Chapter 9: The ninth step

Soon after that we arrived at the town called kokomaru and immediately proceeded to find a place to sleep and eat at. The place was called "the flowing rock and didn't look as bad as it was on the outside, we entered and immediately found ourselves to be greeted by a woman in a brown kimono (a long, loose traditional Japanese robe with wide sleeves, tied with a sash) who immediately asked us if we wanted to stay and eat" yes thank you very much we will be staying for two days"

"alright that will be 20 yen" I handed it over and headed to my room where I immediately collapsed on the somewhat soft sheets of the bed and proceeded to sleep until the next morning.

"Raiden!"

I awoke suddenly in a groggily manner "what is it" I asked half-asleep

"Finally" "I have been shouting at you for the past ten minutes to wake up" said Kitsune

"why" I replied

"because I'm bored and am not about to watch you sleep" he said

"ok I'm awake" I said and got up to put my clothes on after I did I proceeded downstairs to eat something

"how much will that be" I asked

"15 yen" the bartender replied

"ok here you go" as I handed over the money soon I had a bowl of rice and sushi presented to me in a horrible manner but it was what it was.

"what shall we do now" Kistune asked

"We should probably find a way to make some money as we will run out if we continue like this" I replied"

"Well then let's go out and find some work" Kitsune said

"So we shall" as I finished my bowl of rice and sushi then left to walk the town, it wasn't big but neither was it small it was of remarkable size as it had hostels, guard stations and a bounty hunting station.

After a long and unsuccessful walk, we had found no work that we could do and were getting quite annoyed at this.

"well it seems that no one has any sort of work in this town" Kitsune said

"indeed so" I replied as we walked down the main path of the town which is what we had done for most of the morning in search of work.

"Raiden stop" Kitsune said

"what is it?" as I stopped walking

"look to your right" he said and so I did "in the alleyway see?"

In said alleyway there was what seemed to be two men standing looking down at something I saw there was a woman with a face of terror looking up at them.

"huh seems like she needs help" I said "shall we?"

"we shall" he replied as I began to walk slowly towards the alleyway and as I reached it I crouched down and snuck up behind them,

"just hand give us your money and you won't get hurt" they said

"please no" she responded

As soon as I was close enough I stood up and delivered a strong hand chop to the man on the right's neck, he instantly crumpled to the ground the remaining man looked to his right as the man fell to the ground then stared me in the eye as I punched him in his right temple knocking him unconscious.

The woman not really understanding what happened as she had been saved by man with white hair with incredible speed, "are you alright?" I said as I turned to look at her and offered her a hand.

"yes thank you" she replied "you saved me "as she went into a low bow "is there any way I can help you now after you helped me?"

"ask her were we could find work" Kitsune said

"yes actually" I said to the woman "I am currently looking for work and was wondering if you could help me find some"

"of course I can but can we go back to my house first" I am in need of a change of clothes as she pointed to the now muddy brown cloth dress that she was wearing.

"ok" I said "lead the way"

"alright but before that could I ask for you name" she asked

"my name is Raiden" I replied "and yours"

"tomoe"