The whole village was like a graveyard with nothing but a few people standing out of their homes in search of food. crows flying with their black wings turned searing crimson as they sliced through the wind above the village, and then they were down, each symbolizing the tragedy,shrieking across the village on a stormy day.
Ryuuki and Guren who were standing outside the entrance waiting for the village chief of the village to come, they saw a crowd coming towards them with the chief in front.
Ryuuki was all calm just like a calm wind. as soon as the villagers arrived at the entrance Guren, who was about to introduce Ryuuki to them was stopped from saying anything by the village chief. the village chief smiled gently and said "you must be Guren's friends, you're all welcome here in the Nadeshiko village." where all the villagers including Guren had shocking expressions on their faces. all the villagers replied "what will we eat if we make him our guest? we hardly have anything for ourselves. please don't do this village chief." where the village chief looked at them calmly and then asked Ryuuki...
Chief:- young samurai, are you fine with it?
Ryuuki:- personally I don't care what happens to you all, but how do you know I wanted to stay here?
Chief:- haha! you're quite rude I must say. however you were with Guren, so you must be a really good person because Guren is really sincere. she won't invite anyone into the village without giving it a second thought. she must have seen something special in you.
Ryuuki:- ...
Chief:- you see, this village is having a major problem. that's why the villagers are opposing you otherwise they are all good people. so, if you wanna spend the night here I welcome you!
Ryuuki:- if you could, can you tell me what is the problem?
Chief:-this village has been attacked by bandits many times and they stole our food rations stored in the house near the forest border every time. they also burnt our whole crops once.
Ryuuki:- then why didn't you change the location of the rations?
Chief:- haha! even if we were to they still would've found it. I didn't want any harm to the villagers, so I thought storing there would have been better as they might have taken some hostages and we are helpless.
Ryuuki:- may I ask you something?
Chief:- anything.
Ryuuki:- you yourself don't seem that old to me. you must be in your late 40s I guess, still you have got the village chief's position!?
Chief:-is this a wrong thing?
Ryuuki:- no, I just wanted to ask.
after talking with the village chief for a while, Ryuuki was allowed to stay in the village but he was welcomed by the village chief, so he went to the chief's home to spend the night.
Ryuuki:- may I ask you another thing?
Chief:- you sure like to ask questions a lot haha! what is it?
Ryuuki:- what's your name?
Chief:- it's Han'nya Kiyokata.
after knowing the name Ryuuki tried to think a little about something but he stopped as he thought it must be pointless to take everything as seriously. soon the storm was getting bigger and bigger and the chief asked Ryuuki to stay here for a few more days as the storm is getting bigger where Ryuuki replies "I don't fear the storm." and the chief asked another question out of curiosity...
Han'nya:- is there anything you fear?
Ryuuki smiles faintly and said in a calm thrilling tone...
Ryuuki:- what I fear the most is the storm within myself. the roar of my storm might cause destruction to this whole nation, I suppose!
Han'nya:- may I ask your name?
Ryuuki:- I have got no obligation to answer.
Han'nya:- haha! oh yeah, I just remembered! Guren wanted to meet you tomorrow morning.
Ryuuki:- I had something to talk about with her anyways, I'll do that.
Ryuuki:- can you tell me when was the last time this village was being attacked by the bandits?
Han'nya:- they haven't attacked for a whole month now. otherwise, they used to come every month twice or thrice.
Ryuuki went to sleep after knowing that. the first thing Ryuuki did the next morning was to meet Guren, who was already waiting for him near the well. as Ryuuki was coming close to Guren he was wondering "why is it that the bandits have not attacked the village yet?"
Guren talks to Ryuuki with a smile on her face and a sweet tone...
Guren:- good morning, Ryuuki-kun!
Ryuuki:- good morning. why did you call me?
Guren:- there was something I wanted to tell you!
Ryuuki:- oh, me too.
Guren:- you should say first.
Ryuuki:- I'll get straight to the point. why hasn't this village been attacked yet?
Guren:- what are you trying to say? isn't it a good thing that they haven't come!?
Ryuuki:- it is but something feels unusual here.
Ryuuki:- was there anything unusual stolen by the bandits?
Guren:- yeah, I don't know why but they stole a huge amount of oil last time.
Ryuuki was shocked to hear this and he slowly touched the sand on the ground and looked up at the sky then realized something important as he said it to himself and asked Guren immediately to evacuate every villager and go to the food store quickly and hide the rations, fast!!
Guren:- what is this since last-minute you've been trying to say??
Ryuuki:- today the wind is flowing from the northeast, some of the jet streams will also be included.
Guren:- what of it?
Ryuuki:- don't you realize yet? THERE'LL BE A HUGE FIRE TONIGHT!