Kaito and his friends race to Kuni, moving with the upmost urgency, crossing valleys, scaling hills and avoiding monsters. Eventually perched atop a nearby mountain they had a clear view of the town of Kuni.
"So that's Kuni?" Kaito asks.
Dante checking the map nods. "Yep, it's a lot bigger then what i expected." He says.
Kaito claps his hands. "Alright guys, since it's already night let's set up camp."
Nanami smiles, clearly out of breath. "Yes, that would be best so we can save our energy."
Rika giggles, "Yeah right, you're just tired from all the running."
They all set up camp, with the fire set and the tents all ready, Kaito decides to go hunting.
This hunting trip was not just for food, earlier they had passes a group of arcane tier monsters. They avoided them because of the danger level.
Kaito's eyes slowly locks in on the group of beasts as he walks forwards, soon he'd once again be face to face with the monster of Kuni, Renji. No doubt the most dangerous fight he'd ever be apart of, he as a man was stronger then the hunter, stronger then the graith, he had surpassed the strength of phantasmal monsters.
Kaito readied himself as he approached the horde, if he wanted to defeat Renji he needed to be stronger.
Meanwhile back at the camp the rest of the group sit around the fire, snacking on things Rika had stolen from the cafeteria. From the campfire's warmth flickering between them and the looming fight slowly approaching they all found themselves nervous.
Rika taking note of Dante's shaking hands decided to speak up. "Hey, icy it's ok to freeze up, I do it sometimes too, all that matters is you keep on swinging." She says in an attempt to make him feel better.
Toni smiles, "Yeah friend, you just gotta find your own rythm." He says.
Nanami though sits silent, she too understands where Dante is coming from.
Rika nervously looks around. "Though i guess i need some of that praise too. This is really scary."
Nanami places her hand onto Rika's. "It's ok Rika, we can watch eachothers backs." She says with a faint smile.
Kaito returns with a single beasts body, "Dinner is served!" He says with a chipper attitude. Kaito sits down with them all as he begins dicing into the beasts body.
Before long Kaito finishes their meal, A hearty steak, with potatoes on the side.
Toni smiles brightly. "Aw friend is there nothin, you can't do?!" He takes another bite, letting out an exagerated groan. "It's so good!" He shouts.
Everyone enjoys the meal, joking together and playing around, after the meal is over everyone retreats to their tents for the night. All but Dante.
"I'll take the first watch." He says. Nanami sees this and comes back from her tent. "Allow me to join you." She says.
The two of them sit by the campfire, The cold air peacefully passing between them, who were sitting across from each other.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Nanami asks, not sure how to lead in.
He looks over to her. "Not really."
Nanami leans in, with a patient smile. "I think talking will help you feel better."
Dante sighs. "I just want to be someone Kaito can rely on, not someone he needs to protect." He says, Nanami's ears perking up. "The only thing I want right now is to be able to stand next to him proudly, not just another person in a shadow behind him." He opens up to Nanami.
Nanami nods, "I too share that feeling, hence why i've been working so hard to be better at hand to hand combat, since im not sure if my weapon will work, so i tried to help him get better with his magic, I too want to be someone Kaito can rely on." Nanami states.
Nanami slides herself a bit closer to Dante. "I think your issue however is that you're too focused on trying to be Kaito." She says confusing him.
Dante tilts his head. "How so?"
"The way Kaito fights, the way he moves i've watched your sparing matches, you try to move like him, but the way he does things is exclusive to him. You have to find a way to be yourself, and express that through your combat." She explains.
Dante begins thinking but Nanami stands up. "Take me for example, i'm a calculated person, and it reflects in how i move, but my body lacks what's necessary to keep up, you too are calculated but more athletic than myself," She says before sitting back next to him. "What was it Toni said again, oh right, you've got to find your own rhythm.
Dante sits for a moment truly taking time to understand her words before turning to her, "Nanami, do you wanna train together, since we're gonna have a pretty eventful day tomorrow." He jokes.
Nanami agrees and the two train together, in an effort to not let Kaito down.