Sorry about how long it has taken. I have proofread it as

Soldiers

I awake to a soft knock on the door.

I slip out of bed, carelessly pulling on my robe.

I open the door. My robe falls off one shoulder.

Jia glances at me quickly, taking in my tosseld hair and bare chest, she blushes furiously.

I smirk. Golden eyes glowing. Her unease amuses me.

"My father sent me to check on you." She stammers," Kuroudo never came to the kitchen for your breakfast." She looks at me, worried. "Is he alright?"

"Jia," I purr, "Kuroudo is fine." My voice soothing, I lift her chin. "Have hot water sent for."

Speechless, Jia bobs her head and scurries to obey.

"Oh, and bring a plate of fruit!" I call after her. Realizing my hunger.

I close the door. Turning I see Kuroudo sitting up in the bed. Such beauty. "Baths are on the way." I walk towards him.

Kuroudo swallows hard. "Uh...did she...uh..."

"See you?" I finish his thought. "No, she didn´t." I sit next to him, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. "What are you ashamed of?"

Kuroudo slowly turns red.

"Ah...of course." I smile. Chuckling at his innocence. "Your first time wasn´t how you had imagined it, now was it?" He shakes his head, cheeks red as my face paint. My smile vanishes. "Neither was mine." I murmmer to myself.

A knock. The baths are here.

Kuroudo strips and bathes first. I hear his splashing behind the screen.

"We need to go to the horse dealers today."

He walks from behind the screen. Gods is he beautiful.

I let my robe fall to the ground.

Kuroudo stares.

Walking behind the screen, I slip into the hot water. I close my eyes and relax. I wash the dried sweat off. I smile to myself. That kind of sweat I don´t mind.

Wishing I could linger in the water a bit longer, I stand. Drying myself. I pull on my clothes.

Kuroudo is dressed. Waiting paitently for his master. Like any good dog.

"Come, we have work to do."

-

The sun is high. The dusty streets suffocating.

I am happy when we make it to the cool shade of the horse dealers awening.

He is a scrwany little man. With a wheezy voice. "How may I help you, sirs?" The horse dealers eyes dart from me to Kuroudo.

"We would like to see your horses."

"Eh, yeah." He leads us to the stable. "Here you will find the finest horses in town." Indicating a sad, tired looking stallion, he continues. " Now here is the finest, his sire was the emperors own horse..."

Ignoring the rest of the mans babble, I wander from stall to stall. At the far end is what I am looking for. Two horses. Both sturdy looking, if not the type of steed I am used to riding. I enter the stall. Give the horses what I hope is a thourough enough examination. I don´t know all the details about horses, but I learned enough being around soldiers all the time. "I will take these two." I nod to Kuroudo. He takes the purse from his belt. The horse dealer licks his lips greedily. "And I expect tack is included." My voice leaves no room for the man to argue. "My boy will help with the saddles." I watch as the little man scurries to obey, followed by Kuroudo. I sigh. Another stage is almost complete. We will soon be underway.

It takes only a few moments for the horses to be made ready. Kuroudo hands the purse to the horse dealer.The scrawny manwon´t notice until to late that the purse is emptier than it looks. He will go to count his coins and a few will fall through a crack in the table, never to be found again.

Kuroudo takes his big gelding by the reins. I lead my dusty mare into the street.

-

It is well past noon. The shadows lengthening.

We turn the corner. Fountain Square lies before us. People are begining to fill the market.

Two men by the fountain stand out. Two men in armour. Armour from Kutou.

-´Nakago.´-The first thought that comes into my mind is my General. -´The soldiers must know where Nakago is. If they don´t then their commander will. Maybe Nakago is here.´- My heart skips a beat. -´No, I would have sensed his Chi. He is not here.´-

"Kuroudo," I can´t get my hopes up. "Take the horses to the stable and then go straight to the room." I hand the boy the reins to my mare." Stay in the room. Do not attract attention."

Kuroudo looks at me. Wanting to question. He doesn´t understand, but he obeys. He trusts me. The young fool.

I wait until Kuroudo is out of sight. Pulling up my burnoose, I walk towards the two men. I add awomanly sway to my hips.

The soldiers notice my coming. "Hey!" the bigger of the two calls. "Com´ here sweety."

I laugh. I bat my lashes. The men stare. Their eyes hungry." Now what would two strong lads like you be doing here in this dirty little town?" My voice is a womans voice.

"Why looking for pretty ladies like you." The other says. He tries to catch me around the waist.

I step out of his grasp. "Now, now." I say seductivly. "I have work to do before I can play." The soldiers look at me. I smile. "Who should I ask for tongiht?"

"Wu Lang scout for General Xing Li." The bigger soldier says.

My smile freezes onto my face. I don´t hear what the other says. I am sick to my stomache. Why. Why did it have to be him.

"Thank you gentelmen." I say flatly and turn to leave. The men beg me to stay. They whistle as I leave. I try not to run as I make my way back to the Inn.

I was not liked amoung Nakago´s men. I was always considered the "freak". Many were jealous of my rank and power. Understandable. Not a problem. Except in two cases.

There were two commanders who were openly hateful. One arrangaged for an "accident" that didn´t quite work. He is now dead. Beheaded for for attempting to take the life of a Seiryu Warrior. The other is Xing Li. Who is alive and well. Here.

Everyone thinks I am dead. Xing Li, if he finds me, will make that the reality.

Kuroudo and I must leave. Tonight.