3 Forlornness

The man eyed Niu as he hid behind his brothers, chuckling and muttering something.

"You've both done well. However, He no longer wishes to have them remain in your care." The man turned around and walked over to his horse.

"Li, what are you saying?" It was only then that Han seemed to be bothered.

His grip on his wife's hand tightened.

"I don't have time for sentiment, Han. You swore allegiance to him when you forged his sword. Even if you refuse his protection, you cannot deny his orders." Li got back up on his horse, his helmet on. The brothers were silent, staring at the lonesome backs of their parents.

Each of them wanted to step forward and stand by their side, but none of them did.

Han was silent. At some point, his head had lowered and he started staring at the ground.

"You have until dawn." Li pulled on the reins, soon riding away.

As the villagers watched, unable to fully grasp what had happen, they defaulted to worrying about the sheer number of soldiers.

"What do we do?"

"If they attack we're all dead!"

These and other similar remarks were made by random villagers in the crowd. They only served to plant seeds of doubt and distrust in the hearts of others.

"Whatever they want! We have to make sure we give them whatever they want!" Most were already scared just looking at the army. Now, they were terrified.

Naturally, they turned their attention to Han, who was staring deeply into his wife's eyes.

"You! What did he say!?"

"What does he want!?"

"Tell us, Han! Now!"

It was truly a frightening: people who were driven by fear. The brothers looked on, helpless, hoping their father could fix things.

They only saw his back. In that moment, Niu felt distant from his parents. He ducked under his brother's arm, running to his father and mother.

He wanted to help them carry the weight, that way they would get through it together as a family.

Niu's hope shattered the moment he saw his father's face.

Han's eyes were reddened, tears streaming down his face. Thick mucus hung from his nostril, on the verge of dropping.

When he saw Niu, he buried his face in the sleeve of his clothing, staying there for a while. When he was finished and saw Niu's blank expression, the pain and worry in his grey eyes, he couldn't bear to look at him.

He turned to his wife, burying his face in her chest. They both wept silently.

Niu stood rooted in place. When he saw his father turn away, an indescribable and overwhelming pain struck. He said nothing, fell to his knees and also started crying.

How brother came over to him, maintaining a distance from their parents.

"Father, what does that man want with us?" Rie asked, tying up his long white hair. He subconsciously placed a hand at his side, feeling for something hidden in his clothing.

Han took some time before speaking, but he ignored Rie's questions.

"Those people will not harm you. They have no quarrel with this village or you kind people." Han sighed.

He spent more time speaking to the people, ensuring them that they were in no danger. When most doubts were assuaged, he turned and walked out toward the old tree, standing near it and looking out at the army.

The rice field was virtually destroyed, but other than that all was well. He sighed, looking at the moon and whispering something. He finally looked at his wife and sons, smiling and calling them over.

"My sons, Rie, Rai, Niu, have all made me proud." Han put his hands on Rie and Rai's shoulders, then got down and put a hand on Niu's head.

"Niu, make sure your brothers don't fight with each other too much." His words shook Niu down to his very soul, scaring him instead of comforting him.

"Rai, always remember to breathe. There is power in the breath that clears the mind and rids it of anger." Han and Rai stared at each other for while, a cold wind blew.

Rai's hair, also white, blew into his face. He hurriedly pushed it aside, nodding.

"Rie." Before Han could say anything more, Rie pulled him into a hug. With his head resting on his father's shoulder, Rie bawled his eyes out, soaking his fathers shoulder with tears and snot.

"Rie, you are the oldest. Protecting them will always be natural, like an instinct." Han patted Rie's back. This simple action caused him to remember the countless times he did this when Rie was still a child, and he also started to cry.

"But, you cannot always protect them. As brothers, you have to also protect each other." Han and Rie broke their hug. Their mother stood off to the side, but she came over and wiped Rie's eyes, smiling all the while.

"Han, I am here." Gasps came from each of them.

For the first time in a long time, their mother spoke.

"It would be too cruel to not even be able to say goodbye." Their mother smiled.

"Niu, one day I know you'll make the perfect tea." She removed a small bag from her sleeve. There were various petals and leaves in it that could be used to make tea.

"Rai, I'm sure you'll be the best pirate this world has ever seen." Rai had a bitter smile on his face, but it turned into a blank expression that was hidden by his hair. He looked at the tiny wooden boat in his mother's hand, then he took it. He held it close, his head lowered.

Niu had never seen Rai cry, but it seemed like he was crying. Then he saw his mother return to Rie, standing at Han's side.

"Rie, you crybaby. No matter what happens, never fight the tears. They are who you are. Crying doesn't make you weak." She hugged him, but she whispered something that only she and Rie could hear.

"When the time is right, you'll know. Then you can tell them everything."

Rie shook his head, tears streaming down again.

"No. We won't go. That man can't make us." Rie was resolute, though the tears still fell.

"There's no way I'm going anywhere. I'll fight them by myself if I have to." Rai also spoke similar words, his red eyes peeked out from behind his hair. He glared at the large gathering of soldiers, hatred and killing intent overflowing.

"Mama, Papa. I don't want to go!" Niu ran into their embrace, also crying and sniffling.

For a moment, Han felt his mind waved. His previous decision seemed unthinkable, but just for a moment.

There was nothing he could do, he felt. He had no choice.

"No. No, you must go." Han looked at his wife who, despite her tears and the fact that she was holding Niu far too tight, nodded.

"You must. It is not up to us."

Rai and Niu cried out.

"We won't go! We won't!"

Rie was the only one who remained silent.

Han and his wife held each other, unable to say another word.

"Rai! Niu! Enough of this. When did you become so unfilial. Our parents have spoken so we must obey." Rie gave them a harsh look, but it softened after a while.

Han and his wife watched as Rie berated his younger brothers.

Rie didn't dare to look at his parents again. He grabbed both of his brothers by their arms, forcefully dragging them along since they refused to walk.

"No! Rie, let me go! I'm not going anywhere!"

"No, big brother please. Mama and Papa are so sad! We can't leave them like this! Please! Please!" Niu and Rai tried to fight, but Rie was too strong.

Rie kept his back turned, waking down toward the army of people. He was afraid, he was in pain, but he was the only one that knew some of what was going. He also understood one very important thing.

That army of men had come for a reason. It wasn't just the threat of one man, but a much larger force.

"Rai, Niu, remember this well. Let it serve as a lesson for you both." Surprisingly, it was a short and smiling granny that walked out from behind the tree.

"A time will come when these feelings- your humanity- will be tested. Remember what you feel." Granny Fufu smiled, tossing some food that had been wrapped in a cloth then tied.

Rai caught it, no longer fighting his brother.

Niu also calmed down, finding himself coming to terms with it.

He had to leave. His brothers and himself would be alone thus forth.

Han, his wife, and Granny Fufu watched them depart. The air was cold, the village was silent, the moon was indifferent.

"Oh, great spirits. Guide them to the truth. We have served our purpose, and hopefully have not just let you down." Granny Fufu removed some colored powder from the pouch at her waist.

She tossed it into the air.

"Let it be known that all ties to the Brothers and this village are, this day, severed. Let not their karma and destiny implicate these people any further." Han and his wife remained silent.

When she was finished, Granny Fufu smiled at them.

"You have not failed the great spirits. Do not worry about them."

Han got down and bowed to her, his wife followed his actions.

"Thank you, Granny Fufu." Han realized that his wife said nothing, meaning she had already fallen back into her previous state.

She would probably never return from it again.

"It is my duty to the great spirits. Now I must continue my duties elsewhere. She must come with me. Her condition will only worsen now that they're gone. She shouldn't be around the secular world's people now."

Han trembled, he already knew that she would say this, but he was still afraid.

"I know." He gave his wife a hug, then watched her walk past the tree with Granny Fufu. They never came out from behind the tree, but that was because they were already gone.

He also saw that the brothers had disappeared into the sea of people. He left the top of the hill, returning to his house. It would never feel like a home again.

Down there, amongst the many frightening swordsmen, the brothers walked forward together. Rie and Rai had their heads up, expressions somber, but Niu kept staring at the ground.

When they got through the crowd, they arrived at the river bank.

The man called Li was here, lying on the grass with a long stem in his mouth. He was staring up at the sky, but got up and looked at them when they arrived.

He smiled, the same smile that scared Niu and still did.

"I didn't expect you so soon."