{"sf1_id":92604,"sf2_id":"bebV7Qbe","title":"Chapter Thirteen: Discovery","author":"The Roseblack Dragon","words":4009,"posted_at":"2009-06-28T04:31:00.000Z","tags":["Adventure","Character Development","Cuddling","Feudal Japan","Human","Lizard","Plot Development"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/92604-chapter-thirteen-discovery","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/bebV7Qbe","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/67/aa/67aafabe-29d5-41f3-bfe5-7ecebddc2730","description":"#14 of Tales of Ippon","content":"_Inside the coarsest stone may yet be the most valuable gem._  \n  \n  \nTravel suited Shuji Yarimoto well. His advisors and generals were trusted enough  \nto keep things running, and his Samurai and vassals all enjoyed his calm, loose-handed rule.  \nAs such he often took trips that would last several days away from his home, but the journey  \nhe was on now was the farthest he had been. He did not mind. The walk had kept him from  \nfocusing on the loss so recently suffered, and he had a goal to focus on as well.  \n  \nThe Masari Clan was the largest and most influential Clan in All of Ippon. It was the Masari  \nwho were related to the Emperor. Uncles, Brothers, Nephews, all of these Royal personae  \nwere of the Masari. Their Leader, the Priestess Shiuki, was fair, just, and calm. Convincing  \nthe Masari to march would be no small feat; he knew that much standing at the gates of  \nKyudo. The guards strode over, one of them approaching while the others stood back slightly.  \n  \n\"What brings you to Kyudo, Traveler?\" the large red roan Rasagan queried,  \nleaning on his pole axe.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Shuji, still guised as a common merchant smiled, \"jewelry, Lord. A Gift from the  \nRokkotsu to the Lady of Masari.\"  \n  \nThe guard nodded, \"ah, this way then, I'll guide you to the castle.\"  \n  \n\"Thank you, sir. I can say I've never been here before so I would certainly get  \nlost,\" Shuji bowed and walked along, the other guards going back to their posts. Once he  \nwas past, one of the younger guards spoke up.  \n  \n\"I know I've seen that merchant somewhere,\" he mused.  \n  \nThe oldest guard spat, \"Bah! There are merchants everywhere these days! Vile,  \ngreedy, money hoarders they are.\"  \n  \n\"No, I mean... he didn't look like a merchant to me.\"  \n  \n\"What do you mean?\"  \n  \nThe younger guard nodded, \"what kind of merchant carries a staff that long? And  \nwhy would he wrap it?\"  \n  \nAnother guard joined in, \"Well, he â€\"was- limping.\"  \n  \n\"On the wrong leg! He had the staff in his right hand, but was limping on his left  \nleg... something's not right...\"  \n  \n\"You think he's an assassin?\"  \n  \n\"I don't know... but we should question him again.\"  \n  \n\"Well go on then! Catch up to them!\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp;  \n  \nShuji slipped down a corner setting his pack down and leaning against the wall as  \nseveral guards dashed past, \"he went that way!\" Shuji ducked closer to the wall and sighed.  \nHe hadn't expected the guards to be perceptive enough to see through his disguise. The  \nscuffle he had caused when the two guards had attempted to arrest him sent half the city  \ninto alarm. He sighed and thought quickly, but jumped with a shock when a small Human girl  \npoked her head out from an opening in the wall to his right.  \n  \n\"Hey. You're the one they're looking for, right? Come this way! You can hide in  \nhere.\"  \n  \nShuji blinked and ducked down through the hole with his spear, pulling his tail in  \nas she nearly shut the makeshift door on him. Outside they heard the guards;  \n  \n\"Here's that pack. Take it to the station; they'll go through it there. He can't have  \ngone far!\"  \n  \nWith footsteps thundering away, Shuji sighed a bit and looked at his rescuer. She  \nwas small, even for a human, if she stood; he estimated she might be as tall as his upper  \nchest. Her rust-colored hair was cropped up short, likely a working class family, but he  \ncouldn't tell. Her gray kimono was kept rolled up above her knees, with the sleeves tattered  \nand tied back to keep them out of the way. She was far from being ‘not pretty' but her  \nmanner and how she carried herself hid her beauty well. He nodded and spoke softly, \"you  \nhave my thanks.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Ah, no big deal, yeah?\" she responded a little more gruffly than he had  \nexpected, \"So what's your story? Nicked something and got caught?\"  \n  \n\"A thief? No, nothing like that. They are under the impression I'm here to kill Lady  \nMasari.\"  \n  \n\"You're not?\" she blinked, tilting her head.  \n  \nHe perked an eye ridge, \"no... I'm not.\"  \n  \n\"Ah... damn...\" She looked back to the other door that was the actual door to the  \nlittle storage room. And then mumbled a curse, pushing the little trapdoor they had come in  \nthrough open again, \"Out.\"  \n  \n\"Wha?\"  \n  \n\"I said out! There's gonna be guards coming through that door any-\"  \n  \nShe was cut off as the storage room door opened and a guard captain stepped in  \nwith about ten guards behind him, \"Good work, kid!\"  \n  \nShuji glared at her, \"You...\"  \n  \n\"GET OUT!\" she hit him, bruising her hand as she darted through the opening.  \n  \n\"Oh for the love of....\" Shuji was behind her as the guards were shouting after  \nthem. One of the guards actually grabbed his tail, but a quick jab with the butt of his spear  \nsent the offender sprawling. The girl was already halfway down the alley when he got to his  \nfeet and dashed after her.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp;  \n  \nAfter an hour long sprint through the alleys and gutters of Kyudo, The girl opened  \na shack door and stepped in, Shuji followed, closing the door behind him as she flopped onto  \na makeshift bed. The shack was a collection of discarded things that had been meticulously  \ncleaned and repaired to be serviceable. She panted for breath, looking at him, \"Well, at least  \nyou can run fast.\"  \n  \n\"You sold me out,\" he growled, slightly winded.  \n  \nShe grinned a little, \"For the offer I made them swallow to get my help, it would  \nhave been worth it if you were really an assassin.\"  \n  \n\"And why shouldn't I seek retribution?\" he folded his arms.  \n  \n\"Augh, you samurai are all the same!\" she sat up, her smile gone and glaring at  \nhim as she stood and stepped over, pushing his chest without much effect. \"You think all  \nthat matters is your own self-importance! You don't even consider those of us that have to  \nwork ourselves to death to keep you living in such quality!\"  \n  \nHe looked at her and blinked calmly, his scowl turning into a smile.  \n  \n\"Now what are you grinning about you stupid samurai?!\" she hit him, wincing and  \nshaking her suddenly aching hand.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"You're a farmer's daughter?\"  \n  \n\"So? What about it?!\" she groused.  \n  \nHe nodded and sat down, setting his spear against the wall, \"my grandfather was  \na farmer...\"  \n  \n\"That's not possible.\" She hissed, glaring at him, \"you're just mocking me.\"  \n  \nHe looked up at her and shook his head, \"his name was Karato. He worked the  \nmines of Roraien. The Lord there had been there on an inspection, when there was a cave in.  \nmy grandfather was fifteen, and only he and the Lord had survived the collapse. He spent a  \nday's time digging them out. Once they were out they found the Lord's son had tried to take  \nover, making no attempt to recue the Lord. The Son attacked, when he saw his father, and  \nmy unarmed grandfather wrestled the lord's son to eh ground to protect the Lord. The Lord  \nnamed him Samurai, and made him his personal retainer. When the lord died, my  \ngrandfather was given rule over the lands, and he was to rename the Clan.\"  \n  \nShe blinked and calmed, \"And he named the clan...?\"  \n  \n\"Rokkotsu,\" he nodded, \"I was still little when my grandfather died, but I remember  \nhis hands. Even though they were rough and calloused, they had softness to their grasp that  \nboth my father and I have strived to emulate in our leadership.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"So your father is the Lord of Rokkotsu?\" she peered.  \n  \n\"No...\" he sighed, \"He died seven years ago.\"  \n  \nShe blinked, \"that means you're...?\"  \n  \n\"Shuji Yarimoto, Lord of Rokkotsu.\"  \n  \nShe eyed him and then folded her arms, \"what are you doing all the way over  \nhere?\"  \n  \nHe nodded and stretched his tired legs, \"The Gasaran forces are gathering, they  \nhave already attacked several cities in the south. Eizu fell to them before my eyes.\"  \n  \nA shiver ran through the human at the name. She nodded, \"You'll stay here  \ntonight, and I'll show you a back way into the castle in the morning...\"  \n  \n\"Thank you... you're not going to sell me to the guards again?\"  \n  \nShe shook her head, \"no. Not when I'm coming with you when you leave.\"  \n  \n\"No.\" he said curtly, \"I won't take you with me.\"  \n  \n\"You don't have a choice here, Rokkotsu-sama,\" she retorted, \"I â€\"am- going with  \nyou.\"  \n  \nHe stood, \"no. I've watched one too many die in my company. We are better  \nsuited as a group with those who can fight.\"  \n  \nShe stood too, \"I can fight!\"  \n  \n\"How? You lack claws, or teeth... or even a knife.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; She lashed out with a foot, catching him in the shin by surprise, but his training  \nreared up and he moved back with the impact, lessening the damage, but it still hurt. With a  \nspeed that matched his, she shot her hand at his head, but he ducked to the side. Despite  \nher smaller stature, she gripped the side and back of his neck and turned, pushing him over  \nher leg and hip and onto his back on the futon. She was on his midsection before he landed,  \nher tiny hands near his neck in a gesture that would do damage if he didn't have scales. \"I  \ncan fight.\"  \n  \nRecovering from the shock, he nodded, \"you have skill, yes... However, without  \nthe element of surprise;\" he sat up, his larger size easily helping him off-balance her as he  \nflipped her onto her back, moving too fast for her to move away from him, in a flash, he had  \nher wrists in his larger hand and hand them pinned to the futon above her head, smiling down  \nat her as she struggled, heels kicking at the backs of his thighs.  \n  \n\"G-get off!\" she shrieked in frustration, thrashing a bit.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"You see my point though?\"  \n  \nShe wasn't listening, \"Get off me! I don't want this!\"  \n  \nThe connection hit Shuji like a thrown rock. He let her go and scrambled back as  \nshe curled up a bit, glaring at him.  \n  \n\"I had no idea.\" He shifted to his knees and bowed low, pressing his palms to the  \nfloor and lowering his head. The girl blinked, her fear and fury evaporating like rain in a fire.  \nShuji spoke again, \"I apologize.\"  \n  \nShe bit her lip, \"It's... it's nothing...you didn't know.\"  \n  \nHe looked up and watched her.  \n  \n\"What is your name?\"  \n  \n\"Kinji...\" she hissed a little...  \n  \nShuji boggled and sighed, \"You'll come with me.\"  \n  \nShe looked at him, blinking.  \n  \n\"You have talent, and you have a passion that few of your placement would have,\"  \nhe nodded, \"It is a terrible risk, and I am a fool for taking it again... but I cannot leave such a  \ntreasure here to sit in dust and dirt.\"  \n  \nShe frowned a little, \"I'm not going to be put on a shelf.\"  \n  \n\"No, no,\" he laughed and nodded, \"but I have the means to help you become what  \nyou should be.\"  \n  \n\"And what's that?\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Samurai,\" he smiled and leaned back on the futon, resting, \"those eyes are not  \nthe eyes of a farmer's daughter.\"  \n  \nShe eyed him and sighed, \"You're strange.\"  \n  \n\"you are not the first to say that,\" he grinned and shrugged, \"Get some rest. We'll  \nhead out in the morning.\"  \n  \n\"Eh?\" she blinked as he lay down, \"Head out? To Where?\"  \n  \n\"First to get you something that has a few less holes, and a bit more color to it,  \nand maybe a meal,\" he nodded, closing his eyes and smiling, \"Rest.\"  \n  \n\"Don't order me around like you-\" she blinked and paused, leaning over him, \"Are  \nyou asleep?\" the only reply she got was a few slow breaths, and she fumed  \nsilently, \"Mmmph... Samurai...\" with a huff she laid down in her bedroll and curled up.  \n  \n  \n  \nIt was well into the darkest hours of night when the girl awoke again. She rubbed  \nher eyes and sat up, grumbling...  \n  \n\"Can't sleep?\" the voice asked and she jumped, looking over as a pair of  \nshimmering blue eyes smiled at her from the dark.  \n  \n\"Ah, damn, it's you. You scared me half to death,\" she sighed, calming herself  \ndown.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Sorry,\" Shuji offered quietly.  \n  \nShe blinked, her eyes adjusting to the deep dark, and tilted her head at him, \"why  \nare you awake?\"  \n  \n\"I have had a hard time sleeping for a while now,\" He admitted quietly, holding a  \nstrip of pink and white silk in his hand.  \n  \nShe scooted closer and looked at the fabric, then to him, \"your wife?\"  \n  \nHe jumped a bit and looked at her, \"W-wife?!\" he shook his head and sighed,  \ncontaining himself, \"no... She... she was a foreigner... Why she came to Ippon I don't  \nknow... but her husband... was not worthy. She despised him, and he treated her horribly.\"  \n  \nKinji gasped and looked at him, astonished, \"you... were with another man's  \nwife?? That is quite dishonorable.\"  \n  \n\"Perhaps,\" Shuji sighed, \"perhaps it was. But I truly believe that she was special.  \nShe deserved better than a man whose only reason for being with her was to elevate his own  \nstatus.\" He gripped the silk.  \n  \n\"What happened?\" she asked, not wanting to pry farther into the details of the  \nrelationship.  \n  \n\"Something... somehow changed her husband into a monstrous thing. He  \nattacked our camp, and in a fit of rage, he knocked her aside, the impact alone killing her.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Kinji gasped in shock and looked to the fabric again, \"Her own husband... did  \nhe... mean to?\"  \n  \n\"I... I don't know... I don't think he was himself at that point, I think he was just a  \nmonster. Either way she is gone.\"  \n  \nShe swallowed a bit and placed her hand on Shuji's wrist, \"Only if you see it that  \nway. You still remember her? You still carry those feelings. Those aren't gone.\"  \n  \nHe blinked and looked to her, stunned, \"... you're right.\"  \n  \n\"Of course I'm right,\" she smirked.  \n  \nHe laughed a bit and nodded, smiling, \"Thank you.\"  \n  \nShe smiled and yawned, a shiver running over her as a bit of the night's chill took  \nhold, \"Gnah... It's so chilly this time of year.\"  \n  \nHe reacted calmly, draping an arm over her shoulder and pulling her  \ncloser, \"Mmm I find the cold refreshing... but I'm strange that way.\"  \n  \nShe tensed at the embrace and then sighed, leaning against him, \"I thought  \nLizards were cold-blooded.\"  \n  \nHe gave a snort and a squeeze, \"Mmm, careful calling jirajin ‘lizards'... most don't  \ntake it kindly...\"  \n  \n\"Oh, s-sorry,\" she hung her head shamefully.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; He laughed a bit and rubbed her shoulder, \"Don't worry, I won't bite you for it.\"  \n  \nShe looked up at him and glared a bit, \"you'd better not bite me at all.\"  \n  \n\"Oh? Why not?\" he grinned a bit, looming over her, \"One of my generals tells me  \nhis wife enjoys being bitten.\"  \n  \nShe pushed at him, but he held her close still, \"you wouldn't!\"  \n  \nHe chuckled and nodded, \"no, I wouldn't. I prefer women with more conventional  \ntastes in intimacy.\"  \n  \nShe blushed and smiled, shaking her head and leaning on him a bit, \"Mmm...  \nyou're still warmer than I would have thought.\"  \n  \n\"Mmm well that's a relief. I'd hate to have people think me to be cold,\" a grin lit up  \nhis face as she leaned back and sighed, \"thank you again... when she died... it left a very  \nlarge hole in my emotions... somehow you've managed to close that hole up a bit.\"  \n  \n\"So long as you're not expecting me to take her place,\" she jibed, closing her  \neyes a bit and staying close to the warm, soothing presence that surrounded her. The blush  \non her cheeks went unnoticed as she cuddled to his side. Her entire life she had not had  \nsuch calming, peaceful contact with others. Giving it a thought for a moment she mused that  \nshe was likely catching up on lost time...  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Mmm tired yet?\" he purred, moving again to lay back on the soft bedroll. She  \nfollowed along, shaking her head and blushing more, clinging to his side. He smirked and  \nleaned over, rubbing the tip of his snout against her hair in a soft gesture, \"Maybe I should  \ntire you out?\"  \n  \n\"Don't joke,\" she sighed and thumped him with her fist, \"I just want to enjoy this.\"  \n  \n\"Agreed,\" he smiled and closed his eyes, draping his other hand over her waist  \nand holding her close. Within moments, she looked up tiredly and saw that he was sound  \nasleep.  \n  \nShe smiled and shook her head, leaning up a bit and gently pressing her lips to  \nhis, giving a playfully exasperated sigh, \"Samurai...\"  \n  \n  \n  \nShe awoke the next morning, and the samurai was nowhere to be seen. After a  \nfast, and slightly panicked, search of the hut, she stepped out the door, only to run into him  \non his way in.  \n  \n\"Where have you been?!\" She groused, rubbing her nose, as she'd banged her  \nface against his firmly scaled chest.  \n  \n\"Gathering necessities. You were so sound asleep I didn't think I could wake  \nyou,\" he smiled and pushed a bundle into her arms. \"Wear these. I'll wait outside.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; She blinked, \"Wh-what? Hey! I... I can't just...\" she eyed the clothing bundle and  \nshouted, \"What if it doesn't fit?\"  \n  \nShe replied, still outdoors, \"It will! I'm a good guesser of body-types!\" another  \nchuckle that made her growl, and she set about changing... After unfolding the bundle, she  \ngave a shocked gasp, realizing what was in store for her. While elegant beyond anything she  \nhad ever gotten her hands on, the Clothing was notably made for functionality. The kimono  \nwas simple at best, a soft teal color with gradating white and blue cloud-patterns on the  \nsleeves. The hakama were a deep indigo, with matching white clouds near the bottoms. The  \nwhite obi was not wide and decorative, as she had known most women to wear, but it was  \nsmooth, narrow and functional, white with a singular blue stripe down the long center. With  \nsome fussing she managed to get the outfit into place, stepping out and looking at Shuji  \nexpectantly.  \n  \nHe smiled and nodded, \"Perfection! Just two more things you need and we're  \nready.\"  \n  \n\"Besides someone to tell me I'm an idiot for going along with this?\" she hissed,  \nfolding her arms.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Hah, no,\" he retorted, grinning a bit, \"This, for tying those sleeves back when you  \nneed to.\" A length of white silk, rolled on itself was tossed at her. She caught it, barely.  \n  \n\"Right, and the other?\" she blinked, tucking the sash into a sleeve pocket.  \n  \nShuji nodded and straightened, looking stern suddenly, \"Kneel.\"  \n  \n\"Kneel? What for?\"  \n  \nHe barked commandingly and stepped closer, \"Kneel!\"  \n  \nShe gave a little squeak of shock at the force of his tone and knelt, eyeing him  \nworriedly.  \n  \nHe nodded, \"I, Shuji Yarimoto, Lord of Rokkotsu do hereby grant you the rights  \nand privileges of a Samurai of my clan. You will be entitled to a house in Kirushigi, and an  \nannual stipend equaling a thousand Koku. You will be trained in the way of Bushido, and  \nonce that is completed, you will become my personal retainer, doubling your stipend, and  \ngiving you a command of a hundred samurai. Do you accept?\"  \n  \nShe blinked and boggled after hearing what she was going to be given, not  \nbelieving it. For a moment, she sat, stunned into silence. He spoke again, softer, and a little  \nless formally.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"This is normally where you would say ‘I accept'...\"  \n  \nShe blinked and nodded, \"Ah... y-yes... I accept.\"  \n  \n\"Very well. Now... I would add your name to the register, and start a Record of  \nyour Fief, however... the name you have... doe not appear on Paper well. It would raise  \nconfusion and worry, so you have this chance to name yourself.\"  \n  \nShe gasped and the bleak clouds of her life were blasted away by the bright  \nshining words he gave her. Her own name! Even she knew that her name was a cruel joke by  \nher unknown and illegitimate father. ‘Kinji' he had called her, ‘forbidden,' a mistake. She  \nhated her name, and everything that it meant, but she could cast it aside now. She blushed  \na bit and nodded, \"I... I knew someone... She was called ‘Kasumi'... I always thought her  \nname was beautiful....\"  \n  \nHe nodded, \"Indeed it is. Very well, you shall be known as Kasumi Hikamori.\"  \n  \nShe blinked, \"Hikamori?\"  \n  \nHe nodded and smiled, leaning down to use a fingertip to scrawl the kanji into the  \ndirt, \"Hika, as from ‘light', and Mori, as ‘forest'.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Where did you come up with that?\" she peered at him confused.  \n  \nHe looked off, \"Listening to you sleep... sounded like a soft breeze through a  \nforest, and it made me think of a place I saw when I was younger.\"  \n  \nShe didn't know much about jirajin, as there were very few that traveled so far  \nEast, but she could have sworn the blue scales across his snout turned a vibrant teal for a  \nmoment. She smiled a bit and nodded, \"It is fitting then. Thank you.... My Lord.\"  \n  \nHe smiled and looked back to her, the teal on his face deepening to be  \nunmistakable... then he caught himself and shook his head to clear it, \"This... is the other  \nthing that you will need.\" He reached back and passed the Daisho he had been holding with  \nhis tail into his hands. \"May I?\" he asked, nodding to the sash as her waist, \"there are  \ncertain ways these must be worn.\"  \n  \nShe nodded and straightened, turning her left hip toward him a bit and blushing  \nherself, \"I do not really know how they are used... I mean, I understand and have seen them  \nused, but... never actually held one myself.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; He nodded, \"when we have time, I will show you.\" Carefully slipping the Katana  \ninto her sash, he adjusted it for comfort. Like his own, he left the Edge facing up. The  \nWakizashi was next, situated in another loop of the sash, and just off the same angle as the  \nkatana.  \n  \nKin- (she had to correct herself on her own name) Kasumi marveled at the beauty  \nof the blades, or rather the Saya that contained them. Lacquered to a glimmering pearl white,  \nwith shifting hues of teal and blue somehow inlaid into the shine, it was hard to believe that  \nthey were meant to kill. The fittings on the grip were all polished silver and steel, and the  \ncording of the grip was that same shade of teal and blue as her clothes. She Looked to him  \nand then reverently gripped the katana's handle, giving a tug to get it lose and then pulling it  \nfrom the scabbard. After about a hand width of the blade came out, Shuji's hand stopped her  \nfrom drawing it further. She blinked to him and titled her head a bit.  \n  \n\"It is customary to never fully draw your sword unless it is going to taste blood.\"  \nHis smile was soft, but his tone carried a layer of well-trained respect to it. She nodded and  \nheld her draw, looking to the blade a moment and then blinking.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"It's... blue?\" she looked to him.  \n  \nHe smiled and nodded, \"I was very lucky to find those here. Those are some of  \nthe best blades you will find anywhere. The Steel is from Tetsumo, and it is harder and more  \ndurable than anything else. They say the colors come from the forging and tempering, though  \nthe method is kept secret. The Lord of Hodai's swords are from there.\"  \n  \nShe felt a surge of pride she had not known and pushed the blade back into the  \nscabbard, looking up to him with eyes shining.  \n  \n\"Now... Let us go and see the Lady of Masari. There is much to do.\"  \n  \nKasumi nodded and followed as Shuji picked up his spear and led them through  \nthe town toward the castle, \"Yes sir!\"  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Tales of Ippon","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/69863-chapter-twelve-family.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/106411-chapter-fourteen-redirection.json"}}