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Chapter 1 - The Ronin
Rain fell today, and not like it had been earlier. A sprinkle then, a thunderstorm now with the erupting rumbles of lightning striking in the distance. She was afraid, each flash made her groan and shiver as the oxen drawn wagon continued along the bumpy ride. The storm didn't want to stop, heavy rain fall made the trails flood and even the cloth covered wagon did little to keep the moisture out. It was a band of peasants, farmers she rode with south out of the border to the neighboring country of Rice.
Travel arrangements were made for safe passage, the royal families were not particularly fond of her kind moving about in the inner cities. Travel from in the iron country was easy enough, but the closer and closer she gotten to the border... the more questions and concerns people had of a lone oni. The imposing little oni with horns of the devil was now shuddering under a mino as the rain whicked off the straw. Another boom, the sky lit up as she squealed in panic, digging into the outerwear as if it provided some sanctuary while her eye was wide in fear.
Others were in the back of the wagon with her, other farmers and a ronin who traveled incognito. A few times one of the farmers asked if she was alright to which she could only reply with a dumbstruck stare. Words eluded her, the fear clung to her enough to not have the will to reply. She had, however, nodded to affirm she was in some way functional. The farmers talked amongst themselves as she sat shivering in the back with them, hearing the current affairs of poor harvests and yokai being a nuisance. More of the same, while the news of the southern borders were those of tense relations between the nations outside their world.
Eventually the caravan had pulled to a stop at a river, the trail was flooded from the rain all day and the guide told the group it would be clear by morning once the jutsu were prepared. It was noon when she had left and now the skies were clear as dusk slowly approached, her muscles were tensed from clenching knuckles and stressing her body whenever the lightning struck during the storm. She shared camp with the Ronin who wordlessly assisted her unloading her supplies, she asked him why and thanked them but no reply. The farmers avoided both of them equally the same, possibly they were more afraid of him than they were of her.
Kuza traveled with only the essentials and even then it was a haul to be had. Two kegs, mixing containers and medical supplies such as gauze, bandages and herbal remedies. Inconvenient it been, the caravans were a necessary evil in exchange for her services as a medic. Fearful of her many were, a doctor was worth any farmer's salt.
"Why the storm scare you, Oni?" Kuza was taken aback then as she sat at the campfire roasting a hunk of meat, she looked up at the Ronin who was coming up to her. A shake of the head, Kuza looked back at the fire and set her meal on a wooden plate. "May I sit?" He asked, taking his swords off as she looked back up and nodded.
"Thank you." He said as he knelt before the flames and warmed his hands. Kuza looked at him in silence for a long while and diverted her attention to her food. "Not very talkative, are you. I get it, but least be a little civilized Oni." the Ronin said as he opened a bamboo container with rice and seasoned pork.
She frowned then and set her plate down with a bit of a slam. "My name is Kuza, Human. Not Oni. She shouted, annoyed at the man as she turned back to her food and ate as the Ronin laughed.
"Well that certainly worked now hasn't it? Kintaro's my name, Oni. I mean, Kuza." As she glared back at him, a chunk of boar partially in her mouth before she gulped it down. An odd name she thought as she turned away again as she realized she was halfway stuffing her face and felt it grow warm. "{{Insolent Buffoon...}}" she uttered in her native tongue, the rough syllables spoken as she ate in peace while Kintaro only laughed more.
The rest of the caravan were settin up for the night as night began to blanket the sky, darkness draped over the land with only the light of campires and torches lighting the circle. She was performing a medicinal ritual on an older man with the sake as her catalyst, the cold weather was weary on his bones while her medicinal energy eased the pain. He was still fit for their age, but she learned of other issues he was ailed with and didn't mention the extent of it. A disease was eating away at them and she applied an additional chakra to a drink she prepared for him.
Rest TBA
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