Chapter 2: ☆ Chapter 1: Dream 2- Solar Mist ☆
[It's best to read in the Dark Mode]
As I pulled my weapon from a man's stomach, blood dripped to the floor. He collapsed to the ground shortly after I let go, lying dead as a bunch of cherry blossom petals floated by the night sky.
"Urgh... Such a pain..."
I despise killing, but it's my job, so I can't help myself, because I am merely a Ninja, the Solar Mist Ninja. I am always controlled by my Master.
Flower petals fall as I stand in front of the man I just killed under the full moon.
The sight of this Japanese shrine in front of me now just makes me sick and want to vomit. I despise my job, but what could I do about it?
My right eye contrasted with my overall black outfit and hair as it glowed the color violet, while my other eye was covered by a dark cloth, and tried to disguise it with my black hair as well.
I reached into my left ear and ripped out an earring, causing it to glow and morph within my hand as it changed into a pair (a weapon) holding them on both hands as I focused my eye on the shrine hallway.
I teleported behind one of the guards using my magic and started killing them one by one, dashing as I entered the shrine.
Making my way through with my intentions, flipping, kicking, and hitting as a result of my hands being covered with the blood of the guards.
Suddenly, I was struck by a weird atmosphere and heard music emanating from one of the rooms: "Yes, this must be the room of my target."
I stormed in, breaking the paper wall with my kick and knocking the performers down to the grind as they fled the scene.
"Oi!... That was uncool; I prefer live performances rather than watching them on TV, you know."
The man in front of me spoke as he put down his Sake and glared at me. He is wearing an open Haori, revealing his belly fat. He has a smirk on his face while moving his furry ears; he is actually a Half-Tanuki Aniba.
"Ugh... God, I hate this country....everyone likes old stuff more."
I grumbled in disappointment as if we were living in a modern fantasized world, yet most of the residents here prefer traditional suffrage. It's just so old-fashioned...
Pointed my weapon towards him as some of his guards tried to block my path, but that wouldn't stop me as I threw my throwing stars and killed them in the blink of an eye while going forward.
"Oh... crap I miss, goddammit!".
Because of the guards, I missed my attacks at him, as he almost got away.
His smirk is directly at me. Just then, I felt a sudden impact on the back of my neck, making me collapse to the floor when I felt the blow.
"URGH!! Dang it... h... his strong..."
"Pathetic haha... your pretty amusing too, seeing you survived my great strength," he laughed as he summoned his big sword with his leaf and pointed at me.
"You dare to challenge the great Tanuki-Sama!? And to think two Ninjas could stop me."
That's right... I was so focused on the mission that I'd forgotten; I also came to rescue one of my fellow ninja friend.
"Where did you take my comrade?..."
I stand up, holding the back of my neck from the hit earlier.
Seeing how he smirked at me made me feel uneasy. As he snapped his finger, out of nowhere, a girl tied up appeared in front of me as I stood glitching my fist.
"I believe she's the real reason why you came here... right?" He smirked again, looking at me as he squished the girl's face with his big hands, noticing the terrified look on her face as I looked down.
It's frustrating how this innocent girl got involved with this evil guy. Yes, I might also be a bad guy from other people's perspective... but I'm still a person who cares about such a scene in my eyes.
She looks just about my age, about 18 years old too... She's still so young to experience this kind of treatment, and I'm willing to rescue this girl as part of my job.
"I may not have my weapon, but I warned you, so hand over the girl before I kill you."
"Huh!? Kill me? You must be joking." He then dashed towards me, preparing to kill me with his big sword inches in my neck as I got into my scenes, preparing for my trump card.
Wind forces gathered, and I placed my hand on his stomach before the blade hit me as I summoned and used my wind magic, making him fall to the ground heavily wounded.
I mean... I came from a Ninja Clan of wind users, but that wasn't the case, as the Tanuki looked so shocked in front of me, holding his wounded stomach.
"...H...HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!? You're not human! How do you have Elemental Magic!"
"I see... I guess I can't hide my disguise from a strong Aniba like you." Yes... I'm not human... I wasn't supposed to possess such powers."
Looking back at the girl, looking puzzled, in her eyes I looked nothing more than a human with my disguise, but after Tanuki detected and saw right through me... she must be having a lot of questions right now. Too bad she's still tied up, even her mouth.
"Don't question and die already; I hate this job, you know."
I held my hand facing the Tanuki, gathering a lot of air and wind. I could see the horror on Tanuki's face as I felt nothing more than to do my job and nothing else.
Striking a big gush of wind blowing the Tanuki away, hitting and breaking the wall, the wall collapsed under the sudden blow of magic as the Tanuki flew out, hitting the tree outside as I looked at the scene with cold eyes.
The wall was already destroyed from the blow earlier, and part of the roof was also gone, making the dark sky visible while the moon shined against my black hair. As I turned, I looked behind me, seeing the stunned look of the girl seeing the Tanuki dead before her eyes.
The moon was shining behind me as I slowly approached the girl and tried to untie her mouth first.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!"
I can sense she's shaking in fear. Seeing someone get killed in front of their eyes, even if they are bad people, is still something you can't easily forget.
I looked into her eyes with a soft look as I held her hands while untying the rest of the rope, hoping to calm her down as I stroked her head in as gentle a way as possible.
"It's ok... You're safe now; your father has sent me."
Saying these words, the girl started crying. I don't know how scared she could have been, or she's probably relieved. Whatever the reason, I embrace and hug her, proving I mean no harm.
Just then I heard footsteps coming inside the room. I then saw my comrade Hakkaru enter the room, also injured; he must have tried to escape.
"Seokmin... I see they sent you after me," he chuckled at me. That's right. My name is the Solar Mist Ninja, Seokmin.
"It's great to see you well, Hakkaru." I removed my mask to smile in return, seeing that he was still alive and well.
__
We both head back to our village, not so far while carrying the girl behind my back. I can see from the distance that a bunch of people are already waiting for our return.
"Princess Aikawa!! "I can hear a man's voice as the girl behind me gets down and greets the man with a warm embrace.
"It's nice to see you again, uncle."
"Princess, your dad was so worried about you."
The people then bowed down before me and Hakkaru, including the princess, as a form of gratitude.
"Thank you for your service to the palace. The other ninjas were still on a mission, so we greatly thank you for your cooperation."
"It was only our job." I smiled in return and bowed down as well with Hakkaru.
I looked back at the princess, seeing that she looked at me strangely, probably because of my having powers after what the Tankuki said earlier.
The man spoke again: "Aniba's could never be trusted again, Princess, so please stay away from them! "
He sounds a bit firm as I clitch my fist; I can sense Hakkaru looking down as well. I could not hold myself anymore and stepped forward, removing my eye patch.
My hair turned white, my right eye turned from purple to green, and my covered eye was glowing blue. My ears changed into a pair of black pear ears as I showed my true form.
I have white hair and black panda ears, revealing to them that I'm also an Aniba disguised as a human. I have odd eyes, probably because of my genetic shift as a half-human.
"I'm actually a half-aniba, so please don't judge someone based on their race," I exclaimed, seeing their shocked faces. I guess they never knew half-aniba like me existed.
Looking back at the princess and seeing her expression, must have cleared up all her questions.
—
Morning arrives as I place flowers beside a pair of graves under a big tree, smiling and looking at my parent's grave.
"Mom, Dad, how has it been in heaven? "
"Me? Same as usual... a ninja... Grandpa scoled me... I told the royals about me being a half-panda."
"Don't worry... it's not your fault. You guys just loved each other."
I chuckled while sitting beside them; it really makes me feel warm talking to someone who won't judge me.
Suddenly, I saw a crow with our ninja symboled towards me. The bird was carrying a letter, which must be for me.
Slowly opening it, I found out it was from my grandpa. "Gosh... what's the use of him having a phone!? "
I opened the letter with a bit of hesitance since he just scolded me last night.
[ "Seokmin, please forgive me for what happened last night. We were on a mission, and seeing how responsible you were to look after the clan and rescue the princess was something to be proud of." ]
I almost couldn't believe it. I've always felt neglected after he forced me to become a ninja...
But seeing this letter from him, I almost assumed that this letter was fake, but I know how he writes, and his thumbprints prove he wrote this.
[ "The important news I came to tell you was because, after you rescued the princess, the king decided to reward you. I knew how much you wanted to quit being a ninja, so I decided for you to actually retire." ]
"I couldn't believe my eyes... I'm finally going to have a normal life." "I was shocked but happy, rereading again as I could see my eyes.
[ "You are still young; I can't let you lose your life; you've already sacrificed your childhood and teenage years for being a Ninja." ]
[ "I've also enrolled you in a university at ELARES; I want you to have a normal college life, oh, and one more thing. For your last mission, please, I need you to do this for me, as a family and not as a master." ]
Reading the last words made me think... a mission if I'm retired? I don't see the point in doing so... I got my hopes up for nothing.
[ "Seokmin, there's a picture behind this letter. Please, I need you to protect her. I don't know for how long, but... she is very important. She's also in the same school I just enrolled in. Keep an eye on her. ]
Looking back at the picture, I saw a girl with black hair and ruby eyes. She must be the girl I must protect... but... seeing her face, I had a strange feeling...
"Deja vu?? "
"No..."
"These...a..are...."
-— ☾☼ —-
"Memories"
"Memories of how I met.... her"
"My friend"
"My best friend..."
"My–"
— ☾☼ —
I gasped for air when I woke up panting in bed. My hands are trembling, and my head is spinning. Just then, I saw my memories... Those memories seem to belong to me.
Looking around, this was clearly my room... my world... with no magic, and I'm a normal human without Panda Ears.
"A Dream?... No... they are too realistic."
My head is still spinning as if I just dreamed my whole life in the blink of an eye... trying to process all the visions I saw... felt, and...
Despite being dizzy, I proceeded to look at the clock... It was 3 a.m., and as soon as the clock hands moved again... I'd finished processing everything...
"HEIDI!!"
I shouted the name of the friend I had a vision of, and I started rushing down the stairs as soon as I remembered her.
"Where are you going at this late hour?"
One of the maids saw me... but I couldn't care less as my mind was only focused on saving my friend.
The moment I got outside and proceeded to the gate, I felt dizzy again..."Urgh... my head."
I couldn't see properly when my vision started to fuzz..."Dammit... w...why... I must–"
Before I knew it, my hands and neck were already wrapped in RED STRINGS. I looked at the strings in horror... She had found me.
My whole body felt weak as my legs slowly kneeled, panting and breathing as hard as I could. Just then, I heard a familiar voice behind me.
"Found You.."
I turned to look, seeing a girl all in white with a strand of string hanging on her finger, yes... she was the one behind these RED THEADS, her eyes glowed blue, and her white hair glistened under the dark sky.
"You think you could escape me... Think again, Child..."
"But seeing that you made so much effort, I'll give you some more time for my entertainment."
And with that, she disappeared into thin air, leaving me breathless and collapsing to the ground... "I'll... save you."
I couldn't think of anything else but her... My eyes slowly closed hearing the maids shouting as I fell unconscious.
—- ☾☼ —-
☾☼
TO BE CONTINUED
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
hime_san22
hime_san22 this is also available in Wattpad, along with the visuals.
anyways future Webtoon will just arrive after a year probably.
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