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Chapter Text

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Chapter One: Murderer

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As Kohaku placed the final red blossom in her elaborate flower arrangement, she stood on a small rock to check if the long-haired murderer she had been following was still within sight – and from the very distant, but still visible, figure she could see, he was.

Nodding her herself in determination, she gently cradled the bundle of flowers in her left arm as she set out to follow the stranger in earnest.

He had covered a lot of ground while she had been gathering the flowers; so much ground that he had eventually gotten further and further from her while she had been busy. But because the flowers had been essential to her plan, she made the decision to momentarily let him walk on ahead in order to make preparations that would make her first strike more effective.

She followed him for over half an hour, using shrubs and rocks and large trees for cover. He seemed to be in a hurry, but speed wasn't a problem for Kohaku.

Make a large flower arrangement; follow the long-haired man; hide my weapons in the flower arrangement; walk as if the flowers are a present; get close enough to be within fighting range; stab him in the neck, heart, or genitals. Simple. Then I'll pick up my pot and get today's first batch of hot spring water for Ruri-nee.

No, before that, I should take a bath in a different hot spring, and wash my clothes, too. I can't let Ruri-nee see me covered in blood. She'll worry.

I wonder if father would ca-

A small twig snapped under her shoe, and Kohaku cringed and immediately crouched behind a berry bush.

That's what I get for not being focused...

As quietly as she could, she used her right hand to part just enough leaves in the berry bush so that she had a tiny hole to peek through. The man was turned slightly in her direction, spear in hand, as he quickly scanned the area for threats.

Finding none he could see, he relaxed his stance, and Kohaku was about to sigh in relief, but then he started walking, and she realized...

...he's walking slower than before.

Kohaku gritted her teeth in frustration.

If Kohaku had attacked earlier, when the man had been walking forward at a very fast pace, she would have had the advantage because it would have taken precious seconds for the man to halt his forward movement, come to a full stop, and turn around.

But now that he was walking forward at a much slower pace, he barely had any forward movement, which meant that quickly stopping and turning to face Kohaku would be no problem at all.

He wouldn't slow down for an animal. He knows he's being followed by a human.

One of my advantages is gone... but maybe I can find a new one...

She inspected his body from behind her berry bush, looking for weaknesses.

Unfortunately, she couldn't find any.

He was the tallest man she had ever seen – taller than her father, even. The stranger seemed to be a couple of years older than her, but that didn't make sense – Kohaku had only ever heard of one criminal being exiled from Ishigami Village, and that was from her parents' generation, so this couldn't have been that man.

Or maybe... maybe when the criminal had been exiled, he had taken his child with him, and this man I'm following is that child?

But the problem with that theory was that with children being the most precious people in their village, no matter how heinous an adult's crimes would have been, there was absolutely no possibility of any village chief banishing a child along with his or her parent. In that scenario, the child would have been taken in by childless or older couples in the village, which was what happened in times of famine or natural disasters.

And even if this long-haired man were the child of an exiled criminal, that didn't explain who the other people had been – the gentleman sorcerer he had killed; the woman he had taken hostage; the man who had thrown the gigantic boulder at him.

Was the criminal exiled with his... four children? Did this man I'm following try to kill his three siblings?

Unbidden, her right hand gripped the leaves she was holding apart just a little bit tighter. Kohaku had tried so hard, for several years, to save her only sibling. She had already been following this man to destroy him for murdering the gentleman sorcerer, but the idea that he had been willing to kill his own siblings made Kohaku even more incensed at the thought that he was still alive.

Not for long, though...

As they both continued to move forward, Kohaku noticed that the slope of the hill they were on was now a little steeper, which meant that they were both more noticeably going downhill. As the fighter coming from the higher position, that would help her a little.

She continued her inspection.

He was wearing some kind of animal pelt she had never seen before. Judging from how it was one large piece, it wasn't several rabbit or fox furs sewn together; it was all from one animal – likely one he had killed himself, as he had seemed the largest and most muscular of the four people she had seen.

Then again, while Magma's larger and more muscular than I am, he's definitely not stronger than me. Maybe he killed the gentleman sorcerer because he was afraid of his sorcery?

“Fifty-seven meters behind...”

Kohaku flinched violently in surprise.

“...to the right.”

His words repeated in her head.

“Fifty-seven meters behind, to the right.”

The first murderer Kohaku had ever seen knew exactly where she was.

She reached into her flowers and gripped one of her daggers.

In a few moments, Kohaku would be a murderer, too.

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(End of Chapter One.) (10/May/2023.)

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Chapter Text

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Chapter Two: Observing the Enemy

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"Fifty-seven meters behind, to the right..."

In a few moments, Kohaku would be a murderer, too. This wasn't a type of act that she had ever envisioned herself committing. After all, she had been hard at work for several years trying to save a life - a very particular life. Murder was the opposite of that.

But this man had done it first.

"...yes," the long-haired stranger continued. "There's only one person who's been following me quietly for two minutes..."

This isn't good, Kohaku thought grimly as she continued to crouch behind the berry bush.

On one hand, her large positional advantage and her small environmental advantage - her being behind him and on higher ground - were lost, because while they would have helped against an oblivious opponent, they would not help Kohaku against one who already knew of her presence.

But on the other hand, his statement had revealed important information about how well he perceived his surroundings. He had said that she had been following him for two minutes, but Kohaku knew that she had been trailing him for far longer than that. That this man heard her from fifty-seven meters away was impressive, to be sure, but it also showed Kohaku the limits of his range of hearing.

Unless that's what he wants me to think. For all I know, maybe he's saying he's only known about me for two minutes, but he actually sensed me even earlier than that.

"...and it's you. Who are you?"

The voice was deceptively light - and completely the opposite of the man she saw when he turned around.

Before, Kohaku had noted that he was a tall man wearing an unfamiliar animal pelt.

Now, she could see that with his height, he could tower over any warrior who could ever think to face him, and be able to see that warrior as helpless prey. His body showed evidence of years and years of intensive training in the hard lines of muscle in his arms, chest, and stomach. The animal pelt around him was still one she didn't know of, but it showed that this man was capable of defeating large animals with wicked, sharp claws that were longer than his own fingers. The fur was undamaged in the parts that she could see, which meant that he was skilled enough to aim for specific parts of the animal - after all, a less experienced fighter would have just swung his or her weapon blindly and hoped for the best - and kill it in a way that would not lower its quality when turned into an item of clothing.

He walked barefoot, which meant he had decided his feet did not need protection. Along with the forceful blow he had dealt with his hand to kill the gentleman sorcerer, it was highly possible that powerful kicks were also in this man's fighting arsenal. His weapon of choice was a short spear that had several secondary edges that jutted out from the body of the dark blade, with the tip shaped into a perfect point. Kohaku's own daggers were slim and had simple edges, perfect for slashing and slicing - but this man's weapon was made to drive into whoever he was fighting in one decisive thrust, and then maximize his enemy's pain with the irregular secondary edges tearing flesh and splintering bone as the spear's point was slowly taken out.

This man was so confident in his strength that he would let his enemies sneak up behind him and use a weapon that would prolong a battle.

Kohaku's weapons were meant for quick victories. The murderer's weapon was created to increase suffering.

She squeezed the handle of one of her daggers tighter, imagining it...

I could walk up to him, like I planned. Carrying beautiful flowers, walking slowly... he wouldn't suspect me of being dangerous until I reveal my weapons. Yes, he's already aware of me, but I'm the fastest person in the village. I could sprint forward, jump up, and slice into him before he can get to me. My first choice would be to cut off his genitals, but since I'd be up in the air, slashing his neck open would probably be easier to do.

Magma's disgusting speech at the Grand Bout about what he planned to do with Ruri-nee was the closest thing I'd ever heard to murderous intent, and even with my rage about the threat to Ruri-nee and Magma's boastful, undisciplined fighting, he still gave me a tough fight before I defeated him. Now, I'm facing an actual murderer, who committed his crime right before my eyes. If he were ruthless, I could fight him and win. If he were powerful, I could fight him and win.

But he's both.

If I fight him and I win, the sorcerer gentleman would be avenged, and there would be one fewer murderer in the world.

If I fight him and I lose, my death would mean that there will be nobody to bring the healing water to Ruri-nee everyday, and her health will get worse. Or, because of my actions, this man might look for Ishigami Village to take revenge on the people I love. Or maybe he won't seek the village out on purpose, but he could come across it by accident one day and use his strength to hurt the others. I wouldn't put it past a heartless man like him. My death would mean the loss of one of the strongest warriors in our village. And against a man like this, we would need everybody. Even Magma, even my father - even me. Because I have to protect my sister. Because the children must live on, the priestess must endure, the Hundred Tales must survive.

...and then Kohaku slackened her grip, so that she was now only loosely holding the dagger, which she then pressed to her heart.

I don't know if you can hear me, she thought, thinking of the noble sorcerer who had sacrificed himself to save that girl. You deserve to be at peace. I wish I could avenge you. But my sister is the most important person in my life. My death would mean her death.

She took a deep breath, laid the flowers she had collected on the ground, and stood up to look him in the eye, daggers in hand. After holding them in front of her in a defensive stance for a few seconds, she casually and deliberately raised her hands - the man bent slightly, eyes narrowed and cruel spear ready - and, without breaking eye contact, felt the grooves of her shield's straps and deposited both daggers in their usual places inside the curve of her shield, before letting her now weaponless hands fall back to her sides.

Which means I cannot let this man find out that I am actually his enemy.

"My name is Kohaku. And I'm very interested in knowing who you are, long-haired man."

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(End of Chapter Two.) (23/May/2023.)

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Chapter Text

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Chapter Three: First Meeting

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A/N: Fun fact: ALL six of my Dr. Stone fanfics will get a new chapter this week. This is the sixth fanfic... get excited! :D

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"My name is Kohaku. And I'm very interested in knowing who you are, long-haired man."

It was true. She wanted more information on him, because that would make it easier to know what to do.

She noticed that her response made him blink in surprise. While the man didn't lower his guard enough to similarly lower his weapon, the tension in his fingers did loosen slightly, showing Kohaku that he was slightly open to conversation. Perhaps killing one of his siblings, and losing the companionship of two others, had made him lonely?

"Kohaku," he repeated evenly, as if testing her name out. "You've chosen a noteworthy moment to approach me. Were you also recently set free?"

He spoke in a languid, confident tone, befitting a warrior who saw no threat before him. While it worked for Kohaku's current purpose, it nevertheless rankled at her that her significant battle prowess could be so easily disregarded. But it wasn't just his tone...

What does this man mean by "recently set free?" Are there others out there who are... imprisoned or trapped in some way? That can't be. Ruri-nee or Father would know if that were so.

"I don't know what you mean. I've always been free."

That garnered a stronger reaction from him - a widening of the eyes, followed by a very obvious inspection of her person. His eyes roamed up and down, and while he stopped in the middle of her torso, the disgust Kohaku felt made the hair on the back of her hair stand on end... until Kohaku realized that she had been mistaken in the subject of his interest. There was no leering glint in his eyes as he gazed at her chest - instead, his look seemed speculative, gauging the material of her dress as the fingers of his non-fighting hand absently fingered the edges of his own clothing.

The slight movement shifted the arms of his dangerous animal pelt, the golden color reminding Kohaku of Ginro's hair - and giving her the idea to ease the heavy air of the conversation in the same humorous way that he would.

"I would be happy to trade clothing," she added a bit teasingly, "if my dress interests you as much as it seems to."

Her joke looked like it startled the long-haired man, who gave a quick, minute shake of his head as he glanced away. That action was rapidly followed by a slump of his shoulders, his eyes filling with regret - before those, too, were gone in favor of a renewed firm stance in his legs and the rest of his body, his gaze regaining its former suspicion.

His emotions chase each other away so quickly. I understand the embarrassment, and the suspicion... but why the regret?

The man shook his head, his long tresses shifting as he did so.

"I'm not interested in your dress," he said slowly, "but you seem interested in me, Kohaku. Yes. Interested enough to follow me; and bring me flowers; and converse with me. Why is that?"

That's a good question...

Obviously, Kohaku couldn't tell the murderer in front of her about her own murderous intentions, so she was at a loss.

She also wanted to give herself a whack on the head. If she had approached with just her weapons and shield, perhaps she could have given some sort of excuse about coming across him by accident.

Unfortunately, the problem was the flowers.

The quantity indicated time; the arrangement indicated care; their very presence indicated a purpose of some sort.

There were four reasons why people would have a bundle of flowers with them, but three of those reasons were disqualified due to the circumstances of their meeting. The artful way Kohaku had weaved them together showed that they were not being brought to a cooking pit for consumption, and the fact that she had been carrying them while heading towards the long-haired man meant that she had definitely not been bringing them home to use as decoration, or as a present for a loved one who was encumbered by illness.

Which just left... Well, the notion was ridiculous, considering Kohaku would never seek such a connection with a murderer, but even she could see how an unmarried woman bringing such a thing to a presumably unmarried, not unattractive man roughly in her age range would perceive it as a gift of courtship.

A drop of sweat trickled down the side of her face.

This is why Father always says I should think before I act, isn't it...?

Distantly, she knew that was a sort of deception that might even be plausible. From Kohaku's experience, the more strength and muscles a man possessed, the prouder he was of himself and the more sure he was of his appeal. It was a reason for approaching that Kohaku could give the man that he would likely not question... but the idea of maintaining such a pretense towards a man who had taken an innocent life was too distasteful to contemplate further.

Not only that, but Kohaku's own straightforward nature meant that wouldn't be able to keep it up for long, anyway.

She could see his mild suspicion continue to increase as the seconds passed, prompting Kohaku to think faster. How could she explain her curiosity-

Wait, that's it!

Chrome's focus on discovering new things outside the village, as opposed to practicing his fighting skills inside the village, made him one of the least suspicious, least threatening people in Kohaku's generation. Acting like Chrome would surely get her out of this predicament.

"I'd like to learn who you are," she said with a shrug. "You're not from where I am; I've never seen that sort of animal pelt before; and I'm curious about your weapon. I want to know more-"

Kohaku cut herself off when his jaw clenched at her words. It was such a tiny motion that to others, it would look like his cheek had barely moved at all - only somebody with her special eyesight would have noticed. Her hands itched to go to her daggers, and it was only through a great force of will that she refrained from giving in to her impulse to fight, knowing that drawing her weapons at this crucial point would end all chances of negotiation.

I thought that was a pretty harmless, Chrome-like response... so why...?

"Curious? Want to know more?" The long-haired man eyed her closely. "That's where it starts..."

His voice was mild - deceptively so. Despite his minimal movements, Kohaku's battle instincts told her that her words had been ill-chosen, to the point that she was in more danger right at this moment than at any other point in their conversation-

The shrill cry of a bird startled them both, and caused him to look in the direction where it came from - the very direction he had been heading in earlier. It seemed to remind him of something.

"Time is of the essence," he murmured, turning his back on her. Another move that irritated Kohaku, even as it likely saved her from grievous harm. She didn't like being underestimated. The man shifted his weapon arm to the side, bent his knees, and placed his right foot in front of his left, clearly entering a pre-running crouch. Tilting his head to the side, he made deliberate eye contact with her.

"Kohaku. Nice to meet you." At his bizarre politeness, Kohaku barely had time to feel incredulous before he continued, "Curiosity about weapons leads to unpleasant things. I would advise against it."

Before she could reply, he broke their eye contact, looked straight ahead, and started to run.

Within seconds, the long-haired man was gone from the area.

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A/N: Fun fact: ALL six of my Dr. Stone fanfics will get a new chapter this week. This is the sixth fanfic... get excited! :D

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(End of Chapter Three.) (01/March/2025.)

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