The salty water slid across his skin as he swam hard toward the shore, kicking and flailing his arms as if his life depended on it. The solitary moon hung in the sky, watchful, distant... a silent witness to a fractured fate.
Jiro reached solid ground exhausted, his hands sinking into the wet sand, surrounded by fallen coconuts, wandering crabs, and the whisper of the sea slowly fading behind him.
—I imagined this very differently... —he murmured, his voice faint as he sat up and observed his surroundings.
The ocean breeze caressed his face as he raised his eyes to the night sky, a mix of nostalgia and sadness reflected in them. His lips trembled before he spoke words that weighed like molten steel.
—I hope... that my mother and grandpa are okay out there... —he paused for a long moment, as if those words refused to leave his chest—. This wasn't the kind of goodbye I wanted for them...
With force, he slapped his cheeks twice, as if trying to drive away dark thoughts. His eyes lit up with a renewed spark of determination.
—This isn't the time to worry about the past. My mission now... is to save my world and come back safe. —He then looked at his red crescent-shaped pendant, glowing faintly on his chest—. And also... to find Dad.
He gripped his spear, the Higetsu no Yari, and took a firm step toward the horizon.
—Now let's... travel to another world. First, I'll open a dimensional rift!
With a shout full of energy, he spun his body smoothly and slashed at the air.
—HAA!
But... nothing happened. The air remained unchanged. The spear didn't respond.
—Huh...? —he muttered in confusion. Then, he tried again. Changed stance. Another slash. Nothing.
Cold sweat began to drip down his forehead. His heart pounded. He repeated the movements once, twice, three more times. Everything remained the same.
—No no no... —he repeated over and over in a mix of frustration and fear. He held the spear with both hands and shouted in desperation—. What's wrong with you, Yari?! Why aren't you working?!
He scratched his head roughly, nearly pulling out a chunk of hair.
—It can't be... That means I'm stuck in this world... and I can't get out!
His scream rose into the air, vibrating between the palm trees and the shore, like a cry from the soul. The echo got lost among the waves.
Some time later, Jiro wandered in circles, murmuring to himself. His mind raced. He couldn't afford to fail. His world depended on him.
—No... I can't complain now. There's no turning back —he finally said, clenching his fists.
Looking toward the entrance of a nearby forest, he noticed something. A possibility. A change. Maybe... hope.
—Wait... I haven't explored this place yet. Maybe inside that forest I'll find something... or someone... who can help me.
A gust of cold wind wrapped around him. His body shivered. He hugged himself, but his feet didn't stop.
—That doesn't matter now. First thing... is to find somewhere to sleep tonight.
And so, gripping his spear, he ran into the forest, his figure vanishing into the shadows.
Hours passed as Jiro walked beneath colossal trees, their branches weaving a dense, deep ceiling. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, drawing silver paths that guided his steps. The crunch of his feet on the damp ground was the only sound breaking the silence.
—I'm so hungry... —he complained as his stomach growled like a dragon—. That's what I get for skipping lunch... all because of that damn Jin...
Jiro sighed. Tears began to fall, hot and salty. The weight of exhaustion, hunger, and loneliness pushed him to the edge.
—What would Raizen Tenkuma do in a situation like this...? —he asked the emptiness, still walking.
Suddenly, through leaves and branches, a light. A soft glow flickered in the distance.
—An exit!? —he shouted.
He ran. Hope was reborn with every step. And then he saw it: a town. Houses of wood and stone, lit by lanterns and candles. Farms, crops, people moving in the distance. The scent of fire and freshly baked bread floated in the air.
Jiro's eyes widened, his soul lit up.
—THIS IS A GIFT FROM THE HEAVENS!!! —he screamed, jumping with joy.
Without thinking, he descended the hill toward the village. That place, unknown and distant, was now his new chance.
Jiro descended the hill, and what he saw left him completely dazzled. A vibrant, radiant city stretched out before him, illuminated by floating lanterns and dancing candles.
Well-polished stone streets gleamed with the reflection of the starry sky, and the rooftops of the houses were adorned with colorful ribbons and flags fluttering in the night breeze.
Horses trotted gracefully, guided by riders dressed in gleaming cloaks; children ran through the crowds laughing, while street musicians played flutes, lutes, and drums. It was a festival at its peak, vibrant and full of life.
—Is this… real —said Jiro in awe, moving forward cautiously. But something else caught his attention: most of the inhabitants were not ordinary humans. They had pointed ears, feline tails, skin covered in scales, or even folded wings on their backs. Beast-humans. Demi-humans. A race he had known since childhood, though rarely seen in his world.
He clearly remembered the dog demi-human couple who once visited his village… but this was completely different. Here, they were the majority.
—I imagined something different… —he whispered as he watched two demi-human women, in lifted skirts, crushing grapes with their feet in what looked like a winemaking competition. The laughter, the chaos, the wine flying everywhere… it seemed like something out of a surreal dream.
But his stomach quickly brought him back to reality.
—Ugh… I need food, urgently… —said Jiro, clutching his growling belly.
His eyes lit up at the sight of a long table piled high with food: crunchy bread, juicy meats, exotic fruits, steaming potatoes, and thick wine. A true feast.
—FOOD —he yelled impulsively and ran as if his life depended on it.
He lunged at the table, grabbed an overflowing plate, and began eating with almost childlike happiness. Tears of relief fell from his eyes as he chewed uncontrollably.
—This… this is the best thing I've ever tasted in my life —he thought, mouth full and soul grateful.
But as he ate, he felt a tingle in his horns. He stopped chewing and looked up.
A girl, with silver hair tinged with blue, was watching him with big, bright eyes. Her cat ears twitched slightly, and her tail swayed with curiosity. She touched his horns as if examining a rare and valuable object.
—Are these horns? That's amazing —said the girl, smiling—. Are you some kind of cow demi-human?
Jiro nearly choked and spat out his food instantly.
—The cow is your mother —he snapped indignantly.
The girl covered her mouth to keep from laughing, then said with an innocent expression:
—Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. It's just… I've never seen anyone like you.
Jiro, still frustrated, lowered his guard a bit. It was impossible to stay mad at that curious smile.
—I'm not a cow, I'm an Oni… well, half Oni and half human. I'm a hybrid.
—Oni? Hmm… doesn't ring a bell —she said, tilting her head—. Sounds powerful.
—They were… in theory. I'm not very strong, to be honest —he admitted, scratching the back of his neck.
—So… you're a foreigner?
—Yeah, very much so.
The girl looked him up and down, focusing on his worn and unusual clothing.
—Your clothes are… weird. Where are you from?
—From a town far, far away —Jiro replied, dodging the details.
She held out her hand enthusiastically.
—In that case, it's a pleasure to meet you! What's your name?
—Jiro Kamimizu —he replied, shaking her hand.
—I'm Sasha —she said with a radiant smile.
—The pleasure's mine, Sasha.
But before they could keep talking, a child's voice called out from the crowd, slightly agitated:
—Hey, Sasha! Big sister!
A young cat demi-human boy, smaller and with the same eye color, pushed through the people.
—I've been looking everywhere for you!
Sasha turned and opened her arms with a smile.
—There you are, Leno! Come, I want you to meet someone.
As the festival lights danced with life and color, the crowd parted like the sea to reveal a young boy with reddish hair and a suspicious gaze. Sasha, with a cheerful smile, approached Jiro and said excitedly:
—Jiro, this is my little brother, Leno!
The boy, about twelve years old, frowned as soon as he saw Jiro. He looked him up and down, noticing the horns protruding from his head. Then he slowly approached Sasha, leaned toward her feline ear, and whispered in a sharp tone:
—Why are you talking to this weird horned guy? He looks like a cow...
Jiro, a cold sweat running down his forehead, closed his eyes and tried to contain his annoyance.
—I can hear you, kid... —he said quietly, with a grimace trembling between patience and anger.
Sasha, a bit uncomfortable, chuckled softly.
—He's a friend I met today —she replied, trying to ease the tension.
Leno huffed and crossed his arms.
—Well, you'll have to say goodbye to your friend... Dad needs you now.
—Huh? What happened? —asked Sasha, worried.
—Come quickly —Leno replied, taking her hand. The two ran off into the crowd, leaving Jiro standing in the middle of the bustle.
Jiro sighed, watching the siblings disappear.
—Even in other worlds you run into weird people... —he murmured resignedly.
Leaving the awkward moment behind, Jiro decided to keep exploring. His eyes widened like a child's, seeing new wonders: street art animated by magic, floating musical creatures, food stands selling snacks that changed flavor depending on your emotions.
Hours later, as the festival neared its end, Jiro walked through quieter streets. The magical lanterns were turning off one by one, and the starry sky, still night, blanketed the village in calm. The boy stopped, staring at the stars.
—Wait a minute... —he murmured—. Since I got here, I noticed it was daytime in my world... but here it was already night.
He frowned, thoughtful.
—What if... time and space flow differently in each world? —he murmured—. That would mean... if it's day here, is it night over there? Also, there's only one moon here... and my world has three.
Jiro smiled, amazed at the thought.
—How curious... traveling between worlds and seeing how different each one is makes them special.
With calm steps, he continued walking under the night sky of the now-sleeping village. Though tired, his curiosity kept him awake.
—Anyway... —he sighed—. Now I just need to find a place to sleep.
After walking a few minutes, he arrived in front of a large house surrounded by trees and a stable full of straw and livestock. There, under the moonlight, he saw Sasha gazing at the sky. Her blue eyes sparkled like crystals, and her cat ears twitched gently with the wind.
—Is that Sasha? What's she doing awake so late? —he thought.
Jiro approached.
—Hey, Sasha!
She turned around, surprised.
—Oh! Young Jiro, what are you doing here?
—Nothing, just passing by. And you? Why are you up so late?
—I should be asking you the same thing —she replied with a smile.
—Well... the truth is I have nowhere to stay tonight —Jiro admitted.
—Really? —she asked, sounding apologetic.
Jiro pointed to the stable.
—Could I sleep there tonight?
She looked at him thoughtfully.
—Sleep with the cows?
—Yeah... just for tonight. I'll leave in the morning.
Sasha, after a few seconds of silence, smiled kindly.
—You don't need to sleep there. Why not sleep inside my house instead?
Jiro was surprised.
—Really? There won't be a problem?
—Of course not, Jiro! Our house is very big, there are plenty of spare rooms.
Jiro bowed slightly, putting his hands together.
—Thank you so much, Sasha.
—Come, follow me —she said, gently swaying her tail.
As they passed through the grand doors, Jiro was left speechless. The house was immense: polished oak columns, fine carpets, elegant furniture, floating lamps casting a warm light. A long staircase connected multiple rooms decorated with colorful tapestries.
—This is your house? It's way bigger than mine...
Sasha, placing a finger over her lips, whispered:
—Shhh... Jiro, a bit quieter please. My father and brother are sleeping.
—Oops... sorry, Sasha —he said, covering his mouth.
In his mind, Jiro thought: She doesn't look like she lives like this... appearances are deceiving, no doubt.
—So... is your family wealthy? —he asked.
—Exactly —she replied—. Plus, my father is the mayor of this village.
—What!? —Jiro exclaimed.
—Jiro, please! Lower your voice...
—Sorry again!
Sasha led him to one of the rooms on the second floor. It was spacious, with a bed covered in soft sheets, golden curtains, and a window with a view of the moon.
—You can stay here as long as you want —she said.
She showed him a small bell beside the bed.
—If you need anything, just ring this and a maid will come help you.
—Thank you so much, Sasha. Really.
She smiled sweetly, her ears and cat tail gently twitching.
—See you tomorrow, friend Jiro.
And with that, she quietly closed the door, leaving the boy alone, amazed by everything he had experienced in just one night.