Twenty-first Day of the First Month, Year One Thousand Ten of the Reign of the Ichiya Dynasty

Maiko

Maiko waited patiently in an alley just inside the North Gate leading out of the capital city. She was dressed for travel, with a simple brown kimono wholly unlike the more complex one she had just been getting used to. Apparently, any expectation that this odd assignment would bring a level of normal stability was optimistic at best.

Next to her was a mule and a single cart. The newest addition to her story is that she was a merchant who had been delivering supplies to Kōtei no kyūsoku. She couldn’t help but wonder if Himari would buy the alibi. The reassuring bark from Sakura inside the cart at least comforted her in knowing she would have one friend on this trip. She was fairly certain, after all, that Himari was going to be justifiably wary of her ‘happening’ to show up like this.

The sound of hoofbeats brought her out of her inner monologue quickly. Just on time, she spied Himari riding from the castle towards the gate. She looked the part of a Royal guard in her brilliant violet yukata, held by a pair of riding hakama in a lovely crimson red. It almost made Maiko wish that she had been allowed a different path and could have joined the Chosen herself.

Alas, drab as she currently was, she had to play the part of humble merchant. She spurred the mule on, aiming rather carefully to ensure their meeting happened as the two were reaching the North Gate. As she ‘noticed’ Himari walking through the gate, she waved eagerly at the mounted Chosen.

“Ah, Himari-sama! So funny to see you on the road like this. I didn’t know the Chosen were allowed to leave the Capital.” She was careful. Keep your breathing even. No fluctuations in tone. This was a coincidence, after all.

“Oh, Maiko-san. Sakura-san!” Himari returned a smile, bowing politely from her saddle. “It is good to see you both again so soon. I am sorry I have not been able to visit the gardens in the last few days. Alas, circumstances have me riding north, towards Yamura. Duty calls, you see”

“Oh? I am heading that direction myself, as it happens. Masashi-sama has me picking up an order in Nagata. Perhaps you would not mind a traveling companion for a few days?”

Himari considered. Maiko held back a feeling of concern. But she saw a flash of orange as Sakura hopped from the cart onto the horse, right into Himari’s lap. The Samurai let out a cheerful laugh. “Well. I think the choice was made for me. How can I say no to Sakura-chan, hm?”

Maiko made a mental note to steal a whole chicken for Sakura when they got to Yamura. She never expected her fox companion to become a useful asset, but she thanked the Kami that she was here now. “Wonderful!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands in excitement. “Let us waste no time, then! I would hate to keep the Tenth Chosen from her duties.”

Himari let out a chuckle, absently petting Sakura who had managed to curl up on the back of the horse. Maiko wondered how well trained the creature was to not panic at a predator, even a smaller one, leaping onto its back. “Have you traveled with that horse long?” She wondered.

“Tabi? Yes, in fact he’s been my personal horse since I was old enough to walk. My mother comes from a family of horse tamers, you see, and part of the dowry included a breeding pair, and Tabi was the first born from the pair.”

“Your mother's dowry was horses?” Maiko couldn’t help but giggle. What rich Samurai nonsense was this?

“Well, yes. As it happens, the line of a Kami rarely has need of hard Koku. My father had the benefit of not needing to think so hard of material or political gain and married mother out of love. The horses were a nominal nod to tradition, but only because her parents had insisted.”

“I see.” Maiko thought about that explanation for several long moments. She had never known her parents, after all.

“What of your parents?” Of fucking course. “I admit I don’t know much about how non-Samurai tend to come together. Are there dowries?”

An innocent question that of course Maiko had no Kami damned experience to draw from. Damned Chosen had to be so inquisitive. But she could spin the truth, minimize the lie. “I never knew my parents, I’m sorry to say. I was taken in at a young age by a kind man who taught me my trade.” A breath. That wasn’t wholly a lie at least. In fact, the only thing untrue about it was that no sensible creature would ever call Masashi kind.

“Oh…” it was Himari’s turn to be quiet now, it seems. She looked down at Sakura and started petting her. Did Maiko say something wrong?

“Ah, but of course I do not regret anything!” She says quickly. “It is hard for me to think of it sadly, truth be told. I have had a good life, all told. And now I am traveling on the Imperial Roads with one of the Chosen of the Emperor! What is there to be sad about?”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“I suppose that is fair,” Himari said cheerfully, though Maiko still caught a bit of sadness in the tone. “Though, I am not yet someone that one should feel terribly proud of knowing. I have barely accomplished anything.”

Sakura sat up and let out a bark at Himari that Maiko could swear sounded annoyed. “Sakura-chan seems to disagree with you,” she grinned. “And I must say, I do too. You have joined the ranks of the ten most Honored guardians of the Emperor, entrusted with his most personal protection. What in all of that accolade suggests that you have accomplished so little, hm?”

Himari let out an exaggerated sigh, petting Sakura’s head gently. “Maybe you are right. I suppose I have done some fairly impressive things in the last few days. I just can’t help but feel as if I should be doing more?”

Maiko stares at her deadpan. “Outside of defeating men and women with years more experience than you in combat, including fighting off a sudden ambush when one of those men showed himself a violently sore loser, and thereby becoming one of the Youngest ever to claim the title of Chosen, what more could you possibly be doing?”

Himari shook her head. “Oh, you know. I haven’t Heroically saved the Emperor from a plot to assassinate him and destabilize the Throne yet.” Despite the statement, she was grinning. “So there’s that.”

“Well! And Kami willing, you should never have to. It is a curse for someone to wish you to live in interesting times, you know!”

After that, Maiko kept the conversation to lighter topics for the remaining few hours before the Sun began to set. Himari insisted on pushing for the nearby Forest Trail River, and they were able to make camp soon after.

Sakura hopped off the horse easily, making very instructive sounding noises as the two set up their tents and prepared a fire. Himari had insisted on taking care of collecting and boiling water for rice, so Maiko took the time to explore around a bit. It was for Sakura’s sake more than anything. After a full week away from proper nature, she had to imagine the poor fox missed being able to properly hunt. Despite her kind of expecting Sakura to run off into the woods, though, she stayed close, sniffing around but never letting Maiko get out of her sight.

“Sakura-chan,” she said with a whisper. “It’s ok if you want to go back to the woods. I don’t know that I’m going to be able to go back for a long time, and it must be hard for a wild fox to be stuck in a city. So go on, you can leave.” She made a shooing motion. Sakura just stared at her, not seeming to understand.

Maiko let out another sigh. “Okay, fine, forget it. I suppose you must have bonded to me. At least you seem to really like Himari-sama, hm?” The fox let out another one of those barks that made her wonder if the animal understood her.

The two returned shortly after to the smell of rice and hare both. Maiko gave a quizzical look to Himari, who just grinned. “Happened to see a couple of hares. I thought after a long day’s travel, we should enjoy a little bit of comfort.”

Maiko let out a small huff of surprise. “I wouldn’t have taken you for any sort of a hunter, Himari-sama.”

“Father and I went hunting when I was in training,” she explained calmly. “We used to hunt deer, and occasionally rabbits. I’d have preferred to have a bow for the task, but I was able to catch them unawares."

“Funny, I thought Samurai always faced their opponents with honor,” Maiko teased.

Himari rolled her eyes. Her voice took on a terribly unserious, blustery tone. “Ah, graceful rabbits of the Forest! I must ask that you put your lives against my stomach on this day! May our battle be the stuff of legends!” The joke put both of them into a brief fit of laughter before Himari took a breath and shook her head. “Come now, Maiko-chan. I know there is this thought that Samurai fight all of their opponents head on in Honorable duels, but that is just not a practical way to fight. Certainly, many cling to thoughts of honor as best they can, but how am I to protect the Emperor if I willingly blind myself to the methods that might save his life?”

Maiko nodded her head, smiling in appreciation. “Better to be successful than honorable, hm?”

“Something like that. I am willing to die for my Emperor of course. But living for him is a lot more practical for everyone, especially me.” She grins.

The two ate their meals in peace. This time of evening, the road was relatively empty, and it seemed like they weren’t likely to be terribly bothered. Until a voice from just outside the forest made Maiko jump in surprise.

“Well well, what are two cute girls doing here at this time of night?” A bandit, of course. Maiko leapt to her feet, scanning around. She counted five of them. Four men, one woman. The speaker was the shortest, grinning ear to ear as he twirled a knife easily between his fingers.

To Himari’s credit, she was very calm. “We have no money for you to take,” she spoke calmly. “Leave us in peace.” While she negotiated, Maiko looked around for what she might be able to use as an impromptu weapon, before cursing her poor luck. Sure, she could swing the recently cooled pot, but it would be difficult for her to utilize anything sharp without raising suspicion as to where her skill came from. There was jiujutsu, but…

While she was thinking, the conversation continued. “Oh, please. A merchant and a Samurai traveling the road, and no chance of even a koku? If nothing else, that sword would fetch a mighty fine price.”

That was fine, Maiko thought. The sword for their lives was a perfectly valid trade. She thanked the gods quietly that something terribly reasonable was suggested. Only for her heart to sink into her chest at Himari’s reply.

“You will have to take my katana from my cold, dead hands, I am afraid,” her tone was cool. Maiko cursed inwardly. She was going to have to prepare to run. “Maiko-san,” Himari cut into her thoughts again. “When I charge, take Sakura and run.”

“Wait, didn’t we just have a conversation about not throwing our lives away foolishly?”

“Do not worry,” Himari gave a smile that gave Maiko no comfort. “I have no intention of dying to bandits on the side of the road.”

Before the bandit could give some witty retort, Himari drew her sword and charged forward. Maiko moved to grab Sakura, deciding to bank on trust… only to realize that Sakura was gone.