2 - Zukafu Kami

A few days prior to events of Zukafu and Mary's confirmed relationship.

Toudou High had an assembly with its students as well as some high ranking officials visible as on the stage, Naoya and Luna were beginning their day at the school as its new students.

The headmaster said, "Attention all students as well as high ranking officials!" She then cleared her throat and continued "As you may have heard, the spirit warrior Yu Kami IS stepping down as he wishes to allow his children, who will also be attending this school, to grow and adapt to the dangers that they must face as the islands new guardians..."

Naoya and Luna stood there by their fathers side, appearing confident while composed.

The students mumured amongst one another, some happy about the students enrollment to their school while others were worried if they'll even do their jobs or not but then suddenly, a student raised their hand up, wanting to ask a question, even saying "I have a question that I wish to ask!"

Everyone looked in the students direction who had their hand up, revealing to be Mary Amano.

The headmaster then asked "By all means, please ask away."

Mary asked "I assume you two are also warriors like your father, most notably the moon and sun warriors respectively. But I had heard of a third warrior and I wanted to ask, what of them?"

Before the headmaster could reject answering the question, Yu stood up and gladly answered the question, "You make a valid point miss and to answer that, my child is already enrolled in this school but unlike my children, he will not be taking the responsibilities as guardian, that order coming from my end."

The students and even the officials were shocked and curious in their expressions to what Yu Kami had revealed.

Mary asked "May I ask why?"

To which Yu answered, "I'm afraid I cannot answer that question. And the reason for this is simple; Me and my son have agreed that there is no value in revealing who he is and that he wishes to reside among society as a ghost among the crowd... Surely you can respect this."

Mary and Yu stared at each other with intensity while everyone around them watched awkwardly. Mary then said, "Very well." Seeing no interest in wasting everyones time, "I have been given what I had asked, no need to push any further."

The assembly carried on as usual but this time with a very tense feeling that expanded from the students to the officials. At the front of the assembly, Zukafu stood at the right end, pretending to be paying attention.

Mary then suddenly open her eyes and she finds herself in a bed and in a room that she is not familiar with and in a house that she has never seen before. She got up and looked at the environment around her.

She then finds Zukafu who was resting on a futon in the living room. The home appeared like any normal house in the island but the house was built with strong wood and also appeared to be built by hand.

"Where the hell am I?" She asked herself, she then found her found on a wooden table and picked it up. She looked through her phone and found the time to be around 4:51 AM.

Suddenly, Zukafu woke up and this spooked Mary for unknown reasons and despite this, he didn't seem to care as he got up and made himself breakfast.

Now woken up, Mary asked him "What is this place?"

To which Zukafu answered bluntly "Our house..." Zukafu struggled to keep his eyes open as they began to open and close simultaniously. He looked at her and asked "Want breakfast?"

Mary answered "Uh... Yeah sure." She then sat down at the table and after a couple of minutes, Zukafu handed her plate of eggs, sausages and waffles. She said to him, "Thank you."

Zukafu responded "Don't mention it." Sounding very slothish in tone. He then grabbed his plate and sat opposite to where she sat and ate his breakfast.

He immediately noticed how Mary appeared unsettled to which he said, "Don't worry, its not anything bad, its actual chicken egg, chicken-based sausages and human waffles."

Mary responded, "Thank you- I mean, its not that, its just..." Mary began to mumble as she wasn't referring to the breakfast.

"I know it isn't..." said Zukafu, "You're unsettled about where you are... must have experienced temporary memory loss. Thankfully its Sunday so you should rest a bit more, it'll help jog your memory."

Mary nodded her head and answered, "Maybe I should."

"Eat it before it gets cold." Said Zukafu, referring to the breakfast.

Mary stared at her breakfast and proceeded to eat it and after that, she laid down on the bed that she woke up while she stared at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts. She then closed her eyes and drifted her mind elsewhere.

She began remember what happened after she had told Zukafu about them becoming a couple.

Zukafu said "You have got to be kidding me!" In a annoyed manner.

Mary then commented "I'm afraid you'll have to get use to it. Your father believes that your mindset is not in the right-"

But suddenly, Zukafu interrupted her, saying "That's not true Mary!" Mary stopped talking, her expression showing that she was indeed lying to him, he then continued "My father is aware of my situation and has allowed me to be this way. Now..."

Zukafu then rolled up the sheet of paper and handed it back to Mary before walking away. Mary went after him, saying "But you could do so much more if you-"

Zukafu stopped and sharply turned around, facing her with a stern expression, which frightened Mary. He said to her "Lets make something clear Mary! My brother and sister fight for the island because of their goodwill and see no issue in showing their faces to others but I am different, I do not care for the recognition, I do not care for the people and I certainly DO NOT CARE about my heritage... For all they know, I am nothing but a threat to them with what I have been given and I choose to assist the island in the way that I WISH to do it."

Zukafu then handed her a dagger before saying "This conversation is over!" As he turned around and walked away. Mary looked at the dagger, realising that it was a prop, as she was left upset by Zukafu's words.

Zukafu then stopped in his tracks and turned to Mary and said, "Well are you coming or not?"

Mary was puzzled by this but this bewilderment changed to anger as she splurted out "Why do you care?"

Zukafu sighed and answered "Because I'd rather not be a bad partner." This leaving Mary surprised. "Just because I do not approve of this, doesn't mean that I should be neglectful."

Without a second to think, Mary walked closer to Zukafu. He reached his hand out for her to hold to which Mary does hold his hand and together, they leave the school building.

Coming back from the flashback, Mary could hear Zukafu's voice calling out to her. She got up and went outside where she was blown away by the beautiful grassy fields along with a ginourmous tree at the far distance.

There was also a massive river to her left and on her right was a farm where Zukafu was. Upon seeing her, he waved in her direction and signalling her to come and help her out.