The officials charged forward, their sandals pounding against the dirt, lanterns swaying violently in their grip. The beams of light danced on the trees as they chased after the three fugitives.
But suddenly
A firm hand clamped down on the shoulder of the lead official. Then another on his companion.
"Wha...?!"
They spun around, startled, only to freeze in shock at the sight before them.
Standing there, his katana glinting faintly beneath the moonlight, was Denjiro. His sharp eyes cut through the glasses he was wearing anf through the night itself, his presence heavy enough to root the officials in place.
"D-Denjiro…?!" one of them stammered.
Denjiro's voice was calm, but it carried the weight of command.
"Let them go."
The officials blinked, baffled.
"Let them go?!but that man is a criminal"
"He isn't." Denjiro's grip tightened on their shoulders, his eyes narrowing. "I was here. I heard everything."
The officials exchanged uneasy looks.
"But why protect them , how can you be sure what he says are not lies ?!"
Denjiro let out a slow breath, and for the first time a flicker of dry humor crossed his features.
"At first, I was only following Mamoru to make sure he made it safely out of Kuri. Lord Oden wasn't exaggerating when he said he has a terrible sense of direction. He's been running circles around Kuri all day, and at one point he even had the nerve to ask Onimaru the fox if we were getting closer to Ringo."
The officials' mouths fell open.
"…Seriously?"
Denjiro smirked faintly, though his eyes remained serious.
"When Mamoru approached Gyomei, I was prepared to step in. I didn't want him doing something reckless. But instead, he… listened. He listened when no one else would. He asked what happened. And then… he apologized and thanked him, its been quite some time since I've seen such companssion."
His gaze hardened, pinning the officials where they stood.
"Ushimaru-dono cared for us when Oden was away. And now… I'll watch over his son. If Mamoru believes Gyomei, then so do I. I'll report this to Lord Oden myself tomorrow. Until then… you'll stay quiet and no news is yo be issued about this."
The officials swallowed hard, unable to argue against Denjiro's authority. Slowly, reluctantly, they lowered their lanterns.
Denjiro released their shoulders, his expression unreadable.
"Good. Now go home."
The officials dispersed, their footsteps fading into the night, leaving Denjiro alone under the glow of the moon.
---
Meanwhile, Mamoru, Gyomei, and Onimaru ran deep into the forest, their breaths heavy but spirits burning. After what felt like an eternity, they stumbled into a clearing a wide field bathed in the soft silver light of the full moon.
The air was cool and still, save for the gentle rustle of the grass. Mamoru collapsed backward into the field, breathing hard, while Onimaru panted beside him. Gyomei stood quietly for a moment, staring up at the moon as if it had never shone so brightly.
Then he turned toward Mamoru, his deep voice breaking the silence.
"Thank you."
Mamoru blinked, looking up from the grass.
"Huh?"
Gyomei lowered his head, shadows falling across his face, but his words carried sincerity.
"You saved me tonight. You believed me when no one else would. For that… I owe you my life."
Mamoru sat up, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"It's not a big deal. I was doing what was right ."
But Gyomei shook his head firmly.
"No. To me… it is." His voice softened, almost trembling. "Thank you, Mamoru. Truly."
Mamoru gave a small smile, embarrassed but warmed.
"You're welcome."
From that moment, Gyomei walked as a companion. A companion Mamoru would lean on when facing the greatest challenges.
---
Their journey took them deeper into the forests of Kuri until they stumbled upon Amegase Village a quiet, struggling place where the homes leaned like tired old men and the streets were empty. The scent of poverty hung in the air, but so too did something unexpected.
Rice.
The faint aroma drifted from an isolated hut at the edge of the village. Mamoru's stomach growled instantly, echoed by Onimaru's whine and even Gyomei's hesitant glance.
They crept closer, drawn like moths to flame, until they reached the hut's window. Inside, a man sat at a low table, a pot of steaming rice before him. His face was hidden behind a striking red tengu mask, its long nose absurdly exaggerated.
Mamoru and his companions pressed their faces to the window, drool practically leaking from their mouths.
Onimaru wagged his tail violently, his nose pressed against the wall. Gyomei, still heavy with exhaustion and burdened thoughts, raised his head slightly. The hunger in his belly was undeniable, but his pride kept him silent.
Mamoru leaned against the window, eyes gleaming at the sight inside: a steaming pot of rice, fish laid out carefully on wooden plates, and the gentle glow of a hearth.
"Food…" Mamoru whispered, drool gathering at the corner of his mouth.
Gyomei sighed. "You're being too obvious. Whoever lives here already knows we're watching."
"No he doesnt "Mamoru protested
The man paused mid-bite. Slowly, he turned his masked face toward the window.
Mamoru froze. Onimaru froze. Even Gyomei froze.
The man's muffled voice came from behind the mask, calm but stern:
"You know… it is extremely bad manners to stare so openly while another man eats."
The three intruders gulped in unison.
He set down his chopsticks, rose to his feet, and slid open the door with deliberate calm. The moonlight caught the glint of his mask as he stepped outside.
"Well?" he said, folding his arms. "Are you planning to stand there drooling all night, or will you come inside like proper guests?"
Mamoru, Gyomei, and Onimaru exchanged guilty glances. Then, as if by some unspoken agreement, they nodded and hurriedly shuffled inside, bowing their heads as the man began lecturing them on manners.
They didnt question why the man was eating in the middle of the night or why he was even awake
Mamoru whispered under his breath as he caught sight of the steaming pot again:
"Worth it."
Onimaru barked in agreement.
And so, beneath the roof of the mysterious man in the tengu mask, a new chapter of their journey began.
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