Yay! Drama! Enjoy!

I watched her carefully, as she sharpened her sword.

The brat hadn't spoken in three days. She won't even glare at me anymore.

While the quiet was enjoyable, her lack of emotion was really bothering me. I had to get her angry, or something.

No amount of insulting seemed to bother her, though. And I wasn't too keen on complimenting her...

I watched her drag that stone across the blade again. She had an idea of what she was doing, from the looks of things. Who was the patient soul who put up with teaching her about swords?

"Hey." I said.

She gave a nod, showing she'd heard me. As much as this annoyed me, she probably wouldn't listen if I told her.

"How come you handle swords better than cooking pots?" I asked.

She paused, mid-stroke.

Finally, some emotion crossed her face, as she looked at me.

Unfortunately, it was the glare she usually put on when I'd pushed her too far.

"Have you nothing better to do?" She snapped. "I'm in pain! And I don't know why! If you're going to distract me from figuring that out, at least make it worth my while to pay attention to you!"

The brat jumped to her feet, shoving the sword back into its sheathe.

"Believe it or not, I am a war lord's daughter." She said. "It's not a very stimulating occupation, and I have to go looking for something to do when I don't have anything else! I watched the sword smith, my father, and my brother for years, and I've memorized most of their techniques! The maids weren't near as interesting to watch is all!"

With that, she stormed off into the trees toward the river.

Everyone sat up, having been awakened by her sudden out-burst.

I was just a little shaken.

This girl had gotten under my skin like no other person I'd ever known.

Screaming, whining, crying, complaining, and screaming some more. Then her attitude... she had no problem talking back to me until I threatened to kill her.

Truth be told, this girl'd been a big pain in the ass... but, this was the only way she was tolerable from the looks of things... it's this or the creepy, empty husk of a ghost she was before.

"Go back to sleep." I said. "I'll take care of her."

I got to my feet as they settled back down, and started away to find the brat.

She was crouched by the river, reaching toward the water with a shaking hand, but, not making contact with it.

I took two steps forward, just enough to see the water.

There was nothing in it. Nothing I could see, anyway.

I began to realize... she'd never actually gotten into the water when she bathed before.

I thought it was because of the slippery river bed, or the cold water.

But, now, there seemed to be something about it that bothered her.

Her head turned upward slightly, and she frowned as she spotted my reflection.

"What?" I asked.

She flopped down on her butt, and crossed her arms.

"Kinishinai..." The brat said. "Demo... I am curious... How did you come to be a mercenary?"

Geez. This wench is so random. How have I kept my sanity this whole time?

Slowly, I sat down, ready to make her think twice about ever even glaring at me, again.

"I guess I was born for this..." I said. "My old man never did like me. He would knock me around the village, no matter where we were, and had me doing all of his chores, while still taking credit for them. When we'd get home, he'd beat my old lady, too. She let him do it. She would knowingly and purposely ask him to beat her..."

The brat was beginning to sit up straighter, watching me a little more closely.

"One day, after taking it for about twelve years, and slowly becoming stronger than him by taking on his chores, I'd had enough of it." I went on. "I grabbed an old pitch fork, and headed home. I slaughtered him right outside the house before he could get inside, and beat my old lady. I thought she'd be happy to know that we were going to be okay from then on."

The brat now held her knees to her chest, listening calmly.

She seemed more interested than scared.

I guess I need to put in more detail...

"My old lady panicked when she saw the blood splatters all over me." I said. "I told her what'd happened, and she ran out to check on him, and see if he was alive. It didn't take too long before she realized he wasn't, and started yelling me. I don't know why she was upset, or why she tried to hit me for it. But, once I put that pitch fork through her neck, it was all done. The village found out the next day, and all of them came after me, trying to kill me. I ended up slaughtering them all, because they would not understand why I killed them..."

For a moment, she just sat there, watching me.

She didn't look scared, or uneasy in any way.

The brat tilted her head to the side.

"Interesting story." She said. "I might've guessed you killed your parents... surely every child wants to... however, I highly doubt this story is all true. Fathers don't beat their children. Women don't take beatings from men."

I sat up straighter, glaring her down.
"Maybe your parents weren't like that." I said. "But, then, your old man has the riches to buy you things to keep you and your old lady out of his way. He didn't have to beat you."

She returned my glare.

"That is not the case!" She growled.

"Isn't it?" I asked. "So, when he takes you out with him, he teaches you things, and laughs with you? When he gets home, he hugs your old lady, and tells her he loves her? When you go to sleep, he pats your head, and tells you to sleep well? Does he give you gifts because he loves you? Or, is it to get your whiny ass out of his face?"

Her eyes were wide. She hadn't chosen what to feel, yet, but, I could tell I'd finally gotten through to her.

After a moment, anger returned to her eyes.

She raised her hand like she might hit me, and left it hanging.

For a little while, she sat there, glaring at me, hand shaking in the air.

It was about time. She can't say anything. She can't really do anything. She did not have a perfect life, and she knew it. Whether she would admit it or not.

She slowly lowered her hand down to cover her face.

I got to my feet, and started away.

Back at the camp site, I settled down in my spot.

The brat didn't come back until morning. She started her chores as soon as she got here, lighting the fire herself for once.

She was quiet all day, not even complaining about the heat, as we made our way to Hakureizan.

Somehow, I felt a little... uncomfortable. Like I'd said more than I should have to her. Like I'd gone too far.

I cast a glance back at her, making sure she was still tailing us.

Her head was hung low, hands at her sides, and a gloomy aura emanating from every inch of her.

My feeling got a bit stronger, as I turned ahead.

She was in pain, wasn't she?

She hated me, now, didn't she?

She would never... I shook my head.

No way. She just didn't cook something in our breakfast all the way through. My stomach's upset. That's all...

Kinishinai - I don't care.

Demo - However.

Yay! Love it! Finally getting somewhere! Please, review!