Feudal Honor by Chibi Washuu Chapter 4 ______________________________________________________________________________ A Ronin Warriors/Yoroiden Samurai Troopers Story Ok, this chapter is a little short, but that’s ok. Also, the question has come up whether or not this is going to be a yaoi fic. This may loose some of my readers, and that's ok, but the answer is NO! I can't write that. I applaud everyone who can, but it's not my style. Ok? Now, you know the disclaimers, so let me shut up so you can read. ***** Ryo lie awake in his sash-hammock near the top of a tall tree, looking at the stars and thinking. What was that burning he had felt? Why had he felt pain only in his forehead? And the word: Jin. Why had he heard it? Had Koma heard it as well? Questions buzzed in his head like so many bees, refusing to let him rest. A twig snapped somewhere below him, bringing his attention back to the present. He climbed down to the lowest branch of the tree and waited. He didn’t have to wait long. Breathing heavily, a boy of about his age burst through the underbrush. His ragged kimono hung loosely on his thin body, and a bow and quiver of arrows were slung over one bony shoulder. His midnight blue eyes were frightened, searching the woods in near panic. The most interesting thing about him however, was his bright blue hair. A strip of cloth was tied around his forehead, but did little to keep the hair from his eyes. "Who’s after you?" Ryo asked calmly, almost conversationally. The boy started and quickly readied his bow. "Who’s there?" he challenged. "Tsk, tsk. I asked you first." Wary eyes glanced from side to side. "I am Hashiba Touma. My clan is being wiped out and I am on the run." "You don’t want to die." "Not yet." Ryo nodded at this. "Why not?" "Because there are so many adventures I have yet to experience." Touma actually smiled, but never dropped his guard. Ryo had to smile at this other boy’s zest for life. "Now for your question. I can only answer that if you’ll join me in my travels." "Are you traveling alone?" "I can’t answer that." Touma seemed to consider this for a moment. "Well," he said after a while, "anything’s better than running scared. I accept your offer." Ryo smirked and jumped to the ground in front of the other boy, who gasped and backed away. "You’re jumpy, Hashiba Touma-san. How long have you been running?" "Nearly two years now." "No wonder." Ryo held out his hand. "I’m Sanada Ryo." "Sanada? Of the ninja clan Sanada?" "You’ve heard of us." "A priest at a temple I took shelter in spoke of a great ninja by the name of Sanada." "Speaking of my father, probably. Well, come on. Let’s get you settled for the night." Ryo climbed back up the tree with ease, leaving a bewildered Touma standing on the ground. Ryo looked back at him and grinned. "Don’t tell me you can’t climb a tree!" "I haven’t in a while. Not since I was very young." Ryo laughed softly and untied his sash from several of the branches, but left one end secured to the trunk. "Surely you can scale it, then," he said, tossing the loose end down to Touma. "Tomorrow I won’t be so kind." "You’ve been kind enough already to a wandering ronin," Touma laughed, settling against the tree trunk. Ryo also laughed before he turned serious. "You realize of course that from now on you are sworn to secrecy. Capture means death unless you can escape." Touma chuckled, never opening his eyes. "I’ve been up against those circumstances for two years." "Then you’ll fit right in," Ryo said. But Touma had already fallen asleep. * * * "Chi." Touma woke with a start and looked around. He had miraculously stayed in the tree, so it couldn’t have been the fall that awoke him. "Chi." There it was again. Touma gazed around warily, but saw nothing. The wind whipped around him, stinging his cheeks and making his eyes tear. But especially his forehead hurt; it felt like the wind was cutting through his skull. Suddenly, the wind died down and the pain went with it. "What was that?" "What was what?" Touma looked up to see Ryo gazing down at him from his hammock bed. Had he heard it as well? Obviously not. "Nothing. Never mind."
Hmm... are we beginning to see a trend? Please R&R!
|
Home | Galleries | Mangas | Fanfictions | Seiji's Shrine | Video-Movies |