Azula and Aragami arrived at a shrine in the evening. Aragami placed a mat on the open ground.

“Before we begin, I want to ask a few questions. First one is…what was your life like before you came to this world”.

“It was normal”.

“Okay…next question, who were you in your former world”.

“I was a girl trying to make a living—”

“Little girl, for this to work I need you to be honest about who you are!”

“And what if I say it’s none of your business?”

“…Come with me”.

Azula followed Aragami to a part of the woods, they stopped at a bolder that was split in half. Aragami stared at it with a serious look of worry.

“You took me to see a rock?”

Then ninja took a deep breath and walked around Azula. “Centuries ago, the people of Japan and the island of Okinawa were living peacefully with supernatural beings called Yokai. Then there was a dark force that was created by a human with wicked intentions”.

There was an awkward pause. “Are you done?” she said with a fake yawn. The ninja continued staring at the rock.

“Little girl…if you saw someone in need of help, any kind of help, would you even consider giving them that specific help?”

There was an awkward pause after that with crickets chirping. “Why would you ask me that question?”

This is the confirmation I needed, he thought to himself. “First lesson, is for you to learn defense”.

Before Azula knew it, a knife was being held at her throat. “WHAT THE—”

“Danger appears when you are low on power”, Aragami narrowed his white eyes. “The Kage were aware that you are from another world, so somehow they want you for something, something bad”.

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“How many of them are there?”

“A lot”.

“Is it just them that we need to be worried about?”

“No, there are other supernatural beings that are just as frightening and bizarre”.

“Like what?”

Aragami just gave her a playful look. She had never seen him that light-hearted. Why was he amused now? “That information isn’t for free, how about an exchange? You tell me something about your home world and I will give you some info on this world, deal?”

This man was very persistent in learning about her. It seemed like a lose-lose for her. Aragami just wants to know who she is, but she’ll gain nothing from this deal…she’ll mess with him a bit.

“Besides knowing what supernatural creatures are out here, what else do I gain from this?”

Aragami frowned at her question. She doesn’t trust me. I’ll need to try harder to earn her trust.

“You are smart for someone in their early teens”, He seemed to be smiling. Azula wasn’t sure because his mouth was covered with the red cloth of his ninja getup.

“Why are you so jovial? That’s strange”.

“Remember that question I asked you earlier? About helping? Your answer to that may be worth the wait”.

That’s why he’s in a jolly mood?! He can’t be serious, earlier he was trying to scare me about supernatural creatures after me but now he’s acting like he is in a mood to be playful?

Before she knew it, she was falling on her back. Aragami must’ve swept her feet up, causing her to fall on her back.

“It’s worse than I thought, if I didn’t take you in then any, and I mean ANY yokai could have killed you minutes after you first came into this world, I’m guessing you weren’t this weak in your world?”

Feeling rage, she flipped herself up and tried to punch him. The ninja blocked her punches, making it look like she was a weakling. Aragami then threw her to the ground, placing his foot on her belly.

“Right now your emotions are controlling you. Tell me, are you angry because I called you weak or is it related to whatever you were experiencing from your home world?”

“SHUT UP!” Azula cried as she kicked the ninja’s hip hard. Then she lifted herself and made a run for it. Aragami was about to teleport when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

----------------------------------------

Azula couldn’t believe it, Aragami said he was going to train her but instead, he toyed with her, and for what exactly? She didn’t know. He was a terrible teacher. She needs to find someone else who will teach her combat.

Then she froze when she heard the sound of someone moving through the bushes. The best thing to do would be to go back to Aragami but then that would just prove his point on how much she needed his protection.

She should think rationally though. “Excuse me, young woman?” An elderly lady as she emerged from the bush. “I do not mean to intrude but, what are you doing out so late?”

Azula eyed the old woman. She was very wrinkly and withered. “I could say that to you, since when do old women wander the woods this late?”

“My, aren’t you a smart girl”, she said with a kind smile. She approached the girl with kindness. Azula felt like shivering. Something was off. Then before she knew it, the woman placed a spell on her mouth and Azula fell, The last thing she heard was evil cackling.