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Here's part 2! As I said before, This one's gonna be kinda weird!
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Part 2: Battles Begin...
~Kamakura~
Four monsters charge toward Rei... "Foolish Imps!" She states, pulling out four ofudas, "Rin, Pyou, Tou, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Sai, Zen... Akuryou Taisen!" Rei throws the ofudas and each one attaches to a monster, "Dispel!" she says and the monsters vanish. Rei grins. Meanwhile, Haruka defeats several of the small monsters as well, with some help from an aqua-haired woman. More monsters attack Rei but, she reaches in her shirt and pulls out three Kozuka Knives. She throws them at the monsters, killing them. Then, She leaps toward her weapons and grabs the Wakizashi handle with her right hand, pulling it from it's sheath as she rolls and then stands up. Rei uses her Wakizashi and starts slicing through the monsters... severing limbs, lopping off heads, etc. Soon, All of the imps are wiped out. Rei uses some ofudas to seal the wall, then collects her things and starts to leave.
"Hey, Wait!" Haruka shouts. Rei stops and turns to face her, "What?" she asks. "You forgot your half of the prize money." Haruka says, holding out a bag of coins, "Here!" she throws it and Rei catches it. "I... don't understand." Rei says. "Since, The fight was a draw..." Haruka explains, "They decided we each get half the winner's share." Rei nods and places the money in her travel-pouch, then turns to leave. "What's your name?" the short-haired blonde asks, "I've never seen moves like that." "Rei... Rei Hino."The raven-haired woman replies.
"Would you mind..." Haruka asks, "If we go with you? I've got a fairly good idea where you're going." "Who's *we*?" Rei asks, turning back to face the other woman, then says, "And, Even *I* don't know where I'm going..." "*We* are me and..." the larger woman replies, she points, with her thumb, back to the woman who was fighting alongside her earlier, "Her. Her name's Michiru Kai'oh. As for where you're going... I figure it's Kyoto. Everyone goes there. Besides, I think you felt the change in the winds and it's pulling you there." "Very well..." Rei says, "Let's go." "See..." Michiru says, "I told you." Haruka nods and the 3 leave Kamakura...
~Road to Kyoto/Campsite~
Rei is tending the campfire, when Michiru walks over and sits at the opposite side of the fire. "What's your story?" Michiru asks, "I mean... I've never heard of a *female* Ronin, before." "Weird, isn't it?" Rei replies. Michiru nods and Rei says, "It's a long story... Suffice is to say, I lost my family when I was a child and, I was raised by a swordsman, along with my half-brother..." "When he discovered he was dying, he decided he needed to pass on his swords and legacy to me or my brother." she adds. "Why did he not choose your brother?" Michiru asks, "I mean... Most masters would have, simply because he was male." "He chose by, Having my brother and I do battle..." the raven-haired woman replies, "I defeated my brother but, he became enraged and tried to kill me. I defeated him again and had the opportunity to kill him but, did not. Our Sensei said that my decision was the honorable one and chose me, my brother swore revenge and..." she brushes her hair away from her left eye and reveals a scar next to it, "An inch to the right and," she says, "he would have took my eye. He always had a darkness inside him..."
"I apologize!" Michiru bows, "I didn't know." "It's fine." Rei says, letting her hair fall back down over the scar. "What are you two talking about?" Haruka asks, walking over to the fire with an armload of wood. "Nothing..." Rei answers, "But, We should get some sleep soon. We need to get an early start, tommorrow, so goodnight." "Goodnight." Michiru and Haruka reply...
~Kyoto Forest~
Rei, Haruka, & Michiru come across a pair of travellers being attacked by 5 or so bandits. "Hey!" Haruka says, stopping Rei and Michiru, "Shouldn't we do something? Those people are in trouble." "So?" Rei states, "It's not our concern." "Oh sure," Haruka says, "So, I guess your Bushido means nothing, then?" Rei is silent for a moment and Haruka adds, "Well, I'm going!... Michiru? You coming?" Michiru nods and the two go to help the travellers. 'She is correct...' Rei thinks 'Bushido demands that those in trouble, must be protected. I am losing sight of my path...'
Haruka and Michiru attack the bandits to protect the travellers, a blonde and a woman with a staff. The bandits are not as strong but, their numbers are greater and they hold their own. Suddenly, Two Kozuka Knives pin the leader to a tree and a third stops, hovering just short of his throat. The others see Rei standing there with her right hand out-stretched in front of her, holding the third knife in-place, with magic, of course. "Are you going to leave, peacefully, or..." she says, the knife pressing against the bandit's throat. "Don't! Please!" the bandit-leader replies, "We will leave. I swear!" "Very well." Rei waves her hand to one side and the knives fall. "L-l-let's get out of here!" the bandit-leader says, running away. The other bandits follow him.
Afterward... "Are you two, alright?" Haruka asks. The long-haired blonde starts thanking her emphatically, "Thank you, Thank you, thank you..." "Oh, Minako..." the other woman says, calmly, "Calm yourself." the blonde listens and the other woman turns to Haruka, Rei, and Michiru, and says, "But anyway, We do thank you. Normally, I should have been able to defeat them, myself, however..." she motions to a wound on her leg. "Well, I am Setsuna Mei'oh." she adds, "And, My travelling companion here is..." "The name's Minako Aino." The blonde interrupts, "Pleased to meet ya." "We are pleased to meet you, as well." Michiru replies, bowing, "I am Michiru Kai'oh." "Haruka Ten'oh." the tallest woman introduces herself. "The Martial Arts Champion?" asks Setsuna. The short-haired blonde nods and says, "And, I have heard of you, also. The best doctor in Japan." "Is that what they call me?" Setsuna responds...
"Setsuna-mama!" A young black-haired girl leaves her hiding spot, behind a tree, and runs over to Setsuna. Setsuna kneels down and hugs the girl, "Hotaru. Are you okay?" she asks. "I am..." the girl replies, "I was worried about you and Minako, though." "Well, We are fine... Thanks to these three." Setsuna says, standing back up, "This is my adopted daughter, Hotaru (Tomoe)." she says to Michiru and the others. "Wow!" Michiru says, "It's amazing how much the two resemble, isn't it?" "Yes, It is, Michiru." Haruka replies, "She does look a lot like Rei. I wonder if they're related..." "What are you talking about!?" Rei says, "I have no family! Never mind... We should be leaving." 'There is something about that girl... we may be related.' she thinks 'But, How?' "Where are you going?" Asks Minako. "Kyoto." Haruka replies, "We are on our way there." "Wow! So are we!" Minako states, "Maybe, We could all go together?" Rei nods and as they start to leave, she thinks 'This is turning into a travelling carnival...'
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To be Continued...
Well? Whacha' think? Review and tell me. I like reviews of all kinds! I'll have the next part soon!
Here's part 2! As I said before, This one's gonna be kinda weird!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------------------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 2: Battles Begin...
~Kamakura~
Four monsters charge toward Rei... "Foolish Imps!" She states, pulling out four ofudas, "Rin, Pyou, Tou, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Sai, Zen... Akuryou Taisen!" Rei throws the ofudas and each one attaches to a monster, "Dispel!" she says and the monsters vanish. Rei grins. Meanwhile, Haruka defeats several of the small monsters as well, with some help from an aqua-haired woman. More monsters attack Rei but, she reaches in her shirt and pulls out three Kozuka Knives. She throws them at the monsters, killing them. Then, She leaps toward her weapons and grabs the Wakizashi handle with her right hand, pulling it from it's sheath as she rolls and then stands up. Rei uses her Wakizashi and starts slicing through the monsters... severing limbs, lopping off heads, etc. Soon, All of the imps are wiped out. Rei uses some ofudas to seal the wall, then collects her things and starts to leave.
"Hey, Wait!" Haruka shouts. Rei stops and turns to face her, "What?" she asks. "You forgot your half of the prize money." Haruka says, holding out a bag of coins, "Here!" she throws it and Rei catches it. "I... don't understand." Rei says. "Since, The fight was a draw..." Haruka explains, "They decided we each get half the winner's share." Rei nods and places the money in her travel-pouch, then turns to leave. "What's your name?" the short-haired blonde asks, "I've never seen moves like that." "Rei... Rei Hino."The raven-haired woman replies.
"Would you mind..." Haruka asks, "If we go with you? I've got a fairly good idea where you're going." "Who's *we*?" Rei asks, turning back to face the other woman, then says, "And, Even *I* don't know where I'm going..." "*We* are me and..." the larger woman replies, she points, with her thumb, back to the woman who was fighting alongside her earlier, "Her. Her name's Michiru Kai'oh. As for where you're going... I figure it's Kyoto. Everyone goes there. Besides, I think you felt the change in the winds and it's pulling you there." "Very well..." Rei says, "Let's go." "See..." Michiru says, "I told you." Haruka nods and the 3 leave Kamakura...
~Road to Kyoto/Campsite~
Rei is tending the campfire, when Michiru walks over and sits at the opposite side of the fire. "What's your story?" Michiru asks, "I mean... I've never heard of a *female* Ronin, before." "Weird, isn't it?" Rei replies. Michiru nods and Rei says, "It's a long story... Suffice is to say, I lost my family when I was a child and, I was raised by a swordsman, along with my half-brother..." "When he discovered he was dying, he decided he needed to pass on his swords and legacy to me or my brother." she adds. "Why did he not choose your brother?" Michiru asks, "I mean... Most masters would have, simply because he was male." "He chose by, Having my brother and I do battle..." the raven-haired woman replies, "I defeated my brother but, he became enraged and tried to kill me. I defeated him again and had the opportunity to kill him but, did not. Our Sensei said that my decision was the honorable one and chose me, my brother swore revenge and..." she brushes her hair away from her left eye and reveals a scar next to it, "An inch to the right and," she says, "he would have took my eye. He always had a darkness inside him..."
"I apologize!" Michiru bows, "I didn't know." "It's fine." Rei says, letting her hair fall back down over the scar. "What are you two talking about?" Haruka asks, walking over to the fire with an armload of wood. "Nothing..." Rei answers, "But, We should get some sleep soon. We need to get an early start, tommorrow, so goodnight." "Goodnight." Michiru and Haruka reply...
~Kyoto Forest~
Rei, Haruka, & Michiru come across a pair of travellers being attacked by 5 or so bandits. "Hey!" Haruka says, stopping Rei and Michiru, "Shouldn't we do something? Those people are in trouble." "So?" Rei states, "It's not our concern." "Oh sure," Haruka says, "So, I guess your Bushido means nothing, then?" Rei is silent for a moment and Haruka adds, "Well, I'm going!... Michiru? You coming?" Michiru nods and the two go to help the travellers. 'She is correct...' Rei thinks 'Bushido demands that those in trouble, must be protected. I am losing sight of my path...'
Haruka and Michiru attack the bandits to protect the travellers, a blonde and a woman with a staff. The bandits are not as strong but, their numbers are greater and they hold their own. Suddenly, Two Kozuka Knives pin the leader to a tree and a third stops, hovering just short of his throat. The others see Rei standing there with her right hand out-stretched in front of her, holding the third knife in-place, with magic, of course. "Are you going to leave, peacefully, or..." she says, the knife pressing against the bandit's throat. "Don't! Please!" the bandit-leader replies, "We will leave. I swear!" "Very well." Rei waves her hand to one side and the knives fall. "L-l-let's get out of here!" the bandit-leader says, running away. The other bandits follow him.
Afterward... "Are you two, alright?" Haruka asks. The long-haired blonde starts thanking her emphatically, "Thank you, Thank you, thank you..." "Oh, Minako..." the other woman says, calmly, "Calm yourself." the blonde listens and the other woman turns to Haruka, Rei, and Michiru, and says, "But anyway, We do thank you. Normally, I should have been able to defeat them, myself, however..." she motions to a wound on her leg. "Well, I am Setsuna Mei'oh." she adds, "And, My travelling companion here is..." "The name's Minako Aino." The blonde interrupts, "Pleased to meet ya." "We are pleased to meet you, as well." Michiru replies, bowing, "I am Michiru Kai'oh." "Haruka Ten'oh." the tallest woman introduces herself. "The Martial Arts Champion?" asks Setsuna. The short-haired blonde nods and says, "And, I have heard of you, also. The best doctor in Japan." "Is that what they call me?" Setsuna responds...
"Setsuna-mama!" A young black-haired girl leaves her hiding spot, behind a tree, and runs over to Setsuna. Setsuna kneels down and hugs the girl, "Hotaru. Are you okay?" she asks. "I am..." the girl replies, "I was worried about you and Minako, though." "Well, We are fine... Thanks to these three." Setsuna says, standing back up, "This is my adopted daughter, Hotaru (Tomoe)." she says to Michiru and the others. "Wow!" Michiru says, "It's amazing how much the two resemble, isn't it?" "Yes, It is, Michiru." Haruka replies, "She does look a lot like Rei. I wonder if they're related..." "What are you talking about!?" Rei says, "I have no family! Never mind... We should be leaving." 'There is something about that girl... we may be related.' she thinks 'But, How?' "Where are you going?" Asks Minako. "Kyoto." Haruka replies, "We are on our way there." "Wow! So are we!" Minako states, "Maybe, We could all go together?" Rei nods and as they start to leave, she thinks 'This is turning into a travelling carnival...'
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To be Continued...
Well? Whacha' think? Review and tell me. I like reviews of all kinds! I'll have the next part soon!