The Rise of the White Lotus

The next second, Aki heard a cracking sound of metal until it crashed to the concrete ground. Tora's sword broke just right after it injured his arm a little, instead of cutting his arm off forever. 

"You..." Slowly, Aki whispered as the corner of his eyes had tears that instantly fell. Before he thrust his sword to her, Tora knew that he was bluffing and yet, she took the bait and let herself be killed. 

"Tora!" As Tora feel the striking pain that pierced through her body, she gasped for air as every second, blood gushed out from her wound as she coughed.

She felt coldness seeped through her bones as her vision shook. Still, she saw him approach her with tears falling from his eyes until her body lost its balance. Fortunately, Aki was there to catch her slowly dying body. 

"Why... you..." Holding on her as gently as possible while trying not to touch his sword that was on her, Aki bit his lower lips as he looked at her pale face. 

"How could you..." His voice cracked as he watched her weakly chuckled. 

"How insulting. I got killed by a mere inexperienced man." Tora murmured as her tone sounded as if she was insulting him until the end. 

Regardless, Aki ignored her insults as he held her in his arms until he heard the loud sound of drum, indicating that Tora's reign was over. He heard the loud roared around grew louder as his troops' morale grew stronger. 

However, although earlier he hated Tora for what she had done, his heart ached. He was certain that he would not shed a tear if he slew her, but now, he was tearing like a child. 

He could not understand why she let him kill her, just like that. She could have blocked his attack just like how she easily blocked all his attacks. But she didn't. Moreover, it seemed she was glad to take that blow as the subtle smile that appeared on her was relief and calm. 

Just what was she thinking?

Was this to show him that he would never win against her? Thus, she deliberately made him win? Just like how she reduced her strength in the past for them to have a draw?

Was this her way of mocking him? Or did she already planned this?

"Tora, answer me, why?! You can block my attack, but you didn't! You know I am bluffing, but you took the bait!" Through his gritted teeth, Aki roared as his grip on her shoulders tightened and his eyes produced unstoppable tears. 

Tora only responded with a chuckle and whispered, "Fool," while raising her hand to reach his face. Alas, even before she could touch his cheek once again, Tora's hand lost its strength before it fell. 

"We are foolish..." These were the last words that escaped her mouth. 'My love…'

Aki grabbed her falling hand as he guided it to his cheek, "No, no, don't..." it was ironic for him to beg at that moment for her not to die, but, after realizing stuff within the short span of minutes, Aki wept. 

Meanwhile, Saionji gritted his teeth as he watched Tora slowly lost her life energy. He could not stop his eyes from welling up as he, for the last time, placed his fist on his chest and saluted — in respect for his one and only Queen. 

Just then, out of the blue, everyone heard the tiny voice of Churu. "M-mother...?" Slowly, Churu came out from the imperial court. 

Her eyes altered from Aki's utterly shocked front upon laying his eyes on her small figure to Tora lying with an erected sword on her abdomen. 

"No..." Taking several steps forwards, Churu gasped as her steps halted and she covered her mouth. 

"You mustn't—!" Just as Churu was processing the scene before her, a tall figure suddenly appeared beside her and immediately covered her eyes. The man, although had the half of his face covered by a black cloth, in just a glance, Aki and Daisuke recognized him: it was Kei!

He was alive!

Seeing Churu and Kei alive, Aki felt that a hand tightly clenched his heart. So it was true, Tora planned everything, and they all moved according to her plans. How sly.

Aki might have been foolish until now, but he wasn't dumb enough not to figure out everything. What happened, what Tora did, and even the last moments of her life, she did her best to help him and claim what's rightfully his. 

Everything she had done, taking the lives of many people — good and bad, turning her back against her beloved country, putting the ambitious Chisaka Clan in their place, and closing her eyes as she ignored her morals and beliefs; Tora did everything for him? 

Even if it meant losing her life in his own bare hands, she did it anyway. Truly, she was a complicated woman. 

A woman he could never handle and yet dared to squeeze himself to her life. How can the two of them be so foolish and hard-headed? Or was their love not strong enough that could overcome anything? 

"Tora..." Aki sobbed as he held on her. Instead of jubilation, just like what his followers might have been feeling right now, he was grieving. "You're right, I am a blind fool... I'm sorry for you to have loved a man like me." Aki whispered his words to her ear, although he was well aware that she wouldn't be able to hear him anymore. 

Although the rest of his companions were baffled why he was so emotional, none of them tried to interrupt him as the melancholic atmosphere filled the whole area. 

"If our paths have ever crossed in our next lifetime, under the same sun and moon, let's meet again… and let's live happily, do you hear me? I will be a better man whom you can rely on to protect you." Grieving for the loss of his one and only woman, Aki swore an oath the impossible and yet, he believed that someday, perhaps, after a hundred or even after thousands of years, if there's a miracle that they would reincarnate in the same timeline, Aki would surely love her and would keep an honest love. 

"We will be together for sure… be it heaven or hell, I will surely find you. Wait for me, my love." As Aki said those words, time stopped. All of them remained in their position as if they were statues. 

The only one who was able to move was Churu as she removed Kei's stilled hands away from her.