The sun had just begun to set upon the forests, the palaces of bamboo and and bright green foliage.
The man, the hired hitman of one of the most feared warlords in the nation did not know what he ran from, either man or monster, but he knew deep down in the fear that shook his being that he could not run anymore.
Never again.
He had seen evil in the form of a man, and it had come to take him down, it had come to claim him for his sins.
He had seen a man, a mere nobody with no power or training as a warrior, walk into his master's home and slay him right before his eyes with the ease of a crane, like he spilled blood as easily as dancing.
No one, no warrior, no assassin, no army had ever been able to stand up to his master but that country man cut him down as easily as breathing.
That's when he knew no weapon could save him from this man. He knew he had to run from him.
The moment he turned his back, he was hit.
Whatever it was that hunted him down like a beast, the man called Kosetsu Somanji, it's blade of steel had sliced open his thighs, leaving them bleeding openly for the earth to drink up and completely useless.
On his stomach like a turtle, doing everything in his feeble human power to escape from this creature, this madman, this demon, the hitman crawled.
But he could run no more.
Salt and saliva dripped down his chin. He would die with humility and shame, being cut down by a mere farmer. This was the end.
With aching arms, he gave up and let his body rest in the dirt with the sensation of metal warmed by the freshly spilled blood of many pressed against his back.
The hitman of the most feared warlord in the nation was brought to nothing, and he closed his eyes, awaiting death.
"I-" He choked out, eyes bloodshot and crazed from the many tears he had shed, "I hate fighting…."
"It brings nothing but sorrow to all….."
"But-!"
Memories ran through his head like the touch of ice upon a wound.
"But if you-!" He shut his eyes tightly, dwelling upon his misery, "If you dogs are so low that you would cut down a child-!".
His hesitated for a moment, but no more.
" I suppose fighting is inevitable, then."
He drew his sword back to strike.
"This is for my brother," He hissed bitterly, gripping the hilt of his blade all the tighter, "This is for Osayo…..!".
And with a single powerful blow, Kosetsu Samonji struck the man through the chest.
The hitman breathed his last as his life ended.
The last of that powerful clan died with that hitman and Kosetsu Samonji's revenge fulfilled.
The child's like was avenged, but it didn't matter anymore.
The sun had set upon the farmer's world and all was darkness.