Chapter 4: A Fraudster in the Forest

It would be at least a few more days before his pupil would return to continue her training. So he decided that he would spend his time waiting by exploring more of this peaceful city and enjoy the beauties that the forest had to give.

Musosai was able to content himself by walking underneath the majestic boughs of the trees and take the time to marvel at even the tiniest flower that he passed, finding that this place brought him a sense of peace the more that he wandered. Though, he had to wonder if that wasn't because this place reminded him so much of Hingashi?

Not the city itself, but rather the people. He saw how many of them looked at him suspiciously as he passed by, some even pointing him out to others and he could catch traces of this disapproving whispers. It wasn't long before he realized that the reason for that was because he was so obviously a foreigner and as far as many of the people here were concerned, he could never learn to appreciate so great a nation.

It truly was a marvel, and he could appreciate one being proud of where they were born. Yet, if he had to be honest with himself, this attitude was the one thing that he did not miss of his homeland.

"I'm sorry about that," Momozigo would tell him nervously as he joined him in one of his walks through the city, though he seemed more keen to return to the inn as soon as possible. "The people here tend to be a bit… untrusting of outsiders."

"I understand completely," Musosai sighed as they walked on through the marketplace. "Hingashi is much the same way, I fear. It is a mostly isolated nation, you see. So connections to the outside world is severely limited. Only at the port of Kugane is there trade with other nations."

"Why would they do that?" Momozigo asked in surprise. "Just imagine how much they could benefit from opening their borders to the outside world? Surely they could see that business alone would increase overnight!"

"That is just how it is," Musosai explained. "This is one of the reasons why I wished to find a pupil outside such prejudice. For it shames me to admit to it, my own people are so focused on one's birth, they become blind to their truth worth. It is very much as the people here see us. Though, from what I've seen, it doesn't seem to be as bad as Hingashi is."

"Truly?" Momozigo asked a little jittery. "That's hard to believe."

"Are you feeling alright, Momozigo?" Musosai asked in concern. "You have not been acting like yourself since we first arrived."

"Huh? Oh… ah… well," he stuttered out with a nervous laugh. "I just… well, you know what? It's nothing! I'm going to head back to the inn and continue with the investigation! I'll see you there!"

And without another word, he went running off, leaving Musosai to find his way back to the inn on his own. He did not mind though, he found himself enjoying the peace of this land and decided to continue taking his time returning to the inn. He did find it strange at how Momozigo was acting lately, yet he just assumed that he was nervous about what other kinds of evil they will find in this city as he walked on. It was very quiet, very peaceful… a place that he wouldn't mind spending his twilight days left. Though he knew that would not be possible.

As he wondered, he ended up passing by a building where he could see younglings learning the art of the bow. He paused to watch, feeling a sense of nostalgia going through him at the sight and wondered just how his people were faring back home as he watched the familiar notions of teachers instruction their own pupils on drawing an arrow.

As he watched, he came to spot an elderly gentleman sitting apart from them. He also had a quiver on his back and an elaborate bow in his hands. Yet, as he took his seat, he folded his bow up perfectly and he watched with amazement as the man began to strum the strings delicately as the sounds of a harp began to reach his ears, along with an incredibly sad song:

Standing guard in the dead of night,

An archer, wearying of the sight.

Drunk on pride and starved of glory,

Forsook his post to claim victory.

Ten score yalms had the archer crept,

When shrieks rang out whence his comrades slept.

For he was not there to see the knives,

Nor to ring the bell and save friends' lives.

It was so unhappy that Musosai found himself pausing to listen to it and a surge of remorse welled up inside him as memories from the past continued to play inside his mind. Before he knew what was happening, Musosai approached the archer, and began to ask him questions about the song.

"Ah, it is known as the Ballad of the Vainglorious Fool," the elderly archer informed him sadly. "It tells the events of what is now known as the Massacre of Griffin Crossing where the arrogance of youth. Forgive me, I was in a melancholy mood and I find that song brings me solace. Though, perhaps I should have picked a different song."

"It truly is a beautifully sad song," Musosai agreed. "But, tell me, do you not know any songs that are more hopeful?"

"Oh, a handful," he chuckled as he stood up. "A while ago, I was struggling to overcome a dark chapter of my life and it was through the kindness of my apprentice did I finally find a sense of peace. I know that I have far to go to make up for the mistakes of my past, but I mean to see it through to the end."

"I am glad for that," Musosai smiled. "I know that age can be a curse at times. Especially when you feel that you have much to do but your body has difficulty keeping up."

"Growing old is cruel," his new bard friend agreed. "But I choose to see it as a blessing as well."

"Thank you," Musosai said as he left the bard, feeling much more comforted than he did before.

He wondered if he would ever know a sense of peace like that? Though he doubted that would ever be possible. He knew that he had blood on his hands and that is something he could never hope to change. For now, he would keep moving forward and hope that somehow he would find a way to make amends until he could become strong enough to accept his past… much like that bard.

He returned to the inn on his own, though he was a little surprised to see that Momozigo was nowhere to be found. Before he could begin looking for him, his ears suddenly picked up a familiar footfalls and he looked up to see his pupil having returned him once again.

He beamed at the sight of her as he welcomed, "Ah, Claire. By the strength of your aura, you have clearly kept at your training."

That was true, the sword was now sitting at her him more experienced than ever. He could tell that she had been training hard since they last spoke, and he couldn't have been happier.

"And in discharging the duty of a samurai in two cities now, you are slowly but surely becoming one in sooth," he nodded approvingly, "I hope that our time here will afford you further opportunity to grow. By the way, have you not seen Momozigo? He hasn't returned since he left us earlier."

Claire blinked in surprised and shook her head, causing him to frown in concern.

"I worry that he has fallen prey to evil in the course of seeking it out," he said slowly before deciding, "We should search for him. Let us split up and ask the locals. Surely one of them has seen our friend."

She agreed and so they left the tavern together, but they spilt up soon after as they looked around for their guide.

He had asked around to everyone he could see if they had seen Momozigo, yet, no one had any information. None of them had seen anyone matching his description and that worried him even more, for there didn't seem to be many Laugh a Bells here in this woodland city?

He met up with Claire soon afterwards, and he was relieved to hear that she had more luck in finding someone who may have seen him. At least until…?

"…Taken away by the authorities, you say?" he said startled. "There must be an explanation. Come, we must go to the Addled Mess at once."

Though, he didn't know where he was going or how to get to this place. Thankfully, Claire had been to this city many times and was able to take him to a large building set up near the heart of the city. They approached a man dressed all in yellow and Claire introduced him as Vorsaile Heuloix before asking about Momozigo.

"Why, yes, as a matter of fact we did apprehend a Lalafellin showmaster by the name of Momozigo," Vorsaile confirmed calmly, "He was wanted here in Gridania for embezzlement. 'Twas no large amount of coin, to be sure, but a crime is a crime, and so we took him into custody on sight."

Musosai couldn't believe what he was hearing. Were they possibly talking about the same Momozigo? The same person who risked his life twice already to help bring evil to justice? This couldn't be could it?

"However, that custody didn't last long, for the fellow up and fled when our backs were turned," Vorsaile confessed with a sigh. "He was last seen heading into the North Shroud, towards Proud Creek—Ixal territory. We're presently deliberating whether to dispatch a search party, but in light of the risks, I fear that none will be forthcoming."

"Is there nothing that can be done?" Claire asked in concern. "You know as well as I do that he will never make it out of Ixal lands alive."

Fear began to settle in Musosai's stomach at the thought. Whatever these lands were, he knew that Momozigo was not a warrior and thus would not stand a chance should he be attacked.

"If this Momozigo is your friend, perhaps you might consider searching for him yourselves," Vorsaile informed them with a shrug, unable to do more for them.

"This bodes ill," Musosai said at once when Claire turned back to look at him. "Come, Claire, we must find Momozigo before he falls foul of these Icky Soles."

She didn't say anything, but he had the suspicion that she was fighting a smile or something. He wasn't sure why that would be in such a desperate situation, but she was able to lead him through the city and to one of the gates that would take them through the northern part of the forest.

"Is it dangerous around here?" he asked in concern, his hand already rest upon his katana, ready to be drawn at a moment's notice.

"Some parts more than others," she told him. "It's usually quiet around here. But if Momozigo is heading to Ixal territory, then he will be in terrible danger."

He shut his eyes, offering a prayer to the kami that they keep Momozigo out of harm's way until they find him. As if she knew what he was thinking, Claire asked slowly, "What will you do when we find him?"

He took his time in answering, knowing that while they were friends, he also had a duty as a samurai to fulfill. He sighed as he confessed, "I wish to hear his side of the story. After travelling with him up till now, I can't believe that he is a villain. I will give him the benefit of the doubt until I hear the entire story from him first. We will decide what to do when the time comes."

She nodded slowly as they continued on, heading more of the Northwest as they looked for any trace of Momozigo. It was very difficult to track anything in these wooded lands though, especially with some of the weaker monsters that seemed to be steeping over each other with every step that they took. Still, the beasts seemed content to be left alone, though that could be that they sensed that the two mortals that walked by weren't weaklings.

"There is a settlement not far from here," Claire informed him at one point as they neared some old ruins of a long-forgotten city. "Perhaps he went there?"

He was just wondering if he should send Claire on ahead to check, when they suddenly heard a terrified scream and they both looked at each other.

"You run on ahead and make sure that he is safe," he told her. "I cannot run so well anymore, but I will catch up when I can."

She nodded and sprinted off far ahead of him as he did his best to hurry. But more than once he had to pause and take a breath, pain building in his chest once more until he started to cough. He coughed so hard that he had to hold his hand up to his mouth and hold onto the front of his kimono to try and force his body to breathe again. By the time that he was in control again however, he saw that when he pulled his hand away from his mouth, there was blood. He frowned at that as he wiped the blood away and spat out any in his mouth. He couldn't let his poor health stop him here. He had to ensure that his young comrades were safe.

He was able to catch up to them eventually as he passed through more of the ruins and finally spotted his two young companions there. Momozigo was cowering as Claire stood against a large bird-like creatures that towered over her. He had never seen creatures like this Icky-Soles before… the closest being the Lupin wolf-men from Doma. They stood up on two legs, but were covered with a combination of scales and weathers, while having a pair of horns sticking out from the top of their heads.

There were already two dead at Claire's feet before she brought down the third. He sighed in relief to see that they were safe and was about to make his presence known. But the strange thing was that as soon as he saw her, he fled on sight even deeper.

Claire called Momozigo's name as she followed, and he joined them soon after when Momozigo had reached a dead end and had no choice but to turn back to face them.

Their friend did not say anything for the longest time, but when he finally raised his head to look up, he spoke, telling them both bitterly, "Hilarious, isn't it? Here I am on a heroic quest to punish criminals with you, but all this time I was a criminal myself." Musosai's eyes sadden as he listened. What he could not understand though was why? He couldn't see Momozigo doing something simply out of greed?

"I was organizing a concert at the Amphitheatre, you see, but the songstress bailed last minute. At that time, I had a huge debt over my head and no way of paying it off," Momozigo explained to them before he began crying and whimpered, "So I ran off with the money I'd collected from advance ticket sales. I knew it was wrong, but I did it anyway. I'm no better than the crooks we've gone after. Will you punish me like you punished them?"

Musosai looked down at him for another long moment as Claire looked back and forth between them, as if worried what would be done now.

"To betray the people's trust and steal from them is a despicable act," Musosai declared, having decided on what he should do. "Such evil cannot be suffered!"

He placed his hand upon his blade. But when Claire stepped in, preparing to stop him, he paused her with a look before he brought his sword down upon Momozigo, who yelped and covered his head, shaking from head to foot.

It only took him a few seconds to realize that he was still in one piece. He slowly cracked his eyes open and looked down at his body to see that he did not even have a scratch on him.

"There. The evil in you is excised," Musosai informed him as he stood straight again. When Momozigo looked up at him with confusion written plain on his face, Musosai explained, "You have committed a crime, 'tis true, but so too have you dedicated yourself to fighting it. From this moment forth, do you swear to be a changed man and fight always for justice?"

Joy spread across Momozigo's face as he cried out, jumping about happily, "I swear, I swear! I'll never do bad things ever again! I may not be able to wield a katana, but I'll fight with you nonetheless!"

Musosai smiled and nodded before reminding him, "You've not spent all of your recent earnings, I trust? You would do well to return the money you took and beg forgiveness. If you apologize from the heart, I see no reason why the aggrieved would not forgive you, your transgressions. So go and make amends, and let us continue our quest. We cannot well succeed without you."

He understood why Momozigo had done it, and while there were people who were wronged, it wasn't a large amount of money and he believed that by returning the money and begging for forgiveness, the people would also see that this young man truly meant no harm to them, nor did he do it to spite anyone. He could not see why they would not forgive him for his mistakes.

"Th-Thank you, Musosai, Claire!" Momozigo agreed brightly. "I'll go and repay the money and apologize this instant!"

He went running off, eager to finish this and own up to his crimes.

The story here was simple… a young man who was in trouble and didn't know any other way out of it. Many have done much worse for worse reasons. No one was hurt, and it was clear that he was remorseful for what he had done. No permanent harm was done and they can all move on with their lives.

Musosai chuckled, mostly out of relief, for he had been fearing that Momozigo had done something far worst when he learned that he had been arrested.

"If Momozigo aspires to evil, he has much and more work to do," he said to Claire calmly, "As it stands, he has reformed himself and will make no more mischief. With that, our work here is done. One fewer evil afflicts the…"

But once again, before he could finish speaking, pain shot across his chest—even more fierce than the last time and he felt himself fall to his knees again. Claire was taken aback and said his name in concern but he was huffing hard as he tried to jest, "That a little jaunt through the forest should tax me so… there is no overcoming old age."

He wasn't completely lying this time. But he could not bear to tell her the truth, not yet anyway. He feared that they would stop their quest and insist that he rest somewhere until he recovered, but he couldn't allow that now. Instead, he forced himself back up to his feet and smiled as she looked at him in worry.

"Yet here I am, come to the other side of the world in the twilight of my years," he could not help but state, feeling it almost funny at how things turned out. "I journeyed here to find a worthy new pupil, and find her I did. But if truth be told, I have one more objective."

Claire raised her eyebrows at this new information as he felt that she needed to know this much.

"That is to track down and punish a fugitive from Hingashi, a disgraced samurai known as Kogarashi," he informed her. "Mark my words, his is the face of true evil. And it is my solemn charge to strike him down."

"Why? What did he do?" Claire asked curiously.

He couldn't tell her. He felt that now was the time to start introducing her to the other reason he had journeyed here… to prepare her for what must be done. But she could not know what it was that he had planned. Not just yet. But the time would come soon.

He lowered his head and shook his head.

"I had the chance to do so before… but I failed. His strength far surpasses mine own. I could not defeat him."

"Master Musosai?" Claire asked and he blinked, realizing that he was unknowingly speaking out loud. He had to be more careful… he couldn't allow himself to become too comfortable with Claire around and letting more things slip out like that.

"…Forgive me, I should not burden you with this. Pray dismiss it as but the hollow ramblings of an old man," he told her, but he saw her eyes narrow suspiciously. "Come, let us return to the city."

She paused for a moment, but to his relief, she nodded and they walked back together.

"What did you do to him anyway?" Claire asked him as they retraced their steps along the road to take them back to the city. "I could have sworn I saw your blade fall…?"

He smiled as he told her that attack it was more symbolic than anything else. To bring a blade down on a foe, yet be so precise with the blade that he could strike at them without harming them.

"It was used in my land only by the most skilled of samurai," he explained, "To help those who have committed crimes to see the error of their ways and destroy the evil in them. If they truly feel remorse for their crimes, then they are reborn in a way and given a second chance. Momozigo is not an evil person. He was just young and frightened, and we all make mistakes when we are young… and even when we grow old we make mistakes. We are only mortal after all. But I could also see that he truly regretted it and he had to confront the people he wronged sooner or later. Now he can make up for what he did and leave this in the past before he can move forward with his life."

They returned to the city, where Momozigo was already waiting for them with a large smile.

"Hehe, all is forgiven, and all it took was a big of money!" he said happily, "I can come and go through Gridania as I please again!"

"All debts are settled, then," Musosai asked, feeling glad for him, "That is well. Let us move on, to wherever the wind should blow."

He shut his eyes and felt the wind hitting his face once more, this time it was feeling cold and he had the vision of snow and mountains.

"And the wind blows, 'twould seem, to snowcapped mountains," he said at last when he opened his eyes again. "Momozigo, pray lead us there."

"Right!" Momozigo said cheerfully. "This way, friends—we're going to Ishgard!"

They headed back to the North Shroud where they would take the road north until they reached snow. They would be able to stop and rest at one of the settlements if they had to before reaching the city proper.

"Now, be aware that I can only lead you as far as the gate to the city since I never been past that point before," Momozigo informed them. "But you have plenty of times, have you not Claire?"

"Yes," she answered, "I can lead you once we arrive."

"What is this city like?" Musosai asked curiously.

She was silent as she thought it over. "It is filled of cold stone towers that seem reach the skies. One that has seen over a thousand years of war… there is an unsteady peace at the moment though, so I don't foresee any true trouble. But there is no shortage of corruption in that city."

"I see," he said as they walked along the dirt road. He breathed in the scent of flowers and leaves and he knew that they would soon leave it behind. Who's to say when he would next be able to enjoy the beauties of the forest again?

They travelled on until night fell and they decided to camp for the night at the furthest reach of the North Shroud. It was already getting colder and they knew that they would soon be seeing snow fall. Musosai insisted that they both get their sleep and that he would keep watch—should there be any trouble, he would take care of it. Claire agreed, but only that he should wake her should he grow tired.

They must have been so tired when he saw how easily they went to sleep and he was glad to see such peaceful expressions on their faces. Momozigo was starting over a new beginning in his life so he would be sleeping deeply. Claire…? He could only begin to imagine just what went through her dreams at night.

But there was another reason he insisted on staying up. His pain was now so bad that he knew that sleep would be impossible for the night. He did his best to simply bite down on his tongue and meditate to try and keep the pain at bay, but it was no use, not even meditation could help him.

At last, when he couldn't stand it anymore, he stood up and stumbled a few feet away from their camp to rest against a tree, breathing hard as he pulled out a potion and swallowed it. Relief spread throughout his aching body as his pain faded from him almost instantly. He took several deep breaths as he savored the feeling of being free from pain as he looked through his stock of this potion.

Only three bottles left… he had to be careful. He still had things to do and he couldn't let himself fall here.

He came back and sat on the ground as his mind drifted. Only a little bit of time was left, but everything was going smoothly, which he was grateful for. He wasn't sure how much time he had left, but he remembered what that Bard he met earlier that day and he thought about how precious that his life was. He wished that he could feel that way about his own life, but just thinking about his past was enough to send waves of guilt and depression washing over him like a storm at sea.

"You alright?" asked a soft voice that startled him out of his thoughts. Momozigo was still flat on his back and snoring softly, but he saw the familiar pair of green eyes looking at him through the dark. Claire must have been awoken by his movements.

He gave her a smile as he reassured her, "Do not worry about me. I was just thinking of home again."

She held no expression on her face as she looked on with those piercing eyes that made him feel that she was looking right into his soul.

"Do you wish to return?" she asked, taking him by surprise. Was it that obvious? He frowned a little as he thought over his answer.

"Truthfully, I do," he confessed as he looked up to the night sky, to completely different stars than the ones he was so used to spending time underneath. "But that is not important now. Don't worry about me. You younglings need sleep more than I do."

She arched an eyebrow, which clearly said what she was thinking and he promised, "I will sleep later. You are the one who needs to rest now. Sleep. I will wake you should anything happen."

He knew for certain that she must have been tired, for she soon closed her eyes and drifted off again. He pulled the blanket that he had wrapped around his shoulders and gently draped it across her and Momozigo.

He would rest later.

*Morning*

He stayed up long through the night and even when the sun began to rise. When Claire and Momozigo awoke, they began asking why he didn't wake them, but he reassured them that he was fine. He wasn't tired. Though it wasn't until he promised to rest when they reached the city of Ishgard did they agree to continue on their journey. So they went on further north, leaving the beautiful green of the forest far behind them and their feet reached the crunch of snow.

He was amazed by the stretch of snow and mountains that stretched out in front of him, but what drew his attention more than anything were the sight of the dragons that they passed.

"There are countless stories of dragons from my homeland," he whispered in awe, "But to see so many of them here before me? I must admit that I know not how to deal with it."

"I would be careful," Claire warned. "The dragons here belong to Nidhogg's brood. They are more docile than they used to be, but they will attack if provoked."

"Right!" Momozigo said as he moved closer to the two of them, as if afraid that if he strayed from their side then he would be targeted. "So, we leave the large, fire-breathing dragons alone! I like that plan!"

Musosai chuckled and did what she suggested, though he could not help but glance at these wondrous creatures from afar. They passed up through the snow and to a camp dubbed called Dragonhead, where they were able to rest for a short time. He did not admit to it, but he was grateful for the rest for it took so much more effort for him to move through the snow. Thankfully for them, Claire seemed to be familiar with the people and they welcomed her with open arms like she was their prodigal daughter returning home from a long journey.

He had known for some time now that she was considered to be Heir's Ear's greatest hero, but it wasn't until they arrived in these lands did he see just how admired and respected that she was hailed as. When they left the camp and head to the entrance to Ishgard, he could see the breathtaking city sitting atop a peak with towers that stretched upwards and seemed to reach the sky.

She guided them through the cold city, where the people all seemed to know her as well. When they arrived at the nearest tavern, the barkeeper was more than happy to allow them room to rest for as long as they needed. Another thing he was immensely grateful for because this cold weather seemed to make the pain in his body even more painful than before. Instead of saying anything about this though, Musosai thanked him humbly before he asked his two comrades to join him outside so that they could discuss what they were to do next.

"Such a breathtaking snowscape," he said admiringly, looking over the gray stone and to the vast snow-covered mountains beyond them.

"Though each of this land's regions may not change much with the seasons, collectively they are no less colorful than Hingashi," he informed them before looking back, already having a plan formed. "Now then, Momozigo and I will set to tracking down injustice in this city. In the meantime, my pupil, pray see to it your sword arm remains warm in this frosty clime."

"You will get rest while I am away, won't you?" Claire asked and he nodded, promising that he would do just that. They would continue on as they had up till now. They would seek out evil in this city and wait for her to return.

He had a lot left to do, and he would be damned before he allowed himself to fall before he did all that he could to try and make up for the sins of the past.

(Sorry for taking so long with another chapter. But I had recently moved to a new state and have been looking for a job. But I'm settled in and I'm unpacking, as well as having a new job starting next week. So I hope that this chapter was worth the wait!)