Part 3 OniMichi village

Gin shot awake his chest heaving and blood roaring. A bad dream? No. He ran a hand over his thumping chest. It was covered in bandages and his body was wracked with pain.

That nightmare was a waking one. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the bright light streaming in from outside, he was in his room back in Onimichi village.

Like every room in the house with the exception of Master Kages' which was the largest. It had two sliding doors, one for the interior which led out into the hallway and another for the exterior which led, of course, outside.

The exterior door was open to allow light and fresh air in. "Granny's probably the one who left it open." Gin thought. "Mamushi knows I don't like having the door open this time of year because of the bugs." A cool spring breeze wafted in. It was morning judging by the light, probably around nine, he guessed.

He heard soft breathing to his right. He turned his head to see a girl next to his futon sleeping in a kneeling position, her hands sitting in her lap resting on top of each other. She looked to be around his age.

She had long black hair that hung down her back. It was trimmed straight in the front hanging just over her eyes yet still seemed to want to hang in her face how thick it was. Her facial features were delicate and her skin ghostly pale. Had it been nighttime he might have mistaken her for a visiting spirit.

Gin didn't think a girl as pretty as his Mamushi existed. She looked dignified. She wore a dark blue hakama with a white top. Over her top she wore a haori, the sleeves of which seemed to have been torn off. It was the same shade of dark blue as her pants.

Gin heard snoring to his left and turned his head; over on his other side, further away. Another girl around his age was asleep on her side, her head propped up on her hand and elbow, drooling onto the tatami. She had very long pink hair tied up in a high ponytail. Untied it would probably stretch down to her waist if not further.

While not the beacon of dignity like the other girl; her features were equally as fine, but her body seemed more slender. Her skin was fair, but not pale. Her attire was similar to a shrine maiden.

A white top with red hakama, a pair of cords crossed over her chest to pull her sleeves up and to keep them out of the way. Splint red gauntlet covered her for arms and around her head she wore a bandana similar to his own, but instead with red fabric and a fox etched into the plate. Wild bangs spilled over it.

This was certainly an odd situation. "I know I'm injured, but still; young men and women of marrying age being alone like this is… unseemly." He thought. The last thing he needed right now was rumors that he was an adulterer, or to have an equal disjustice put on these girls.

Sliding his blanket off, he rolled in place pushing himself up with and stood horizontally on his left hand bringing his legs up to his chest. Then in one swift fluid motion he stood and walked backwards without a sound out of the room and into the yard.

When he was outside he took a deep breath, and assessed the damage to his body. Several broken ribs, some cracked. A fractured right arm and some light hemorrhaging. He sighed, thankfully his legs were fine. So long as they weren't broken he could move, and since he was mobile, he wanted to see how the village was faring as soon as possible.

He was wearing only a loincloth and bandages, so he grabbed a green haori, and the black baggy pants he'd usually wear while hunting off a drying pole, and put it on; gazing at the rows of houses with their black tiled roofs as he dressed.

The successive generations of Oni hunters worked hard to ensure the village was prosperous so even though they weren't big all the homes were built from fine lumber and had roofs excellent for keeping the rain out.

He started down the dirt road leading through the village; he would've liked to have converted it to a cobblestone walkway to make it easier for the elderly or injured to get around, but with things as they are now… Quiet sobbing sounded from the first house to his left. Yamada… he knew who lived in every household, and almost every single one would be missing someone.

Kazuchi, Shunsuke, Toya, Kentaro, Takeshi, Ryu. He placed the names as he went, remembering everyone who didn't make it home. While he had trained with them or hunted with them; He couldn't claim to have been friends with everyone or to have known them all well, but he knew them and remembered them regardless.

He crossed over a wooden red arcing bridge that went over a small stream, there wasn't a soul insight. Normally the village is bustling. Children running around, old men arguing over cups of wine, crowds gathered to watch shogi matches outside the tea shop.

The saddest part of it all was that it'd be fathers mourning sons, it was the younger generation making their oath to the new head. The only old men at the temple would've been those not blessed with any sons. Women weren't allowed to become hunters under normal circumstances. Though that may change.

No, he resolved that it wouldn't. As head he wouldn't allow it. It's our job as the men of Onimichi to protect our womenfolk. He had to admit part of it was due to the fact that if he did allow it Mamushi would have to hunt as well.

He couldn't send others womenfolk to fight while leaving his at home. That wouldn't be right. While selfishness was part of it. It was more so the fact that families are already mourning their sons; they shouldn't have to mourn their daughters too.

Gin came to the end of the rows of houses, like all or at least most of the villages and towns in Washi. Onimichi was built on a slope, from where he now stood it became a little bit steeper than the gradual slant from his house, which being the heads' house was of course at the highest point.

The path curved down to his left and split the path left went towards the blacksmith's residence and the other path continued straight and led to the farmers houses.

While most are; not everyone in Onimichi was a hunter. Besides them we also have pharmacists, or poison makers would be more apt a title. Though members of this family aren't allowed to become hunters since the village would be in a bad spot without them should they die.

Gin looked out into the rice fields the farmers kept. it wasn't exactly large, but it did well to help feed the families here. There was no one outside tending the crops like there usually was. Ryouta and Kazuto. The eldest sons of the farmer's family. Both wanted to become hunters. Ryouta was allowed to but not Kazuto.

Gin recalled how when they were kids Ryouta used to bully him. Mamushi would come storming in like a hungry fox to a hare with a wooden sickle and chain Master made for her to practice with. Ryouta would try to run only to get knocked out or strangled.

Then Granny would come and whack us all with that paper fan of hers; Ryouta for getting beat by a girl, Mamushi for acting unlady like, and me for having to have a girl save me. If he didn't feel so terrible he might've laughed remembering it.

A strong wind blew, russling the trees and bending the tall grass. It blew against him, whipping his untied hair and, making his haori flap. Its intensity added to the soreness of his bones and muscles. After several moments the wind died down. "We're a lot like the wind." Gin thought. "Here one moment and gone the next." "Strong and weak."

The strong wind is remembered

But it's the weak breeze

that is truly most cherished

"Us hunters are the strong wind, our loved ones the weak. The most cherished. We'll be remembered, but did those who didn't make it home even die for anything?"

No, ones death meant the future of Onimichi. That's a reality drilled into every Shinobi. That even if you died the village would survive, kill or be killed, and kill and be killed.

Though it's changed a lot from the olden days, that was still the iron law of Onimichi; to complete your hunt at all costs. Demons are vengeful and will follow you to the ends for the sake of revenge. Don't dishonor yourself by bringing danger to the village.

But still that slaughter at the temple… what kind of future will something like that bring?

"Gin!" A girl called out to him from behind. He turned to see a girl in a white blue flower patterned kimono leap to embrace him. "Mamushi." He smiled through the pain in his body.

"You've been out for three days!" She said from his chest. "I-I thought…" she was shaking as she spoke. Gin had never seen the rough and tumble tomboy Mamushi like this before.

He placed his hand on her head. Her pitch black hair was soft. "It's alright Mamushi. I'm not going anywhere." She pulled away from him, her hands resting on top of each other at her legs looking away a moment. "I'm sorry." She said turning back to him. "I should've started with welcome home." Tears streamed from her dark eyes as she smiled at him.

"Yeah, I'm glad to be home." Gin said smiling as he was suddenly sent reeling from a blow to the back of the head. "AND I'M GLAD THAT HEADS STILL IN ONE PIECE!"

Gin turned around to see a gray haired old woman in her sixties arms crossed holding a big paper fan. "Granny!" Gin could almost cry, he never

thought he'd be so happy to get smacked by that fan.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED NOT JUST ME AND MAMUSHI BUT EVERYONE IN THE VILLAGE HAS BEEN FOR YOU!?" she was unabashedly pissed which was normal for Granny Chise.

"AND THE INSTANT YOUR UP WHAT DO YOU DO. STAY IN BED LIKE A GOOD INJURED BOY? NO. TELL US YOU'RE UP? NO. YOU RUN OFF ON YOUR OWN TO ACT SHAMEFULLY IN FULL DISPLAY WITH YOUR FIANCÉ!"

She strutted forward. Gin was expecting a strike that would shatter stone but rather the old bat threw her arms around him. "Have some common sense you idiot boy." She said her tone now much softer. Gin realized now that he must have really cut it close. Granny wasn't the type to go easy on anyone. He really did almost die.

She let go of him "Come on, let's get back home. I'll cook you some lunch. You must be hungry after being out so long." "Yeah." Gin felt guilty now Granny must've been really worried.

She had her father, husband, and son die while hunting. She had remained iron through it all. After all that I don't think she would've been able to handle seeing me die too. That would've been a breaking point.

"Mamushi, help him along." She said as she led the way. !, Just how close to dying was I? If Granny is letting us take liberties like this. Normally touching each other's hair or holding hands would end in a fanning.

Mamushi wrapped her hands around Gins' good arm. They started uphill saying nothing as they went, both happy to be close to the other.

The heads house was the oldest and biggest in the village built in an L shape; it had the same black tiled roof and was built from the same fine lumber as the other houses. It was encircled by a small wooden fence.

The door to his room faced the village and was still open. Out front the two girls from earlier were standing. The pink haired one seemed agitated, her arms crossed and red eyes glaring at him. The dark haired one stood straight, her eyes like a razor showed no emotion.

They walked up to Gin stopping on either side of the fences entrance. The two girls exchanged glances, or the dark haired girl was seemingly saying something to her with that glance. The pink haired girl sighed loudly, seemingly displeased. "Fine, I get it." They both bowed. "Welcome home, it is a pleasure to see you in better health, lord husband."