wasn’t staring at you,” she said. “Unless you’re talking about the noodles. And I’m pretty certain the noodles don’t care.”
“Ignore him,” I told her quietly, concentrating on my own food. “He’s trying to bait you into conversation.”
“I heard that,” the ronin stated, sitting upright on the bench. “And that was very rude. If I were still a samurai, I might have to demand satisfaction from your quiet friend there.” He rose, and I wished I still had the kunai throwing knives hidden in my bracers. Still, if he made any threatening moves, he would be dead before he knew what was happening.
Hakaimono stirred, sensing trouble, and I shoved the demon’s presence down.
Slinging the bow over his shoulders, the ronin sauntered forward, that defiant smirk still creasing his face. “Luckily for you,” he went on, “I’m a filthy ronin dog with no honor left to his name. Don’t want to risk soiling your own by having a civil conversation with me, right?”
Yumeko cocked her head, puzzled and unafraid. “What’s a ronin?”
The other’s brows rose. Clearly, that was not what he’d expected. “Uh, well. They’re... You really don’t know what a ronin is?”
Yumeko shook her head. “I lived in a temple all my life,” she explained. “I don’t know much about the outside world, but I’m sorry if I offended you. If you would, please tell me what a ronin is, so that I won’t insult anyone else in the future.”
For a moment, the ronin just stared at her. Finally, he chuckled and shook his head. “Apologies, my lady,” he stated, and gave an overexaggerated, mocking bow. “As I said before, I’m a ronin. We’re dirty, uncouth barbarians who have forgotten our manners along with our honor, so you’ll have to forgive me if I’m a bit rusty on the social graces.” He seemed proud of that fact as he straightened again, smiling. “Let’s see if I can remember how to be polite. My name is Hino Okame. And whom do I have the honor of conversing with this fine afternoon?”
“Yumeko,” the girl replied. “And I’m no lady, just a peasant from the mountains. So, I’m a bit rusty on social graces, too.”
“Oh?” Without pretense, the ronin sat beside her, making me drop my hand to my sword hilt. Neither the ronin nor Yumeko seemed to notice. “So, you’re from the mountains, eh? What are you doing out here?”
“Traveling. Tatsumi and I are on our way to the capital.”
“Ever been to the city before?”
“No.” Yumeko shook her head. “Never. The outside world so far is...strange. But exciting.” She smiled and looked down the road, where it stretched away toward the distant mountains. “I’m learning so much. I can’t wait to see what’s around the next bend.”
“Huh.” The ronin snorted. “Well, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed in time, Yumeko-san. The world is full of bandits, murderers, liars and thieves. You can’t trust anyone. Especially ronin. Ever seen wild dogs before?” His grin crept back, defiant. “If they think you have food, they’ll follow you for a while, but try to pet them and they’ll go right for your throat.”
I wasn’t certain that Yumeko, with her sheltered upbringing, would get what the ronin was implying, but she lowered her bowl and looked the stranger in the eye. “And yet,” she said, “I’ve heard stories of wild dogs who would defend a stranger on the road to their last breath, simply because that person threw a crumb instead of a rock.”
The ronin smirked. “You have a strange way of thinking, Yumeko-san,” he said, shaking his head. “I bet your brooding friend there doesn’t think the same.” His gaze slid over to me, narrowing. I saw him take in my clothes and my sword, and a gleam of recognition ran through his eyes. “You’re a bit far from home, aren’t you, Kage?” he asked, his voice suspicious. “What are you doing way out here in Earth Clan territory?”
“Minding my own affairs.”
“Oho, mysterious.” The ronin snickered and turned back to Yumeko. “You’ll want to be careful around any members of the Shadow Clan, lady Yumeko. It’s said that a Kage never lies, but they never tell you the whole truth, either.”
“That sounds very difficult, Okame-san. How can you lie and tell the truth at the same time?”
“Trust me, they manage it.”
I put down my bowl and stood, facing the ronin, who watched warily from the other side of the girl. “I think it’s time for you to leave,” I said quietly.
“Yep, looks like I’ve overstayed my welcome.”