"I'm not cheating, Shiro!" she said, laughing. "I'm just better at this game than you are!"
The little girl sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, shuffling a deck of π¬π’π³πΆπ΅π’ cards with her delicate fingers. Across from her sat a little boy, watching her and seemingly annoyed.
Her eyes were fixed on the patterns on each card, admiring their intricate details and shapes. Her lips pursed in concentration as she shifted them back and forth. With each shuffle, the cards made a soft rustling sound, like the fluttering of butterfly wings.
"Hey, Nee-san",
"What is it, Shiro?"
The little boy fidgeted in front of her sister, his small hand fumbling nervously inside his pocket.
Finally, with a deep breath, he pulled his hand out of his pocket, holding a small box wrapped in colorful paper. His sister's eyes widened with surprise.
"A present for you," he said shily, and softly holding out the box.
She smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She carefully unwraps the ribbon and lift the lid of the box. Inside was a beautiful piece of jewelry, a delicate gold bracelet studded with small, sparkling bits of garnet. Its raveled designs sparkled in the fading light.
Her face lit up, overjoyed, as she looked at the bracelet. It is like the happiest day of her life.
Without hesitation, she threw herself and arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"This is amazing!" she exclaimed.
The boy nodded, his shyness slowly melting away as he watched his sister's happiness. "I wanted to give you something special for your coming of age ceremony," he said softly.
"D-Don't get me wrong! I still hate you for being a cheat!"
"Hey, Shiro,"
"Y-Yes?"
"I will let you win, just this once!" she said, her face blushing red and a smirk on her lips.
She was overjoyed as she saw her little brother's happy face, his smile lighting up the room. It was a moment of a lifetime.
But then, suddenly, the room suddenly shifted into pitch darkness. She felt a sudden fear chilling down her spine and much to her surprise when she hears muffled footsteps outside, slowly but heavy, coming towards her along with several gunshots.
As she slowly emerged from the cramped space of the closet, her mind was consumed by bewilderment. The darkness that had once enveloped her was now tinged with an eerie red glow, casting long shadows across the room. With trepidation, she panned her vision left and right, her eyes struggling to adjust to the sight before her.
Her heart skipped a beat as she took in the horror that surrounded her. Blood was splattered across the walls and floor, and the stench of death hung heavily in the air. Lifeless bodies lay scattered around the room, their eyes staring blankly at nothingness.
Her body trembled as she tried to process what had happened. It was as if a nightmare had become a reality right before her eyes. She felt a lump form in her throat as she struggled to breathe, the air thick with the scent of blood.
As she looked up on the gleaming light, she saw something that made her heart stop. Several soldiers were dragging the lifeless body of her brother across the ground.
The sight was too much for her to bear. She felt as if the world had just crumbled beneath her feet. In a moment of agony, she screamed out his name, hoping beyond hope that he would hear her and return to her. But the soldiers showed no sign of mercy or compassion. They simply continued to drag his body away, their faces cold and unfeeling.
She was powerless to stop them, frozen in place as she watched her beloved brother being taken from her forever. The pain was overwhelming, crushing her soul and leaving her feeling empty and alone. All she could do was sit quietly, watching as the men disappeared into the darkness, taking her brother with them.
"Shiro..."
Her tears streaming down her face, she knew that her life would never be the same. The world that she had once known was gone, replaced by a never-ending darkness that threatened to swallow her whole.
Darkness slowly creeps around her, a shiver ran down her spine, and she felt a cold, clammy sensation wrap itself around her neck. Before she knew it, she was being slowly pulled deeper. She was drowning in fear, her thoughts spinning in her head as she struggled against the monster's grasp. But it was no use, she felt herself slipping away into the abyss.
As they moved deeper into the darkness, the girl's vision began to fade, and she felt like she was losing consciousness. She tried to cling to any shred of hope, but the darkness seemed to be swallowing her whole. Her mind raced with thoughts of what might happen to her, and she felt as though she was trapped in a nightmare with no way out. The darkness consumed her completely, and she was lost to the abyss.
"Thou shalt transcend the shackles of thy nightmare,"
Akari caught herself dozing off from the plane of reality again. She finds herself walking in a quagmire at the side of the road, with her alloyed feet almost buried entirely in the mud. She released a heavy sigh, the sound echoing softly in the quiet morning air. Her gaze drifted down the long stretch of path that lay ahead of her.
Reluctantly, she turned around, the sight of the teahouse gradually receding from view as the distance between her and the place grew longer.
The kind words of the owner had brought her comfort in a way she hadn't felt in years. A sense melancholy overcame her.
She couldn't help but think about when she would be able to come back and find that same sense of peace again. It seemed like the world was always full of pain and suffering, and the teahouse was the only place she had found solace.
Just when she was about to ascend herself from the grasp of the muddy quagmire, she noticed an unusual sound in the distance. It was the trembling sound of hooves, and they were fast approaching. She looked around and quickly noticed groves of bamboo nearby and without hesitation, she ran towards it and hid behind, peeking through their bending trunks, peering out cautiously to see what was happening.
As the sound drew closer, her gaze fixed on a company of foot soldiers, riding on horseback, and they were armed to the teeth. They are preparing for a war.
In their midst was a huge samurai, with his armor adorned in a rich, golden amber hue, and the metal pauldrons attached were polished to a mirror-like finish. The intricate etchings and designs on the armor depicted scenes of great battles, adding to the air of awe and reverence that surrounded him.
But despite all of that, he stood in a lifeless gaze. The scars of countless battles etched deep into his face, carving lines of suffering and hardship. His eyes were dull, devoid of any emotion. A thick, black beard adorned his chin, unkempt and wild. His hair fell haphazardly around his face, like a testament to his fallen state.
His face still held a sense of intensity, a lingering reminder of his former glory. But there was a coldness about him, an emptiness that spoke to his loss of honor.
As Akari's eyes followed them disappearing into the distance, a feeling of unease settled deep within her. Their direction was clear and that they were headed towards the teahouse. Her heart quickened with fear as she realized that they might have some sinister intention: Nagumo might be in danger, she thought.
As the army reached the vicinity of the teahouse, the sound of hooves and the neighing of the horses filled the air, echoing off the walls and into the corners of the room. The ground shook with each step, and the dust scattered across the yard, filling the once peaceful garden with a hazy fog. The footmen, sneering and arrogant, wasted no time in pounding through the door, their weapons drawn and at the ready. They moved with a precision and ruthlessness that made the very air around them seem to tremble.
Then, with a loud thud, the samurai jumped down from his horse, the weight of his ππ°π₯π’π€π©πͺ brushing against the ground. He took a heavy step forward, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of resistance. The men, sensing his power, stood back and allowed him to take the lead.
With a single gesture, the men forcefully pushed the door open, causing it to slam against the wall with a loud noise. As they barged into the poorly-lit room, they were immediately met with the sight of a beautiful woman sitting in front of a mat and a small table with two tea cups on it. Despite the chaos and destruction that surrounded her, she appeared to be completely serene, emitting an aura of peace and tranquility that was untouched by the violence unfolding around her. Her face was adorned with a smile, as if she had been anticipating this exact moment. In her lap, she laid her delicate hands on top of one another.
As the soldiers closed in around her, she slowly reaches towards the cup in front of her and takes a sip. She watches as the samurai steps in front and enter her domain.
His imposing figure filling the small space inside. His armor clanged with each heavy step, and the weight of his blade was palpable in the air.
Nagumo and the samurai locked eyes, their gazes unyielding and fierce. It was as if they were two predators, each ready to strike at the other.
"General Eiji," Nagumo spoke in a soft and calming voice.
She fixes the cups and fills it with lukewarm tea and draws it towards the samurai.
"Would you mind having a taste?"
"Shiranui," His voice was deep, gravelly, and menacing.
"That's a name I haven't heard in years," she chuckles and takes another sip. Smoke covering her face and brushing through the ornaments in her elegant πΈπ’π³π¦π΄π©πͺπ―π°π£πΆ hair.
"By the orders of the Shogun, I am placing you under arrest. Resist and you may die!" His powerful voice echoed through the place.
"Shogun? I thought you were only serving the Emperor?" she responded.
The samurai remained silent but those words were etched deep within him that made him feel a little bit uncomfortable.
Without hesitation, the soldiers moved to bind Nagumo's hands, wasting no time in securing their captive. With brute force, they began to drag her out of the teahouse, their grip unyielding. Nagumo didn't bother to struggle against their grasp.
"Sorrow seeps into your soul, let not the weight of her departure drag you into the abyssal nightmares, Eiji."
Still, the samurai remained silent. As if he lets those words slip through his ears.
With the soldiers by her side, She made her way towards the door. However, as she reached the threshold, she paused, turning her gaze towards Eiji. A soft smile graced her lips.
"The people gazed upon you, she too, you should be ashamed of yourself," muttered Eiji.
"My, my, it's not a burden of responsibility that we both share, my dear,"
"Then what is it, Shiranui?"
"It's destiny," she chuckles.
Eiji lets out a low, but steady grunt in response, slowly drawing his giant blade out of its sheathe.
"Perhaps, you do believe in the gods, Eiji? Faith has served well in your journey for many years now,"
He turned around slowly, full of menace and aggression. As he faced Nagumo, his fists were clenched tightly, and he held his blade with a firm grip.
"Or perhaps, Genichiro has fooled you with a blind faith?"
As Nagumo spoke, the anger inside him grew, stoked by every word that left her lips. Slowly, he raised his blade, gripping it with both hands as he aimed it directly at Nagumo's neck. The blade glinted ominously in the light, and the air around them grew tense with anticipation.
"What do you think, Eiji?"
"I think, there is no God. Only the Shogun himself!"
His heart was pounding in his chest as he raised his sword. He had never been so sure of anything in his life - this was his moment of reckoning.
With a fierce determination, He brought down his blade towards Nagumo, his muscles tense with anticipation. But just as he was about to make contact, a sudden movement caught his eye.
To his shock, a figure appeared out of nowhere, standing between him and Nagumo, blocking the force of his blade with ease. Smoke and dust filled the area, and Eiji was taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise.