Through Fire and Water

Chapter 7 - Appraisal

This chapter is dedicated to LuHeart2! Happy reading! ^^

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Izumi pov:

I was woken up by the sound of a horn blowing outside the barracks. I assume it was the morning wakeup call that was given to all those who lived here in these barracks and I groaned, not really happy to be woken from my sleep so early. It was still dark out, and cold, and way too early to wake up. Perhaps if I was on a mission, I wouldn't have complained about being woken up in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning. Then again, this was sort of like a mission – a mission in a new world with new people and new rules. I couldn't be lazy now.

Giving my body a good stretch, I got up and headed out of my room while carrying my toiletries. The other people staying in the other rooms of the barracks had awoken as well and were heading to the bathhouse. I followed suit, keeping a bit of distance from everyone while observing them and listening in on their casual talk. When we made it to the bathhouses, I walked into the women's side only to find the change room empty.

I raised a brow and looked around wondering if none of the women had woken up and come here yet or if they were early birds and had already finished up with their daily routine. I did spot one set of clothes and toiletries on the side of the changing room though which meant that there was still someone here. I placed my stuff beside the other person's and headed to the hot spring area with a towel wrapped around me.

When I made it to the hot springs, I narrowed my eyes and looked through the steam to make sure there wasn't anyone suspicious around – especially any guy, in case I was tricked into walking into the wrong side of the bathhouse. I spotted a silhouette in the distance and I could tell it was a woman. Satisfied with that, I got into the water and waded through it cautiously towards the figure. Whoever she was, she was sharp. When I was just about ten feet away, I did a three sixty degree turn and moved to the side as a small dagger was thrown at me, aimed for my head. It got lodged in the wooden door behind me, the one that led to the changing room.

I looked back at the woman with a frown and narrowed my eyes upon seeing her holding up another dagger in her hands, ready to be thrown.

"You better get out of here before I really hurt you, you pervert! You might have dodged the first one but I assure you, the second one will not miss." She said. Her voice was silky but a little low toned in comparison to what most women would have.

"I'm quite sure I don't qualify as a pervert." I said and walked closer to her as she lowered her weapon.

"A girl?" She asked more to herself before turning around and walking to me to meet me half way.

When she was close enough to me and the steam not posing as a visual obstruction anymore, I got to see just who had tried to attack me. It was the same woman I had seen in the training room last evening, though now she was wrapped in a towel and had her hair down. She was a tall woman, standing a good four inches taller than me, with long blond hair, emerald green eyes and a mole under her right eye. She was most definitely older than me but was quite beautiful and well endowed as a woman.

"Sorry about that, Hon. Hope I didn't hurt you." She said with a smile and put a hand on her hip. "I thought it was one of the pigs trying to sneak peek at me....like they oftentimes do."

"It's okay, no harm done." I said with a shrug while wading towards a big boulder and sitting down for a comfortable soak.

"So, are you a new recruit we've all been hearing about?" She asked as she took a seat a little away from me.