Chapter two:
Mt. Tsurosho.
They walked for days. Stopping only once every day – to eat and sleep. Once every couple of days they would reach a village, the people would greet them warmly, offering some food and hospitality. Each time Kuhey would thank them heartily, but turn them down pointing out that they were in a big hurry and could not stop. They would bow and usually offer the travellers some food for the road.
Currently they arrived at another village, this time however it was nearly dark, the sun was just starting to settle behind the mountains at each side of the valley. They walked into the village. The villagers greeted the two travellers in what Nera had come to presume was the customary hospitality. They were offered food and shelter. This time, instead of refusing them; Kuhey looked up at the darkening sky and then at the other end of the valley. He saw a dark cloud descending on the valley. He then returned his gaze to the town elder who had offered him their hospitality.
"Thank you very much. Though we are in a great hurry, I can see that there is a cold storm on its way. We would appreciate the shelter greatly. Thank you." The elder smiled and bowed. As he returned to his upright posture he gestured in the direction of one of the spectators. A man and woman stepped forward. From further down the road, a boy also came closer.
'He must their sun.' Kuhey thought to himself.
"You will stay with them for as long as you wish. You are free to leave whenever you wish." The elder said and slowly walked down the road in the direction from whence the travellers had come. Kuhey turned to Nera. He could see that she was tired form the long day's walk.
"We'll stay here for the night. There's a storm coming, I don't think it would be wise to continue." Kuhey said in a soft, caring voice. She didn't say anything.
They spent the night at the couple's house. In the morning it was snowing intensely. Kuhey still left the town and headed into the woods for his morning training session, however. Nera had grown accustomed to his early rises and did not even wake when he opened the door to see if she was still okay, nor did she wake when the shoji screen door slid close behind him again as he left.
When Kuhey reached a stream, he stopped. It was about a halve hour's walk from the village. It was still dark, but the dark was not something that impeded Kuhey, in fact, it was an asset. He trained hard and long. He suddenly stopped, the boy who was the couple's sun came out of the woods and he was carrying with him a fishing spear.
"You certainly aren't the average traveller!" He exclaimed with intrigue.
"No, I guess not." Kuhey said, sheathing his sword. He walked to the river bank and sat down, his feet hanging in the water.
"She's very beautiful." The boy said as he flung his spear into the water, snaring a fish.
"Whom?" Kuhey asked.
"The girl you brought with you of course."
Kuhey didn't say anything. 'Yes, she is. I guess I just never noticed.' He thought to himself. After a couple of minutes he started his training again. They now spoke through their occupations.
"So what's her story?" The boy asked, snaring yet another fish.
"I don't know. I found her drifting in the ocean a bit off shore. I guess a never asked."
"You're telling me that you found a beautiful damsel like that and you never asked where she's from?"
"Something happened okay, I have more important matters to worry about." Kuhey snapped at the boy furiously.
"Sorry. I was just amazed. I didn't know..." The boy trailed off.
Kuhey brought his fury under control. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. You couldn't have known."
They parted ways shortly after that. Kuhey dipped in the freezing river and went back to the town. And the boy continued his fishing.
They left the next morning. Heading for the other end of the valley. When they reached the hill that marked its end, they could see the mountain rising up from the snow.
"Just another two days." Exclaimed Kuhey.
And so it was.
By the end of the second day, they were at the foot of Mt. Tsurosho. There was only one small path that led up to the caves about two thirds up the mountain. By the morning of the third day, Kuhey stopped Nera. He went down on his haunches; he stroked the ground, and smelled a handful of it.
"They're close. Probably the next cave." He said. They continued quietly. As they were coming around a bend to the mouth of the cave, he froze and lent back against the wall. Nera understood the gestured and followed. Kuhey motioned for her to stay out. He unsheathed his katana slowly. Then swung around the bend quickly and quietly. Nera only heard a couple of muffled moans. Moments later, Kuhey reappeared. With him were the villagers. But he was in no way glad. Instead, his face bore a deep and depressing frown.
When Nera inquired as to why he was not happy to have freed the villagers, he motioned for her to have a look. When she saw the men lying on the ground, she gasped in surprise and horror. They were soldiers from the kingdom of Nibusashi, they wore the military uniforms. She however quickly concealed her horror and walked back to the group.
"What would warriors from Nibusashi be doing so far from the kingdom?" She asked in astonishment.
"One of the villagers told me that he overheard them saying that the king has decided to 'unify' all of Japan. They said that he was doing it partly out of spite because he believes that one of the nations have kidnapped his daughter." Kuhey answered.
She looked at him, and was overcome with dread and guilt.
"What do you plan to do?" She asked.
"I will not let my people be ruled by someone not from our land. I will avenge the killing of my master and make it so that it shall be many years before Nibusashi ever tries to 'Unite' Japan!"
Nera nodded slowly.
"We'd best get them home." She said. "Winter's closing in quickly."
Kuhey nodded and they started on their journey back to the village.