Chapter 3:

A Flower And A Sword

Ashes of Fury

The fires of chaos had been extinguished. All that remained was sorrow and regret.

Akakawa Castle, Akakawa Kei

The Head’s Office

The air was heavy with unease. Yoshiro, the head of the Akakawa Clan, sat at the center of the room, his gaze fixed on a map of Koriyama. The Furyu village was crossed out, reduced to nothing but a tragic reminder of their mistake.

Across from him, Tsubasa, his younger brother and second-in-command, spoke with clear urgency.

"The situation is spiraling out of control, Clan Head," Tsubasa began. "The Furyu Clan was the pillar of Koriyama’s balance. Their loss has left a void that won’t be ignored. The other factions—they won’t let this slide. If we don’t act, this could turn into an all-out war."

Yoshiro closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. "I suppose these are the consequences of our mistake," he admitted. His voice held neither anger nor despair—only resignation.

Tsubasa clenched his fists. "So we just sit here and wait for our doom? We have to do something!"

Yoshiro’s gaze hardened. "Tsubasa, I know you want to protect the clan. But understand this—we have dishonored the name of the Bushi. This is not a matter of strategy or pride. We must face the consequences of our actions."

The room buzzed with murmurs from the officials. Uncertainty, fear, and guilt weighed on them like an invisible chain.

Then, a voice cut through the tension like steel.

"The Akakawa Clan will not fall."

All eyes turned toward the doorway. Koki Furyu stood there, her stance firm, her eyes ablaze with purpose.

Yoshiro’s eyes widened in shock. "Koki...?"

She stepped forward, her voice unwavering. "As the last member of the Furyu Clan, it is my duty to maintain peace in Koriyama. I will represent the Akakawa in negotiations."

The room fell silent. Then—

"That might actually work!" Tsubasa said, sitting up. "An Asura—a Furyu—standing with us could shift public perception. We might have a chance at restoring balance."

Yoshiro studied Koki carefully. She was no longer the trembling child from that night.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked. "This path will not be easy."

Koki’s gaze did not waver. "I know. But if I don’t take responsibility, who will?"

The wheels of fate had begun to turn. One shattered piece was blooming into a brilliant flower…

The Shrine of the Fallen

(Graves of Shinji Furyu and Osaki Furyu)

The shrine was eerily quiet. The autumn trees stood bare, their leaves scattered on the cold ground. A bitter wind swept through, whispering like unseen ghosts.

Koki knelt before the two graves, fingers curling into her sleeves.

"I’m sorry, Father… Mother…" Her voice trembled. "If only I had been stronger. I couldn’t protect anyone—not you, not Renn…"

A lump rose in her throat. Tears threatened to fall, but she held them back.

A familiar voice broke the silence.

"That’s not true."

She turned. Yoshiro stood behind her, his expression unreadable.

"They must be proud of you," he said quietly. "You survived, Koki. And you chose to stand up instead of being swallowed by grief. That takes strength."

Koki looked back at the graves. "It’s my fault."

"No." Yoshiro's voice was laced with regret. "It’s mine. I killed your parents. And now… your brother is gone."

Koki exhaled sharply. "I don’t have time to cry."

She wiped her eyes and stood up, shoulders squared. "I have to be strong."

Just then—

"Clan Head! Clan Head!"

A Bushi, wounded and breathless, stumbled into the shrine.

Yoshiro turned sharply. "What happened?"

The man gasped, his body shaking—not just from pain, but from fear.

"I-It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen…"

"Who are you talking about?" Yoshiro demanded.

The Bushi’s voice quivered as he spoke the name.