Chapter 4: The Encounter

That night, while preparing to sleep, a loud knock was heard. Hastily, Tanaka whispered, "Akio! Reika! They've come. Quick! Hide here" and he shove them to a secret door found in the floor.

"Can't we help you?" Akio asked.

"No, and there's no moment to lose, and that I don't want you two to be involved. Just hide here and be quiet."

Before they could protest, Tanaka closed the secret door and opened the front door.

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Even if underneath, the couple could hear clearly what the people above were talking. They heard a few heavy footsteps which they presume to be entering the house, along with the lines coming from another man "Have you not reconsider, old man?"

"No, I'll never give you any rations, even a part of my harvest" they heard Tanaka answered.

Another man spoke "Where are your two companions?"

"They are not here anymore" They heard Tanaka replied with a tone of fear.

"Well, then I guess there's no use to scream for help."

After these, the couple heard a sound of a gun being loaded and a shot, which followed by a sound of something heavy fell on the floor. Reika almost screamed, but covered her mouth, but she cannot stop her tears flowing, and so with Akio, who hugged her for comfort.

They heard the same guy spoke "Now that you're dead, still, the wheat is ours." Then, some footsteps are heard and the door closed, which indicated that they were leaving, and Akio and Reika opened the secret door. They found Tanaka lay dying with a shot in his heart.

Desperately, Reika cried and turned to Akio "Akio! Let's bring him to a hospital."

But then, Tanaka said, "It's quite useless for that now."

Reika again cried, "No, don't say that! You're going to live!"

"My dear, I'm already old, and I also wait the day that I may join my wife."

With this, they knew that it'll be useless to convince him, and through his tears, Akio said, "Is there something that you want us to do?"

Tanaka smiled and told them his last request, "When I die, please grab what you can in my house for you supplies. Take whatever you seem fit for your journey. Let's say it'll be my wedding gift for you." He paused for a while, breathed heavily, and continued, "After...doing this...please...burn my house... my fields, everything...I'll never give it to them...even if I die...will you two promise that?"

Akio and Reika simply nodded.

"Thank you...thank you..." and that is the end of Ryuuji Tanaka.

The two could do nothing but to mourn for him, and that he became the part of their list of the loved ones they've lost. Akio reached out a hand and closed his eyes; Reika stood and went to the garden to pick some bellflowers and placed both of Tanaka's hand, along with the flowers, on his chest. They covered him in a white cloth they found and did the old man's request. They grabbed some food, clothes, as well as some pans (for cooking) and set everything on fire, save themselves, and escaped. They still managed to leave some pile of rocks as a memorial of their dear friend.

Even if they are now a mile away from the house, they could still see the black smoke rising from the fire that was once a lovely home.

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And here's chapter 4... Even I did not know that it'll be finished in one day, it is supposed to be in one chapter, so I decided to cut it in half... and I have also decided to make the story short because I'm out of ideas and that I'm excited for...uh...something else... and still... be prepared... that's all for now, folks! Thanks for those who read! Paalam muna!