The Rise of the White Lotus

"Taiga-dono, there were trails of blood found on that hill and a piece of cloth. However, we recovered nothing but that." Arakaki stood behind Tora who was watching two samurais par. Their swords clashed, satisfying enough for leaders like them to have as a warrior.

After the blow he received from the strongest general he had ever known, Arakaki took quite a few minutes to snap back to reality. Hence, he was lost when Tora left and shot an arrow. The thing he only witnessed was Tora shooting an arrow to a specific area. 

He then hastily headed to the tower where she stood. Upon reaching it, he saw her hand dripping with blood as she had a deep wound. Therefore, he insisted on treating her wound, which she agreed after he persisted.

"Arakaki, continue strengthening your base and tighten your patrol." Without turning her gaze away from the two warriors parring, Tora ordered. "Task a small group of soldiers to thoroughly conduct an investigation regarding the incident but don't let your guard down." 

"Yes, Taiga-dono." Bowing his head, Arakaki heeds her orders.

"Whoever the person behind it, he/she sought for a distraction of this base by implanting doubts within your people. Fortunately, their cheap trick won't work on me." Slowly, a smirk formed on the side of her lips. 

Indeed, it was a good thing that Tora was present when it happened. Or else, Arakaki would also think that a rat managed to sneak inside the base. After all, the arrow though seemed it came from the top of the archery tower, it actually came further behind it.

Still, that was more alarming because it meant that someone has a terrifying skill in shooting an arrow from an extended distance. It could be considered that he was as good as Tora in terms of archery.

"I'll be heading back to the capital tomorrow at dawn. I can entrust the affairs here to you, can I?" Tora turned, her hands were held behind.

"I wish for your safe return to the Capital, Taiga-dono." Saluting with his fist on his chest, Arakaki bowed his head before his commander. 

It has been a month since Tora arrived on the northern border. She initially planned to stay for several days only, but after the incident, it prolonged her stay in the town. However, since the envoy of the emperor came to request for her presence in the capital, they mandated her to return to join the court.

"Arakaki, our enemy…" She paused as Tora scanned her eyes around the surrounding. "I have a feeling that they won't come from outside because they were already inside." With that said remark, Tora set her eyes to Arakaki, who knitted his brows before his pair of eyes widened and sharpened.

"Taiga-dono, are you implying that there would an uprising?"

"Let's not think that far yet but, let's also let's keep that possibility in mind." Shaking her head sideways, Tora took a step forward and soon brushed past Arakaki. Stopping on his side, she whispered. "Never let your guard down, Arakaki. They were trying to cripple me — don't let that happen." With that, Tora resumed on her strides.

"Yes, my king." Arakaki offered her another salute as he lowly muttered.

An uprising meant that another blood bath would take place to fight for the throne. Although the current emperor was just a mere figurehead, Tora was mandated to fight on the frontline to protect him.

After all, the emperor was still sitting on his throne because Tora let him. But, that didn't mean he was the true ruler. Everyone secretly acknowledged the general as the real ruler of the kingdom. Hence, a revolt was to challenge the one true king: Tora.

****

The next day: DAWN.

"Churu, are you certain you're prepared to return to the Capital?" Squatting down, Tora asked Churu for the last time. Tora thought hard about it if Churu should go back to the capital with her or she would leave her here under Arakaki's protection. However, although she decided to choose the latter, Churu cried her heart out.

Therefore, Tora was rendered helpless before this little girl. She didn't know what kind of magic Churu has to bend her decision and be helpless before her requests. In the end, Tora decided to take her along with her.

"Yamada-san is with me, so I am not afraid!" Churu smiled brightly, nodding her head determined to go back to her host's birthplace where she was born and died.

"Tora, that's my real name." Tora corrected. She realized that Churu still didn't know her real name and still addressed her using the false name she gave to Aki. "Call me that when it's just the two of us, alright?" She smiled, which made Churu smiled.

"Hmm!" It was not surprising that Churu didn't press on the reason why she used a false name as she has been like that. After all, Churu knew Tora from the day she was born. Meanwhile, Tora completely assumed that because Churu was a former slave, she had a habit of not probing.

"Let's go," Tora grinned. She lifted Churu up on Kaze's back before she hopped on it after she jumped. Churu swayed sideways, but because Tora stilled her little frail body, she didn't fall. "Our journey will take a few rough days but endure it." Tora reminded her as they would travel back to the capital without a carriage.

Hence, it would surely be rough on Churu. Regardless, Churu was prepared to go to the ends of the world if she was with her.

"Kaze, head forth." Pleased with the enthusiasm of Churu, Tora commanded her ride before it neighed and sped away from the northern town.

****

Three days later, Tora and Churu weren't even halfway to the Capital when they saw an empty carriage ahead. Slowing down, Kaze came into a full halt several steps away from the carriage. By the looks of it, a group of bandits ambushed the carriage as some rotten vegetables, squashed fruits scattered around.

"How unfortunate…" Tora murmured as she felt bad for this group who were robbed. Merchants usually faced this kind of danger whenever they travel to deliver their goods. 

Hence, Tora didn't take this route as it was a long road to take and she didn't want unnecessary trouble. If not because she has a little girl with her, she wouldn't take this smooth road and go to the rough yet short route. 

Just as Tora was about to command Kaze to continue on their journey, she caught a figure on the side of her eyes.

Turning to the figure, Kaze trotted forth near the figure who was sitting, almost on the brink of his death. Tora hopped out of Kaze and sprinted to the elderly man sitting while leaning on the tree.

"Mister, what happened?" Tora asked as she immediately offered him water to drink. Just then, she heard Churu screamed, which made her turn her head.

"Yamada-san!" Churu screamed as she was being taken away by an unknown man on a horse as he dragged her inside the forest on the side of the road. On the other hand, Kaze followed their tracks despite not having a rider.

"Hehe," The elderly man chuckled but the next second, Tora's pair of devilish eyes met his — momentarily taking him aback. She lifted him by his neck as her grip around him slowly tightened.

"Bring me to her!" She said through her gritted teeth as it was obvious this man was the abductor's accomplice.