Nagato Kagutsuchi: The Dawn
Ch. 153 - Western Province
The coolness of the morning brings the dew that cradles the foliage slowly dissipates, the sun shines with its light to shine on life on earth. Nagato was washing his face and brushing his teeth before taking a bath. This morning she chose to take a bath in the bathroom in the inn room, because she did not want to feel the shame like last night.
After an hour there was a clear morning, and the weather showed no sign of rain at all, and the atmosphere made Nagato even more excited. Finished wearing a kimono and tying the white cloth on his left waist, the sound of his bedroom door made Nagato open it.
It was seen that Litha was already wearing a yukata and in a flash Litha's hand was holding Nagato's kimono. A look of uneasiness on Litha's face. Slowly Nagato's hand pulled Litha's hand into his room.
"Nagato .. I still feel guilty to Asha.." Litha's lips trembled as she said the name Asha. His shoulders looked fragile, Nagato realized that Litha must have had a nightmare last night. Gently Nagato stroked Litha's hair and calmed the girl.
Litha was not jealous when she saw Nagato so close to Iris for some reason. Litha is aware that she has also made Asha feel hurt, from all that she learns that loving someone is not always a must have. Because Litha loved so much the young man who was gently stroking her hair, Litha had to be willing to take Nagato off to be happy with Iris.
"Lithas. Honestly, I want to be on an adventure with you when we grow up. Maybe I'll leave the Ezzo Continent after freeing the Azbec." Nagato lowered his head and looked at Litha's face up close. "At that moment wait for me...." Nagato smiled and took his waist bag.
Litha smiled happily at Nagato's words. He slowly exited Nagato's room and waited for the young man outside. After Nagato came out, Litha looked at Nagato who was taller than her.
"I will leave the Ezzo Continent after I am seventeen." Litha extended her little finger at Nagato. "Flying pope? A giant turtle that swims? I want to see with my own eyes, the fairyland in the Azebc witch book!" Litha smiled widely as Nagato hooked her little finger on her finger.
"Yes, we'll see everything." Nagato returned Litha's smile. It was not long before the two of them went to the living room for breakfast.
Nagato had heard his mother's story about the Azbec witch's human ancestor, only that the witch's ancestor had long ears. The mystery he wanted to see with his own eyes made Nagato want to prove all the fairy tales he heard from his own mother, Sarah and the girl who was walking beside him, that all those fairy tales are reality.
The middle room of the Jajar Genjang Inn looks clean and tidy. Nagato looked at Iris who looked already healthy, then he sat down beside Iris and Litha.
Emi told the young swordsman representing the Fuyumi Clan to have breakfast immediately, without waiting any longer the five young swordsmen representing the Fuyumi Clan ate the dishes that had been served.
"Eat a lot, you're still in your infancy." Emi gives advice to Nagato, Iris, Litha, Hika and Tika.
After breakfast, Shirayuki approached Nagato and Litha to repair the clothes Nagato and Litha were wearing. Like a mother who was so considerate of her child, Shirayuki also treated Nagato and Litha just like Iris.
Shirayuki's kiss on Nagato's forehead, Iris and Litha made the three of them feel happy especially Nagato and Litha who had lost their parents. Iris looked so beautiful from day to day, looking at Nagato who was looking at her, Iris threw a thin smile as she looked at Nagato who was staring at her with his flat face.
After sitting down to relax for an hour, Emi invited the others to leave the inn immediately. Emi paid twenty gold pieces, although the original cost of their stay was only ten gold pieces. The Jajar Genjang inn refused the money given by Emi. But because of Emi's insistence and coercion, the female servant finally received the money given by Emi.
Nagato put on his white fox mask and ran after the others. Nagato accelerated his pace to follow the rhythm of Emi's speed. The power of the ice sword which was an ancient weapon made Nagato interested in learning something from Emi. To find out the reason why his father's sword did not want to be separated from his sword sheath, Nagato wanted to ask Emi about it.
Their journey is getting closer to the Capital of Daifuzen. Their paths passed, forests and hills also they passed. Nagato was grateful for not meeting with any problems, but he realized that the Kai Empire was not a place he wanted to protect. Nagato is different from Pandu. Nagato knew what he had to do, Grandpa Hyogoro's dream made Nagato's heart moved to do something. But he chose to undo his intentions, revealing his identity to everyone would only make himself the center of attention.
It was not felt that the nine people who were heading to Daifuzen Capital had traveled for a day from Kuri Village to the Western Province. Nagato hunts jungle chickens for dinner, an open forest with a view over a beautiful hill where they spend the night.
Nagato sees Oichi burning a forest chicken with Hika and Tika. It looked full of warmth and the atmosphere was like a family gathering in front of a campfire. Nagato also burned the forest chicken, after it was cooked he tasted the chicken he had just grilled.
Emi realizes Nagato's hidden potential is the same as her grandson, not only Nagato, but Litha and Hisui also attract her attention. Emi remembers Hisui who has exactly the same nature as Yuki.
Although Yuki is not her biological child, she still loves Yuki and of course with Yuki's children named Hiragi and Hisui. Feeling guilty for Shirayuki and Yuki makes Emi want to tell her past story, only she never finds the right time.
Not feeling the night getting late, slowly Emi fell asleep next to her son who had grown up and had one child. Meanwhile in front of the campfire, Nagato was burning chicken meat for the umpteenth time.
For some reason tonight Nagato could not sleep any faster, to fill his boredom, Nagato ate chicken meat and stared at the starry night sky.
Finished eating the chicken meat, Nagato still looked up at the night sky and clenched his hands. The vast heavens he wanted to reach, and the stars that were blinking their lights wanted him to capture.
Slowly Nagato's eyes fell sleepy after staring at the night sky for too long, he quickly laid his body and closed his eyes.
A few hours had passed to rest, the bright light making Nagato's eyes feel glare. He blinked his eyes a few times to regain his consciousness, not how long Nagato woke up from his sleep and looked around him.
Nagato only saw Emi, Shirayuki and Oichi who were awake, while Ichiba was still asleep hugging his two twins.
"Where are the two of them?" inner Nagato was surprised not to see Iris and Litha anywhere, after waking up slowly Nagato stretched his body and looked for water to wash his face.
"grandmother. Behind that forest is a city." Iris's voice rang out from the direction of the forest, she came out with Litha to see the city in the Western Province.
"The West is very different from the north..." Emi grumbled in annoyance as her hands massaged her forehead.
"We looked for accommodation in Mikazuchi City before going to Daifuzen Capital." Emi stood up and walked back slowly in front. Nagato just followed Emi from behind.
"Wake up..." Shirayuki exhaled her cold breath towards Ichiba, Hika and Tika. It didn't take long for the three of them to wake up, as their bodies in an instant felt cold.
Emi glanced at Nagato and explained something to the young man walking behind her. Emi deliberately spent the night on a hill close to Mikazuchi City so that the five young warriors representing the Fuyumi Clan did not see any night crimes in the Western Province.
Nagato understood little of Emi's explanation that if the Western Province was the most different place among the others, the nobles and warriors of the great clans had always done so arbitrarily. A place controlled by Satra with the Nobles of Seifu made the Western Province a place far from prosperous and peaceful. Prosperity belongs only to the rich and peace does not exist at all. Ordinary people were oppressed by the wealthier people, even worse three of the five largest martial colleges in the Kai Empire worked under the orders of the Nobles of Seifu as well as Satra.
Concerning conditions were unknown to Emperor Hizen who closed his eyes and preferred to listen to Satra's words.
Mikazuchi City was clearly visible in Nagato's eyes and it made his heartbeat play a melody of fury in tranquility.
"I can finally see the place of the man who ruined my father's good name!" Nagato's cold-sounding words shocked Emi, even Iris who was walking with Litha could feel the overwhelming anger from Nagato.