Shadows of Ruin

As the first light of dawn crept through the windows, Ryosei entered the room where Takuo and Yuna were sleeping. He walked over to the two of them and gently shook their shoulders to wake them up. "Hey, wake up," he said, his gruff voice low. "It's morning already. Time to get up."

Takuo's eyes snapped open as he was shaken awake by Ryosei. He groggily sat up, disoriented for a moment before realizing where he was. He rubbed his eyes and looked around the room, his brain still fuzzy from sleep. "Already morning?" he mumbled, his voice thick with tiredness.

"Yes, it's morning," Ryosei replied, his voice still firm but with a hint of humor. "Time to get up and start the day." He turned to Yuna, who was also slowly waking up, and repeated the same gesture, gently shaking her shoulder.

Yuna stirred as Ryosei shook her awake, her eyes slowly fluttering open as she slowly came to consciousness. She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes and stretching her limbs as she tried to shake off the last remnants of sleep. "Good morning," she murmured, her voice soft and groggy.

Ryosei nodded in acknowledgement of their greetings, then he spoke again. "My mother asked me to come get you," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Breakfast is ready and she wants you to join us."

Ryosei led Takuo and Yuna to the breakfast table, where the head's wife was already seated, waiting for them. The table was laid out with a simple and flavorful meal, consisting of rice, fish, miso soup, and pickles.

The head of the village, the father of Ryosei, was also present at the breakfast table. He sat at the end of the table, his expression stern but not unfriendly. He greeted Takuo and Yuna with a nod as they took their seats at the table.

As Takuo sat at the breakfast table, his mind began to wander. He thought of the current situation, of the danger that he and Yuna were in, and of the potential threat that the bandits posed to the village. He felt a sense of duty and responsibility, a feeling that he needed to do something to protect the villagers from the bandits, even if it meant putting himself in harm's way.

As Takuo pondered his thoughts, the head of the village spoke up, drawing his attention back to the present moment. "I hope you slept well last night," he said, his tone respectful but firm. "I trust that Ryosei and Hanako made you feel welcome."

As the head of the village spoke, his wife, Hanako, smiled and added, "Yes, I hope you slept well. We've tried to make you feel as comfortable as possible considering the circumstances."

Her kind voice and warm demeanor made it clear that she was genuinely glad to have them as guests in their home, and that she wanted them to feel welcome despite the dangerous situation that had led them to seek refuge in their village.

As Takuo listened to Hanako's words, he kept mulling over the idea of travelling on his own to draw the bandits away from the village. He knew that he and Yuna's presence was putting the villagers in danger, and he felt responsible for their safety

Takuo stayed silent for a moment as he thought, before finally speaking up. "Thank you for your hospitality," he said, his tone polite but somewhat hesitant. "It's very kind of you to let us stay here."

"But," he continued, his voice gaining a hint of determination, "I've been thinking... I think it might be best if I left the village soon. To draw the bandits away from here."

Ryosei, who had been listening silently until now, spoke up. "Are you crazy?" he said, his voice sharp and incredulous. "You can't just go and face the bandits on your own. You'll die."

Takuo looked at Ryosei calmly, his expression resolute. "I don't plan on confronting them head-on," he said. "I'll just create a distraction, something to draw their attention away from here."

Ryosei, still skeptical of Takuo's plan, said, "If you're really set on leaving, I'll come with you. I won't let you go by yourself and get killed."

Takuo glanced at Yuna, who had been quietly listening to the conversation. "And what about you? Are you coming with us?" he asked her.

Yuna looked up, her expression resolute. "Of course I'm coming," she said. "I'm not letting you two go off on your own."

Ryosei grumbled under his breath, clearly not thrilled about the prospect of having two instead of just one person to worry about. But he didn't argue further, and simply accepted the situation with a reluctant nod.

The village head, who had been listening quietly until now, spoke up, "You three are sure you want to do this?"

He looked at each of them in turn, his stern gaze appraising their determination and courage.

"It's not going to be easy," he warned, his voice low. "The bandits are dangerous and ruthless. They won't hesitate to kill you if given the chance."

on the other side-

Kuro, the leader of the bandits, was sitting in the ruined castle that served as their base. A sinister smile spread across his face as he held a captured villager from the nearby village in his grip.

The captured villager was a middle-aged man, his weathered face streaked with grime and his clothes torn and ragged. He cowered in fear, his eyes wide and his body trembling as Kuro held him by the collar.

"Please, let me go," the villager pleaded, his voice trembling. "I have a family, they need me at home."

Kuro chuckled darkly, his grip tightening around the villager's collar. "Oh, your family," he sneered. "I'm sure they'll be just fine without you for a while."

The villager's face paled in horror, realizing that there was no compassion or mercy in Kuro's words. He tried to wriggle free from Kuro's grip, but the bandit leader's grasp was too strong.

Kuro smirked at the villager's futile attempts to escape. "Don't bother struggling," he sneered. "You're not going anywhere."

Kuro's grip on the villager's collar tightened as he spoke, "Now then, let's talk about Takuo and Yuna. Where are they?"

The captured villager looked up at Kuro, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. "T-Takuo and Yuna?" he repeated, his voice quivering. "I... I don't know who you mean."

Kuro's impatience grew as the villager feigned ignorance. "Don't play dumb," he snapped, jabbing a finger into the villager's chest. "I'm talking about the samurai and the young lady who escaped from the bandits. Do you know where they are?"

The villager, realising that there was no point in hiding the information, gave in to Kuro's demands. "I-I don't know where they are now," he stuttered. "But I heard some rumors that they sought refuge in a nearby village."

"Which village?" Kuro demanded, his voice harsh. "We need specifics."

The villager looked terrified as he continued, "Th-they say they went to the village of the Fujitani head, near the river."

Kuro sneered as he heard the villager's words. "Fujitani head, eh?" he said, his lips twisted in a dark smile. "Looks like we know where they're hiding now."

end of chapter-