Tengoku Village

“Ten…Tengoku Village?”

The words struggled to come out of Ichiji’s mouth. He had never heard of a place called Tengoku Village. News about Nippon rarely reached the White Order, and it was usually limited to battles involving powerful daimyos.

“Yes. I’m sure it must be quite a shock. Kai Province is indeed a long distance away,” Sumida said.

Ichiji immediately grew wary. The Temple of the White Order had indeed been at the edge of Kai Province, the province ruled by Takeda Shingen. Just what else did this man know?

As these thoughts mulled over in his mind, distant sounds of hooves hitting the ground reached his ear. Loud, rowdy voices carried over the night air. Ichiji turned. Down the path leading to the house, a small group of men riding horses made their way up. They were holding torches, the orange flames illuminated their pristine armor.

Soldiers, then. But of which clan?

Sumida’s face lost color as he looked at the men approaching, making him resemble a ghost.

“Inside the house. Quick. You too, Yuki,” he said.

Ichiji didn’t question him. His panic was evident. He and the girl quickly went back into the house, just as the men arrived.

Their loud voices could be heard as they laughed and jested among themselves.

Probably drunk, Ichiji thought. Crouching, he opened the door slightly, allowing him to see the men on the other side.

There were five of them. All were dressed in well-made black armor, armed with katanas sheathed at their hips. They were very obviously drunk. The fact that they had been able to ride up here was a miracle.

The leader, or at least the one who looked like it, came down from his horse and walked shakily towards Sumida, who looked at him with an expressionless face.

“Good evening, Usui. Is there an issue, perhaps?” Sumida asked.

 “Ahhh…hic. Don’t give me that bullshit, Sumida. Where’s Yuki? She’s just what a man needs on this drab night!” Usui grunted.

His words were slurred and accompanied by hiccups, making them hard to understand except when he was shouting.

Ichiji turned to see the girl. She stood next to him, her back towards the door.

Her eyes were glued to the ground. Her pale hands were shaking.

‘Yuki. So that’s her name. That man. I wonder if she’s betrothed to him’.

Ichiji thought deeply as he continued watching the scene unfold.

“I’m sorry, Usui. She’s asleep right now. If you can come back later, I’m sure-” A hard slap landed on Sumida’s face, cutting his words short. He fell to the ground instantly. The men on the horses began laughing hysterically as Usui moved towards Sumida’s body. He moved his leg back and began kicking Sumida’s repeatedly.

“Whenever I come, it’s always the same story with you,” Usui said. She’s asleep, she’s busy, she’s this and that. Do you think I don’t know what you’re doing?! Do you think I’m dumb?!”

His words were accompanied by kicks to Sumida’s body. Ichiji’s blood boiled as he watched Sumida get beaten up. He stood up, intending to open the door.

Yuki reached out, grabbing his hand tightly. Her voice quivered as she spoke.

“It’s always been like this. He’ll go eventually. Please. Don’t make this worse.”

Tears fell down her face as she said this. Ichiji realised. This wasn’t new for her. She had seen this, experienced this before. Seeing her father get beaten was even harder for her to bear than him.

“So if I go out there and beat those guys up, it’ll make things even worse for you?” Ichiji asked. 

“Yes, a lot worse,” Yuki replied.

Every single muscle in Ichiji’s body wanted nothing more than to go out there and pummel those men. But he forced himself to bear it. He had to take Yuki’s word for it. If not interfering would be better for them, then he wouldn’t move a muscle.

The kicks stopped. Usui’s breaths were heavier now, his chest rising and falling eith effort now. Sumida lay crumpled on the ground, his body shaking.

“Damn bastard. You made me sober up,” Usui said.

Usui walked back to his men, who were still snickering. In one deft motion, he swung his body over his horse, resting into the saddle perfectly.

“Let me tell you something you might not know, Sumida. People like me, we have a right to select certain people for the tribute. You know who I’ll select, don’t you?” Usui asked.

The smug smile on his face made Ichiji even angrier than the beating he had given Sumida, but he had to keep calm. He had to wait.

“You’re…going to take her,” Sumida replied. His words were slow and forced, a result of the pain now in his body.

“I guess you’re as smart as they say. So you better enjoy these last few days with your daughter. Because after that, I’ll make sure that you never see her again. Let’s leave this bastard, that wine isn’t going to drink itself!” Usui shouted.

Cheers and shouts went out from among his men as they left the same way they came. Once they were a good distance away, Ichiji and Yuki ran out of the house towards Sumida.

“It’s okay. Seriously, I’m okay. I’m used to it now,” he said.

Ichiji could see through his lies. He was obviously still injured. Despite his protests, they helped him inside, laying him down on a bed in his room.

“Is there anything we should get for you?” Ichiji asked. 

“No. I don’t think anything is broken. I just need some rest. We’ll talk later. I just need to talk to Yuki, then I’ll sleep” Sumida said.

“Alright then,” Ichiji said. He bowed, before standing up and leaving the room.

Ichiji went outside, sitting on the grass and taking in the air.

Shortly after, Yuki came out of the house too. She sat down next to him. For a moment, the two of them just sat there in total silence, letting the cool night breeze touch their skin. Ichiji was the first to break the silence.

“So. Are you going to tell me what exactly happened? Who were those men?” he asked. She lingered for some time, before taking a deep breath and answering him.

“That man, Usui, is the head of the samurai assigned to watch over this village. He’s always wanted my dad to give me over to him, but he’s always refused,” Yuki answered.

Ichiji sat in silence for a moment before talking.

“Which daimyo rules over this region?”

Yuki looked up at Ichiji, her eyes remaining on him for a second before answering.

“His name is Mori Terumoto. He rules over the Chugoku region, including this province. Late last year, he defeated the Amago clan, the previous rulers of this land. Tengoku District was the last to fall to him. A powerful shaman helped us resist the Mori forces.”

Ichiji’s eyes widened as he heard her last sentence. A shaman had helped defend Tengoku District. But then he began to think: what happened to him?

“He was defeated, in the end,” Yuki said, seemingly reading his mind. 

“How?” Ichiji asked. 

“Terumoto joined forces with a powerful Oni named Omake. The people of Tengoku District mounted a defence, but it wasn’t enough. They were defeated. And now the two of them rule over the land, unopposed,” Yuki answered.

In an instant, she turned to Ichiji and bowed towards him, her head reaching the ground.

“What are you doing? There’s no-” 

“Sir! Please! My father and I know your secret. We know that you are a shaman. PIease, I beg of you. If it isn’t too much to ask, help us save Tengoku District!”

Ichiji sat wide-eyed, dazed by Yuki’s sudden request.

Her hands began to shake. ‘He went silent. Did I scare him? Maybe I shouldn’t have asked him so suddenly? No. He needs to know directly. A shaman on our side might be just what we need to turn the tables. Not telling him di-rectly…would be an insult to him.’ Yuki heard the ruffling of grass. She looked up to see Ichiji standing and looking at the moon.

“Sir?” she muttered.

Ichiji looked at her. “I…lost someone very dear to me recently. And It’ll be an insult to him, his memory, and everything he taught me if I was to ignore people who were suffering right in front of me,” Ichiji said.

He sat down and continued speaking. “I’ll help you guys defeat Mori and Omake. And by the time I leave, I’ll make it into a place where you and your dad can be happy. That’s the only way I’ll be satisfied.”

Tears began to well up with Yuki’s eyes. “Thank you. Thank you very much!” She shouted.

The path to freedom was finally opening up.