Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai 7, only the OC's in this story
This is the story of Shiori Touketsu.
Shiori left the confines of Ayamaro's household in Kogakyo. If she had to listen to any more of Hyogo's incessant ramblings there would be a suspicious and untimely disappearance. So, she had decided to look for the group of samurai that had Ayamaro so worked up. She didn't have any particular plans to do anything if she found them, just wanted to put a face with the stories. And she was curious to find this Shimada Kambei. A man who could leave a mark on Kyuzo was a very interesting man indeed. She walked around the city in no particular direction. Tired of looking and finding nothing she stopped at a small tea shop. Since her sword was in a sheath meant to disguise the fact she actually carried 2, the handle of the 2nd one being the end of the scabbard, it was a bit longer than normal so it was annoying to sit with. She removed it from her belt and leaned it against her seat.
A group of 4 people also came and sat at the tea shop. There was one girl, peasant Shiori guessed by her attire. Shiori noticed a crystal around her wrist, a water priestess. There were 3 men with her. One was another peasant, he had orange hair and blue and red clothing. The second was a young man with green hair, he had a sword at his side. He was a samurai, but obviously inexperienced with battle, the way he walked left him full of openings. The 3rd and final man was also a samurai. He was dressed in white robes with long dark brown hair. He was also a samurai but unlike the young kid he had obviously seen many battles. He left no openings as he walked, always on guard. They all were very different but all wore the same defeated look except for the white clad samurai. His face was calm and resolved. Shiori felt it was safe to assume they were part of the group Ayamaro was so concerned with.
She pulled her hood over her head and pulled out her own crystal. Unlike the water priestesses, which had a slight blue tint, Shiori's was pure crystalline. In the moonlight it reflected all the colors, just like Shiori's eyes. And when sunlight passed through it rays of light reflected, dancing around it playfully. As the Tsukiakari Nisou, Shiori was the center of the elemental priestesses. She could divine truths from all the elements as well as read the lines of the future. She could see someone's past and future all in one. Looking into the crystal Shiori discovered these were in fact the people she had been looking for and the man in white was the man who left the mark on Kyuzo's neck, Shimada Kambei.
When Shiori looked upon truths in her crystal it was as if there was a shift in time. What felt like multiple minutes to Shiori was actually only about 3 seconds. She put her crystal away. She looked over and sweat dropped realizing they were all looking at her, then her sword, and back to her. They were taking in her appearance which consisted of long mid thigh length hair of a deep maroon color. It had been pulled back into a half ponytail with chin length bangs sweeping across the front of her face to the right side. Her eyes had been a reflective silvery color that reflected different colors based on the light. Her attire had consisted of a hooded white kimono like top with a black corset like cloth fitted to her form that went over her chest and midsection. She wore short black shorts and mid thigh high black boots. The back half of the kimono was long coming down to her ankles and flowing freely behind her. Two pieces of long red cloth hung at her sides free from but right at the edges of the white cloth. They came to about mid shin.
"Are, you a samurai," the peasant man asked. "Uh, yea. Why do you ask?"
"I've never seen a female samurai before," the green haired kid said.
"The correct term is Samuraiko and not many people who see us live to recount the tale so maybe it's for the best you have never seen one," she said finding herself oddly annoyed with the brat.
"Clearly you didn't belong to the group that created that legend if I'm still alive after seeing you."
"That's a lot of talk coming from a brat who knows nothing about controlling a sword or keeping up a guard," Shiori said pulling his cheeks.
"I bet I know enough to beat you."
"Really, but tell me, what can you do without a sword?" Shiori was back to her own seat, standing on it now, the kids sword in hand.
"What? When," he stammered.
"You've got a lot to learn kid. What's your name?"
"Katsushiro, Okamoto Katsushiro."
"Katsushiro eh, your sword is a half gram heavy on the blade side, throws it all out of balance." She tossed the sword into the ground at his feet.
The owner of the tea shop came out. "I hope you are all enjoying your tea. Shiori-san, I trust this will go on your tab again."
"Ah yea, Gomen, I don't get paid till the end of the week. "
"It's ok Shiori-san; you always pay your bills on time."
"Put her tea on our bill this time," Kambei said speaking for the first time. "It's the least we can do to make of for Katsushiro's mouth."
"Thank you very much," Shiori said bowing.
"In return, may I ask you to sit with us for a moment. There is something I would like to ask of you."
"Ah, I would but I have to be going at this time. But perhaps I could meet with you tomorrow."
"That will be fine. Where would you like to meet."
"Excellent. Don't worry, I'll find you." She bowed again and just like that she was gone.
