Torakichi and Hanabira descended toward the burning village that was Kama.

The air carried distant screams along with the smell of burning homes.

Torakichi and Hanabira eventually came across the village’s first buildings.

“Do you think the rest of your family made it to safety?” Torakichi asked.

“I… don’t know.” Hanabira asked.

“Mmm… where do you live?”

“My husband never told you?”

“He did, but I never had any plans on visiting, so I forgot.” Torakichi said with narrowed eyes.

“I see. We live on the western edge of the village.”

“You ran that far? Mmm…” Torakichi droned before spotting a group of men dressed in dark brown armour that was embellished with a downward facing semi circle.

They chased a man down the street before tackling him to the ground where they then brutally hacked apart his body.

Torakichi placed his hand in front of Hanabira, stopping her.

He then nudged her to the side where they hid behind a nearby house.

Hanabira noticed that Torakichi’s eyes were narrowed as he watched the soldiers step over the corpse.

They then walked away prompting Torakichi to step back onto the street with Hanabira in tow.

The two then made their way west while taking care not to alert the many soldiers who walked the corpse ridden streets of Kama.

They eventually arrived at the place Hanabira said was her home.

They entered it to find that it had been ransacked.

Walls had been torn down and various pieces of furniture lay broken.

The two made their way deeper into the house before eventually arriving at the only room with a closed door.

Torakichi slid the door open slightly to find the corpses of an elderly man and woman on the floor.

Hanabira leaned over to look at the tragic sight.

“My goodness.” She gasped.

“We must leave.” Torakichi whispered as he turned to leave.

He quickly noticed that Hanabira wasn’t moving and so he gently placed his hand on her shoulder as she stood frozen by the door.

“Come.” Torakichi said. His thunderous voice shook Hanabira out of her frozen state.

She followed him to the exit, but Torakichi quickly stopped as his eyes met that of a soldier.

“Well, what do we have here?” The soldier asked as he looked Torakichi over.

“Come on out, both of you.” The soldier said while placing his hand on the hilt of his katana.

Torakichi did as he was instructed.

“Quite the peculiarity. An old, hunched man, armed to the teeth and by his side, a dishevelled yet beautiful northern woman.” The soldier said as Torakichi looked into his sunken eyes.

“Why do you invade our lands yet again?” Torakichi hissed as he locked down at the man, who was about two heads shorter than him.

“Oh, I think you already know the answer to that.” The man said while scratching his dirty face.

“It would seem as though not much has changed since last time.” Torakichi growled.

“Indeed. Now, I ask that you do me the kind favour of dropping your weapons and kneeling.” The soldier said with narrowed eyes.

Torakichi placed his hand on his katana’s hilt.

“No.” He said.

“Oh? Very well, then. Struggle, while you can.” The soldier said as he withdrew his katana.

Torakichi did the same.

The soldier then lowered his sword to a point just above the ground before taking several steps towards Torakichi.

The man swung his sword upwards diagonally, but Torakichi deflected the attack.

Hanabira slowly walked backwards as the embers of a burning Kama swirled around Torakichi and his opponent in the darkness of the night.

“Come on, old man!” The soldier barked, but Torakichi remained still.

The soldier took several steps forward before launching several strikes, which Torakichi deflected, but with each strike, the weight of the stone child seemingly multiplied.

Torakichi held his katana tightly and took several deep breaths before taking a single step forward and swinging his katana downward.

The soldier tried deflecting the attack, but Torakichi had not only used his strength in the strike, he also added the weight of the stone child.

The soldier’s knees buckled as he quickly stepped backwards.

“Ooh… not bad. Not bad at all-“

Torakichi took several steps forward before swinging his sword across the soldier’s neck, nearly separating his head from his body, but the soldier stepped back quickly as a bit of blood fell from a small cut on his neck.

Torakichi’s back and knees ached but he stood regardless as the soldier’s eyes quaked.

The soldier then frantically swung his sword at Torakichi, who deflected as many attacks as he could, but with each attach he parried, his aches and pains intensified.

Torakichi quickly stepped away before holding his katana with a single hand. He also lowered his stance drastically, much to his opponents surprise.

“Is that Aita Shisei? Tsk, that changes nothing-“

The soldier stopped as Torakichi launched himself towards him.

The soldier raised his katana defensively, but it wasn’t enough.

Torakichi’s blade cut across the soldier’s face, tearing through his right eye in the process.

“Ah! Damn you, old man- no! Damn you samurai!” The soldier yelled as the sounds of footsteps filled the air.

“Tell me your name!” He spat as he stumbled backwards.

“I want to know the name of the one who robbed me of my eye!” He yelled as Torakichi struggled staying on his feet.

He then noticed a terrified Hanabira behind him.

Torakichi quickly grabbed her hand and led her south.

“Come. We must go.” Torakichi said gently.

“Where are you going, coward?” The man yelled as he pressed his hand on the scar on his face.

“Run while you can, old man, but I will find you, for my name is Keitaku Shinri and I will be the last thing you see before you die!”

Torakichi and Hanabira left the village and quickly found themselves in a dense forest.

The two ran for several minutes before eventually coming to a stop.

Hanabira took loud and heavy breaths while Torakichi eyed their surroundings.

“We must keep moving-“

“Hehe, my father told me of the north’s incompetence, but I didn’t know it would be this bad.” Someone said, prompting Torakichi and Hanabira to hide in the bushes.

“What was that?” A voice asked.

Torakichi then saw a group of four soldiers approaching. They were armed with katana and Yari.

One of them cautiously walked in Torakichi and Hanabira’s direction.

“I think you’re just hearing things-“

“Quiet! I’m sure I heard something.” The first soldier said as he got ever closer to Torakichi, who was hid under the cover of darkness with the help of his dark yukata.

The soldier’s eyes slowly widened as his gaze met with Torakichi’s, but before he could even react, Torakichi stabbed the soldier's eye before jumping out of then shadows.

“Ahh!” The soldier cried as he fell to the ground, alerting his comrades.

They all stared with pure shock as Torakichi stood within the darkness.

“What is that?” One asked.

“A Demon?”

Torakichi didn’t hesitate as he dashed towards the soldier closest to him.

He quickly hacked at the soldier’s shin before splitting his throat open.

The last two soldiers simultaneously raised their swords to attack Torakichi, but he lowered his stance extremely before dashing backwards.

The soldiers struck nothing but air as Torakichi readied himself for his next attack.

He dashed forward and kicked the soldier to the left in his chest before stabbing him in the neck.

The last soldier raised his sword to attack, but Torakichi hacked off the his arms before stabbing him in the eye.

Torakichi then fell to his knees as he struggle under the pains that assaulted his body.

Hanabira cautiously approached Torakichi as he wheezed.

She stepped over the four corpses before arriving at his side.

“Are you alright, Mr. Kanemoto?” She asked as Torakichi kept himself up using his katana.

“You needn’t worry about me. Time is merely reflecting its effects on my old bones.” Torakichi said as he stood.

Hanabira’s eyes widened as she watched his shadowy figure rise, seemingly in defiance.

Torakichi sheathed his sword before taking a deep breath.

“Come.” He growled.

The two made their way south and made sure to avoid man-made paths.

Torakichi eventually noticed that Hanabira had grown tired. Her hair messily covered most of her face and the bottom of her once clean beige kimono had become rather dirty.

He bit his teeth as he knew that they’d need to travel for a little longer to get far away from Kama before they could rest.

There was no telling what dangers awaited them in the forest.

Hanabira wheezed as she struggled keeping up with Torakichi.

Her chest and feet ached, but she walked through the sharp pains.

She then felt something wet land on her nose.

She quickly walked up to Torakichi as Rain pelted the two, prompting them to walk ever faster.

The two walked for several minutes before Torakichi spotted something in the distance.

He led Hanabira to what looked like the mouth of a cave.

Torakichi cautiously entered the shallow looking cave with Hanabira in tow.

His eyes widened after seeing what looked like a fairly large bronze dragon shrine. Below the Dragon's right eye was a tear, but Torakichi paid it little thought.

He looked around at the caves deepest parts and found nothing.

“Let’s rest here.” Torakichi said as he gathered any twigs he could find.

Hanabira sat on a small boulder and caught her breath as Torakichi placed a few rocks in front of her.

He then placed the weapons on his waist by his side before sitting opposite Hanabira as the rain began falling in earnest.

“There is some dried fruit in the bag. Have some.”

Hanabira nodded before opening the bag to find there was indeed some dried fruit inside.

“The Kawaita river is a few hours from here. The real journey begins when we cross it.” Torakichi said as Hanabira ate away.

“Kama… do you think anyone survived?”

“I can’t say. What I can say is that the south has been planning this for some time. Perhaps even soon after the previous war ended.” Torakichi said as the deep roar of distant thunder shook the skies.

“My husband told me that you were once a samurai. Pardon my prodding, but did your battles ever take you to the south?” Hanabira asked.

“Yes and you are free to ask me anything. What purpose do the old serve if not to pass down knowledge or wisdom, not that I have much of either. You see, during the previous war, the southerners pushed deep into the heart of Chūshin. It seemed as though all hope was lost until general Kasai Netsu the undying retook the capital. A flame was lit in the heart of all of us that day and we used its fierce heat to retake all of our territory in the north and we stabilized the situation in the south.” Torakichi said with a faint smile.

“Oh, my. Did you participate in the battle of Chōten?” Hanabira asked.

“Unfortunately, no. I served by my lord's side in the outskirts.” Torakichi said, although his smile dimmed slightly.

“Oh? Who was your lord-“

Hanabira stopped as Torakichi’s face completely stiffened.

“I apologize, I meant no offense.” Hanabira said with a lowered head, but Torakichi raised his hand.

“Are you familiar with the Hizashi family?” Torakichi asked.

“Y- yes. They once ruled over Kama and the surrounding villages.”

“My master was the son of the head of the Hizashi family. Ririshī Hizashi and hear me well when I say that he was one of the finest warriors to ever step onto a battlefield… anyway, that’s enough stories for now.” Torakichi said as he crossed his arms.

Hanabira nodded as Torakichi slowly closed his eyes.

She was a bit confused as to why he slept while sitting completely upright, but she prodded no further.

.

..

Torakichi opened his eyes to find a sleepy Hanabira.

She sat restlessly in front of him as the light of the grey afternoon sky dimly lit the forest.

It was still raining lightly and the sound of thunder could still faintly be heard.

“You didn’t close your eyes for more than a minute, did you?” Torakichi asked as he stood up.

“N- no. I see Kama every time I do. Pray tell, how do you sleep so peacefully?” Hanabira asked as Torakichi undid the binds that held Hibana up.

“I slept peacefully?” Torakichi asked as he placed the stone child in front of his mother.

“I’m sorry for assuming.”

“Mmm… A soldier should be able to make the most of whatever rest he gets. I’ve slept in wet bogs, dry hills and frozen forests. Do you understand now why I was able to sleep so peacefully, as you called it?” Torakichi asked as he placed the cloths that once held Hibana up on the cave floor next to Hanabira.

“Yes.” Hanabira said with a yawn.

“What’s this?” She asked.

“I’ve had my rest. Please take yours.” Torakichi said.

Hanabira nodded before laying down on the makeshift bed and resting her head on her arms.

Torakichi nodded to himself as Hanabira slowly fell asleep.

He then looked at the Ōdachi by his side and gently picked it up, but just as soon as he touched its crimson scabbard, his hands shook. So much so that he dropped the weapon.

His chest ached so painfully that he curled forwards as he clutched his chest.

He took several deep breaths before finally calming himself.

A moment passed before he looked out into the dark and wet forest as the minutes crawled by.

Nightfall quickly came and Torakichi made a small fire to keep both he and Hanabira warm. They'd need it to bear the approaching winter's cold.