Ghost Town "Shortcut"
I don't own L5R or Rwby: they go to their rightful owners
20 miles behind Cao and Ruby: Sotora highway
They say fate is a fickle mistress. If you were to ask Azura and Yang, they would probably be calling her in less tepid terms. The good weather Cao and Ruby got was nowhere to be seen. Instead it was replaced with hot sweltering heat, thick humidity and air so still it was practically stagnant. Not even Zwei and his normal hyperactive energy was able to keep positive in such miserable conditions. It made their trek long, slow, and uncomfortable.
"Of all days to travel we had to pick this one." Yang said as she wiped a thick band of sweat off her forehead
"Yang can you please stop complaining. It isn't going to help us catch up to them any faster." Azura replied in a grump and displeased tone
"Well excuse me Mr. I have a super-fast semblance." Yang shot back in a mocking tone
"You and I both know I would drop dead before I could make it to them due to its energy consumption." Azura would reply
"At the rate we are going we will never catch up with them. We don't know if they even are still going along this route." Yang said in frustration
Azura sighed at this and pressed forward undaunted. Yang could bitch all she wanted, and he understood why. Losing your little sister to some Ronin and under his watch didn't make him feel very good about himself. This was a stain on his honor that had to be expunged. If he couldn't complete his mission, then he would expunge it through seppuku, as is only right. Yang would not want him to, but for his family, clan, emperor, and ancestors, he would have to. Though he did not fear an honorable death, the thought of seppuku did put a shiver of fear into him.
"How about we take a water break and check the map?" Yang asked
"Sure. Can't hurt." Azura replied as they take to the shade
The two make it under a thick oak tree, and they lean against it. Zwei slowly walked in, then collapsed on the ground and began to pant. Yang poured some water in his dog bowl and he began drinking it as fast as he could. After that the couple drink some water before pulling out their road map. They frowned a bit as the roads north of the Wakano Covenant were poorly mapped. To make matters worse few roads joined or deviated from the highway, leaving few if any short cuts. However eventually they found a small backroad on the map that was nearby and lead to a town.
"If we take that shortcut, we can cut ahead of them and ambush them as they come through. I bet that Ronin will never see it coming." Yang would say
"Yang that isn't honorable in the slightest." Azura replied with a disapproving face
"You want Ruby back right?" Yang asked, probing his logic
"Yes. More than anything in this world, for her safety and my honor." Azura replied sternly
"Well if we don't cut them off then they will continue to have a lead on us and at the rate we are going never catch up with them. If we never catch up with them then your honor is never going to be cleared." Yang said
"Even still, a dishonorable act does not improve my honor…" Azura would say
"This Ronin has been more dishonorable than you by several metrics. Rescuing a fair maiden from a dishonored and horrible Ronin. In terms of PR its perfect to shore up your honor." Yang would continue, cutting him off
"That's not now…" Azura tried to say, but yang cut him off with a finger on his lips
"Only your immediate family and I know about this Azura. Your clan doesn't know about Ruby, and they certainly don't know the full details on this Ronin. In their eyes right now, your honor is still intact. Cutting them off in that fashion would be a net positive for your honor in the end." Yang explained with a smile
"I guess that makes some sense. Okay fine you win. But if this fails then we never speak of this horrid business again. Got it?" Azura said very sternly to make a point
"On my honor love." Yang replied with a triumphant smile
At that the trio begins anew they reach the shortcut within the hour. However, their expectations were thoroughly dashed. If it wasn't for the opening of tree's that formed the outline of a road, they would never have even noticed it. The stone used to make it was barely there and it was massively overgrown with tall grass. It looked less like a road and more like some jungle trail the two read about in novels. Really it looked less like a shortcut and more like a route to get shanked.
"Some shortcut." Azura said sarcastically
"Don't start with me now Azura." Yang sternly said back, then begins to wade through the grass
Though the grass didn't slow them much, they still had to be careful. Snakes and other dangerous critters lurked in such places, hidden from view and can strike in a blink of the eye. Another problem was the "roads" condition. Hardly any of the original foundation and stonework remained, and what was left was a hole riddled mine field. Some were mere divots that wouldn't do much, but others were ankle deep or great that could snap a ankle if stepped into wrong. These factors made the day long, slow and torturous. The sun was beginning to set by the time they finally reached the town.
"Okay I'm going to agree with you Azura. This was a bad idea." Yang panted as they walked out of the road into the towns edge
"Little late to be admitting that. No point in going back now, we are most of the way there." Azura replied as they looked at a run down and abandoned town
"Great it's a ghost town. What the hell happened to this place?" Yang asked as she looked around
"Likely the pressure of living away from samurai clan and trying to protect themselves got too much. Lands beyond any clans control aren't the most stable or safe places to try and live." Azura answered
"Even then, we aren't that far from Sotora lands. At least the buildings are still somewhat intact enough for us to spend the night" Yang said after observing the place
"I wouldn't trust them personally. Who knows how many years they have gone on without maintenance? Odds are they are close to collapsing." Azura stated
"Prove it." Yang said curtly, causing Azura to throw a rock at one building, and like clockwork it collapsed in on itself
"I'll set up the tent in the town square if that's okay with you?" Azura replied with a slightly smug tone after his victory
"I'm fine with that." Yang replied stunned as the dust settled from the buildings collapse
Soon they set up camp and begin cooking trail rations over a fire. Yang was able to use her cooking skills and some ingredients she picked and brought to spice up the normally bland food. Yang then gave Zwei his food and water, and the corgi ate it up like it was nothing. Soon however Azura looked at the fire and sighed sadly.
"Azura?" Yang asked with concern
"I'm sorry for worrying you Yang. I just am thinking. I don't know if I will succeed…" Azura said, but Yang cut him off
"We will. Ruby will be back in no time." Yang said firmly
"How do you know for certain and with such surety?" Azura asked
"Because I know fate is going to be on our side in the end. It always has." Yang said with a smile
At this the two went to sleep. The night for a few hours remained peaceful. Nothing stirred out their or made a sound save for crickets. However, Zwei was woken up by a sudden cool breeze, too cold for this time of year. He got up and stretched, then decided to look around. He stopped when he felt a presence but couldn't see it or hear it. So, he then fearlessly barked into the night, trying to figure out where it was or drive it off. However, this woke up his masters instead.
"Zwei what are you barking at boy?" Yang asked tiredly, but the dog keep barking in the same direction repeatedly
"When did it get so cold?" Azura asked as the air around them got colder
"Who's there?!" Yang yelled
"Silence peasant." A chilling voice echoed from the ether, but no one could be seen
"No one tells her to be silent in my presence! Show yourself or risk dishonor!" Azura roared as he stood to his feet, weapon ready
"I do not fear dishonor child, for I have already felt its cold sting. For too many years it has plagued me." The voice continued, but still nowhere to be seen
"Show yourself coward!" Azura yelled, ready to strike
From shadows a figure formed in the pale light of the crescent moon. A samurai wearing a much more ancient form of armor, with larger plates wrapped together by cloth. He wore no helm, had black hair and piercing blue eyes. Other than this his features where normal for a man in his 30's. One of his ghostly hands gripped a ancient tachi sword, who's sheath had gold inlays swirling in floral patterns against its black base.
"I am Horak of the hare clan. 130 years ago, I failed in protecting this village, and dishonorably was unable to die in its defense." The ghost said with much force in its voice
"Why is a ghost here?" Yang whispered
"Spirits are formed from those who still have something that holds them from passing on. His must be this dishonor." Azura whispered back
"How are we supposed to get past a ghost?" Yang whispered
"I got this." Azura said as he stood up
"How do you got dealing with a ghost?" Yang whispered with concern
"Horak. I hear and understand your dishonor." Azura said to the ghosts face
"I sense you are fighting your own dishonor as well. A kindred spirit." Horak replied
"There's a difference between us." Azura firmly put
"And what is that difference Sotora?" Horak asked, genuinely confused by Azura's statement
"That I still am working to correct that dishonor. You did not." Azura said bluntly
"I couldn't! We were forced to retreat from the field! I couldn't dishonor myself to remove the dishonor!" The ghost shot back, the wind increasing at that
"Azura don't piss off the ghost!" Yang shot
Azura stood his ground, and the ghost didn't move as well. The two stared into each other's eyes, sword hand gripping their weapon. The air grew thick with tension as they readied themselves.
"You can't defeat me. You know this right?" Horak said bluntly
"I know what I must do. I will do anything to restore my honor. I will not faulter now." Azura sternly replied
"Why do you try so hard when you know you have failed?" The spirit asked curiously, relaxing a slight bit in his confusion
"Because I keep going not just for my honor. I do it for my who's I love and care about. Ruby is to me the little sister I never had. Nothing on this planet will stop me for finding her and bringing her home to safety! Even if I have to go through you!" Azura roared
This clearly caught the spirit off guard. His face became strange and contorted, as if it was trying to portray too many emotions at once. This confused display lasted for a full minute before the ghost took its hand finally off its weapon and looked down. Its face was sullen and looked defeated, like it lost the same battle all those years ago. Neither Azura nor Yang knew what it was thinking till finally said something.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you in your quest for penance Sotora." It finally managed to say, and even then with great difficulty
"Your sorry?" Azura asked in surprise
"I have much to think about. For so long I have wallowed in my failure. But that was so long ago. It's not my place to stop the journey of another penance seeker. No samurai should live with the shame and guilt I have for this long." The ghost replied
"I accept your apologize Horak of the hare clan. I hope you find the solace you seek." Azura replied and bowed in front of him
"I leave you two on your journey. Clearly I have much to think about. May your dishonor be expunged, and those that wronged you brought to justice." The ghost solemnly said and bowed in kind
As soon as it finished its bow it disappeared like smoke in the wind. Azura and Yang were left standing there, unsure how to think. Eventually they get back in their sleeping bags and attempt to go to sleep. However, sleep eludes them for some time as what happened still replays in their heads. In the morning the two are woken up by the sun hitting their faces, followed by Zwei licking their faces.
"Okay boy we are up." Yang said with frustration
After wiping corgi slobber off them, they ate a quick breakfast and were on their way. Their tired bodies strained to move through the tall grass with any kind of haste. However, purpose drove them forward. The chance to end this chase once and for all now was too much to not risk them collapsing. Finally, after 15 minutes of running, they rounded a corner till finally they reached where the main highway again. As soon as they reached their destination, their hopes were dashed into oblivion.
"Wagon treads. The same size as theirs." Azura said in dismay as he saw clear indents from a heavy wagon in the soil
"Gods damn it!" Yang yelled in frustration and stomped her foot
"Well. Looks like the chase continues." Azura sighed and began a marching pace once more
Yang followed behind him with less vigor. They went through a potentially dangerous route, under constant threat of being jumped when they least expected it and dealt with a phantom. Despite all this fate had not smiled on them. The shortcut failed, and they continued their march on. They now knew that this would not come quickly, and they were in it for the long haul.
Well the effort is all that counts right? Don't tell them that, they probably will get angry. Regardless, I thank everyone who has stuck with this story so far. It means a lot to me that you guys want to stay with me for the long haul. It gives me motivation to keep going. Next time, Ruby and Cao run into new faces in, "A mysterious stranger… Again?"