the sun doesn't shine at night

Chapter 1

A/N:  This is based from the latest Dororo manga, "Dororo to Hyakkimaru-den" and although the title is Dororo and Hyakkimaru, this story is about Dororo and Tahomaru. This is my second time writing for this fandom after 'My Little Bride' which is purely HyakkiDoro. I am writing this fic solely for self indulgent (just like my other works) Now, I am not sure how old Tahomaru and Dororo in the current manga so I manipulate their ages a bit (lol) TahoDoro is growing on me *kicks tree* I CANT HELP IT!

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Survival is her expertise. From stealing food and goods here and there to scamming anyone who is idiotic enough to fall for a simple trick. That being said, this too shall pass.

Before she realizes it, she is out of breath, her legs are tired and she is panting heavily after climbing a tree. Her nails sore from clawing its trunk, red scratches on her arms and face from the brawl earlier after stealing a sack of rice from a trader. One of the merchant's men accidentally caught her (not surprising considering she couldn't simply carry an entire sack with ease) She was not stupid enough to think she could. However, the situation has demanded it. The thick foliage hiding her presence from her pursuers. She has already reached the deeper part of the forest and in silence, she is surprised to know that they still haven't given up on chasing her down. When she heard the footfalls, Dororo clasps her mouth to control her breathing. Three men from below cursing and yelling at the other. Moments later, they went in separate directions, dividing the job of finding the 'little shit'. Dororo sighs in relief once they are out of her sight. It can also be another way around.

Her unruly hair framed her angelic visage, but her face no matter how charming, has always been covered with dirt. In sixteen years of her life, Dororo has never truly known peace. Being born and raised in the era of war, she has been to countless trials. She also travels a lot, jumping from village to village and living the life of a scoundrel never allowed her to stay in one place for long. She's used to being chased, being beaten up and run as fast as she can for her dear life.

It is exhausting, just when will these powerful madmen get along so there will be no war anymore?

"Dammit," Dororo pressed her back with both of her hands and just then she found that she has a few broken bones. She remembers getting slammed through a wall when the guy picked her up like a cat. After that is where the trouble started; her picking rock and throwing it to the man who injured her then the man chasing after her before the owner and another man followed. She ran through to the nearest forest to lose them which she barely did, luckily for her, sunset is just around the corner and it will be dark soon. Of course, they will give up, she failed to steal the sack of rice after all.

Sighing, Dororo looks down somberly, remembering the sick old man she just met that day. The man is living alone and with his condition, there is no way for him to take care of himself much more to feed himself. She planned on giving him the sack of rice and a few other things she stole before but she got caught. Now she will have a hard time returning to that village.

"Argh! I got so careless and lost everything." she shuffles her hair and sighs again in defeat.

A noise coming from two different directions caught her attention and Dororo pouts, listening to the incoming barrage of horses from afar.

"Must be the Sakata and Washizu clans' warriors." slowly, she climbed down the tree and while thinking about her next move, Dororo decided to watch and wait for the battle's outcome. The Sakata and Washizu clans declared war against each other for no longer than six months. They are the new addition to the already war-torn province. It's like everywhere she goes, there is war and she's getting pissed of it, not that she can do something about it.