Chapter 17

Chapter 14

Next day..... In the mountains

A tire came down with full speed towards me. I looked at it and extended my hand.

WHUPPPPP....

I stopped the tire from moving forward.

" Shhhhhhhhhhhhh" I let out some steam from my mouth.

" You definitely..... Have become stronger"

The guardian spirit said.

" You think so? Well it does look like my defense has improved. I can now stop the tires from blowing me away."

I picked up my stuff and handed a bowl of cornflakes to the guardian spirit.

" What....is this?" The spirit asked.

" A token of gratitude."

" Hmm....not sure what it is...."

" Well it's a type of food I like the most. You put it in milk and wait until it softens. Oh oh and you're supposed to put the cornflakes first, then the milk."

" Try it" I gave the bowl.

The spirit stared at the bowl for a moment and then held it.

" Well then....thank you....for the food."

It lifted it's veil and it's face started shining a ghastly white color. It's eyes weren't colored but you could see the outline of the eyes. It opened it's mouth wide and swallowed down the whole thing.

" Uh....you're not supposed to eat the bowl though...." I shrugged as I saw it gulp down the whole thing, " How was it??"

" Hmm....we spirits do not have....the taste sense.....But we do understand....how much feelings....are put in.....an offering."

" Oh.... I think that's much better than taste. Wish humans had that, the world would've probably turned into a better place." I wanted the bowl back, but it would be rude to make the spirit vomit it out. And who knows what else would come out.

" Well then....Good luck to....you. If you die.... we'll still be.....friends in the.... afterlife." The spirit smiled.

I laughed and said

" You gotta wait a little longer then, I plan on dying at the age of 100 or something."

I picked up my bag and went downhill. Getting lost in the mountains was a very common thing. But I've memorized the whole terrain by touching the trees, the rocks and the mud. Every area has a different feeling.

Tomorrow was going to be a full moon. Again it made me want to live outside with just a bed and cornflakes. I was looking around at the stillness of the mountain forest and suddenly, I saw something at the back of my eye. I turned immediately to find out what it was.

The figure's shadow loomed over the ground because of the moon. It was a bit far from me. Was it the guardian spirit? No, it was a bit short. There haven't been many people here in years. I wanted to see who the person was and then suddenly, it turned it's face towards me. The person was wearing a hood over its head. The moment we met eyes, the person hid behind a tree.

" Whoever it is that is standing there, it's best not to wander here at night. There aren't many nice rumors about this place. Leave for your own good." I said it aloud.

"Thank you for the warning. I'll be careful." It was a woman's voice. She stood behind the tree without moving. Maybe she wanted me to go. So I continued my path down.

Long time ago, there used to be a garden here, at the edge of the forest. A manager of a coffee shop used to come here a lot. It turned out to be his garden. He came to me and said the same thing one night. He was a cheerful man and always had some jokes on him. He was kind enough to treat me to some chocolate milk once.

Let's go back in time. The day Sugawara beat up three guys in a convenience store.

" Aaaaaggghhh???? Which fu**ing bastard gave you that injury??" Yelled the older brother Hayato who was smoking.

" I don't know who it was big brother, but he beat us up for no reason." The younger brother who got beat up by Sugawara (Yamagata)

" Yeah yeah! He beat us up for no reason!" Said the lackeys who were with Yamagata that day.

" How dare he beat up my younger brother! I will never allow this!! Not in the name of the 'Black Panthers'!!" Hayato looked at his fifty men gang and all of them were ready.

" But boss....he was able to defeat Narukami!" Akihito said ( Narukami's former subordinate).

" Who's this guy?" Hayato asked.

" He's the new member named Akihito that joined few days ago boss."

" Heh, Narukami was beaten? He might've cheated. Was there anyone else who was with him?"

" Ah yes.... A girl named Makino and a short guy Keisuke." Akihito replied.

" K-Keisuke???!!!!! Was he short and like a joyful guy???" Hayato took out his cigarette from his mouth and leaned forward in shock.

" Y-yeah how do you know B-Boss?" Akihito asked.

Suddenly the mood changed and everyone started grinning. Then suddenly Hayato burst out laughing

" Hahahaha....so he's here...." He crushed the cigarette and everyone started laughing louder. Akihito got scared and asked

" What's going on???!"

" You said your name was Akihito right?....I offer my thanks to you. Because of that bastard Keisuke, I had to spend six months in the juvenile. It's time he paid back for what he did." He laughed.

" Yes!! Yes!! That fool Sugawara did something to his younger brother. Who would've thought that he'd get involved with a large gang!! And Keisuke....Well good luck....You were kinda annoying and stupid, what made Boss Hayato get angry at you? Well, we'll leave things be and I'll go take back my respect." Akihito grinned at his thoughts.

Suddenly, the door of the hideout opened. No one noticed but someone came inside, the person had a white robe. He had something on his waist and when Akihito looked closer, he fell down. What he looked at was a real sword.

" Boss.... someone's here...." Akihito muttered.

" Hayato, I heard everything." The man in the white robe spoke.

Hayato looked at him and got up from his seat. He bowed in respect and everyone was confused.

" Oye everyone!!! Bow your head!!" Hayato yelled at them.

Everyone looked here and there confused and then bowed down.

" How may I be of help today? White reaper?" Hayato shivered.

" The man named Sugawara....Don't touch that man." The man in the white robe spoke.

" But....he disrespected out gan-" The younger brother Yamagata got interrupted by his big brother Hayato.

" Shut up you idiot!!" Hayato yelled at his brother, "Please continue" He looked at the so called white reaper.

" Sugawara is my prey. You may do as you please to the one named Keisuke. But be careful not to incur the wrath of Sugawara."

" Is....Is this man Sugawara that big of a deal?" Hayato asked.

" Big deal? Is sending 5 policemen, 2 security guards and a teacher to the hospital a big deal at the age of 12?"

Everyone was astonished at what they heard.

They all started murmuring and in the midst of it, the white reaper left.

" Big brother!! Why did you stop me and who is that man??!!"

" That man is a very terrifying person. He might look weak but he could cut you in half with just a light swing with that sword. Foolish brother, don't do anything to that Sugawara. The white reaper himself said that he'll take care of him. You don't need to get involved."

Yamagata was frustrated and angry because he won't be able to land a blow on Sugawara anymore. Then he remembered a small group of people who did dirty work for some cash. They had no name and their meetings were top secret.

"Heh, big brother is just scared. I'm not scared of that white reaper guy. Big brother Hayato isn't the only person I can rely on." Yamagata put on an evil smile as he plotted a perfect death for Sugawara.