the whole world..."
"My father thought he can bring peace to the world. Saying his magic would end wars... What a fragile, yet beautiful wish..."
He walked along, slowly, the light in the cave became brighter and caught his glance.
"finally... The village of Shadow Assassins..."
Sewn mouth stepped out of the cave into the light. His eyes were filled with tears as he saw his village. Kids playing, ninjas training on the rooftops of different houses, and then, he saw the elder of their clan, Odachi.
Sewn mouth couldn't hold back his smile through the curse. His lips started to bleed out heavily, though he didn't care.
Sewn mouth : Odachi sama!...
The moment he raised his hand to claw at the illusion, his body collapsed down in pain. His whole body trembled as he vomited blood on the ground, clutching his chest with his claws as if his heart was rotting from within. His crimson eyes wide open through the suffering of his curse and his mouth was opening and closing in fear and pain, gasping for air. His blade fell on the ground from his hand as he held back his scream of agony to not be punished more. His teeth seemed to crush each other under the weight of his pressure on them.
He slowly raised up, though his body was still trembling. Not yet recovered from the suffering that he endured in a second.
His eyes glanced at the destroyed village and ruin in front of him.
"yes... I remember... It is my work... I'm not allowed to... See it beautiful..." he murmured to himself.
He glanced up, seeing two shadows pass by.
His expressions harden as he lifts up his blade.
"show yourself..." his voice was cold and sharp. Though his knees and grip were still trembling.
Two young assassins came out of the shadows, standing in front of him. Both having their daggers unsheathed.
The girl : who are you?
The boy beside her continued : why are you here?
Sewn mouth examined them both, then a faint smile appeared on his face.
The girl : when the dagger goes on your throat you won't dare...
Sewn mouth : Mitsuri... Why so harsh?
They both stood frozen in their place.
Mitsuri : H-How do you...
Tao : wait Mitsuri... I know him! You are...!
Se wn mouth cut his words : the grim reaper of dark. Yes Tao. I am...

