Kakashi found himself standing on the misty bank of a river, the air thick with fog that swirled and danced around him, obscuring the far side. A lone figure stood there, their back to him, silhouetted against the ethereal grey. Intrigued, he started toward the water, the river appearing shallow enough to wade through. As the figure turned, however, Kakashi's breath hitched in his throat. He recognized the familiar, though now distant, features.
"Mom?" he called out, his voice a strained whisper, his feet already moving toward the water's edge. "I'm coming; wait for me."
"Don't come here!" Her voice cut through the air, sharp with disgust. "Stay back; don't come any closer." The words were laced with a chilling coldness that sent a shiver down his spine.
"Mom, what's wrong?! It's your son! It's Kakashi!" His voice rose in desperation, the fog seeming to thicken, mirroring the growing unease in his heart.
"You are not my son!!" Her voice boomed, the words echoing across the water, striking him with the force of a physical blow. Kakashi froze, his body rigid with shock. He hadn't heard his mother raise her voice like this before; it was a sound utterly alien to him. "No son of mine would live and forget about his sister. Where is your sister, Kakashi? Where is Tokah?"
The words hung in the air, heavy with accusation and a profound sense of betrayal. It was the first time he had ever seen, or heard, this side of his mother. She was usually so sweet, so caring.
"I don't know where she is! I tried to save you and I abandoned her," Kakashi confessed, his voice barely a murmur, his words laced with self-recrimination.
"Stop giving me excuses and find your sister. You are not my son until you find your sister." Her voice was cold, unforgiving.
His chest tightened, his breathing growing shallow and ragged. His eyes stung with unshed tears.
"I promise, I WILL FIND TOKAH and I'll avenge your death," he vowed, his voice choked with emotion.
"Big brother, are you looking for… me? I hope I'm not in trouble," a small, hesitant voice called out.
Kakashi spun around, relief flooding him as he recognized the familiar, though slightly altered, sound of his little sister's voice.
"Tokah! You had me worried sick. Where have you been?" His voice was thick with relief and a hint of reprimand.
The little girl, who looked no older than eight, stood before him, her appearance a stark contrast to his memory. She wore a tattered, dirty white gown, her long, usually pristine white hair now matted and tangled, obscuring much of her face. Dirt smudged her cheeks, and a thin layer of grime coated her small frame.
She didn't answer, her gaze fixed on the ground.
"Were you out playing in the dirt again? Remember what Mom said? You're a girl, so act like one," Kakashi chided gently, his tone softening as he saw the weariness in her eyes.
"I was waiting for you to come back, just like you promised," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Kakashi's eyes widened in shock. Before he could respond, she turned and fled, running in the opposite direction from where their mother stood.
Kakashi reacted instantly, a desperate plea forming on his lips. He had to bring her back to his mother; otherwise, his mother would never accept him.
"Tokah! Please come back! You're going the wrong way!" he yelled, his voice filled with urgency, but she didn't stop, maintaining a steady distance as she ran.
"TOKAH!!!" Kakashi roared, the sound echoing in the vast emptiness. Then, he woke with a gasp, his heart pounding in his chest.
He was breathing heavily, his body slick with sweat, the remnants of the dream clinging to him like a shroud.
_Thank goodness, it was just a dream. But, it felt so real. Is Mom trying to push me to find my sister?_ The thought lingered in his mind, a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach.
"Why are you crying?" Mira asked, her voice soft with concern. She was still sitting beside his bed, but Miss Tokoyami was nowhere to be seen.
Kakashi touched his cheek, surprised to find tears there.
"I... was crying," he admitted, sounding slightly bewildered.
"You were also mumbling a bunch of weird stuff," Mira said, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket. She gently wiped away the tears, then returned the handkerchief to her pocket. "You're free to go. The doctor said so."
"Where are we going?" he asked, his voice still slightly hoarse.
"You wanted to see your friend, right? Let's go then. Oh—" Mira held out a leather bag. "You should change into this."
Kakashi nodded, taking the bag, his gaze lingering on Mira for a moment.
"Oh, sorry!" she said, turning away, a blush rising on her cheeks.
He quickly changed into the black jeans and red T-shirt inside.
"Okay, let's go," Kakashi announced, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
"I almost forgot to ask your name," Mira said, turning back to him with a smile.
"It's Kakashi."
"Alright, Kakashi," Mira said, taking his arm, her smile warm and reassuring. "Let's go!"
She pulled him toward the elevator, their destination the fifth floor.
Throughout the ride, Kakashi's mind raced. He couldn't shake the image of Megumin, and Mira's earlier words only intensified his anxiety. Megumin was his only remaining friend; if anything happened to her, their shared sacrifices would have been in vain.
They arrived on the fifth floor and walked down the hallway. At the end, they found Miss Tokoyami standing before a glass window, observing a patient inside.
The window offered a clear view of the room. Two beds stood on opposite ends, Megumin lying in one, another girl in the other.
"What's going to happen to her?" Kakashi asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Thankfully, the operation was a success. We found some devices implanted in her body, but luckily, her karma flow is still stable. However, she's still in danger," Miss Tokoyami replied, her voice grave.
"What do you mean?" Kakashi pressed, his anxiety rising again.
"She'll undergo revitalization if she doesn't show signs of improvement," Miss Tokoyami explained.
"Please, can I see her?" Kakashi pleaded, his voice laced with desperation.
"She just came out of surgery; she needs rest," Mira said gently.
Ignoring her, Kakashi entered the room, his gaze immediately drawn to Megumin. Her hair was shaved, stitches visible on her head, abdomen, and leg, but her hand was healed. She didn't appear to be in critical condition, but Kakashi lacked the knowledge to fully assess her karmic state.
"The revitalization… what is that?" he asked, stepping back out into the hallway.
"It's a machine that restores karma by drawing in natural karma and transferring it into the patient's body," Mira explained. "It's usually used when there's no one with compatible karma to perform a direct transfer, or if the patient's karma levels are too low for a simple transfer to be effective."
"But how is that possible? She couldn't use any techniques," Kakashi asked, his confusion mounting.
Miss Tokoyami gestured for Mira to leave them, and Mira obediently sat on a bench across from the room.
"Please, sit," Miss Tokoyami said, indicating the bench beside her. Kakashi obeyed. "When Supernaturals use their powers, they use a special energy called karma. Karma exists in every living thing, but its nature and type vary. Everything depends on this energy to survive. So, what do you think happens if you use too much of this energy?"
"Umm, I guess they wouldn't be able to survive," Kakashi replied hesitantly.
"Supernaturals use this energy to create techniques, which drain their karma. If they continue using their powers even when their karma is low, their life force will also be drained," Miss Tokoyami explained patiently.
"Wait! I don't understand. Is she going to die?" Kakashi asked, his voice filled with alarm.
"No, but your friend is in this state because she used too much karma," Miss Tokoyami said, pausing to choose her words carefully. "It's not uncommon; many rescued from research labs end up drained of karma, and most die. It's a miracle you're still brimming with karma."
"But at the lab, they mentioned creating experimental… Do you know what that is?" Kakashi asked, his voice filled with apprehension.
"Supernaturals can absorb karma from the air. This natural karma is used to create techniques," Miss Tokoyami began, trying to explain the complex concept in simple terms. "By using techniques, we drain karma, but imagine a way to use techniques without using karma. Some people can, but they're rare."
"But that's supposed to be impossible!" Kakashi exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.