A few days had passed during her travels towards Chang Sha accompanying Sun Jian. She was still kind of wary about him still thinking if he was really that kind or if he had some other agenda on his mind. She kept to herself for the entire trip as she had trouble socialising with people. The army reached Chang Sha by nightfall on the third day and Mitsuko was blown away by the scale of the city, this was her first time seeing a city from this time period. The city was surrounded by a wall with a huge gate for entering and exiting the city. There were various buildings with various sizes from simple stalls to the castle near the end of the city which to Mitsuko was as tall as a skyscraper. The city itself was low in activity with only a few people walking around in simple clothing who greeted Sun Jian and his soldiers as they passed them. The soldiers started to disperse as they entered the city and relaxed, soon only Sun Jian and Mitsuko remained. Sun Jian dismounted his horse as one of his stable boys came and handled it towards the stables. Sun Jian stands in front of Mitsuko who doesn't have any idea where to go as she seems to be overwhelmed with size and scale of everything.
'How do you like Chang Sha my lady?' Mitsuko snaps out of her day dream state.
'Oh it's a magnificent city my lord!' She bowed with her hand in her palm looking slightly flustered.
'Aha i'm glad you think so snakelet, if you would like to follow me my lady.' He started to walk away as Mitsuko starts to accompany him.
They walked for about ten minutes as Mitsuko was thinking where he was taking her. They stop at a small house of some kind with smoke coming out from a chimney of some sorts, Sun Jian enters the building with Mitsuko closely behind him. She found herself in a small room with various blocks of metal scattered around the floor, she also saw a couple of anvils around however the thing that caught her eye first was the massive forge. The majority of it was built in the wall however there was a small compartment accompanied by a small door. In the room was quite an old man wearing simple clothing with a small vertical scar near his left eye. He looks up and is surprised to see Sun Jian enter.
'Ah my lord I wasn't expecting you to return.'
'Aha did you think some rebels were more than enough for me?'
'No of course not my lord I just didn't expect you back so soon welcome back!' He replied, his voice was a little shaky while Sun Jian laughed heartedly in response.
'Do not worry I only jest Ling Chao, however I have a request for you should you choose to accept it.' He nods happily in response.
'Oh of course I'd be more than happy to help you my lord.' He then turns to Mitsuko who hasn't said a word yet.
'Hello there I'm sorry as you can see we are closed and i'm entertaining our lord do come back tomorrow to pick up your husband's weapon' He tells her as Sun Jian shakes his head.
'No you misunderstand she's here because her fangs need to be sharpened and I brought her here since I thought you could help, there isn't a problem is there?' He questions as the blacksmith seemed taken aback by this and quickly shakes his head while waving his hands.
'Oh no of course not! If you pass your blade over here I can improve it in the next day my most humble apologies.' Mitsuko doesn't respond as she passes over the blade. The blacksmith examines the scythe and looked rather confused.
'This is a rather unusual weapon to handle are you sure a simple blade will work for you?' Sun Jian shakes his head again.
'She's a snake so only these fangs will do, If you cannot do it I will find someone else who can.'
'Oh no my lord I can definitely do it however it will take a little longer roughly about 2 days. Come back then my lady your weapon will be much improved.' He replied as he bows with his palm in his hand, Mitsuko responded by doing the same. She left alongside Sun Jian.
'See I told you I could find someone aha' He laughed.
'You did indeed my lord.' Mitsuko yawned out as Sun Jian laughs more heartily.
'Aha you must be tired after that long journey it must've been for you. Come I'll take you to an Inn for a place you can rest for the time being.' He motioned her to follow him as he walks towards the left, Mitsuko follows him for five minutes when she finds herself inside quite a large building with various women dressed with long sleeved gowns similar to kimonos with various colours and patterns. They all bowed respectively as Sun Jian enters through the door with Mitsuko behind him.
'Oh my lord welcome back we didn't expect you back so soon, what brings you here?' She asks.
'Well you see my friend here needs a place to stay I was wondering if you could provide a room for her?'
'Friend? We barely even know each other.' Mitsuko thought to herself as the young women bowed yet again.
'Oh of course my lord, it so happens we do have a room spare if you would like to follow me my lady.' One of the handmaidens Mitsuko thought they were called as she hesitantly follows her up the stairs. The handmaiden leads her to a room where only a simple bed was all that was inside it.
'My apologies for the simplicity of it however we only have this room available.' She tells her when Mitsuko shakes her head.
'No don't worry its fine I only intend to stay for a couple of days.' She responded as the handmaiden bows her head.
'Well during your stay if you require anything do not hesitate to ask my lady.' She asks as she closes the door leaving Mitsuko with the rather empty room.
She undresses herself dropping her clothes and armour on the floor next to the bed. She climbed in and felt slightly vulnerable and naked without her scythe, she only held on to it for a few days but it really did bring her comfort as she struggled to get to sleep without it, she managed to get to sleep eventually but not without a full hour of tossing and turning. Somewhere in Mitsuko's mind she felt like she's being called to go to somewhere but she didn't know, she thought it might be the capital Luo Yang so she made that her destination when she receives her weapon.
The next day she was woken up by someone knocking on the door.
'My lady are you ok?' She asks as Mitsuko groans climbing out of the bed.
'Yeah please give me a minute.' She requested as she quickly got dressed minus the armour. She opens the door to find a handmaiden holding a tray containing a bowl of rice and a small cup containing water.
'You're food is ready my lady, if you need anything else do let us know.' She bowed as she handed the tray over and leaves. Mitsuko wasn't used to being waited on like this, even on a simple level like this she was more used to getting everything done herself since she was in the orphanage. She learned how to do almost everything herself after her 11th birthday like how to cook her own food, clean up after herself etc. She ate her breakfast and left the Inn and saw hundreds of people walking around, the men wore simple clothing while the women wore gowns similar to the handmaidens however they were much plainer in design. She wondered around the city of Chang Sha for a while like a lost puppy looking for its owner. She begins to wonder what's there to actually do in her spare time. In her normal time she would just play her video games to pass the time however since that is no longer an option she has to try and figure out what people would do in their spare time.
'Hi!' A hand was placed on Mitsuko's shoulder while she was in thought which startled her, she jumped forward and turned around to find a young woman wearing a two piece outfit made out of what seemed to be a rich elegant cloth which was normally reserved for those of noble origins. It consisted of white short-legged trousers that revealed from the thigh downwards, auburn tights accompanied with rich patterns of embroided gold on the outer leg in the shape of a flower. Those flowers crept up to a matching piece of leather armour which protected the sides of the shorts. The lower part of the body was further decorated with a brown belt which a red veil fell on the right side of the hips and gave a feminine touch to the outfit. The bright scarlet spread upward of her body with only a mischievous space between the bottom and the top of the outfit which showed her delicate skin. The scarlet colour raised as an open cardigan closed by a black laced-trimmed corset around her stomach, the area of her chest was a much more sober white. Her shoulders were protected by a red and white bolero with puffy sleeves and a rather fancy looking clasp located above the collarbone. The back of the top ended much alike the belt, with two longer pieces of red cloth for the sake of esthetics. The outfit was complete with red fingerless gloves, golden earrings, a crown-like matching headdress and brown boots reaching up to the knee.
'Sorry I didn't mean to startle you my name's Shang Xiang.' Mitsuko takes her hand and shakes it as she introduces herself.
'Oh so you're Mitsuko? My father told us a bit about you however I thought you'd be a bit older though.' Mitsuko thought about what Sun Jian actually told his children.
'Well as you can see i'm not so...' She awkwardly replied as she looked to the side as she scratches the behind of her head.
'He didn't mention your eyes though, they're pretty.' She complimented as Mitsuko was taken aback at the sudden compliment of something she grew to resent as her cheeks were starting to turn pink due to embarrassment.
'Oh well...thank you.' She responded as Shang Xiang put her hands on her hips.
'You don't talk much do you?'
'I can it's just...well I don't know...' She started but then she couldn't finish her sentence as she attempts to come up with an answer, she might've been bolder and stronger on the battlefield however when it came to casual conversation her social skills didn't improve. Shang Xiang noticed her lack of an answer and thought of something as she grabs her hand.
'Come on follow me.' She tells her as she essentially drags Mitsuko through the streets and eventually out of the city. They ran for 10 minutes until they reached their destination which was a vast field full of different varieties of flowers that were blooming which Mitsuko didn't have any idea even existed.
'So why are we here?' she questions as Shang Xiang lets go and turns towards her.
'My father told me you can find out a lot about a person if you fight them and he did say you were pretty strong so come on try and hit me.' She answered as she started to jump from one foot to the other, Mitsuko didn't know if she should agree to this or not.
'Are you sure we should do this? I don't want to hurt you.' She replied.
'Don't worry I can take a punch or two now come on hit me if you can.' She urged as she quickened her pace in her jumps.
Mitsuko complies with her request since she needed something to do anyway.
'Alright here I go.' She replies as she lunged forward towards Shang Xiang.
Mitsuko threw a right handed punch as soon as she was in range however one second later she just disappeared, Mitsuko felt something attack her ribs. She expected to go down in pain but to her surprise after the initial blow there wasn't that much pain at all, she turns to find Shang Xian still in stance. She attempts to strike again by hooking her left arm aimed at her head, Shang Xiang had a complete serious look on her face that wasn't present before as she ducked and moved to the left as she punches her straight to the gut, Mitsuko winces slightly as the pain was increased. She turns to where Shang Xiang moved to only to receive a punch to her jaw which disorientated her as she staggers back. She felt that punch a lot and rubbed it slightly as she looks up to see Shang Xiang still looking serious but wearing a playful smirk on her face.
They continued to spar for about an hour which Mitsuko really enjoyed even though she was more on the receiving end of the fight however she did manage to get some lucky hits on her though. At the end of it both of them was lying on the ground in the field of flowers breathing heavily after the match, Mitsuko felt
'So- you know-what you're father said about-fighting each other to-know them? Do you know anything-else about me?' Mitsuko asks between breaths.
'Yeah-for a snake- you're not that flexible.' Shang Xiang responded in a light hearted tone.
'How about you-did you- find anything out-about me?'
'Yeah-you move too- quick-and punch-way harder-than I expected.' Mitsuko responded as Shang Xiang laughed.
Mitsuko felt her stomach rumble as she stood up followed by Shang Xiang.
'Wow I'm hungry how about you want to go get some meat buns?' She questions as Mitsuko nods.
'Great let's go!' She says as she drags Mitsuko back to the city yet again.
They eventually find a meat bun stall, the smell of freshly cooked buns made Mitsuko's mouth water slightly. She knew about them from the pickups however she didn't have any idea how what they tasted like or how they smelt like. They walk up to the stall and there was an old woman who was managing it.
'Greetings lady Sun are you and your guard interested in purchasing some buns today?' She asks which took Mitsuko back slightly before she remembered that Shang Xiang was of noble origins.
'Yes one for each of us if you wouldn't mind.' She answered with a more regal tone Mitsuko noticed but doesn't say anything.
The old Lady wrapped the two meat buns with paper and exchanged them with two coins that Shang Xiang gave her. They parted their ways as Shang Xiang and Mitsuko walked through the streets as she handed her a meat bun.
'I didn't expect you to be so...formal.' Mitsuko tells her.
'Oh you mean back there? Well I have to as a member of the Sun family I have to maintain a lady like status in front of the commoners so my family's name won't be tarnished.' She replied with slight sadness in her voice.
'That must be tough.' Shang Xiang shakes her head in response.
'Not really I can act lady like just fine I just need to let loose every now and again.' She took a bite out of the meat bun, smelling the aroma from the bun made Mitsuko open her wrapped and also took a bite and she couldn't believe she never tasted anything as good as this. The delight from her taste buds was too great for her to contain, Shang Xiang giggled as she sees the delight on Mitsuko's face.
'I'm guessing you like it?' She asks as Mitsuko nods in response.
'Oh its so good I can't believe I haven't had anything like this yet.' She tells her as Shang Xiang smiles slightly.
The two continued to talk for a good while so much say that the sun was gone from the sky and was replaced with the moon. Mitsuko didn't think she'd be talking to someone for that long of a time never mind actually enjoying herself with company it felt good to her. Throughout the day Mitsuko's eyes occasionally turned from her normal colours to green as the slit shaped pupils started to form however it only lasted a split second.
'Oh it's almost time come on!' Shang Xiang dragged Mitsuko yet again outside the city this time Mitsuko found herself on top of a hill overlooking the majority of the city which was very lit by the flames of lanterns that people put outside their houses. All of a sudden fireworks started to go off in the night sky which blew Mitsuko away, she adored the extra lights off in the sky and just stared at them with awe.
'This is what they do when Father returns home from a battle.' Shang Xiang says as Mitsuko nods in understanding not taking her eyes off the fireworks.
When they were over they returned to the city and stopped in front of the Inn where Mitsuko was staying.
'Well this is where I'm staying so...I had a good time today...thank you.' Mitsuko told her with a smile on her face as Shang Xiang nods while smiling in response.
'I also had fun, sorry I can't see you off tomorrow I have duties I have to do. Are you sure you don't want to stay here?' She offered as Mitsuko shakes her head.
'Nah I can't I'm afraid I don't know why but something is...pulling me somewhere and I have to go in that direction I'm not sure why though...do you know what I mean?'
'Not at all.' They chuckled slightly as they said their farewells as Mitsuko returns to her room and plunged in her bed due to her exhausted state. As she closes her eyes the day started to go by very quick in flashbacks and she smiled as she remembered it was the first time in a long time she feeling happy like this. The next day Mitsuko after finishing her breakfast grabbed her things and rations went to visit the blacksmith.
'Oh hello there my lady, I was hoping you would arrive soon I have recently just finished putting the final touches of your weapon as per Sun Jian's orders he dropped first thing yesterday. I do hope you will find it satisfactory.' He said as he handed over the large scythe. Much had been changed to it, for starters it was the polearm as well as the curved blade were larger. The polearm itself was covered with a black colour however there was a purple snake like body that looked like it was slithering upwards wrapping itself around the shaft until it reached the top. The head of it formed the top part of it however the mouth was open and that was where the curved blade was which was larger and sharper than it ever was. Mitsuko really admired this weapon however she was confused why Sun Jian would want it exactly like this for her? Nevertheless she was extremely grateful.
'It is perfect thank you very much.' She says as she bows as the blacksmith did the same and wished her farewell. She walked out of the blacksmith and exited the city and was on her way to the capital, she didn't know why she felt drawn there however she thought she might find an answer when she arrived.