Tripping at the final hurdle
I don't own any copyrighted material, except my own OC's: anyone else's OC's will be acknowledged in their introduction chapter
Border town near the Asahina and Daidoji Border
A cool breeze hit the wagon as they reached the final town before the Daidoji Families lands. As shivers went down their spines they felt both excited at their journeys end, but also nervous at their final hurdles. To say the journey was easy was to be foolish on all of their parts. Before them now the final hurdle, the Daidoji lands.
The Daidoji family were the main bushi family of the Crane. They were their muscle, the guardians of order and peace, and willing to go to questionable means in their clans defense. They did everything from guarding castles to banner less scouts sabotaging their foes every move. Their lands were famous for the lack of bandits along the roads due to their vigorous patrols. Cao chiefly of all knew their greatest obstacle to success was not any external threats like bandits, monsters or grimm, but the very people he was to deliver his illicit cargo to.
The day of their entrance began like any other. Cao getting up and ready first before heading down to pay for their food. Ruby followed behind, chipper and happy as ever. Finally, Testuo and Velvet would enter last and soon their food would arrive. Ruby however noticed Cao seemed nervous, uncharacteristically so, and hadn't said a single thing this entire morning.
"Good morning Cao. Did you sleep well?" Ruby asked Cao, and he only barely noticed her
"I slept fine, thank you Ruby." Cao replied quietly and solemnly, barely looking up from his cup
"You aren't your usual self this morning. Is something wrong?" Ruby asked, concern being clearly expressed in her voice
"I'm fine Ruby. Really I am." Cao said, still looking into his cup and not even trying to fake his less than positive mood
"Look at me when you say that, and I might believe you." Ruby said, and Cao sighed at that
"Can't hide anything from you can I?" Cao asked
"Can't hide anything? If that's you trying to hide something then I don't want to know what wearing it on your sleeve looks like." Ruby said, getting a chuckle out of Testuo in the process as he ate
"Quiet you." Cao said in a more bitter tone
"Temper temper. Oh, how the mighty have fallen." Testuo joked before downing a piece of sashimi
"Cao just tell us what's up. Whatever has you this way is something all of us should know.
"Alright fine. I'm just nervous about the final part of our journey." Cao said with a deep and regretful sigh
"Don't the Daidoji lands contain our destination?" Velvet asked nervously
"Yes, they do. However, if you know anything about the Daidoji, you would know they give the Sotoras a run for their money on being strict. There's a reason their lands have hardly any crime. One wrong move and we are done for." Cao explained solemnly, taking a hearty drink of his sake afterword's
"And that's not even taking into account the ones that will be watching from the shadows." Testuo said seriously, the conversation forcing out of his humorous mood
"I thought for Samurai it was dishonorable to lurk in the shadows?" Ruby asked
"You were kidnapped twice by Sotoras that did that Ruby, its not impossible. Besides some samurai are willing to commit questionable acts for the sake of their clan. They are rare, but they exist. It's even rarer to see a whole family willing to do that. And we are about to step into such a clans lands." Cao explained
"But we aren't doing anything wrong." Ruby then says confused
"Different lands, different rules. Hell, customs might get us for all we know." Cao said, not telling them anything about the gaijin pepper on purpose, but inside is confident his alibi will work
"Well talking about all of this isn't going to make it any better or worse, so let's eat breakfast and get to the customs station." Testuo said and at that everyone began eating in unison
After everyone finished breakfast, they worked to pack their things and get the wagon ready to go. After a half an hour of work they are off. Soon they arrive at the checkpoint and Cao stops the horses. The building was only a single floor and not that wide, with no decoration or flair to it. It was painted the dark Daidoji blue and was crawling with Daidoji Iron warriors. Clad in the heaviest of armor and wielding Yari spears, the stalwart bushi stood ready for anything to try and pass through the checkpoint. Soon one walked up next to the wagon under Cao.
"Traveler, by the word of the Emperor this wagon must be searched for contraband. Everyone must exit the wagon so we can conduct a thorough search." The Bushi said sternly
"Of course, Daidoji-san. It would be our greatest honor to comply with this search." Cao said as everyone got off the wagon and walked a few paces away from it for good measure
Very quickly iron warriors, magistrates and their assistants were on the wagon like a swarm of flies. Though Cao didn't show it, he was shocked and nervous by the vigor they conducted the search. Compared to them the Sotora guards were lazy as balls. Each one was checking boxes, bags and the parts of the wagon for compartments. After each thing was thoroughly searched, another member of the party would put the items back in the container as they found them. Just when Cao thought they were done; he heard the unmistakable sound of a door being opened. The door to the secret compartment for any smuggled goods.
"Oh shit…" Cao muttered as guards slowly surrounded him
"Gaijin pepper!" The magistrates assistant yelled
"Arrest them now!" One of the magistrates yelled as the guards immediately grabbed the party
"Gaijin pepper!? We don't have that!" Ruby yelled in confusion and fear
"Cao you motherfucker!" Testuo yelled as he begins to be dragged off
"Cao? What's going on!?" Ruby asked
"Sorry Ruby… You weren't the only thing I was smuggling out of Beacon." Cao said, a bit ashamed as they all get dragged off
"Cao, why did you do this?" Ruby asked, her eyes starting to tear up
"This was before you Ruby. I was a different person then. A man who simply wanted a big payday." Cao said as he is willing walked as his friends were dragged into the checkpoint building
A mix of confusion and anger set in over the party as they were dragged and thrown into jail cells. Ruby and Velvet occupied one, Testuo was thrown into another across the hall, and Cao was brought into an interrogation room. The door was closed behind him and he waited for what felt like hours. The whole-time questions rang through his head. He was supposed to deliver this to them, yet they threw him in jail? They didn't even bother looking at his paperwork. Why did they want this stuff if it wasn't legal and they'd arrest him for delivering it?
"Is he in their?" A man's voice, not so much more than a whisper asked
"Yes, he is Uji-sama" Another voice answered, and the door opened
Stepped in a was a strange man for the muscular lot of the Daidoji. A slightly caustic man of dark complexion, short black hair no longer than a topknot, and brown eyes. He wore a dark blue kimono, surprisingly simple for a man who had the suffix of Sama. He sat across from Cao and put his hands together on the table. Cao then knew who was in front of him. Daidoji Uji, the daimyo of the Daidoji family. To be in the presence of the man they called the Iron crane was daunting, nerve wracking, and terrifying.
"We have a lot to discuss Cao." He said in a whisper, his face showing he chose his words carefully to be efficient in speech
"I am sorry for my failure at delivering…" Cao started to say, but was cut off when Uji's wakizashi was in the blink of a eye brought to his throat
"We will discuss your failings in time. Do not beg for anything, unless you want to fall on your sword Crab." Uji said sternly, staring into his eyes with a stare that could make a mountain flinch
"Crab? I don't understand." Cao said nervously, beads of sweat starting to roll down his sides
"Then it appears I know more about you than you do yourself. Do not worry. I will explain before we discuss you and your companions fate." Uji said with a bit of ominous intent, and Cao now sat nervously in front of one of the most ruthless samurai on the planet
Apologize for any weirdness happening after I deleted the authors note. It appears if I do that again I'll have to change my strategy on how to do it. Anyways, I have a better plan for the next few chapters so it should fix the problems I was slowly sliding into. I thank all of you for your patience, and for your continued viewership. It still amazes me how many people read this story and I'm truly thankful. Have a wonderful day and see you next time.