**Chapter 7: The Blood-Eyed Samurai**
The hospital wing of Tensei's Guardian Corps was quiet—too quiet.
Rain tapped against the windows, and faint amber lights pulsed along the monitors beside Aiki's bed. His body was wrapped in seals, the **Spirit Edge** locked inside a containment field humming with golden static.
Sakura sat at his side, arms folded. "Third time he's been here this month," she muttered. "At this rate, they'll name a room after him."
Enji smirked faintly. "He'd like that. 'Aiki's Recovery Suite.' Comes with complimentary trauma."
"Not funny," Sen said, pacing near the door. "Who *was* that guy, anyway? He dropped in, nearly blew up the city, and then just—poof—gone."
"Whoever he was," Sakura said softly, "the sword feared him."
That silenced the room. Even the monitors seemed to slow for a moment.
---
Outside the infirmary, a cold wind swept through the training grounds.
The night guards didn't notice the shadow standing on the far wall—cloak torn, sword strapped across his back, eyes glowing faint crimson through the rain.
The **Blood-Eyed Samurai** watched the city from above, silent and still.
When he finally spoke, his voice was calm—too calm.
> "Still reckless, just like before… Aiki."
He drew his sword slightly. The crimson metal pulsed faintly, responding to the sealed Spirit Edge somewhere in the building.
> "Eryndor still remembers me," he murmured. "Good. That means the curse hasn't faded yet."
Lightning flashed—and in that instant, he vanished.
---
Back inside, alarms blared.
Enji was first to move. "Intruder?"
"Already?" Sen groaned. "Can we get one night without chaos?"
The lights flickered, and the temperature dropped like the world exhaled.
When they turned, he was *there*—standing at the end of the hall, cloak dripping, sword gleaming faintly red.
Sakura raised her weapon. "You again—"
"Calm yourselves," the man said. His tone was steady but carried enough weight to make even Sen stop mid-motion. "If I wanted you dead, we wouldn't be talking."
"Not helping your case," Enji muttered.
He stepped closer, removing his hood. His hair was black streaked with red, his face scarred, eyes glowing like blood under moonlight.
> "They used to call me the **Blood-Eyed Samurai**," he said. "But that name… belongs to someone I buried a long time ago."
Sakura frowned. "Then what should we call you now?"
He paused, eyes flicking toward Aiki's door.
> "Renzou. That will do."
Sen crossed his arms. "So, Renzou, care to explain why our friend almost got vaporized because of you?"
Renzou's gaze didn't waver. "Because your friend carries my mistake."
---
The team exchanged glances.
Renzou looked toward the containment field beyond the wall.
> "That sword you call the Spirit Edge—it's not a weapon. It's a fragment of a sealed soul. Mine."
"What—?" Sakura's eyes widened. "You mean—"
"I forged it centuries ago," Renzou said quietly. "To end a war that should never have begun. But the blade was… hungry. It devoured everything I was, everyone I cared about. When I fell, it took my soul with it."
Enji frowned. "So you're saying the sword is *alive* because of you?"
Renzou nodded. "And now it's awake again. Because that boy… Aiki… has something I didn't."
Sen raised a brow. "A death wish?"
Renzou smiled faintly. "Hope."
---
The door behind them hissed open—Aiki stood there, pale but awake, golden light faintly pulsing behind his eyes.
"Hope, huh?" he said. "You don't know me."
Renzou turned, the red glow in his eyes softening. "I know enough. You drew Eryndor's full power and survived. That alone makes you different."
Aiki stepped closer. "Then tell me what it is. Tell me how to stop it."
Renzou's smile faded.
> "You can't stop it. You *are* it, now."
The air in the hallway thickened, lights flickering again.
Renzou's sword vibrated faintly, resonating with the Spirit Edge through the containment barrier.
> "Soon, Aiki, the blade will call your name back. And when it does… you'll forget who you are."
"Then I'll fight it."
"You'll try," Renzou said. "And when you fail, I'll be the one to end you. Just like I should've ended myself."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Aiki finally looked up, defiant. "If that day comes, then I'll make sure you bleed too, Blood-Eyed Samurai."
Renzou smirked faintly. "Good. You'll need that fire."
He turned away, stepping toward the open window. Rain poured in, lightning framing his silhouette.
> "But next time, I won't be your savior. I'll be your test."
And with a flicker of red light, he was gone.
---
Aiki stood still, rain dripping from the ceiling onto his hands.
Sakura whispered, "What do we do now?"
He looked down at the faint gold glow still pulsing through his veins.
> "We get stronger," he said quietly. "Because next time he shows up… it won't be as an ally."