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Hattori Kenshin would right the wrongs of this forest

And learn exactly what its trees had to hide

--

The h it arning everyone present that the sun was on the cusp of disappearing That all light was about to be lost Mariko grabbed her katana and searched for Ōkami The Wolf had moved to direct other members of the Black Clan into the trees, as they’d decided early on

What they lacked in nuround Mariko was supposed to have climbed into her post immediately But she’d stopped to help Ren Her erstwhile torh provisions or adequate weapons for the pending siege

And now they were out of tined posts Not all of them would be able to fend off the attack

When the arrows started to rain down through the trees, Mariko knew they’d also lost the option to flee Her eyes flitted across the rapidly darkening underbrush, searching for soside her, sure-footed, even through the rising gloo into position at her side

"Anate!"

The call for another volley of arrows echoed frorabbed the wooden shield and yanked Mariko against his chest The solid beat of his heart thudded in her ear as arrows pounded into the shield and struck the branches around them

The thunder of hooves followed soon after the last arrow volley When theback

Mariko reached into her pouch of throwing stars And took a deep breath

Ōka it into the first wave of charging cavalry "Fight back, Hattori Mariko I know he’s your brother But histhe distinction And neither should you"

"I know" She gritted her teeth

"The only power any ive him" Ōkami fired another shot, and a soldier tumbled from his horse below

At that, Mariko rolled her shoulders, took ai star, and hurled it into the darkness

She’d ed to injure three samurai and take down another warrior fro Mariko could not see her brother anywhere If she knew Hattori Kenshin at all, she knew her brother would be at the vanguard of any fight

So

Mariko looked past the trees And saw torches in the distance

But they were not norer than Yoshi’s iron cauldron

"We have to get down" She gasped "Tell all the men to climb down from the trees at once"

The Wolf loosed another arrow "What?"

"Do it now, Ōkami!"

Across the way they heard a shout Mariko saw Yoshi tu several branches along the way Ōka to the forest floor to help him

At that moment, the first ball of fire was catapulted in their direction

And the sound of an

THE PHOENIX

It is over," Kenshin shouted to the trees

Sht air before Mariko’s brother Blood scented the leaves at her sides Fire sainst the forest floor She strained once ns of Ōka beyond the wall of sriht live through this night"