Owlbiet and I made our way to Ken's hideout. As we continued, we had to go through a village nearby to rest and get some food for the road. It already pissed me off enough that it took soo long to get to Ken's hide out, but, what was even more of an annoyance was the owl's constant yappering.

"And then I said-"

"Shhhh, do you here that?"

"W-what???" Owlbiet asked me looking around in confusion. "I do not hear anything"

"Exactly." I whispered glad the excessive talking had finally subcided.

He tilted his head to the side. "Ohhh, I do not get it."

We continued walking further as the sky slowly darkened. My feet began to ache, my breath became heavy with every step and my hunger constantly grew. The travel was meant to take at least one week, but, I hadn't even made up a day's worth of progress. 'This isn't like me, what the hell's going on?!' I thought.

"I am tiiiired." Owlbiet whined. "Are we there yet?"

"Could you just stop talking for a se-" I looked to my left, and saw... him. "SHIT!"

"Hmmm? What is the matter?"

I hid behind a tree. I felt my heart Jumping out of my chest. My brain became mush. My body, cold. This moment, just like that night. He wasn't close but, his presence... it was unbareable. He was here, a man I never thought I would see again... "F-Furoto..."

"Who is this Furotou you speak of?" Owlbiet asked

"Don't, talk..." I Whispered, my arms shaking vigorusly.

Furoto was talking to a woman, an old one at that. she held a staff to support her posture, her free hand was on her face. "I can't believe this." she sobbed "My baby boy."

"I am... truly sorry Madam, he was a great worrior." Furoto said as he pulled out a hankerchief.

The old woman took the hankercheif from him wiping her eyes with it."T-Thank you."

"If this Furoto person is so scary, then use the blade." Owlbiet said his beak touching my ear.

"W-what? N-no n-noo" I replied.

"Ohh yes you are right. You have not mastered the power yet."

'I could use a different route... No... Ken wants it in atleast 2 weeks...' I thought.

I got up from the floor whilst moving slowly. "What are you doing?" Owlbiet asked "What if they see us?"

I paid no heed to the owl and slowly passed by while they continued talking, the attempt to sneak was going well until...

"You there!" Furoto said "Come."

My body froze up like ice, I could feel the goose bumps all over my body. 'Should I run?... Ca-Can I... run?'

"I said come here boy." He demanded.

I slowly made my way towards him. My heart raced as I got closer. I felt like throwing up, my body was weak... extremely weak.

"Who are you?" Furoto asked.

I couldn't speak, I was terrified. My head and eyes were hidden by my hoodie.

Furoto raised his eyebrows. "Can't you speak?"

The old woman looked at me. Her yellow eyes widened, and like a connection, she came to my aide. "John? Did you get drunk again?" Asked the woman.

Furoto stepped back. "Madam, you Know this boy?"

"Ohh Yessss, he's the grandchild of a friend of mine." The old lady said as she pulled my arm to her side.

"Is that so?"

"Yes." she replied. "He just turned 20 not too long ago."

"I see..." He said as his eyes focused on me."Very well. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Of course."

Furoto took a bow, turned around and left. "Are you okay dear?" The old woman grabbed me by the hand and pulled me towards her hut.

"Huhh? Y-yes" I was still shaking, my fear still evident.

"Master?!" Owlbiet said as he came out from behind the tree.

"Oh my, A talking owl." The lady said. "I havent seen one of those in a while. He looks soo beautiful."

"I am glad you have taste woman." Owlbiet replied.

"Why did you help me?"

"Come now dear, I might not have the best vision, but I do know the look of fear." the old lady replied as she opened the door to the hut. "Outside is too cold, come in."

"No need for that ma'am." I said.

"Nonesense." she exclaimed as she pulled me into the hut.

The hut wasn't very impressive. A rocking chair that seemed to face a window at one end, a dining table at the other, and a small fireplace inbetween. There was a picture right above the fire place, the old woman... and a man.

"Make yourselves at home." the woman said.

"Thank you." I replied as I sat on the floor near the fire place. I pulled the blade from under my jacket before dropping it beside me.

The old lady took a step back. "Ohh dear..." Her terrified face looked at me. "P-please I...I don't have any money!" her breath shook.

"What?" I looked at the blade."No-no-no. I'm not gonna do anything to you."

The woman stood there holding her breath, her legs trembeled under her gown. "So what is the blade you're holding then?"

"Honestly...I don't know."

The old lady seemed to have calmed down, her face still shaken though. She took a seat on the rocking chair looking out the window to the night sky.

"My son was a lot like you..." she said. "Whenever he came to visit, he would always sit near the fire place and drop his weapon on the ground near him... just like that...." her head nodded towards my direction."I asked why he did that. Do you know what he said?" I kept silent waiting for her to continue speaking. "He would say 'Because mother, the blade should always be by your side so you can be prepared when a problem that requires so arises... and the fire'. she paused "'...should act as a secondary weapon of defence... or offence.'" She looked at me, a soft smile on her face. "Are you from Raiba?"

"... I was..."

We slept in the house, I slept to avoid the problems of today, and prepare for problems I'll face tomorrow...