Hanabira awoke to find Torakichi wistfully staring at nothing.

She slowly sat up before stretching her small arms.

“Good morning.” She greeted, taking care not to awaken Amai.

“Good morning.” Torakichi said as he wrapped Hibana up and onto his back.

He then placed his weapons by his waist and watched as Hanabira gently awoke Amai.

“Mmm?” Amai sounded as she sat up.

“How long do you think it’s going to take to get to the foot of the mountains?” Hanabira asked as she and Amai back their things.

“Two days or so. But that’s only if we don’t run into any trouble.” Torakichi said.

It wasn’t long before everyone was ready and they resumed their journey south.

They eventually reached the edge of the forest and entered a vast, dry plane which was littered with what looked like dried rice fields.

A few people could be seen walking about, but Torakichi paid them no mind.

He looked up and almost gasped as the Shinsei Mountains finally came into view.

Littering the path to the mountains, were a few small villages and a few empty pens.

Torakichi stepped onto the dry plane with Hanabira and Amai in tow.

The trio then headed southward.

They eventually come across an old man, who sat by the side of one of the dried rice fields. His skin darkened and cracked. His clothes were but rags and his feet calloused beyond reason.

“Ah! My lord! My dear lord! Hast thou come to save us? From the northern demons? Those that stalk in the dead of night.” The old man asked as he reached out to touch Torakichi.

Torakichi ignored the man, even as he slowly and desperately crawled closer.

“My lord, have we not suffered enough? We cannot take anymore warring. Two have already robbed Kuroppoi of so much.” The old man said as he wept dryly.

Torakichi ignored the man and eventually left him behind in the dirt.

“Has- Has Kuroppoi always been like this?” Hanabira asked.

“Yes, for the most part.” Torakichi said as they walked.

“Mmm… oh! I’m sorry, but can you tell me the rest of your story? I rudely fell asleep before you could finish.” Hanabira asked.

“You were tired and probably still are. I’d have been more surprised if you stayed awake listening to my ramblings.” Torakichi said with a chuckle.

“Where was I-?”

“You and lord Hizashi were sent to train to become samurai.” Amai said.

“Ah, yes. Are either of you familiar with Chūshin’s four schools of swordsmanship?” Torakichi asked.

“No.” Hanabira and Amai said simultaneously.

“The first is Fudō from our home, Ippai. It teaches steadfastness and honour while also teaching us things like mercy and selflessness. Samurai who wholeheartedly follow the teachings of Fudō carry weapons sheathed in red scabbards. The second is Taieki from your home, Amai. It teaches patience, watchfulness and fluidity in both mind and body. Samurai who practice Taieki are often seen with pale blue or even plain wooden scabbards.”

“Which one do you practice?” Hanabira asked.

“Patience. I’ll get to that soon enough. The third is from Han in the north, Arashi. Although I don’t know if those barbarians still practice their own teachings. Arashi teaches us that the victor in most things, is decided by who acts first. Haste, does often mean waste, but with swift and thorough decision making often make formidable warriors. Warriors who’s blades are sheathed in dark blue scabbards. The fourth is Hageshi which originates from here. I honestly don’t know what lessons it teaches because the southerners long abandoned their ancient customs in favour of blind innovation and unchecked progress. But when it comes to combat, think of it like a mixture between Fudō and Arashi. It’s scabbards are often varied and no longer hold any meaning, unfortunately.” Torakichi said as he led Hanabira and Amai towards a village in the distance.

“Now, to answer your question, I learnt almost all traditional teachings, but there was another. Kaihō-sei, sometimes referred to as Aita Shisei. It is the one all samurai in Chūshin are first taught, but only at a surface level. You see, where the other teachings are like rigid doctrines that one can choose to follow, Kaihō-sei teaches us that although a closed hand can cause change and inflict harm, it takes an open one to both cause change and guide. There are a negligible amount of set rules in Kaihō-sei and that is exactly why I chose it.”

“And what of lord Hizashi?” Hanabira asked.

“He chose to follow the teachings Fudō. Armed with deep wells of knowledge and years of experience, the captain and I eventually became samurai. The first war between Ippai and Kuroppoi began shortly after and was then that the captain's true character was revealed. I had wrongly assumed that due to his noble blood, he’d assume a very passive role once weapons clashed, but what actually happened was quite the contrary. He fearlessly led us into every battle we fought. From the deepest valleys in the far east, to the dry planes of Kuroppoi. However, it wasn’t the captains fearlessness that made him beloved by his brothers in arms. You see, after each battle, the captain would sit with us, eat with us and cry with us as we mourned every loss. He was very… human and that’s why I- why we respected him.” Torakichi said before stopping.

He then placed his hand over the Ōdachi before tightly gripping its hilt.

He stood silent for a moment before taking a deep, wistful breath.

“The time eventually came for us to capture a fort far to the southwest. We had received orders to take and hold the fort while the main forces made their way south. We were assured that reinforcements would arrive, but days passed in that bloody tower without the faintest sight of that familiar flag. We gave it our all and for every one of us that fell, five southerners fell in turn. Then, as the darkness of the night hung heavily on our shoulders, Ririshī fell. We… I foolishly allowed him to do as he’d always done, but this time, he didn’t return to us with his blade raised triumphantly. No, he simply fell to the cold ground just as the last of our enemies fell.” Torakichi said through gnashed teeth.

“Those of us who still stood ran to Ririshī’s side and for the first time since the war began, we, the Crimson Scabbards, truly tasted defeat. Oh, my. Forgive me if this isn’t the tale if victory you thought it would be.” Torakichi said as he turned to face Hanabira and Amai, who had pained expressions.

“No, please continue. I truly am sorry that you had to lose your friend in such a gruesome way.” Hanabira said, prompting Amai to nod.

“Mmm... We buried Ririshī and the reinforcements eventually came. Every battle after that may have been a victory, but it was then that I began to realize that the war would have no true victor. Both sides had lost far too much in a war of what? Conflicting ideals? The thirst for power? Regardless it eventually ended and I returned to Kama. It was I who ended up telling Ririshī’s father that his son had died, but to my surprise, lord Hizashi grabbed me and wept with me in his arms. He then told me to live as Ririshī had. To truly be selfless. He then gave me Ririshī’s Ōdachi and even offered me a small cabin just north of Kama and that is where I spent the rest of my days in meditative solitude. That is until young Yorokobi came to my door begging me to teach him the way of the blade, but I’m sure you know the rest.” Torakichi said before withdrawing the Ōdachi and raising it high into the air.

His hand still trembled, but a faint smile could be seen on his face as the afternoon sun’s light gloriously bounced off the large blade.

Torakichi then sheathed the Ōdachi before deeply bowing to Hanabira.

“Thank you for allowing me to accompany you on this most treacherous journey.” He said.

“No, I should be the one thanking you.” Hanabira said as her face became red with fluster.

Torakichi then stood upright with a bright smile on his face.

“Come now. Onward!”

.

..

Torakichi and company eventually found themselves on the streets of a fairly small village.

Torakichi managed to trade some of the things they’d looted from the soldiers he killed by the Kawaita riverside with the local merchants.

He traded their katanas and various other pieces of equipment for valuable goods, but as he did, he noticed that the people of the village seemed strange. Almost terrified.

“Wow… I thought your skin was tanned, but the women here are far darker than you and I.” Hanabira commented as they made their way towards the villages southern exit.

“That’s what happens when you work in the sun all day.” Torakichi said.

“Oh.”

The three eventually left the village and continued southward towards the mountains in the distance.

The sun eventually set and the three eventually found a spot just off the path and it is there that they set up camp.

Hanabira and Amai then started a small fire which they used to cook up some rice they’d gotten.

As the rice cooked, Hanabira unsheathed her Tantō before eyeing it curiously.

“Do you wish to learn the ways of the blade as well?” Torakichi asked.

“Mmm… I could never. I am far too small and weak to be a warrior.” Hanabira said before sheathing the Tantō.

“Not every blade is forged equal. Not every warrior is the same. Some are great giants that trample their opponents. Others are small, but skilful warriors who dance as gracefully and lethally as the air that glides past their blades. If you ever feel that you want to learn-“

“I do.” Hanabira said curtly.

“Oh? What about you, Amai?”

“Mmm… I’ll learn what I can, but I doubt I’ll be of any real use in a battle.” Hanabira said with a sigh.

“Ah, I very much disagree. Anyway, let’s eat up and I’ll teach you all that I know.” Torakichi said, prompting Hanabira and Amai to nod.

Dinner came and went, but just as Torakichi opened his mouth to speak, a blood curdling scream pierced the air.

Torakichi hopped onto his feet before looking southward.

He remembered seeing a village there, but since the night was moonless, he could barely see anything further than ten or so meters away.

“What do you think that was?” Hanabira asked as she tightly gripped her Tantō.

“I don’t know-“

Another scream pierced the air.

It almost sounded as though multiple people were screaming as once.

“We should go help.” Amai said.

“What? Why?” Torakichi asked with narrowed eyes.

“Didn’t you say that you would pursue a life of selflessness?” Amai asked, her face stricken with panic.

“I didn’t. I simply decided to meditate on the principles which Ririshī lived by.”

“Do you think he’d sit by as others suffered?”

Torakichi’s eyes widened.

He then let out a low growl as the distant scream grew ever louder.

“Fine! But if things get too dangerous, we run.” Torakichi said, prompting Hanabira and Amai to grab their things.

“I’ll run ahead.” Torakichi said before dashing south.

He ran for several minutes before several other voices came within earshot.

Torakichi then arrived at what was a fairly small village.

He saw countless people holding torches and various farm equipment.

They all shouted curses while widely flinging their weapons at something.

Torakichi pushed his way through the small crowd before arriving at a small hut which had blood stained walls.

“What’s going on?” He asked the front-most man.

“The northern demons! We managed to trap one!” The man screamed without turning to face Torakichi.

“Wait! This man! He’s a samurai!”

Someone yelled, prompting everyone to distance themselves from Torakichi.

“Please, Mr. Samurai. Help us snuff out the spawn of the north!”

Someone begged.

Torakichi’s already widened eyes trembled as he turned to face the blood covered hut.

He then placed his hand on his katana’s hilt before swiftly withdrawing it.

“Fine.”