I own nothing!
Tomoe Ame took more convincing. In the end, she had to be carried in such a way, by Kurokaze himself, so that she could hold a blade to his heart. Noriyuki also had to be carried by another komori ninja directly in front of her and Kurokaze, so she could keep an eye on them. At the very least, if something happened to Noriyuki before her, or Kurokaze dropped her, a deep gash should be left in the kashira's chest.
Usagi was more worried Kurokaze would be tired after carrying Noriyuki up the tree and drop Tomoe somewhere along the way whether he meant to or not. Another problem with the traveling arrangement was Gennesuke's weight. It took four komori to carry him anywhere. He was only slightly more pleased about the arrangement than Tomoe.
None of the Samurai were pleased about it. However, a few had been sent to check on the horses for they had to be seen to no matter what decision was ultimately made. Only, they didn't. The mounts were gone. A trail of their hoofprints leaving the forest edge and a single, clear, obvious footprint of a necko left in an otherwise spotless area of snow was all that was left. Tomoe's feelings were not made any better by that.
The necko were still out there, mounted. If they spurned the komori Kashria's offer, they would be walking all the way back to Noriyuki's city, save for Noriyuki himself who must be carried by somebody. The komori had already carried Noriyuki and Usagi several days worth of travel on foot out of the way of the young Daimyo's city. Most importantly, though, their food supplies had been with the horses. They were gone too.
That alone convinced Gennesuke of what they should do. Tomoe Ame took only a little longer to resign herself to it. She was not the only one being carried blade out and pointed at the heart of the komori carrying her, though. Gennesuke had two out.
Usagi knew, especially from his time with Kurokaze's daughter, komori usually didn't fly or do much of anything save rest during the day. So, he studied the face of the komori carrying him out in the sunlight, and was distressed to discover the ninja's eyes were shut. However, the komori's mouth was often open and ears often pointed straight ahead. As he looked around, Usagi realized all the komori were doing the same. He got more than a few nervous glances from his fellow Samurai. They also seemed to have noticed.
When he glanced down, Usagi saw how far away the ground was, but also that they were making great time. There were frequent breaks from the flying also. They landed, got used to having their feet on a solid surface again, and then were told to get ready to be plucked up by different, fresh komori ninja. Sometimes they got to eat and drink in between.
Tomoe checked on Norikyuki and his feet every time also. The komori carrying him always set him down gently in a sitting position. After their first stop, Kurokaze did point out how tired he was and how he would not carry the daimyo's retainer again. After raging about it a bit, Tomoe allowed herself to be carried by someone else. Kurokaze would lose several ninja to the blades of Noriyuki's samurai if they could indeed bring themselves to slay the komori carrying them so far above the earth.
It was an interesting test of loyalty, Usagi thought to himself, even as he hoped none of them would have to show themselves capable of passing it. Despite the bright sunlight, Kurokaze said, and his ninja seemed to agree, the weather was otherwise perfect for flying. Days' worth of travel became hours, and soon after night truly fell, and Usagi could see the eyes of those carrying them were all open, the walls of Noriyuki's city appeared. Instead of carrying them to the gates, Kurokaze called out, "We will set you behind some hills before and to the right of the front gate! I will not risk my ninja to the arrows of any guards on the walls!"
"Be quick about it!" Tomoe Ame shouted back. They were. There was a glide Usagi was slightly more used to now that then curved around into a hurricane formation of all the ninja over a small valley between about four different large hills. There, the Samurai and Daimyo were dropped, but unlike before, none of the ninja landed. Instead, they ascended in their hurricane shape and disappeared back into the night sky as the samurai watched from below. Tomoe Ame stared up open-mouthed, but Noriyuki waved and shouted toward the sky, "Thank you, Kurokaze!"
The Komori Kashira called back, clearly, yet fairly low for a komori "Do not mention it again Damiyo, to anyone." As the samurai all watched, the ninja of the sky were soon gone.
. . .
"Open the gates!" Tomoe was obeyed. A particularly young guard let his mouth open somewhat as he took in the state of not only all the samurai, but the daimyo himself drooping over Gennesuke's back. Yet, he and all the other guards bowed to them.
The streets of the city were dark and quiet after night fall. They passed by homes, inns, and shops. Usagi glanced around at the roofs of the buildings nervous after all they'd bene through, but nothing attacked them from there or anywhere else.
Before they reached the palace itself, Noriyuki was already asleep. He had to be woken despite Tomeo's pitying frown for a small meal, bath, and change of clothing, before being allowed to go to sleep again. Tomoe Ame insisted she and Usagi join him in all this. She seemed gentler toward the Yojimbo perhaps due to her own weariness somewhat, but there was "Thank you," written in her face as well when she looked at him. Gennesuke insisted on joining them and Noriyuki agreed to it before Tomoe objected.
Most of the other samurai looked ready to drop as they went to their own meals and mats. They had all journeyed far. Despite being carried most of the way the last day, holding blades to the chests of those carrying them for hours, and being able to look down and get a bird's eye view, when you are not a bird, is wearying in its own way. Usagi knew that now.
The next day, a counsel with Noriyuki's counselors was called to discuss what had happened. Noriyuki told all save the location of the forest the last battle had taken place in and his deal with Kurokaze that had resulted in how they'd all reached home so quickly. There was a long silence after this abbreviated version of their story was told. Usagi and Tomoe had to glare back as those obviously questioning the cub's tale, who gazed at them.
In the end, it was suggested and seconded by many, that Noriyuki should not leave the palace for some time, unless the Shogun himself demanded it. Usagi saw the panda cub's eyes if not the rest of his face drop as he agreed in a low voice. He really had mastered the art of looking calm and collected when he sat as Daimyo before others he knew were as likely to guide him to help themselves as him for such a young ruler. He was trying to catch up and learn as much as he could to be on equal footing with them. And now, for his own safety, one way to learn to do such was taken from him.
He complained in private to Usagi himself about it later. "It's not right! How can I know what to do for my people if I can't 'see' them?! Who do I trust?!"
Usagi's face tightened in sympathy as he rubbed a hand over the cub's head. "You have learned much already from just this trip, Lord Noriyuki. And Gen, I, and others can perhaps help you with that."
Noriyuki looked up into his face from where he'd sat head bowed, still not putting weight on his injured feet as yet. He grinned now. "Will you, Usagi? I can hire you or Gen or others to look into things for me when I have questions about what's going on in my own kingdom! I can pay you!"
Usagi's eyes widened slightly at the cub's enthusiastic reaction. "Don't tell, Gennesuke! But, yes. I suppose I can, and Gen too, for a time anyway. It will be a nice break from our usual work. However, I will need to be elsewhere a few days from now, for at least an evening and morning if not longer, Honorable Daimyo of the Honorable Geisha Clan."
Noriyuki's eyes widened up at him. "Why?"
"I have to visit another friend who invited me to his home for a celebration. I already gave him my word I would."
"Oh!" The cub slapped his hands together at this bit of news eyes shining. "Can I send him a present as well?!"
Usagi blinked. He was always amazed at Noriyuki's enthusiastic generosity. Giving away presents seemed to be something he jumped into with the enthusiasm of Gen dug into a bowl of rice. Indeed, Tomoe Ame and others always seemed to be having to pull him back from his excesses in this.
Usagi gave the cub a gentle smile. He hated to lessen the young daimyo's new-found cheer, but he had to find a way to accept his offer while somewhat mitigating its effects on the palace budget. "Actually, I was hoping to make your wages to me for my work as your yojimbo during this last trip the gift I brought him."
"Oh!" Noriyuki clung to his arm and gave it a gentle shake, "What will your gift be, Usagi?"
The ronin tilted his head as he looked back down into the panda's black and white spotted face beaming up at him. "I … fear it is short notice, but I was hoping … a long sword, a katana, one made with my friend in mind?"
The cub gave a deep chuckle of glee. "I will pay the best swordsmith in the city as much as he wants to work day and night to get the best sword in the land ready for you in time to take to your friend, Usagi!"
The Yojimbo tilted his head with an amused, gentle smile at his small host. "Well, maybe we can do a 'little' more negotiating on the price than that, Noriyuki."
. . .
"Usagi! I cannot let you go 'anywhere' alone. Not even into an otherwise unoccupied room with a cub who worships land that touches your feet!"
"Gen, I told you what my wages would be for before we even started to …"
"Not a single coin of any type or even a small bag of rice for all that! 'And' you're giving away the sword!"
"Our world wouldn't even 'be' here Gen if not for Leonardo and his family …"
"And you!"
"Their help was necessary …"
"Food, is also necessary, my friend!"
"We've been eating well here in Noriyuki's palace, and I'm sure I'll eat well in Leonardo's home as well."
"'We' better."
Usagi blinked. "You're coming?"
"Like I said, I can't let you go anywhere alone apparently. If that 'cub' can talk you into getting cheated after nearly losing your life protecting him several times without even trying, what will real sharks in another world do to you?!"
"I hardly plan on doing business there."
The rhino bounty hunter huffed. "Business is all that gets done 'anywhere,' Usagi."
His ronin friend shook his head but did not argue the point.
What do you think?
God Bless
ScirbeofHeroes