Executioner lifted Rina gently into his arms, careful with her even though his own body was hurting. He didn't say a word. His jaw was tight, his eyes cold. He looks pissed-not just angry, but like something inside him cracked.
As he turned the corner, the two girls who tried to seduce him earlier stood there.
They froze.
Their eyes landed on Rina - broken, half - covered, clinging to him - and then on Executioner's face.
He stared at them. Didn't blink. Didn't speak.
The girls panicked and run away. They didn't dare look back.
Rina shifted in his arms, confused. Her voice was soft, " Executioner...how did you find me?"
He kept walking, not meeting her eyes. " I gave some coins to a beggar in the market...then asked him if he saw you. He told me what happened...and brought me here."
Rina blinked. " Oh..."
They walked through the streets until they got back into the market. Rina had her arms crossed over her chest, trying to hide her upper exposed body.
Executioner walked fast to a nearby stall, grabbed a towel, and dropped a few coins.
He wrapped it gently around her shoulder without saying anything. They kept moving.
After a while, he finally spoke. " Why did you leave me back there?"
Rina hesitated, then said, " I thought I saw Yui. She turned a corner, so I followed...but when I got there, it was just an empty wall. No one was there. I swear it was her. But now... I dont know."
His eyes narrowed. The voices in his head spoke again.
Don't trust them. Not even her.
Not even the Thunder God.
He bit the inside of his cheek, trying to drown it out.
They reached the house.
Inside, Yui was sitting with the kids, smiling, laughing, feeding them like nothing ever happened. The air was warm. The room smelled like stew.
Rina froze at the doorway. Her mouth slightly opened.
Executioner noticed her reaction and leaned toward her. He whispered, " Didn't you say you saw her at the market?"
Rina blinked hard, still in shock." Yeah... I did. That was her. I know it."
Yui looked up and stood, smiling gently.
" Rina, are you alright? What happened to your clothes?"
Rina didn't answer right away. The softness vanished. Her voice came out colder this time.
" Did you know about this? About what happened? Who the hell are you, Yui? And why are you helping us out of nowhere?"
Then, without waiting for an answer, she tossed the towel away, walked straight to the room, and slammed the door shut behind her.
Yui kept smiling.
Executioner stared at her. His face didn't change, but his eyes showed it. He was done pretending.
" I dont know who you are," he said, calm but serious. " But thanks for helping us."
He took one last look at her and added,
" We're leaving this place. Now."
Rina stepped into the shower, the warm water cascading over her, but it couldn't wash away the lingering images of those men. The way they touched her... their filthy hands on her body. Tears mingled with the water as she recalled their hands on her body, the fear, the helplessness. She scrubbed her skin until it turned red, trying to erase their touch.
She walked out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around her. Her hair still dripped water as she moved slowly. Her eyes were red, tears still wet on her cheeks.
She stepped into the room and saw Executioner sitting there, quite, not moving. She walked closer, then sat beside him. He didn't even notice she was there until she touched his shoulder.
" Hey," she said calmly. " Are you okay?"
Executioner turned his head and saw her. He looked away quickly, seeing her only in a towel. His voice was low. " I don't know. I've changed so much. I used to be a killer, and now... I gave a poor guy coins today without hurting him"
Rina smiled. she leaned closer, placing her hand on his chest. " Your heart...it's calm. Feels good, right? Being good to others is like washing blood off your hands-it doesn't clean everything, but it makes you feel human again."
Executioner nodded. He turned and took her hand, rubbed it gently, and smiled.
" Thanks you, Rina."
She blushed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, blinking at him. Their faces got close, lips almost touching-and then they kissed. Just for second. Executioner pulled back.
Rina looked down, embarrassed.
" We're going back to Japan.We are not staying here anymore." he said suddenly.
Rina's face lit up, but concern quickly replaced her joy. " But... it will take weeks to get there."
" I know. Get dressed. let's move."
She grabbed a simple dress and slipped into it. When they stepped out of the room, the kids were sitting quietly.
" Where is Yui?" Rina asked.
A small girl holding a toy looked up and responded. " She was here... but now she's gone.'
Rina bend down to the kids and hold the smaller one's shoulder and said, " Here is not safe for you kids. Come and lets go to Japan."
Executioner grabbed her wrist. He pulled her close and whispered sharply, " What are you doing? If they follow us, they will die out there. No food. No water. It's a week of walking."
Rina's face dropped. She sat down, frustrated. " But I made a promise. One of the kids we saved... I told her I'd find her sister. And now, we have them."
Executioner sighed hard, stomped his foot, clearly stressed. " I know. But do you really want them to die out there?"
She went quiet. She looked at the kids and then said, " I know what to do."
She walked to the kitchen, grabbed a bag, and filled it with as mush food and water as she could carry. When she came back, she nodded. " Let's go. I packed enough."
Executioner stared at her, mumbling to himself, " Why is she like this... why is she so kind to them? Does a promise really matter this much?"
He followed them. They walked for an hour until they reached a small village filled with cows. Ahead, a river blocked the path. A small boat floated there, and an old man with a white beard and a straw hat sat inside.
They approached the boatman.
" We need to cross. Take us to that mountain."
The old man looked up showing his black eyes. " That place?" His voice was deep and strange. " You'll have to pay huge price. That land is sacred. Big snakes live there. Spirits too and so many poisonous creatures. And not all of them are quiet."
The kids moved behind Rina, scared. She held them close.
" Only clean souls can go through that forest," the old man continues.
" The trees there... they got eyes."
Rina turned to Executioner. " This might be a bad idea..."
He muttered to himself, " Clean souls... mine isn't."
Then he took a deep breath and clenched his fists. " We're going. Take us."
He stepped onto the boat and offered his hand to Rina and the kids.
"You sure?" She asked.
"Trust me."
They all sat down, and the boat floated off. The old man paddled slowly, humming a strange tune.
Hours passed. Six, maybe more.
Rina and the kids slept. Executioner stayed awake, watching the water.
" You're scared," the old man said out of nowhere, smiling.
Executioner didn't look at him. " No. Just... my soul. It's not clean."
The old man scooted closer. " Young man, listen to me. Be brave. Do what feels right. Don't let your past chain your future."
Executioner looked down and nodded. " I have killed so many people. I regret it. This body... isn't mine."
The old man smiled and he placed a hand on his shoulder. " I was a killer too. I murdered in silence, fed on the weak. Even killed my own family... but here I am. We all get another shot. What matters is what you do now."
Executioner smiled gently. "Thanks."
The man took out a bottle. "I drink to forget. Want some?"
"No."
"Just try."
Executioner took a sip, then another. He started to like it. They laughed, and shared stories. Then the man nodded toward Rina.
" She's your wife? You two look good together."
He laughed, then fell asleep.
Executioner looked at Rina, a soft smile on his lips. He rested his head and closed his eyes.
At dawn:
Strange voices echoed from the forest ahead - low, creepy, like whispers from nowhere.
Executioner opened his eyes. The boat had reached land.
Rina and the kids woke up, startled by the sounds.
The old man looked at the trees, frozen.
"Here it is," he said.
Executioner helped everyone off the boat. The man handed him a small whistle.
"Blow this if you are in danger."
"Thanks," Executioner said.
The old man pushed off with his boat, then shouted, "I'm Hachiro!"
Executioner raised a hand. " Executioner."
They turned to face the forest. The kids clung to Rina's dress, panicking.
As they took the first step, the sand shifted. One of the kids screamed. Her leg had sung into the sand.