For Ai to be somewhat smart, she sure was dumb. She waited for an extra 20 minutes after I left, just to make sure I was really gone and went back into the forest she refused to let me in. What she didn't know was that I was just lounging far up on a nearby tree. Once she decided to come out her forest and left the same way we came, I jumped down from the tree and made my way into the forbidden area.

As soon as I walked in I immediately noticed all the vibrant flowers blooming within the darkness. Move past the flowers and you can spot an obvious manmade or in this case woman-made trail. I couldn't help but feel like I was walking into some trap that she made, but I was ready for whatever she threw at me.

Once the trail came to a stop. I was standing face to face with a cave that appeared to be made out of dirt and other things. My suspicions of a trap were only growing, but that didn't stop me. I took a step forward and began walking down the long tunnel. It wasn't long before a light came into my view of vision and when it did, I was shocked to see what was in front of me. The two kids that Daisuke said went missing were together, eating on what looked like the food from back at the estate. The kids looked up at me in fear as they held onto each other. Why were they here? This question that had no answer only continued to bother me once I turned around to a peaceful humming voice.

Behind me stood an angry Ai and two other frighten kids from her father's dojo. Ai immediately grabbed the two she came with and pushed them towards the other two and drew out her sword, pointing it directing at my throat.

"Ai, what the hell are you doing with these kids?" I asked.

She shoved her sword a little closer to my Adam's apple. "I don't know who that 'Ai' person is. My name is Nai and you will tell me what you're doing in here before I sliced your throat."

I watched her watch me. For quite some time too before she got sick of the silence.

"SPEAK." She shouted.

"What are you doing with these kids, 'Nai'?"

Ai sighed and returned her sword on her hip. Once she did that, I allowed her to grab my kimono and pull me back outside to the entrance of the cave. Once outside, she paced around the cool forest dirt, rubbing her head as if she was stressed.

"Listen Jin... You can only call me 'Nai' in front of those kids. They haven't suspected me as Ai." She finally turned to me.

"Why do you have them anyways?"

"God..I shouldn't be telling you this." She sighed some more.

She stepped up to me, significantly shorter than I. Her forehead reached right below my chin. She raised her hands and grabbed onto my shoulders. For some reason allowed her to do that. Ai lifted up her face and displayed watery eyes that confused me.

"Daisuke..he's training those kids to be his own suicide team."

"What?"

"Once you leave, Daisuke wouldn't have anyone to protect his selfish ass anymore. So, he's training those kids to do what you do..but worse." Her grip on my shoulders tighten.

"He's training them to basically die for him. Jin, he's taking these kids who already don't have families and using them. And I will not stand around anymore and watch these kids die again." Tears ran down her soft, pale cheeks.

"Again? This isn't his first time doing this?" I asked.

Ai scoffed, "With all the enemies he has? How do you think he's alive today?"

I immediately felt disgust and anger. I turned my attention to the tunnel within the cave. Growing up and deciding that you wanted to die for someone was one thing, but taking homeless children and forcing them was another. It pissed me off that this was happening right under my nose and I hadn't suspected a thing.

I turned my attention back to Ai who obviously had a motive. Although I pressed her for information, she must had a plan in that little head of hers. If she didn't, she wouldn't have told me in the first place. I worked for her father and could easily told him what she was doing. But that strong look she gave me, we both understood things that didn't need to be explained. Ai finally looked away and walked back the way she came.

"Where are you going?" I asked, silently following her.

"We have to get back soon. The kids will be ok, I taught them how to make a fire and they have food and warmth. We'll get the remaining three tomorrow night and then we'll leave." She talked out her plan without consulting me.

I didn't answer back. I simply just followed her back to the estate.

The next morning, Ai and her father sat at their table eating breakfast, as I and the other servants watched. Since Ai told me Daisuke's dark secret, things made sense to me. Daisuke is a powerful man who stole a lot of land from the less fortunate. So, of course, he'd have a lot of enemies but also a lot of allies wanting to buy land from him. He asked for me to protect for two to three months and after that, I could be on my way. I didn't question him nor did I care to. I would get shelter, food, clean water, and money just because I was going to protect some aging guy for three months. I'd be stupid not to take it.

"Ai sweetheart, I have great news." Daisuke slyly said.

"Yes, father?" Ai slowly looked up at the man she detested.

"I found a man whom you will marry."

"What? You're not marrying me off!" She threw down her chopsticks.

The next few seconds happened so fast, that my eyes could barely correlate with my brain to remember the scene. One millisecond ago Daisuke was calmly sitting there, the next he had slapped Ai and grabbed her by her kimono. One millisecond ago I was sitting down, watching them, and the next I was half way across the room with my sword at his temple.

Daisuke, who obviously feared for his life looked at me through his peripheral vision with sweat falling from his forehead.

"Jin, what the hell are you doing?"

I didn't answer him, instead, I moved the tip of my sword from his temple to his hand that's gripping Ai. Daisuke seemed to get my point and released the woman. Ai slowly got up from her position on the tatami floors and walked away while holding her left cheek. Daisuke scoffed and turned his anger towards me.

"I dare you to raise your sword at me again. I'll have you killed." He spat and left himself.

I ignored his threat and went to Ai's room where I found her packing her things. Once she sensed I was standing there and it was immediate, she turned to me and with those same eyes, gave me that look that made me understood everything without explaining. Later that night, we rounded up the remaining kids and made our way outside. Well, that was the plan but unfortunately, we had company. As soon as we walked outside, we noticed men surrounding us as if we stole an important document. And in the middle, stood no other than Daisuke himself.

"I knew this wasn't a coincidence. I can't believe you were letting the only things keeping us safe go, Ai." Daisuke scoffed.

"You aren't God! You don't get to pick when they'll die!" Ai snapped back.

"Ai, cut the act. Nobody wanted these kids, they'll die knowing that they did a good deed." Daisuke rolled his eyes.

Ai didn't say anything, deciding to stay calm for the kids. Daisuke eyes turned to me and darkened.

"Ai, I'll handle you personally. As for you, your sentence is death." He smiled at me.

Some of Daisuke's men grabbed the kids and Ai. She began screaming and kicking to fight off those who had her detained.

"DON'T TOUCH THEM!" She screamed.

The rest of the men brought out their swords and faced me. I looked at them and slowly brought mine out too. All I had to do was fight these five and get to the other five men. Sound easy enough.

I quickly rose my sword up and immediately clashed with whoever. As I was fighting one, I noticed two rushing to both of my sides. I instantly ducked and kicked the man who was running up behind me. As the fight progressed, Daisuke noticed that I wasn't going down anytime soon and forced the guys who were holding Ai and the kids to rush to their aid. As soon as Ai was free she grabbed the kids and ran.

"Shit! After her!" Daisuke yelled.

I ran in front of the men and stood there; if they wanted to chase her, they were going to have to get through me. Ten on one wasn't going to be an easy task, but I wasn't going down without a fight.

After some time, I finally manage to beat the men and once I turned to face Daisuke, I realized he was gone. I tiredly placed my sword back into my sheath and ran towards the forbidden forest.

Once inside the cave, I found Ai and the kids huddled around the fire. I walked in and sat across from them. It seemed like Ai knew that I would come out alive because she didn't even open her eyes while the kids cheered for my returned. Only once the kids settled down and I could breathe calmly again, did she speak.

"Tonight, we're leaving guys. But I have to do something first." Ai smiled at the kids.

"Do what Nai?" I asked.

"I need a favor Jin.." She unraveled herself from the kids and sat next to me.

Ai had a sweet scent about her and it made me feel funny, but I never wanted to act out on that feeling. She sighed and laid her head on my shoulder. I did not welcome the warmth, but I also did not push it away.

"There's a nearby town called Edo, take the kids to an orphanage there. I know they'll be safe." She quietly said.

"Where are you going?"

"To finish things with Daisuke."

"Ai-"

"Jin!...just do this for me..please?" She begged.

I nodded my head and got up from my spot. I gathered all the children and waited for them all to say their individual goodbyes. Ai hugged each and everyone as tears fell from her cheeks. I had the children begin walking out before I turned around and looked at Ai.

"Don't do anything stupid," I said.

Ai smiled and hugged me. Once again, I didn't welcome it, but I also did nothing to stop her. She gave me a swift kiss on the cheek and waved 'Thank you'. I nodded and made my way to the children waiting for me. As we got farther away from the little village, I developed a very eerie feeling. I stopped with the kids and looked out towards the sky and saw nothing but fire. I told the kids to hide in the trees as I rushed towards the raging fire. I found myself standing in front of a burning estate that was just intact yesterday. I rushed inside, hoping that I wouldn't find Ai. Luckily I didn't, but I did find a man struggling to live. Daisuke laid there, covering the gaping hole in his stomach.

"Jin..oh, Jin. Please help me." He cried out as blood spilled from out his mouth.

"Ai..that little bitch did this...I should had killed her right along with her mother." He spat out.

I wanted to put this man out his misery but decided against it. Instead, I simply walked out as the fire got worse and he cried out for me to help him. I made my way back to the kids and we returned to our little journey.

The next day, the children and I arrived at the bustling town of Edo. I dropped them off at the orphanage that Ai said would keep them safe. The children crowded around me as they gave me a group hug. Once they let go, I walked away, hoping they'll be safe. As I was walked through Edo I noticed a woman who was getting hit on by all these men. I thought about ignoring it, but once I got a strong whiff of that scent, I knew who it was.

"Ai! Are you okay?" I pushed a man away from her.

"Hey buddy, we were here first!" One man grabbed me and I butted him in the eye with my elbow.

Another man tried to grab me but I kicked him in the balls. Then all of them tried to jump me. I sighed and turned my attention back to the woman who was now missing. Angry, I gave them a piece of my mind or fists. After I fought them all the first time, they decided to pull out their swords and fight me that way. Once the crowd of people surrounded us, unfortunately for me, Fuu, Mugen, and their new friend Soejima thought it would be a nice time to show their faces to me. Especially Mugen.

"Mugen.." I quietly said.

Mugen's stupid face lit up like he was with a bunch of women.

"Oh-Ho Jin. You didn't forget about our little fight, now. Did you?" he asked with that disgusting smirk on his face.

I smirked back, "Of course not."

It's been awhile since I was able to fight anybody with Mugen's skill and I was frankly excited. But of course, Fuu stopped us and proposed that I'll come with them. I thought if I wanted to find Ai, then I should travel with them. Plus, it wouldn't be so bad going around with the only two people I kinda enjoyed being with.

Kinda.

So I've been kinda busy as you can see..BUT guess what!? I got into my top choice university ٩(๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و Class of 2021!