Episode Three: The yearning vagrant

"No." Kaede muttered to herself when she raced through the house. No sign of her sister ever being here was present. Kikyo did not show up. If the white-masked man had never shown up and saved her, Kaede would probably be dead along with a ransacked home.

Kaede fell to the polished wooden floor, clinching her fists in anger. The heat of the hearth next to her was cold when compared with her hot fury and crushed hopes.

"I take it your sister is not here." Came the masked man's voice. He knelt by her, his head cocked, as if he was studying her intently, "She has let you down, huh?"

Kaede nodded wearily, blinking back hot tears. The man turned away, standing up, "Come, why not go outside and catch your breath? Nature always has a way of smoothing the soul." He started to walk towards the paper-screened doors, but stopped when he heard no sound of Kaede's footsteps. He turned around again, "Little girl…?"

Kaede was still right where she had laid. It seemed the pain of her sorrow had boiled over and she wept. The masked man did not make any indication of feeling pity or any sort of emotion; instead he strode up quietly towards her and raised her to her feet.

Kaede finally caught his notion and nodding, wiping her tears away, she followed the mysterious man outside unto the engawa, a place or rather a space outside like a porch, covered with a sloping roof. There they sat down and silently stared out into the distance, watching many villagers pass by on their way to somewhere.

It stayed like this for some time before the man broke the ice and pulling an item from his sode, his long sleeves, he gently placed it within Kaede's shaking hands. She stared at it, where it lay on her palms. It was a light brown, crusty yet soft, and on it was a symbol, which said 'Chofu'. "What…what is it?" She asked, peering at it.

"A Chofu cake. I got it from a vendor. Have you never eaten Wagashi (sweets) before?" He asked, his voice was light, as he was amused by her reaction to it.

Kaede's eyes grew bright, "Yes, but not in so long. I haven't even heard of a Chofu cake." She quickly took a bite and then another, her eyes wide with satisfaction. "It is good." She commented, finishing the treat. She then looked back at him sadly.

"I have no more." He said to her.

Kaede shook her head, "It isn't that." The man cocked his head again, as if asking 'what?'. "I just want you to take that creepy fox mask off…sir." She said, giving a little bow.

The man backed away, surprised, "Well…sure…I guess." He reached up and grasping the edges of the pale mask, he slowly took it off, placing it down within his lap. He then waited for Kaede's reaction, as if nervous. Kaede didn't understand this; he didn't look bad or anything. She giggled at his antics. "Don't worry." She said in reply, "You look cute." And this was no lie, to be honest he was.

He appeared to be around nineteen. His hair was a frizzy brown, his bangs swept back to the left side, but what was odd was that his hair color not only contained brown, but also a tinge of black and white here and there. His hair wasn't too long, but came about to his shoulder blades where it was tied back with a piece of white string.

His eyes were a mysterious emerald color, deep, dark, and strangely a hint of something more lurked within them. His face was well defined, full, and his chin jutted out, making the impression of a determined man. His nose was thin, but oddly at the same time thick. Kaede could clearly see that he was well muscular, as since his kimono was dirty and torn in many places. A katana protruded from the gray sash around his waist. It seemed quite elegant, but one thing caught her attention. It was a large, ugly purple blotch stretching from the right side of his chest to his right shoulder. It was fairly large and looked as if he had survived a death wound.

"Where did you get that?" Kaede asked, curious.

The man seemed agitated by this question and he merely grunted in response.

Kaede was used to this and she wanted very much to find out more about her rescuer, "Where do you live?"

His face reverted back to its calm state, "I live nowhere. I am a wanderer." He looked at her, his emerald eyes glazing almost in a sad way. Kaede found them very mesmerizing and as soon as he looked away she asked, "What is your name?"

"It is of no importance, little girl."

"It is to me. You saved my life back there." Kaede pleaded.

The man looked at her again and almost seemed to smile. He shrugging looking away, "Alright then, little girl, you shall have it. It is Kazuki."

Kaede smiled at him. Although he seemed vacant and mysterious, she was glad for his company. She gave another bow again and said, "Nice to meet you Kazuki-san. I am Kaede. I hope you will stay a little longer. I would like you to meet my sister. I'm sure she will honor your visit, especially after what you've done for me."

Kazuki never looked at her. His only response to this was a simple "Thank you."

An hour passed in silence before Kaede realized about Kazuki's errand. "Kazuki-san, didn't you need to visit the shrine?"

Kazuki grunted again, "I looked. There were no priestesses there."

Kaede froze, "What?"

Kazuki looked at her, his eyes seeming to bore right through her, as if he was in a trance. His eyes glazed over with a dark look. "I would like to meet the priestess called Kikyo." He told her, well actually he seemed like he was spouting it to the air.

Kaede's eyes widened, "That was your errand? Why…that's my sister, Mr. Kazuki!"

Kazuki appeared shocked. He stood up and stared at her as if he couldn't believe it. "Little girl!" He spat, forgetting her name, "That priestess is your sister?"

Kaede was offended by the question. She stood up as well and declared, "I would not lie!"

With that, Kazuki fell silent and sat down upon the wooden floor again. Only the wind and the noise of the village could be heard, as he turned his back to Kaede, but she was not finished yet. She wanted to know what he was up to. "What do you need her for, Kazuki-san?"

In a violent outburst, Kazuki whipped around and snarled, "That is not for you to know!" When Kaede began to tear up, Kazuki's disposition instantly cooled. His emerald eyes showed a glimpse of sadness before he turned back around. He then mumbled, "Sorry."

No word passed between them for a half hour before Kaede asked if Kazuki would like to come inside for a bowl of rice. He agreed and Kaede took him back into the irori room. They seated themselves at the low table where Kaede handed him a small bowl filled with rice and a pair of chopsticks. She watched as he fumbled with them. Kaede raised an eyebrow, "You don't know how to use chopsticks?"

Kazuki turned red at her question. He mumbled in a low voice, "No…" When he peered up at her he found her to hold a look of astonishment but humor. She knelt by him and helped him with it. "You hold the bottom one with your thumb, you don't move this one." She said, giggling.

Kazuki was surprised that she had no demeaning thing to say, but he followed her instructions and soon Kaede was satisfied that he had learned how to use them. Actually he mastered it quite quickly to where he chucked small pieces of rice at her. He gave a look of amusement whenever Kaede laughed, trying to dodge.

But the fun ended when the sliding of doors was heard. It was evening time and Kikyo stumbled into the room, setting her bow and quiver against the wall. "Kaede, I'm sorry for taking so long but—

Here she stopped when she saw Kazuki sitting at the table. Kazuki peered up at the sound of her voice and then became so traumatized by her sudden appearance that he dropped the bowl. It fell and broke on the wooden floor, shattering into pieces and scattering the last remaining bits of rice. Kaede's jaw dropped, as Kikyo went on the defensive and sprang at Kazuki full force thinking he was an intruder.

Kikyo was quick, jabbing at his abdomen with a closed palm technique. Although Kazuki winched, he didn't even seemed fazed at all and instead snatched Kikyo's arm and tossed her overhead unto the ground. But this didn't throw her off either; she came at him and tackled him to the ground where they engaged in an epic struggle. However, Kaede screamed at them to stop and racing forward she pushed her sister off of the wandering ronin.

The two lay on the ground staring at each other and panting. Kikyo more with a mad glare then Kazuki. "Kaede!" Kikyo yelled, "What is the meaning of this?"

"I was going to tell you!" Kaede yelled back, "But you're so duty-obsessed you just nearly beat up someone who saved my life!"

Kikyo's mean glare disappeared and was replaced with shock, "What?"

"A gang was about to kidnap me or kill me, one of those two, but Mr. Kazuki here rescued me." Kaede explained with a sigh. "He's really nice if you'd give him a chance, besides he kept me company 'while you were gone'." She pointed out.

A light blush crept into Kikyo's cheeks, as she stood up. "Thank you." Kikyo said briefly, bowing to Kazuki who still lay on the ground. She then turned towards Kaede, "Why did you keep him here Kaede? I'm sure he wants to get back home."

Kaede cleared her throat and replied, "He's a ronin, sister, can't you see the sword strapped to his Hakama? And also he wanted to see you."

Kikyo became silent and as still as a tree at those last words. Her face twisted into thousands of different emotions, but the one that stood out the most was her perplexing. Kazuki was dusting himself off when Kikyo asked, "What is it you want with me?" Her voice was tense, yet curious with her inquiring. Kaede watched from behind her with wide eyes as Kazuki kneeled before the priestess.

He bowed deeply and answered, "Priestess Kikyo, I have come because I am baffled about life. I have arrived before you also seeking atonement for myself. I know you can help me." He looked up, his emerald eyes leaked with agony.

Kaede gasped. Although Kikyo's face was blank, her clinched hands shook in shock.