In the middle of the night, the Chief had finally returned with a heavy step. His face flushed with spite, he slowly removed his armor in the dark, silently venting his anger. He dropped onto the small bench, his head in his hands. Feeling watched, he spread his fingers to see two small amethysts, not daring to approach, on the landing. With a wave of his hand, he invited Tsukinoko to enter, and she knelt gently at his feet. A deep sigh swelled the wet beads at the corners of his eyes, which disappeared as he raised his head to the ceiling. He placed a hand tenderly on his disciple's tousled hair.

  - Hebimaru managed to escape," he said softly.

  Tsukinoko's eyes widen but he continues.

  - Unfortunately... he sighs, the Chief is supposed to be blameless, but I do have a weakness. I was determined to stop him, and I could have, but apparently I'm incapable of killing one of my students. And he took advantage of this weakness to escape.

  Tsukinoko bowed her head gravely, perplexed by his confession, for he should have remedied the danger, whatever the cost, but she could only sympathize with him.

  - The agents tried to arrest him afterwards, but I was the only one capable of doing so. Hebimaru is now a deserter, and brigades will set out immediately to find him and make him answer for his crimes.

  - What was he doing there?

  - We don't really know what the experiments are for.

  - But on humans?

  - It's late, dear, go back to sleep.

  - It's not even midnight, Jījī," she mumbles. And you've been calling me my little one since the beginning of this story, you only do that when you're worried.

  He laughs softly, picks up his hand, then sighs heavily.

  - From an early age, Hebimaru established himself as a prodigy. His talents, knowledge and determination were worthy of those rare prodigies seen only once in a century. He was the most promising of the trio; his genius would have been a major asset to the village. Even so, I noticed his ambition and unhealthy desire for power.

  - What's next?

  - I'll be fine, I'm lucky enough to have another little prodigy with me, hopefully I won't make the same mistakes. Let's get some sleep.

  - Huh?" she wonders. No, I mean-

  - I have to get the brigades together to find Hebimaru as soon as possible, don't argue.

  Tsukinoko, bitter towards Hebimaru, hatched various plans to find him and make him pay. Curled up in the sheets, she waited for Haruo to go to bed before going on the hunt, but he came out dressed and left without making a sound.

  With an even more discreet step, she followed him to his office, where he received a few agents, including the gray-haired one, wounded after trying to arrest Hebimaru.

  Spinning had resumed, right down to the last basements away from the Residence, gloomy, dark burrows into which it rushed through conduits that intertwined with Hanamaru's foundations. Finally, a building named "Colony Reserve", which blended into the cave. The Chief assembles his secret agents on the steps, accompanied by Sagi.

  - This urgent summons concerns the fugitive Hebimaru. We must apprehend him quickly. According to our information, Hebimaru is seriously injured. Given his condition, fleeing the Land of the Sun will be very difficult for him. Listen carefully. Hebimaru's knowledge, information and spells are invaluable to Hanamaru. If possible, try to capture him alive. But if he ever leaves the Land of the Sun, Hanamaru's very existence will be in jeopardy. Dismissed!

  They all surfaced without delay. Tsukinoko could still vaguely sense Hebimaru's trail, so she too had a chance of catching up with him, especially as the agent in her office earlier had indicated the route Hebimaru had taken in his escape. As she straightened up once they'd all gone, she suddenly felt Sagi glaring at her.

  - What will you do if you find it?

  - Bring him back here, as Jījī said.

  - The Chief didn't dare ask for Hebimaru to be put to death because he's still too attached to his disciple. You've noticed this, haven't you? He wants to bring this dangerous criminal back to Hanamaru and surely acquit him of his crimes. That's why he asked to capture him alive," concludes Sagi.

  - What?

  - I'm going to entrust you with a mission he didn't dare entrust to his agents. I have sent one of my men to prepare an ambush for Hebimaru. You are to find him and guide him to this place, fending off the other agents who will blindly try to bring him back to Hanamaru, and then the agent on the spot will eliminate him. The Chief can sometimes be wrong, Tsukinoko," he said, surprised, "but as an advisor, I never lose sight of what's most important. Do you think that bringing him here will keep the village safe?

  - No, but if-

  - If you succeed in this mission, I'll promote you directly to special agent. You'll be safe with me. You're more than capable, my child," he smiles.

  Unable to deny the soundness of her reasoning, after witnessing the Chief's condition earlier in the evening, doubt seized her. She took a deep breath and resolved, ready to do anything for Hanamaru's safety.

  - How can I recognize your agent?

  - Well. He masters a unique element, and he has a mask with green and red features. The location is on the southern border of the country.

  Tsukinoko takes off but a hand rests on her shoulder to hold her back, and she turns, grimacing at Haruo.

  - You're not going anywhere. She's not Special Forces, Sagi.

  - She should," he said, turning on his heel. She's already much more discreet than your agents, who hadn't noticed her. She's been here the whole time," he says arrogantly and implicitly.

  Forced back into the Chief's apartments, Tsukinoko rushed to her closet as soon as the door closed behind her. A discreet black samue on her back and her sabers in hand, she lurked in bed until Ren fell asleep beside her, then slipped away into the courtyard of the Residence.

  The building was swarming with soldiers, security had been tightened and she was waiting for the right moment to escape. As an agent turned into the corridor outside, she took a step but stepped on a piece of cloth, wrapped around an all-white mask.

  Hesitating to disobey, but unable to do anything, she donned the mask and disappeared into the night, anonymous.

  Thanks to her aura, Tsukinoko spotted the agents around her and diverted her course. Yukihyō and Pansa were called to the rescue once they arrived at the scene of the battle with the agent. The panthers retained Hebimaru's scent thanks to the blood from his wound.

  Hours passed and then day broke, and Yukihyō sensed ninja dogs scouring the area, closer and closer behind them. Certain that they had reached their goal, they hastened their pursuit. A few minutes later, Tsukinoko spotted the criminal in the distance, staggering between the trees. She approached slowly, hesitantly, but Hebimaru immediately turned around. His presence chilled her blood.

  - Sagi sent me to escort you to the shelter. Hurry up, there are dozens of agents after you," she says curtly, not daring to attack him head-on.

  Hebimaru hesitated, then finally climbed on top of Pansa, who had feigned helplessly under the unhealthy weight. Crouching over Yukihyō, galloping ahead, Hebimaru's insistent gaze pierced the back of her neck. Yukihyō finally spotted a scent that would match Sagi's agent, close to a gigantic tree.

  The felines waited outside while Tsukinoko followed Hebimaru into the gutted tree, but with a poignant look, he ordered her to stay there. Minutes passed and Hebimaru's presence was still felt, accompanied by others.

  Anxious that he'd escaped her, Tsukinoko was about to enter when a girl jostled her as she raced into the cave, before disappearing into the smoke of the tunnel. Tsukinoko rubs her eyes, thinking she's seen wrong, before dashing forward.

  At the end of the tunnel, bodies lay lifeless in a huge room, scattered around Hebimaru and this girl, who looked terrified.

  - Come here," Hebimaru said impatiently. Your blood is mine.

  Hebimaru strides menacingly after her, but Tsukinoko leaps to guard her.

  - Your role ends here," exclaims Hebimaru. What happens next doesn't concern you.

  The girl flees without delay, but Hebimaru is repelled by a violent kick from Tsukinoko. In one motion, her arms melt into her body and her legs lengthen, her body becoming even more viscous.

  The room filled with his putrid essence, now a snake standing in front of Tsukinoko. She looked up, petrified, but unable to move. Her swords fell at her feet, her whole body trembling. Caught in her spell, Hebimaru moved dangerously close to wrap herself around her prey.

  - Sagi, is he afraid of Master Sato?" he laughs, whistling into his neck. Or maybe he should be careful which agents he entrusts his missions to. His little field mice aren't fit yet, just ready to be eaten alive.

  His arm detaches itself from his body, tearing off the still new scales. He pulls off Tsukinoko's mask, staining it with the blood of his wound. With slender fingers, he lifts Tsukinoko's chin to lick her cheek, reveling in the essence that made her pupils crackle.

  The few seconds seemed like hours, before Hebimaru handed over his mask, having obtained no answer as to his identity.

  - I've never felt an essence like yours before. Sagi won't mind if I borrow one of his agents, given the fiasco he showed instead of following the plan.

  - The plan?" she mumbles.

  - You're going to die, so why not tell you the truth," he continues. It's all to his advantage if Sagi had to get me out of the Land of the Sun safely, you see. Let's just say he's benefited from my experiments too.

  Hebimaru clasped his hands together and body stretched to undulate in the air, before charging at Tsukinoko with his mouth wide open and his reptilian canines forward. The girl, wallowing against the rocks, screamed in terror as she implored him to spare her.

  A section of the cave collapses and a blade gleams in the daylight before whirling straight at the snake man. The latter crawls away through a gallery, leaving Tsukinoko pinned to the spot.

  The gray-haired agent, who arrives in time, frees her from the spell, and the second, the recommended one, sets off to save the girl. Instead of thanking him, Tsukinoko pushes him away and runs off, harassing him with questions.

  - Is your partner the agent with the red and green mask?

  - He's not my partner, but he's my partner, why? Who are you? Your mask is blank... Wait! Wait! Wait!

  Suspecting her of having stolen it, he stops suddenly to tear off her mask and immediately recognizes Tsukinoko.

  - I thought it was you," he frowned. Go back to Hanamaru at once, and forget this story. You don't belong here!

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  - Hebimaru must be eliminated, not brought back to Hanamaru!

  - It's not your problem, go away! Sagi deceived you. Hebimaru is dangerous, you're in danger here!

  Just as she's about to retaliate, they hear the girl screaming in terror deep inside the galleries, and she takes advantage of her distraction to flee.

  The agent then joins his colleague and they decide to split up to find the fugitive. For her part, Tsukinoko emanates her aura and locates him in a room deeper underground. Lost in the corridors following his trail, she stops at the junction of three galleries. Mist gathered at her feet, before dissipating towards one of the galleries, where she finally heard some noise. At the far end, yet another room with a thick rock in the middle, its top rising above the cave ceiling.

  The girl was there, in a shambles, behind the agents facing Hebimaru who were trying to stand up to him. The ceiling of the cave was beginning to collapse as a result of the fighting, threatening to crush them.

  Instead of defending himself, Hebimaru fled up a hollow root. Without hesitation, Tsukinoko ran right up the wall while the agents were at the girl's bedside. In the hollow root, a landslide blocked the way. On top of the rubble, Tsukinoko knocked over rocks to make her way, as best she could.

  - Hey you, it's no use!" shouts the agent downstairs. Hebimaru managed to escape, it's too late. Besides, I'd be surprised if the Chief had ordered you to arrest him, since you're not a special agent.

  - Get out of my way! I've got to stop him! If nobody stops him, then I will," she shouts, continuing to push a rock. I've got to do it for all those children! For J?net! For those people on the island...

  Tears welling up in her eyes as she thinks back to the laboratories, the viscera in jars, the wide eyes empty of life that must have been in hell before they died, hatred seizes her and gives her strength to lift the rocks in the passageway.

  At last, a crack opens up, revealing the rest of the buried gallery. The sweat on her brow drips into the dust and she catches her breath for a moment. She climbs down from the rubble, then whistles for a long time, and the Colony raises an eyebrow, wondering what's got into her.

  Yukihyō suddenly jumps up beside them, discreet. He sniffs the air under their watchful gaze but lowers his head to signify his failure.

  - You two haven't done anything but chase after that girl!" she shouts distraughtly at the Colony. You're the Colony, so why aren't you out looking for her, huh?! Incapable!

  - Listen, you should never have found out about this," he says gently. This job goes back to the Colony, you must be traumatized after what you've been through but-

  She pushes him back violently with a kick to the liver. Without seeing it coming, he crashes into the rubble and she speeds off on Yukihyō's back. Finally out of the cave, they raced towards Hanamaru as she replayed the events.

  Why would the Chief work with Sagi, who seemed so corrupt, working with a criminal? Disgust, disobedience, the failure of Hebimaru's capture, all mixed up inside her, but one thing was certain, nothing cheerful awaited her at Hanamaru after all that. Perhaps the time had come to flee, to seek out her parents, before it was too late. Lost in her thoughts, a presence behind her drew her attention. The agent was in her footsteps, and Yukihyō turned abruptly to feint at him.

  - We need to talk. I want you to know that it's no coincidence that your existence is kept so discreet in Hanamaru.

  - Huh?

  - The Chief hides you behind him because he's forced to by the Council. They don't trust you and won't hesitate to use the first excuse to make you disappear. And I'll be forced to do the same if you continue to be stubborn. You're nothing in the eyes of the village, this story is far more important than you, so don't force my hand because you won't win. And if you don't want the Council to get more arguments against you, listen to what I have to say.

  Tsukinoko frowned, hurt beyond belief and disgusted. Yukihyō grunted too, disillusioned with her words. Tsukinoko believed she was here to protect the village, a village that apparently didn't want her and would even come to trap her to get rid of her.

  - I'm entrusting all this to you for your safety. You're putting yourself in danger by doing this kind of thing. Trust me on this. And Sagi didn't tell you the whole truth. He sent the agent to help Hebimaru.

  He paused as she stared at him blankly, betrayal evident in her eyes.

  - I'll cover you so you can rest easy, if you promise never to talk about what you've seen. Come, I'll escort you to Hanamaru.

  Without deigning to look at him, they set off again with Yukihyō, but he walked behind them, obstinate.

  - If you talk about the other agent, you risk endangering him, and that girl too.

  Tsukinoko thought for a second. Sagi hadn't seemed hostile towards Hanamaru, but she understood that he would do anything to get his way.

  - What will you tell Jījī to cover for me?

  - That you followed me to find Hebimaru, saying you had his approval.

  - Huh?" she exclaims. You're covering up for Sagi, not me!

  - Trust me.

  - Leave me alone!" she snaps. I'll manage. I don't need your help, I can manage without you.

  - You mustn't talk about what happened, otherwise I'll be-

  - I hear voices," she says sarcastically. A sort of shrill, pretentious voice. She thinks I've seen things, like a cave hidden in a tree, but nothing's happened, has it?

  - I didn't see anything," growls Yukihyō before disappearing with her into the forest.

  In Hanamaru's secret archives, the security system had been deactivated. The soldiers on guard were on alert and the special services were called in to investigate. On the other side of the village, the open French window of Tsukinoko's apartment on the top floor of the building revealed a number of swords, a blank mask and a crammed pouch hastily deposited on the sofa.

  With pajamas on her back, soft slippers on her feet and hot tea in her hands, Tsukinoko turned on the light in her living room, but a man standing in the room startled her. The cup shattered into a thousand pieces at her feet, but she didn't dare pick it up. The Chief was there, the blank mask in his hands.

  - I expect an explanation," he orders, eyebrows furrowed. I forbade you to go looking for him. Fortunately, my agent was there to prevent Hebimaru from getting hold of you," he said, rubbing the blood of his disciple off the mask.

  Tsukinoko was reluctant to admit the truth about Sagi's actions, beginning to doubt her sensei. The Chief snapped the mask in half. Vexed that she wasn't being taken seriously, she emanated her aura threateningly in front of him, her gaze blazing.

  - You're not a Colony agent, Tsukinoko," he insists.

  - Why did you ask us to take him back to Hanamaru?" she says dryly. He's dangerous, and you want to keep him here?! You saw what he did to the children, and to J?net! she shouts.

  - Yes," he said calmly, "I know. Hebimaru must be judged, and by being free in the wild, he represents a threat to the land of the sun, which is why he should have stayed here.

  - Why didn't you ask us to get rid of it?!

  - There is no 'we'," he scolds. You're in no position to question the Chief's authority or decisions.

  - Good night," she orders, pointing outside. I'm so tired.

  - We'll discuss this tomorrow at our leisure," he resigns himself. I'll wait for you in my office first thing in the morning.

  Just as he was about to step outside after Tsukinoko had turned off the living room light, the two Colony agents jumped in front of him, the gray-haired one with his usual partner, and addressed the Chief in hushed tones.

  - Chief, the person who broke into the basement archives only stole all the files concerning Hebimaru. We've finished the inventory.

  - If Hebimaru or one of his spies is behind this theft, then they may still be in Hanamaru, or in the Land of the Sun. We must close all exits!

  Tsukinoko had discreetly hidden the bag behind her back as she backed away. In the dark, she bumped into the coffee table and dropped the bag, which let out a thud of documents. Illuminated by the night light, the agent sees her, followed by the Chief, who frowns.

  The atmosphere in the room grew heavier and Tsukinoko tensed, ready to retaliate. The agents rush at her without warning, one holding her hands behind her back while the other empties the contents of the bag onto the floor. Scrolls, confidential files and dozens of photos of Hebimaru's victims littered the floor, along with her own sketches.

  - Explain yourself," says the Chief, closing the window.

  - It's your fault!" she snaps. You're not being clear, all of you! I just want to find Hebimaru and get rid of him once and for all!

  - Do you have any idea what you've done, breaking into confidential sections to steal classified documents, disobeying the Chief and-

  - So what?! At least I'm doing something! she shouts. Your secret agents suck, they're incompetents, and you're no better! You're working with Hebimaru and his spies, Sagi's lying! You're all a danger to Hanamaru! You're his master, so why has Hebimaru become like this? Huh?! You want me to become like him?! I'll never become a criminal! I don't care if you're the Boss, it's Hanamaru I'm protecting! Not your schemes!

  Betraying his mother's last wishes was out of the question. Tsukinoko held her ground, and he lowered his head to take a deep breath.

  - Put the documents back where they belong, then dispose of them," he orders his agents. This matter is now closed, Hebimaru is out of the country.

  - What?! she rages.

  An aura invaded the room and the agents leapt out onto the terrace, while Haruo stood still, facing his disciple. The aura enveloped him.

  Fists clenched, she glanced at her sabers on the couch, ready for anything, until he let out a semblance of relief.

  - I've asked you to leave," he tells them again. I'll take care of the rest. It's my duty not to make the same mistakes. Tsukinoko is right, I have full responsibility in this matter, since Hebimaru was my pupil. However, Tsukinoko is my disciple today, and if I don't want another one of my students to end up with an execution notice on his head, I must settle the matter, my responsibility.

  Puzzled, the agents disappear with the documents and the two of them find themselves together, Tsukinoko still with the purplish aura that threatened him. He finally calms her down and invites her to sit down in front of him.

  - So you'd be willing to take on your Sensei for the good of the village?

  She was surprised by his question, but recovered herself and nodded, frowning.

  - I see," he smiled. But you mustn't sink into scheming and violence to protect your village. If hatred and paranoia guide a village, how do you think it will evolve afterwards? Don't you think that it's by maintaining diplomatic relations, enriching students' knowledge, and working for peace in harmony with other countries, that you protect your village? I understand your frustration with this story and your doubts about my responsibility, but you can't decide on your own to shoot a fugitive or break all the rules. You've memorized the Soldier code, haven't you? You don't have to know the whole truth, and you don't have to get it no matter what. I won't answer your questions about Hebimaru or Sagi, but I'm asking you to trust me, Tsukinoko. I'm a Chief, and my duty is to protect Hanamaru and its inhabitants. Of course, I've made mistakes. And today, I'll do everything I can to prevent you from deviating too. That's part of my duty too. Sagi does what he does, and I know what he does, is that understood?

  Frustration bubbles up inside her again and she tenses up, clenching her pyjamas into fists.

  - I've got agents specially assigned to me for these matters, the ones you called incompetent. They scrupulously respect my orders, and that's that. Now, none of this concerns you. Your safety is at stake, because now Hebimaru could come after you. As a result of your actions tonight, you will be placed under surveillance for some time.

  - It's not fair!" she snaps. Why can't I be an agent of the Colony?! I'm stronger than that old man, he was afraid to attack Hebimaru but not me!

  - That's not the point," he sighs.

  - But then..." she murmurs, climbing up beside him on the sofa. Don't you think I'm strong enough? Why do you let Sagi do it? And do... The fossils really want to get rid of me

  - What are you talking about?

  She shrugs and he sighs sadly.

  - That's not the point. You don't trust me, and you're disobeying. I can no longer claim to trust you completely. You're not fit to be a soldier, Tsukinoko.

  She was hurt by his tone but didn't dare reply. Despite her confidence in him having been boosted again after his explanations, but shaken by his suggestion that it wasn't reciprocated.

  - Sorry," she said in a small voice.

  - If there's another accident, the contract will be cancelled and you'll be expelled from Hanamaru.

  - I promise! This is the last time, Jījī! I don't want you to send me away, I promised Mama I'd protect Hanamaru, she said with tears in her eyes. And you're my master, I don't want another fossil watching over me... she laments. Or kill me.

  He is again surprised by her words and thinks for a second.

  - No one will come after you as long as you do what I ask. It's your responsibility to show them that you can be trusted.

  Tsukinoko didn't know what to think, but he gently placed his hand on her head to stroke the top of her skull, and she took comfort in the fact that he was no longer angry with her. She slumped onto his lap, her face crushed into his crossed arms.

  - But... Everything the agents do is to protect Hanamaru, right? Even Sagi's?

  - That doesn't make the acts any more bearable.

  She thought for a long time, then finally fell asleep next to her refuge, who tucked her into bed before slipping away, both exhausted after these trying days.

  No sooner had the morning begun than a knock sounded at the door of J?net's room at the hospital. Tsukinoko had come to pick her up on the day of her discharge, to take her home, chattering incessantly on the way.

  They came to talk about the cursed mark and Tsukinoko confessed the truth about Hebimaru's actions, but then suggested meditation, in the hope of one day controlling his power.

  With the table set in her kitchen, Tsukinoko was jumping up and down in her chair at having a girlfriend in the house, while J?net looked embarrassed to be imposing

  They had chosen to meditate next to the terrain of Death, where J?net could feel Hebimaru through his hiding place, without risking harming anyone in this deserted place.

  No sooner had they settled on the grass than Tsukinoko spotted someone hiding in the bushes with her aura. It was Furoggu, leaning against a tree with a giant parchment beside him, writing as he watched the girls.

  - What are you doing here, you old fool?" she whispers in his ear.

  He froze and looked back in surprise. He hadn't heard her coming.

  - I'm taking advantage of the quiet here to write my novels," he says, shaking his notebook.

  Tsukinoko raises an eyebrow in disbelief and flips her notebook. He grimaces in turn and looks at her sideways.

  - You'll disturb my friend's meditation, you pervert. I'll tell Jījī that you're spying on us and he'll-

  - He did warn you, though, that you'd be under surveillance, didn't he? And since J?net hasn't mastered the mark of Hebimaru, the Chief wants to make sure there'll be no excesses. What are you two playing at?

  - I'm going to help her control the mark, and we're going to get closer to Hebimaru's lair every day to see if she can stay calm.

  - I don't think you should do that.

  Tsukinoko squinted, then casually returned to J?net, who was opening her eyes again. She complains of being bored, but Tsukinoko guides her to delve into her mind and sort out her thoughts, trying to recover her memory.

  - But... If things get out of hand, what do we do?" worries J?net.

  - Er... Don't worry, I'll be watching you!" Tsukinoko shouts, peeking into the bushes.

  - Yes, but what are you going to do?

  - Don't worry!

  - We have to have a plan just in case!

  - Well, I've got you under control," she shrugs. Don't worry.

  - Imbecile... J?net pests. Ouch!

  A blow to the shin silenced her, followed by a staring contest before she got down to work in earnest. J?net entered into mediation, trying to remember her accident, which awakened her mark and tormented her. Every time she let herself be overcome, Tsukinoko quickly put her to sleep with her chakra, inhibiting her nerve receptors.

  At the end of the day, the results weren't very promising, but they kept themselves motivated for several days, while Tsukinoko took in J?net, and Furoggu was there to keep an eye on them, sometimes as far as her home.