After parting his ways with Ishimaru, a young man who is now all grown up was on his journey to Edo. the long hairs of him were flowing alongside the strong wind and having a katana on his waist which was on its hunger of bloodlust wanting the blood of certain someone made that young man even more exhilarating for it. the name which itself meant the one who rode the dragon, RYUUKI was on his way to Edo!
It was a dark and stormy night. it had been raining for hours now, the steady patter of water droplets against Ryuuki's cloak long since faded to a dull rush in the back of his own self. Ryuuki's whole cloak was wet and he was wondering if it would ever be dry again like his sins.
Ryuuki:- I don't know why but I feel like I'm more comfortable in this darkness than in the bright sun shining upon me. well, I guess it's true "the more you try to go deep in darkness the more you're getting engulfed in it." well, it's not that bad considering I wanted to hide away from my responsibilities before. even now I want to do so however, now I have others' hope in me. that's exhilarating!
As Ryuuki was walking on Nakasendō's path to Edo, he saw a mountain of corpses as there was a war between the few big towns. Ryuuki came across a lake where he decided to camp near it for the time being unless the Storm calms down.
The next day...
there was a beautiful voice coming from near the lake...
"Pick a crimson lotus for the one
don't hesitate, you still have your loved one
bring the Crimson flower for her
make the lotus shower upon her
even if it's for the last time
pick the crimson lotus for the one
it'll weather away, and fly away like the wind"
Ryuuki who woke up from his sleep wanted to say "thank you!" and "why did you ruin my sleep?" to that person. "that depends on what type of a person he or she is" Ryuuki thought at the moment. Ryuuki arrives at the lake and saw a beautiful girl have a crimson lotus on her head singing the same song while picking up the crimson lotus from the lake.
Ryuuki:- Heyy!! why did you have to ruin my sleep?
where the girl looks back and replies with a very sweet tone...
Girl:- oh!? oh my! sorry if it woke you up. I guess you were sleeping somewhere near.
Ryuuki:- yes, by the way how come Crimson lotus are in the lake? if I'm correct the crimson lotus is not found on any water surface.
Girl:- yes, you're absolutely correct! the Crimson lotus grows on the site of battlefields. it seems to thrive in soil that has been soaked in blood. it was flowed away from the battlefield by the extraordinary amount of blood to here, in this lake. if you're a traveller, I'm pretty sure you must have seen the mountain of corpses on your way.
Ryuuki:- I figured it as much.
As Ryuuki drops the conversation and was drinking the water near the fresh part of the lake the girl started singing again
"Pick a crimson lotus for the one
don't hesitate, you still have your loved o..."
where Ryuuki replies with an angry tone "never sing this song again in front of me!"
where the girl replies "did something happen? I'm sorry if my song was bad"
Ryuuki:- I've got no obligation to answer your question.
where the girl smiles faintly and asks again...
Girl:- by the way, if you're a traveller you must be going somewhere!?
Ryuuki:- none of your concern!
Girl:- now! now! don't say that. it's a battlefield area. a war can break out anytime soon in this area, how about you come to our village?
Ryuuki:- well, I guess I'll accept that since I don't wanna use unnecessary strength in this war because it has got nothing to do with me.
Girl:- then come with me.
As they both started walking towards her village Ryuuki didn't let her guard down as he knew, it was something out of the ordinary. a girl asking all of a sudden to come with her to her village.
The girl was smiling along the way and asked Ryuuki "what's your name, young samurai?" where Ryuuki replies " it's ironic coming from you "young" you yourself seem like of my age." where the girl laughs in a very beautiful manner and said, "yes! and you didn't tell me your name!?"
Ryuuki:- the name is Ryuuki, what's yours?
Girl:- it's Guren.
a few hours later...
both Ryuuki and Guren arrive at her village which was named Nadeshiko Village. the village seems empty and cold, with nothing pleasant to look at. the village seemed bleak and desolate to Ryuuki.