Torakichi opened his eyes to find himself in a dimly lit cave.

He quickly sat up, but just as quickly fell onto his side as a sharp pain assaulted his chest.

“Mr. Kanemoto!” Hanabira cried as she dropped her bowl.

She rushed to Torakichi's side as he painfully coughed.

Amai and Keii joined her and they all gently held Torakichi up, revealing his bandage covered body.

“You’re back!” Hanabira said as Torakichi looked her and Amai over.

“What happened to your face?” He asked with widened eyes.

“Its nothing. Worry about yourself, for once.” Amai said with teary eyes.

“I’m here too, ya know.” Keii said with a pout, prompting Torakichi to deeply sigh.

“So… you were in the spirit realm. What was it like?” Keii asked as Torakichi tried to break free from Hanabira and Amai’s clutches, but they simply wouldn’t let go.

“The place I awoke was dark and broken. I found myself in a swamp filled to the brim with rot which burnt me, even though that wasn’t my real body. I quickly left that place and realized that I was at the bottom of a valley. One covered in the remnants of a cataclysmic war. Weapons that were for too large for humans hands and equipment I assumed was used for sieges. I was then beckoned by a voice. One that shook the sides of the valley itself. I walked towards that which called to me for what seemed like several hours before arriving at a pit which was covered in pitch black Ne. In my curiosity, I tried absorbing some of the Ne only for my mind to be bombarded with visions of an ancient war.”

“The Ne was black, you say?” keii asked.

“Yes. The visions ended and I eventually made my way to the bottom of the pit and there I came face to face with a being of unfathomable scale and power. It had a gigantic, tubular body which was dark and seemingly burnt. In its countless arms were weapons of bizarre make and its eyes were like stars.”

“My goodness.” Hanabira gasped.

“Fortunately or unfortunately, the being was bound to the ground in large chains that were coursing with dark red Ne. I assume he is a prisoner of sorts. Anyway, I used one of its tears to contact you all-“

“It’s tears?” Amai asked.

“Yes. I found it peculiar that all Dragons shrines depicted weeping Dragons. I reasoned that the tears of spiritual beings have some value beyond the symbolic. I took one from the imprisoned being and used it to communicate with you.”

“I see. Well, we’re beyond glad that you’re back.” Amai said before letting go of Torakichi.

Hanabira did the same, allowing everyone to see his bandaged state. His entire upper body was covered in bandages. Even his arms were wrapped up.

Torakichi raised his hand to touch the spot where Jundo cut him, but Hanabira placed her hand above his.

“Please, rest.” Hanabira pleaded.

Torakichi nodded before resting his head as he laid down.

“Where is little Hibana?” Torakichi asked.

“He has never left your side. Look.” Hanabira said before pointing at the dark cloak next to him.

Torakichi lifted the cloak to find a stone child, tightly wrapped in blankets.

Torakichi sighed before looking up at the cave’s ceiling.

“We must find a way to defeat Jundo.” He muttered.

“Ah! Now that you mention-“

“No, Mr. Umihara. Not yet. Let him rest.” Hanabira said as she stared at Keii, who shrunk into himself before nodding.

“What was he about to say?” Torakichi asked.

“I doesn’t matter. Just rest-“

“We’ve been developing a technique to combat a dragon.” Amai said, much to Hanabira’s disapproval.

“Oh?” Torakichi sounded with q yawn.

“Be sure to show it to me when I wake up.” He said as his eyes slowly fell.

Silence filled the cave as Amai, Hanabira and Keii all stared at each other.

Keii let out a chuckle before assuming a comfortable position.

“I guess we better rest up as well.” He said, but much to his surprise, Hanabira sat next to Torakichi before sleeping next to him.

Keii turned a questioning glance to Amai, but she too sat on the other side of Torakichi before sleeping there.

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Keii let out another chuckle before closing his eyes and sleeping.

.

..

“Is this really necessary?” Torakichi asked as he, Amai and Hanabira hid behind a tree.

“Yes. As you can see, this technique takes quote a toll on the weapon its used on.” Keii said as he pointed at the tip of his katana.

“I see.” Torakichi muttered before placing his hand over his waist in search of his Ōdachi, only to realize that it was in the cave.

Torakichi sighed as Keii pointed his katana at a broken tree.

“Three!” He barked prompting Hanabira and Amai to raise their hands.

Torakichi then watched as streams of Ne gathered around Keii’s katana.

They then formed two near invisible blades on both sides of Keii’s katana.

Keii then spread his legs before taking several breaths.

“Two!” He barked and almost instantly after, the two blades became one. A pale white blade that vibrated to frequently, it made a low buzzing noise.

Torakichi’s eyes narrowed as he noticed that Keii was having a heart time carrying his own weapon, but he remained silent as Keii took slow and heavy steps towards the broken tree in front of him.

He then struck it with so much force, it sent Keii tumbling backwards along with a lot of snow.

Hanabira and Amai ran to Keii’s side, while Torakichi remained seated in the snow.

“Are you alright?” Amai asked, but Keii stumbled onto his feet while dismissively waving his hands.

“I’m fine. But did you see that? An absolutely devastating technique developed by your very own daughter. I’m sure you beyond proud of both of her.” Keii said as he walked up to Torakichi, who shook his head.

“While I am extremely proud, I must correct you. Amai and Hanabira aren’t my children.”

“Heh?” Keii sounded as his shoulders fell.

Amai gave him a pat on the back while Hanabira sat by Torakichi’s side.

The snow storm had ended and the light of the morning sun gently bathed the forest with its warm rays.

“Hanabira is the wife of a student of mine. We met Amai on our journey south. So, although I envy the men who raised them, I am simply an old man accompanying them on this Oh so treacherous journey.” Torakichi said with crossed arms.

Keii slowly nodded before falling to his knees.

“So… you’ve been protecting these two with your life, even though you’re not related by blood. Beautiful!” Keii said dramatically while wiping the single tear from his right eye.

He then sat up before taking a few deep breaths.

“Anyway, as powerful as that technique is, it’s extremely hard to handle. I have no doubt that you would have been able to use it better than me if it weren’t for your injury, but alas.” Keii said before glancing at his katana in the distance.

“Also, the blade disappears after some time, so that erases any thoughts of a prolonged battle against Jundo.” He said before turning to face Torakichi, who rubbed his chin, which was now covered I graying beard.

“Jundo is an interesting opponent. I almost wish he would just let us use the pond and leave, but approaching him with that attitude will only lead to more injury. Mmm… what are your thoughts?” Torakichi asked as he looked at both Amai and Hanabira.

“Who? Us? What insight could we possibly have to offer?” Hanabira asked.

Torakichi sighed before looking north, towards the mountaintop.

“When we face Jundo once more, it’ll be as a group. You’ll be imbuing our weapons with Ne while we battle Jundo. You will be as much a part of the fight as Keii and I.” He said.

“I see. Well, unfortunately we know very little about Jundo. I’ve heard many things about this place, but nothing about a silver dragon. Also, why would a divine dragon fight and hurt someone? Aren’t they supposed to help people?” Amai asked.

“The Dragon’s you speak of may only be the stuff of legend. Perhaps real Dragon’s differ from one another. Maybe some of them are malicious.” Hanabira said, prompting everyone to hum in agreement.

“He is a peculiar existence indeed. What are your thoughts, Keii?” Torakichi asked.

“Who? Me? I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that you’re not related.” Keii said with a chuckle, but his eyes quickly narrowed as they fell.

“I’ve fought many spirits in my travels and Jundo is nothing like anything I’ve ever come across. Powerful, skilled and strangely emotional. I always assumed that dragons would be cold and rational, but he guards that temple with an almost… childlike anger… bah! He is a fool and a cowered for not honoring our agreement. We should march up there and take his head as soon as possible!” Keii yelled while shaking his fist toward the sky.

“You’re right. We shouldn’t be thinking too hard about a man who turned his back on his word.” Torakichi said with a chuckle.

He then gestured that Hanabira and Amai help him up.

The two helped him up and he lightly stretched as fresh snow fell on his nose.

.

..

Torakichi placed his Ōdachi on his waist as he followed Keii towards a certain spot in the woods with Hanabira and Amai in tow.

Keii then stood in front of a certain broken tree turning to face Torakichi, who was standing upright, making Keii realize just how tall Torakichi was.

“Ahem! Raise your Ōdachi.” Keii instructed and Torakichi did as he was told.

Hanabira and Amai scurried to a safe spot behind a few trees.

“Now. I’ll demonstrate the technique one more time before you give it a try. Watch closely.” Keii said.

Torakichi simply nodded as Keii pointed at the tree in front of him.

“Three!” Keii barked and just like the time before, two blades formed on both sides of his katana.

He, Amai and Hanabira then completed the preparation and he promptly struck the tree, shredding apart its side.

“Oh!” Torakichi gasped as Keii’s katana flew out of his hand.

He walked up to Keii and helped him up.

The two then saw that the Ne blade was still present above Keii’s katana.

The two keenly observed the Ne blade before it vanished.

“Our window of attack will be extremely small.” Torakichi said.

“Indeed. Anyway, get into position.” Keii instructed as he picked up his katana.

Torakichi nodded before raising his Ōdachi.

He then took several deep breaths before following the preparatory steps for dragon slaying technique.

..

Torakichi wiped his forehead before placing his Ōdachi in the snow.

Keii rested his arms on his knees as he took loud and deep breaths.

“How are… how are you able to stand after all that?” Keii asked as Torakichi looked at the several broken trees that littered the area.

“It may not look like it, but in actually exhausted.” Torakichi said as he adjusted his Yukata’s collar.

“I don’t believe you.” Keii said before picking up his katana and walks towards Hanabira and Amai, who hid behind a certain tree.

“Let’s try making a blade for Torakichi together.” Keii said.

“We could really use a name for this technique.” Torakichi said as he raised his Ōdachi.

“Good point. How about Divine Blade of the Shinsei Mountains?” Keii suggested, but Torakichi ignored him as he pointed at an unbroken tree.

“Three!” Torakichi yelled and two blades of Ne formed on both sides of his Ōdachi shortly after.

“Two!”

The two blades then became one blade which vibrated extremely quickly.

Torakichi raised his Ōdachi high before striking the tree. This not only tore the tree into two separate pieces, it also sent out a wave of air that rushed onto the forest, crushing everything it touched.

Torakichi wheezed as he tightly held onto his Ōdachi, which still had an extra blade above it.

“The Divine Blade, huh? What do you think Amai?” Torakichi asked as he raised once more.

“Divine Blade is a passable name, I guess.”

“Hey!” Keii cried as Torakichi struck what was left of the tree once more.