After the Rain Stops

Warrior

After everyone woke up, Drag- Eh, Sesa, acted like nothing had happened. He packed his things, and Kara tried to get his attention.

"So, you kept me warm last night... Why, I wonder, is that?~" She asks, playing coy.
He grunts. "Was cold. Needed you."
"Aw, cmon. Theres another reason, I'm sure of it..."
He shakes his head. "No. I was cold."
She pouts playfully. "Sesa, come on. I'm trying to court you."

He gave her a look, a cross between 'Are you insane?!' and 'You're stupid to do that.'
"Sesa, please. At least make an attempt." She states, huffing and crossing her arms.
He sighs.
"You're a beautiful woman."

Kara how'd politely and giggles.
Chò was watching all of this unfold with a fascinated look.
"Not even a day and their fûcking..? Wow, you go girl!"

Sesa grunted as he lifted the boulder that kept them inside last night. He tosses it to the side, then walks out and takes a deep breath.
The air was stinging cold, and he loved it.

Kara joined him, glancing at him.
His shirt was still in the cave, and his arms were spread open, as if to say, 'Here I am. Accept me or destroy me.'
She held the place above her heart, feeling it beat with...
Something more.

"Sesa... Please put your shirt on. Its cold, and you can't afford to get sick." She says, almost a whisper.
He opens his eyes, but doesn't look at her. Instead, he looks toward the mountains, past the forest, across the ocean, and back to his body.
He takes a deep breath, then looks at her.
"There is an army coming. Listen... They sound heavily armed. Maybe Chōjō. Maybe Atsunatio." He says, his first official long sentence.

She smiled a little on the inside.
He was warming up to her, she just knew it.
Then the moment was ruined by Chò when she jumped up and yelled, "Guys, we got trouble! More soldiers!"

"More soldiers? What clan?" Kara asks, running with Chò and stealing one last look at Sesa.
"I don't know! Their armor is white and blue, but their banners are black! Stitches!"
Stitches runs out of the shadows, holding up a black banner.
"I don't know who they are, but by God they sure don't like thieves." He says, removing an arrow that had pierced his leather shoulder guard.

On the other side of the cave, an army of white armored soldiers stood there and watched the three exit to the other side of the cave.
The commander sat rigid on his horse, pulling out a scroll.
"His lord Chōjō Asinatē demands that you leave his territory immediately, or face our glorious army and be sent to the Underworld." He says, looking at the three kids.

"Hey, Bozo! You can't threaten us like that!" Chò yells, having to be held back by the others.  
The commander scoffed.
"You're either stupid or suicidal to challenge me. Either way, you die!" He says, charging at them by himself.

"Come on, Monkey fûcker! Bring it on!" Chò screams, her face red. Kara raised an eyebrow.
Was she OK?

The commander charged them, and Chò charged at the commander, screaming something at him in Chinese.
As soon as he trusted his spear at her, she punched it and it shattered, her punch not stopping in the slightest.
Stitches drew a sword and sighed.
"Looks like a fight it is..."
"Don't kill them! Guys, don't..!" Kara said, then sighed.

She pulled out a scroll, then read it and said the encantation before a hand snatched the scroll away.
Sesa stopped Chò and Stitches both by tripping them into each other.
"Don't. Look."
He nods toward a ledge, where archers were waiting.

Sesa glared at the commander, then faced the army.
They were all shaking in their boots.
"Go."
The army damn near run each other over to get away from him.
"Cowards! Get back here and fight!" The Commander yells, unable to move because of his thick armor.

Kara, Stitches, Chò, and Sesa all looked down at this man.
"What should we do with him?" Kara asks.
"Torture him!!!" Chò says, fire in her eyes.
"No. I say we take his armor." Stitches says, already digging through his pockets.
Sesa just stood over him, holding a sword at his throat.
"Give me a reason."

Kara spoke up.
"Let's take him with us. Maybe if we return him safely, they'll believe we're not so bad."
The other three looked at her.
"Sure, and if that doesn't work, we can hold him for ransom." Stitches says, drooling at the thought of all that money.
"Humph! I'd rather break his neck now..." Chò grumbles, arms crossed.
Sesa looks at her, then to the commander.
"I agree."

He snatched the man up, tying his hands behind his back.
"You'll never get away with this!" Commander says, struggling against his captors. "I'll kill myself the first chance I get!"
Stitches socks him in the jaw.
"Do shut up, idiot. You're giving me a headache." He says, rubbing his fist.

Kara looked at Sesa.
"Don't kill him." She says, seeing him twist the poor mans arm to where it would break if he struggled.
All Sesa did was grunt.
"Now, all we have to do is follow where the army is going, then we can get some directions."
They all nod, then their journey to the Chōjō kingdom begins.