"The very next day, I went to the collector's shop to collect the reward for the Alpha Kemono's trophy. He merrily greeted me and as per his boastful personality, tried to give me a tour of his collection ranging from trophies of various beasts to relics and ancient ornaments. I quickly nabbed the reward and left without uttering another word. The good thing was that it was enough to hold Katashi's funeral and also fulfill Hoshiko's dream, which was establishing her own farm. I fully assisted her in cultivating the land for a diversity of crops and also managing a decent amount of cattle. She looked more satisfied in her new life and that made me increasingly ecstatic," narrated Tamura.

"Like that 9 months passed and it was almost time for the new year. Hoshiko suggested we should take the day off and the both of us engaged in a conversation in the house."

"Umm Tamura?" Hoshiko addressed.

"What's on your mind?"

"You know what's tomorrow right?" asked Hoshiko.

"No, Should I?"

"You are unbelievable. It's the first day of the new year tomorrow. That means New Year's Eve is today's night," explained Hoshiko.

"Oh I didn't know, so… ?" Puzzled Tamura.

"The village is holding a special festival and I want us both to go there," stated Hoshiko.

"A festival? Isn't that for couples?"

"Not necessarily. Umm…. but aren't we a couple?" Blushed Hoshiko.

"What? What gave you that idea?" queried Tamura, sarcastically.

"Forget about that, are we going or not? It will be a nice change of pace!" blurted Hoshiko.

"If you want to, we sure can," agreed Tamura.

"I knew you would say yes that's why I pulled this out," said Hoshiko while walking towards the bedroom.

"Pulled what out?" questioned Tamura.

"You'll see."

Hoshiko closed the door and locked it.

"Come on Hoshiko! What have you been doing there for so long?" Some time passed and Tamura grew impatient.

"And Done!" As soon as she said that, the door was unlocked and she came out.

"...."

Tamura was speechless at the sight of Hoshiko wearing a beautiful silky purple Kimono with wave patterns on top. The obi was orange and had subtle white flowers embroidered in a pleasant way. Her lush hair were held in place in an elegant style with a pink clip resembling a Sakura flower.

"So, how do I look?" Hoshiko asked while posing.

"It's…" muttered Tamura.

"It's a bit much I know. It was originally my mother's and I probably don't look as good as her-"

"What are you talking about? You look like a total Goddess!" interjected Tamura.

"Really? You mean it?"

"Of course I do! In fact you are the most stunning woman I have ever seen in my life!" complimented Tamura.

"Oh," reacted Hoshiko.

"Sorry. I got a bit too excited there." Tamura rubbed the back of his head with his hand.

Hoshiko chuckled and handed out a set of blue Nagagi and Haori.

"Here, wear this for the evening. It was my father's."

"Thanks." Tamura accepted the clothes.

"You think with these we both will mimic my parents when they used to go to such festivals?" Hoshiko blushed once again.

"Umm. I better go get changed!" Tamura hurried towards the bedroom.

"As night approached, the festival began. There was a new life breathing in the village as it was brimming with ornate wrought lanterns illuminating different colours according to their patterns. On top of that, colourful banners, tents, stalls and shops enhanced the beauty of the streets. There were all sorts of fun activities for all ages and we made sure we didn't miss out. We took part in fish scooping, hanetsuki, tsumugi, kendama and ring throwing but Hoshiko had me beat in most of them. We also viewed the amazing performances of various talented people including fire breathing, juggling, and finally the mind blowing Kabuki," described Tamura.

"What's a Kabuki?" asked Tamura as the play was about to start.

"You don't know? It's basically a heavily stylized performance depicting a certain historical tale by the means of singing and dancing. Performers often wear glamorous and over the top costumes and it costs a ton, that's why it only occurs once a year," explained Hoshiko.

"That's amazing! I can't wait," said Tamura, excitedly.

"That Kabuki was one of the most mesmerising things I ever saw in my life. Because of the constant modernisation and how busy life has become in the main market square of Pandara, stuff like this never occurs anymore. It was about how the love of a certain poor couple is affected in between a shogen war. It made me tear up at how determined the two remained with one another as they faced many difficult situations after being caught up in a brutal event of rival clans. Even when they faced death, they didn't cease to care and provide warmth to each other," continued Tamura.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

As the performance was about to come to a close, Hoshiko grabbed the side of Tamura's sleeve and spoke, "Tamura, before we both grow tired there is one place I want to take you to."

"Alright, lead the way," answered Tamura.

"She took me to the top of a hill from a small passageway in the southern side of the village. From there the entire village and the festival was visible. I saw couples, kids and even elderly people establishing new memories to cherish forever. The sight brought me immense joy and it made me forget every single problem I faced until now," recalled Tamura.

"Well, don't just stand there."

Hoshiko placed a piece of cloth down and sat on it.

"It's beautiful, I am lost for words." Tamura joined her and a few tears escaped his one eye.

"Oh Tamura…. I can't hold my feelings anymore. There is something I must tell you," addressed Hoshiko.

"What is it?"

"I….. I love you more than anything. I want you to stay with me forever. I want us to have more moments like these together," confessed Hoshiko as she leaned in towards Tamura's lips.

"Hoshiko." Tamura let Hoshiko have her way and accepted the kiss.

It wasn't long until he started resonating with her and kissed back, firmly pulling her closer to make her hesitations fade away. Both of them acted like this moment was their last as they were caught up in the comfort of each other.

After a few minutes, Hoshiko gently pulled back and asked, "What about you?"

"I… I feel the sa…."

A mysterious figure concealed under a black cloak quietly approached Tamura from the behind and banged his head with a metal rod.

As he fell down on the ground, he began to lose consciousness. Before he did, he saw another similar silhouette of a man grabbing Hoshiko from the hair to pull her away.

"You leave her…. Alone…." Tamura croaked as Hoshiko screeched for help.

"I fainted before I could do anything. That single moment placed a lid on my last days of happiness and peace," lamented Tamura.

"I woke up tied to a welded metal chair inside an old cell somewhere underground. There wasn't much light around because of the minute amount of candles randomly hung on the cracked walls," continued Tamura.

"What…. happened? Where am I?"

Tamura raised his head and saw Hoshiko held above ground with the front wall by metal handcuffs. Her hair was undone and it covered her gloomy and lifeless face. Her dress was all grubby and was ripped in various areas exposing bruises and shallow cuts on her skin.

"Hoshiko! Who did this to you!?" yelled Tamura as he tried to get up but was stopped by the tight rope that was wrapped around his arms and legs.

"Don't worry, she is alive."

A short, bearded man cloaked under a black hood entered the cell along with two normal sized cloaked men.

"Did you do this!? Answer me!" angered Tamura.

"Calm down, we haven't gotten to the best part yet," the bearded man chatted.

"Shut up! What do you want from us?" questioned Tamura.

"I only want you. She is just an utensil that will open your jar," the man replied.

"If you just want me then take me! Just let her go! She is innocent and has nothing to do with anything!" Tamura loudly stated.

"Oh she is the key to unlock the last chest. The last emotion I need to fill our affinity to the optimum level!" The man stretched his arms.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't fret, I will explain everything to you later. You two, proceed as ordered." The man pointed towards the other two cloaked men.

"What are you planning to do?" inquired Tamura.

The two men unsheathed sharp serrated swords hidden in their cloaks and then stood besides Hoshiko.

"The show is about to start! And Mr. Tamura, you have the best seat!" the bearded man laughed.

"Don't you dare lay a single finger on her! You will regret it!" fumed Tamura.

"Begin! This will be the best one yet!" The man kept on laughing.

On his order the two began slashing Hoshiko with their swords, spraying her blood on the floor and on Tamura's face. She hysterically screamed but the two didn't stop or hesitate the least.

"Stop this right now! She has nothing to do with anything! She doesn't deserve this!" raged Tamura.

They proceeded without care and this time aimed for deeper cuts, chopping off parts of her skin and reaching her viscera.

"Stop it! It hurts so bad! Tamura!" groaned Hoshiko.

"DAMN YOU! I will kill you all! You bastards! I will kill you for this! You hear me!" Exploded Tamura, forcing his fists through the ropes.

"And now for the grand finale!" the hooded man effused.

The man's henchmen placed all their force on Hoshiko's stomach and pulled each sword out. She screamed her lungs out because the wounds were very deep, forcing out a bit of her intestines. A fast stream of blood oozed out of the laceration and painted the front wall with red.

"YOU SICK ASSHOLE! What did she ever do to you!? You son of a bitch! I will rip you to shreds! Try to set me loose and there will be no limb of yours left attached!" Snapped Tamura as blood seeped out of the shallow cuts he received from pulling his fists against the tight ropes. The wrinkles and frown lines of his face deepened to an extreme degree which showed how much animosity he felt against his new enemy.

"That's it! That's what I wanted! I think this ought to be enough," the man spoke as he left the cell with his henchmen.

"Come back here you bastard! I WILL KILL YOU! Mark my words! You are a dead man! I will feast on your heart! Come back here!" demanded Tamura, as loudly as he could.

"... Ta.. mu… ra," croaked Hoshiko.

"Hoshiko? Hang in there! I will get you out of here! Just hang in a little longer!" Tamura uttered loudly.

".... Yo.. u… did...not…. Give…. Me... your answer," stuttered Hoshiko as the amount of blood dripping from her reduced.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Do… you….. lo…..ve…. Me?" asked Hoshiko.

"Of course I do! The moment we met I fell in love with you because of how kind and selfless your eyes looked! You reminded me of my mother! And I want to live with you forever! That's why hang on and don't leave me! Please! I need you! I want you in my life!" imparted Tamura.

"I …. Am…. Glad…. Now…. I ….." Hoshiko forcefully raised her head despite her clear weakness only to smile at Tamura before dropping it completely without another word.

"Hoshiko? Hoshiko? Answer me! Damn it, don't leave me! Please! I can't live without you! Please open your eyes! Please say something in that sweet and kind voice of yours!" hollered Tamura.

"...."

There was no response from Hoshiko, as she ceased breathing completely.

"DAMN IT! DAMN IT ALL! Why did this have to happen? Why can't there be peace in my life? Why does everyone around me die such a horrible death and I am left alive to suffer!?" Tamura's loud screams echoed through every other cell but there was no response from anywhere. He continued to cry his heart out while desperately pulling on the ropes tied around his wrists, completely disregarding the amount of cuts it was giving him.

End of chapter twenty-one.