HIDE

Inside of the wooden chest was completely dark. Kaya was clutching to Koutaro tightly. Both of them were completely silent before Koutaro spoke up in a whisper.

"Kaya-chan, you don't  have to worry. Okay? I am here with you." 

To which kaya whispered in tears,

"K..koutaro -nii  m-mom." 

Koutaro stopped her from further saying anything. And hugged her tightly. "Everything will be alright, kaya everything will be alright." he chanted that as a mantra in his mind.

Responding to Koutaro's hug, Kaya also hugged him back tightly. Silent tears falling from her eyes.

Time passed. Koutaro doesn't know how much but he can tell it's already quite late. He was wondering, why isn't Hitomi back yet. As they were inside the chest, they couldn't hear the screams outside.

After waiting for a long time, the door of the house burst open. And two figures entered the house. Koutaro instantly felt they were the shinobis who attacked the village.

He didn't make any sound and covered his and kaya's mouth with his hands.

Suddenly crashing sounds were heard. 

And a grumpy voice followed.

"F*ck! There ain't any shit in this house. A total waste of time."

"Yeah, this home doesn't have anything in here." another voice replied.

"Anyway, let's get outta here." 

After ruffling and shuffling the two figures left the house.

And back in the chest Koutaro's mind was in turmoil. 'If they are here, then hitomi san....' he was praying in his heart, so that the worst case scenario doesn't happen.