Masashi Yoshie, a mysterious, wandering samurai, traveled through valleys and up mountains trying to seek the ravaging white haired, red faced demon whom she suspects is the cause of the terror in the Land of the Rising Sun. Along her journey, she s...
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The cold water was what kept Yoshie wake and sane. It has been carrying both her and the shinobi down the river, and though they could've stopped by the banks hours before Yoshie didn't have the will or the strength to do so. She gripped strongly to the tree trunk which kept them afloat, praying not to slip off himself. Heavy pants inhaled and exhaled out of the samurai woman's lips. She fought hard to keep her lungs working. And all throughout that, her heart pounded wildly.
The sun had broken through the horizon. Songs of the herons echoed through the valley, and Yoshie watched them soar above her. Envy filled her. Those creatures were free, unbounded by guilt, unchained of any past. In comparison to them, Yoshie was a caged soul.
Soon the river shrunk until the tree trunk wouldn't go any further. But it dragged Yoshie against pebbles and river stones and forced her to the river bank. Left with no choice, Yoshie gets up and dragged the unconscious shinobi against the mud before dropping to the ground beside him. She shivered from the icy chill of the river, but she felt even more tired from clinging on for dear life. The tired lungs inside her chest inflated and shrunk so prof
But it wasn't the time to relax. Yoshie got up to check where she and her companion could recover and hide. Through the outstretched branches of the trees, she catches a glimpse of a cave up the mountain. Fixing herself for a moment, the woman adjusts her belt holding her swords. Once she finished, Yoshie pulled Obito up her shoulders and hoisted him on her back. A soft groan escaped her lips as she struggled to keep him leaning against her. He was heavier than she hoped for, but Yoshie wouldn't drop him.
Then she began her journey up. Teeth gritted to hold back her groans and pants. Sweat formed on her forehead the higher and higher Yoshie went. The branches and boulders didn't make her trip up any easier, but she suddenly found strength and began leaping up instead of walking. She nearly slipped once when she landed on a boulder, but quickly balanced herself. Through sheer will, Yoshie finally found herself in a cave and carefully laid the man down.
"I hope the others are alright," Yoshie mumbled. "Gods, if you can't have mercy upon me, at least have mercy upon them."
