Disclaimer -- I don't own Samurai 7
A/n: Thanks to all of you, for reading this mess. I would like to fore warn, any adamant fans that the rest of this story will stray from the original storyline/timeline a lot, in addition to oocness from main characters. And, as always I apologize for any poor spelling and/or grammar. Thank you for reading
The woods above Kanna were green and lush. They provide cover for the animals that hide in them, and even better cover for hunters. But on this day the forests' dense foliage proved an observation post. Red eyes watched from a large branch, as a stray villager pulled a dung wagon up the pass. The watcher's lips curled, so they have finally come.
When Kirara and the other travelers arrived in Kanna, they were dismayed by its desolation. The three villagers spread out, knocking on doors pleading with their neighbors to come out and greet the Samurai.
"Come out, don't be rude to our guest" Komachi shouted. But her pleas were only heard by emotionless doors.
Falling to his knees Rikichi shouted "Where the hell is everyone?!"
Kirara and Komachi stopped knocking on doors when they saw a figure approach them.
"No need to shout Rikichi-san", a young woman said as she got closer.
"Tomoe- Chan, you came back." Kirara gasped, "Where is everyone else?"
"You all look parched, here", Tomoe handed the priestess and the others cups of water from the tray she carried,
"The Nobuserei were here two days ago. Now the whole village is terrified, the men are waiting for you at the elder's house."
"I'll go tell them we're here then" Kirara said before taking off, with Komachi in tow.
The samurai had figured as much and werent surprised by the news. "Rikichi, perhaps the samurai would like some refreshment as well"
"Yes, your right" And he processed to introduce her to the village's hired swords, as she passed out water.
Kanbei eyed the bow and quiver strapped to her back, determing whether or not, it was for show or if she had any real talent. Shiroji was his usual suave self, Kyouzo mumbled a thank you. Katsuhiro was equally polite, and Gorobei told a short funny story that made their hostess grace them with a smile.
Heihachi had been cursing his luck from the moment he saw her walk up. However, he was taken aback and surprised by her demeanor, she being … friendly, and to top it off she had smiled. Heihachi had come to the conclusion that this had to be a different girl, it couldn't be his Tomoe.
But that thought was dashed away, when his eyes found a familiar bland expression, "How nice to see you again, Hiyashida-dono"
"You, two, know each other" Rikichi asked.
"Yeah, we met a while back. How is every one Tomoe? The samurai asked.
"The children really miss you, Ho-Ho, especially Aya-chan."
Tomo smirked, "Oh. We thought something had frightened you off."
"I don't remember anything scary about my last visit" he asked, taking a cup from her hand.
She was about to reply, when the priestess returned, interrupting their friendly banter. The trek to the Elder's house was quite. Tomoe stayed close to Heihachi the entire way there. She had even managed to sit next to him during the meeting (this was accomplished by giving every one around the evil eye). Heihachi was focused on the information that the elder was providing them, but he couldn't help but notice the extra attention he was getting from his old friend. It was eerie. His thoughts turned back to the time when they were at Haruko's; something's not right, Tomoe wasn't extroverted. She barely smiled or laughed, she even keep the children at arms length. Now she wants to be close to me. No body changes that much. Heihachi was pulled from his thoughts, when strange noises came from outside.
The meeting ended when everyone piled out the house to see what the matter was. To everyone's alarm a huge red machine samurai was hauling a bail of rice under one arm and screaming girl on the other. The red machine swung his sword wildly at the encroaching farmers.
"You farmers think you're so smart. But I know how you think! Hey guys look what I found; rice and women. The rest of you listen up, we came here to fight the bandits, that's the plan so don't go thinking you can back out of the deal now."
As the oversized samurai continued threatening the villagers, the tiny bushy eyed elder stepped forward. The other samurai looked mortified, except Kanbei and Kyouzo.
"You got a problem Shorty?!" Kikuchiyo roared pointing his sword at the old man. At the same moment Heihachi caught sight of something deadly in his periphery.
"Tomoe put it down!" He ordered her. She had drawn her bow, knocked its arrow, and had it aimed for the Kikuchiyo.
"My old man may have lost it, But I'm not gonna let that brute hurt him."
"He won't. Kikuchiyo just likes to make a scene. Come on, lower the arrow, okay." He was standing in front of her, but she did not falter; until she heard the machines brackish laughter. Looking over Heihachi's head she found that the situation had dissolved. Tomoe lowered her weapon. "I didn't realize you were this dangerous."
She shrugged and turned to reenter the elder's house, without another word. "Guess I'll see you later" He said to no one in particular. He laughed at himself, Can this job get any worse?
Heihachi was brought out his musing when he heard Rikichi calling him. The rest of the evening was pretty quiet except for the giggling girls at the back of Rikuchi's house. That was until Kikuchiyo came through the door wrapped in a pink kimono.
"Rikichi?!" He yelled, "Who knew you had such bad taste in women's clothing, ha-ha."
The other samurai seemed to let out a conjoined irritated sigh. Rikuchi's face fell in despair at the sight of the garment and ran from his home sobbing.
"Great going, could you be less sensitive?" Shiroji chided him.
"What? What I do?"
Gorebei and Kanbei just shook their heads, asking themselves why they let him come. Heihachi just polished off his third bowl of rice, wishing he could enjoy it in peace.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in" Kanbei called and the door slide, a sliver head was bowing at the threshold.
"I hope I am not disturbing you, great samurai"
"Not at all please come in" Kanbei greeted the girl.
"What brings you here at the hour, Tomoe – chan" Gorebei asked
"My father would like to extend the hospitality of his house", although her tone was even, the icy glare that she gave Kikuchiyo did not go unmissed.
"Well, isn't that nice. I think I'll accept your offer", Shiroji said.
Kanbei and Katsuhiro both declined, Kikuchiyo keep his mouth shout, and Kyouzo was no where in sight.
"Many thanks to you and your father, But I would prefer to stay here. But, before you go, there is something I'd like to ask you."
Tomoe relaxed her icy glare into a passive look, that she fixed on Gorebei, "What is it Gorebei – dono?"
"Earlier you mentioned something about some children missing Heihachi ….."
The thespian could not finish is when Kikuchiyo interrupted them, "What?! Cross dressers don't have kids!"
Tomoe wrinkled her nose in disbelief. Granted she was a little perturbed that samurai would concern themselves with the banter of old friends on the eve of battle. Both Gorebei and Heihachi both looked at Kikuchiyo as if he were the dumbest creature on Earth.
"Tomoe- Chan if you would stay a while longer I will tell you an epic tale of how we narrowly escaped the Nobuserei"
The two veteran Samurai chuckled, anticipating Gorebei's rendition of their adventure. Their guest complied with the request and sat next to Heihachi. Although it seemed more like she almost sat on top of him. Heihachi awakwardly shifted to accommodate both of them. The engineer remembered a few things about Tomoe, but he didn't recall her being gawky, and wondered if she had done it purposely. The only other reason for her clumsiness could be that she was nervous; the question was what was making her nervous? And why was she looking for comfort from him? He searches her face for some clue, only to find that she was completely engrossed in Gorebei's tale.
When the theatrical rendition was finished, Heihachi found himself transfixed by Tomoe's red eyes. He smiled, "Got to do, what you got to do, to survive"
Tomoe's lips slowly curled upwards, and she turned her head between Gorebei and Heihachi, picturing them in women's clothes. Soon after, from her eerie smirk a hiccupping sound rose from her throat, and her eyes watered. She was laughing.
"That is the funniest thing I have ever heard"
Heihachi was becoming even more skeptical of her changed demeanor. She was showing a side of herself that samurai didn't think existed. What made is worse for him was, that he'd like to see more of it; she was almost likable, even with that weird laugh.
Tomoe caught her breath and rose, "Gorebei – Dono you tell a great story, But it's getting late," She nodded to Shiroji indicating that he should follow her. "Oh, I had forgotten, you wanted to know about what we were talking about earlier. I live in an Orphanage that Hiyashida- dono visits, the children there love him. Does that answer you're question? "
"Gorebei I'm a little hurt that you'd like I was that kind of guy"
"Well, I only heard the end of that curious conversation" Gorebei said jokingly. Tomoe and Shiroji were making way out of the house, until Tomoe stopped abruptly.
She stopped at the threshold of the doorway, her head was downcast, "Heihachi?
She said his name in a breathless tone as if she were calling him to her bed, not trying to get his attention. Shiroji face was marked with a sly grin, and he wasn't the only one sensed intimacy of her summons. The room was unmistakably quieter than it had been moments ago. Kanbei shot Heihachi a disapproving glare but said nothing. Heihachi in turn anxiously rubbed his jaw, "you forget something, Tomoe?"
"Aren't you coming?"
It was a simple question, yet it carried a tinge of suggestion. Tomoe, what are you really asking? Why are you really doing here? I have a feeling I'm going to regret this.
Heihachi gingerly rose from his seat, "Only if you're making breakfast."
Tomoe and Shiroji were out the door as soon as she saw him get up. Heihachi started out when Kanbei's voice stopped him, "Heihachi-dono, we begin our work early". Heihachi knew what he meant, it was warning. A furtive warning, the kind meant to save everyone from embarrassment. Any outsider would have read her body language; a woman's special invitation. Heihachi however, knew better.
"Hai" was all the younger samurai said as he left to follow Shiroji and Tomoe. You don't have to worry Kanbei, I'll be will rested in the morning.
As the trio continued their march across the village, Shiroji was walking next to Tomoe, who was idly asking him about the city they had come from. Heihachi remained just behind, his attention gradually wondered to Tomoe's legs. They were just as long, and supple as he remembered. The thought created in him a desire for a bowl of long grain brown rice. It has a unique texture, hard to appreciate if prepared wrong. Too bad it's hard to find in this region.
His mind started to wonder even more than his eyes. Visions of a rice covered Tomoe began to haunt him, but he pushed the thoughts away, and focused on more important issues. For starters that he would be sleeping in, said women's, father's house. A father who is also the village elder, and with a word from him, Heihachi's supply of rice would be cut off. Not a good idea to have dreams about his daughter.
When they entered the house, once more Tomoe was the perfect the hostess, issued them bedding and other neccessities. She bid them good night and took up her sleeping mat to the other side of the dividing screen (the elder is already sleep, and snorting loudly).
Heihachi lazily watched her go. Something wasn't right about her; the girl he knew and the one in front of him were like night and day. The only thing they had in common was the strange affect they had on his brain. But he needed to rest, an impossible battle was before him; and it was no use troubling him self over something that could be settled in the morning.
Hey every one thank for reading. I wrote quiet a bit, and have been doing some editing (for what it's worth). I've got a pov of why Tomo has been in Heihachi's grill. Not sure it I should add it or not, tell me what you all think. Thanks a ton