A Warrior Made Of Dragon's Blood

Chapter 2

The next day, I wake up even earlier and creep outside the house. Today I'm going to explore the fields below the rice paddies. Sliding down several hills, I reach open glades and start running. Meanwhile in the village, everyone is just waking up and my parents are looking for me.

"Do you know where Sora is?" Haha asks Chichi who shakes his head in discouragement, "I have no idea. She probably snuck out to avoid more work.

Suddenly, three ronin appear in the doorway. They all wield katanas. The ronin on the left is slouching slightly and the one on the right has an insane look in his eyes. Only the middle one looks focused and completely present. Narrow dark eyes survey the room. He takes a threatening step forward and says,

"Give us all of your food and money. If you cooperate, we won't hurt you."

"We don't have anything," Chichi says, a terrified look in his eyes. "The samurai took all of it to the Emperor."

"Oh well, if you don't have anything you'll have to be enough." Turning to the other ronin he says, "Hanito, Tubasa, take them captive."

"Yes, Takeshi," both of the other ronin reply.

Haha and Chichi don't even try to defend themselves. The ronin have them gagged and tied up in moments. Hanito and Tubasa drag Chichi and Haha outside and toss them into a cart that's already loaded with people. Inside the air is damp and reeks with mold. Some of the inhabitants are from other villages. A few of them look almost dead with dark eyes and weak coughs coming from them.

All around the village, other people are getting dragged out of their homes and tossed into more carts. A few ronin even come out dragging dead bodies. Fear and chaos is everywhere.

"Search the homes and take any food and valuables, then hide all of the bodies. We don't want to be discovered. After you're done with these tasks get in a cart and start driving. We're going back to camp." Takeshi says.