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. 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 became 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 wanted to answer with Tsukino's question, but stayed 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 was someone he talked to. But, he ignored her indifferently —his expression pedestrian.
Tsukino removed her glare from him, dealing with some wind jaguars. Meanwhile, 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 shrunk to pin size, casting a death glare at Lucy who showed a faint smile that seemed to say, 'do your best; I'm rooting for you.'
''Sora'll get you for this!'
Suppressing her fury, the silver-haired girl focused 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 moved it horizontally from right to left countless time, killing some wind jaguars with ease.
Arriving, she uses her feet to propel herself in the other direction, and decides to throw shurikens along the way —her accuracy 45% because she didn't train properly. Reaching the next truck, she throws another kunai to a different branch, changing the hand which was swinging.
All the mortals were left speechless at the sight of the girl's acrobatics, she was fast for their eyes to catch on. Sora was someone they thought was dead weight —like most of them—; when Lucien threw her, they thought the demon was burning rubbish. However, the way she spun around in the air like a dancer was captivating.
Bam!
A dead jaguar landed 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 had got hold of her weakness, constraining her to train —she only did 7% of what is required; that is her generosity. The two boys had 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 turned to Lucy who was 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 was a bloodcurdling thought that made her skin crawl. She had last seen Lucien fight over a year ago on their first meeting. After that, Lucien did things alone, and his current strength was unknown.
However, she didn't ponder longer, part of what she was looking for was presented.
Bang!
Lucien (Brazilian) kicked a tree of near 5 meter circumference, forcing it to collapse to the ground slowly.
Kaka! The mortals were quick to cast Lucien an assortment of gazes filled with utter abhorrence. Kaka! They didn't have time to get emotional, as they ran about, protecting themselves from being plummeted by the Japanese cedar tree.
Boom!!
The wind jaguars scattered about, fleeing in fright.
"Your stupid act would have killed everyone!" Tsukino roared at Lucy, but before she could 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, falling to the side of the cedar.
She muttered in stupefaction:
"I didn't even notice him, yet he was this close to me."
Meanwhile, Shinji was grateful for Lucien's help —he didn't notice the man earlier on. Walking forward from the canopy he was resting, he says in a raspy voice:
"We forgot what our mission is."
At the end of his words, everyone's thoughts went back to what katsura told them before leaving, and their expressions sank. Their mission was to fight people, not beasts. With such a failure, the newbies knew that 10 hours of flogging lay in store for them.
Seeing their gloomy faces that said out all the torture they were 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 didn't have such privileges.
"Can't you see, we walked into a trap."
As Shinji's words got stolen by the gentle wind, the mortals' expressions became 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. She gravely knows that evil dynamos like katsura might torture her... to a point she would prefer death.
Just as if heavens heard her prayers, a hose voice rang from the sidelines, together with the sounds of clapping.
"It seems like there is 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, weren't forced to go to camp, and were whipping free.
The difference between those who got employed, and those who got 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 confirmed, 'we are surrounded.' After taking a few glances at the Kushi villagers, she noticed 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 were meant to be an insult, but the majority of the Kurenai Villagers nodded at them. The men of Kurenai Village are indeed shameless, mostly when it comes to oppressing the weak. Also, the only thing that was 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 chuckled sightly in rage. As a person who did have rotten teeth, such form of mockery was sensitive, and his teeth felt 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 felt a desire to puke, but suppressed 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 was doing the same. Clashing again, the black-haired girl had the advantage. Pulling one kitana from impact, she attempts to stab the gut.
Woosh!
Rotten Teeth was forced to jump back, but Tsukino was relentless, forcing him into a defensive stunt. However, the young man didn't feel pressured. Chuckling, he blocks the numerous sword swings.
"If it were me, 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 didn't let his words get to her. She continued with her assault: swings and thrusts. Metallic sounds echoed in the air, until Rotten Teeth pushed Tsukino back with his feet.
Staggering for footing, Tsukino takes deep breaths, before charging at her opponent. Determination glimmering in her gray eyes, reflecting her struggles to get stronger over the past year.
Yes, that's all it was. A pointless struggle based a naive dream to protect everyone, instead of being selfish and protect herself!
Seeing that the girl was full of openings, Rotten Teeth waited 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, her gaze lifelessly fixed on the empty kitana hilts —she had been toyed with.
Ready to take his bride, Rotten Teeth shows his teeth in a grin, "Now, come my darl-"
Thack-!
An arrow pierced through his human waste, cutting his words midway, indicating the end of him. With a gentle plop, Rotten Teeth's lifeless body landed next to Tsukino.
Everyone turned their heads to look in the direction of the archer who had 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 were 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, it also 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 began his rapid assault on the Kushi Villagers, each arrow taking a life —300% accuracy.
The Kurenai Villagers, however, remained ineffable in both action and words. They followed him... no, they were using him to take the fall when needed.
The biggest reason for their current action is that they wanted Tsukino to go. She didn't seem interested in anything romantic or sexual with either one of them, which made her appear as an ace.
However, their action prompted Lucien to finally take action.
"This ought to be interesting."