Two weeks have passed since Tsukiko gave her life to protect her Kasumi, Ryusen and Shuu. 3 p.m. Shuu finds them paying their respect to her grave. “I thought I’d find you two here.” Shuu said approaching the grave. “Yeah.” Ryusen said in a low melancholy tone. “Well, I’m leaving for Geffen soon, and I was wondering if you two wanted to join me?” They didn’t answer him. “Well it’s up to you. I’ll be waiting at the main gate until about 5 o’ clock.” Shuu places a flower onto the grave, pays his respect, then leaves for the main gate. 5 p.m. Shuu waits patiently for them to appear. When no one comes, he starts to head off towards Geffen. “I guess they’re still too down about Miss Tsukiko’s death.” Shuu thought to himself walking towards the path. “Wait for us, Shuu!” He heard in the distance. Kasumi and Ryusen finally catch up to him. “Why didn’t you wait for us?” Kasumi asked. “You two were late, and you didn’t answer me, so how was I supposed to know you were coming?” “Yeah, whatever let’s just go!” Ryusen said interrupting them.
4 days have past since they left for Geffen. “How much longer til we get there?” Ryusen complained. “About another day or two.” Kasumi answered. “It feels like we’ve been out here forever.” Ryusen sighed as they continued on. Suddenly Shuu jumps into the bushes as a girl dressed in a similar fashion as him comes up the path. “Why are hiding in a bush?” Kasumi asked. “Shh don’t let her know I’m here.” “Why? Is she your girlfriend?” Ryusen asked in sarcastic way. “No, worse.” Shuu answered making sure he was completely hidden. Before Ryusen could ask more, the girl came up to them. “Have you two seen a young man in an outfit similar to mine?” she asked sounding worried. They look towards the bush. Shuu is shaking his head no. “N-no.” they both said as they hinted towards the bush he was in “Oh…” she said depressed. “Well thanks anyway.” She says as she pretends to walk away. “Is she gone?” Shuu asked a few minutes later. “Yeah, she’s gone.” Ryusen said with a smirk. Shuu jumps out of the bush, only to be greeted with a dropkick to the face. Ryusen and Kasumi stand there shocked as Shuu lays there on the ground twitching with foot prints on his face.
“I was so worried about you. How could you leave without telling me? What if you got hurt or lost?” She cried as she shook Shuu’s barely conscious body. “Do you think this was a good idea Ryusen?” Kasumi asked concerned for Shuu’s well being. “It was totally a good idea.” Ryusen answered laughing. It was nightfall before Shuu fully regained consciousness. “Ugh… What happened…” Shuu asked dazed. “You got dropkicked in the face.” Ryusen replied laughing. “Ahem. Are you forgetting about someone?” “Oh, h-hello Masahiko.” “Don’t hello me. Do you have any idea how I’ve been?!” “Um, sorry to interrupt but what is Shuu to you?” Kasumi asked. “He didn’t even tell you about me?” Masahiko cried. “Masahiko is my fiancé…” Shuu replied getting up slowly. “Your fiancé?!” Ryusen and Kasumi said shocked. “So how long have you two been engaged?” Kasumi asked intrigued about the situation. “Since we were about three.” “Damn.” Ryusen said still shocked. “Her Mom and my Aunt are best friends so when she became my legal guardian, they arranged our marriage.” “So why did you leave me?” Masahiko interrupted crying. “Because I’m not ready to get married.” “Seems someone has commitment issues.” Ryusen said snickering. “Would you be ready to get married when your village elders just tell you your getting married Ryusen?” “… I don’t know…” “Try saying that again when that happens to you.” “Shuu calm down.” Kasumi said “He’s acting like I don’t want to marry her.” “well do you want to marry me?” Masahiko asked. “Of course I do. I’m just not ready yet… not while I still have my mission to do…” “Shuu, is that why you left the village?” “Yeah… I’m gonna make him pay for what he did to me…” “Shuu, that’s suicide!” “Masahiko listen to me. I have to do this. He took my parents from me! Even if I die, I WILL avenge their death…” “But what will I do if you die…” Shuu became silent as Masahiko cried. “I’m sorry, Masahiko…” Shuu said as he laid down to go to sleep, while Kasumi and Ryusen tried to calm her down.
The next day was just as hectic as the day before. Shuu and Masahiko were constantly arguing as she desperately tried to get him to change his mind.
“I don’t think I can stand anymore of their bickering sis.” Ryusen whispered to his sister. “I know, but…” “But nothing! If something doesn’t stop them I will!” “And dropkicked like Shuu did? Or did you forget about that? Don’t forget how stronger Shuu is than you.” “Ok, ok… I got it…” Ryusen said depressed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad.” Kasumi said giggling. “I’m just trying to keep you from doing something stupid.” As they continued along the path, they see two men starting to go off the trail. “Hey!” Shuu yelled out to them. “Are you two going to the resistance camp?” “Yeah, what’s it to you?” One of the men said arrogantly. “Well we’re looking for the camp and was wondering if we could follow you there.” The two men talk to themselves for a bit. “Ok.” one of them finally said. “But if you get killed, it’ll be your own faults.”
The two men escort the group to the resistance camp. When they arrived, the resistance soldiers greeted them with not happy looks on their faces. A woman approaches the two men as they walk away from the group. “What’s with the little brats?” She asked in a smug way. “I thought they would have died off on the way here.” One of the men said. “We can make those two do our dirty work, and the girls can help out with the injured.” The other man said. “I guess. But they better not get in our way. I‘m going to inform the captain about them.” The woman said as she walked away. For the next few days Kasumi, Ryusen, Shuu and Masahiko were worked like dogs by the resistance soldiers. One night. “This isn’t what I had in mind when I followed you Shuu.” Ryusen said as they were walking to their tent. “I know. I came here to fight, not to do the chores they don’t want to do.” “Then what do you think we should do?” “I know exactly what we’re gonna do. Listen up here’s the plan…”
