Tohgi walked back to his room with his tear filled eyes about to soak in his bath, he could not get the images of the captains and candidates out of his head and in a moment of irritation he threw the tank at the bathroom mirror and went to bed. The next day, he packed his things and left while the announcement ceremony occurred. Upon arriving at Padure village, the demeanor Tohgi had made it clear to his parents that he had been rejected, but unknowingly, Willow rushed to him in high spirits.
Willow: I have so much we can do before you go back, you're not going to be around for long so I'm taking up all your time.
Tohgi: Willow, I'm not going to be going back North for a while.
Tohgi smiled through the pain for his little sister.
Tohgi: I failed the exam
Willow: That's impossible
She quickly understood from the reaction of her parents that what she said would not be helpful in the situation.
Willow: sorry, I didn't mean to say that, I'm sorry
Wendy: you must be hungry, dinner is ready
Tohgi: Oh right, I forgot to eat today, thank you
Denver: when last did you eat?
Tohgi: sometime before noon yesterday
Denver: (that must have been when he found out) Don't worry we have a lot of lamb chops and chicken, your mum really went all out.
Tohgi: Sounds yummy, oh I forgot...
Tohgi handed over his coin pouch
Tohgi: I'm sorry, there are only 8 coins left.
Denver: Oi, Oi, I told you it's yours, you should have used more of it.
Tohgi: Well... I have no use for it now...
Denver was not interested any unnecessary back on forth, it was not the time.
Denver: Alright... I'll keep it
They had dinner as a family, but the room was more quiet than it usually was.
Tohgi: I've had enough, I'll be heading to bed. Thank you.
Tohgi left the dining table, his absence left the rest of his family saddened.
Willow: I don't really feel like eating either
Wendy: You can't do that, at least finish your plate
Willow: okay
Denver: I can understand her, he is usually the last to leave when it comes to meat, Tohgi losing his appetite is hard to ignore.
Wendy: In time... things would go back to the way they were, don't worry Willow.
Willow remained sad and finished her food holding tears back. On her way back to her room, she heard the sniffling of a weeping Tohgi. Tears began running down her face when she realized her older brother was shut in his room crying. Tohgi had tried so hard not to cry since his fight with Lorenzo, but arriving home made his rejection all too real. He wept into his pillow all night.
A few days later, when Denver and Wendy had gone to work, Tohgi decided to split some firewood and Willow helped him take the firewood to the storage. Whilst the continued preparing firewood for their home, a few bandits came unannounced.
Bandits: where's the head of the house?
Tohgi: He's currently not home I can drop a message for you.
Bandits: aren't you the kid that failed the examination?
Tohgi was instantly angered by the statement made by the bandit.
Tohgi: and what of it?
Bandits: that's perfect you are the reason we need to meet with your dad, you see we are very generous people, so we don't tax kids in this village, but you're not a kid any more.
Tohgi: oh, we appreciate your generosity, but I would not be subscribing to your service, you can have a nice day.
Bandit: Are you being cheeky? boy.
Tohgi: What do you mean?
Bandits: You now reside in this village you are to pay taxes to us, like every other adult villager, it is not optional.
Tohgi: What for? Do you own anything here? Or are you going to help me split my firewood?
Willow was walking back from the storage when she witnessed the bandits talking to Tohgi. One of them smirked at the sight of Willow.
Bandits: How about for protecting that pretty little sister of yours?
Tohgi: Protecting? From what exactly?
Bandits: you never know what could happen to such pretty girls in this village.
Willow became scared when she realised she was the topic of conversation.
Willow: Tohgi?
Tohgi: walk straight into the house, don't stop, don't look back, don't listen to anything anyone else says.
Willow started walking when the bandits instructed her to cease, but in that moment she remembered a situation he got herself into.
Flashback
Tohgi and Willow went to the southern forest to gather some herbs.
Tohgi: at some point you would have to do this for mother, cause I wouldn't be here, so I would show you all the safe paths.
Willow: okay.
Tohgi: don't stray from the path and don't touch or pick anything other than what I tell you to, some plants can be dangerous.
Willow: okay.
On their way, they encountered a big snake
Tohgi: Don't move, stay quiet and stay still, no need to be scared.
Willow: bu...
Tohgi: shhh, just listen to me for now, no matter what don't move.
Willow was overwhelmed with fear and did not listen to Tohgi, in her attempt to flee, the snake attacked her. Tohgi cut the head of the snake off before it could reach Willow.
Tohgi: are you okay? I told you not to move
Willow: but it was huge!
Tohgi laughed at her innocent reaction.
Tohgi: It's a gibanje snake, it doesn't rely on heat, sight or smell, but on vibrations, from the ground or loud noises. If you had stayed still it would have moved past you, and if it got too close I would have killed it.
Willow: why didn't you just kill it then?
Tohgi: what's the point in killing something that bears no threat against you? Just because you can? Or because you're scared?
Willow: easy to say when you're strong, it's not fair...
Tohgi continued laughing.
Tohgi: what isn't fair?
Willow: you're good at everything.
Tohgi: I'm not good at everything, I just try to learn a little bit of anything that might be useful to me at some point.
Willow: well I'm a better singer than you.
Tohgi: Yes you are.
Tohgi: you did bring up another valid point, you need to learn how to combat certain animals that roam around here, we would do this more frequently and I'll teach you how to fight a little.
Willow got ecstatic at the thought of being able to fight off wild animals.
Willow: okay!
Tohgi: Anyway, always remember this, even if I can't explain at the moment, if I ever tell you to do something, it is the best possible scenario I can imagine for you at that moment. So you can trust me and listen okay?
Willow: Sorry... Next time I would listen.
Tohgi: promise?
Willow: promise!
Tohgi: Thank you, now let's get back to picking.
Fashback ends
Willow: (this is just like the snake, it doesn't matter if I'm scared, all I have to do is listen to you right? This is the best scenario)
Willow put her hands over her ear and began whispering Tohgi's instructions back to herself.
Willow: walk straight, don't stop, don't look back, don't listen to anyone, walk straight, don't stop, don't look back, don't listen to anyone...
Bandits: You really shouldn't be stupid because of your brother little girl, I don't have that much patience.
Tohgi: If anyone tries to touch her, I'll cut off their arm.
Bandits: Really?
Young bandit: I'll get her
The young bandit reached for her, but Tohgi appeared in front of him, grabbed his wrist and used the axe to cut off his arm from the shoulder. Willow got into the house without hearing or seeing anything that had happened.
Tohgi: it's not really the same as a sword, doesn't really matter. If you don't get off my property I'll be taking off your head next. Would you also like to test if that's true?
The bandits were truly frightened in that moment, some felt the blood thirst Tohgi was exuding. It was so potent it felt as though they were being caressed by the reaper.
Bandit: let's leave for now
The bandits went back to their base and Tohgi went back inside. Willow was in the living room, waiting for Tohgi to come in. Willow was shocked to see him walk in with blood stained cloths.
Willow: You're covered in blood, what happened?
Tohgi: you shouldn't worry yourself, I thought you would be in your room
Willow: I waited for you... take off your shirt
Tohgi: huh?
Willow: I'll wash it for you.
Tohgi: oh... thank you.
Willow: you're still normal, right?
Tohgi: What do you mean?
Willow: forget I asked
Tohgi: you should stay inside for a little while longer, I still have some business to attend to
Willow: Are you going to be alright? I can run to master Somver for help.
Tohgi smiled and patted her head.
Tohgi: No need for that, your big brother can handle this (I have a lot of steam I am so desperate to blow off).
Willow: okay.
Tohgi went back outside and Willow went to her room holding on to his shirt. He felt the hostile presence of the bandits and was waiting to welcome them.
Willow fell to the floor in her room and began crying.
Willow: What do you mean by what do I mean? (I've never seen you look like that. I was more scared of you than I was of them. Something is wrong and I can't do anything about it.)
Tohgi: (I wonder what she meant?)
Tohgi grabbed the axe he left at the door and faced the bandits head on.
Tohgi: I would tell you the exact same thing I told your friends, if you don't get off my property I would be taking off your heads.
END!