Needle Village

'Now that I'm taking a closer look…this place is vaguely familiar. A bunch of spikes are poking out of the huts.'

???: "Shohei? SHOHEI! You're alive!" a young voice rings out from behind some of the rubble. A small dirty child around five years old comes around the corner yelling a name I'm unfamiliar with.

'Oh, I think he's talking to me. Is Shohei my new name?'

???: "Shohei are you okay? You're bleeding from your head!"

Having said that, I move my arm onto my forehead and feel the semi dried blood sticking to my long hair.

'Ah'

???: "Don't just ah me! We need to get you treated. Everyone was more prepared for the attack so we all were able to hide somewhat…" He said nervously looking around, taking my hand.

"Come on! Just up ahead" He continued.

The boy soon pulls me over across the village to a semi destroyed stable building. Inside, we see a man sitting in the corner semi hiding behind the hay.

Noticing us, he pokes his head out, "Ryoku! What are you doing outside!? You know it's still not light out. We don't know if it's safe." Yelled the man in a snuffed voice to prevent himself from getting too loud.

Ryoku: "Sorry Teiji-ji-san! But look, I found Shohei!"

'Ryoku? That name….belonged to a side antagonist in black✰star's uncanny sword arc. I believe this arc was a decent power up for him and his partner and weapon, Tsubaki.'

Teiji : "You found Shohei?" He looked behind Ryoku to see me standing behind him. Guess the dimness of the night makes it hard for him to see. I can see clearly though.

"Good lad! Bring him down with the others." said Teiji as he pulled a hidden door on the ground, revealing a ladder that went down a little ways.

My guide immediately pulled me down the ladder into a small dwelling area with small pathways that are slightly wider than a regular man. Interesting. This will make it hard for more than one person to go at a time, a good way to fight off enemies.

'Enemies which they…we seem to have. I can't exclude myself now. I live in this world.'

Soon we reach a common area with a lot of villagers hugging it out and crying. Some are off to the side with wounds and some are in the fetal position with lost eyes.

???: "Ryoku! Shohei! You made it!" an exasperated voice ran over.

Ryoku: "Hm? Chief, where are mom and dad?"

The boy looked around in abject fear. The villagers seem to have noticed the commotion too.

The 'chief' was a bald elderly man with a green sweater and dark blue jeans. He came running and soon stopped in front of Ryoku, giving him a deep hug. The silence and the background weeping answered the boy's question.

Ryoku: "N-no..it can't be! Please Chief! Tell me they aren't-"

Chief: " I'm sorry, Ryoku. The star clan came to our village after all. We made all the preparations we thought we could because they've been attacking villages nearby but it wasn't enough!" the chief screamed at the end. His tears are now falling down his face.

"Not everyone was near the safe house. You were lucky to have been leaving Shohei's house. If you weren't there…" his voice trailed off.

Ryoku: "N-no way…But! Shohei was hurt too! How about aunt and uncle Endo?"

While holding a firm grasp on Ryoku, the village elder looked at me silently with visible pain in his eyes.

'I'm starting to get a better understanding of the situation. This is indeed Needle Village. My name is Shohei. Shohei Endo. And Ryoku is my friend. He survived by leaving my house, but in canon, there was never a character by the name Shohei. Meaning originally, this kid died. My soul must have taken his place.'

Ryoku: "Awaahhhh!"

Soon Ryoku's knees hit the ground and his tears sprinkle the ground along with the chiefs. Their grief revealed the mood of the village as a whole as only wails of anguish could be heard.

Even me…I felt a small pang of pain in my heart hearing my body's parents are no longer in this world. A small tear leaked out of my eyes even though I myself have no memory of them. Putting my hands together, I prayed a small prayer in their memory.

'May your passing away have been painless, and God have mercy on your souls'.

__

The laughing sun soon shines upon us. Ringing in its hollowed deep voice.

Ryoku doesn't feel like doing much but I'm helping the other villagers with cleaning up. I'd be alright helping with the bodies of the people who've passed but nobody wants me or the only other child here, Ryoku, to go near those bodies.

While the bodies are being burried and the damage is being repaired, some take time out of their day to pray to a strange deity that's been erected in the middle of the village.

It has four spikes shooting out of a circle in the middle, making an X shape. A crescent moon is drawn over the base whole circle with two hollow points to represent its eyes. This must represent the Sun and Moon cycles.

Looking down I see a small puddle still remaining from the rain last night. Stepping forward I take a look at my appearance.

I'm slim and pale with spiral golden eyes. My gaze is sharp and emotionless. Thin eyebrows accessorizing my incredibly cute baby face, long black hair that is tied up to a ponytail and bangs that pass my chin, covering parts of an emotionless face.

'I think I'm the same age as Ryoku, so around five years old. I resemble a young Hyakkimaru from Dororo. Guess my emotionless face is a side effect of my -Calm State- but I remember the voice from the void saying "I can enter or stay" in said state. Perhaps, with training, I can learn to turn it on and off. Though I'm glad it's on right now…'

Looking around the village that is currently being repaired and everyone's somber mood, I can't help but contemplate what the future has in store for me.