Gone Awry

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Katsumi walked in silence along the other side of the horse. She had no problem keeping up with its pace, stride strong and long for someone of her height. Pulling out an apple, she began cutting it with her knife. Taking a bite of a piece, the archer offered one to the horse, holding it under his muzzle with her palm flat.

When the horse took the apple, she would rub his nose and pats its neck before wiping her hand off and offering Shou a piece, brows arched upwards.

Shou commented on Katsumi not having a horse, and she sighed at the fact. She greatly missed horses, having one once, but it died while traveling and since that time, she had been traveling by foot.

"About eight months ago, my horse fell ill and died. Since then, I've been saving up money little by little to buy another gelding. Just... taking a while. I want to get a good one, and during these times they are especially expensive. So for now... I walk."

[Yamabara Shou]

It was true, horse were expensive but that hadn't actually been a issue for Shou. He had lost a couple of horses over the years. It happened when trips were long and speed was more important then the life of the horse at the time. IT was a sad thought, a sad thing to have ridden a animal to death, but at the time it had been needed. However due to the nature of his work for the Takeda, he had just been given another. This current horse 'Gokaze'  however had been serving him for over a year now, and serving him well. 

"I'm sorry to have mentioned it then. The lost of a good horse is a sad thing. Though eight months is a long time to travel everywhere just by leg power alone. Maybe that guys head is worth enough, to buy yourself a new one." Shou said knowing that was doubtful. A bounty on one man, unless he had killed someone important was unlikely to buy a horse out right. It could help Saito get the rest of the way there at least. 

(OOC: It was about time I named my horse LOL.)

[Shinomori Katsumi]

"There is no need to worry yourself about it, Yamabara-san. Shit just... happens," Katsumi said with a shrug. It had been a good horse, but what do you do? Life moved on no matter what happened. Kat learned that the hard way years ago. As much as she enjoyed horses and was a decent rider, she was just as fine traveling by foot. Kat found that she was just as easily able to find work without a steed. It simply took her longer to get to places, and she couldn't carry around as much. "It isn't so bad. As long as I can find jobs."

Katsumi seriously doubted this bounty was worth all of that much, but she nevertheless pursed her lips and pondered the possibility. "Hm... well... that would be rather... nice."

Being a realist though, Katsumi nodded and added, confidence within her voice about the matter, "With a few more good paying jobs along with this bounty, I think... I will finally be able to get that gelding. I... am pretty good with my money and have been saving up, so..."

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou wondered just how stable life as a mercenary was as Saito spoke. Yes there was always work around, but nowhere near as often was that work the sort he would think the archer would do. not every thief or murderer had a bounty over there head. Not every village was under attack by bandit, the only consistence work would be joining up with someone's army which slightly tied someone down compared to other sort of work. "Well I'm sure it pays better what you manage to find." Shou pointed out, he wasn't paid much but did have money for expenses on route, and when was home mainly had to only buy things considered a luxury. 

"I wish I was good with money. Maybe I'd say enough to help found a village when I'm too god damn old to run anymore." Shou mused aload, not sure where the idea had come from. He had to admit he did miss, village life to a certain extent. Maybe that fact he had been home in the first time in years recently was effecting him, he didn't know.

[Shinomori Katsumi]

The man on the horse groaned in pain and Katsumi glanced backwards. He didn't seem to be in any real danger right now. The horse was going slowly and she had patched up the wounds. Of course, there was always a danger with the stomach, but only time would tell. She didn't try cleaning it out well though.

"Do not move and your wounds shouldn't get any worse. Understand?"

He simply nodded and Kat turned her head back around, looking forward. The woman listened to Shou and, if it weren't for the fact that she had never really developed a sense of humour because she hadn't been allowed to, Katsumi would have found what Shou said to be funny.

"You shouldn't worry too much about it. You are still young and that sort of thing... well... you learn it. I was kind of... forced to be that way since I was little..." her mouth would close and she would trail off. Katsumi disliked talking about herself, especially her past, and her gaze would drop to the ground, fingers nervously tugging at her hakama.

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou gave the small man a confused look at he comment about money. Just how old was he. He looked like he could be about 14, he was certainly small enough and didn't have the facial features of a man in his prime of adult hood. So it felt weird for him to be saying to Shou, that he was still young, and that Saito had learn when he was younger. 

"Just how old are you?" Shou asked bluntly, curiosity getting the best of him. Here was this younger man, with more useful skills for day to day living then he had. Medical knowledge, self-control in finance, even use of a bow at a professional level. It was as impressive as anything he had ever seen. 

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Katsumi blinked at the question and looked over at Shou. Why was he asking her that? Was it simply out of curiosity? Was there something she said that made him want to know? The question itself didn't make her nervous. It was simply the fact that Katsumi didn't realize that it was unusual for someone as young as her to be so mature. She had been forced to be that way due to her upbringing, so she didn't really think about the fact that she didn't have a real childhood. Because, for someone who never had one and never was around others who had good childhoods, what was there to know to miss?

"Uh... sixteen. You?"

[Yamabara Shou]

While not as young as he had expect, that was still pretty young. When he was that age, Shou had still been at home. Still tending to fields during the day. His family had also still been alive. The though hit him with out him expecting to.  "23" He answered simply, trying to keep his word short in order to not give away the sudden darker thoughts.

"But damn you're young. You should have to deal with scum like this in order to pay for a living." Shou expressed his opinion gesturing to the guy on the horse and the bag containing the gruesome head. "You shirk away from gore less then I do. That just doesn't seem right." He mused to himself, feeling slightly embarrassed by the fact. 

[Shinomori Katsumi]

"Oh? You seem younger. Then again... I guess... I do too," replied the woman, although that illusion was partly because woman, but she kept that to herself. Katsumi noticed a shift in the air with Shou. His answer was so short and his body went a little rigid. Her lips formed in a firm, straight line, but she would not comment on it. Whatever was going through Shou's mind was his own business.

They were very close to the inn, and Katsumi would direct them at a crossroads to go left. She glanced over at Shou gestured at the criminal and the bloodied bag, and Kat pursed her lips.

"It's simply all I've really known. What I'm good at, I suppose," replied the woman nonchalantly. She looked back again, staring at the back. Blood dripped onto the ground from it, yet Kat felt nothing. No disgust. No pleasure. No real satisfaction. It was merely a job. Katsumi gave a small shrug. "It doesn't really... bother me. I don't see why it should. Why any of it should."

She knew Haji didn't want her around this type of violence, and Kat would play along with him to make him happy, but the archer was perfectly fine keeping up this lifestyle. As long as she had her Haji, she would be satisfied. The idea of settling down... she didn't really understand it and didn't know what to think about it. She was always moving around. Always working. She had been since she could remember. And with her busy-body nature, Katsumi suspected she would likely go mad if she ever truly "settled down" in the conventional sense.

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou frowned to himself when Saito said it didn't bother him. Did he mean that having to put up with it didn't bother him or just that gore in general didn't. It bother Shou, he wished for a world without it. He knew that was naive of him but he couldn't help but think so. They were getting close to the inn now, according to Saito, and Shou couldn't wait he felt like sleeping just to get his mind off how bad the world was. 

"I just think someone your age, should have great horizons then self survival and violence. I wish I still did." Shou admitted, tending field would boring, but if he didn't have a debt to pay. Loyalty to the Takeda, he would have taken boring and dull over interesting and dangerous any day. Not that it would be safe. Villages popped up and down as war, and banditry forced them to. Shaking his head, Shou cleared his mind. "Anyway lets press on before I go mad thinking about the state of the world." Shou instructed, speeding his pace ever so factionally. 

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Kat really didn't see the big deal about it. The subject seemed to upset so many people. Shou. Haji. But with how Katsumi was raised, fighting for money and taking and even killing criminals just didn't seem off-putting to her. Sure, she wouldn't kill some random villager or something, but... what was so terrible about killing for money? Why was it such a horrible career?

There would always be crime, always be a need for stopping criminals, always be war, suffering, death. To think otherwise was foolish, in her opinion. And since Kat was trained to fight and to kill, to take on the kind of work meant to help deal with such, it would be counter-productive for her to stop earning money and to not do what she knew so well and was so good at. It gave her good money and it was where her skills were.

But it seemed to upset Shou (and her Haji), and, per usual, Katsumi ceased talking about the matter. There was no point in doing so, as it would only create conflict and further put her and her career on the spot, and there was little else Katsumi disliked more.

The realist nodded and pointed ahead. "Of course. Where the road goes down... Down the hill, the inn is just a little beyond. We shall be there very soon, Yamabara-san."

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou would look where he was pointed to and see the hill and descent that was mentioned. He would follow it until the inn in question finally came in to sight. Before looking back to the rest of his company. I looked like the day would soon be coming to a close. "I can't wait till I hit the floor." Shou would say to Saito, before continuing down the hill towards the inn. 

Once they were there he would get the thug, off of his horse before trying the animal up. Carrying the guy, he head inside ready to go about renting a room for the night. He still didn't like the idea of this guy being with them as he slept but he didn't want to just let the man get away either. 

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Katsumi would help Shou carry the man, stronger than she appeared, especially considering her height and tiny frame. They entered the inn and Katsumi went over to the innkeeper. Tilting her head of she spoke, the woman spoke in her false tenor, motioning over to the thug and Shou, "Excuse me, sir. We would like to rent a room please."

She handed him money, and then extra for food and incentive to allow them to harbor a criminal. "Dinner for three and for the... trouble."

The two bowed heads and Katsumi would return to Sho, hands slipping into the sleeves of her black kimono. Her arms crossed over her flattened chest, lips pressing into a straight, firm line.

"I paid for the room and food," said the archer. Inhaling deeply, she scratched her covered arm. "I... can keep watch for most of the evening, or... or all of it, Yamabara-san."

It wasn't really too much of a problem. Even if Katsumi fell asleep, she was such a light sleeper that if the thug tried to get up, which she seriously doubted with that stomach wound, that she would instantly wake up, ready to do whatever was needed. She had been trained to do so from a young age, and it was ingrained in her.

The innkeeper would lead them to their room, and after settling down the thug, Katsumi would silently begin to put away her things in a corner, which was likely where she would spend most of the evening.

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou watched was slightly surprised when Saito decided to pay so readily. Then again he had claimed what valuables the group back at the tea actually had, and was going to be coming in to more once they finished handing this bounty. Though he had to admit he was slightly tempted when it was offered that he could just sleep through the night and Saito would do so all night. However that just seemed unfair to him.

"We'll take turns, we don't want either of us to be tired in the morning." Shou replied not knowing that the other man was confident in his ability to awake if the thug attempted to escape during the night. Shou however unlike Saito didn't have much to put away. The clothes on his back, the weapons he carried plus the money he owned where all on his person. While the rest of his stuff would still be on Gokaze out side where he was tied up. He wasn't worried though, the horse was a good one. He felt sorry for any man who attempt to ride off with him and Shou's possessions. 

Even so Shou found himself a comfortable spot in the room, after they had been lead there. Propped up against on of the walls. "Once I get my half of this bounty I'll pay back the what you spent." Shou offered while he didn't really have the money to just hand over now once he did, he wouldn't just leave a debt unpaid. Stretching out and yawning Shou waited for the food, that had been mentioned. 

[Shinomori Katsumi]

She blinked and looked over at Shou. Kat was so used to doing it all on her own that she was thrown off a little. But she then bowed her head to show her appreciation. "Alright, Yamabara-san. Thank you."

"Do not worry yourself, Yamabara-san."

Food came in with hot water, and the innkeeper quickly left after making sure they were settled. The archer proceeded to make tea, and Katsumi poured them some, handing Shou a cup. She made a separate batch for the bandit, and upon finishing the woman shifted over to the thug, who rested against the wall all tied up. Katsumi lifted the cup to the man's lips so she could drink, but she would proceed to spit at her, glaring angrily at the archer.

Katsumi stopped and released a sigh, the lids of her eyes drooping. She wiped off her face with the sleeve her her black kimono, expression entirely impassive. In fact, the archer was unnervingly calm. Setting the tea down to the side, it didn't seem like she'd do anything, but suddenly with a swift movement, she backhanded the man with enough force to cause him to fall onto the ground. Moving the tea over to his face, she said coolly, eyes narrowed, tone of voice frighteningly calm and cold, "It's medicinal. Don't try that again. If you think... I have any qualms against killing you... you are mistaken, idiot. Do not take my actions as kindness."

No, she wasn't like Haji. She never could be purely good like him. Katsumi was not so forgiving or benevolent, and her gravely serious expression frightened the man, whose cheek ached from the force of the impact. Avoiding her dark gaze, the thug sipped at the tea on the ground, and after a few moments, Kat shifted back over to Shou and her tea. Closing her eyes, Katsumi finally took a sip in silence.

Actions spoke enough for her.

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou would nod in return when being thanked, and be glad when food arrived. Taking the tea when offered, he calmly sipped it slowly. Enjoying the taste and warmth. Watching as Saito made yet another cup of tea and offer it to the tied up man. A brief flash of angry popped up when he saw the man spit it out at Saito. However that was quickly subsided by the pity for the men when he saw him get backhanded to the floor. 

As Saito came back over he drank in silence, and for a time so did Shou himself. Having enough of the tea for now he looked down at the table to see food wise what had been brought. There was a reasonable selection, however rice feature primary in the meal, not to much surprise. However gently he placed down the cup and waited. He wasn't going to eat first, as he had bought the meal. 

[Shinomori Katsumi]

It seemed Shou was waiting on her, something Katsumi was used to despite Japanese customs due to her upbringing with her Father. If she dared eat before he was finished, she would have certainly received a beating. With a sigh at the thought, Katsumi picked up a bowl of rice and began to consume it.

After picking up a piece of fish and consuming it, the archer inquired softly, "Since it may take a few days... I was thinking... perhaps... we send a message to the town about him. We can stay here and then... they can round him up. Or... we can simply wait until he has healed up enough for us to head to town ourselves. ... Either way is fine by me, Yamabara-san."

She nodded her head and took another sip of tea. Now that food was in her system, it seemed to remind her belly that she had not eaten in over a day, and Katsumi began to eat more quickly, quietly scarfing down her fish and rice.

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou would listen to the pair of plans. Either way required that they remain here at least for awhile. However it was uncertain how quickly the man would heal, a messenger could be faster. Shou thought, though slightly bias.

"Well I figure there is no reason to risk taking him that far. The town is more likely to send, more then just two men out to keep him contained. Though must be sure to mention the bounty, so that they can bring enough to pay." Shou would explain his view point. Once Saito had started eating, Shou would do so as well. Glad to have something to eat after the days travelling he had done.