Ten was just sleeping beside Ume but now ends up at another place then finds a woman who’s a splitting image of his sister. He decides to follow her despite not being able to communicate or make any sort of contact. She walks far from the town folks as possible and finally reaches her destination. The woman enters an old hut underneath a tree. There Tensei finds the woman calling out to Ume.

(Mysterious Woman) Ume? Ume I’m back.

He sees Ume running toward the woman with joy as she replies back. Ume looked smaller then Tensei for some odd reason at the time.

(Ume) MOMMY~!

Ume hugs her mother as she welcomes her home. The mother hugged her daughter back as Ten watches from the side. He understands now of why was Ume crying in her sleep and mumbling about “mom”.

(Ten) Mommy? She’s Ume mom?

Ten didn’t quite understand the situation, but suddenly interrupted by a rude awakening. Ten opens his eyes and back at Ume’s room. Ume was awake now due to a certain noise. She then looks at Tensei, wondering why he’s in her bedroom and holding hands together. Ten tried to explain the situation then sees IKKI and Haru, both watching them. Their faces seem like a weird flirty dog.

(IKKI) OH MY~

(Haru) I should’ve brought my camera. I didn’t think you two were close at all.

Ume stares at Ten then lets go of his hand as she blushes bright red, covering her face. Ten didn’t understood what they were talking about but he then apologizes to Ume for entering her room. Afterward, Ten went out for training again with Hayashi. She later discovers Tensei not being able to focus half the time. She asks if something was wrong.

(Hayashi) Hm? Is something wrong Tensei? You seem... unfocused today.

(Ten) No master, I’m fine really.

Hayashi didn’t believe him when saying that to her. During her training times together, Hayashi knows Ten is a terrible liar, in fact he completely sucks at it.

(Hayashi) Tensei, you know you suck at lying right. It’s written all over your face.

(Ten) I’m sorry master.

(Hayashi) Hey, you don’t need to apologize. If something is bothering you then just ask away, don’t hide it within yourself.

Hayashi pats Ten on his head smiling and he smiles back. He tells Hayashi what bother him. Hayashi kind of understood the situation but still has no answers. She didn’t want to make Ten worry.

(Hayashi) Don’t let the small details get to you Tensei. Just believe in what you believe in yourself. Well, what do you think you are?

(Ten) I... I believe I’m human.

(Hayashi) See. That wasn’t so hard. Right?

(Ten) No.

(Hayashi) Okay then.

Hayashi and Tensei went back to their training exercise in the end. Sunset upon them and Hayashi calls it for the day. A mile away from home, Ten stops a moment and out of curiosity asks his master some odd questions.

(Ten) Master... what was Ume’s mom like? Did she had long hair? Is she a splitting image of Ume by chance?

(Hayashi) This came out of the blue... well to be honest I don’t know. I never met her mother before. I found Ume, wondering in the woods when she was just around 6.

(Ten) Does she ever talk about her mom?

Hayashi had this depression on her face like she would break a tree in half if she wanted to.

(Hayashi) Sad to say, no. During the time I found her... I mentioned it but...

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Ten stops there and changes the topic real quick. He didn’t want her go any further so they just continue on home. Things got quiet for a moment as they all ate their dinner. Soon after, Ten decides to go to bed early as his sisters were wondering what has been down lately with him. When heading toward his room, Ten bumps into Ume as she quickly runs away from him. He wanted to ask if something was bothering her but you know how she is when it comes to being shy.

(Ten) Ume. Is there something you need?

Ume goes behind the door in front of her room. She tries to respond back to Ten but was still shy. She looks at Tensei and then speaks a gentle request from him.

(Ume) Ten. Can you... do me a favor?

(Ten) Sure. Ask away.

(Ume) I was wondering if I can sleep next to you tonight? I been having these nightmares lately and I don’t know how to...

Ume looked depress as she was staring at the ground while talking to Ten. Ten nods his head just like the first time they played together. Everyone went to their beds as Tensei wonders around. Still curious of what happen today but wouldn’t worry about it. Ten sleeps as Ume walks in his room. She sleeps right next to him holding his hand just like the other times before. They both slept peacefully during the night. Things were great for the both of them but soon ends as the mysterious voice echoes again inside Tensei. He hears the mysterious voice drawing closer to him as if it want something from Ten.

(Mysterious Voice) TEN... TEN...

(Ten) who’s there?.... who said that? ...Who are you?!

[The voice echoes again as I wonder through the darkness. No direction and no path to head... I just kept forward, following the voice]

Ten sees a small light ahead. The light becomes brighter as he draws closer to it. Ten makes it and then decides to touch the light out of curiosity. A reaction toward the light caused it to flash brighter like an explosion and just like that Tensei ended up at the same place where he left off by meeting Ume’s mother living under a tree.

(Ten) What? This is where I left off?! But how?

Ume’s mother picked up her daughter and brought her child to the dinning table. Ume was happy being with her mother as for Ten, however, this situation reminded himself during his loneliness times.

(Ten)... sigh

He looked at Ume again all happy and open then wonders what’s been going on with the Ume he knew. This Ume he sees now was cheerful and optimistic but the other is timid and scared at anyone besides her sisters.

(Ten) Ume seems rather different here then the one I knew. Was she always like this before? Why can’t she be right now? ...

He roams more of the situation as the day passes by in a flash. Just a moment when he decides to leave, but felt Ume’s mother looks distress about something. Ten notices her like he feels something is going to happen but doesn’t know what.

(Ume’s Mother) No...

She then picks Ume up rushing somewhere to hide her from something or someone.

(Ume) Mommy? I-Is something wrong?

(Ume’s Mother) shhhhhhhh~ Everything is alright, it’s going to be okay sweetie. Now hold still for mommy.

Ume didn’t know what was going but then her mother placed a spell on her forehead to protect her. No sound was coming out of Ume and her mother hugged her in tears. Ten didn’t understand why her mother would do such a thing but heard footsteps 10 feet away. Ume’s mother cover her daughter with a invisible cloak and then spoke to her final words.

(Ume’s Mother) I promise I’ll be back. I know this is hard Ume...but you must listen to me. Be a good girl. Never stop fighting... if I don’t return, you run. By yourself, alone. Don’t let anything stop you. You must forget about me and start a new beginning. Will you do that for me, Ume?

Ume in tears as not understanding why her mom was doing this to her. Ume just nodded her head when the footsteps draw closer toward the door. Ume’s mother kissed her child one last time on her forehead then goes to the door. Leaving her child behind, Ume rushes to the back as Ten follows her. Finally outside she starts running away, doing as she was told but then stops. Cover in tears, she immediately runs right back to the hut but the doors were sealed shut. Ume tried to get in but couldn’t get the door open. Ten tries to help Ume but was still a ghost. She then sees an opening of a window. Ten follows Ume as she climbs up to see what was going on inside. She finally makes it to the window then looks inside. Ten still followed her all the way through.

(Ume) Mommy?! Mommy where are you?!

Tearful Ume tries to find her mother but then hears a sound like a gun shot. Ume quickly follows the noise but stops at the door then sees her mother on the ground.

(Ume) Mommy?! MOMMY?!

No matter how loud Ume is, no noise produce from her. She was dead silent as she saw a man holding a crossbow at her mother’s head. She tried to open the door but this one was sealed from the inside. Ten willingly helped Ume but for him not being able touch anything is pointless. She sees her mother through a hole on the door. Ume’s mother noticed her daughter came back as she was about to head toward her death doors. She smiles at Ume one last time then killed from the man. Afterward Ume runs out quickly while crying her eyes. Ten sees it then runs after Ume. No sound came out of her when still running from her life. It started pouring rain from where Ume is. She ran for hours with no rest, Ten couldn’t bare to watch Ume limping for a while now. Far enough, Ume rests up for a bit then gets ready again.

[I understand now... Ume suffered a lot as I watched her cried her eyes out but only this time I heard screams came out from her while continuously limping farther.]

It soon becomes a week for Ume and still nothing. She would go to another town but she realizes what if the folks there were like the man that killed her mother. Ume continues on nonstop to any town passing by. During Ume’s journey, the weather was mostly raining all the way. Eventually Ume falls unconscious under a tree while a storm started to kick in. She couldn’t move at all and Ten struggles to help her to shelter but still can’t. Ten didn’t want to abandon Ume so he tried calling for help to anyone near the area. But it was no use.

(Ten) come on Ume ... anyone... someone please don’t do this to me!

Ten struggle to save Ume becomes impossible to accomplish at the moment of giving up his own hope but then a miracle happen.

(Hayashi) What’s wrong little one? Are you... lost?

Ten heard a voice from behind and notices it very familiar. The person came out of the darkness and appear Hayashi. Ume turned around to look but collapsed the moment she couldn’t walk anymore. Hayashi quickly runs to Ume’s aid and checks up on her. She had a high fever and cover in bruises on the bottom of her soles. Ten was glad he bumped into Hayashi but again, still a ghost to everyone. Hayashi didn’t have any medical treatment so she decides to take Ume back at her place where the other sisters are.

[From that moment on... I realize something important. Just by spending time with my family, I learn that I’m not the only one.]

END OF CHAPTER 6