Chapter 4:

It wasn't entirely fair to say that Kaito was completely without ambition, though it wasn't necessarily untrue. He was a simple man with simple desires. And if his family's merchant business provided him with a stable income and the ability to travel for the rest of his life—well, who was he to fight destiny? He had no problem with his social standing, and he enjoyed his work very much most of the time.

And so, it was quite the surprise when his very steady, linear life took a sudden turn for the worst. Kaito had been tired, growing anxious to reach the next village, and had taken a short cut instead of his usual route on the beaten path. His large bags had slumped his shoulders, slowing his speed, and distracting him from other more pressing matters, such as the group of men who had begun following him.

While the blue-haired man was shocked when they suddenly came at him with weapons, the events that followed thereafter went better than he had been hoping for. The thugs, if Kaito was being honest, looked as if their day had been going no better than his, as many were limping and sporting multiple cuts and bruises. Other than shoving him to the ground and giving him one good kick to the ribs, they mostly ignored him and instead focused on his belongings, leaving him horrified, and suddenly bankrupt, in the dirt.

Perhaps Kaito should have seen this coming, he thought moodily as he wondered across the forest. After all, he traveled very frequently, and the gods knew he couldn't protect himself. The world was becoming quite the dangerous place. On one side, people were caring less for morals and focusing more on their own selfish desires. However, that cruelty also brought upon the samurai. Ronins were becoming the norm for those who traveled as much as Kaito did, and he was starting to believe he should look into it himself. He didn't like being so vulnerable.

He also didn't like being thirsty. The welcoming sound of a waterfall beckoned him to veer right.

–

Upon arriving, Kaito was quick to realize that someone had already set up camp. Watching from the bushes, he could make out the form of a young girl sleeping on the grass, a large robe and a katana lying a few yards away from her. Did she also require a sword for hire? Any person with half a brain would assume yes, that was exactly how she was here and unharmed by the dangers of the woods around her. Her ronin was most likely gathering them food, which the blunet very much wanted in on. Samurai were known to be calm, level-headed people with high morals. If Kaito guaranteed to pay him, he'd definitely assist him as well!

He thought that, maybe, he should approach the small girl first, just to be safe. She appeared to be waking up, and it would be a bad start if she caught him watching her from the bushes like some creep. So he rose from his hiding spot and approached the clearing, raising his arms in what he hoped would be taken as non-threatening as her shoulders jostled towards him, eyes barely opening into slits. "Gakupo?" she murmured. Her voice was raspy, and when she moved to sit up, she shivered. Kaito also noticed her face was red, as if she had a fever.

"Are you alright?" He reached towards her, wanting to press his fingers against her forehead, but she must have noticed she was not the person she had thought him to be, and immediately bolted to her feet.

Her eyes darted, as if searching for something, and when she didn't find it she murmured a curse under her breath and crouched back to the ground, kicking out one leg and knocking his ankles together, sending him forcibly to the dirt for the second time in the same day. When she crawled on top of him to press both knees into her shoulders, effectively pinning him, he could tell she definitely had a fever. Her blonde hair was matted to her head with sweat, eyes blood-shot and delirious. "I—I'm not trying to hurt you!" he gasped as she gripped him painfully by the hair.

"Who sent you?" she rasped. "What did you do to him?"

Her voice sent shivers down his spine, and he found himself more terrified than when he had been faced with the four, fully grown men earlier. He had no answer for her, had no idea what she was talking about, but opened his mouth to try and calm her down when she was suddenly pulled off him.

"I don't think he's trying to fight, Rin," a man's voice said. Kaito looked up to see a tall, purple-haired man. The girl—Rin—broke from his hold rather easily, surprising Kaito, given how sick she seemed. Though, he had now had first-hand experience to back up the fact she was freakishly strong. Though she was now free, instead of attacking him, she crumbled, unconscious.

"Do you have any medicine?" asked the man, who was still towering over him as Kaito tried to make sense of what, exactly, was going on. "S-she got hurt yesterday, and I tried to clean and dress the wound, but it got worse over night—and now she's like this." He was now wrapping the girl back into her bedding, looking more like a concerned nanny than a samurai, and leading Kaito to believe he had made a huge miscalculation. "It's my fault. I need—I need help."

A bit weary, but feeling strangely obliged, Kaito nodded. "I'll do my best."

–

Kaito knew quite a bit about herbs and wild plants. After gathering those he knew would help disinfect and clean the girl's wound, he set to work with the man, who was named Gakupo, watching curiously over his shoulder. After he had finished, they sat together in a long, awkward silence before Kaito decided to share just why he had appeared at their camp sight.

"Well, if it eases you any, you aren't the only one to have thought that." He nodded towards Rin, who was still sleeping, though appearing much more comfortable. "She wants me to take her to the Eastern lords. I think she's looking for her brother, but I don't know anything about her. What I do know is that she could probably kill us both with a pair of chopsticks." He sounded mocking when he added," I can't fight, and after watching her, I'm not even sure if I want to." It was difficult for Kaito to imagine the large man being the helpless one, while the little sick girl protects him and drags him along. She did take him down easily, though, so he could believe it.

"...Do you think she would be willing to take me to my hometown?" the blue-haired man asked quietly. It felt very strange to ask such a big favor of a child, but if this man did, why couldn't Kaito? "I know my way around very well. I could take her straight to the East, and she can make sure I don't get robbed." Yes, Kaito thought, it would be perfect. They'd both get what they want. "Why are you traveling with her, anyway?"

Gakupo got a strange look on his face. "Like I said, she thought I was a samurai who could take her to the East. When she figured out I was not, she somehow figured I would fit into her plans and decided to keep me along."

"Did she beat you up?"

"...Yes."

"They do say first impressions are important."

Kaito's companion gave a low chuckle. "Perhaps she'll be thankful you treated her," he mentioned. "It will make her obliged to follow through with your request."

"I hope so."

–

A/N: Short chapter, new friends. Still no answers. Many more questions. I'm sorry.

Ch.3 Review Responses:

Ashe Corinthos: Good, I want everyone to fear Rin. She is a force to be reckoned with, and they're starting to catch on pretty fast. Thanks for your time c: I'm so happy you're enjoying it!

Guest: Yes I agree. OTP for life, brother. Thank you u.u

Pineapplepie: Aw thank you! I've never delved into that much action before but I really want to get good at it! Not a lot of Gakupo or Rin in here, but a new introduction was needed, and I hope you enjoy my Kaito because I had a blast writing him.

TheUltimateShipper27: Ahhh thank you u.u I hope you enjoyed this, even if I haven't answered any questions yet!