Chapter 32

"Yami Clan? Who's that?" Koyori asks. The two adults are curious too. They know that it's connected to a friend of theirs but they don't know the full details.

"They used to be a clan under the shogun. They were all trained from childhood with many types of skills, especially in fighting, killing, and assassination. Every one of them also has dark sorcery."

"Then, where did this come from? By this, I meant the need to follow you here. Koyori got the key right?" Masaru asks Hisashi, who can't look at him straight in the eyes.

"It's because… we think that they would attack the town. Not only that, they would also kill everyone. Their number and power are greater than that of a normal samurai. If I can't save everyone, I at least can save you."

Hisashi said with pain in his voice. However, Masaru told him to raise his head and look at him.

"How did you know this? Did you catch someone from them?" After Masaru asked, the latter went quiet for a long time. This time, it was Koyori who spoke.

"Is it because of your dreams?" She asks. This made the two parents confused. However, Hisashi added to her statement.

"It's not only that." Since Koyori already spilled his weird dreams, it became easier to explain. Hisashi explains to the two parents about the war happening in the south of Hino country and his dreams. Luckily, they took it in on a positive note.

"That's why the profits from the Noshu region plummeted. They were the ones affected the most. Still, don't you think that your dreams are pretty far-fetched? They wouldn't risk the lives of their people just to get to your father."

Seeing that they are all not convinced, Hisashi felt gloomier. Having no other reasons to convince them, all Hisashi can do… was be more stubborn.

"Just for one day, please. Can't you do this, sir? Uncle?... Father-in-law?" When he said that, he can't help but look at Koyori who was shocked and blushing with what he said. She was about to get angry at him when her mother gestured for her to wait.

Then, Masaru releases an earthly laugh that echoed throughout the whole dungeon.

"You're worried about my daughter, aren't you? That's why you kept on insisting even if we aren't convinced." Masaru said to Hisashi.

"The thing is, me being stabbed by the members of father's clan isn't the last thing I dreamt of… It was me holding your daughter- Koyori's unconscious body in my arms. Even if it's just a dream… I won't let it happen. Not in the slightest chance.

Even if Koyori is angry at me, or gets even angrier with me making you stay here. I've already decided to keep you here as much as possible. Even if you, si- Father-in-law and Mother-in-law don't want to do so, I've already thought of… fighting you for it – physically."

What Hisashi said made the atmosphere serious once again. This time though, Masaru felt different.

"Okay then. We'll stay here till tomorrow. No – until you come back. You get what I mean, right, son?"

Masaru's approval gave Hisashi the biggest smile. Not about him calling him a son as to his father-in-law before but about them staying. Hisashi repeatedly thanks the two before looking at Koyori who was still blushing and astounded by their exchange. He took her hand, returning her to reality before dragging her to another room. This made the two adults look at each other before giving a smile.

There, she looks at Hisashi's eyes before withdrawing them and blushing again. Hisashi on the other hand, scratches his head before a bouquet of white lilies came out of a dark lump from his feet. He was shocked, however, when he see it was already slightly brown.

Before he can do anything about it, Koyori ran and grabbed it from his hands. His solemn feelings then turned to warmth when she see how Koyori caress the shriveled flowers. Yoryoku then came out of her hands and the white lilies quickly start to turn white.

"You're still bad at taking care of the plants," Koyori said before giggling. Hisashi was about to open his mouth when he was interrupted.

"I already forgave you the first time you came back. I just felt stubborn. I don't know what is happening right now. If I can decide, I won't even let you out and make you stay with us. However, Mother told me that sometimes, lo… to love someone, is to trust them.

Father always leave home since he's a merchant but the thing connecting them is their trust in one another. If what is about to happen is something dangerous, then all I have to do is trust and believe that you won't lose to them, don't I?" Koyori said to him before giving him an assuring look. He just nods in return before returning a smile.

"Close your eyes," Koyori said.

"Why?" "Just do it." "Okay then." With her insistence, he closes his eyes. Realizing that his Ki is on he took it off since it's cheating in a way.

A minute passed but Koyori didn't do anything. Hisashi was even thinking of opening his eyes. He decided to not do so and wait. Before he can ask what it is though, he felt a touch on his lips. It was then immediately gone.

Without even knowing what it was, he felt his heart beat faster. It was beating so strongly that he was starting to hear it. He then opens his eyes, to see a blushing Koyori.

"If you really want to marry me, it's okay for me. But you have to wait until I'm 20. Okay? Mother married Father at that age. It's just 11 years from now. If you still want to marry me by then, let's do it. Until then, you have to stay safe."

Hearing what she said, Hisashi felt so much different from before. He almost forgot about the incoming possible attack and he ran to hug her.

"I will. So just stay here."

The two then came back to where the adults were and Hisashi said goodbye. He then left the dungeon with his heart still beating hard and his mood happy. Due to this, he can't stabilize his Ki and use it.

Hisashi didn't mind it and cast his [Indra's Boots]. He started to run back to their house to get his mother and Ichika if ever they have found her. However, as he was running, he noticed something weird. It was still afternoon, but the sky looked darker when he left the dungeon. It was just a few minutes from then.

That's when he became sure that the sky is really getting darker. The afternoon sun started to lose its shine and a dome-like shaped darkness became more visible to the naked eye. This made Hisashi alert and he activated his Ki.

He looked around after sensing a faint presence after activating it. Seeing no one, he ignored it and poured more yoryoku into his boots making him faster and again, started to run.

'Mother, Father, Ichika, Brother, Ryuya, stay safe. I'll be there in no time.'

Hisashi said to himself as a yellow glow rush toward the town. Hundreds of meters away from where he stood before, a man in kimono hid as he observed.

"You devil. You shouldn't have appeared again. I'll eradicate you. Erase you from this world. But before that, you must suffer – for the devil that you are. This isn't just for me and my fallen comrades, but also for him – for God."