The long travel in the woods really helped Itami to strengthen her body in terms of combat. Wild animals with the extraordinary structure of the forest is what you can say had become her training ground. Tired of this everyday way of living I decided to leave the forest. Right then and there I put on my cloak, cling my bow into my shoulder and begun on a long walk to the horizon. While walking through the woods, finding a way to get out I noticed something from afar at the top of the hill. Desperate to see what it is, I rush towards the top with a thought in my mind,”Is it what is think it is?” With this in my mind I run.
The moment I reached the top of the hill, so surprised if what I had seen, my body froze then the fell off from my shoulder. “I never thought that I could find a sakura tree in here.” With a teary eye, I slowly walk towards it, “I miss this….” Then there I stand by it, feeling the strong breeze through my hair, cherry blossom singing through my ear. Though it’s almost the same, still they are different. I let out a big sigh, pick up my bow from the ground where it fell off then walk near the cliff.”Though its poles apart, still it made me smile.” A tear once again run down from my eyes, so I turned around and wipes it out removing my mask then placed it back. Then a strong wind I felt that made m hood slide through my hair, I looked at the sky with a face of surprise. Then there I have seen, “A man….with wings.” I can’t believe of what I just saw, blinking my eyes once again, trying to convince myself if it’s true. I closed my eyes for the last time and when I open it the thing I saw was not there.”Maybe I’m just dreaming….Hallucinating of such things that doesn’t exist.” After assuring myself, I put back the hood and thoroughly head out to the woods.
“Finally I’m out of the woods.” I walk straightly; at my sight I saw a small village.”I never thought that there will be a village in this vicinity.” To confirm myself I walk instantly to its direction. The moment I entered the village, I feel that something is wrong, “Why is there are no villagers?” Then to my surprise someone was pulling my cloak with a little force. I turned to my side and saw a young boy with a teary eye on his face. I simply can’t resist this view so kneel down to his height, removed my mask ‘cause I’m afraid it would bring more tears to the child. I asked him with a caring face and a gentle voice, while my hands sliding through his hair “Hey, why are you crying young one?” Despite I hate mankind; I can’t possibly hate this child. The child didn’t answer my question but instead, he hugged me so tightly and continue crying to my shoulders. I almost fell off when he did this; luckily I managed to remain at my position and hugged him back while tapping his back, “There…There…Stop crying, nee-Chan will be just right here.” The boy stopped crying I felt relieved. The child spoke, “Nee-Chan, I would like you to meet the villagers.” Without me not approving of this, put on my mask back and was drag to the villagers.
Then there I saw them bowing all their heads to me. “Why are bowing down to me? I’m not a god.”With a curios voice I uttered those words. One of the crowd steps out, I believe that it’s the head of the village. With a shaking voice he speaks, “Our village is begging for your help young warrior, please save our precious village!” “Why are you asking for my help? I can’t possibly help you!” In a stiffed voice I speak. In my mind,”I despise them! The nature of mankind! I hate it!” “I know you can help us with you and your bow, if you would not help us, our village might perish and each one of us might be dead by dawn!” The elder man uttered those words, as if there will be no tomorrow. “I can’t help you! I’m not fit to kill the entire opponent for you!” In a firm voice I said those words. I turned my back against them; I walk my face facing the grounds. Then someone ran after me shouting, “Nee-Chan!!! Please save our village! Oka-sa…Oto-san…I don’t want to see them dead! Please Nee-Chan!!! I beg you!!” In the face of the boy, continuous flow of tears runs down through his face, crying and crying while saying those words. Those words really linger through my ears and my heart. “Sorry young one but I can’t help you.” In a stiff voice I said those words and walk away in guilt.
I hear someone talk to the boy saying, “Son, it would be alright, of we were to die, we would die saving you and this village.” Then I heard the boy saying,”Please father, don’t do such a thing, I don’t want you all to be dead!” Still crying he uttered those words. I ran then tears fell off from my eyes, ”How I wish I can tell those words to my father and mother before they died, No one helped then despite their kindness to the town’s people!” Saying those words, with guilt in my heart. In my mind, “How can I possibly help them?!! I can’t even save my own family back then! I can’t help them!” I knee down crying, trying to control myself. Guilt, sadness filled me. Then suddenly at the top of the tree, someone or something caught my attention. Still in an anguish state I stand up, trying to stay strong, I pointed out my arrow to its direction with tears running through my face.