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"Tea?... To be honest I don't even know if i could sit up and drink it...." Then he thought of his stomach and dry lips... when had he last eaten.. or even more, had something to drink... "... Tea... yes.. Tea sounds good... can you tell me where I am? who bought me here? Where my stuff is?... or... Who you are maybe?..." Damn... what the hell was this mess he'd gotten himself into? if one can say being pardoned on the executioners block 14 years ago is getting on self into trouble.... Well... here he was.... might as well try to sit up... he throws a pained smile at the old man.. looking him into the eyes... does he know me?

- Ho, who goes there ? - asked a harsh voice, in a somewhat friendly and curious tone.

Rae looked up from the spot on the road she'd been focusing on and smiled at the driver, while pushing back her hood a bit, so that it still covered her head, but revealed her face.
"Just a traveler, good sir. Please, could you tell me where this road leads to and how far it is? I need to buy some supplies for my father but I got lost in the woods trying to find the road."

Sitting up wasn't easy. As soon as he moved, the pain in his body almost pushed him back. The old man put down the cup and pot in an instant, and with the agility of a cat showed a big pillow under his back, which prevented him of laying back down. He gently held his head in one hand, then reached for the cup and pushed it swiftly to his mouth so he could sip.

- Ah, you definitely look better, if you have the strength to ask questions. - he commented.

- You are in the house of Haruto-san, a local healer of the village. You've been brought here on a cart, with a message "keep him alive". As to your posessions... you have pretty much everything on you that you have been brought with. - he kackled a bit - Which is not much, so I assume you mean something else? Oh, and pardon me for not introducing myself... I am Haruto.

He said smiling, letting Kai drink up all the tea. It did him good: the warm liquid flew through his body like soothing balm.

- It is quite dangerous for a nice young girl to travel alone. - commented the driver, who didn't look promising and had at least one foul tooth.
When Rae looked up she saw four other people on the cart: one or two looked maybe even worse, the others definitely looked better. There was a small hay stack on which they were sitting, yet they didn't look like peasants and they didn't seem to posess pitchforks or other tools generally seen by villagers.

- In any case, this road leads to Naporo, a quaint little town if I may say so. Care to join the ride? Your father must be worried by now if you spent time finding the way...

Well... polite at least... that must be... good right?
"Thank you Haruto-san.... So.. nothing you say.... Damn... those two trick cheaters... not even the sword... Ehm... sorry....
So... a village? What region is this? and how long have i been here?... sorry for all the questions, but as you can properly guess, I'm not in a position where I feel like I'm on safe ground!

Ichiro decided to head to the bay and look around - the extra money from an afternoon's work would come in handy later, but he was definitely interested in speaking to the workmen in the area who might be seeking an apprentice. Still feeling as if he was being followed, he frowned to himself and ducked inside the first door he found with an 'Open' board, not even looking at the sign outside to see what the business was.

"Thank you sir, but I have just come from the direction of Naporo." She smiled at him again, put her hands together and gave him a short bow. "I told you I'd gotten turned around. Good luck on your ride."

She gave a smile to each of the men on the back of the wagon as she moved past, taking a quick note of what each was wearing and holding, then turned around and began to walk back the way she'd come. Naporo was where her father had told her to go to find his friend, but the look of the men made her wary to tell them her plans. Something about them nagged at her brain.

As soon as she'd gotten far enough away that they couldn't see her anymore, she moved back into the forest and climbed into the trees. She planned to move through their highway maze of branches along the roadway until she made it to Naporo. Twilight found her camping in the branches of a particular tree, tied to the trunk so she and her pack wouldn't fall out, about a two hours journey from Naporo and, hopefully, answers.

- Well, I wouldn't feel safe either after such a wound... Although, I have to admit, they were some masterful blows you got there, son.
You probably have bleeded a lot and looked dead. Well, you indeed looked dead when you've been brought here. It will likely hurt for weeks, but you'll be good as new, afterwards. Whoever stabbed you was either an amateur and you got lucky, or he damn well knew what he was doing.

After Kai drank the tea, Haruto put the utensils away, and evened the pillow after pulling it out so the boy found himself lying on his back, again, this time somewhat more comfortable.

- We are in Osai region, and in the village of Bau'Kai. You have been here for three days now.

Small bells dangled as Ichiro opened the door and entered. The first thing that he has noticed was the smell. Rather, a whole bunch of different smells, as the place turned out to be a Spice and Tea Shop.

The vendor, a man probably over his 50th birthday was solving a Sudoku puzzle behind the counter.
He looked up to the noise.

- How may I help you, young man?

- As you wish, miss! - laughed the one with the bad tooth, and set the ox cart moving, while giving a short wave to Rae.

- You scared that babe away, you old perv.
- I'm sure she was struck by your ever so charming smile...
- Would you two just shut up?!
- Ah look who's talking, maybe we should've let the silent one do the conversation?
- ...
- Nevermind.

The voices and laughter of the bantering group died away as Rae left them, and there seemed to be no indication that they would turn around to pick her up.

Advancing to the city on the branches of trees proved to be a lot more tiring that she has thought. Fresh and young body here or there, the first signs of starvation started to show as there have been several days passed since she are something fresh, other than her small rations.

The night quickly fell on her, and she went deep in slumber, still tied to that trunk.

...


The morning light brightly shone upon her face in the next morning. She had all her package, and was still on the tree. Her body hurt a bit, as this position wasn't something it was used to; moreover the rope might have been knot a bit too tightly (for fear of falling down, probably), leaving some purple-ish bruises below her clothes.

"Ah, hello, Sir... I was wondering whether you had need of a shop assistant? Or perhaps, if you don't, you know someone who does? I'm new to the town, and so I'm spending the day here looking for work. I can't say as I know too much about spices, but I'm a quick learner and I work hard." Ichiro decided it was best to get straight to the point, although he would love to spend time looking at the different powders and leaves, he didn't want to waste the shopkeeper's time. He closed the door behind him and stood to await the man's answer.

"Damn... so... I guess i can only be angry about the surprise, lies and loss of property, but not the actual stabbing it self.. might just saved my life... damn... " Kai takes some as deep as possible breaths.... "I guess I'm rude two... Thanks for taking care of me, and.. My name is.... You know.... My name WAS... Kai... Glad to meet you Haruto-san... now.. have any suggestions to what i should do now besides laying down?" Kai says with a small smile and glimpse in his eye... this got damn pain, unknown future, betray and blood loss might just be the very best thing to ever happen to him... damn is just the right word.....

"Ow," Rae mumbled to herself as she rubbed the bruises around her waist. "At least I didn't fall though." Slowly, so as to not aggravate her already stiff muscles, she climbed down the tree and walked the forest floor, still following the road, but also looking for signs of fresh berries or nuts. Her mother had taught her which were edible when she was younger, so she knew which she could and could not eat. After a half hour, she came upon a small stream and a bush full of berries she knew were safe to eat. Sending up a silent prayer of thanks, she grabbed a few handfuls of berries, filled her canteen with fresh water, and continued on her journey into town. Luckily, she arrived with a crowd of people going to market, so she could slip into the town without being noticed. Once inside, she moved off to the side and looked around for an inn or market. A vendor or barkeep could probably tell her what she needed to know and whom she needed to find. She also kept an eye out for the men from the cart. It wouldn't do to be spotted in the very town she refused a ride to the day before.

The man put down the pen he was holding at looked at Ichiro.

- Well, business is not going that well to afford yet another assitant, but you may ask Aunt Hinata on the other side of the street. She is selling wares for seamstresses and general sewing tools, I doubt a young man like you would be interested in those either. Although ... hehe ... the customers of that shop might likely be to your liking, and I'm sure it would be mutual. - he smiled.

- To be more earnest, though. I heard that blacksmith is looking for a new apprentice after the last one stole three sets of horseshoes, the pottery could always use some swift help but isn't paying much, there is a tatcher that came here last week and I think since the carpenter Kaede-san has just got a new saw he could use an extra hand, too. Maybe some extra fingers, at least... hehe ... oh please excuse the puns of an old man.

He looked at Ichiro with happily glinting eyes, it must have been a boring day so far. People generally prefer the market first as the fresh wares are sold early - special things like spices can wait a whole lot more as they are not moving anywhere. And often people decide what to put on top of the food after they know what to eat...

- Besides laying down? Well, sleeping I guess... - said the old man cheerfully. - I will wake you up when the food is ready, although I doubt you'd eat much. Also, I've been asked to send a notice when you come to yourself, so I guess you could expect visitors within a few days. Some close friends, I assume? - he asked, and went back to cooking.

---

(We can fast forward some days until the visit, if you wish.)

The girl followed the other entrants with her gaze, from which she could deduce where the market lied if she wished to go there. She also noticed about three bars on the street, one better, one worse, one with a stable and a shelter for carts. She could assume there were a lot more bars there, provided if she knew that Naporo was the local leading town in rice wine production.

"thanks... " Close?... If Kai's guess is right no one have ever been so close to him before... in a literal sense that is "...Hmm... close... time will tell wont it?" Kai forces a smile as he lays down again....

(Yes, i guess Fast forward will be good here )

Ichiro smiled warmly at the old man's kind response, breaking into a grin at his joke about the sawman needing extra fingers. "Thank you, Sir - you've given me lots of information, I am sure that one of those people will let me help them. Even the seamstress, although my fingers might not be nimble enough for sewing." He looked down at his hands, rough and still a little dirty from fieldwork at the village, and gave a little shrug. "But even that, I could learn." He looked down at the man's paper, curious at the square grid with it's arrangement of numbers. "Ah, a sudoku puzzle? It looks like you've nearly finished it. I've never really understood how those work... I see the numbers, but I don't know the rules. Why could this space here not contain a 9, for example?"

The days have passed.

Kai felt himself stronger and stronger day by day. He could sit straight the first day, and he could walk by the third. On the fifth day Haruto brought him a pair of trousers and a shirt, and some other clean clothing.

- Your visitors will arrive shortly. Dress up, while I tend to the tea. - He said.


...


About half an hour later the small bells at the front door rang as people entered the house. Kai could hear them speaking, although he couldn't quite discern the actual words. There was a knocking on the door, then after a discrete waiting of ten seconds, it has been showed aside.

Next to Haruto, there were three men. They were clothed like peasants, although they were well-built, looked clean and strong, and their general appearance demanded respect... They looked more like warriors in casual clothes than peasants.

- Hello, Kai-san. - said one of them, bowing, and then looked the boy straight in the eyes. His had a familiar dark brown tint.

- Ah sudoku, the great mistery of life... - giggled the man as he bowed a little closer to the paper so his short sight could see where the boy was pointing at.
- Well, you see, you must have each number from 1 to 9 in each of the rows and each of the columns. This also means that you could have them only once in that respective line. Of course that would be easy so far, so there is one more restriction: you can only have each number within these bigger boxes, see? - *he pointed at a box with a thicker outline, that contained a 3x3 grid* - and, young man, that is the trick to it, really.

He wrote a number in.

- When people know the rules, all they have to do is apply them and they can get by. It all boils down to simple logic, and what seemed to be an annoying constraint, it suddenly becomes a fruitful possibility. - he mused, loudly.

- Now, as to why that box can't have a nine...

He couldn't finish the sentence as the doorbells twinkled again announcing the arrival of a new customer.

It was a mother with a sixteen-like daughter. She was beautiful and wore an expensive Yukata*. She was looking straight through the boy, although Ichiro could catch a curious initial glimpse, at least he thought so.

- How may I help you today, madam?

---

*I'm googling japanese clothing now (Yukata, for example). The game may will be a big let down, but it's fun looking up stuff I didn't know so far.

Kai looks into the eyes of the man... 1.... 2.... 3 seconds... "Hallo... Shall I call you Sai-san, or... is there a better way to address you 3?" He breaths slowly twice... "I Would like to say I have expected you, but I guess that is mutual... So... Whats to happen now?"
This time there is no anger, no fear or even confusion in Kai's eyes.. they were simply two pools of deep, calm and dark green-brown water.

Ichiro watched with sharp eyes while the man pointed out the rules of the grid, understanding what he said. He was about to reply to the man's quip about possibilities when the new customers arrived - he turned and looked at them briefly, then looked away so as not to be considered rude. That girl's dress was lovely. Perhaps one like that would be more suitable for Sakura? But no, it was too flashy. He would only look like a boy in a dress, and he definitely didn't walk like she did, in her wooden clogs and white socks. Blushing furiously, he turned his attention back to the man's puzzle. He did not pick up the quill and write on it, for that would have been rude, but he worked out where a few numbers should go in his head and memorized them, meaning to ask the shopkeeper later whether he had been right.

The ninja laughs out.
- Sai-san. This is good...

- You can call me Sai-san, if you wish. Or you can call me Kenshin, like those who know my name. As to what happens next, is all up to you. Let's sit down and talk. Haruto-san, would you be so kind as to serve the tea?

They all sit down and fell silent while the hot, steaming tea was served. It was not a proper tea ceremony, but this event didn't supposed to be special anyway. When all the cups were filled, Kenshin began to talk again.

- You asked us to get you out of there. If we leave you there, you would have been killed. If we take you, we would have risked to fail the mission, and there was no guarantee you get out alive. If we only kill you... well, we would have failed the mission as you were not the target.

He takes a sip of the tea.

- So what happened, is that we killed you. In a way. You left quite a big pool of blood, so the guards and the Shogun held you for dead. A bit of coins to the doctors, and you have been proclaimed dead. Then we have paid to transport your body here. Of course, all that money has been obtained by selling your sword, as the armor remained in the castle. Now that you are dead and is no longer looked for, you are technically free, and can enjoy the afterlife however you wish. You have paid the price - both in a literal and in a metaphorical sense -, and we also consider our bill settled.

- Good day to you, Kouki-san. - replied the woman while the daughter remained silent. While her mother spoke she looked around the wares, bored, elegantly holding a small shopping bag that started to be already full of vegetables and whatnot.

- Do you have any fresh wasabi? It was a great success last time so I think I should add it to the next sushi too. Oh and I'd like a packet of Ginseng Tea for my Uncle, if you'd be so kind.

- In a second! - replied the man, and hopped down from the stool and started to look for the items asked. He found the wasabi, packed it out, then sliced a good chunk of it and wrapped now both pieces. Ichiro, who had been standing the nearest got tears in his eyes; fresh wasabi was strong even from that distance. While Kouki was sorting through the tea, the woman chatted:

- Sudoku as usual, Kouki-san? You are solving so much of them I'm honestly surprised someone keeps coming up with one you haven't seen.
- Ehhehhe, that's not a problem my dear madam, with my memory I forget the solution within hours. How much tea would you like?
- About forty grams would do it.

The daughter made a random glance at Ichiro who tried hard to hide his blushing, which made the girl smile. She turned back to check the wares, but looked back at the boy once in a while.

- It will be a silver and five coppers, Madam.
- Here you are.
- Thank you. Have a nice day!
- Have a nice day!

The two women bowed then turned around to leave the shop.

"Thanks Haruto-san" Kai says as he receives his tea. then he takes time to listen to what Kenshin has to say...

"Hmm.... Well.. that does explain a lot... So I take it my suspicion on the information was right?... hmm... " Kai leans back a little, so to be able to look at all at once...
"I Think I'll keep to calling you Sai-san for now if you don't get offended... if nothing else, it will remind me to be on my guards... I guess its no good to ask if the Sword left any money left for me to start over with, so instead I'll ask, do you'r... emm.. Line of work happens to make it so you know someone who could use a good swordsman without a sword?" Kai smiles with a little lough at the last sentence.. even do the humor in the lough seems to be less than shown...

Ichiro moved to open the door for the ladies as they left, holding it while they passed through. He closed it behind them and looked back to the elderly man, wiping his eyes.

"That wasabi was strong! It smelled delicious, but it hurt my nose as well. Anyway, I had better let you get on with your puzzle - I can't take up your whole morning. Thank you again for your advice on places that might hire me. I hope to see you again, when I have some wages to spend on tea."

- Oh, there is some left. Not much, as corruption the highest level also costs high, but it is some money, nevertheless.

The ninja threw a small leather purse at Kai, it tingled with silver, and quite a few copper pieces.

- This probably won't be enough for long, but you seem to able to care for yourself. The blacksmith in this village owns us a favor, so you will get a new sword, just give him this paper.

He handed over a small paper, that had an official-looking order for one good quality sword-set (katana, wakizashi, tanto) and a wax sign of a clan, unknown to Kai.

- You could try your luck as bodyguard or caravan escort, I heard they are popular in the western region with the sudden increase of outlaws in the area. I advise to avoid the shoguns place and any official military places, though.

He put down the cup.

- Anything else you feel we should be talking about?

- Yes, there is nothing more refreshing than a fresh sip of an untouched wasabi-brick... nodded the old man grinning, and picked up the quill.

- Good luck then, young man! Old Kouki and his shop won't be moving anywhere soon, so you know where to find me!

With that he returned to the puzzle, while the doorbells clanged behind Ichiro.

He found himself on the streets again, out of the flow of the market, where already the shops and artisan guilds began. The sun was climbing high, the warm rays reminded him working in the kitchen's garden... Only, this time he couldn't see any green around him, everything was either stone or wood.

Rae pulled the note out of her pack again and skimmed its contents until she got to the part she needed.

... Once you get to Naporo, find the OchaOMushi and ask for Hamiru and a cup of jasmine tea. When your drinks are given to you, place the Hamiru with the handle facing to your left and make sure you are facing away from the door. Tell the person who sits down you are the daughter of Okami. ...

"I hope you're right, Papa," she whispered as she put the note back in her pack and blended into the crowd on her way to the market. She made sure to steer clear of the bar with the shelter for carts. At the vegetable stand, she paid for her pepper and rice roll and also received directions to the OchaOMushi.

She followed the directions to a small tea shop near the town wall and walked inside. There was very little light, save that which came in through the dingy windows and the door. What tables there were, were lined along the walls, with the central space dominated by a few longer tables with benches. Along the back wall, there was a wooden counter, displaying various tea varieties and a cloth covered doorway.
"May I help you, little girl?" queried the older woman from behind the shop's counter.
Rae smiled and walked up to her. "May I have a Hamiru and a jasmine tea please?", she said in a low voice, so her voice wouldn't carry through the shop. The old lady looked startled for a moment, then motioned for Rae to take a seat at the table to her immediate left.
"I will be right back with those, my dear." and she disappeared swiftly through the curtained doorway.

Ichiro looked around the street a second time, partly to get his bearings again and partly to check whether there seemed to be anyone waiting for him. When he was satisfied that he could see no one lurking directly outside, he closed it behind him and set off towards the seamstress' store across the road. Maybe he could just purchase clothes there, if she had no work for him, and try the potters or blacksmith instead.