Chapter -3, Section - 1, Story - 1.

Tarao-The Beast

A genuinely brisk and unreasonably cold breeze, leading the way of a slenderly dry brown leaf, ends its unpredictable path by running into the prophecy child, present in the recumbent position in the shadow of a noble gnarled tree, standing rigidly opposite to Izumi’s Minka(traditional Japanese house).

“Hmm... mmm...”, cracking the silence, Haru breaks through his unconsciousness.

Coming to senses, sight transmuting from hazy to clear, falls on the alarming leaf, consecutively sliding to the familiar person, sitting with hands crossing behind the head, just next to him.

“Ohh... So, you woke up after all.

This is the second time, me watching you like that, accepting the fact, that last time was a more poor condition”, voice coming out to be of Mitsubi's, looking at Haru.

“Still making fun of me, huh...”, Haru pointed out while pushing his body to sit with his back on the tree.

“Yeah.... but still, you showed great courage”, motivated Haru, showed a warm smile.

“Huh...thanks for healing back there, if you weren’t had been there, I don’t think, I would have been alive till now”, Haru showed gratitude and respect for him.

“Nahhh... It wasn’t a big thing”, Mitsubi showing his chill nature, accepted the gratitude.

“By the way, where is the master”, Haru inquired with keen eyes.

“Master... well...

The scene goes back in time

Izumi carrying the “passed out Haru”, all the way finally reaches his home.

As soon as the sound of opening the door strikes the ears of Mitsubi meditating inside, he slides out to check on the interrupters, getting startled himself.

“What happened... Master? Is he alright”, Mitsubi queried.

“Huh... He is alright, just over-exhausted and drained from the training”, Izumi responded, while carrying Haru to his room.

Suddenly, a letter being pushed inside from underneath the gate attracts Mitsubi’s sight.
“Master, here is a letter”, Mitsubi passed the info.

 “A letter... wait, let me see”, Izumi swiftly slid to Mitsubi, after placing Haru in a futon.
“Here”, Mitsubi passed the letter while gazing into Izumi’s eyes.

“I have to go. It’s something urgent. Take care of Haru till then”, Izumi placing the trust, moves out.

The next morning, constrained with the daily routine of exercise and meditation, Mitsubi walks out of the house with Haru on his back.

Present

“So, that’s what happened”, Mistubi articulated.

“I have only been a burden to you both, nothing more. Whatever I do, I just end up needing help and becoming a hindrance, always...”, lamented Haru, as he dived in the bygone.

“Ohhh... There is one more fish that I got to hunt. I am thrilled... Guess devil lord is being too gracious today”, a brutal voice interjected the conversation.

“Now, who are you... ohhh shit....what the hell are you”, Mitsubi perplexed, as his sight slipped over him.

“Me...

A few days ago

A pair of men, covered in black, eyes disclosed, bowing down to their boss, resting on his throne, exhaling huge dark power, surrounded by striking darkness and empty space, inside of a prodigious hall with attractive engravings.

“Lord, those two are back but barely alive. They failed in their mission”, informing him, they shivered.

“They failed... huh... So, that boy is still alive”, he chided, clutching his throne in anger.

“Unfortunately, Yes sir”, sobbing inside, they uttered.

“Aaahhhh... slaughter those bastards and feed them to my wolves and bring “Tarao” to me... now...”, he exploded, pointing his bruised finger on them, somewhat visible in dim light.

“As you order, lord”, skidded out, through the barrier, enclosing the gate.

Time lapsed...

Tarao, a fearsome being, loaded with a visage as of a tiger with countless dried wound marks, weighed down by long grey beard, covering a lot of his orange-brownish barrel-chested body along with black strips, peeping out,

moving with fluid grace, thanks to the oversized paws grasping the thorn claws.

Resulting in a being with a tremendously powerful body of a tiger but the mind of a human, wearing a cape, passes the barriers, reaching the hall.

“Lord, you summoned me”, he went on, while bowing to him.

“Yes, Tarao... I want you to kill the prophecy boy, as soon as you get the chance. The required info will be provided by my men. But remember to look for Izumi”, he ordered and simultaneously prewarned him.

“Izumi, that first gate master. Maybe I’ll kill him too”, his killer intent flowed out through glittering and feline eyes.

“Just do what I say, he is not your cup of tea...”, he raged with a heavy voice.

“Hmm... okay. I’ll hunt him down”, leaves the place to begin his hunt.

Some moments later, a suspicious person solidifies in front of the throne.
“Lord, its time for your healing...”,...

Present...

“I am Tarao... and you are going to be my prey”, he boasted while roaring.

“First, you are disgusting and I don’t think that we are going to be your prey. So, get the hell out of here”, Mitsubi denounced, making fun of him.

The atmosphere turned turbulent as the clash was unpreventable. Though Haru wanted to stop, he started shaking.

“We will see, how much will you jeer after you’re dead”, he exploded and rushed towards them.

“Haru hides behind the tree, things are going to get messy”, he emphasized, pointing to the tree.

“Take care of yourself”, worriedness of Haru popped into words.

“Just watch, boy. I’ll end this soon”, full of himself, Mitsubi took the position.

Enormously forcing the ground, Tarao pounces with his right carnivorous incisors targeting Mitsubi’s chest.

Mitsubi, barely managing to stoop, the claw passes through the air.

“Man, that was close, You’re really fast. Guess I can’t take chances now”, Mitsubi exhaled the words
.
“And you have got some sharp reflexes”, Tarao calculating his next move.

“Yes.... the first gate open”, Mitsubi shouted aloud.

A symbol getting engrossed on his right arm, out of nowhere.

“The first gate, let’s start this then... First gate open”, Tarao forcing himself into it too, the symbol appears.

The next second, Mitsubi kicking the trees out of the ground, throwing on Tarao. But, using his beefy forelimbs, Tarao cuts through the trees.

Both of them advance physically, end up getting bruises and deep wounds, pouring blood out.

“Ahhhh... this is astonishing... I haven’t felt so bewildered before. You are actually something”, Tarao whooped, getting more and more intense.

“Yes... me too... Let’s take it to another level... Second gate open”, he throbs out loud, having swelled bruises and cuts.

“I like this... Second gate open”, Tarao’s insanity breaking the roof, he yells.
The next moment, both vanished, leaving no trace behind.

“What happened, where did they go”, Haru chuckled with anxiety.

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