The road turned jagged as it climbed into the hills
Mist hung low over the trees like it was hiding something
Not from him
But from the sky above
Shigure didn't stop walking
Even when his legs trembled
Even when the cold gnawed at his fingers
Pain had become an old friend
One that no longer needed to announce itself
By noon he saw the first sign of life
A small wooden shack near a bend in the path
Smoke rose weakly from its chimney
He approached slowly
Hand near his belt
Not for a weapon
But out of habit
A voice called out from the porch
High pitched
Young
"You lost old man"
Shigure raised an eyebrow
Old man
A boy no older than ten sat on a wooden crate
Dirty feet
Torn clothes
Eyes too sharp for his age
"Do I look lost" Shigure asked
The boy smirked
"People only come up this path when they're running from something"
Shigure didn't respond
The boy jumped down and approached
Tiny
But fearless
"You got the look"
"What look"
"The kind monsters don't bother chasing anymore"
Shigure exhaled
A breath that tasted like memories
The boy tilted his head
"You hungry"
"I have bread"
The boy made a face
"Gross"
He turned and walked into the shack
"Come in if you want fire"
Shigure hesitated
Then followed
Inside the place was cramped but warm
A small fire pit crackled in the corner
Potatoes roasting on sticks
"Name's Kenta" the boy said
"Taste my cooking and you'll forget how sad you are"
Shigure sat
Let the heat touch his hands
Kenta handed him a scorched potato
Proud
Like it was gold
He took a bite
It was terrible
But warm
And something about that made it the best thing he'd eaten in years
Kenta grinned
"Told you"
They sat in silence for a while
Kenta poking the fire with a stick
Then
Without looking up
"You see the thing in the woods yet"
Shigure glanced toward the window
"No"
"You will"
Kenta leaned back
"Comes out when the moon's red"
"What is it"
"Dunno"
He smiled
"But it talks"
Shigure's fingers twitched
Kenta continued
"Talks like someone you lost"
Shigure didn't answer
"I saw my brother" Kenta said softly
"But it wasn't him"
The wind outside picked up
Tree branches scratched against the shack
Kenta whispered
"It laughs when you cry"
Shigure stood
Walked to the door
Stared out at the darkening forest
A faint rustle
And then
Laughter
Familiar
Cruel
Wrong
He didn't flinch
Behind him
Kenta whispered
"Told you"
And for the first time in years
Shigure smiled
Not because he was happy
But because finally
Something worth killing had found him again