Possible triggering content - Physical Abuse. (You are warmed. Only 16+)

“It’s not passed ‘away.’ It’s passed ‘out.’ Sorry Mika. He is still learning. She had fainted earlier today. She's in the shed over there,” the lady lightly spanked the small boy and pointed towards the shed.

The boy covered his back, giggling, “Ouch,” and bowing down to Mika.

“Oh god—” Her face grew with white. She bolted towards the shed—sweat dripped down her neck. The door was open and—Akemi was lying on a cot with two other women beside it. She ran up to her and placed her palm on her mother’s neck. It was burning hot. Her face was red—she was half-awakened, moaning in pain.

“She has a fever,” fretted the lady near the cot. She knelt next to her mom and held her warm hands and rubbed vigorously in hopes to make the pain bearable.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, mom, I should have stayed at home.” Akemi opened her eyes lightly—smiling faintly. She cupped Mika’s cheeks, wiping her tears.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine in no time. After all, my flower bud is here. Did you get the rations?”

“Ma… Uhm—The lieutenant changed,” she gulped. “—But don’t worry, mom, we can get there. I'll get you there, trust me.”

“As always,” she smiled, rubbing Mika’s cheeks softly with her thumb. “So responsive. You’re grown. So much. He will be proud,” she whispered to herself.

“Kai will help us. Let me get Kai's horse,” said Mika, standing up—but her mom grabbed her hand and shook her head.

“He gave me a lift here in the morning. We shouldn’t disturb him anymore. I can walk,” she quivered, trying to stand off from the cot to slip to her knees. The surrounding ladies lunged in to catch her.

“You don’t bulge in, do you? Mika’s right, you in no shape to walk. Take Kai’s horse,” said the lady, and the other lady nodded. “Kai won’t mind it. I’ll talk about it with him.”

Akemi nodded, “Thanks,” she wrapped her warm arms around her little flower bud’s shoulder for support and limped herself out of the shed.

A man noticed her on her way out. “Ay, Akemi, feeling fine?”

“No, Mamito. I’m leaving. Do you know where Kai’s horse is? I’m leaving-”

“Uhm, Kai rode his cart to the harbour to buy some goods.”

"It’s alright mom, I’ll take you to the village in time, don’t worry ma," said Mika, nodding at Mamito. With her sick mother in her arms and determination in her heart, she limped towards the village.

After twenty-six minutes in the blistering sun, they were not even halfway there. This is a bad idea. I should have waited for Kai! I can’t see you like this, ma… She cried inside. Luckily, two men on horseback were coming their way. She wanted to jump in joy. As the men got closer, she waved her hands for help and the men stopped in front of Mika.

“What's the problem, young lady?” the man on the white horse questioned.

“My mom’s sick. The army is handing out rations. We've got to reach the village before it runs out. Please help us!” Hearing this, one of the two men dismounted his horse—but the man on the white horse outstretched his hand, stopping him with a menacing look on his face.

“Where are you from?” He asked the man.

“don’t—” Akemi murmured under her breath.

“I’m from the Hirata clan! it’s near. All we need is a lift there. Please sir,” bowed Mika.

“I’m afraid that we cannot help you. Vituo, climb back on your horse, you’re too soft,” told the man, glaring at Vituo as he mounted his horse with a sigh.

“But sir—please! We live off of these rations. I don’t want my mom to starve. We just need a lift, not a horse! The village is 10 minutes away on horseback. I swear I’ll give you something in return. Please, sir, I beg you,” she cupped her hands together, slowly letting Akemi down behind her and knelt before them.

The sick lady couldn’t focus with her blurred vision, yet she outstretched her arm to get a hold of her kid. “Mika, no—”

“I’m helpless. We should go now,” declared the man. What? No! She rushed towards him and fell straight on his feet, begging for help. The man’s eyes flamed ablaze. He swiftly kicked her away, producing a thud that caught her mom’s attention. The man jumped off his horse and walked towards her, who was on her back. With all his might, he stomped her in the stomach, her weakest spot. She screamed in pain, her eyes rolled back, yet she didn’t fight back.

“HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME? YOU FILTHY PEASANT,” he shouted.

Vituo dismounted his horse and rushed towards them. “Yui, Stop! Don’t kick her,” he grunted, wrapping his hands around his companion’s back and pulled him away from her.

“REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE! WHERE YOU ARE FROM!” Yui barked, breaking off his friend’s grip and lunging to grab Mika by her shirt, lifting her as her head flopped. He punched her in the stomach yet again and she flopped down, holding her tummy and rolling on the floor. Vituo nudged him away with a soft punch, yanking him away.

“Vituo, don’t try to stop me. She’s from a war clan. She’s our dog! How could she touch our holy bodies? We are the members of the aristocracy. We gotta teach her where she belongs,” he said. Hell was empty, because all the devils were here.

“Beat me all you want,” she sighed, coughing up blood. “Just take my mom to my village; I'll somehow get to the village,” she agonized.

Akemi was lying on the floor, trying to crawl towards her kid. With her fragile body and unable to feel her eyes, she stretched her arm blindly. She kept murmuring. “Come to me, Mika.” While her body gave up on her, she lay motionless with a faint pulse yet she wept.

“What? How dare you ask me again?” Yui raised his leg to kick her again, but his friend quickly held him off.

“YUI STOP! I swear to Hachiman. If you touch her again. I’ll tell this to Father,” said Vituo. He lowered his leg and stared at him with a frown. “Fine, I’ll let this brat go.”

“Never ever think of touching us,” bellowed Yui, mounting the horse and breezed past them. Mika grunted and glanced over her shoulder at the now fainted Akemi. She wiped her bleeding nose and dragged herself to her mother. Waggling her, the lady reeled her eyes open halfway, mumbling otherworldly.

How long has it been? We have to get going. Mika thought, lifting her mom. She limped back to the village with her mother in her arms, not just for rations, but for medical care as well. I hate this world….