Calamity always brought out the worse in people and that typhoon season was no different.
Bandit hunting took place only when the forces that were stationed on the areas affected could no longer keep up with the criminals. Or when dispatching reinforcements would weaken other areas.
It happened less than one would expect but it suited Yumi just fine.
A hunt every so often to keep her skills sharp and the restlessness away was more than enough.
It was not like simply aiding with the running of the country along with her husband and the One-Eyed Dragon was not challenging or fulfilling but sometimes it was just too much paperwork to cover.
Years of training and fighting created a humming agitation in her when performing those tasks.
It seemed to be a shared sentiment amidst the ones that had fought in the wars.
Within a few month there was to be a big fight -festival to see if plain competition was enough to dissipate that energy. It was all planned already. So she felt the need to hurry along and return home.
Kojuro was busy with the preparations and the fields. He certainly could use the help.
The fact that she missed him was also part of the desire to be done with the current task.
It had been a year since the task had been bestowed upon her. So far, since their wedding, they had only been apart for a handful of months. She had accompanied him on diplomatic missions. A few times he was available to join her group on the hunt.
Yumi sighed, tired, stretching as she walked into the shinobi hidden house.
The horses were Rina's responsibility that day.
Through Saki they had been given approval to use the ones that could hold Yumi's group of twenty strong. They were more comfortable than constantly camping and finding suitable spots to hide. After years on the run she could see the difference easily. So could the people she had brought with her. And they enjoyed it.
"Take this time to rest." She gave orders with every step that took her to the back of the house, ending with the permission to take it easy for a while, glancing around.
Habit and the nature of the safe house made sure most tasks were already tended or being seen to.
It was not the time for bathing and settling in though.
Just a rest, just a breather.
Let the bandits think they had lost track of them for the night.
False sense of security, element of surprise.
It would make a raid easier in a few hours.
"Warn me when whoever is chosen for scouting leaves to switch with Nodoka." Receiving an affirmative from her people she turned and stepped into the small private room that usually was given to her unless someone was seriously injured, closing the screen quietly, letting her shoulders relax.
The nagamaki was placed against a wall as Yumi stretched her arms, taking off the hood she had begun to wear once again.
The wedding had been a too big of an affair.
Too many people had shown up, curious or just actually glad for the Right Eye of the Dragon. In the well-wishing her face and especially her height had not gone unnoticed. When talking to Saki about her concerns, about going hunting undercover, the shinobi had agreed with her words, telling a similar tale. But then she chuckled, telling her if «Ryoma» could go unrecognized so could anyone. Even her one-eyed husband if he took off the eyepatch, trading it for a bandage and stopped wearing blue, black and gold. And proceeded to swear her into silence as Kojuro was not to know they snuck out on occasion.
The hood had worked once out of fear.
Why not make it work once more out of precaution.
Sitting down on the opened futon she noticed the neatly stacked pile of letters left by someone in the communication network by its top, reaching out, starting to catch up with the news, penning quick answers to be taken. Better to do it now than after the fight.
Capturing thugs was sometimes more complicated than simply clearing the field.
The strain of holding back was quite hard on the body.
More focus, more precision, more energy, more forethought.
"Yumi?" Goro called, opening the screen slightly.
Startled she looked up, placing the brush down, staining paper and fabric.
Had time gotten away from her again?
Sometimes work seemed to have that effect.
"Yes… Am I late?" Standing she reached for the hood, fumbling to get ready. "I'll prepare to move out at once…" Putting her mind into the upcoming raid Yumi turned.
"No." Goro chuckled. "Ryoma is here."
"Ryoma?" Yumi murmured, standing still, eyes wide, frozen in surprise.
The screen opened fully, her second in command stepping aside to let her see.
Scruffy-looking and dishevel the ronin she had once thought a threat stood there, smiling meekly, awkward, slightly, under the shadow of his hair and beard, stepping into the room, confident despite the shyness crossing his obscured features, sure of his welcome.
Yumi barely waited for the screen to be closed by an amused Goro to throw her arms around Kojuro, stepping closer with a content whimper, pressing herself against him, eyes closing, holding his face between bare, ink-stained palms.
The kiss was filled with longing, want and warmth, with their time apart, with the bond that had grown through the fight, returned fiercely, his arms keeping her close, as if any room between them was a threat.
It felt like returning home.
"I missed you." Kojuro murmured, caressing her cheek when they allowed some space to breathe. His serious look was back as he stared at her, tracing the lines of her face, holding her still, eyes as clear and focused as they were in battle. Letting go, simply loosening a bit, Kojuro's arms settled around Yumi's waist, pulling her even closer, warmth seeping through his clothes, through her light armour.
"So did I." Leaning into the embrace Yumi closed her eyes, allowing her head to fall on his shoulder, cradled by a palm that followed a gentle, slow path up her back, petting her hair, sneaking the pins away to let the sun-lightened brown tresses fall around her face, brushing his chin and shoulder. Sighing comfortably Yumi tugged until they were sitting, still embracing. "Have you come to join the raid?"
"Yes." His hands had settled heavily, as if he was struggling, keeping from doing more.
Smiling, challenged, Yumi nuzzled his neck, nipping, dragging her lips over the skin, down to the hollow of his throat, brushing slowly, downwards, hands easing away the fabric, sneaking under the cloth.
It had been months now, hadn't it… she caught the low, growled groan and felt his touch grow loose for a second before returning, steeled, still unwilling to relent.
The job came first but they had a moment to spare. And she was sure it was enough.
"Good." Breaking through his resolve was a challenge Yumi had come to enjoy as much as sparring and working together. It was a way to reach the man under all the duty, training and restraint. It was getting easier with time, to be calm, unafraid, open, able to find ways to make him feel just as at ease. She was coming close to competing with his plants when it came to capturing his attention to the point of distraction.
A kimono, even one made of heavy fabric, was easily pushed off his shoulders.
Yumi's trailing caresses did so along with the movement, the sweep of her lips along the line that descended from his throat, down his chest, tongue lapping at sensitive points, gently, a warm, moist moment after a kiss, a trick that dragged a pleasured whisper out of her husband.
The marks Yumi had left on him when they parted were fading. The red scratches on his back… her nails traced the remnants, teasing his memory of that night. What had left on her had faded too.
Turnabouts was fair game. His mouth remembered exactly where he had bit down, his hands made sure to remind her where they had touched.
Convinced, used to the clasps and ties of armour, Kojuro was able to deftly breach through the layers, fastening a kiss to her bared skin. That hot demanding kiss returned to her lips as his hands continued, made short work of the leather metal and fabric layers, tossing it aside, his touch gentling as he caressed her skin, remembering the texture, the warmth. Yumi made little sounds of pleasure as he was allowed to explore.
Biting on her lower lip Yumi stopped him, gripping Kojuro's wrists with both hands.
Understanding the signal he did as asked, stilling, watching, waiting.
After a soft squeeze Yumi released his wrist, fingertips caressing gently, pulling slightly away, watching too.
The lamp light flickered.
The shadows away from it were plenty but it was enough to see…
Feeling a smile tug at her lips Yumi scooted closer, caressing his jaw, feeling the beard prickle her palms, down his necks, finding the already parted edges of the kimono, pulling it further down, away, letting the fabric pool at his waist. Returning the caress, now unimpeded, she disposed of the articles of cloth until Kojuro was bared before her.
Prowling she pounced, pinning him against the futon, straddling Kojuro, hands splayed on the firm surface of his chest, moving slowly down his stomach. Her was already hard, the chains of self-restraint broken.
Pleased Yumi teased her lips long his thigh, stopping just short of his hip, her hand mirroring an opposite path on the other side.
His voice grew louder as Yumi continued the upwards path, tending to his body, feeling the heat beneath her palms, pouring, pooling, gathering within her as well, slowly building.
Teasing was soon forgotten as their lips came together, hungry, hot. Roaming hands shared their need as bodies grew closer, desire mounted and longing refused to remain unsated.
Modesty had a place but that place was not on the road.
As a group they knew so.
And as Kojuro and Yumi were married there really was no need to hide or feel any sort of bashfulness over reuniting.
Even if Kojuro usually felt a bit reticent over touching her in public although that seemed to stem from Masamune-sama's need to comment in a sort of pay back for something, somehow.
Rest was cut short by the arrival of Nodoka. Whoever had traded with her had left without warning so she or he would not disturb. Even if those had not been Yumi's orders she didn't mind the oversight, deliberate as it had been.
There was more than a type of bandits. Some were driven by need. Others were driven by greed.
Their orders were always to capture them to face justice in accordance to their crimes.
The camps of each differed and scouting had shown that there were no women, elderly or children taking refuge with those men. No truly permanent structures. No small patches of vegetables already being grown. No new growing community even if one that was settling on the edges of the law and keeping itself alive though the theft of basics.
The plan had been made and then reviewed and adapted when they joined the group, armed, armoured and determined to run free and fight.
The targets they chased that day clearly only sought riches instead of basic supplies. Their camp was mobile and defended. They carried wooden spikes with them to bury on the ground to stop charging horses. They had patrols and a war-camp-like structure, built around the leader and the loot. The people Nodoka had seen had been lightly armoured and armed. Simple weapons, little metal. But there was also training showing through their movements. Whoever had started the group toughened those thugs with some basics.
The horses and a few riders were used as a distraction. The mounted warriors hunted the scouts at the edge of camp. The rider-less horses ran around in a trained pattern, listening for the calls of their masters. It made the threat and the idea of confinement much more real to those men. Could even intimidate some into giving up.
Yumi used only six people to keep the ring tight and catch anyone attempting to flee as the main group raided the camp.
Chasing runaways was more perilous and more time-consuming than an attack, especially if they had had the forethought of trapping the area.
Every strategy should be used to make sure they wasted no resources.
So far they behaved as expected.
Yumi's hunters surged from all directions, the attack fast and straightforward, aiming for the leader, scattering the others in their wake.
More often than not eliminating the top man ensured a swift victory.
With no warning from the ambling sentinels the camp was caught off-guard, fully convinced their chasers had abandoned pursuit for the night. They hadn't bothered with having their own scouts doubling back to check for dangers. Good.
On foot it was also easier to keep their blades from leaving lasting harm.
Circling, spinning, sweeping the incoming thugs Yumi made her way to her target, scanning the battlefield, deciding where to move and who to support, keeping her voice quiet, knowing everyone would respond to the situation to the best of their ability with little need to rely on her guidance.
Who led was plainly obvious when he was the one whose shouts were swiftly answered.
Yumi frowned, stopping as the lights flared to life, ignited by her group to increase the confusion and visibility.
The leader...
The nagamaki's fast strike downwards took out another adversary, leaving the man unconscious on the ground, the curving sway of the forward motion carrying her away from the obstacle his body had become.
She could not remember his name but she remembered his face. He had been part of the trusted council of that province's Lord. They had met the man less than three months ago. It seemed that all his vocal defence of his Lord had been nothing more than a smoke screen for the illicit actions in the making.
A whistle and a gesture made her people move, the ones that had already dealt with the enemies that had swarmed, closing in around the main threat.
Outnumbered he took a step back, appraising the field, looking for a breach, for a path to flee.
A sneak attack against Masato brought the thug the chance he needed. While Eimi fended off the pair of interlopers to aid her companion he simply ran past her.
It was only one man and the one they absolutely could not allow to go free.
The shrill whistle warned the group to the goings on.
Horses whinnied in the distance as the scouts of the north side moved in to try to cut the man's path.
Yumi dashed, sheathing the nagamaki, giving chase, relying on the speed and stamina the road had built, following.
Kojuro downed his share of bandits and turned, finding the chase, gritting his teeth, doing the same, calling out. She looked over her shoulder, golden eyes gleaming, thrilled, veering off target, letting him look like the main threat the traitor turned bandit had to worry about.
The One-Eyed Dragon had a slew of tricky, underhanded units under his control. That was no news. It was one of the ways the war had been won. But their use in daily life was more whispered than outright acknowledged. To think one of those hunting parties had come for him. He had believed his thieving was under wraps, that few outside knew, that few inside would even dare to speak of it. Yet there they were.
If he could outrun them, evade the horses maybe there was a way to restart. He had enough in his arms to make it far, to keep in luxury for a while. He was strong enough to take more on the way. Travelers were easy and unprepared prey.
There was only one chasing him now.
Shouldn't be too hard to kill if he could reach the road.
The strike of a sheathed blade against his chest sent the man reeling down into the ground. The blunt tip of the sheath dug down on his stomach, further disorienting him before a booted foot and the weapon pinned his arms in place.
The tall figure under the hood whistled coarsely.
A horse approached.
The chaser nodded and crouched, tying him down while dazed.
In-between peace and hunting, aiding the One-eyed Dragon, growing, creating and exploring proved peace could be and often was as challenging as war. Or covert guerrilla.
A future Yumi had never imagined stretched before her.
Truth be told she had barely envisioned survival back then.
"I brought you tea." Kojuro called towards the gardens where she practiced, placing the tray down on the floorboards of the engawa, sitting down, waiting for her.
Yumi smiled slightly, finishing the form, sheathing the nagamaki, walking towards her husband, sitting down next to him, looking around, making sure no one was around before moving closer, shoulder to shoulder.
"Thank you." She murmured, taking the cup, sipping carefully, enjoying the moment, hopeful.
There was peace.
There was a future.
[It took long to finish, longer than usual, between lost files and the start of my doctorate and getting a part-time job, but here it is. Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.]