Chapter Text
Perhaps the heavens weep for the tragedies we experience, trying to wash them away with tears of rain. Wash away the blood, the dirt, and the grime. Clean the earth and start over, in hopes of a better tomorrow.
And so it was, on that fateful day.
But as sorrowful as the memory was, it was also the moment that changed you forever.
You saw it all, and it frightened you to your core. Those wounded hunters huddled together, bearing nothing but bad news, ill tidings, arms broken, and spirits worse off.
Several of the village men came to assist these foreigners stumbling through the gates.
“Please, we need help! We were able to fend off the monster and lead it away, but...”
“We’ve lost Garamond…!”
“Some of us are still injured. We’re loathe to ask more from Kamura and disturb your peace-”
“Did you say Sir Garamond?! No!”
You dropped the produce you were carrying, pushing through a crowd of worried villagers.
There was his lifeless body on a cart, covered with a cloth, along with a few other cadavers.
It couldn’t be.
That was the kind old hunter visiting Kamura along with his caravan.
You had a friendly conversation with him the evening before.
He almost reminded you of someone you once knew.
And just like him, he was gone, too.
But this time, for certain.
“Now this is a mess if I’ve ever seen one. The monsters nearby are getting worse, and it’s not a good sign.” Elder Fugen assessed the situation, carrying someone up to a safer spot.
He sighed. “But we’re low on hunters to even launch a retaliation so soon.”
“Wait, isn’t there anything I-” As you pleaded, you suddenly froze in horror by the sight of someone’s severed limb. Before you could say anything more, you felt a tug on your sleeve.
“Step back, dear. Your panic won’t make this situation any better. Leave this to Doctor Zenchi and the elder.”
“There’s nothing you can do for them right now. Not as you are. I know this is probably the first time you’ve ever seen something like this, but… it happens.”
Hinoa pulled you away from the chaos, while Minoto urged you to relax and sent you home.
“Damn it…”
Someone didn't come home that day.
A familiar pain you never wanted to experience again.
You are Setsuna Yukino.
Just a villager of Kamura.
You run the rice mill, and you toil away at spadework.
Other than that… Who are you, really?
You always were afraid there was no aim to your life,
but this was the first time you ever felt truly useless.
There had to be something, anything that you could do.
What were you even here for?
As if to answer your question...
On the spur of the moment, you recalled a certain man’s boisterous and energetic voice, telling you that everyone had boundless potential and a place in this world, including you. A voice that reminded you that if you gave yourself a chance to try something new, maybe you’d find something precious you’ve never known before.
If you were frozen in place all this time...
What would happen if someone reached out with warmth to defrost you?
Could you take his hand and move forward?
The rain pitter-pattered through an alleyway, a downpour that nourished the earth as much as it drowned it. The rush of your steps resounded in splashes, faster and faster as you made your way to your destination.
“I have to see him… Maybe he can help me. He has to-!”
The delicate balance of this world dictated that you respect the land and your time on it, taking only what you need. Sometimes that meant accepting reality could be cruel as it took from you, too.
But could you be kind in turn, by playing your part as one who can take the life of a being before it stole the ones of others around you? Could you dare to participate in the cycle of mortality, and keep sacred that balance?
You thought you could keep on living at the rice mill without a care, getting by on odd jobs. But something awakened in you when you saw those people begging for help, this regretful lack of hunters in the village to give aid.
“How can this be? We are Kamura!
We do everything we can for our people, and we’re capable of extraordinary things. It’s especially because we can produce a rare breed of hunter, wielding our unique steel. Because we live a different kind of lifestyle unlike any out there, it allows us to adapt to anything. But ours are a people that come and go, and... that is why we’re in this situation.”
These are the thoughts that ran through your head.
The hunters.
They who brave the unknown, if it means saving someone and anyone.
The ones who show courage in the face of danger.
Could these latent abilities really be in someone like you?
After all, in your heart, all you wanted to do was help others.
So that they wouldn’t feel alone-
Heroes who can partake in that divine dance of life and death.
Wasn’t there someone claiming to see proof of this in you?
The one who could help you right this wrong of inaction...
You arrived at his home, dragging the sliding door open without hesitation. Your hair, blue as the morning sky, was dripping with rainwater. Drenched as you were, the cold settled in and gnawed at your bones, but you no longer cared.
“I thought about what you said! And I think… I want to- Just...”
You needed to catch your breath before you could finally declare your intention.
“Make me your disciple!” You cried out.
Unsure if he heard you, you continued. “I’ll work hard! I’ll find a way! Just, I need someone to guide me through. And you’re the only one I know who can do this. I’ll take your offer! Just… Show me how I can protect people!"
Your voice echoed throughout the vicinity.
And after a few moments, a figure stepped forward from the shadows. He would have been concerned about you breaking in, but he knew what you were there for, with your head bowing fervently, humbled before him. After all… He saw what happened earlier and had a feeling you would show up sooner or later.
“So, you've decided... Alright, then. Chin up! I heard you loud and clear when you committed home invasion, and that kind of courage and conviction is what I wanna see in a pupil.”
He put a hand on your shoulder and gestured for you to keep your head held high.
When you glanced upwards, you saw his knowing amber eyes peering into yours.
You made a choice that day, and it was the first of many times he would feel proud of you.
"But just so you know, I'm not gonna go easy on ya! Not when there's so much ground to cover. I mean, most people around here start out learning how to hunt when they’re kids, so talk about being a real late bloomer... Ah, nevermind, that doesn’t matter!”
The man with forest brown hair eagerly reached out to you.
“I'm certain. I’ll make you the best hunter ever, I swear it."
“We’ll see if you do, … Err,” you paused. “How should I address you? Mister Utsushi?”
“Whoah there, I think you might be a letter off. How about Master Utsushi? It has a nice ring to it, right? It’s pretty cool when said out loud, if I do say so myself... Pretty gnarly, if you ask me.” That last part was audible even under his breath, as he trailed off in thought.
“Huh?” You were caught off guard by how oddly talkative he was.
But others have considered you unusual as well, so perhaps it was a sign that you would get along.
“… Well then, Master Utsushi. I’m in your hands now. Let’s do our best.”
“Yeah! Let’s see what you’re made of! We’ll start early tomorrow at the first crack of dawn, so get yourself ready. Be sure to eat and sleep well. You have a long road ahead.”
With that said, you shook hands firmly.
From that moment on, you placed your trust in him.
“And that’s when I began studying under you. Your regimen was horrendous and I often found myself wanting to quit, but I did what I could to meet your expectations. Who would’ve thought you of all people would persuade me to set out on this course, let alone become my better half. A lot has happened since…”
You gently rested your head on Utsushi’s shoulder, as he brought his arm around your waist, laughing at your criticism of his methods. At the same time, you cradled a kinsect grub in your palm while you told your tale. He gave it a hearty pat with his fingers.
One day, these little creatures would grow up to become hunters, themselves.
Like you, they also needed a little assistance in becoming the best they could be.
To anybody else, especially outside of Kamura, your handling of bugs might warrant disgust or disdain. But as your partner and best friend, this wasn’t unusual.
Utsushi admired how benevolent you were towards all manner of beings. And that even included monsters, for after every hunt, you never failed to give thanks for the life you’ve taken. Not many hunters give a second thought for their quarry, but you were different.
You moved with thoughtful intent, grasping it fiercely in your heart with everything you did.