‘Akuma may well come,’ said Jack to Sora, before glancing at Miya and the rest of the girls. ‘But we’re returning with good news too.’

The villagers wept with joy upon seeing their daughters alive – a miracle beyond their wildest dreams. Even Sora’s usual hangdog expression vanished, replaced by one of pure rapture at the sight of Miya running into her mother’s arms. That alone was enough to convince Jack all their efforts so far had been worthwhile.

Junichi greeted them with the deepest of bows. ‘If only all samurai and ninja were as courageous as you, then there wouldn’t be devils like Akuma!’

Yoshi tottered out of the farmhouse, his old eyes brimming with tears.

‘I never thought I’d see the day,’ he croaked. ‘You’ve given life back to our village!’

While the families were reunited and the daughters from neighbouring villages welcomed with equal affection, Jack hobbled over to Sora’s farmhouse with Miyuki, Hayato and Neko. They were all exhausted from the night’s escape and Jack was now in serious pain from his wound.

Yori, Saburo and Yuudai were waiting to greet them.

‘What happened to you?’ asked Yori, his face etched with concern at Jack’s woeful state.

‘Apart from being beaten, burnt and buried alive?’ Jack joked. ‘We dealt our first blow against Akuma.’

‘That’s something worth celebrating!’ said Yuudai, clearly relieved to see them back safe and sound, if a little battle-worn. ‘Let’s get you inside and fed and rested.’

He opened the door for them to enter, when they heard a great wailing.

‘Where’s Suki?’ cried a despondent mother, searching the faces of the girls. ‘Where’s my Suki?’

The woman was becoming more and more frantic. Sora hurried over and spoke softly to her. For a moment, she just stared at him in disbelief. Then burst into floods of tears. Sora tried to comfort the woman, but she shrugged him off and strode over to Jack and the others.

‘M-m-my Suki was shot … by Akuma?’ she asked, her voice trembling with grief.

Jack now had a name for the poor girl. ‘Yes. One of his men, Kurochi, did it.’

‘I know you tried to save her,’ she said, her sorrow turning to anger. ‘But promise me, you’ll set my daughter’s soul at peace! Promise me, you’ll put an end to Akuma!’

Jack held the mother’s gaze and felt the torment in her broken heart. He could see in her features her own daughter’s face and remembered the girl, not much older than himself, sprawled in the bloodstained snow. Nodding, Jack gave his sworn promise as the memory of the girl’s senseless slaughter hardened his resolve to stop Akuma’s reign of terror … whatever it took.

37 Healing

37

HEALING