The Rise of the White Lotus

Aki searched for Tora to the areas that weren't affected by the fire. However, the sun had already risen and yet; he hadn't seen even her shadow. He even reached the nearest point of the original place, but to no avail, he didn't see any tracks she might have left.

"Where could she have gone off to?" He murmured as he looked around. Just then, he noticed a stick not far away from his standpoint. Turning his head to its direction, Aki knitted his brows as he squinted his eyes.

There was something that was placed over the stick. Blood still tricked down it, and long hair of a person swayed upon the slightest blow of the wind. Since the dismembered head wasn't seen as he could only gaze the back of the head from his position, Aki gazed up.

There, above the head that was put on the stick, Tora was sitting on the tree branch. Her right foot swayed while her left was bent up for her arm to rest. She had her back leaning on the tree as her head was turned to god knows where.

For some unknown reason, Aki was relieved to see that she was indeed safe after everything. Hence, he unhurriedly strode towards the head that she hanged. Soon, as he reached the tree where she was sitting, Aki walked around the dismembered head.

Upon seeing the mangled face, he instantly recognized the man despite the gruesome fate he received in the hands of Tora. He was the leader of the group, a man that was known as Shuren. Aki's face scrunched up a little before he looked up to her.

Deep down, he knew that Tora had already noticed his presence, but she chose not to say anything and ignore him. Seeing her calm after wreaking havoc, it relieved Aki in a way. After all, he assumed that she would assault anyone that neared her vicinity: just like the fearsome general.

However, aside from sensing the melancholy of the air, she wasn't as a monster he thought she was. Granting that she did what she did, but well, it was already normal in this era as the timeless rule of the world: the strong eat and the weak become the meat was already applicable ever since.

"Yamada-san, until when will you dilly dally in here?" Still looking up at her, Aki inquired with a subtle smile.

"I am hunting," Tora responded after some time of silence.  She didn't let her eyes away from the direction she had been looking. "The daimyo from the north were on their way here. They might take days, so I'm hunting for food." Tora added in a matter of fact tone.

Well, she set this whole place on fire and it would surely catch the attention of Arakaki from the north. After all, the fire made the night looked like a day and from her position, she could feel the heatwave of the nearing fire.

Moreover, she set all carriages and steeds of the group on fire hence, they could only set forth back to the north by walking. Still, given that they have no proper materials, Tora was concerned that even before they could reach the northern town, the women might die because of hunger and the coldness of the night.

Therefore, it was wise to stay in the farthest area of this forest until Arakaki's group would arrive and give aid. At the very least, they could have an enormous supply of woods to be their source of light and heat, fighting against the night's breeze.

"Hunting?" Aki furrowed his brows in puzzlement. How could she think of hunting after what she did last night? She was already thinking of their welfare even after that? No, that wasn't the case because she still thought that she lost a good companion.

"Yamada-san, about the little girl…" Just as Aki could mention about the miracle that happened to Churu, Tora suddenly leaped to the direction she had been staring at. "Hold on!" He could just frown as she was gone, just like that.

A heavy sigh escaped his mouth as he glanced at the dismembered head before he faintly scoffed and jumped, and reach for the tree branch she perched. As soon as he stood on the branch, Aki gazed at the direction she had been staring at.

From his position, he saw Tora standing. Beneath her, a beast of the jungle laid unconscious. "Hunting, huh?" He whispered as he slightly chuckled. "So, she was saying the truth."

In his mind, he somehow understood what she was doing: she was diverting her attention to other things instead of thinking for her loss. That was a true soldier's instinct. They must put the people first before themselves and their own family.

"Alas, your kindness wouldn't matter in the imperial court." He whispered. To him, his resolved about Tora being the general wavered. Hence, he gave her the benefit of the doubt of just being just a soldier with great skills.

Perhaps, it was his beliefs and his own personal wish that Tora was just what he thought she was. He didn't wish for her to be more than that, as he didn't want to end a brewing friendship he wanted to seek on her.

"Bring this with you." Soon, Tora returned carrying a huge livestock with her. She tossed it near the tree where Aki was resting while waiting for her.

"Aren't you coming with me?" Opening his one eye, Aki asked.

"The daimyo would use this route, I'll wait for them here and report what occurred." Shaking her head, Tora said. "Don't let the women under your care feel famish." 

"Yamada-san, you must go with me." Slowly, Aki stood before taking little steps to her. As he drew closer, he leaned his head forward and scrutinized her small face. 

Upon a closer look, Tora looked beautiful in some ways despite the dried blood on her face and neck. She usually had her hair up, but right now, even if her hair was a mess, and she smelled blood, her loosed hair made her look more feminine.

"I never noticed it before but you look beautiful, Yamada-san." Speaking his mind, Aki complimented out of the blue, disregarding the dead animal and dismembered head around.

"Scram."