Ichimaru pulled his sword off, his eyes slowly turning to normal, his thoughts slowing down. He caught himself staring at the weapon, trying to understand what had happened. Had he awakened its powers? He wasn't even trying to do so consciously, it was as if it had will of its own, and helped him when he really needed it.
That would have to wait. He heard the sound of horses approaching; it was Oda and his soldiers.
"We heard it from the village. What happened?" he asked, looking at the corpses.
"Fire demons."
The samurai dismounted and stood in front of Ichimaru. He still panted, holding the wound on his shoulder. The dog demon pulled one of Seikku's arrows from his quiver and smelled it: flammable oil.
"Making that bug attack the village when you were close was exactly their plan", Ichimaru deduced. "They must be traveling in small groups like this. Three or four warriors, walking during the night while the patrols are too busy with other things."
"It makes sense. I've just received a message from a patrol at the south. They were camping near a bush when demons attacked them. Three soldiers are badly injured, and they're stuck there."
"The path to the castle is clear. Houji may already be there!" He jumped up, grunting as the cut on his back ached. "I gotta go! They'll attack by surprise, Kumari needs my help!"
"Wait! I can alert him", Oda said. "I'm taking these man back to reinforce the castle's defenses."
"It's not enough, not against the Fire Tribe! You have to send your men after the rest of the patrols, assemble the entire army! I'll save Kumari!"
Oda held his arm before he left.
"You can't face them alone too! Especially injured like that!"
"I have to!"
"No!" Oda yelled, surprising him. "Your father relieved you from service here, didn't him? That means you're no longer lord Kumari's vassal."
"I'm still his friend!" Ichimaru replied, pulling his arm.
"You're his ally, and that's exactly what he needs now. If other patrols are on the same situation, we can hardly gather enough soldiers in time to resist the attack." Ichimaru growled, frustrated. "The truth is, right now, our best chance lies in you to ask your father's help."
The dog demon cursed and punched a nearby tree. He knew the human was right, but there was no easy way to accept it. Houji was there to get his revenge over something that he and Sazume had taken part. It wasn't fair leaving Kumari to face that alone.
"You're faster than any of my best horses", Oda said, guessing his thoughts. "Please, young lord Ichimaru, I'm begging you!" He knelt down; Ichimaru wasn't really used to that kind of treatment, but if there was a time to start acting as a noble, that was it.
Still, he grabbed the soldier by the arm and put him up.
"Keep him alive, Oda! Protect the castle until I'm back!"
"I'll delay the attack as much as possible."
The samurai helped him make a quick bandage over the wounds, and on the next minute Ichimaru was already running. He took the road to the north, to his family's lands, leaving Kumari under the threat of an uncertain amount of enemies, and an attack that he couldn't predict when would happen. Running from a fight was really the last thing on his usual list but, given the situation, there were really no alternatives. "You're on your own for a while, pal. Hang on!"
