Nobu and Beru sat side by side in the quiet hospital room. The hum of machines filled the silence, but neither of them paid it much attention.
Nobu stared at the window, his brows tightly furrowed.
"I don't know why," he said slowly, "but I feel like something bad is about to happen."
Beru let out a small laugh and leaned back in his chair. "You're thinking too much again," he replied calmly. "Nothing will happen. You always worry like this."
Nobu looked at him for a moment, then sighed. "Maybe… you're right."
Before the silence could return, the door opened. Nobu's wife stepped inside, her face bright with relief.
"The doctor said you'll be discharged today," she said happily.
Nobu nodded. "Good. Take our things from the Misaki clan estate. I'll send cars to pick you up and take you to the new house."
His wife's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Yes," Nobu replied with a gentle smile.
She nodded eagerly and left the room, already imagining their new life.
High in the mountains, far from hospitals and warmth, Baku lay broken on cold stone.
Blood soaked the ground beneath him. His body trembled, every breath shallow and painful. Above him, the sky stretched endlessly—calm, indifferent, cruel.
"So this is how I die…" he thought.
But immediately, another thought burned through his fading consciousness.
No. I can't die yet.
"I still have revenge to take…" he whispered weakly.
His mind drifted back to the past—to the man who had once saved him, a shadow that appeared when death was certain. He wondered if that man would come again.
Then footsteps echoed.
Baku's eyes widened slightly as a figure appeared before him.
It wasn't the man he remembered.
This one carried a terrifying calm.
"You're still alive," the stranger said coldly. "Interesting."
Baku tried to move, but pain exploded through his body. He could barely lift his head.
The man crouched beside him. "Tell me," he asked, "do you want to destroy the clans?"
Baku's cracked lips trembled. "Yes… yes," he replied desperately. "I want to destroy them. Every single one of them."
The man smiled.
"Good."
Moments later, three black cars arrived. Armed men stepped out and carefully lifted Baku into one of the vehicles. Darkness swallowed him as the door closed.
When Baku woke up again, he was no longer surrounded by death.
He lay on a soft bed, the scent of medicine in the air. The room was large—luxurious even.
Doctors moved around him, checking monitors, whispering among themselves.
"He'll live," one of them finally said.
Baku exhaled weakly.
Later, the mysterious man entered the room.
Baku struggled to sit up. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "I'll help you destroy every clan."
The man raised a hand, stopping him.
"There's a condition," he said calmly. "You must kill Nobu… and Beru."
The words hit Baku harder than any blow.
"What?" he whispered.
"They're like my sons," Baku said in disbelief. "I can't—"
"If you refuse," the man interrupted coldly, "I'll kill you instantly. And your revenge will die with you."
Baku clenched his fists beneath the sheets.
Minutes passed.
His mind screamed in conflict.
Finally… he nodded.
"…I'll do it."
The man smiled faintly. "Good. I'll give you all the weapons, money, and power you need."
He turned and walked out.
Left alone, Baku stared at the ceiling.
How can I betray them…?
Then realization struck like poison.
He already had.
By telling Kael about Nobu.
Baku closed his eyes.
"There's no turning back now…"
Back at the Misaki clan estate, Nobu's wife spoke softly to his mother.
"We'll be leaving the clan," she said. "We'll live together in Nobu's new house."
Nobu's mother smiled warmly. "That's wonderful. I'm happy you can finally live as a family."
Soon after, a car arrived.
The driver bowed respectfully. "Nobu sir sent me. I'll take you to your new home."
Nobu's wife and children stepped inside the car, their faces filled with hope.
The new house was peaceful, bathed in warm sunlight.
Beru walked Nobu through each room with excitement. "If you don't like it," he said lightly, "we can always buy another one."
Nobu shook his head with a smile. "No. This house is perfect."
Later, Nobu's family arrived. Laughter filled the home as he welcomed them warmly.
For the first time in a long while… it felt normal.
Beru smiled at Nobu. "Maybe this is the time we finally live happily."
Nobu returned the smile. "Yes… maybe it is."
Then Beru stood up. "I should head home."
"Stay here," Nobu said. "Convince your family to live with us."
Beru laughed. "They're already convinced."
He left the house and walked toward his car.
As he reached the driver's door, his steps froze.
Someone stood in front of the car.
A familiar face.
A face carved into his nightmares.
The person who ruined their lives.
Beru's breath caught in his throat.
"…You," he whispered.
The past had come for him.