"Tsunahisa -sama, welcome back!"

Akira saw a little girl run up to the man walking beside her. The young child was quite excited to see him from the toothy grin she gave.

"Sumi, I hope you kept your brothers from getting in trouble." Tsunahisa said as he picked the little girl up in his arms.

"Of course I did! I was the big sister today so they had to listen to me." The little girl said.

Akira found herself smiling at the scene.

"You brought a friend over today, Tsunahisa -sama?" The little girl asked curiously as she smiled at Akira.

"Yes I did. Akira, meet Sumi." He replied as he introduced the two.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you Sumi." Akira said with a warm smile.

"It's nice to meet you too, Akira -san! Any friend of Tsunahisa -sama is a friend of mine!" Little Sumi said with a smile.

Akira smiled in response. The little girl's energy was infectious and she found herself smiling at her.

"She likes you. That's a first." Tsunahisa said with a chuckle. "She's usually mean to everyone."

"Is that so?" Akira said with a smile.

"Tsunahisa -sama, I'm not mean." Sumi said with a cute pout.

"Really?" He asked as he flicked her forehead. "Run along now, I have to show Akira around."

Little Sumi wasn't happy about being told to go away but with the promise of sweets she ran off to look for her brothers.

"Come on, I'll show you around." Tsunahisa offered as he led Ella around the courtyard.

He showed her every part of the temple, making sure to explain the rich history of the place in detail.

"Wow, this is quite the beautiful place. How long have you lived here?" She asked curiously.

"For as long as I remember really. Which unfortunately isn't much." He replied with a sad smile. "All I remember is waking up one day in the temple being treated. I couldn't even remember my own name. Tsunahisa - that's the name they gave me."

"Really? That's awful." Akira replied.

"It's okay though. I'm quite happy here. This life, it's peaceful. Somehow it feels like I've never been happier." He replied with a calm serene smile.

"Are you sure? There must be something -  someone - from your past life waiting for you. Are you sure you'll be content not knowing?" She asked.

"Hm, I don't know. I mean - sometimes I get flashes of my past life but it's never enough to grasp. But I do know I had a brother." He replied.

"And you don't want to go look for him?" Akira asked curiously.

"I don't know." He replied with a sigh. "Something tells me we weren't exactly on the best of terms. Whenever I think of him I get sad."

"I can't imagine what that's like but if you ever need any help figuring out your past I would be happy to help." Akira said with a reassuring smile.

"Thank you. I would be grateful for that." He replied with a sincere tone. "I should probably escort back to the base of the mountain. I've kept you here long enough."

"Oh there's need for that. I'm sure I can find my way back." Akira said.

"No, no. I insist." He said with a closed eyed smile. "You helped me all the way here, it's only fair that I take you half way back."

They saw an old woman in priestly robes approach them. She greated them both and after being introduced to Akira she told Tsunahisa that he was being requested by the head priest. He bowed in respect and left with the promise to return and take Akira back to the base of the mountain.

After he was gone, the old priestess turned to Akira with a smile.

"Akira... your white silver hair and your lavender eyes.... would you happen to be of the Himorogi bloodline?" She asked curiously.

"Yes I am. How did you know?" Akira asked curiously with a raised brow.

"I know that lineage of Shinto priests. My own mother was from that lineage." The priestess replied, smiling at some find memory she was thinking of. "I am Kimi Hoshimiya."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kimi-san." Akira said as she gave the priestess a respectful nod.

"Likewise." The woman said with a smile. "I must say, destiny has brought you to us. And to think that you would come here because of Tsunahisa is a good omen."

"Oh, what do you mean by that?" Akira asked curiously.

"He told you how he came to us, right?" The priestess asked.

"He told me he remembers waking up here. That's about all." Akira replied.

"Aah I see. Of course that's all he remembers." The priestess said with a smile. "About four years ago the Head priest had a vision from the gods. They told him that they had chosen someone to save humanity from the demon threat that threatens humanity. A few days after we found the young man on our borders, unconscious and without a single memory of his past. We gave him the name Tsunahisa because remember his own."

"The fated one? You think that it's him?" Akira asked curiously.

"Well, fate works in mysterious ways. Even if he's not the chosen one, I believe that he has an important role to play." The priestess responded.

Akira could tell that the woman was convinced by her story. She couldn't blame these people. Having grown up in a family of priests she knew that an important virtue in priesthood was faith. Without faith then there would be no belief in the power of the gods.

"That is an interesting coincidence and maybe you are right and he is the chosen one. However, didn't anyone come looking for him? He said he remembers having a brother but that's about it."

"No unfortunately not. And before you think ill of us we did search around in nearby towns to see if anyone was looking for him. We found nothing."

"That is very curious." Akira said thoughtfully.

"You seem to have something on your mind." The priestess noted curiously.

"Well it's just that... He looks very similar to the man I love." Akira replied with a blush.

"Interesting. You think he's related to your lover?" The priestess asked.

"I don't know, perhaps he is. I am merely curious. It can't be a mere coincidence." Akira replied as she let out a heavy sigh.

"You're right. Perhaps if Tsunahisa should meet with your lover, maybe it would help." The priestess said thoughtfully.

"Yeah you're right, Kimi-san." Akira said with a smile.

Looking up, she was shocked to suddenly see that the sun was setting.

"Oh dear, it seems I have stayed here for quite some time. I should be heading back." Akira said.

"Will you be able to get home before dark?" The priestess asked in concern. "You could stay here for the night and go back in the morning when it's safer."

"Thank you for your concern but I will be fine. I can take care of myself." Akira reassured her. "Besides, my love would be worried if I don't return tonight."

"If you are sure, my dear? We could never forgive ourselves if something happened to you." The priestess insisted.

"There's no need to worry, Kimi -san. I may not look it but I'm quite strong." Akira replied with a confident smile.

"If you're sure then." The priestess said with a smile. "You'll find Tsunahisa by the open fields at the southern exit. He's probably done talking to the head priest and waiting for you there."

With a bow Akira bid her farewell and began to head towards the southern exit of the temple gates. There was an open field in that area and as the priestess Kimi had predicted, Akira found Tsunahisa over there. He seemed not to notice her approach for he was - as Akira noted - practicing his sword skills.

She found it curious as they hadn't talked about him being a swordsman. How could they have for no one would immediately assume that someone living among monks and priests could be into swordsmanship.

As she observed him, she couldn't helped but note how polished and advanced his skill was. He wasn't an amateur. He had the stance and grace of a master swordsman.

She was curious to see him practice so she decided not to disturb him. She saw him perform a continuous attack that was so intriguing to watch, an attack that seemed like a dance. Something in her told her to watch. She felt that she had to memories each move.

He started with a vertical slash, then immediately spun his body to perform a three hundred and sixty degrees slash. He proceeded to unleash two horizontal slashes after which he unleashed a large circular slash. Without stopping, she saw him backflip into the air to deliver a powerful upended sword slash and then charged forward, unleashing a horizontal slash seemingly covered in haze.

He didn't stop for once as he continued his dance like move. He spiraled into the air and delivered a powerful slash before he unleashed a single thrust attack with the point of the blade. He went on to unleash a continuous fast and powerful sword attack that appears as a Japanese dragon made of solar flames.

The attack was so fiery and so majestic that her eyes widened in wonder. She realized then that he was performing some sort of breathing technique that she was unaware of.

He didn't stop then as he proceeded to leap backwards behind his practice dummy and spin in the air downward, releasing a sword attack in a circular motion. He also performed high-speed twists and rotations that created afterimages. To conclude his move, he performed a two-combo strike which began with a vertical slash and then a horizontal one right after.

All of these moves were done continuously as so quickly,it was a wonder she noticed all of them. However, she was determined to master them all.

When he was done he took a short break and it was then that he finally took note of her.

"Oh, Akira. You're here." He said with a cheerful smile.

"Yes, Kimi-san was telling me a lot of interesting stories but wow, Tsunahisa that was some amazing swordsmanship." She praised him.

"You really think so?" He said with a shy laugh. "It's just random moves I came up with."

"Wow, if those were random moves then you're really talented!" Akira praised him. "Do you think maybe you were a swordman in your past life?"

"I don't know. Maybe I was." He replied thoughtfully. "But that doesn't matter. I should accompany you back now. Are you sure you want to go back right now? Will you be safe?"

"Yes I'll be fine." She replied. "I wish I had more time to stay and talk but I need to head back."

"I understand. Let's go then." He replied with a smile.

They walked a little way until they came to the base of the mountain where they would go their separate ways.

"Well, the is where we part ways, Akira." Tsunahisa said with a bow. "Till we meet again."

"Till we meet again. I hope we'll see each other someday." Akira replied replied with a smile.

Even though she hadn't gotten the answers to the questions she had, she felt like she had learned something important.

She gave him a farewell wave and for a moment he returned it with a smile but then he suddenly frowned at something behind her.

"Is something wrong?" Akira began to ask but then she suddenly felt the hairs at the back of her neck stand. 

She never finished what she was saying because he suddenly rushed forward and, grabbing her by the shoulder, pulled her back behind him.

Startled, she tripped as she tried to find her balance however a shockwave knocked her over she and fell back. Her landing wasn't smooth and thus as her back connected with the ground, she felt a sharp pain as her shoulder was dislocated.

Crying out in pain, she slowly got up her heart pounding in her chest at the sudden realization that hit her.

Something or someone had just come at her with the full intention of killing her.