The days were long, filled with gruleing exercises. Being told to not leave camp without their swords, the men always kept them
at their hips. Ronin on the other hand never had a taste for much violence, he had only come to help his sensei keep his vow to
never lift another blade.
Lfting is boken, he slashed at tree, his hands covered with blisters, Ronin had continued this non stop for several hours now, not taking
even one break. Dropping the wooden sword from exhaustion, he trudged over to his tent, picking up his katana and wakazashi, he sheithed
them both the tied them to his hakama. Putting on his Coolie Hat to cover most of his face he ran off sneeking out of the camp gates once more.
The trip to Hoshi's house would take a bit by foot, but in his mind he thought it was well worth it.
Finding the smal house he had to be careful that Masa didnt catch him, causeing conflict could ruin everything. Running up to the window he peaked
in, there sat Masa sharpening his tantoe, but Hoshi was no where to be found. Ducking down below the cill he sighed "where could that girl be..." his
breath was caught short when he felt a tap on his shoulder, whipping around he drew his blade holding it up against a young girls neck, he stopped
only to see that it was Hoshi "you scared me miss" he sighed sheithing his sword once more. The girl looked startled beyond anything, calming
down she stared at him "your stupid to come around when Masa is in there...but I shouldnt be worried about a samurai, you must be an expert in combat"
he smiled a little "so you noticed" she shrugged "I shouldnt be socializing with you, maybe I'll see you later" she walked past him "but hey wait" he grabbed
her wrist "at least let me show my opoligies...um how about a night on the town?" she stared at him "sorry, maybe some other time, now please, if you
dont mind, let go" quickly he let go "sorry to have disturbed you miss" turning around he ran off back towards the camp, Hoshi watched him disappear
"silly boy" she laughed a little then went inside.
"that boy, Ronin, I've never seen him sleep, not once, it's been a few days" the soldier looked suspicious "I've seen him sneaking out of camp, he runs off
to the other side Kyoto...to a farm I've heard, Mr Akira's" the general eyed the boy "bring him here" he comanded, two officers ran over to Ronin, grabbing
him by the arms they dragged him over to the general, he stared at him "you like to sneak boy?" Ronin opened his mouth to say something but was
slapped in the face "a simple nod will do" he nodded silently "so you left the camp without my permission?" Ronin nodded again, being slapped
a second time he hung his head "chain him to the pole on the outside of camp, but first, torchure him until you think it's enough, just make sure he's alive
after wards" the two soldiers smirked cracking there knuckles. Visious yells of agony echoed through out the camp and air that day, it didnt stop until the sun
had fully set.
lifting his head a little he glanced around, his feet were cuffed in shackles along with his arms. Being tied to this wooden pole for 4 days would not be exciting.
A puddle of blood was slowy growing beneath him, his clotheing shredded to almost nothing "samurai my ass, their just punks!" he hung his head on his
chest weakly again. Hearing the wrustle of tree's he looked alert, who came out of them was surely a surprise. "Hoshi? what are you doing here?" the girl ran
over to his beaten hide "getting you out of this, now come on" she pulled out Masa's tantoe then quickly cut the shackles off, he fell foreward only for her
to catch him "use your legs if you can, I can only support some of your weight" nodding he tried his best to walk.
Reaching her house she kicked the door open "Masa! Masa I need your help!" the boy came running in then stopped "you brought him here, get him out now!"
he yelled "he's injured, he needs our help, they beat hi then left him tied to a pole for 4 days, please" Masa stared at Ronin then finally shrugged "fine, get a futon
out, he'll need rest once hes cleaned up" Hoshi quickly set everything up, Masa ran out headed for town to pick up some medicine, in the mean time Hoshi
began to stitch up Ronin's wounds "so they attacked you cause you snuck out" he nodded "yes miss" she sighed "you dont need to keep saying miss, my name
is Hoshi" he smiled "I know...mine is Ronin..." smiling as well she wipped the sweat from her forehead "there all done" she gave him a clean pair of clothing, a white
hakama with a black top "thank you" she covered him up "hush and rest" he nodded closeing his eyes he fell into a limited rest