7 years later (from previous chapter.)
Young women stand at a water well, waiting in line to get their water in their buckets, as well as sharing the newest gossip.
Quietly, a plain girl stood at the back of the line, a small frown on her face as she listened to the nonsense. Women annoyed her, all they are made of was drama and didn't know how to shut their ever moving mouths.
"Nevaeh, did you hear? There's a monk in town! The newest Sanzo! He has a little boy with him too, isn't that adorable?"
The plain girl, Nevaeh, just raises one eyebrow as the girl in front of her asked the question, "Monk's aren't adorable, they're sworn to celibacy and have shaved heads."
The other girl, a beauty with dark chocolate brown hair flowing down her back in a loose braid bit her lip - another thing that Nevaeh disliked about the gender - "Wouldn't it be romantic to have a monk decide to give up their practice for a woman?"
Nevaeh rolled her eyes, as she pushed the girl forward. The line was moving, all she wanted to do was get the water, and get home to her latest and wicked 'family'.
When she didn't answer, the brown headed girl turns around again, "By the way, I heard he has a full head of hair, and he smokes! And has a potty mouth!" she giggles, like it was good for a monk to break the rules of religious duty.
"I wouldn't find that attractive, especially in his line of service. He's not upholding the code of conduct, which means he's probably trouble and I have enough of trouble already." Nevaeh replied matter-of-factly.
The other girl just frowned, "You're no fun, Nevaeh," was her mumbled and slightly embarrassed reply. It was her turn to get water, finally, since Nevaeh was getting extremely annoyed by all the foolish talk of men.
This is what women lived for though.. She mused - all men thought that the only things women were good for was baby-making, and to be their slaves. She had learned that a long time ago when the man she would have called her father told her she was nothing but his slave and the only reason why he taught her how to read, write, and figure mathematics was so she would eventually do all that for him.
He was incredibly lazy, and the younger, naive Nevaeh slaved for him. Cleaned the house everyday - spotless, as well as cook for him, and whoever he brought to the small home they shared.
But in the end, it was all for his selfish desires.
Nevaeh was never truly worth anything.
Women weren't worth anything, other than being men's toys.
She stepped up on the elivated step, for those who were just a little too short, and pulled the rope up to her, clamping her bucket on the hook, and lowering it into the water.
I want to adventure, I don't wanna be stuck here catering to a man's needs.
But how would she ever get the chance? She was completely under the protection of the latest family to take her in. She had very little money, and knew nothing that was outside of this village.
Though, she had lived for three months by herself under a cherry blossom tree when she was eleven. She could probably handle the world out there. At least.. She could handle more than the rest of the people there would.
Nevaeh hauled the bucket out of the well, unhooking it and carefully turned to step off the step.
One of her weaknesses was the ever-present agony of being a clumsy human as her foot slipped from underneath her. Luckily, even though she was a klutz in the every meaning of the word, she also had good reflexes that allowed her to catch herself on the other foot - and grab the bucket from completely falling out of her hands.
