Why am I cruel? I wasn't like this before, but I was. I didn't have a reason to act harshly. Now, I don't have a reason either. However, I'm too kind to a point it hurts, so I won't be kind necessarily. In summation, I'm cruel because the world made me. Also, I'm cruel to those who affect me; those who might be my friends or those who disturb me; mostly those who become cowards in face of danger, they affect my concentration with their squeaking.
If you want to be a saint, be. That's a good path for you. However, don't cry when you're exploited to your last breath.
That's what Lucien wants to answer with Tsukino's question, but stays silent.
I'm not the only one who lost a loved one, I know. However, it's good to shut your mouth if you're going to talk bad about someone's loved one, especially when you don't know a thing about them. Observe deeper into the situation, then judge. Or be like me, observe, then shut up, and keep what goes in your head to yourself. I don't lie, I don't want to either; my mouth is a river of truths and questions.
That's what Lucy would have told Tsukino, if she is someone he talks to. But he ignores her indifferently —his expression pedestrian.
Meanwhile, Tsukino removes her glare from him, dealing with some wind jaguars. On the other hand, Lucy gives Sora an inquisitive side glance.
"Have you been training on the Martial Art we are working for you?"
"Yes, but..."
Sora didn't finish, as Lucien suddenly throws her into the heat of battle. The silver-haired girl's pupils shrink to pin size, casting a death glare at Lucy who shows a faint smile that seems to say, 'do your best; I'm rooting for you.'
—Sora'll get you for this!
Suppressing her fury, the silver-haired girl focuses on landing without hurting herself. Taking a kunai with a string at the end, she howls it towards the branch of a Japanese cedar. Swinging in its way, it leaves Sora swiveling back to hold onto another tree brunch.
Leaving her grip, she takes another kunai. Careful not to fall, she throws it to the other side with rapid force. On the way, she moves it horizontally from right to left countless times, killing some wind jaguars with ease.
As she arrives, she uses her feet to propel herself in the other direction, throwing shurikens along the way. Reaching the next trunk, she throws another kunai to a different branch, changing the hand which was swinging.
All the mortals are left speechless at the sight of the girl's acrobatics; although she is fast for their eyes to catch on.
Sora is someone they thought is dead weight —like most of them—; when Lucien threw her, they thought the demon is burning rubbish. However, the way she spins around in the air, like a dancer, is captivating.
Bam!
A dead jaguar lands in front of Tsukino. Her curious gaze shifts over to Sora: "When did she get strong?"
Everyone knows Sora is lazy. During training, all she does is dance around like a princess being forced to train. However, Lucy and Shinji got hold of her weakness, constraining her to train —she only did 7% of what is required; that is her generosity. Furthermore, the two boys nagged her as someone wasting a good body, expressing their jealously, especially a certain scholar because of his sickness.
Dropping the issue of Sora, Tsukino's gaze turns to Lucy who is heading towards the direction of another cedar tree.
'If someone like her is this strong? What about him, whom she follows like a tail?'
It's a bloodcurdling thought that makes her skin crawl. She last saw Lucien fight over a year ago, when he killed the Wood Puma with Ten. After that, Lucien did things alone, and his current strength is unknown.
However, she doesn't ponder long, as part of what she is looking for is presented.
Bang!
Lucien (Brazilian) kicked a tree of near 4 meter circumference, forcing it to collapse to the ground slowly.
Kaka! The mortals are quick to cast Lucien an assortment of gazes filled with utter abhorrence. Kaka! Nonetheless, they don't have time to get emotional, as they run about, protecting themselves from being plummeted by the Japanese cedar tree.
Boom!!
The wind jaguars scatter about, fleeing in fright.
"Your stupid act would have killed everyone!" Tsukino roars at Lucy, but before she can move, an arrow suddenly strikes in between the leaves of the cedar tree on the ground.
Turning back, Tsukino sees the arrow perforating the heart of an unfamiliar figure, who is falling to the side of the cedar.
She mutters in stupefaction:
"I didn't even notice him, yet he is this close to me."
Meanwhile, Shinji is grateful for Lucien's help —he didn't notice the man earlier on. Walking forward from the canopy he is resting, he says in a raspy voice:
"We forgot what our mission is."
At the end of his words, everyone's thoughts go back to what katsura told them before leaving, and their expressions sink. Their mission is to fight people, not beasts. With such a failure, the newbies know that 10 hours of flogging lies in store for them.
Seeing their gloomy faces that said out all the torture they are going to endure, Tsukino voices out, "Don't give up, guys. We still haven't found the Kushi Villagers. Plus, we have already killed the one send to observe us."
Shinji retorts in a downcast tone, "The Kushi Villagers have a good relationship with their Tama-Artists; they know how to lure certain profound beasts using specific herbs."
Thanks to the bad blood between Katsura and the mortals, the Kurenai Village mortals don't have such privileges.
"Can't you see, we walked into a trap."
As Shinji's words get stolen by the gentle wind, the mortals' expressions become more ashen by the second. They considered lying, but the consequences are too flaysome: Being tied on top of bamboo shots isn't good as it sounds, when the plants grow up to 24 inches per day. Also, some mischievous bamboos might decide to grow on the position of their sweet —let's leave the rest for the reader's imagination.
On the other side, Tsukino's expression sinks into desolation. As the leader, she has her own set of punishments awaiting her. Moreover, she gravely knows that evil dynamos like katsura might torture her... to a point she would prefer death.
Just as if heaven heard her prayers, a hose voice rings from the sidelines, together with the sounds of clapping.
"It seems like there is a pretty damsel among the Kurenai Village warriors. You look troubled about the fact that you got played by us? Why don't you be my wife? I promise to treat you nice."
Unlike Kurenai Village, Kushi Village is more human in terms of treating their mortals. They are allowed to go home, get paid —extra on over time—, work a maximum of 4 days a week unless partaking in special events, aren't forced to go to camp, and are whipping free.
The difference between those who get employed and those who get enslaved.
Back at the scene, Tsukino turns to look at the source of that obnoxious voice, but didn't see where it came from, as she confirms, 'we are surrounded.'
After taking a few glances at the Kushi villagers, she notices a brown-haired boy waving at her.
"Such a beautiful person like you, shouldn't be doing these things. How shameless are the men of Kurenai Village, letting a person who should be a tax collector do such mundane tasks."
The 20-year-old's words are meant to be an insult, but the majority of the Kurenai Villagers nod at them. Indeed, the men of Kurenai Village are shameless, mostly when it comes to oppressing the weak. Also, the only thing that is registered as 'men' in their minds are the Bushi.
Oblivious to the fact that some of her group-mates are thinking of selling her for information, Tsukino coldly glares at the Kushi Villager. Her face, showing aversion to the previous statements, furrows.
Swinging up katanas in the air, she snorts:
"Are you here to fight or annoy us with your rotten teeth?"
The Kushi Villager chuckles sightly in rage. As a person who does have rotten teeth, such form of mockery is sensitive, and his teeth feel a throe because of it.
Stepping forward, the Kushi Villager takes out his katana, suggesting: "Why don't we sort this easily? You and me go for a dual. If you win, then we will tell you information from our side; if you lose, you become my wife. How is that, good right?"
Looking at the smile made by Rotten Teeth coming her way, Tsukino feels a desire to puke, but suppresses the edge. Forgetting to answer, she lunges forward to attack. Prepared, the young man moves his katana forward, deflecting the attack with ease.
Clang-! Sparks flew in the air.
Maintaining his smile, Rotten Teeth pushes Tsukino a few steps back, giving him a chance to speak:
"You're talented, but you'll never get strong enough with such a mindset."
Clasping his katana with both hands, Rotten Teeth rushes past the tree leaves to attack Tsukino ,who is doing the same. Clashing again, the black-haired girl has the advantage. Pulling one kitana from impact, she attempts to stab the gut.
Wheeze!
Rotten Teeth is forced to jump back, but Tsukino is relentless, forcing him into a defensive stunt. However, the young man doesn't feel pressured. Chuckling, he blocks the numerous sword swings.
"If I were you, I would have killed countless yous by now, with how much you are attacking." He spoke in a voice that showed he isn't out of breath and ready to go on for more minutes.
Tsukino doesn't let his words get to her, and she continued with her assault: swings and thrusts. Metallic sounds echo in the air, until Rotten Teeth pushes Tsukino back with his feet.
Staggering for footing, Tsukino takes deep breaths, before charging at her opponent. Determination glimmers in her gray eyes, reflecting her struggles to get stronger over the past year.
Yes, that's all it is. A pointless struggle based on a naive dream to protect everyone, instead of being selfish and protect herself!
Seeing that the girl is full of openings, Rotten Teeth waits for her to descend her swords above his head. With a simple motion, he strikes them aside, stepping forward quickly.
Thud-!
Tsukino fell to the ground, as her gaze lifelessly fixes on the empty kitana hilts —she has been toyed with.
Ready to take his bride, Rotten Teeth shows his teeth in a grin, "Now, come my darl-"
Thack-!
An arrow pierces through his human waste, cutting his words midway, indicating the end of him. With a gentle plop, Rotten Teeth's lifeless body lands next to Tsukino.
Everyone turn their heads to look in the direction of the archer who shot the arrow. Unperturbed by their potpourri of inquiring gazes, Shinji smiles faintly.
"Rule number 1 in fighting: never believe the words your enemies say. Let's say, Tsukino did win, was he going to keep his words? The Kushi Villagers outnumber us; they know we are tired."
Even those who follow him are agitated by his words, yelling in their ineffable states: that's why we needed to send her to them, to save ourselves!
"Rule number 99: only useless men are willing to send women to save themselves. Not only is that a criminal offence punishable by death in any village, but it brings out why men have become more otiose over the years. Don't forget, women have power in this New Age, if Tsukino goes missing, it would be hell for us."
At the end of his words, Sora grabs him from her threads. Careful not to drop Shinji, she swings across the forest. Meanwhile, the beige-brown-haired scholar begins his rapid assault on the Kushi Villagers, each arrow taking a life —300% accuracy.
The Kurenai Villagers, however, remain ineffable in both action and words. They follow Shinji... no, they are using him to take the fall when needed.
The biggest reason for their current action is that they want Tsukino to go. She doesn't seem interested in anything romantic or sexual with either one of them, which makes her appear as an ace.
However, their action prompts Lucien to take action.
"This ought to be interesting."