The Pebbles Underfoot
Chapter 4

Shizuru had expected to collect her dishes at a later date, but Mai had proven herself to be at least a little brazen.

Sometime in the night, the bowls had been returned to the front door. They were cleaned and along with them came a small thank you note scrawled across a scrap of parchment. Shizuru had put the dishes away before her parents could inquire about them, and had returned to her loom work. She was not as good as her mother, and the smell of indigo was not a scent she fancied, even if the color was later beautiful.

Shizuru spun thread for long hours at a time, thinking about the woman who clutched at her attention so easily.

Mai…the woman was of warriors blood, of warriors ilk and make…perhaps, it was not unfathomable to consider her a caretaker of a blade as well, but to know that, to question it, would require Mai to actually admit to the truth…something Shizuru thought near impossible by nature.

They said no more words, exchanged very little between them for the next few days. It was out of mutual avoidance, surely, as they even didn't go to the well at the same time. Still, Shizuru was sure to tend to her duties as was expected of a woman of her age and disposition.

It was not until prompted by a rather odd string of events, that she even thought to consider the woman on the other side of the path. Shizuru had no sooner begun stirring the fire on one fine morning when a curse came flying out of her father's mouth. "Is everything quite alright?" She asked, when she saw him storm into the house.

"Damnit, I knew, I just knew it!" He blustered as he fetched himself a drink of water. "Bandits, the lot of 'em, and yet the guard does nothing..."

"I beg your pardon?" Shizuru asked quietly, knowing better than to look the irate man in the eye. "I'm afraid I don't understand."

"They're back again, those degenerates. I could not escape them, or be rid of them, even if I wanted to." He said, gesturing towards the outside. There walking on the pebble laden path below were two women. Both were born of warrior class families and they sat across from the house, perching happily on Mai's door step. "That they're here now, what a disgrace to our humble little village. It isn't even market week."

Shizuru recalled the two women, but, they were not villagers, at least not ones she could recall. They passed by often enough, but like most other villagers, she gave them very little attention. "Who are they?"

"Thorns in our side." He muttered as he settled himself at the table. "I'll have you know, Shizuru, there are some things…" He took a breath to cool his temper before continuing. "Some things, that just do not make sense to me, and those two women, they simply are beyond my ken."

"Father, you seem more than just a little bothered…" Shizuru brought some boiled water to the table, pouring it over some tea leaves. "I've never seen you so upset over two women before."

"Mildly put, but yes." He sighed at length, blowing on his tea and taking a sip. "They have no home, the two of them. Traveling around, they might as well be merchants…or bandits...most possibly bandits...who knows when they'll try to burgle ours houses late into the night. I'll have my axe at the ready."

"Looters?" Shizuru peeped outside once more. "They hardly look the type."

"The short one, with red hair…" He said with a shake of his head. "She's vicious…you mark my words, dearest daughter. The one with the long hair, taller, broader in the shoulders, she I believe is confused. She would better be coined a princess rather than a sword master. Why the village guard allows them to pass by, I will never understand."

She nodded, but inwardly, she could not expunge the feeling of disbelief.

"Enough of that, we need not let it darken out door. I have news. My daughter, there was another gift today…" He wanted to push his mind away from the trouble across the street. "Pressed flowers, poetry, you have a grand many suitors…it is time, perhaps, that I decide for you a proper husband."

"You've made a choice?" Shizuru asked, but the man only offered her a sideways glance. "So soon?" She didn't see it, her crimson eyes watching as Mai slipped out from her hiding place from within her home, offering cups of water to the travelers.

"I would ask of your interests…" He said quietly, raising his eyebrow. "One that perhaps includes your future, and not the rabble across the street…"

"Oh, that…" Shizuru offered a laugh, diverting her attention from people watching. Instead, she went about returning to the fire. "My desire is to wait, because I do not have an interest…"

Outside, the three women laughed, partaking of a rare, yet very opportune visit.

"Are you here long?" Mai asked, as she offered her friends a few cups of cool water. It was a lonely question, encouraged by her need for companionship.

"Only long enough to patch that blasted roof of yours," Nao spat the words, she could see cracks where it would clearly leak. "It still needs fixing."

"I can't afford to fix the roof, it's too expensive." Mai replied, her words little more than truth. "We keep warm enough as it is."

"Until the snow nips at your toes." Nao nearly growled. "The roof isn't fit to piss on, let alone live under."

"She has a point." Natsuki said, folding her arms, tucking her hands into the sleeves of her kosode. "The winters grow harsher by the year, and even if you could keep warm, I'd fear for the ick your brother caries in his lungs. Come the chill, it'll return as it always does." She pulled out a small bag of coin. It was nothing particularly impressive, but more than she knew Mai had. "Speaking of the impending snowfall, these are for expenditures."

"Natsuki, I can't accept this." Mai said, unwilling to take the pouch.

"Think of it as room and board." Nao pressed, but Mai still shook her head.

"You pay for both with your skills as hunters, we always have fresh meat in the winter thanks to you." Mai felt a warm hand on her back. It was Natsuki's for sure, since Nao was busy lounging about, resting her chin in her palm. "I could never ask of you to do more than you already do."

"We ain't asking." Nao finally ordered. "We're telling, and you'll do as we say without dispute…else I'll slice out your tongue to shut you up…"

"Nao!" Natsuki barked. "Lay off, would you? Some people might actually think of that as an honest threat!" Natsuki turned to Mai, hands pressed together in a respectful bow, apologetic and little more. "This winter, the north passage out of the village is likely to be snowed in. It makes little sense to travel northbound only to get stuck up there mid-fall. That's when the mudslides begin in earnest. We want to stay till spring, and besides, winters are hard on you, weather you admit that or not."