Saving Touma

Chapter 2.N - Tengu

"War?" Hozumi asked, pondering deeply. Ryo didn't respond right away and gave the chief a confused stare.

"Where's the emperor?" Hozumi continued. Ryo found it strange that he was asking for the emperor's whereabouts.

"He's in exile," Ryo replied, reluctant to give out more details.

"Where was he taken?" Hozumi continued inquiring.

"At Oki. Hold on, why are you interested to know?" Ryo eventually stopped wondering and asked him point blank.

"I was a member of the royal guard until about two years ago. I didn't know we were at war," Hozumi explained.

"Heh? I don't understand," Ryo responded.

"Heh?"

"The war began almost three years ago. How could you not know about it?"

"That's impossible. It was peaceful when I left. Have we been attacked?"

"No, we haven't been attacked because we're the ones who instigated it. Also, I don't remember ever seeing you in the ranks. Which squad did you belong to?"

"I served the emperor directly."

Ryo wasn't convinced. After all, he, too, served the emperor for over a decade. He had never seen Hozumi before.

"I've served Emperor Go-Daigo for many years, but I can't remember you. Please don't make this preposterous claim in front of me again," Ryo retorted, belligerent.

"Heh? Go-Daigo? That's impossible."

"What's impossible? You can't just go out and tell people you were an imperial guard."

The baffled chief took offense at Ryo's strong words.

"Ryo-kun. I've done many wrong things in my life. Lying about my service to the Imperial House is not one of them. I'd served Emperor Go-Nijo long enough, but I'd faithfully fulfilled my oath."

"What are you talking about? Emperor Go-Nijo ceded the throne two decades ago," Ryo explained.

"Heh? Impossible,"

"What's impossible? Please help me understand."

"Ryo-kun. I'd served Emperor Go-Fushimi all my life. When he abdicated, I served his son for five years before retiring and going back home a couple of years ago."

"I don't understand."

Suddenly, they heard a loud scream from the east.

A few minutes ago—

"We have to wait for the captain," Shingen exclaimed, trying to prevent Kogoro and Yukimura from leaving.

"I can't wait any longer. We can at least explain to them that we're not here to cause trouble," Yukimura debated.

"I agree. If the news spreads and we don't do something to counter it somehow, the villagers might gang up on us, and it would be too late to explain," Kogoro upheld.

The two picked up some of the boiled sweet potatoes and eggs scattered at the doorway and then left. Shingen couldn't stop them.

"Which way did you see those ladies go?" Kogoro asked Yukimura.

"I saw one go that way and the other two there," Yukimura replied, pointing to the east.

"Okay, let's go east.

The two boys began circling the town to look for the two villagers who had brought them breakfast. They knew they were scared, so they wanted to talk to them and explain that they came in peace. 

They couldn't reveal their true purpose for visiting the village because, one, they didn't know, and two, they were afraid it might not be something the villagers would agree to. But they wanted to clear up what seemed to be a misunderstanding.