Snow still hadn't stopped falling.
It followed them long after the forest disappeared behind them.
Kaguren walked ahead without hesitation, without effort, and—most importantly—without explanation.
Tetsuo followed because there was only one question that mattered now.
Where exactly was he being taken?
"You're quiet," Kaguren said casually.
"I usually am."
"Yes," Kaguren replied.
"That's what makes it noticeable."
Tetsuo stared at the back of the man's coat.
He still wasn't leaving footprints.
That was becoming irritating.
"You split a mountain," Tetsuo finally said.
"Yes."
"And you're walking like nothing happened."
"Yes."
"You're not going to explain that?"
"No."
They kept walking.
Snow crunched beneath Tetsuo's boots.
Silence followed Kaguren instead.
"You ask very few questions," Kaguren added after a moment.
"I ask useful ones."
"That was not a useful one?"
"No."
Kaguren smiled slightly.
"I like you."
"I didn't ask."
They crossed a frozen stream.
Tetsuo stepped carefully across the ice.
Kaguren walked across the surface of the water without touching it.
Tetsuo stopped walking.
Looked down at the stream.
Looked back at Kaguren.
Then continued walking again.
He decided not to comment on that.
Some things were clearly going to remain unreasonable no matter how long he stared at them.
"You're not surprised," Kaguren observed.
"I am," Tetsuo answered.
"You hide it well."
"I hide everything well."
"Yes," Kaguren said quietly.
"Inoticed."
They walked for another hour before Kaguren finally stopped beside a narrow mountain path.
Stone steps carved directly into the cliffside disappeared into the clouds above them.
Ancient.
Steep.
Unforgiving.
And clearly not designed for ordinary travelers.
"This is where you decide," Kaguren said.
"Decide what?"
"Whether you keep hunting measly demons in forests," Kaguren replied,
"or bbecome what high ranking demons are afraid of."
Tetsuo looked up the mountain.
The path seemed to stretch forever.
"Is this a test?"
"No."
"Good."
"It's worse than a test."
Tetsuo sighed quietly.
That was the first sound he had made all morning that resembled emotion.
"Do I at least get food if I survive the climb?" he asked.
Kaguren looked genuinely surprised.
"You're thinking about food right now?"
"I haven't eaten since yesterday."
"That explains several things."
They began climbing.
Halfway up the first section of the path—
Tetsuo slipped slightly on the ice.
He recovered instantly.
Pretended nothing happened.
Kaguren did not pretend.
"You almost fell."
"I didn't."
"You nearly died."
"I adjusted."
"You adjusted toward death."
Tetsuo kept climbing.
"I liked you better when you weren't talking."
Kaguren laughed for the first time since they met.
It was quiet.
But real.
"You're still a child," he said.
Tetsuo stopped walking.
Turned slightly.
Looked directly at him.
"No," he said calmly.
"I survived childhood."
Kaguren didn't respond immediately.
For the first time since they met—
his expression changed.
Not amusement.
Not curiosity.
Recognition.
"Yes," he said softly.
"I can see that."
They continued climbing.
Higher.
Closer to the clouds.
Closer to the place where the war between Heaven and Hell stopped being distant history—
and started becoming personal again.
And for the first time since leaving the forest—
Tetsuo realized something strange.
Kaguren wasn't leading him somewhere dangerous.
He was leading him somewhere important.