Hidden rainfall

chapter twenty one

Asahi returned soon after Daku's puppet retreated. He heard the report of exactly what happened from Sumi, Ichiro and Sama. I see, Asahi said. I can't believe he would make such a bold move so soon after fighting us and Kurai. But I suppose his puppet wouldn't have been exhausted from a battle it never fought. But I don't understand why he would make such a pointless move. Why start a fight he had no hope of winning. What does he have to gain from doing that? Sama thinks hard about this. She was under his control for a short time and saw some of his plans in that short time. She saw only two things. The first was her city burning everywhere and that helped her know her city was under attack. Although she was unable to save all of it from this rate most of it was untouched. The other thing she saw was blood everywhere upon a ground made of snow. She thought the snow may be his technique but what was the blood? Could it be possible that he is going to kill everyone in the city? But why do that, he has proven to be smart in planning but killing everyone seems insane. If that is indeed his plan he has to have a reason for doing it. Maybe it's Sumi, he said she was important to his plan or something like that. But then why not sacrifice his puppet to wear her down a bit. If he was going to the city himself then why not do that. No matter how much Sama thought she couldn't figure out the plan behind the second image. They went to rest for the rest of the day. Three of them were fine but Sumi was shaken up by the news she learned that day. She knew her family was killed but she didn't know who the killer was. And aside from that, using two ancient water arts in a short amount of time is incredibly taxing for her current mana reserves. She slept while the others tried to make sense of what Sama saw and what Daku said though his puppet.
  In a facility similar to the one Sama found, his trace in Daku can be found. He is preparing for some sort of a procedure. Ah you've arrived, he speaks to whoever is now behind him. It is his puppet, the one who attacked Muteki city. It is now devoid of his presence and is much more puppet-like. The puppet lays on the table that Daku was preparing. Daku then proceeds to turn the puppet into a meat bun. The one he had mentioned to those four some time ago. The process took a few hours. He quickly consumed the once human meat bun. He smiles, I should be able to use explosion art now. Now to go and retrieve her.
  The following day to the attack, repairs to the city have begun. Sumi hasn't woken up yet but Sama and her father as well as her brother they are all awake. Due to Sumi's magic they didn't need time to recover. But that has drained her considerably of her mana but that's nothing some rest can't fix. You know Sama, Asahi has said to his daughter. Kurai had really wanted to see you now that you are older. It's sad to think he never got that chance. Really I didn't know he cared that much, she said in response. He was friends with me but he was actually friends with your mother longer. They knew each other when they were kids and I had no idea until I introduced them. Ever since she passed away I'm sure he wanted to see how her children were doing. It's nice to think someone so thoughtful lived, Sama said. It only makes me more enraged that Daku killed him. And he also threatened his people. Luckily Kurai was able to seal them up and give that seal to you to relocate them. Speaking of which, where did you move them? Oh I moved them up north to a nice location. Sama thought for a moment. North is cold and that means it would likely snow, she remembers the image she saw while under Daku's control. She couldn't believe it, the blood on the snow was an image of his plan to attack their new village. He knew exactly where father was going to relocate them. Father, Ichiro, we need to go to that village. I know what Daku's plan is. She explains her realization to them.