---Ask your companions
---Train Kenjutsu 3 and Investigation 3
---Learn 'Unity of the World' technique
"Guru-sama, I would be glad to accompany you, but I can't commit to such a thing without asking my companions. While I have no kin in Shiro Enishi, I know Bayushi-sama does and so does Iuchi-sama, and they would be worried."
Sahal considers this and nods. "As I said, I would be grateful."
The Abbot speaks softly.
"For now return to your companions and wait," Sahal translates.
You rise and bow and leave the room back to where Sora and Yukiko are waiting. As you quietly open the door, you see Sora just barely touching Yukiko's cheek, a gentle caress she dare not do while awake? Or something even more intimate...you decide you don't want to know, instead making a cough and pointedly turning around to shut the door.
When you look back, Sora's cloth mask is back on, and her hands rest at her sides.
"So what happened?" she asks.
"It's hard to explain," you answer.
"How so?"
"Because their abbot poked me in the forehead and I saw what that thing was...but they also said that it...knows when people are talking about it."
"Hmm... write it out when you get the chance then. How long are we here?"
"Probably three weeks, they can keep Iuchi-sama alive but it'll take two weeks to get the antidote. Guru Sahal also asked me to go with him to a the city of Pavartindi with him. I said that I couldn't commit us to that. "
Sora frowns looking down at Yukiko.
"She was always more familiar with the south than I was. The Scorpion know much of the Burning Sands but the Ivory Kingdoms…I relied on her to give guidance on that. I will wait until she wakes and then discuss it with her."
"Understood, Bayushi-sama."
"Which brings us to a different problem," Sora said looking up
You don't like that look on her face. "Hai?'
"My….best friend is beyond my help, I have no patrols, paperwork or anything else to distract me. Two weeks will drive me mad with restlessness and worry. You are going to help me with this."
Even behind the mask, you can see a predatory look on her face.
"We are going to train Megumi-san." Sora declares.
The faint cackling of your grandmother is the only thing that stops you from running.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
You see stars as Sora attacks you by surprise.
"Listen, Smell, Touch, Look...don't just pay attention with your head!"
*
Dodge, ----
The feeling of wood slamming into your side as you go flying.
"Faster Megumi-san," Sora barks.
*
Dodge, strike, ----
"What kind of limp wristed strike is that?! Put your shoulders into it!"
You can feel your training weapon fly out of your hands as Sora slams her bokken into your hands after easily dodging your strike.
*
Dodge, strike, defend ---
"Distractions are fatal!"
It's a light poke into your spine with a short piece of wood, but it would have killed you had it been a real blade.
*
Strike, move, dodge, strike again.
The sound of your bokken slapping across Sora's back is the sweetest music you've known in weeks. The monks here aren't happy you've elected to train away the hours. You aren't either really, the numerous pains from the bruises where Sora has hit you are an all too potent reminder of how she'd run you ragged. A merciless teacher in all respects.
But as you neatly sidestep the young monk that was supposed to ambush you, you can't deny the results. Your bokken moves across his neck, lightly giving a kill by the rules of the game.
Your goal had been to walk from one end of the monastery to another without being hit once. Sora had set numerous ambushes to stop that from happening. Yet no matter where you were, you found you were noticing dozens of small details that on their own meant nothing, but somehow let you feel the breath of the others around you. No monk had surprised you, but you had surprised them.
You push off your feet leaping backwards as Sora slams down from above. She looks up and charges, her wooden bokken slamming into yours. The dance of wood moves between you until finally, your blade touches her neck, her blade in your stomach.
While you consider her a sadist to some extent, you admit she taught you well. You never would have seen her coming before these two hellish weeks.
"Hmmph, I must be getting slack…"
"Slack or no, Bayushi-san, she see dance of elements now. You will not surprise her so."
You knew Sahal was there, somehow, a taste of the air or maybe the way the dirt under your feet shifted? It didn't matter.
"Guru Sahal, what brings you here."
"Your companion awake," he answers.
Bayushi could move as fast a Kakita when the mood took them, but you don't think you'll ever replicate the way that Sora moved when she heard that news.
You bend over and pick up the dropped weapon, and bow to Sahal.
"Thank you."
"Go talk to your friend," he says giving a smile.
He hasn't asked further if you were going with him, but you know he wants an answer. You find yourself inclined towards helping him but it's not your place to decide that, not your place at all.
Holding the twin bokken across your shoulder easily, you walk towards the room where Yukiko had been staying.
"You've grown, but that no reason to rest on your accomplishments."
'Yes, Grandmother.'
"Don't you yes grandmother me. If you really want to gain your name back, you must be more than just a duellist"
'Grandmother?'
"You've chosen a path of knives in the dark. Even with your new ability, being able to see a trap coming is meaningless if you can't avoid it."
'Are you saying something is going to happen?'
"Remember, girl, how I died."
Your mind flashes back to your childhood, of your father telling you the story of how your grandmother died, the woman who made your house into something was never going to have a peaceful death...but still the story stayed with you for how forthright it was. No embellishments or anything, just a death of a Samurai.
"And then Misaki-Shiryo, knowing that they could not outrun the Lion, took her blade and ordered everyone else to run. Her daimyo protested, but in the end, Misaki-shiryo sent him away and stood alone against the Lion willingly."
'You're saying I might have to make the same choice...but I thought you wanted me back in a clan?'
"Honour is the highest ideal Sakura. I would not have any of my descendants forsake it, not ever."
'Of course, Grandmother.'
"Remember to clap. Now I am tired."
A dismissal if ever you heard one. You look at the door and wonder why she felt the need to remind you. You know how to announce yourself to a room, even if you don't think they're up to anything. You give a mental shrug and then clap.
The sound of movement, and cloth as you hear from Sora.
"Come in!"
Entering in, you don't see anything untoward...just that Yukiko is slightly flushed, even as she holds her hand in front of her for a moment before putting it down.
You wonder what that's about...
It's probably nothing. You bow again and take in Yukiko fully. She seems pale but her eyes are filled with life and a bit of...something. There's no way she isn't on the mend.
"Iuchi-sama, it's good to see you awake again," you say closing the door.
"Hai, it is good to be awake. Now come sit. Sora-san tells me we have a lot to discuss?"
"Yukiko-san, we have a little time," Sora interjects quietly.
"Better to get it out now. I've been sleeping for weeks...I'm a little bored," Yukiko says smiling slightly at Sora.
You come across the room and kneel down into a seiza across from Sora.
"Well, I suppose the largest thing is the...creature that we saw...and the next is that Guru Sahal has asked us to escort him down to Pavartindi."
Yukiko focuses in on you. "You know what it is?"
"Hai…" you answer.
"Then tell us."
"This is going to be hard to explain. The creature is only one of his kind. There are three in all. Long ago, they served a powerful oni lord, but one of the Ivindi gods, Vishnu, stepped into the world and killed the lord and his follower until only three remained. They are powerful, evil shapeshifters. You can get away from them by crossing over running water or onto holy ground…but they also have a magic that let's you hear their name...er...the Abbot poked me and these images came out," you finish.
Yukiko frowns but turns back to Sora. "Whichever way you decide, I'll be able to get you home, but there's risks to both ways Sora-san. Pavartindi is far from where you said we were. It is easy to find, but the Cult no doubt has people looking for us. While a path through the mountains is probably quicker, it's easy to get lost."
Sora looks between the two of you, the iron control over her facial expressions allowing her to betray nothing.
"In the end, speed is more important than safety. Togashi-san and Kakita-san have already reported us missing and probably dead. My father...will not take it well, not when the Cult has been a sore point between the Ivory and Emerald for years...we take the mountain path straight home."
You bow.
"As you command Bayushi-sama, I will inform Guru Sahal."
There's a...sorrow there...for all of his strangeness, Guru Sahal hadn't been a bad sort.
"Go do that...I'll meet you for the evening meal," Sora says.
Rising up you turn and leave the room. No doubt to let them go back to holding hands...you envied them in a way...no one had wanted to just hold your hand for a very long time, not since, well Katsuie-kun
Shaking off the feeling, you go to have a difficult conversation….
--------------------------------------------------
The cold air burns in your lungs as you look back at the monastery and the giant statue one last time. Beside you, Iuchi Yukiko and Bayushi Sora stand perhaps a little closer than necessary, even as they look over a map one last time. Guru Sahal had understood, but a part of you wonders what would have happened if you committed fully...ah well, such was not your karma in this life. Still, you'll make sure to pray to Koshin-no-kami, Fortune of Roads, and Natsutogumara-no-kami, Fortune of Travels, for his safety. You aren't entirely sure if the Fortunes care for those who aren't Rokugani, but it's not like it would hurt, right?
Right...
With one last look over at the monastery that had been your home for nearly a month, you turn away, adjusting your travelling pack so that it sits just right, and wait for your two companions to lead the way.
Yukiko walks over to you and places one hand on your shoulder before speaking. You can feel the kami moving through your body and you feel...not faster but...lighter somehow?
That done, Yukiko chants twice more, granting herself and Sora the gift of the kami. Sora gives a nod, her mask back in all its face concealing glory. The Bayushi takes point with Yukiko close behind her, and you find yourself taking up the rear.
Whatever Yukiko convinced the kami to do, it's made your strides eat miles upon miles of travel far quickly than you'd thought possible.
Still, as the hours wear on you, you reflect that it's probably going to be a long journey. Maybe you should talk to one of them?
[] Talk to Sora about? (Write in)
[] Talk to Yukiko about? (Write in)
[] Try waking up Grandmother.
[] Just keep to yourself and enjoy the scenery.
