Wash Away Your Sins {Katsumi&Jina}

[Shinomori Katsumi]

It was rare that Katsumi was not in her men's kimono, hiding her feminine form beneath the loose, dark clothe as she masqueraded as a man. But on her last job, the girl had been forced to kill a group for a single bounty, and things had gotten rather... messy, to say the least. Blood had soaked her form, dripping from the dark cloth and her locks, splashed across her flesh.

And so now she sat near a riverbank. Kat's bladed bow and quiver full of arrows was at her side, along with the bag with the bounty's head, and she was still in her cloth wrap flattening her chest and bloodied, charcoal hakama. The girl's hair was soaked and droplets of water slid down her body, from having to dunk her head to feel even somewhat clean before entirely bathing. Her slender waist was exposed and mid and lower back, some of the scars apparent from her Father's past beatings.

Small hands rubbed vigorously at her kimono, wringing out both water and blood, before plunging it once more into the running river and repeating the same action. The sooner she cleaned her clothes, bathed, and they dried out, the sooner Katsumi would be able to see Haji. And so she kept his face, her goal, within her mind, all of the stresses from earlier in the day slowly washing away with the crimson blood.

[Zhuo Jina]

Jina walked down the path leading to the clearing at the river. Her arms and legs were coated in dust and dirt. She had spent the day attempting to learn to ride a horse, something her father would never have approved of. Granted, he likely wouldn't have approved of her lifestyle in the least bit. 

Her efforts proved worthless, her temper was kept calm from an outside viewer, but inside she was enraged. Why couldn't she do it?! She was furious with herself for being unable to even mount the beast today. As she approached the clearing though, she saw a young man with scars across his back. He was washing blood from the black cloth in his hands. She could only see him from the back, his slender frame confused her.

Jina watched from afar for a few minutes, taking note of the bow and quiver laying on the river's bank. She was nervous, assessing the situation. She didn't want to upset a man who had clearly just gotten out of a bloodbath.

Soon, she decided that it would be best to attempt not to surprise him, but she certainly needed to clean herself off.

"Um...Hello!"

Jina called, not moving from her position. She raised her hand into the air, waving it at the young man, hoping he would turn around and not reach for that bladed bow on the bank.

[Shinomori Katsumi]

At hearing a voice, Katsumi immediately tensed, back straightening up like a rod. And yet the voice was non-intimidating and... feminine?

Instinctively, Katsumi held the kimono tightly against her chest, covering herself, and turned around slightly. It was another woman and Katsumi blinked. She was waving at Katsumi rather cheerily and Katsumi was pretty much half-naked, still smeared with blood and drenched, and her chest was wrapped, which would be evident by now. How was Katsumi to explain this? Her normal cover was certainly blown at this point. To say this felt awkward barely covered Kat's feelings right now.

"Uhh... h... hi..." murmured the petite archer, not really knowing what to say or do, evidently uncomfortable by the situation and shifting in her position, nibbling at her bottom lip.

[Zhuo Jina]

Jina noticed the chest wrap and blinked, quieting down, her hand waving more slowly. She was confused, not understanding what she was looking at. A woman dressed in black, dressing to be a man, drenched in blood? This was certainly not something she had encountered before.

"A w-woman?" Her voice was soft. 

Walking forward, she approached the woman carefully. She could tell that the woman was on edge and Jina certainly wasn't ready to fight. 

"You're the first woman warrior I've seen since I've been here."

She took the sword off her belt and tossed it near the woman's own weapons, but still within reach if absolutely necessary. She wanted to establish trust with the woman, but wasn't going to be careless about it.

"Are you hurt?"

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Katsumi roughly bit down on her bottom lips once the other figured it out, suddenly extra nervous. Perhaps she had no reason to be, but it was tough to teach an old dog new trick, especially one with the life she had had. The archer wasn't necessarily terrified of this other woman doing anything. It was simply her paranoia from years of abuse and being exposed like this, for someone to know the truth and to see her as herself.

Yet there was nothing for Katsumi to do, and so she continued sitting stiff as a board, clutching the kimono to her front. Gaze moving to the side, the archer responded slowly, fingers fidgeting with the soaked cloth in her hands, "Uh... y... yeah. You... are the third for... for me..."

The other warrior asked Katsumi if she were injured, and dark hues dropped to her lap. So many recently seemed to care about others well-being and, even with those she had met and being with Haji, it was difficult for Katsumi to get adjusted to.

"Um... n... no. Just... a few scratches. The blood... it isn't mine," murmured the girl, at the last word her gaze moving over to the bloodied bag with the head inside. "There... were more than just the bounty, and things got... messy."

[Zhuo Jina]

Jina's eyes widened. She hadn't expected this woman to be a mercenary. It appeared that she was quite good, too. If she had accumulated that much blood from somewhere other than her own body without any wounds, she had to be good.

Jina smiled, something she rarely did anymore. She was pleased to see that a woman, usually held in such a low regard when it came to strength, was succeeding so well. She began to approach the woman slowly, still able to tell that she was nervous.

"I'm impressed. I've never met a woman so fatal as you appear to be. What's your name?"

[Shinomori Katsumi]

The other woman had been armed, so Katsumi wondered if she was a mercenary too. She didn't bother asking, gauging her actions and still adjusting to the situation. Slowly, Katsumi's tension would ebb away, but it took time.

She smiled and Katsumi's expression became impassive, as it usually was, so far incapable of smiling herself. It was something the archer wished someday would change, and she hoped the first time she smiled Haji would be there to see (and would be her reason.)

A more indirect compliment, but a compliment nevertheless came from the other merc, and Katsumi nibbled lightly on her bottom lip. There was no point in giving her alias at this point since the other knew, and a sigh released from Katsumi's.

"I still have much to learn and improve upon, but... thank you," said Katsumi humbly, bowing down her head. At lifting her head back up, her hands gripping the soaked kimono dropped to her lap, and Katsumi went on, gaze shifting from the other woman to the side as she spoke, "Shinomori Katsumi, but... I normally, uh... go by Saito... Saito Hiroshi. I have for a year now."

At saying the male alias, a hand moved to her wrap to help further explain. Curiosity overcame her, and Katsumi, with the tilt of her head, inquired softly, "You are a fighter as well? For any factions or... a mercenary like me, if... if I may ask, t-that is?"

[Zhuo Jina]

Jina smiled at the question. She didn't really understand the war, nor did she care about the outcome of it. She was happy to be in this new land, free from the men around her and free from the fake persona that she held as a servant to the male sex.

"I'm a mercenary. I fight for money, couldn't care less about the damn war to tell you the truth."

Jina paused, the woman had no understanding of her background, but she was the first person she felt comfortable around, even if she was just a stranger.

Jina took a few steps forward and sat on the bank of the river, her boots sinking in the soil at the water's edge. Her hands were crossed over her knees, which were bent. She laid back, her armor against the grass below her. She looked to the sky, happy to finally found someone like her.

"Your secret is safe with me."

Jina continued to watch the sky, the fluffy looking clouds floating past the trees around them.

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Katsumi nodded in understanding, able to relate to the thoughts about the war. So many were so invested in the war, and Katsumi supposed that made sense. But she didn't particularly care who won, as long as she could profit from it.

"Ah, I see. And... yes. I feel rather similarly. Brings money, though. So that's something."

She knew Haji wouldn't like hearing Katsumi say that, with his ideal of peace. And maybe it sounded nice even to her, but... well, her words were true. War brought work to mercenaries and even more jobs and money to people. Katsumi would be lying if she said that she wasn't profiting off of this war, and numerous others, and she already lied enough on a daily basis.

Jina walked over to Katsumi, and by this point the archer had settled down considerably. The other woman sat next to her as Kat began to wash out the blood from her clothes again. Katsumi was hunched over as Jina laid down, and Kat stopped momentarily when the other merc assured that she would keep her secret. Closing her eyes, Katsumi turned her head and bowed to show her appreciation.

"Thank you," responded the woman graciously. Upon opening her eyes, Katsumi realized she knew not the others name and her brows rose. Going back to work, the archer softly inquired, "Oh, what's... what's you name? What I can call you by, if... if I may?"

[Zhuo Jina]

"Call me Jina. My family name is Zhuo, you may be able to tell but I'm not from around here."

She continued resting with her eyes closed. Her chest moved up and down inside of her armor. She was truly very happy to have found another woman who was able to fight. The ladies around here were often like her mother and the other women of the village, submissive. They were ladies of the home, and not of the sword.

"I'm from the country across the sea, China. I was captured and brought here by pirates..."

"Lucky enough for me, they found me pretty charming."

After a while, Jina raised up and began stripping. She was hot from her day practicing riding her horse, Huī and pretty dusty, as she had fallen quite a few times. When she was just down to her under clothes, she entered the water. The coolness chilled her skin. She sank neck-deep into the river, kneeling so that it would encompass her whole body. 

Bathing felt good and she was glad that she didn't have to be alone or without someone to watch her back. She was often paranoid about the men in this area peeping on her. She knew this woman could defend herself, and would likely not tolerate a spying man.

[Shinomori Katsumi]

So she was Chinese, huh? Katsumi had never met anyone Chinese before, but... then again, the woman had only been in Japan and didn't really explore a whole lot. She was very job-oriented. Making sure to mentally note her name, Katsumi listened in silence.

At the mention of pirates, Kat's brows arched curiously. "P... Pirates?"

She had never encountered any pirates and had only heard tales, and Katsumi wondered what it was like to live on a ship. The archer noticed Jina removing her clothes to bathe, but didn't think much of it. Instead, she focused on washing out the blood in her clothes. She finally finished the kimono and wrung it out, hanging it up to dry on a branch, before removing her hakama and setting to work again.

"Huh, that's... really interesting. So... what was it like? To... To live on the sea?" asked Kat a little tentatively, but honestly. She really did find it fascinating, and hungered for more information about this other woman.

[Zhuo Jina]

"Well," Jina began, "We weren't actually on the sea too long. The city where I was living with my husband was attacked by pirates and I was taken hostage. The pirates fled the city with me on board.." 

Her voice seemed to trail off, as if in a memory. "It almost feels like a past life. The pirates really gave me a fresh start. And here I am, sword in hand, earning my own money!" It was almost a dream. None of the women back home had ever been given the chance to work for their own money. All of them were forced to stay home and take care of the children, cooking and various other, seemingly unimportant tasks. 

Jina had always wanted to be a part of the men's world, and now she really had the chance. No family, and no one to bring honor to except herself.

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Katsumi's gaze went up to Jina as she bathed, listening intently. Her interest was piqued and that was clearly written across her features.

She had been taken hostage, and Katsumi could relate with the men who had taken and nearly killed her to try and get money from her father (who they believed to still be alive), although the archer wondered if Jina had experienced the same kind of abuse. With how she talked about it, Katsumi doubted it, as Jina seemed to almost look back fondly, which only increased the archer's curiosity.

"Hostage? How... was it? You talk almost... fondly of the experience."

She nodded, finally able to make her own money as well, instead of everything being spent on booze by her father. Kat was able to save up her own money and use it practically, and there were no longer the beatings, and she had Haji now. Life was actually pretty good and growing into something more than pure survival, a prospect she never would have understood simply a month ago.

"I... am able to earn and spend my own money now, as well. It makes saving up and living a lot easier, to say the least..."

Especially with Haji around. Her thoughts would trail off to him and, while her expression remained impassive, there was a warm glimmer within her eyes as Kat washed her hakama in the river in silence.

[Zhuo Jina]

"There are many bad words said about pirates, but the men I encountered were respectful to me." Jina had a fairly pleseant experience aboard the ship. The men had kept her chained below deck, but did not bother her except to feed her. Once they had left the port though, the men had unchained her, seemingly guilty for taking her away from her home. They even told her at one point that they had only meant to hold her for ransom, but never received a word about her husband wanting her back.

The men in Jina's life had never been abusive to her, but had been giving her a dose of harsh reality. "I could very well say that I liked those men. They are, after all, the reason I am here today."

Jina could sense that the other woman was lightening up. Her body was now clean, but she stuck around to enjoy the other's company. She liked the idea of having someone like her to interact with.

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Katsumi nodded. How interesting. It was a relief to hear that these pirates didn't seem to fit the stereotype, that they were more than simply thugs who would have taken advantage of a woman and done horrible things with no second though. In fact, a lot of men were like that, especially in groups, which was a big reason as to why Katsumi was so careful.

"That's good," said Katsumi, wringing out the hakama. Most of the blood was out, fortunately. Just a little long. The girl wasn't one to talk about herself, but it felt... well, easier to talk to Jina. Both because she was a woman herself and because she just seemed very trustworthy and open. And so Katsumi added, "It wasn't until more recently that... that I found someone who respected me. And then... after him, it seems... as though I keep... encountering people who surprise me. In... a good way. If that makes sense, at all."

[Zhuo Jina]

Jina laughed quietly. "I understand. I had little faith in the people around me in the life I used to live. The women were gossips and the men were angry. In truth, I couldn't care less that I left them all behind. Since I have been here though, I have met some intriguing and, frankly, amazing people."

Jina paused to climb out of the river. She once again laid on the bank, letting herself air dry.

"As hard as it is to believe, I'm happy living this way. I've never felt happy since I was a young child."

She smiled at her own words, knowing that the truth of them was a hard pill to swallow. She may not have suffered any abuse, but sometimes even the silence of the world around you is enough to drive you mad. That's exactly how she had to be back in China, silent.

"Thank you, Katsumi. I'm so glad I called out to you, glad I used my voice."

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Katsumi nodded. Their situations were different, but they both knew what it was to be oppressed, and both had met great people as of late.

"As have I," murmured the woman, as she finished getting out the blood in her hakama. She wrung it out and hung up the clothing to dry. "Life... it used to be only about surviving. Going... day by day... doing what was needed to eat... to live. Maybe now it is still the same, but... since... since I met particularly... one person... it feels... different, somehow. Like... there is something beyond just surviving life. That... being happy is actually... a possibility."

Katsumi stared at the water below her, gaze growing distant for several moments. There was a lot running through her mind right then and she mentally left the physical location, thoughts drifting off. Haji ran through her mind, the predominant one in making her have this revelation. But there were others who had shown her kindness she never thought possible, and Katsumi swallowed, fighting back tears of appreciation and relief.

Blinking them back, the woman nodded at Jina's words and quickly removed her wrap, submerging herself in the water to clean herself, both physically and emotionally. But the scars were still there, physically evident across her old lashes on her back, especially with her wrap gone. Going beneath the water, upon emerging, Katsumi looked over to Jina and nodded.

"Of course, Jina-san. It is really... nice to meet other women like... like us."

[Zhuo Jina]

"Agreed."

Jina noticed the scars striped across the woman's back. She wondered what horrors she had suffered before and blinked as she looked away. The woman was violent, but she also spoke as if it was necessary. This was something Jina could understand, now living off the work of violence.

"Do you have somewhere to stay?"

Jina had no fear of the woman. She was glad to finally have met someone like her and, having a caring nature, wanted no more harm to come to her. Jina would be wary but felt as if friendship was an awesome concept that she looked forward to having if possible.

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Rubbing down her body in the cool river, Katsumi inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. Somewhere to stay... She supposed that she would go wherever Haji was much of the time, only separating when necessary. Besides that though, Kat supposed she didn't really stay anywhere in particular.

"I go now where.... where my... f-friend goes much of the time, I suppose. I... wander. So... anywhere, I guess, answered the woman slowly, not wanting to exclaim to the whole world about her relationship with Haji. Nibbling on her bottom lip, she turned towards Jina and washed her hair, wringing it out. "You?"

[Zhuo Jina]

"Yeah, I have a small place just a short walk from here. My horse has a shelter there, but yours is welcome to stay in the riding area."

Jina smiled, she just assumed the woman who had nowhere to stay, would stay with her. Jina didn't mind, the place was well insulated and had a roof, which was more than she used to get while she was wandering. She had a place over on the east side of the island for a while, but she seemed to prefer the company of less organized people. That's why she moved near the pirates cove.

"You should clean up first, you never know when your next bath will be!"

Jina was giggling, clearly excited. It felt like she was a child again, actually having a friend! Someone who would talk to her as an equal, not as a woman or an employee, but a friend! Her heart was racing and more thoughts than she could handle were running through her mind.

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Katsumi was far less excited than Jina, almost somber. It was clear she was serious and awkward, not used to conversation and interaction like this. Haji was helping, and she was slowly making friends, but it was certainly taking Kat time. She was too damaged for there to be a quick rebound.

Bowing her head at Jina's offer, she expressed her appreciation, "Thank you, Jina-san. I may... take Haji-kun there to stay... someday."

She nodded at the end, and went back to scrubbing at her body. Katsumi wanted to make herself as clean as possible, because Jina was right. You never knew when you could be clean again. Kat murmured, "Yes. Very true."

Fish swam by Katsumi and it reminded the woman that she hadn't eaten in about a day. Her stomach growled and she stared down at them. Going to an area where she could stand on her feet, Kat held her hands out, waiting. She missed one fish, but grabbed the second. When grabbing one more, the archer moved over to the rocks and slammed their heads against rocks until they stopped flopping.

Dropping them onto the ground, Kat began to dry herself off and covered herself with a blanket. Glancing over at Jina, she quirked her brows and inquired, "Hungry?"

[Zhuo Jina]

"Always. I wish I could be one of those people who had enough money for all the food they want." She went and sat near Katsumi and her smile faded slightly. Jina really did wish that she could eat whenever, hunger was not something she enjoyed. As a young girl, she had a bit of extra weight on her, as her father was paid when while he was on duty. 

When he got injured though, she often had to wait until evening before eating. Things weren't so different around here right now. She had just started giving up most of her pay in order to get Huī. She really needed a horse, living the life of a mercenary was something that Jina was not familiar with. She didn't know that she would need one until she started trying to complete jobs.

Japan wasn't a huge country, but to really get around, one certainly needed better transportation. 

"I am pretty hungry, actually." As if it were a chorus to her words, Jina's stomach growled loudly at that moment. Her face turned a bit red, her skin very light compared to most of those from these countries. "Sorry" she giggled nervously.

She started a small fire in a pit on the ground near the river. She grabbed a larger rock to lay over part of the fire so that it would heat, and then cook the fish.

[Shinomori Katsumi]

"Mmm." Katsumi had been taught to hunt from a young age. While there were animals around, she could always find something to eat. But she recalled punishments from her father, forcing her to go without eating for days for displeasing him in some way or another. Katsumi sighed at the thought, closing her eyes. "I... prefer to hunt. It... feels odd when others cook for me. Makes me feel... guilty. City-life with all of its vendors and.... prepared food, it... really is peculiar to me."

The archer heard Jina's stomach growl and simply blinked, gaze moving from Jina to the fish. Little Miss Social Butterfly (lololol) pulled out a knife and quickly gut the fish, removing the innards with ease. She was obviously practiced at this, and tossed the bits in the river.

"Okay," said the young woman. Washing her hands off, the wrapped Katsumi moved over to the small fire. She thought back to her father and recalled how she used to be petrified to breathe sometimes, in fear he'd snap on her. The archer's eyes narrowed and she replied, murmuring with the last sentence more to herself than to Jina as she pierced the fish through with sticks. "... Don't worry about it. It... doesn't bother me. I'm not a bastard."

[Zhuo Jina]

Jina could hear what Katsumi had said, but chose to ignore it. The woman obviously had some kind of issue in her past that wasn't ready to be touched upon, and Jina wouldn't push. The fish cooked fairly quickly, crisping up around the edges but still flakey and juicy. She always enjoyed a good piece of fish and this woman, Katsumi, sure knew what she was doing.

Before she could stop it, a small string of drool fell from the corner of Jina's lips, sizzling on the fire. It was almost as if she was in a trance, her face moving closer and closer to the fish (and flames). The sizzle startled her and she pulled her head back. She was glad that her hair hadn't caught fire, and smiled awkwardly at Katsumi.

Until the fish was fully cooked, Jina decided to lay back on the ground once again, keeping her from being too weird in front of this new friend. Her fingers played in the strands of grass.

She sat up quickly, a thought in her own mind having caused some panic.

"I'll be able to get married again, won't I?! They couldn't possibly expect me to still be with that bastard of a man, I can get married again, right?!"

Her words spewed quickly from her mouth, her voice a bit raised and her eyes wide. Jina longed for a real relationship and was scared when she thought about her past having followed her.

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Katsumi simply sat in silence, legs crossed and eyes closed. It seemed as though she was meditating, and the girl was clearing her mind as the fish cooked. When she peaked open an eye to check on the fish, Katsumi could have sworn she saw a string of drool hanging from Jina's lips.

How odd. Was she really that hungry? Katsumi's brows furrowed slightly. When did the other woman eat last?

The archer decided perhaps two fish wasn't enough, and stood up as Jina laid down. Still wrapped in the cloth, Katsumi went back over to the river and did as she did before, catching the fish with her bare hands. It was only because Katsumi was practiced that she knew how to do this in the first place. It wasn't about speed, but the right timing and having the proper grip.

After catching two more, the girl would proceed to gut the fish and cook them as well. As she shoved the sticks in the ground, Katsumi tensed, started at seeing Jina suddenly sit up. Kat's dark eyes were widened. Was something wrong?!

And then she heard Jina's question, and Katsumi blinked.

"... What?"

Jina said bastard, and Katsumi wondered if what she had said earlier triggered something just then for the Chinese woman. The archer shifted a little, gaze dropping to the ground and going back up to Jina. It went back and forth.

What the hell was she supposed to do? Say?

"What... do you mean, Jina-san...? softly inquired the archer.