The Moon Thief, Part 2

The Moon Thief, Part 2
The sun rises 
So blinding, so warming 
Never once hearing 
The call of the moon
---
Shimonoseki.
"This passes the grade for being inconspicuous, I guess." Moon griped. He was now wearing an unassuming black robe. Mudan wore a white one.
"Apologies for not taking fashion into consideration when choosing our disguises." he replied.
"I understand having the need to blend in. But if I end up locked in a life or death struggle with some terrifying general, I at least want to look the part. Not like I was interrupted as I was doing the laundry."
"Your priorities are impeccable, Sir Rogue."
The two began walking through town. "So what's the next step in the plan, friend?"
"For now, it would be helpful if we were to secure a faster mode of transportation. Horses would be preferable, though there is the added caveat of needing to secure food for them..."
"I'll pilfer as much feed as we would need if it means less time walking." Moon's stomach let out a rumble. "Speaking of which..."
"To the market first, then. Surely I can string a meal together. Perhaps I could ask around about promising fishing spots..."
"Wonder what the catch rate is for hagfish around here."
"Surely you don't mean those homely-looking worm-like creatures? You eat those?"
"Don't judge on how it looks! They're delicious once you've cooked them! The secret is--"
"HELP MEEEEE!"
Both men stopped. "What was that?" Mudan questioned.
They both turned to see an Imperial soldier in black leather armor, face covered by a helmet, running towards them. 
"Are you kidding me?! Have we already been recognized?!" Moon questioned.
"Help me help me help me!" The soldier ran up to them, frantically grabbing a bewildered Moon. "You have to help me, please! I can't go to prison, I won't last a night!"
"Calm down one second! Who's chasing you?" 
"...oh, no, here they come! Hide me!"
The men saw a group of Imperial soldiers approaching. 
"What did you do to get them on your case?" Moon asked.
"I'll explain later, hide me!" 
As the soldiers passed by, the two men stood by a hanging cloth, and carried on an unassuming conversation.
"You there." one soldier asked.
"May we help you gentlemen?" Mudan asked.
"Have you seen a woman running around in Imperial armor?"
The men looked at each other. Moon shook his head. "Can't say that I have."
"Not the time of year for people to be dressing up in costume." Mudan added.
"If you see any sign of her, let us know. Impersonating a guard is a serious offense." the soldier said.
"Oh, but of course. What is society without order, after all? Can't have anyone disturbing the peace."
The soldiers left.
"...what is that look for?" Mudan asked.
"Don't think I didn't see you smirking while you said that." Moon prodded.
The woman dropped down from her hiding place behind the curtain. "Phew! Any loss in balance, and I would've been a goner!" She got on her hands and knees, bowing before the men. "My saviors, thank you! I owe you my life!"
"Slow down, there's really no need for that." Moon replied.
"We will gladly take an explanation as payment. Why were they chasing you? And why are you dressed like that?" Mudan asked.
"Oh, I'll be happy to explain! But...somewhere less public, maybe?" the woman replied. "And...maybe over a good meal? I haven't eaten in a good while..."
"As luck would have it, we were just about to head for the market. You are welcome to come with."
"This really a good idea, friend? Letting a girl being hunted by the Imperials tag along?" Moon asked.
"The same could be said about us, Sir Rogue. Perhaps we should dispose of that stolen armor, first."
"I didn't steal it! I...borrowed it after the owner already passed. But it wasn't me, they were already dead by the time I--" the woman protested.
"Save it for the meal, girl. Take one of my friend's unfashionable rags." Moon said.
Mudan merely shook his head.
---
Later on, the two men were seated outside of town, Mudan prepping their meal. "Are you done yet?" Moon spoke into the trees.
"Just one second! This armor...isn't exactly my size, and it takes effort to take it off." the woman replied from behind one tree.
"Then one of us can help you with it."
"N-no, that would be terribly inappropriate! I can handle myself just--ow! I stepped on a branch!"
"This girl gets flustered way too easily." Moon muttered.
After a few minutes, the young woman stepped out, wearing a black robe. Her hair was black, and tied back with a red ribbon. "There we are, finally out of that hot armor! I don't know how the soldiers can stand being in those things for so long..."
"Your meal, young miss." Mudan handed her a bowl of soup.
"Oh, bless you! And it smells divine..." The starry-eyed girl took the food.
"Okay, girl, are you going to explain just who you are and what you were doing playing pretend back there?" Moon questioned.
"Ah! I'm so sorry! I took your food without even giving my name first, how rude!" The woman bowed. "My name is Umeko. Thank you so much for saving me, good sirs. Might I ask your names, also?"
"Certainly, my good lady. I am Hua Mudan. And my personable companion here is Lee Moon-bin."
"I can introduce myself, you know. I have a mouth." Moon responded.
"Currently in the process of chewing your food. Do they not teach proper etiquette where you come from?"
"Is etiquette a type of rice paddy?"
"We have a long way to go, Sir Rogue. So, Lady Umeko. How did you end up in your current predicament?"
"Ill luck, mostly. I was trying to become an Imperial soldier. It's something that I wished to pursue for the longest time, as it would help me to fulfill my ultimate goal. But my being a woman makes that...difficult, let's say. I left home to try to find someone to train me, but..." Umeko related.
"But?"
"Every soldier I've met has been absolutely unbearable! They're either so arrogant about their talents, or they scout me out as a potential wife rather than a recruit! It's maddening! After this latest venture, I'm thinking that I'm going to pass on the rank-and-file soldier lifestyle and go back home. I'd never wish to become so haughty as that!"
"(Wonder how she'd react to all those Imperials we've cut down so far.)" Moon thought.
"But now I have another problem. Now that they know my face, they're on the lookout for me. I don't feel safe heading home by myself."
"And where is your home?" Mudan asked.
Umeko pointed east. "All the way in Kyoto."
"That's quite the long journey. And...on our route."
"Friend. No." Moon whispered.
"Oh, I know what you're insinuating. I don't wish to impose on your own travels. Where are you going, may I ask?" Umeko asked.
"We're currently heading for Hokkaido. We might find peace there that we couldn't find in our homelands." Mudan replied.
"We're on the run from the Imperials." Moon abruptly said.
"Moon."
"I won't humor this for another second. We've already laid waste to several troops. We're dangerous to be around. My advice would be to turn around and leave while you still can."
"So then...you two are fugitives." Umeko surmised. "Then I have just one request."
She got on her hands and knees, and bowed. "Please teach me!"
Both men blinked in disbelief. "Wha--?"
"I know I said that I wished to be in the army, but that was only a half-truth! My ultimate, lifelong desire has been to become an onna-musha, and be strong enough to protect my family! I've self-taught myself the use of the naginata, but if I am to become a respectable warrior, I must be a master in the art of combat. If you two truly have bested Imperial soldiers, then you must be skilled warriors. Please, teach me."
"Absolutely NOT." Moon refused.
"Sir Rogue..." Mudan uttered.
"I just got done explaining how we've killed several of the troops you sought to become like, and now you want us to teach you to fight? You were running crying from those same soldiers. You're not fit for a battlefield. Go home, find yourself a husband, and forget all about becoming a warrior, because it's nothing like what the fanciful tales of yore make it out to be."
"My friend, if I may." Mudan stepped in. "While his response is a little...direct, there is truth to what he says. We have dispatched a number of soldiers who serve the land you wish to protect. I myself have much to teach, but are you truly willing to learn from such as us?"
"You misunderstand me, sir. It is not this land I wish to protect with my strength. It is the people I hold dear. And as for those troops, they have already labeled me a fugitive as well. I have no love for the current leadership. He has diminished the role of the female warrior that I aspire to attain. I will not pledge my strength to any throne. Only to the ones I wish to protect." Umeko insisted.
She grabbed Moon's hands. "You saved me within seconds of us meeting. I know there is nobility in those eyes. My only desire is to return home with my head held high. I don't wish to be a burden. Please, sir."
"Grrr...stop looking at me like that. Gah. Fine. We take you as far as Kyoto. And *maybe* I'll train you if I feel like it. I don't make any promises." Moon replied.
"Yay! Thank you so much, Sensei! I promise to do my best!"
"Oh, don't even start with the 'Sensei' nonsense. And quit holding my arm, it's embarrassing." Moon shot a dagger look at Mudan. "And take that smirk off your face."
"Why whatever could you mean?" his companion feigned ignorance. "Now then, Ms. Umeko, I do believe you mentioned having some skill with the naginata. By any chance would you be in possession of one?"
"About that, ahehe..." Umeko laughed nervously.
"Let me guess, something else you 'borrowed'?" Moon questioned.
"'Found'. But yes, I do have such a weapon. But I currently have it hidden away in town. And with the amount of guards walking around looking for me..."
"We'll go with you. Far be it from us to leave our new student alone, right, Sir Rogue?" Mudan asked.
"You're walking a dangerously thin line, friend." Moon replied. "Let's just get this thing before someone else 'borrows' it."
"I'll lead the way! Follow me, Sensei!" Umeko hurried away. 
"I said not to--ugh. This is your fault." Moon followed after.
"There is much to be said about her optimism. Perhaps that levity is exactly what we needed." Mudan followed suit.
---
"...this is where you've been staying?" Mudan asked.
The three were in front of an unkempt-looking shack, with some of its boards clearly in a state of rot.
"It was the only place I could afford, ahehe..." Umeko nervously responded. "I had to give my naginata as collateral until I earned enough to pay the owner."
"....." Moon wandered off, unnoticed by the talking pair.
"And do you have enough money to pay him now?" Mudan asked.
"Not...exactly." Umeko replied.
"Well, that creates a predicament. I've diluted most of my funds into buying food. Using it to pay the owner would bankrupt us, and even then it might not be enough..."
"I don't want to trouble you two, if anything I could just find a new one."
"No no no. That is not a simple weapon to accrue. And the first step to becoming a respectable warrior is to not think of your weapon as a mere possession, but an extension of yourself, carrying a fraction of your spirit. To leave it here in favor of something you may or may not be able to acquire at some point would be incredibly negligent. No self-respecting onna-musha would leave their prized weapon in the hands of such shady lodgings."
"I...yes, you're right, Sensei. But how will we get it back?"
"I got it." Moon suddenly appeared, carrying a pole weapon with a curved blade at its front end, tailed off with a black ribbon.
His companions were stunned. "Ah! How did you get it?!" Umeko questioned.
Moon pointed. "Snuck in through the window. Some round fellow was ogling it and thanking the gods for his luck. Didn't even notice me coming in. I hit him in the back of the neck and he collapsed immediately. I've seen aging trees that didn't go down that easily." He handed Umeko the weapon. "I was expecting something older and more fragile, but this is a very well-crafted weapon you have here. How did you ever get it?"
"I..."
"'Borrowed' it off a corpse, got it. Hey, don't put up that shame-filled look. Having to plunder things just to survive is nothing new to me. Blame the people who made that kind of thing necessary. Now let's go before your friends in the guard spot us." Moon walked off, hands in his pockets.
"....."
"I've only known the man for a scant few days, but I already know that the world has not been very kind to him." Mudan surmised.
"Certainly not. Otherwise he wouldn't be here, so far from home. But you have also fled from your homeland, and your words have not been so cutting."
"The actions I took that led to my being here, I do not regret in the slightest. Such is why I do not hold any bitterness. Him, on the other hand, was brought here by an impossible choice, in what I imagine to be a lifetime of impossible choices."
"Sensei..." Umeko followed after the silent master thief.
---
"Straighten your back. You're engaging in life or death combat, not pulling snakes out of rice paddies." Mudan instructed, as Umeko held her weapon.
"Yes, Sensei..." the girl responded.
Mudan made a sudden movement before backing off. Umeko flinched. "Far too easy. A second of weakness could spell your end. Maintain your composure."
"Yes, Sensei. Ah, Sensei...when do we start on actual combat?"
"We already have. You must perfect the details first. Otherwise your technique will be horribly sloppy. A weapon is only as good as the hands that wield it."
Mudan performed a sweeping motion, tripping Umeko over. "Ow!"
"Expect the unexpected. The battlefield is a place of chaos. You would only be so lucky to have an opponent give away their movements. Stand up and regain your stance."
Moon, meanwhile, sat up in a tree and watched the session, while eating noodles.
"Enjoying the scenery, Sir Rogue?" Mudan asked.
"You're talking like a man with experience in this subject matter, friend." Moon chimed.
"What did you think my duty was back home? Many a Ming soldier was personally instructed by me. I spent over a decade teaching the ancient arts of war to anyone willing to listen, with steady hand and cool temperament."
"Wasn't so cool when that one noble brat raised a blade to your daughter."
"....." Mudan thought. "No, I suppose it was not. Even the sturdiest of branches eventually gives way to enough force. I choose not to regret my actions, self-serving as they might have been. Can you say the same?"
"Tch." Moon jumped down from his perch. "Let me take a crack at her."
"With nothing but a dagger?"
"Don't even need the dagger. Girl. Take a swipe at me."
"I'm sorry? You want me to attack you?" Umeko questioned.
"That's what I said. All this stance stuff is well and good, but it won't matter if you can't hit the person trying to kill you." Moon motioned for her to come at him. "Come on."
"Uh..." Umeko cast a questioning glance at Mudan.
"Perhaps a firsthand look at your ability is a better idea." the former instructor said.
"Okay...here I come, Sensei! Haaaa!" Umeko took a swipe at Moon, who unenthusiastically dodged.
"No." he uttered.
Another swipe. Another easy dodge.
"Are you trying to strike me down or swatting at an obnoxious hornet?"
She brought the blade down, only for Moon to grab onto the wooden portion. He deftly put the weapon's sheath back over the blade.
"Huh?" Umeko uttered.
Moon tugged the naginata out of her grasp, using the hilt to knock her over.
He sighed. "You're embarrassing yourself. Flapping this thing around like a buffoon. Are we really going to waste our time on this?"
"I can keep going..." responded a frustrated Umeko.
"Not unless you're begging to be humiliated."
"If I may once again mediate on behalf of my sharp-tongued companion." Mudan interjected.
"Not like I have any say in the matter."
"I have taken on many a pupil whose skills at the start were...wanting, to say the least. With dedication, they became fighters worthy of respect, as I believe you can. But it will require practice and patience. From everyone involved." Mudan glanced at Moon.
"Tch."
"I promise to put my everything into this training. Please, let me try again." Umeko requested.
"Well if you're so willing to swing at nothing." Moon handed her the lance.
---
Later that night, Mudan slept against a tree, while Umeko sat by a fire. Moon sat facing away from her, sharpening his blade.
"Do you not need to sleep, Sensei?" she asked.
"Well somebody needs to be awake in case someone comes along to take a piece out of us. One that won't be intimidated by you flailing that blade around like a madwoman." he replied.
"I guess that's true..." Umeko sighed. "Do I annoy you, Sensei?"
"At this moment in time, or in general?" Moon continued to sharpen his knife. "I don't find you annoying. I find you naive. Almost endearingly so. What I find annoying is this noble ideal you're chasing about wanting to protect people."
"Is that really such a bad thing to want?"
"It's something I've heard before. 'I'll keep aiming higher until I'm somebody deserving of respect.' I knew a man who spouted those ideals like he recited them every morning he woke up."
"I wouldn't have imagined that a thief would know someone like that."
"I wasn't always a thief. Once upon a time, I wanted to be a part of the king's guard, along with my best friend. I thought it was my ticket out of the squalor I grew up in. But it's not a realistic goal for every man. It was for my friend. He lived and breathed nobility. He became His Majesty's most trusted warrior. So when the time came to put Joseon's most feared brigand to the sword, he was only too happy to oblige."
"But he was your friend. Why would he willingly try to kill you?"
"Because by that point I wasn't his friend. Just another criminal. And one that stole the most important thing to him. The heart of the girl we both loved."
"....."
"Why do you want to become a warrior, anyway? Is the life of an attack dog really so appealing? Or do you think the same thing I used to, that it's your way of digging your family out of the ground?"
"I revere the onna-musha. Their strength, their skill, their beauty. Becoming one is my lifelong desire. And if I can give my parents security, then so much the better. I'm all they have left. All three of my brothers served in the army."
"And I assume none of them made it back."
"No...they didn't. And my desire to become a warrior isn't something my parents agree with as a result. But if it can make their lives comfortable after all this heartache, then..."
"....."
"I'm truly sorry for bothering you. Maybe I should sleep off the day--"
"I killed my friend."
Umeko's attention was drawn.
"I trusted that man with my life, and in the end, he tried to take it. The path of the righteous warrior ended with him convulsing in agony from the poison I tipped my dagger--*this* dagger--with. I say this not out of spite, but out of knowing where this ends. Do you really want to keep up this path? And from a man like me, no less?"
Umeko nodded. "Yes. I do."
"Why?"
"If I'm to learn how to survive in this world, then it should be from someone who has been broken down and rebuilt by it. I want to know how to keep going when things get difficult."
Moon's hand shook. "Girl. I'm not even sure I know how to do that."
He stood up. Umeko braced for more sharp words.
"Over there by the lake. No weapons. I want to test your reflexes."
"Wait, you want to train me now? But..."
"And here I thought you were serious about the warrior maiden thing. Guess it's bedtime, then..."
"....." Umeko got up, and ran over to where he'd directed her.
"Girl's got spirit, I'll give her that."
"Remember to go easy on her at first." Mudan was awake.
"How much of that did you hear?"
"Enough to know that you secretly like having her around."
"Go back to sleep before I knock you out myself." Moon walked away.
Mudan closed his eyes again, a smug look on his face.
---
Morning arrives. Umeko wakes up and stretches. "Mmm! The sun rises on another encouraging day!"
"Good morning to you, Ms. Umeko. You seem energetic for someone who was up late training." Mudan was at work preparing food.
"Oh, good morning, Sensei. I won't lie, last night was draining. Moon-Sensei is a very hard taskmaster. But I find it best to wake up every morning with a smile and a positive mindset!"
"Very good. Now if only certain others could share that sentiment."
Moon was slumped over on the ground, snoring loudly.
"Oh, he's probably tuckered out from all that training. Good morning, Sensei--"
Umeko went to poke Moon awake, but before ever making contact, the thief grabbed her hand, quickly glaring up with a grim look in his eyes. "Wake me before it's time and it'll be the last thing you do."
He immediately went back to sleep, leaving the girl shaken. "Ah...can I have some breakfast, Mudan-Sensei?"
"Yes, you most certainly may." Mudan replied.
Umeko sat down to eat. "So what's the agenda for today? More training?"
"Today our focus is on acquiring a faster mode of transport. Horses, preferably. We shouldn't dwell around here for too long, especially with all these Imperial troops on the hunt for us." Mudan replied.
"A horse-drawn cart, perhaps? It would make carrying supplies much easier, too."
"It's a good enough idea. But where would we ever find someone willing to lend us a cart and horses."
"Who said it had to be willing?" Moon spoke up.
"Naturally, the Great Phantom Thief awakens at the mere insinuation that he could steal something."
"Do you have any better ideas? No one is going to just hand over their horses, and they aren't going to magically sprout from a tree."
"So then what is your master stroke, Sir Rogue?"
"We take a cart and horses from the Imperials. Surely they have some sitting around in their base."
"All well and good, but there wouldn't be any way to get them out of said base without drawing attention to ourselves. Not even a brigand of your caliber could go unnoticed."
"I...may have a solution. One that wouldn't involve bloodshed, at that." Umeko spoke up.
"I'm all ears." Moon replied.
"I still have my Imperial armor with me. One of us could just walk up to their base and leave without drawing any suspicion."
"That might just work. Clever girl." Mudan responded.
"Could also get us in a world of trouble if the act fails." Moon retorted. "But I'm out of other options that don't involve a frontal assault, so...disguise it is."
"Alright! I'll go grab the armor. Oh, but one thing first...it's a bit big on me. So it will probably have to be one of you two wearing it." Umeko said.
"Wasn't going to be any other way, was it? Great." Moon grumbled.
---
Just outside of the city, a squadron of Imperial soldiers was stationed. With several troops walking about, a single masked man was easy enough to miss.
"(Alright, just need to find the stable, and hopefully a cart.)" Moon thought. "(Having to wear this disgusting armor just to pull off a ruse makes me sick. At least this girl kept it clean.)"
He walked around the area, until he came upon the stable. "(That's it. Now I just need to be as unassuming as--)"
"You there! State your business!" a guard demanded.
"(Damn it.)" "Hey. Sorry, I just needed a cart and some horses. It's an emergency."
"What kind of emergency? I've heard of no such crisis."
"(Think, Moon, think.)" "Well, it's a bit embarrassing...my wife is on the verge of delivering our first child, and I needed to transport her to the midwife's home immediately. She's in no condition to walk, so I figured with a cart..."
"Say no more, comrade! The gift of the firstborn heir takes precedence over all else! Take whichever steeds you require! And ensure that the missus receives the best possible care!"
"(This was stupidly easy. The future of the empire is great, indeed.)" "My eternal thanks, brother. I'll return everything at the earliest opportunity."
"Think nothing of it! Give the expectant mother my regards! And do make haste, for the young one could arrive at any moment!"
"Duly noted. Thank you again." "(You complete idiot.)"
---
Moon returned to camp with a pair of horses, along with a wooden cart. 
"Sensei, you're back!" Umeko excitedly said.
"And with everything we needed, at that. Were there any complications?" Mudan asked.
"I'm almost disappointed that there weren't. I just sold them a fake story about needing to deliver my pregnant wife someplace and needing the cart. The imbeciles bought it without a single question. I'm embarrassed *for* them." Moon replied. "Now can I please take this miserable garb off and throw it in a lake somewhere?"
"Hold off on that. It might be useful again down the line. Could even use it as part of a cover story."
Umeko hopped onto the cart. "Let's not dilly another moment! I can feel the winds of romance on my face already!"
"Hey, who said you'd be in the back?" Moon questioned.
"Come now, friend, surely you have better manners than that?" Mudan asked.
"Do you have to take her side on everything? Ugh, fine. The sooner we're out of here the better."
The men each got up on a horse. They began to move, pulling the cart along with them. "So, where to now?" Moon asked.
"The next major city would be Gokamura, heading eastward. Ah, excuse me, I believe it has recently been renamed to 'Hiroshima'. It's been rebuilt as a castle town by Lord Terumoto." Umeko suggested.
"Is that really the kind of place we should be walking into?"
"That man is one of Lord Hideyoshi's vassals, as I understand it." Mudan added.
"We likely won't have to worry about him. I came through the town on my way from Kyoto. The lord of the town is off fighting in the..." Umeko stopped. "Ah, I mean...he is off on official business."
"You don't need to hold off on talking about the war. The relative lack of troops here should make travel easier for us." Moon replied.
"Rather cold towards your brethren, aren't you?" Mudan asked.
"Make no mistake, I have no love for either the Imperials or the kingdom. What use does a thief have for nobility? But of course, they won't be the ones that truly suffer from this war. It'll be the people I know. The commoners forced to fight and throw their lives away on behalf of nobles who would step on their corpses without so much as an acknowledgment. They can just sit back and watch while their pawns kill each other. They make me sick."
Umeko listened somberly. "I'm sorry, Sensei. You're right. War is truly senseless. We all live beneath the same sun. Maybe one day there can be no fighting and we can all bask in its glow together."
"Ever the cheery optimist."
"Sorry..."
"I didn't say stop. Maybe my doomsaying needs the occasional counter to it."
"Ah, really?! I-I mean...yes, Sensei."
"Finally warming up to our companion. You may have a heart after all, Sir Rogue." Mudan smirked.
"I will have this horse kick you the moment you dismount." Moon grumbled.
---
The group passed through the grassy hills of Yamaguchi Province, several hours having gone since their departure. 
"So, this place we're going to has no lord present. I would imagine he wouldn't leave his castle vacant." Moon surmised.
"No, he wouldn't. In reality, many of the feudal lords have taken up arms in the war, leaving their dominions under the care of their most loyal retainers. But these retainers may be even more challenging to contend with." Umeko replied.
"Why is that?" Mudan asked.
"They may each serve a different lord, but they have also all forged a contract with Lord Hideyoshi. Should he call upon them, they will strike at any obstacle he points them towards. The thirteen men and women who he has contracted are known in hushed whispers as the most feared warriors in the empire. They are called the Gotei."
"I'd heard tales of their strength even as far as my village. It's said the empire keeps them here for protection while the feudal lords are off doing Hideyoshi's bidding. They say that just one of them would be enough to crush an entire village full of armed fighters." Moon related.
"Even in my homeland, we have heard of the Gotei. They must be truly fearsome warriors if their exploits reach our ears." Mudan added.
"The stories portray them as samurai and onna-musha of unmatched talents. I'm warning the two of you now because even though Hiroshima's daimyo is not present, his most loyal servant very much is. And he wears the garb of the Gotei." Umeko cautioned.
"Lovely. Anything you can tell us about him so we know who might be trying to kill us?" Moon asked.
"I wasn't in the town long enough to pick up his name. But I heard tale of his skill with the kanabō. The stories make him sound more like an oni than a man. Hopefully we can stay out of his sight."
"We might need to limit the time we spend in public view. Especially if word of our interactions with the Imperials has already reached Lord Hideyoshi's ears. Stomping down a pair of armed foreigners with the land's strongest warriors would send a message of the empire's strength. One that we damage each time we strike down an enemy force." Mudan dictated.
"So on top of the long journey, we have thirteen elite killers breathing down our throats. It was never going to be simple, was it?" Moon sighed.
---
After a few more hours of sustained travel, the sky began to darken. "Nightfall is approaching. Should we stop here for the day?" Mudan asked.
"Yes, let's. It has been a long day." Umeko agreed.
"I'm sure sitting back there must have been so exhausting." Moon stated.
The cart stopped, and the men dismounted. Umeko stepped off. "Umeko, would you get the feed?" Mudan asked.
"Yes, Sensei." Umeko did as asked.
"....." Moon looked off.
"Anything the matter, Sir Rogue?" Mudan looked.
Nearby was what looked to be a small shrine.
"A spot for weary travelers to pray for safety and guidance. Would you care to join me, Sensei?" Umeko asked Mudan.
"But of course. An opportunity to pray for all those whose lives have been lost. Including the young man whose life I selfishly took." Mudan affirmed.
"There you go again, saying it was 'selfish'. It's not selfish to defend your own child." Moon retorted.
"No, but it is selfish to take the life of someone else's. There was surely another way to assuage the situation without resorting to bloodshed. A cooler head should have prevailed."
"A noble brat raised a dagger to your own daughter, and you're going to pray for his soul? You must've indulged in the drink while I wasn't looking. Do whatever you please. I'll make sure our transportation is being fed."
"Go right ahead. Come along, Umeko."
"But--" Umeko uttered.
"There's no use in arguing with him. If he has demons he needs to contend with, he will do so alone."
The two walked to the shrine. "....." Moon turned his attention to the horses.
---
Nightfall came. Umeko fell asleep on the cart. The horses, too, sat down to rest. Mudan stayed awake to keep watch. He looked on, as a shadowy figure walked towards the shrine.
"(Unburden your soul, friend.)" he thought.
The shrine was deserted, littered with leaves and assorted offerings. Moon, garbed once more in his black hooded attire, entered.
He approached the central shrine. "....." His head dropped. "You must think of me as such a fool, praying for you now. Does it satisfy you, knowing what a weight your death has over me?"
The thief was met with an eerie quiet. "Yours was the first life I ever took. And it hasn't been the last. As much as you may feel otherwise, every single one haunts me. Yours especially. 'Good', you must be saying to yourself. 'I hope my dying face is burned into your memory'."
He rubbed his eyes. He hoped the girl and the old warhorse weren't watching. "You must've died cursing my name. Hating me. Regretting the moment you ever met me. That is the one thing I can never forget. The three of us were inseparable. Yet you chose our incompetent king over me. Because...because Jun chose me over you. No amount of training or noble standing could sway her heart, and it consumed you. I had something you never could have. The refined soldier lost out to the poor thief. I had to die after that."
"I just...I don't know where it went so wrong. I thought our bond strong enough to weather anything. We were going to serve the king together and be the greatest soldiers the kingdom had ever seen. But what was possible for you wasn't for me. You had to have known that." He looked at his hands, trembling as they were. "This...was all for survival. A broken world creates broken people. It was a life of larceny, or a nameless grave. You knew that, damn you, YOU KNEW THAT!"
He slammed his fist against the wall. At that moment, the sky opened up, and a rain began to fall.
"...more are going to die, Geong. Imperials, thieves, these 'Gotei'...this same blade that took your life is going to send so many others to meet their gods. And there's nothing I can do to prevent it. It's either kill, or die. And I...I have to live. For her sake...I have to live. I'm sorry, old friend. But to live, I have to fight. The same as it's always been. That's the lot I was dealt in this life. Even if you can't accept that...I hope you can find peace, wherever you are now."
Footsteps. He turned. Umeko stood there, a cloth over her head. "Eavesdropping on me now?"
"I'm sorry. The rain just started and I couldn't find where you were. Please don't stand out here. You might catch cold." she asked.
"Hmph. So considerate. Fine. I've said all I've needed to." He walked past her. "Out of curiosity...what did you pray for?"
"For the brothers I've lost. And...that you and Mudan-Sensei can find peace."
Moon put his hand up. Umeko was alerted at first, but it came down gently to pat her on the head. 
"Thank you. Now let's get to bed. It's another long ride tomorrow."
She smiled. "Yes, Sensei." 
She followed after him, as the rain began to ease up. All that was left was the silence that returned to the area.
The sky, for a moment, shed no further tears.