18 Chapter 18

Hayabusa's team decided to return back to the Shadow village after two days of combing the mountains in search for Hanabi. While going down the Ame no Yama (mountain of rain), a strong storm stopped them on their track. Unfortunately, the mountain is rocky and no shelter is safe for them to stay in.

Hayabusa commanded them to go down as fast as possible for it is their only choice. The vehement rain and strong wind slowed their pace for if they are not careful enough, they'll fall to their deaths.

The rain grew stronger and the wind blew harder, Hayabusa, who was at the back of the whole team, saw the rocks above them that are about to fall and would hit them. He told the others to move faster and when it was his turn to walk past the almost falling rocks, the rain and wind caused them to fall, hitting Hayabusa's way. His horse fell down with him which made Kagura hysterical.

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With shock, she screamed at the top of her lungs, "Hayabusa!"

Kagura summoned her Seimei umbrella and tried to jump off the cliff but a soldier stopped her. She started crying and calling out Hayabusa's name while trying to get out from the soldier's grip. But the soldier hit the back of her neck making her lose consciousness.

"Let's get down as fast as we can! Let' s search for Hayabusa! Hurry!" one of the soldiers shouted.

Hanabi, who was staying at the cave of Amaterasu felt the shaking of the ground and heard the rumble of falling rocks above. What caught her attention is the neighing of a horse and she immediately stood on her feet for she somehow feel that Hayabusa's group may be in trouble.

She got one torch and made her way out. Upon reaching the entrance of the cave, the sound of the wind and rain greeted her. She spreads the vines that are covering the entrance and saw the horse, dead. She looked around and was expecting more horses that must have fallen but only one is there. Hanabi lets the rain soak her as she looks around for she is sure someone has fallen along with the horse.

To her horror, she covered her mouth upon seeing the familiar armour of the man lying down being drenched and is covered in crimson liquid. She immediately went near him, got his hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She stood up with all her strength as she carried Hayabusa towards the cave. After successfully bringing him in, Hanabi got some dry blankets from the secret room inside the cave. She took off his wet clothes, except for the lower ones, of course.

Hayabusa's six pack abs greeted her once more which entices Hanabi to touch them but she shook off her head and focused on getting him warm first. She wiped off the blood on his body and what worries her the most is that the wound on his head. Hanabi ran to the secret room and hurriedly looked for anything that would stop the blood from coming out.

She grabbed the long, white piece of cloth and tends to Hayabusa. She carefully bandaged his head and covered the small wounds on his arms and chest. Luckily, Hayabusa was not seriously hurt on his lower extremity.

Hanabi knew that they must have been searching for her and this happened, she does not know if she'll feel happy for Hayabusa's team would be looking for their leader instead of her or feel pity to the injured assassin.

She stared at the young assassin, waiting for him to open his eyes, but she drifted off to sleep without her knowing.

Hanzo, on the other hand, was looking for shelter from the pouring rain. He has gone too far from Kyoto and it would be dangerous for him to return especially that the storm is not becoming weaker. While scanning around, he spotted vines that seem to cover an entrance of  a cave. He immediately entered and the cave is larger than he had imagined. He went in deeper but when he noticed that it is somehow like a maze, he stopped on his tracks and decided to wait for the storm to calm down.

"This cave," Hanekage hissed.

"What?" Hanzo asked, uninterested.

"This is no ordinary cave," the demon replied. "I could feel fragments of Amaterasu's powers in there."

Hanzo's interest grew so he stood up. There must be something more inside the cave that is why it seemed to be a maze.

"Stop!" Hanekage cried out in pain.

"Shut up, demon. There is something inside, I'm sure of it," Hanzo snarled.

"I know something is inside but I will surely perish if we continued further. Amaterasu's power is weakening me," the demon replied. Just then, Hanzo felt the weakening of his power so despite his curiosity, he decided not to go in further.

When he is on his way back to the entrance, he heard voices so he hid from sight. He peeked and saw the familiar armours of the soldiers and the silver hair of a woman. He smirked for he thinks he is lucky to have some food for his sword.

He got out from his hiding place and his footsteps are heard by the group but it was too late to respond for Hanzo had taken down three soldiers with one swing of the Ame no Habakiri. The living sword sucked their blood as the others watch in horror.

"Retreat!" Kagura commanded so the remaining of them tried to escape but Hanzo is fast enough, hindering them to get away. One soldier told Kagura to leave them and send the news to the chief village. Even if it is against her will, Kagura is forced to leave them die at the hands of the traitor. Hanzo have had quite a long fight with the well-trained soldiers of his father but he was able to take them all down.

"Too bad ,the silver-haired girl escaped. Her head would be the perfect gift for Hayabusa," he commented.

Hanzo immediately shifted position when he felt someone from behind. He swings his sword to block the attack of a dark-haired and petite girl. While they had their sword fight, Hanzo knew that this stranger he is fighting is a skilled swordsman. Her swift yet precise movements show how she is well trained. The way she tries to hit him in critical areas shows how knowledgeable she is about human anatomy.

Hanzo opened the soul portal which made the stranger grow weak. He used this time to swing his sword and force the girl to let go of her double-blade katana.

He sat down for the stranger would remain weak as long as she is inside the soul portal.

"Tell me, who are you?" Hanzo demanded.

"As if I'd tell you, weakling," the girl replied. He is reminded of Hanabi with the girl's attitude.

"The longer you stay in that soul portal, the more you'll grow weaker and become food for my sword," Hanzo informed her.

Just then, Hanzo felt someone else's presence so he quickly jumped out from his original spot before a kunai with a seal hits him. Hanabi jumped and saved the girl from the soul portal, and slowly she is regaining back her energy.

"Hanabi?" the girl blurted out. Hanabi did not look at her for she is focused on Hanzo.

"No time for chitchat," Hanabi replied and lunged towards the traitor but she felt kunais digging inside her back which made her fall.

"Finally," the girl said as she picks up her katana.

Hanzo did not expect these things to happen so he sat down and watch how the two would fight.

Hanabi got up and reached for the kunais. Her scarlet blood flowed on her hands as she faces the girl.

"What's wrong with you, Shizuka?" she asked.

"I should be the rightful owner of the Higanbana," she claimed which amused the assassin who is watching them. "I have guarded it since I was young until you came and claimed it just because you're the daughter of the chief village. You do not even know how to hold a katana and yet you get to use the Higanbana?"

Hanabi, who thought she has found an ally, felt mad for the person she expected to help her is going against her instead.