Finding the Balance
"Murai needs to be removed"
"Shut up, Akahito"
"Why should I, Tsamaru? He's worthless."
"Big words from a ronin. A Crab ronin, no less."
"Better than a man who never gempukku'd. I at least I had formal teaching..."
"Well, at least..."
Katateochi rolls his eyes then returns them to scan the group, touching his fingers to his palms as he goes. A hand and four fingers, they are all here. Murai-sama and Mantis-sama will be pleased. His eyes wander to Kon. A fine looking samurai-ko, and she is smiling too. Apparently ending the fight brightened her mood. But why does she stare at Akahito and Tsamaru so? Surely she doesn't like Akahito?
"What happened, did you disgust the Kuni that much?"
"ATTEN..TION!" yells Zhuri.
Here we go again...
"Leave you equipment here, ronin. I have a... field excursion for you." Zhurhi claims his horse a peasant brought to him and mounts up.
Murai mumbles aloud "But Zh'ri-san, what of our w'pons and armor? We need to be.."
"You will not need them where I am taking you. They will be attended to. Now follow me." With that, Zhurhi canters off at a brisk clip. The ronin begin to jog behind.
This is not what I signed up for, muses Kon as the group follows the Mantis. Perhaps I could arrange for Zhurhi to have an accident... perhaps break a leg or even his back if his horse falls on him...
"Murai runs like a lame mule..."
"Shut up, Akahito."
And Akahito would make a wonderful replacement for Murai. He was very easy to convince of where his proper place in this army is. How very Crab-like. Whisper a few words of how everyone sees him as weak and you'll never hear the end of how powerful he is... And an annoyed shugenja is not one to take lightly. Unless you are as foolish as Tsamaru, that is...
The brisk jog leads to the River of Petal Blossoms beside the village of White Chalk. Zhurhi wheels his horse to face the approaching samurai. Silently they approach.
"The ronin-ko will travel south down the length of the river to the bend and wait there." After the women leave; "We will soon be heading to Forest Hill village to deal with Ogre sightings. I will first have the groups bathe and sober up." With that, Zhuri pulls a silver coin from his kimono. "Normally I pay each of you one copper a week for services rendered. That will not happen this week. Damages must be paid for." He throws the coin in the river. "Retreive the coin, and you will be paid." The ronin stare at each other, shuffling their feet. "When I return, the coin will be recovered or I will take further payment from the items in your packs." With that the Mantis pats his horse to ride south and meet the ronin-ko and repeat the message.
Splashing around in the water, Katateochi begins to feel much better, if not colder. It had been more efficient to remove his clothes before he dove in. That Mantis is smart, he's working the saki out of our system..., his thoughts are interrupted as he bumps into another ronin and feels something most un-man-like. By the Fortunes! There is a woman with us!
He turns to look into the eyes of Kon. She winks, and looks down her face to the silver coin she has in her teeth. "Come get it if you dare," she says, and begins to swim to the shore.
Katateochi is at a loss for words. The other men haven't noticed. What in all the hells is she DOING here? She should have been with the other women down the river. Thinking on that, he sees the two other ronin-ko coming up the river. They apparently had to perform the same action, for both of them have sopping wet hair. From the west, sounds of hoofbeats approach.
The two ronin-ko, Kyo and Takini, walk towards the base of the hill as Zhurhi approaches. With him are to other riders carrying the equipment of the group on horses they brought with them. Zhurhi dismounts, then strides to the women. Kyo raises her hand to show the coin. "Very good," Zhuri says, then takes the silver and places a zenni in her hand, much to her apparent shock. "You receive your salary. Now both of you, get dressed for travel. These horses are loaned to us by the Usagi." He points to Kyo. "You may take a horse to ride the entire way."
Zhurhi then turns to see a woman come out of the river, totally naked, with the silver for the men thrown in the water. She smiles, then reaches for her kimono. The men see this, then stare at each other before they begin their swim in.
Maintaining his temper, Zhurhi walks towards the dressing woman. "What is your name, ronin?"
"Kon, my lord."
Zhurhi slaps her audibly, causing Kon to stumble to one side. "I am not your lord, ronin, I am your employer. Why did you not travel down the river with the other women?"
Massaging her cheek, Kon produces the silver mark. "I chose to stay and find this coin Mantis-sama, since the men would be too drunk to find it. I did not want them to lose more money from their packs..." Kon is silenced abruptly as Zhurhi backhands her with surprising speed, breaking her lip. Her kimono opens as she twists to the ground, baring her again.
As he leans down to pick up his silver, he tosses a copper onto her bare stomach. "Do not disobey me again, or I will let the men have their way with you before I kill you. I am sure that some of these ronin would enjoy you after you were dead, as well." He bends his knees down to meet her at eye level. "I do not pay you, feed you, and house you to question my orders. I do all of this and you obey. Any questions?"
Testing her lips, she looks down from Zhurhi's eyes. "No, Mantis-sama."
"That is better. You will walk the entire way to Forest Hill village." He rises to face the dressing men, walking away from Kon, raising his voice. "We leave when all are ready to travel. Murai-san, there are three horses left for the trip. You will organize a rotation schedule so that all may be relieved of walking for some time." He turns and looks at Kon again. To her, he says "Do not forget what I told you."
Tying her kimono tight, Kon glares at any leering looks the ronin give her. She stares at Murai the longest. That one does not even need an excuse. Soon Takini walks over, obviously in an attempt to offer comfort. Kon brushes her away. One day Mantis, you will recieve yours. And I will be there to look into your eyes as you lose everything. Looking down to her palm, she smiles at the Mantis' silver coin. A small victory, but they can add up. Kon then walks back to the group while creating a story of why she will not ride any of the horses.
*****
The trek to Forest Hill village was an arduous one, with many hill and rocky passes to navigate. Entering the town that night the group is tired by the time they arrive, in need of sleep and bathing. By the agreements with Usagi Oda to the distribution of the ronin squads, Zhurhi has no choice but to send the previous group stationed there away to another town or on patrol.
Before they go though, Zhurhi wants to debreif them.
"And you say the tracks cannot be of any other creature in Rokugan?"
"Begging your pardon, Zhurhi-sama," starts Shinoda, "but there is no other creature I know of with human feet three times the size of a human."
"And your trackers are trustworthy? No dipping into saki glasses to 'enhance' their skills?"
"I would have their heads if they thought so, sir."
"I would expect no less of you. I will have you range to the west. Towards Western Watch village." Zhurhi allows himself a smile. "There is much open space to be patrolled and I know you wish to be free of towns for a while. The worst you should encounter should be a hamlet or two."
Shinado replies with an open grin. "I graciously accept this assignment, Mantis-sama." He begins to rise. "By your leave?"
"Of course."
Heading towards the shobi Shinoda hesitates, then turns to face Zhurhi again, then bows. "May this humble ronin ask a question, Zhurhi-sama?"
Raising his head from another report he was reading, Zhurhi replies, "Yes, he may ask humbly."
"Why did the honored Mantis-sama bring a group known for its belligerence to handle this mission? Surely there are other squads with more practical experience as well as less panicky members."
Zhurhi's face darkens. "Are you questioning my decisions, ronin?"
"No sir, I am simply curious."
"Your curiosity may lead to trouble, Shinoda. But I will simply say this: I want an organized batallion of samurai, not a mish-mash of men who don't trust each other or themselves. You may leave."