Night Blade: Dusk of Demise

Prologue

Daisuke? Niko asks. After cornering the thief and removing his hood, the short, blonde spiky hair and the thin sunglasses are a dead giveaway to the identify of the thief – Niko's good friend, Daisuke.

The headlights from Niko's car illuminate the dark alleyway, casting shadows along the ground-based bars surrounding Daisuke, creating the perfect metaphor for a caught criminal.

Hi, Niko, Daisuke answers back timidly.

Oh my..., Seyogi says in response, recognizing Daisuke from the convention center parking lot a few days ago.

Wha.... Niko starts to say, searching for the words to express his surprise, confusion, and frustration upon seeing his best friend in the world, reduced down to a common thief.

Niko! Do you know him? Kitsune calls from behind as he approaches Daisuke, trying to figure out why, or how, someone that Niko knows would be committing crimes, and what that says about Niko's own personal choices.

Know him? Niko responds, He's my best friend!

You're best friends with a thief?

I wasn't always a thief! Daisuke barks back.

Niko and Kitsune stare at Daisuke, expecting the reasoning to become obvious. Meanwhile, Chisai is leaning against Niko's car, throwing her hands down by her side as to summon her glaive.

What-what made you take a life of crime, Daisuke? Niko asks, The last time I saw you, you were cheering me on at the tournament-

Yeah, and that's the last time you even talked to me!

Kitsune gives Niko a curious look, expecting to be told why Niko would stop talking to his so-called 'best friend'.

I called you a bunch of times, and you never answered! You also never returned my calls or messages! Daisuke continues, progressively raising his voice with each statement. Your parents were making up stuff about you, nobody from school knew where you were, and to top it off, you have a secret girlfriend!

Niko and Chisai both are taken back by the last statement. Realizing that Daisuke had also mentioned calling him, Niko takes out his phone and takes a closer look at the screen. Sure enough, an icon in the top left indicating missed calls along with the number 7 next to it appeared, along with a message icon next to the number 9, and an envelope with a V on top, indicating seven missed calls, nine unanswered texts, and one unheard voicemail. Niko starts to think back to when he last used his phone. I must have missed those when I was calling for help at Chisai's house, although I'm pretty sure I had some other things preoccupying my attention at the time. Daisuke, I never-

Let me tell you what happened! Daisuke says, cutting Niko off, Then you can understand what I have gone through in the past few days.

Chapter 1

A few days ago, after the tournament, I watched as you and that squirrel bolted out of the parking lot of the convention center.

So, we're....not going to the party? I say, hoping that you would turn around and come back, realizing that you had forgotten me. After a few minutes, I take my phone out and press your name, automatically dialing you.

"Hi. You've reached Niko. Leave a message. BEEP"

For you, that's pretty unusual. You usually answer my calls within the first few rings. I hang up and redial you, hoping that you would pick up.

Hi. You've reached Niko. Leave a message. BEEP

At this point, I'm getting pretty frustrated. I redial once more.

"Hi. You've reached Niko. Leave a message. BEEP"

Hey, Niko, dude! Where are you off to in such a hurry? We have a celebration party ready for you for your big win! Give me a call back, man. I end the call, hoping that you will respond to my voicemail. That's usually an indicator saying that I need you to return my call, A.S.A.P.

Daisuke! Hikari calls for me. You recall Hikari, right? She's the smart one from class with the pretty pink hair. Where'd Niko go? I thought we were going to drag him to the party!

I don't know, I said, he and I were talking about his big win, then a squirrel ran up and started talking to him. Then he and the squirrel jumped in his car and sped off to I-don't-know-where.

Did he say anything about where he was going?

I think back to the conversation, trying to recall some information. "The squirrel said 'it is time', and 'the transformation'. I don't know what any of it means."

Maybe it's a family thing. Why don't you go check with his parents?

Good idea. I'll go ask them. Meanwhile, you go ahead to the party and make sure everything's ready.

I get my bike from the parking area and get it ready to take off.

Sure thing! Hikari said as she ran away from me, heading to the party.

Meanwhile, I take off towards your house.

I pulled up in your driveway and walked my bike up to the front porch. I approached your front door, and your dad met me almost immediately.

Daisuke! What a pleasure to see you. What can I do for you?

Hi Mr. Sakuna, I said back, I was wondering if you know if Niko has any plans.

Um, not specifically. We just got done watching his match on the internet. I thought after a nail-bitter like that, he would be relaxing, or at least partying with his friends.

Well, that's the thing – we have a party planned, but Niko just drove off, and he isn't answering his phone!

Hm, I don't know exactly where he is, but if he stops by, I'll make sure to tell him about the party.

No! I barked back, The party is supposed to be a surprise. Just tell him to meet us at the noodle shop in town.

There are lots of noodle shops in town. Which one?

He knows the place.

Okay, I will do so.

Thanks! I get my bike and start to ride it into town, hoping that you had at least some contact with your parents and they told you where to meet us.

I arrived at the noodle shop, scoping out the sights of the balloons, banners, cake, and other items. Man, Hikari can really put up a party, right?

Anyway, I parked my bike next to a lamppost and run to the front of the shop, ready to party with you all night long to celebrate your big win.

Is he here yet? Hikari called out to me.

No, not yet. His parents don't know where he is either.

That sucks. So what are we supposed to do?

I took another look at my phone, hoping you had responded to.....anything.I guess we keep calling him. Too bad we can't track him using his phone.

Well, the ice cream will melt if he doesn't come soon!

Yeah, yeah, I know.

Day turned into night, and we're all still sitting at the noodle shop, hoping that you would show up soon. Everybody was getting bored, and to be honest, it's no fun watching the balloons gradually descend, the ice cream melting, and the cake not being eaten. It really sucks, but we wanted to have it all ready for you in case you showed up. Fat lot of good that did.

Does anybody know where he is? Hikari called out.

Everyone started talking amongst themselves, I guess talking about your possible current location.

He isn't picking up his phone. His parents don't know where he is, and he's not at any of his usual locations, I said, Do you think he could be hurt? Can someone call the hospital to check? That's something to worry about, right?

Akiko raised her phone in the air. I'll do it, she said moments before she placed the phone to her ear. Ah, Akiko – she's great in her own way. Anyway....

I don't see any place that he has check in, or visited, according to his social profile, Hikari said. I'm guessing she checked your profile for recent check-ins or recent news or mentions. I wish I thought of that.

This has me really worried, I said, Niko's not the type of person to just drop off the grid like that.

Yeah, you would think that after the tournament, he would want to have some fun – not abandon his close friends.

Niko's not at the hospital, Akiko said.

One of the restaurant employees, dressed in his dark red dress shirt, black pants, a Noodle Wild apron, and a name-tag labeled Chad, walked over to me. Excuse me, sir?

None of us can find you, none of us can contact you, and you disappeared without a trace. Needless to say, I'm freaking out. What!? Looking back on it, I didn't mean to snap at the employee, but he really caught me off guard.

We need to close up the restaurant. It's an hour past closing time.

Yeah, he's right. We've kept them long enough, so I did the only respectable thing. Okay, we'll get out of here. After the employee left, I grunt in frustration, then get a nearby chair and stand on it. Okay everyone, listen up!

Everyone turned their attention to me. They were all bored, and the restaurant's regular customer had all left. So I pretty much had everyone's attention. I just wanted to say: thanks for coming. I know that a lot of you took time out of your day to come here and celebrate Niko's win. However, without the guest of honor, there's no point in all of us just staying here. The restaurant has been very courteous in letting us stay this long. Grab your things and some food – it's already been paid for. I'll, um, let everyone know if I find Niko. Once again, thanks for coming. I stepped off the chair, feeling pretty much defeated – and exhausted.

Please let us know as soon as you find or hear anything! Akiko said as she walked past me.

Will do, I responded.

Additional guests passed by me with wrapped gift boxes and Styrofoam take-out containers. It's a shame that you couldn't attend – you had a lot of friends that really supported you and wanted to celebrate with you.

Hikari and I were in the process of taking the last of the streamers and balloons down, when she broke the silence. It's too bad Niko didn't get to see this. It would have been a great party.

I wonder what was so important that he had to run off and not tell anyone, I said as I put an armful of party supplies in a large trashcan. It must have been important if he didn't even tell his parents.

"Maybe he'll be back home tomorrow. If his parents aren't that worried, then he must return home at some point."

Yeah, good idea. I'll go by for a visit first thing tomorrow.

Thank you guys for helping us clean up, Chad, the restaurant employee, said.

It's the least we could do, I said as I pick up a broom, I mean, we are the ones that kept you here past closing.

I just hope you find your friend. It's sad that you all planned this party and he didn't show up.

Well, that's just how things happened, but I'll find him – one way or another.

I wish you luck, Chad said as he walked over to the front door. Ready to go?

I put the broom by the front counter just as Hikari took a loaded trash bag out of the large can and tied it up. Yep, we both said.

I'll show you where the dumpster is, Chad said as he flips the main switch, turning the lights off in the restaurant.

We follow Chad out of the restaurant as he closed the door and locked it.

I'll see you later, Hikari.

Okay – let me know if you find Niko! She said back as she followed Chad to the dumpster.

Will do, I said back as I got my bike and rode away

***

The following morning, my phone started buzzing. Niko? I called out, hoping that you were calling me back. However, it was just my alarm. GAH! Morning already?

I stared at my phone, waiting for my eyes to focus after a long, worrying night. Please tell me that Niko called me, or at least sent a text. I saw my notification bar was blank. Damn, I was hoping he at least got my messages and returned them.

Just like every other morning, I walked into the kitchen, grabbing a jug of orange juice and an empty glass. I started to pour myself a glass just as my phone rang. Unfortunately, in my quasi-somnambulistic state, I forgot my phone in my room. I threw the jug on the counter and ran to my room, hoping it was you.

I didn't take the time to look at the Caller ID to see who it was, although I guess I should have. I pressed Answer and started the conversation. Hello?

"Hey Daisuke," Hikari said on the other end, any news from Niko? I was doing some thinking last night, and maybe he went to the anime convention in Okana. I mean, that's reasonable, right? You're always obsessed with 'Sword Titan', so maybe you went to a 'Sword Titan' convention and didn't tell me.

Nah, I haven't heard anything yet, and if he was going to the convention, he would have told me. Plus, he didn't have his usual convention gear in his car.

"Well, it was just a thought. Keep me informed, please!"

Yeah, will do, I said as the call ended. I placed the phone in my pants pocket and headed back to the kitchen and to my orange juice. Luckily, the jug didn't tip over from my rush before. If it did, then I would have been there for a about 30 minutes cleaning it up. Man, living by yourself sure has its downsides.

I grabbed my bike and rode it into town, hoping that maybe you stopped by your house during the night. However, the moment I pull up, you drove away in the opposite direction. All I can do is remember how you and that squirrel left me in the parking lot from the day before.

Don't tell me he left again! I said as I stopped my bike right in front of your house.

Your parents overheard me and and walked up to me.

Daisuke! If you're here for Niko, you just missed him, your dad said.

Yeah, I guessed, I said under his breath. Looking up at your dad, I continued, He didn't stop by the noodle shop last night, so we had to cancel the party we had. Do you have any idea where he went or where he's going?

I don't know exactly where he went last night, as he came home quite late. As for his current whereabouts, I believe he is going to help someone named 'Chisai.' Do you know her?

Chisai? Never heard of her. Any idea why he is heading to her house?

Your parents looked at each other and exchange looks, like they knew that they couldn't tell me something. I may have not had parents for a few years, but I know when parents are hiding something. He's....., your mom said, then looked at your dad, like she was trying to create a cover story, tutoring her.

Tutoring? I didn't know he tutored, I answered back. If they were going to tell me a cover story, the best thing I could have done was let them expand on it and catch themselves in the coverup, therefore telling me the real truth.

He's been doing quite well in...., your dad continued, but paused before he finished the statement – yet another sign of a cover story. ...Kendo.

Kendo? I didn't know he took Kendo, I said back. I mean, I knew that you took Taekwondo, but I didn't know you took Kendo as well. That seemed pretty suspicious.

Oh yeah, it's been an after-school activity for years. He's been attending classes during the night, your mom added.

Well, maybe I should go check up on him. We were all worried last night.

Your mom cut me off. Better yet, we have a lot of pancakes left over from breakfast. Would you like some?

Now, I know that you may grow tired of your mom's pancakes, but that's really a weakness for me. Your mom's pancakes are the best. Mrs. Sakuna, I said bashfully, you know I can never turn down your pancakes! I hop off of my bike and lean it against the front porch railing, following your parents inside the house.

I won't bore you with the details of the meal, so I'll just cut to the important part. I pushed my empty plate forward and spoke up, Wow, did you add something to the recipe? Those pancakes were even better than your last ones!

You mom smiled at the compliment. Why, thank you. Yes, I used sweet cream butter instead of regular. It really adds to the flavor.

I would have never guessed that. Usually, my meals consist of whatever I can microwave. I don't really cook that often, so using something outside of the standard ingredients is something that I should do more often.

I'll say! I responded. Afterward, I stand up and took my plate and glass to the sink.

Before I reached the sink, your dad spoke up, Daisuke, don't worry about that, you're our guest. We'll take care of it!

I know that your parents are nice and all, but I never had anyone clean up for me at my house in the past few years. Let's just call it a 'habit'. Sorry, I guess it's just a habit of living on my own. I placed my dishes in it. However, my eye caught my watch, and I was surprised at the time. Holy cow! Is it already noon?

Your dad looks at his tablet (does he ever put that thing down?) and responded to my statement. Yep, noon already. This morning certainly flew by, didn't it?

I remember that line specifically, because not even a second afterward, the sound of a large explosion from the distance echoed through the house. Your parents and I all looked in the direction of the sound.

"What was that?" I asked aloud.

I don't know, but I hope Niko's safe, your mom said.

The mention of you made me start to worry more. Listen, thanks for the pancakes, but I need to get over there to make sure Niko's okay, I said as I ran out the door.

You're-, your mom said as I disappear from her sights. However, as I picked up my bike, I realized that the front door was still open, and I overheard your parents finishing the conversation.

I heard your mom finish her statement. -welcome. Her voice got lower as she talked with your dad. You don't think that he will get caught up in Niko's.....you know.

I don't know. Daisuke is awfully resourceful, your dad said, maybe this is the time for him to find out about our secret.

I saw your mom glance at the front door. I got on my bike and slowly started peddling away, keeping my hearing focused on as much of the conversation as possible. Well, Niko really hasn't had another really good friend since Tsuyoki. Maybe it is time....

'Maybe it is time'? What's that supposed to mean? Maybe there is something to you after all that I need to know about. I mean, Tsuyoki was at the tournament, right?

But I couldn't worry about that right now. There was a big explosion in the middle of the city, and I had to make sure you were okay.

I rode my bike into the middle of the city, but I couldn't tell where exactly the explosion came from. I was crossing through a busy intersection, WHOA! I almost got run over by a speeding police car! Hey! Slow down! I called out, but then I realized: it's probably going to the explosion – I should follow it.

I quickly turned my bike towards the police car and rushed after it, hoping it was going in the right direction.

To my surprise, the police car arrived at a residential house, surrounded by a few other police cars parked at random angles in the road. I arrived on site soon after. What would Niko be doing here? I thought. I looked at the house closer, and saw that the right half was pretty normal, but the left half looked like....well, a bomb took out a good chunk of it. I tried to listen in on some nearby conversations to figure out what went on. Nearby, a man, woman, and young child were all standing together by yellow holographic police tape, projected by surrounding tripod stands.

We can't move again! the man said loudly, We just got done paying this house off!

I know, honey, I know, the woman said as she turns to the child, Buyo, are you sure saw Chisai?

***

Buyo? Chisai asks as her hands cover her mouth, thinking the worst of the situation. Does that mean-

Excuse me! Daisuke cuts her off. I'm trying to tell a story here.

***

Anyway, Chisai? I thought as I overheard the conversation, Isn't that who Niko was supposed to be tutoring?

Yeah, mommy. Chisai was here with a guy, Buyo responded, He had red hair. I was asking if she saw Leo, and Chisai yelled at me. Then the kablooey happened, and she chased the guy out. The guy broke the door, mommy!

That fits Niko's description, but what would he be doing exploding houses?

At that moment, the police radio called.Unit 113, Unit 113, Public disturbance at 1010 Main.

After hearing that, the first thing in my mind was-

***

The noodle shop! Niko calls out.

Daisuke sighs. Yeah, man. The noodle shop. Now can I finish my story?

Sorry.

***

"Repeat: public disturbance at 1010 Main. Property damage and casualties reported."

The address was easily recognizable. It was the noodle shop in town: Noodle Wild.

1010 Main? That's.... Noodle Wild! I said loudly.

I'm sure I probably got some unnecessary attention from the police and the people as I yelled that and rode away.

The scene at the noodle shop was not what I expected. Compared to last night, this was pure chaos.

Countless police cars scattered the area. Holographic tape roped off secured areas. Ambulances were mixed in the group and had a few people covered in protective blankets.

All of that was nothing compared to the state of the restaurant; it was pretty much destroyed. The iconic front railing was destroyed, the outside tables and chairs were just debris, and the inside of the restaurant – well, that looked like someone let loose a mad tiger inside. The patterned tablecloths were ripped to shreds, the glasses were reduced to shards, bowls were smashed everywhere, and there were deep gashes in the walls, doors, and ceiling. I'm really surprised that there wasn't blood splatter everywhere.

Man, whoever did this must have caused some major damage, I thought.

Just as I'm about to take a closer look, I hear a witness talking to a police officer. Hoping to get some more details, I subtly listen in.

....then, out of nowhere, a beast shows up and starts tearing the place up! the witness said.

Can you describe what this 'beast' looked like? the officer asked.

Well, not much. It had a red mane, a black shirt, and some tan pants on, but I tell you it wasn't human!

Black shirt and 'tan' pants match Niko's usual getup, but a red 'mane'? I thought, and if he was over at Chisai's, what was he doing here too? It didn't make sense to me. How could you be in two places at once? And do you have some sort of.....well, for a lack of better word, 'demonic' transformation?

"Then, this guy showed up. He had a long