The samurai leader's voice carried through the forest, his men closing in on their position. Kaito signaled for Akane and Kenji to follow him, and they crept quietly through the trees, their footsteps light on the forest floor.
Akane's heart pounded in her chest as she kept her eyes fixed on the Shogunate riders. She could feel the tension emanating from Kaito and Kenji, their senses on high alert.
Suddenly, Kenji froze, his hand raised in warning. "Wait," he whispered. "Do you hear that?"
Akane strained her ears, and soon she detected the sound of rushing water. "The Akashi River," she whispered. "If we can reach it, we might be able to lose them in the current."
Kaito nodded, his eyes locked on the riders. "Let's move. Stay close."
They crept forward, their movements swift and silent. The sound of rushing water grew louder, and Akane's hope rose. Maybe they could escape the Shogunate's net.
As they reached the riverbank, Akane gazed out at the churning water. The current was swifter than she'd anticipated. "We'll have to be careful," she warned.
Kaito nodded, his eyes scanning the river. "Kenji, take point. Akane, stay behind me."
Without hesitation, Kenji waded into the river, the icy water swirling around his legs. Akane followed Kaito, her heart racing as the current buffeted her. She gritted her teeth, determined to keep her footing on the slick rocks.
As they reached the middle of the river, Akane glanced back at the forest. The Shogunate riders stood on the riverbank, their faces twisted in frustration. For a moment, Akane felt a surge of triumph. Maybe they'd escaped.
But then she saw the samurai leader's eyes lock onto hers, his gaze burning with determination. Akane's heart sank. This wasn't over yet. he samurai leader's voice carried across the river, his words echoing off the trees. "We'll follow them downstream! Don't let them escape!"
Akane's grip on her sword tightened as she quickened her pace, the current rushing past her legs. Kaito and Kenji moved swiftly, their eyes scanning the riverbanks for any sign of danger.
As they navigated a bend in the river, Akane spotted a cluster of rocks upstream. "Kaito, look!" she called out, pointing to the rocks.
Kaito followed her gaze, his eyes narrowing. "That's our chance. Let's go!"
With renewed energy, they pushed through the water, their movements swift and purposeful. As they reached the rocks, Akane scrambled up onto the largest boulder, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Kaito and Kenji joined her, their faces set in determined lines. For a moment, they simply stood there, catching their breath and gazing out at the river.
"We can't stay here for long," Kenji said finally, his voice low. "The Shogunate will have men downstream, waiting for us."
Kaito nodded, his eyes scanning the surrounding landscape. "We need to find a safe place to hide, and fast. Akane, do you know these woods?"
Akane hesitated, her mind racing. She'd hunted in these woods as a child, but she'd never ventured this far from home. "I think I can find a path," she said slowly. "But we'll need to be careful. The Shogunate will be searching for us."
Kaito's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes burning with determination. "Let's move. We'll find a way out of this."
Together, the three of them set off, their footsteps quiet on the forest floor as they disappeared into the trees. As they walked, Akane led the way, her senses on high alert. She navigated through the dense underbrush, using her knowledge of the forest to avoid detection. The trees grew closer together here, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.
After what felt like hours of walking, Akane spotted a small clearing up ahead. In the center of the clearing stood an old, abandoned shrine, its wooden structure weathered to a soft gray. Akane's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the shrine.
"This way," she whispered, leading Kaito and Kenji toward the shrine.
As they approached, Akane noticed that the shrine's doors were slightly ajar. She exchanged a cautious glance with Kaito, who nodded for her to proceed.
Akane pushed open the doors, her sword at the ready. The shrine's interior was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of incense and age. Akane's eyes adjusted slowly, and she saw that the shrine was empty, except for a small altar in the center of the room.
Kaito and Kenji followed her inside, their eyes scanning the space. "This will do," Kaito said, his voice low. "We can rest here for a while."
Akane nodded, sheathing her sword. "But we can't stay for long. The Shogunate will be searching for us."
Kenji nodded in agreement. "We'll need to keep watch, take turns resting."
As they settled in, Akane's thoughts turned to their situation. How had the Shogunate found them so quickly? And what did they want with them?
Just as she was starting to relax, Akane heard a faint noise outside the shrine. She froze, her heart racing. "Do you hear that?" she whispered.
Kaito and Kenji exchanged a tense glance. "Get ready," Kaito whispered back. "We may have company."