4. Exhaustion

Torakichi wheezed as he finally reached the Kawaita river.

He narrowed his blurry eyes before inspecting the water's surface.

He looked for several minutes, but failed to spot any flowers and his search wasn't made any easier by the darkness of the moonless night.

Torakichi growled before running eastward along the river.

He ran for what seemed like an eternity before coming spotting a pillar of smoke in the distance.

He ran towards it before dashing into the forest upon noticing a group of several soldiers.

He crawled towards them as his bones and muscles screamed in pain.

Torakichi ignored his body's need for rest before crawling ever closer to what he discovered was a small camp.

He then saw that the soldiers were all singing and dancing for some reason.

He crawled closer before coming to a complete stop.

His eyes widened as he saw Hanabira and Amai standing in the middle of a group of six soldiers.

Their faces were drenched in tears and they were continuously being taunted by the soldiers.

Torakichi bit his teeth before grabbing the hilt of his katana-

His heart fell as he realized that he had grabbed the hilt of the Ōdachi instead.

His breaths became uneven and his already aching muscles cried as he desperately kept himself still.

Torakichi shook his head before slowly approached the camp while tightly holding the Ōdachi's hilt.

"Come on! Dance!"

"You know, for as beautiful as northern women are, they don't know how to entertain very well."

"Doesn't matter. We need to get some rest. The Northward March continues with ot without us tomorrow. I suggest we get some rest. And besides, I'm pretty sure most of you have wifes back home."

"Ugh, don't remind me. We'll soon arrive at the step of the capital, just as our fathers did before us and this time, that so-called unkillable bastard won't be able þo stop us."

"You think it's true? That the legendary of old was turned to stone?"

"Hey, that's just what I heard."

Such things were said by the soldiers, but Torakichi ignored their words as he slowly unsheathed the Ōdachi.

One of the soldiers then stood up.

"Alright, we've had our fun. I'm feeling awfully tired. Why don't you join me-"

Torakichi jumped out of the bushes before hacking the soldiers head in two. He then kicked the soldier forward, dislodging the Ōdachi in the process.

The other soldiers all looked for their weapons while panicking, but Torakichi stabbed the fifth man before cutting open the throat of the fourth.

He then kicked the third soldier in the face before stabbing him in his left eye.

The second last soldier then swung his katana down to cut Torakichi's back, but his blade struck something hard before bouncing back.

Torakichi noticed this and so he dashed towards the terrified soldier before grabbing his collar and glaring at him with eyes that seemingly burnt holes into whatever they looked at.

He then slid the Ōdachi across the man's neck and he watched as he slowly died.

Torakichi then turned around in search of the last man.

His eyes then landed on Hanabira and Amai, who sat frozen on the cold ground.

He then fell to his knees as his vision rapidly darkened and he could move no longer.

He fell onto the cold damp ground before closing his eyes.

"Mr. Kanemoto!" Hanabira cried as she ran to Torakichi's side.

"Mr. Kanemoto, can you hear me?" She asked before checking to see if he was breathing.

"One of them got away." Amai muttered.

"Won't be long 'til he returns with more soldiers." She said as her lips trembled.

"Help me carry Mr. Kanemoto." Hanabira said as she grabbed Torakichi's arms.

"What will that do? They'll just find us again." Amai said as fresh tears fell from her eyes.

"All we need to do is keep Mr. Kanemoto safe until he wakes up. I'm sure he'll think of a something."

"You're putting your faith in an old samurai?" Amai asked.

"Yes. Now, you could give up and wait for those soldiers to come back or you could help me take Mr. Kanemoto somewhere safe." Hanabira said.

Amai's eyes widened as she looked around at all the corpses that littered the camp.

She then took several deep breaths before standing and grabbing Torakichi's legs.

The two then carried Torakichi deep into the forest where they eventually placed him down in a clearing.

"He is really heavy." Amai wheezed as she caught her breath.

"Mmm." Hanabira sounded before walking back toward the camp.

"Where are you going?" Amai asked.

"Those men had supplies we could use to nurse Mr. Kanemoto. I'm going to get as many as I can." Hanabira said.

"Alright. I'll stay here and watch over him." Amai said.

Hanabira nodded.

She then spent the next few hours gathering supplies.

After that, she wrapped Torakichi's wounds in bandages with Amai's help.

The two gasped after initially seeing the amount of wounds new and old that covered Torakichi's body.

"Just who is this man?" Amai asked after covering Torakichi in a blanket.

"He was my husband's teacher and my watchful guardian." Hanabira said as she gathered various twigs.

She then started a small fire before sitting by Torakichi's side.

"Torakichi Kanemoto."

.

..

"Ha!" Torakichi screamed as he opened his eyes.

He looked around to find a startled Hanabira and Amai sitting near him. Their bodies illuminated by gentle morning sunlight.

"Mr. Kanemoto, you're awake!" Hanabira cried. She turned to fully face him as he keenly inspected his surroundings.

They were in a clearing in the forest, but Torakichi wasn't sure where exactly.

He could hear the Kawaita river, but he shook aside his confusion before sitting up and frantically checking Hanabira for wounds.

"Are you alright? Did those men hurt you?"

"No. You killed them not too long after they found us. Also, try not to move too much. You're covered in wounds." She said.

"Oh- alright." Torakichi said before looking at his arms to find that they were almost completely covered in bandages.

He sighed before laying down.

"Amai… your husband... I'm sorry." He said softly.

Amai remained silent.

Her eyes never met Torakichi's.

.

..

Some time passed and Torakichi eventually stood up.

He inspected the supplies Hanabira had gathered and instructed that she pack what she could into her bag.

"Amai… Hanabira and I have to continue south. I suggest that you return to Shihanki. I'm sure your family-"

"I was cast out." Amai said with a lowered head.

"For marrying Nagare?"

Amai nodded.

"He too was cast out by his family for choosing to be with me." She whispered.

Torakichi nodded before looking up in thought.

"Mmm… I want to offer you a different path but, as I'm sure you've noticed, the path Hanabira and I walk is fraught with danger."

"Its far better than wondering on my own until I get killed, so I'll accept, Mr. Samurai." Amai said with a deep bow.

"Good. Oh and you can call me Kanemoto." Torakichi said before looking to the south.

"Since you've decided to join us, I feel obligated to tell you the reason why we're going to the Shinsei Mountains, but I'll leave that to Hanabira. She'll tell you when she's ready. Now, come. We must move."

The three made their way to the Kawaita river and looked for its thinnest part.

They made sure to continue travelling west and eventually found a crossable point.

Torakichi's eye narrowed as he looked at mountains in the distance.

He then looked around before spotting a clearing on the other side of the river.

"Come." He said before dipping his toes into the cool river water.

He then made his way further into the river, which at this point was about ten meters wide and almost a meter deep.

Hanabira and Amai followed Torakichi who held the bag full of supplies. He made sure to keep a close eye on Hanabira and Amai as they followed.

Everyone eventually reached the other side and they found rest on the clearing Torakichi had chosen.

Torakichi made a small fire before walking into the forest.

He then grabbed a few vines and several long sticks before creating a basket of sorts.

He then dug a channel that diverted some of the rivers water into a smaller route where he placed the basket.

Torakichi wiped his hands before noticing that Hanabira and Amai were half soaked.

"Mmm… you might want to dry your clothes. Winter fast approaches and the worst thing that could happen is any of us getting sick." Torakichi said before sitting by the side of the river with his weapons by his side as he keenly inspected the northern forest.

Hanabira and Amai promptly undressed with Torakichi' back facing them.

They then placed their kimono's on various branches.

"I'm going to wash up." Amai said before grabbing a large wooden vase from Hanabira's bag.

She then walked towards the river where she filled the vase with water before returning to Hanabira's side.

The two then cleaned themselves, but during the process, Hanabira noticed that Amai kept staring at her.

"What?" Hanabira asked.

"N- nothing. It's just that you're so pretty. Your skin is so smooth and pale."

"I'm not pretty at all. If anything, you're the beautiful one. Your long and silky hair pairs well with your tanned skin." Hanabira said with a smile.

The two then heard Torakichi scoff.

"Is something the matter, Mr. Kanemoto?" Hanabira asked.

"I just find it amusing that you two are talking about who's prettier when it's obvious that I am the best looking." Torakichi said as he dipped his hand into the river.

"You're joking, right?" Amai asked with a perplexed expression.

"Not at all. Back in my younger years I had a smile that lit up the night. It was really a sight to behold, I tell you."

Hanabira and Amai looked at each other before giggling.

"I wasn't joking." Torakichi said with a sigh.

.

..

Hanabira and Amai's kimonos eventually dried and they got dressed.

"Feel free to wash up as well, Mr. Kanemoto." Hanabira said, prompting Torakichi to stand up.

"Oh?" He sounded as he looked at the seated Hanabira and Amai.

Their hair had yet to dry, but thanks to the heat of the campfire, that wouldn't take too long.

Torakichi grabbed the vase the two had used before giving Hanabira a certain look.

Hanabira nodded before Torakichi walked towards the river.

"Amai… the reason why we're going to the Shinsei Mountains is to find a cure for my son's ailment." Hanabira said as Torakichi removed the dark coat that covered his body.

"Oh, yes. I've heard about the pond that's supposed to cure any disease. What illness plagues your son." Amai asked.

"He has been cursed." Hanabira said as Torakichi unwrapped Hibana.

He then placed the stone child on top of the pile of clothes.

Amai gasped as she saw the stone child.

"Oh my."

"Yes. It happened a few days ago. Now you see why we travel." Hanabira said.

"Yes." Amai said before looking at Torakichi, who unwrapped all of his bandages from his tall frame.

He then washed his body before washing his bandages.

He too the waited for his clothes to dry, but tried reapplying his bandages in the meantime.

Hanabira and Amai saw that he was struggling.

"Would you like some help?" Hanabira asked.

"Yes." Torakichi said with a lowered head.

The two approached Torakichi before wrapping most of his body in bandages.

They were amazed by just how tall and muscular he was as his body was.

Hanabira accidentally ruffled his greying curly hair, much to his amusement.

"I am not a plaything. Hurry it up, if you please." Torakichi said, although Hanabira could have sworn he smiled for a moment.

The two finished up their work and Torakichi eventually got dressed.

He then retrieved the basket from the river to find four medium sized fish inside it.

"Oh. That's one more than I counted. Ah well."

Torakichi then roasted the four fish and gave the extra one to Hanabira and Amai.

"Thank you." Amai and Hanabira said simultaneously.

"No thanks needed." Torakichi said with a raised hand.

After eating, Hanabira and Amai laid down to sleep, while Torakichi watched over them.

.

..

Some time passed and the flames of the campfire dimmed a little.

Torakichi silently stood up before taking the Ōdachi to the river.

He then proceeded to carefully clean it before sheathing the blade again.

He then returned to where Hanabira and Amai slept, but silently gasped upon seeing Amai's body treble.

He heard her desperately attempt holding in her cries.

Torakichi bit his teeth as cold winds blew by.

He didn't know what to say or do and so he watched as Amai cried herself to sleep.