Chapter 15 Part 3: The Unveiling

Kazuki's gaze followed the shimmering droplets of water that cascaded from the waterfall, their dance hypnotic as they caught in the sunlight. The sound of their perpetual fall reverberated through his bones, echoing the turmoil within. His heart pounded in his chest, a staccato rhythm that seemed to match the relentless rush of water.

"Kazuki," Shôkin spoke, his voice heavy with unspoken emotions. "There is more to this than you know. The villagers...Hayato and Himari did not betray you for the bounty on your head. Saigo Watanabe got a message this morning while you were unconscienced."

"Message?" Kazuki questioned, brows furrowing as he looked at Shôkin.

"Well, it's not just any message, but one from Kaze Minamoto himself. The contents were vague yet unsettling, signaling his imminent arrival to the village."

Shôkin breathed out a long sigh, his gaze meeting Kazuki's. "We made the decision to withhold information about Kaze Minamoto's arrival from you. The reason being, Himari was genuinely concerned about your fiery temperament. Even in your injured state, Himari had this gut feeling that you wouldn't hesitate to square off against Kaze, and that could put your life in grave danger."

"Himari..." Kazuki murmured, his voice barely a whisper as he raised a hand to cover his mouth. The realization dawned on him - the one person he thought would never betray him was the one making these tough decisions. The sting of it seemed to physically hurt him, his eyes showing a mix of surprise, disappointment, and hurt.

Still reeling from the revelation, Kazuki was unable to quell the wave of confusion that washed over him. The knot in his stomach tightened as he wrestled with his emotions, due to the nagging suspicion of their ulterior motives.

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"But why... why the restraints?" Kazuki's voice was hoarse, and he could not hide the weariness that etched itself onto his face. "Why go to such lengths if it's truly for my own good? Is it not possible that... you're all doing this for the bounty on my head?"

Shôkin could sense the desperation and doubt in Kazuki's voice, a sobering reminder of the rift that had begun to form between them.

"Kazuki, I need you to listen carefully," Shôkin began, choosing his words meticulously. "And I need you to give me a chance to explain this in a way that will hopefully make sense to you. Because right now, it's crucial that you understand why Himari did what she did."

"You see, Himari felt the need to restrain you with a rope because she was convinced that as soon as you regained consciousness, your first instinct would be to attack Saigo Watanabe, without a second thought."

Kazuki took a moment to process the information. He then nodded, grimly admitting, "yes, I understand now why she took that action."

"But...Kaze....," Kazuki whispered, eyes narrowing as his combative spirit rekindled. "Why risk themselves for me?"

"Because they believe you are innocent," Shôkin said, his gruff voice softened by a rare hint of vulnerability. "They saw something in you, that to be honest i did not, despite your flaws and your self-destructive tendencies. They saw potential for greatness."

Kazuki stared at the older man, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the revelation. The villagers had placed their trust in him, had chosen to defy a powerful enemy on his behalf, and yet, he had almost turned his back on them entirely.

"Shôkin," he began, struggling to put into words the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. "Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because you need to know the truth," Shôkin replied, a steely determination in his eyes.

The revelation hung heavy in the air between them, the weight of unspoken promises and an uncertain future pressing in from all sides. Kazuki's heart raced, hope and fear entwined like ivy around the trunk of his resolve.