Kaguta - Or, Ankūro - The Warrior, The Thief and The Killer

15

The North. Always, North.
Where Sun sets and answers lie.
Only steps away.
- Bushubō.

She only took the time to steal more clothing, this time the clothing of townsfolk. She still took male clothing for herself, but her clean body and face would no longer suit the clothing of a farmer. Kiriho, she found a pretty, less formal Shimunē dress that did not hinder her legs as much as a Nakura dress would. Together, they left the town and headed back the way they had come.

"Mistress. I am not one to question your actions." Even with the less-hobbling dress, Kiriho struggled to keep up with Kō. "But, was it truly necessary to kill that man?"

Kō didn't look towards Kiriho. That very thought had crossed Kō's mind several times as they had left the town under cover of darkness. She had taken the child from Kiriho, in order to help their speed on the journey, but Kō had felt anxious around the child ever since they had hidden in the temple as the priests were all murdered.

It had become so easy to take people's lives. She looked down into the features of the baby and all she could see was her hand clamped over the child's mouth, ready to hold it there for as long as it took, whether the child lived or died. Her mission, both the one to bring righteous retribution upon those on her list and the new one to find her brother, had become more important than even a child's life.

Something had broken inside her. Something she doubted she could ever mend. She had even started to become colder towards Kiriho. At any other time, she would have scolded the girl for calling her 'mistress' and to state that she did little but question her actions. Looking demure and respectful, but hiding a wicked sense of wry humour and forthright opinions.

"He saw my face." She still did not look at Kiriho. Couldn't. At least the darkness of the night helped with that. "And my scar. If he told anyone about the questions I asked, we would be knee-deep in Imperial patrols."

"You were never like this before." The girl made a hissed curse as her foot hit a stone, sending it rolling along the road. "You never killed unless you thought it necessary. I'm not certain it was necessary to kill him. Nor the girl at the castle."

Kō wished she had never told Kiriho about that girl. It had all tumbled out of her after returning from killing Gunoē. Her guilt for taking the life of someone so young and beautiful. And innocent. Almost as innocent as this child that she held to her breast. She pulled her hand away from the baby to see it shaking.

Behind her, Kō heard Kiriho utter another curse and then let out a yelp. She turned to see the girl upon her knees, the belongings that she carried scattered around her. Kō squatted before her, offering her hands for support, but Kiriho refused. She pushed herself upright and examined the scuffed, scratched palms of her hands.

In her urgency to catch up to Sataro, Kō had not thought of Kiriho. The night, despite the reflected light of the moons above, was far too dark to travel, but, as always, Kō knew better. She glanced around to see a low boulder, off the road to the side and, ignoring Kiriho's protests, helped the girl to the boulder, making her sit. Taking the baby and sling from about her neck, she placed them over Kiriho's shoulders before turning to pick up their belongings.

A water flask and a cloth took care of the abrasions on Kiriho's hands and knees and Kō could feel Kiriho's eyes upon her the entire time. No matter how much Kō wished to rush onwards, Kiriho could not keep up the pace in this light. There seemed nothing else for it, but to rest until morning and hope that Sataro did not extend his already wide lead.

"I remember a side road, as we travelled to Būnoi. That's the only place Sataro could have turned north." After cleaning Kiriho's knees, Kō dropped Kiriho's dress. The fall had caused a small rip in the pretty fabric. "We should reach that early in the morning and try to catch passage on a cart. People here aren't as wary as out in the rest of the island."