The road south sloped downwards slightly, carrying Nishi closer to Kubota with each step. It was late morning, and Nishi began to examine her surroundings with a practiced eye, looking for somewhere that she could stop and rest for lunch. Although she was used to being on the move for extended periods, the road to Osaka was a long one and frequent stops would allow her to cover more ground with getting exhausted.
The sound of someone whistling tunelessly caught her attention, followed by the faint echoing thump of footsteps. Ever mindful of being taken by surprise, especially since her recent nocturnal adventures, Nishi quickly strode to the side of the road and vanished into the undergrowth.
Quietly pushing a branch aside, Nishi glanced back the way she'd came, watching carefully for who ever was coming up behind her. If it was a patrol, she'd retreat further into the forest; if merchants or pilgrims she'd simply ignore them and let them pass.
Nishi was surprised when she caught sight of the source of the whistling, for down the road came a familiar figure. He was a huge young man, lantern-jawed and broad-shouldered, his hair untidy.
Yoshi, Nishi thought to herself, what is _he_ doing here?
Last she knew, the huge youth had decided to remain in Ariki, rather than journey south with her. Shaking her head slightly at this turn of events, she glanced back at the approaching youth.
He wore simple clothing, with a rough cloth bag hung on a crudely tied obi. Yoshi looked exactly like what he was -- a farmer's son, walking down the road and whistling cheerfully. He was carrying a crude staff of some sort, oddly misshapen, as tall as he was.
Hmmm, could he be following me?
Nishi realized she didn't have much time to act. Tugging her long kimono into place and pulling her haori down around her shoulders, Nishi stepped out of the obscuring bushes, settling herself at the base of a tree. Positioning herself carefully against the trunk, she then pulled her hat down, hiding her features. Hopefully, what with her plain clothing and simple pack, Yoshi would think her to be a samurai or a ronin, and not a bandit.
Yoshi stopped whistling as he came farther up and saw someone sitting under a tall pine. Legs crossed and arms folded, the stranger was dressed in a long dark kimono and a plain light brown haori. A broad white obi was fasten around the waist, and through this was thrust a katana. The figure's face was hidden by a wide straw hat as well as the thick mass of hair that cascaded over one shoulder. Next to one knee rested a small pack. "And where are you off to with such a carefree manner?" Nishi asked abruptly in a raspy voice as Yoshi came down the road in front of her, "Haven't you heard that there are bandits in this mountains?"
Yoshi bowed respectfully. "Good morning! I am going south to Kubota. Bandits would not be interested in me; I am just a farmer's son; I have no money or fine goods." Nishi stood slowly, her hands hidden in the folds of her haori. "The bandits," she continued, as if she hadn't heard Yoshi's response, "are remnants of Lord Arai's armies, who have taken to the hills and now survive through pillage."
Yoshi's face grew serious, but he did not interrupt. "I simply point this out as two traveling together should be safer than one alone. Unless..." Nishi gave the tall man a sharp look, her face obscured by her hair and the hat, "you are in too great a rush to care."
"I have no fear for my safety," Yoshi said matter-of-factly. "In a hurry or not."
"Hah," Nishi chuckled in a low voice, "I wouldn't speak so boldly if I were you; you'd be surprised at what one might find in these mountains."
Stepping away from the tree, Nishi walked a short distance past Yoshi and pointed to the south, "I am heading for the Kubota Road... you?"
"Me too."
"Well then, if we are to be traveling together, then perhaps we should introduce ourselves." Nishi gave the youth a short formal bow, careful to keep her face obscured, "I am Sakata, a ronin... and you are?"
"My name is Yoshi, Sakata-san."
"I am pleased to meet you Yoshi-san, shall we go?"
Yoshi nodded, although he seemed a little wary of the other. Adjusting her pack, Nishi started walking. "So Yoshi-san, why are you heading south?" She asked, without bothering to look and see if he was following, "You wish to find your fortune in Edo, or do you intend to become an ashigaru of the Emperor?"
"Uh, no reason," Yoshi said.
"No reason?" Nishi asked in a surprised tone, "Then why leave Ariki? Surely your presence will be missed there, especially now, at harvest."
"I am a wrestler now, not a farmer. My family was glad enough to be rid of me. I eat a lot."
Nishi chuckled again, "I believe you."
"I am stronger than any man in Ariki. But Ariki is not very large."
Nishi looked Yoshi's large frame up and down before responding, "Yoshi-san, I fear you are too modest. You look as if your strength could rival Benki himself.
Walking down the road, Nishi remained quiet, lost in thought. Finally, she glanced over at her companion, "So Yoshi, I have heard that many bad things have been happening in Ariki since the Lord Arai fell to the treachery of his brother in battle. Is this true?"
Yoshi frowned. "What have you heard?"
Nishi shrugged and decided to get straight to the point, "I met a young woman on the road who was also heading south. She said that Ariki had become a town of ghosts. According to her, the spirit of her husband, slain in the battle came to her and told her to flee the town. She also told me that several people had disappeared mysteriously, and that foreign ships had been sighted off shore."
Yoshi's frown deepened. "What did this woman look like?"
So ka... thought Nishi, but she kept her face carefully neutral. "She was about my height, but thin, with long hair and a bright kimono all covered with maple leaves. Did you know her?"
"Uhh, ... no. Well, yes. I think. How far ahead was she?"
Nishi thought for a moment, "Of you? A few days I guess... Are you looking for her?"
"Yes. I have to catch up with her. She is likely to do something foolish if I do not catch up with her." He lengthened his stride.
Under the concealing curve of her hat, Nishi's eyes narrowed.
Foolish?
"Oh Yoshi-san, what do you mean by foolish? Does she intend to throw herself in the sea to join her husband?"
"Yes, something like that," Yoshi said, clearly distracted. "Excuse me, I have to go. I had hoped to catch up to her long before now."
"Why, Yoshi?" Nishi stopped and gave her companion a sidelong glance. "What is so important about this woman?"
Yoshi was already several paces ahead, and he did not even turn around. "Excuse me, Sakata-san. Fare well." He started to trot, long legs gaining ground.
Nishi stood there for a moment, wondering if she should really let him run off. It was a difficult decision, since she felt that there would be times where the youth's presence would be more a hindrance than a help. On the other hand, there was no doubting his strength, and he had shown himself to be a capable fighter. Besides, after her encounter with the yurei, having someone, anyone as a traveling companion didn't seem all that bad of an idea.
Pulling off her broad straw hat and letting her hair fall free, Nishi called out to Yoshi's retreating back. "You won't find Nishi if you go that way," she said, all trace of the earlier raspiness gone from her voice.
Yoshi went three more paces before he stopped. He didn't turn around for a moment. When he did turn, his face was frowning and uncertain. He looked at her without speaking.
Standing there in the road, the wind causing her hair to flutter about, Nishi stared solemnly at Yoshi. "Well," she asked finally, "what made you change your mind?"
His brows drew together as he looked at her. His huge hands worked on his staff as if they could break it just with his grip. Oddly, Nishi suddenly recognized what made his staff look odd. It was a boat oar that someone had chopped crudely to shape.
"You are not very nice," Yoshi said, ignoring her question.
Nishi remained silent, watching Yoshi carefully. "And according to you," she said at last, "foolish as well. Yet here you are, trying to chase me down. What happened Yoshi? Did you try and kill Kura and fail?"
"No, I decided it would be better to betray you to Kura, so I brought a squad of his men with me after you. Don't be stupid, Nishi. I came after you, that was what you wanted. You tricked me with your voice, even after you knew it was me and that I was alone. Did it make you feel smarter, doing that?
"I trust no one, Yoshi... not even you." Nishi shrugged, "I wanted to be certain that you were alone before I told you who I was."
Yoshi looked at her for a moment. "I am not stupid, Nishi. You knew it was me alone for five minutes, yet you only revealed yourself when I started to leave."
Nishi remained silent, staring at the other man with an unblinking gaze.
Yoshi shouldered his boat-oar staff and turned south. "It doesn't matter. Let's go."
Nishi stood where she was a few moments, allowing the distance between the two to grow. Finally, she slipped her hat back onto her head and started to follow the young farmboy.
"Yoshi-san," she said finally, "why did you leave Ariki? Did something happen in town?"
There was a long silence. Finally, grudgingly, Yoshi spoke.
"Kura's Chinese goons were watching me. They knew something; they were using me as bait. So I left."
"Bait?" Nishi sounded suprised, "Who do you think they wanted to catch, me?"
Yoshi shrugged. "If they knew anything about you, I expect they would have grabbed you up before."
"Hmm..." Nishi glanced down at the road, "Do you think you were followed?"
Yoshi shook his head, dismissing the notion. "No. They couldn't have come the way I did. But that doesn't mean they won't try to head us off now that they know I'm gone."
Nishi glanced at Yoshi with a quizzical expression, but said nothing. Finally, after thinking quietly for a few moments, she spoke, "If we keep a steady pace, and you rest when I tell you, and rise when I say, we will be able to walk all day and long into the night and cover far more miles then Kura's soldiers will expect."
Yoshi gave her a look. "Whenever you need a rest, you tell me, and I'll wait."
"Yatsu..." she muttered. "And how many marches have you been on, Yoshi-san?" Glancing at the horizon, Nishi continued, "I am not asking you to trust me, just to do as I do until we are free of Ariki. Perhaps then, there will be time enough for us to talk."
Yoshi looked back at her. "You are no Lord or samurai, Nishi-san. Why should I take orders from someone who doesn't trust me? If you were my friend, that might be different."
"Heh..." Nishi chuckled softly, "I try not to have friends Yoshi, for friendship will only interfere with my loyalty to Ogame-sama."
Yoshi laughed out loud. "I ... see," he chuckled. "Well I still don't have to take any orders from you."
"Do what ever you want, Yoshi," Nishi shook her head slowly. "C'mon, we need to get out of the mountains as soon as possible."
Yoshi waited for her to catch up, smiling at the birds and the sunshine.