The Exiles

Chapter 4

"No, Lord Hoji, one residence for Rob and I is sufficient." Aka continued to find her fiend's shyness an easy way to jab at her friend. The conversation came about after the Headman, eager to keep two skilled warriors in the area, contacted a very wealthy acquaintance. Akto Hoji was the premiere merchant in the area around the Koga forest, where the village of Inge was located. As Aka and Rob walked towards their new dwelling the demon replayed the meeting and interview:

Earlier that day

The headman brought Rob and Aka to meet Lord Hoji. The merchant was a portly man with a balding head. "So headman these two defeated the bandits that were playing the area?" The headman bowed deeply and replied, "Yes, these two are the ones I wrote you about. Unfortunately, no-one in Inge has a need for their particular skills now, but as much as you travel I thought-"

"You thought I'd hire these two and keep them in the area," the fat man finished rudely. The headman didn't answer. "Well, lets see what you have brought me." The merchant, who wasn't technically a lord none the less acted as one mostly because he controlled the local economy. Lord Hoji approached the two and said, "Dismount." Rob dismounted from Wind, and helped Aka down. The two companions then turned to face the merchant lord. Hoji walked around Aka first. He was only slightly taller than she was, and the way he gazed at her made her skin crawl. "This one doesn't look like a warrior," the merchant said. "She looks better suited for a geisha house….and better equipped for a different type of battle." Aka clenched her fists but said, "And you fat man would not be the first to make that fatal mistake." The effect was instantaneous; Rob chucked, the headman had a panicked look on his face, and Hoji showed no emotion at all. Without further commentary he walked around Rob. "By the looks of you, you're a Westerner. The fat merchant drained his head at the bone man as he walked around him again. "I've met a few of your kind in China. Where are you from?" Rob looked down at the merchant and replied, "England."

Hoji stood in front of them and said finally, "I can use the Westerner with my company of samurai. The female, I can use her as a maid….or other things. I believe the man is a warrior. Her?" He looked at the furious demon, …not so much."

"She is skilled in the arts of infiltration." The knight clinched his fist and said, "And she is with me. Insult her again and you will be lucky to only lose two warriors who succeeded where your samurai failed." The merchant laughed as if it was all a joke to him. "Well then, I will hire you both and see how it goes…"

The return journey to Inge was uneventful. The headman babbled on and on about how happy he was that they'd been hired on and would be staying at Inge through the winter. That bit of negotiation he had handled by offering Lord Hoji to provide room and board through the fall and winter for the duo. Hoji, always eager to save money, agreed. The hut the headman provided was on the outskirts of the village by a small mountain stream that the headman informed flowed year long. He left the two soon after to allow them to unpack.

***current time***

The home itself was small but functional. There was a large living area with a small fireplace complete with tripod for cooking. A second room was attached equipped with a large futon. Outside was a stable, a trough and feed bin. After a moment Rob said, "Aka, I'm not sure this is a good idea. These people all think you are human, and when they discover the truth I fear they will become violent." As he spoke he became more and more angry. Aka walked over to him and took the big man's hand in her own. "Then I will have to work on my disguise then." She turned to the door and said, "Come outside with me." Without waiting for a reply she pushed through the door to where Wind has hobbled, pulling Rob with her. The horse nickered as she approached, and continued to eat the sweet grass as the two passed him. Aka guided her friend to the small stream and sat, pulling Rob down beside her. They sat in silence as the gurgling water flowed by. After some time had passed Aka rested her head on Rob's shoulder. She could feel the tension in his body, and said, "Rob I know what is troubling you. It's the way the men speak to me. This form is attractive to humans, and I do not bear the armor or weapons of a warrior. Because of this they reason I am your plaything. Your primary concern as not they will find out my true nature: You are afraid that you will push one of the fools through a tree for insulting me."

Rob for his part didn't answer. The only indication he heard her at all was when he squeezed her hand a bit harder after she finished speaking. "Rob…thank you." Aka looked at Rob and saw that his eyes were closed. The frown he wore on his handsome face looked so out of place. With her free hand Aka reached over to him and turned her face to face her. He opened his eyes and gasped when he saw the tears running down the beautiful demon's face. "Thank you," she said again. "Thank you for my life. Thank you for letting me come with you. I was so alone after the destruction of my clan. Thank you for being my…my…," and sobbing the threw herself at the knight wrapping her arms around his neck, her sobs wracking her tiny body.

"I don't care where we go or do as long as I am with you. These last few months since I have been with you have been the best of my life," Rob said quietly. "All of my life till now I've had no choice over anything. In the monastery I was a student and told what to study. As a knight of the Order I was nothing more than a weapon, a sword pointed at the throats of my king's foes…until he betrayed us. All this time the only friend I've had has been my shadow. Until you." Rob wrapped his arms around the weeping demon and crushed her to him as his own tears began to flow down his face.

"I don't want to lose you."

"You can't lose me"

"I…love you, Aka"

The demon lifted her face to the weeping man, and with a smile kissed him. He didn't pull away. He stood and effortlessly picked the woman up in his arms and carried her inside their new home.