[Fujimoto Gotou's POV]
In the middle of the night when everything should've been quiet near the village's outskirts, someone knocked on the door to the shack.
"Fujimoto-san! Fujimoto-san, please wake up!"
Who the hell is it this late at night? Fujimoto wondered.
"What are you screaming for so late in the night? The kids are sleeping so keep it down-"
"There is trouble, Fujimoto-san. A messenger from a nearby village rode to us on a horse and immediately asked to speak with the chief.
He was saying something about bandit attacks."
"Bandits this close to Edo? Do they have a death wish?"
"Apparently they are a group of well armed bandits... I don't know the important details so you'll have to ask the messenger yourself."
"Fine... I'll be there in a few minutes."
The old man dressed up in his usual robe. And just before he left the house, he took a peek into Haruto and Shiro's room.
They are sleeping soundly.
"...."
He took the training spear from the store room before he left. He probably won't have to use it, but carrying it around makes him feel a bit more secure.
There were large commotions at the village. All the men were awoke, although no call for evacuation has been made yet so no one is packing things up.
He continued on to the village chief's house. And immediately he noticed the blood stains on the floor to to the entrance of the house.
"Hmm..."
'So much blood... They'd be dead in under an hour if they don't seek a doctor.'
But his careful thoughts were interrupted by the muffled arguments from inside the house.
"-you are crazy if you think we can defend this hill, chief."
"To the east is the Sea of Trees and it's impossible to run from that side... there are so many cursed spirits there it's practically suicide.
The only thing we can do is to hold our ground and hope that someone from my village can contact the samurais in time. You rode a horse here didn't you?"
"Yes, but I doubt anyone from our village made it out except me.... they won't be able to help themselves, let alone help you.
There is no way that 70 farmers can fight a whole band of bandits numbered at least two hundred."
'That's almost an army by itself already.' Fujimoto thought to himself before barging into the room.
"Fujimoto! You came just in time. There are-"
"I heard all I need from outside, let's cut to the chase. It's impossible to defend this hill just as the messenger said."
"And then you suggest the alternative of dying to ghosts instead?"
"No... Running out from the sea of trees is normally impossible for civilians because they cannot fight back against the spirits.
But both Shiro and I can perceive their movements, and the priests from the shrine can channel the Goddess's divine flames to exorcist the lesser spirits.
If we are just trekking through the forest then it isn't entirely impossible."
"....Is there really no alternative options?"
"The bandits are approaching from the south, where the highway leading to Edo is at, so we can't head there.
The alternative is really only escaping through the forest." The messenger elaborated.
"Even so... that forest is cursed. Other worldly things always wash up in there for some reason, there's no telling what we might encounter inside."
"But we still have a better chance to escape there as compared with engaging the bandits. You won't want those lawless scums to lay a hand on our wives and children do you?"
'I'd defend Shiro with my life if I have to... She cannot fall to the bandits, I will not allow it.' So thought Fujimoto.
"...Are you confident that we can escape, Fujimoto?"
"During times if crisis we must trust in our companion's abilities. This is the ideal of the Takeda Clan, isn't it Kashimo?"
"Heh... In the end we are still pawns to that god-forsaken clan. I'll believe your words Fujimoto, you wouldn't have been a Fang of the Takeda if not for your wisdom after all.
I take it that you're coming with us, Messenger-san?"
Fujimoto looked at the messenger, who had a bandaged leg, and his trouser is dripping wet, soaked with blood.
"What happened to your leg?"
"I was shot with a gun as I made a run for it."
"Guns... you say? Well how many guns did you see?"
"Too many, I heard at least twenty to fifty."
"I guess we are even worse off than I imagined....
But worry not, I'm sure our plan will succeed because we do not have to fight the bandits head on."
The village chief Kashimo got up and took the dusty old sword in his living room, and strapped it on his waist.
"...The men can hold off the bandits until all the sick, women and children are out, and then we'll retreat.
Fujimoto, I'll have you be in charge of my unit of guards for now, I'll personally go to the shrine to inform of them the plan and then meet you at the entrance to the village.
And tell all the women, the sick, and the children to go to the shrine as soon as possible."
"Understood. At the same time I'll gather as much men as I can and await you at the gate.
But I must go and evacuate Haru and Shiro first, they are my priorities."
"Of course. I have to go and get my wife as well. Don't worry, I won't ditch you to fight for yourself again hahaha!"
"Heh... You jest too much.
And you didn't abandon me either last time, who would've expected the Sword Saint to defeat me and 40 other soldiers by himself? It isn't your fault."
"Right right. Now that it's settled, we don't have much time to waste. Let's get to work immediately.
And what will you do now messenger?"
"I will follow you to the shrine... You don't expect a cripple like me to join your fight do you?"
"Hahaha, that would be an even more funny sight than watching monkeys be taken as soldiers!"
"I'll be going first Chief."
"Right, see you at the battlefield Fujimoto."
Fujimoto got up and headed for the exit...
The messenger, upon Fujimoto leaving, asked the Chief.
"Do you know him well?"
"We were generals who fought together, of course I knew him well.
Age has caught up with him, but never underestimate his experience.... He's a far more talented strategist than I could ever hope to be."
___________
As Fujimoto walked down the night street, he gathered whoever is healthy enough to join the fight, and ordered for all women and children to gather at the shrine of the village, where the priest is preparing for a route into the forest.
After making sure he went through every single street and inform of the people -
"I must go get the kids."
He headed back to the shack.
"Shiro, Haruto, we have to leave-"
Empty is their room. The kids are gone and no where to be found nearby.
"Curses, where are they?!"
'Boom-!'
An explosion was heard at the distance, near the main entrance to the village.
"Tch..."
Fujimoto ran into the storage room where he grabbed the hidden, second 'spear' wrapped in cloth, and ran off towards the village.
______________
"Eek!" The sudden explosion caught me by surprise.
"It's alright Shiro, we are alright."
I could feel a gentle grasp on my head from Haruto as he comforts me.
"...What was that?"
"Something that only bad guys do. Now we must go and find Ji-chan!
I think he's likely to go to the place where all the men are gathered at. He's a pseudo leader of the guards after all."
"Mmm..."
Haruto held my hand with his own. This sensation of running down the street... with a grip on my hand....
"Urgh... My head..."
"(Marielle!... We have to go find mother and father!... Come on let's run!...)"
What was that voice, who was that woman?...
"Shiro? What happened Shiro?..."
"Urgh.... It's nothing..."
Haruto held my hand tight as we ran down the street, screaming "Oji-san" in order to find the old man, but we never ran into him. Before we know it, we searched all the way until the entrance of the village.
There were a group of men and some women gathered here, all held some kind of weapon in their hand.
"By the heavens what are you kids doing out here?!" One of the adults shouted at us.
Haruto replied to him.
"We are looking for our grandfather, do you know where he is-"
"I saw him just now, he told me to ask you two to go to the shrine immediately. He said do not look for him, he wants you to run now."
"...Is that so? Thanks, uncle."
"No problem, kid. Now go, hurry and catch up with the rest and do not search for your grandfather!"
Haruto led me by the hand once again, heading for the shrine.
"Haruto, he is lying! He doesn't know where Oji-san is-"
"I know, but this is urgent! I know Ji-chan will want us to be safe first, so we have to-"
'Bang!' (?x)
Multiple small explosions was heard sounding in the distant, and following it are a wave of screams and shouting of the men stationed at the front of the village.
"We have to move now!"
I don't know what is happening, and I don't understand why is this happening, I just wanted to see Fujimoto again.
But even so, I understood that it is extremely dangerous for us to stay there any longer.
That is until we by chance ran into an old man by the corner, who held two poles his hand.
"Ji-chan?!"
"Haruto! Where the hell have you been?! Did you know I searched everywhere for you?! And why did you bring Shiro with you?!"
"But we were looking for you! We were concerned that-"
Fujimoto dropped his spears, and crouched down to hug us both in his arms.
"-grandfather?...
"....I'm just worried... I'm glad you were safe...
I once lost everything... I will not be able to handle losing you two as well."
"...." (2x)
Fujimoto gently pats us both on our head, before he got back up on his feet.
"Shiro, take this glaive."
He handed the polearm not to Haruto, but to me. The glaive wasn't one that we have seen and practiced with before.
"It's heavy...!"
"Focus your energy into the blade, and the blade will swing down to transform into a sickle.
The incantation carved into the blade itself makes it able to harm even an incorporeal spirit.
You can see them can't you? With your Empyrean Eyes, you can see Cursed Spirits far better than anyone else can."
"Yes..."
"Then you know what to do when the time comes. I have shown you and Haruto how to use a polearm, don't disappoint when it counts.
Haruto, protect her however you see fit, but don't neglect yourself. Your life is just as important."
"Yes... Ji-chan..."
"Now go to the shrine and follow the people there, don't delay!"
"Y-yes!" (2x)
And right before we go... I said to him.
"...I never said this directly to you but... Thank you, Grandfather."
"...I know. We'll talk more later, take care of yourself."
As we ran for the shrine, gunshots were repeatedly heard in the back.
(Chapter End)