Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai 7, or its character. I do own the people not in the show however.
It takes Mai two and a half days to get to where she wants to be. Over the rocky cliffs, through the desert, and around the cave of the Shikmoribito is a long journey, but she has to make it. She promised Kenzo that if anything should happen to him she would go see Jiro. She's already a month and a half late. She shouldn't keep him waiting any longer.
The trip gets easier once the Shikmoribito's caves are passed. The grassy plains yield no more mountains but rolling hills and soon, in the distance, a town comes into view. It is the trades town of Keshei. Built many years ago, before the merchant capital of Kogakyo, and comes nowhere near the size of its more industrial neighbor but stands more as a testament to a collaboration between the old and the new ways. It is here that Mai announces, "We've arrived."
She doesn't need to look behind her to know the silent red samurai is on her left. He's been there since they started, a practically silent shadow to the blonde kunoichi.
The moon is still bright enough and high enough to travel by once Mai has collected her things and prepares to leave Kanna behind. She feels something almost akin to sadness as she heads for the bridge alone. These people had been nice to her, genuinely thankful for her service to their village. Some of them she might even miss one day, like Rikichi and…well, Rikichi. But it's for the best. Sho would have this place massacred in an effort to eliminate her and keep his stolen position of power. You'd have to pry it out of his cold dead hands to take it from him. And Mai planned to do just that.
Her thoughts flee from Sho, festering her anger would get her nowhere, and they stumble onto the samurai. She genuinely hopes they are all alive by the end of the weeks' time when they plan to storm the capital. She thinks she may miss her new comrades even. Some more than others….
She knows it's childish, but she is a little miffed she hadn't seen or heard from Kyuzo before she took her leave. She doesn't know why she feels surprised or possibly hurt by this, Kyuzo did not seem like one for sunset long goodbyes or anything of the sort. And to be fair, she wasn't either. But if their roles had been switched she would have at least taken the opportunity to say goodbye. Gods knew if they'd ever see each other again.
Or perhaps she had indeed miscalculated the samurai. Maybe now that he had bedded her, so to speak because there had been no bed, he wanted nothing more to do with her. A bit of cold comfort for after the first war and before they went into another.
Her hand grips the strap of her pack a little tighter at that, but she refuses to give into the feeling creeping to her chest. She had made a decision, same as him. And now she would have to live with that choice, same as him. She would not regret something she had willingly agreed to. Nor would she regret things that were not meant to be for her.
Suddenly the kunoichi halts in the middle of the path as she feels the presence of another. Her violet eyes fix on the samurai in front of her, not even trying to hide. He's leaning against one of the trees that line the path before the forest tappers off near the bridge, looking statuesque in his almost meditative state as he waited. Then, his red eyes crack open. His arms uncross and legs uncross as he stands from his post. And she knows without question that he's been waiting for her.
"Come to wish me safe travels great samurai?" Mai asks with her normal snide inflection on the great. But as usual, Kyuzo is not baited.
"Kambei has gone to the capital." The red samurai responds evenly. Mai wasn't sure what she had expected him to say. But it certainly wasn't that.
"And?" She questions, sculpted brow arched inquisitively.
"That's where you're going." He replies, voice still flat and devoid of emotion as he stated the fact. Mai's eyes widen for a second before she too returns to her normal flat expression.
"Not right now." She confesses. She knows their work is not done and there are people she needs to see at the capital, but right now isn't an option. "Besides, I have some where to go first."
"Where?"
"Keshei."
"Why?"
"I have someone I need to see."
Kyuzo's eyes drops to the ground for a moment. He seems to ponder this information quietly, mull it over in his head, before he lifts his gaze again toward her and says "Ok."
Mai arches her brow at him again. "Ok? Just like that? Who even said I wanted you could come with me?"
"You don't want me?" Kyuzo questions, space disappearing to only fractions apart and seeming serious about that statement and missing the duel intention. Mai's expression balks momentarily before it creases into one of mild irritation at him.
"You did that on purpose." The kunoichi accuses and misses the wolfish smirk on his face when she passes.
"Jiro lives on the western side of the hill scape away from the village." Mai tells Kyuzo over her shoulder, as she continues walking down the hill they've crested to view the town fully. Keshei is surrounded by them.
"Why?" Kyuzo asks suddenly as they venture.
"He doesn't like people." She replies casually.
"No, why are we here?" He clarifies.
"You choose to ask now?" Mai asks with an arched brow. He hadn't asked why or what for once during their trek and he chooses now to ask why they come all this way now that they are here? She's actually curious as to what possessed him to come along, but has found an appropriate time to ask. "Kenzo told me to see him if he died."
"Why?" The samurai asks again.
"I don't know." Mai confesses as they walk. Kenzo had never told her why she had to see him, no matter how much she asked, but if it was important enough for Kenzo to make her promise she would do it.
"Aren't you concerned he'll try to kill you?" Kyuzo questions with a side long glance. It seems a great deal of a risk to see a man who was close enough to the murdered Mal to entrust his dying declarations or momentous to if you are accused of murdering him. Even so she doesn't seem bothered.
"Jiro-sensei probably won't try to kill me. And besides, it's irrelevant, I made a promise." Mai says seriously and Kyzuo looks out of the corner of his eye at her again, silently marveled at Mai's sense of loyalty even if it may get her killed.
"I thought Kenzo was your sensei."
"He was, but you should know that true warriors have more than one teacher." The other blonde tells him with a small smirk and sideways glance. "Kenzo taught me everything. Jiro perfected it."
"He's that good then?" Kyuzo asks with another sideways glance and hint of a smirk. He meant it as a complement. He wouldn't be foolish and sap poetics about her beauty or grace like he's sure Katsushiro or Shichiroji. It was unnecessary and she wouldn't appreciate it. But he would complement her on the thing he held highest in regard, skill. And judging by the hint of a smile on her face, she understands.
"Yes, he is. And don't even think about it samurai. Not only am I sure he would kill you, you're life has already been promised to both Kambei and me. Stop signing off your life to people before your battles are already won." Mai replies sharply, the complement not even dulling the sting in her words. Kyuzo makes a face to himself quietly. 'Figures' "This is it." The blonde female announces when they reach a parcel of land with a modest home in the near distance.
All wood, with a wraparound fenced in porch, rice paper covered windows, well-kept and maintained. It reminds Kyuzo of the home he grew up in as a child, a home of similar structure and placement, near but away from the village to allow ample space for training and distance from other villagers. He hadn't been sure then why but now he could guess that the distance had been just as much for them as his family. People were often leery of those who serve by the blade. They appreciated them, but did not want to associate with them.
The red samurai prepares to cross the moat of grass towards the home when an hand reaches out and grasps his arm.
"Maybe you should stay here. Jiro-sama isn't very good with unannounced visitors. And I'm not sure how he'll react to me being here." Mai warns him, violet eyes looking at him from their creases. Kyuzo looks down at her and just furrows his brows slightly to covey to her 'no, I'm not willingly going to let you get ambushed.' Mai shrugs a little as if to say 'suit yourself' and with the silent conversation completed there is another momentary pause before the two cross the yard through the path leading to the house.
The samurai is on high alert as they walk and take the small steps towards the door. They creek under their weight and Kyuzo assumes it's a measure of defense rather than neglect if this man is as skilled as Mai says. A normal man would have ignored it. A samurai would have heard it a mile away.
Their boots clunk against the wooden boards of the porch as they approach the door. Mai seems to steel herself for the moment, poised with the handle, before letting herself in. Kyuzo follows cautiously.
Glancing around, Mai sees no sign of what she's apparently looking for and furthers on. Kyuzo, seeing no sign of a threat, closes the door behind them and continues to follow. Indeed, it is a nice how as he suspected but seems far too quiet for him. As they head down the hallway, Mai opens doors along the way calmly. One door on the left is slid open to reveal an empty sitting room. Another on the right back out to the porch and a small rock garden. Another is a spare room empty but possibly for guests to sleep. Closing each door behind her, Mai seems to be getting frustrated at the empty rooms, but searches on.
Finally the hallway ends and Mai opens the final door, her shoulder visibly deflating as that room too is empty. Kyuzo assumes that the man she's looking for isn't here. He hasn't sensed the presence of anyone since they arrived at the house. Maybe this Jiro has gone since the last time she had been there.
"That's a neat trick you do, come back from the dead like that." The sudden words startle the blonde warriors and Kyuzo's hand instantly snaps to his top sword hilt at the start. He was certain they were alone. But there, in a small nook hidden from initial view of the room, sits a greyed man who reminds him of how Kambei might look in later years in front of a small fire pit casually stirring a copper pot with his back towards them. "Of course I'm not surprised. When I heard what happened, I knew it was a lie." The man continues casually, not pausing in his stirring or seeming to care that the samurai is poised to strike him.
"How?" Mai asks in amazement and Jiro chuckles lazily.
"Sho and a cell of six defeating you and only two died? Next they'll be trying to tell me unicorns carrying virgins and pisses good sake will come to my door." He tells her and chuckles louder as he picks lint off his kimono shoulder.
Kyuzo, sensing her ease and no threat of danger, slowly releases his stance and his sword back to calm.
"So you never thought it was me." The woman asks with a hint of a smile and Jiro scoffs at the question.
"If I did you wouldn't have made it past the yard." He tells her seriously, the sound of a smirk on his lips. "Who's he?" The aged man tilts his head towards Kyuzo, not looking up from his pot still and continuing to stir.
"Kyuzo, a samurai." Mai answers evenly.
"I know he's a samurai. That's why I didn't ask what he was." Jiro replies, lifting up a ladle full of the pots contents and pouring it back in lazily. "You got a family name Kyuzo the samurai?"
"No." The younger man replies gruffly.
"Are you like the lovely lady Mai and an outcast?" The older man rebuttals.
"No." Kyuzo says again.
"So you have a family name, you just don't want to share it. Fair enough," The aged warrior replies causally with a shrug. Still seeming more interested in the contents of his pot than his guests. "Well, come here; let's have a look at you." He says and stretches out his arm, hand out waiting to be taken.
Kyuzo furrows his brows as he turns to Mai. She doesn't answer as she juts her chin towards the older man, silently telling him to go. He says nothing, but doesn't attempt to argue as he crosses the room.
He takes Jiro's hand and the blonde jerks a little as his wrist is clasped by the other, face stricken with confusion as it feels up and down his arm. "Hmm…a good samurai, not many of those still alive. Tall, lean, light on your feet, you sure you're not one of ours kid?" Finally, he looks up with a grin at Kyuzo and it startles the blonde when he looks back into milky blue eyes. 'He's blind.'
"Your left handed aren't ca. Though I guess it doesn't really matter much at this point. You favor that side, but it's slight really." Jiro continues, looking back off into space when he takes Kyuzo other hand. He chuckles a little, seeming to sense Kyuzo confusion as to how he knew that, "Just because I'm blind, doesn't mean I can't see. I just see the things now that most people can't with their eyes."
"Before Jiro-sama lost his sight he was positioned as fukutaichou to Grand Mal Nagi because of his skill and insight." Mai says as way of explanation of the blind warrior great skill.
"Ah, Grand Mal Nagi. Where if only my last true sight on this Earth to be her divine splendor and not that bomb to the face." Jiro says good-humoredly and returns to him stirring. "But I'm guessing that you didn't come here to talk about my loss of vision. Or did you come all this way and back from the dead to visit with your old sensei?"
"Kenzo told me to come see you if anything should happen to him." The blonde kunoichi tells him.
"He did did he?" The older man says in a common drawl. But Mai is not pleased.
"Don't play coy with me Jiro. I'm in no mood for games." The woman retorts seriously. But Jiro just snickers quietly.
"Well that's a shame because I am and you never are. This is why we could never be friends Mai. You, samurai, you like games." He asks, looking up at Kyuzo again with pale eyes before returning towards his pot. "Guess not."
"What did Kenzo leave you Jiro?" Mai demands.
"He didn't leave me anything."
"Then he told you something."
"He didn't tell me anything."
"That's a lie! You were his closest friend since training school. He told you everything."
"Did he tell you that? I'm touched, truly. I almost feel sorry for calling him a greasy old monkey behind his back all those years." The older man says with flat humor.
"This isn't funny old man!" Mai shouts angrily, ending their back and forth, and Kyuzo is surprised by the outburst. Jiro, however, is not.
"And there's the Mai I know and love!" He says, clapping once and laughing before turning around to face the other Omashu. "Your right, Kenzo did tell me something. But for the life of me I can't remember what it is. I just can't think straight on an empty stomach." He tells her with a broad grin.
"I'm not making you food." Mai replies, back to her normal placidity but coiled ridge with rage.
"Really? Did you plan on staying somewhere else then? I doubt it since there's no inn in town and you don't know anyone else here. Plus that little hiccup that you're supposed to be dead. And isn't it custom for an Omashu seeking refuge to be indebted to their keeper service during their stay? I don't know. It's been so long since I've been an active Omashu. Maybe the rule changed." Jiro says, stroking his chin in dramatic ponder.
Mai seethes through her teeth at him momentarily and there's a second where Kyuzo thinks she's going to through a shiruken at him and kill the man they came all the way here to see. He's not sure what would have surprised him more, if she did or that she stalks off to an adjourning room he assumes is the kitchen.
There's a loud ruckus of cabinets banging and things being moved before Mai appears again.
"There's no food in your house Jiro." The blonde woman tells him and the older man smirks cheekily.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that. Here," A coin purse is produced from the sleeve of Jiro's kimono and tossed with amazing accuracy at the kunoichi. "Head down to the market in town and pick me up some things, except beets. I hate beets. Resupply while you're down there if you like." He tells her with a cat-ate-the-canary grin at his former protégé.
Mai bristles and looks ready to yell or screech at him. But all that comes out is an ominous low, "I hate you so much old man." Before she stalks back past the men heading for the door.
"Awww! Don't be like that! Ok, you can get beets just not a lot of them! Hey! Take this samurai with you! He creeps me out and I don't want him touching my things!"
Thanks to Zaryin, MoonDancer89, darkin520, FoxandDogchan27, and HeavenlyCondemed as well as guests for their reviews last time! I planned on making this longer but had to split it because it was getting on over 15 pages as is (and wasn't finished 0-0). I would really love any and all feedback and appreciate it greatly!
Thanks for reading!