Echoes of the Past

[laraine]

"Of course, no use having all this good food go to waste!" With that she chowed down on the berries and anything else she could eat at the moment without having to cook. She stuffed a few things in the bag he gave her to save for later. Then she got back up on her horse and turned to him.

"Well..if you really plan on walking I won't stop you. I just figured you wouldn't want to waste your energy considering we might be killed any minute." She grinned then started to move her horse foreword when it looked like he was ready.

At that point she called herself ten kinds of idiot for being nice to him again.

Being with him seems to have brought out my softer side again..That's not good..

[JxSlaughter]

It never seized to amaze Jiru by how much she would eat. He finished putting on his boots and started to head up the rocky trail. He paced ahead of the ox with the ropes around it's neck in hand. The dog had room to run about a bit far ahead of them because it didn't have a large animal to worry about.

The road was covered mostly with rocks and dirt. No cart could go across without breaking all of its wheels and spares. Pine trees did grow on the steep peaks that surrounded them, but there wasn't much near the trail. If they looked up, there was plenty on the higher peaks. As they went up wild pink flowers were occasionally dispersed in the area. The sky was gray and cloudy, the wind was light but chilly. The clicking of rocks beneath the feet of the travelers was the usual sound other than the wild animals calling out before a feast.

Since the trail was thin there would be a slight struggle getting around other travelers. They didn't look at Jiru or Echo in the face after the first glance. Just like Jiru they used their rice hats to avoid eye contact.

But they were dressed differently than Jiru. They had high collars and vibrant colors on their shirts and family symbols on their cloaks. There were tassels hanging from both sides of their rice hats. They wore shoes and long pants, not boots or sandals. Again their ox usually had the deep blue color from the ones in the plains. But one ox that passed by was white and had a tail of a horse. The horns were very tall and dark cream. Jiru couldn't help but look at it's beauty as it passed by.

The harnesses and halters of the ox and horses were ornamental, and rather rich looking. Some of the animals had piercings of copper and silver. Anything that appeared gold was painted, and fake. But Jiru still enjoyed seeing it. He smiled after the strangers went by.

[laraine]

Echo only eyed the people that passed once, quite enamored by their appearance as well as their animals they rode with. It was quite a sight to see but she continued to focus on her goal.

The sun was slowly starting to set once more. Another day was ending and it seemed like they would never arrive at Jiru's town. She sighed and yawned while on her horse. "What should we do for tonight?" She asked.

[JxSlaughter]

Jiru's spirit plummeted as it started to get dark. "Theres a camp site nearby... We will stay there."

They nearly made it to the highest point of the mountain. From there they would be able to see town. The trail became smoother, rocks were now pebbles and across from them now was flat ground below the continuing mountain.

The camp was full of chatter and trading among other four merchants and two soldiers. But when Jiru and Echo came level to them, chatter became whispers and silence. A warrior, noticeable by his pike looked at Jiru and whispered to a subordinate. Jiru only looked away.

The camp had sakura blossoms planted on the sites for decoration and they were in bloom. There was hay stacks for mules and other steeds that came along. Some merchants didn't have animals, and carried their belongings on their backs. Being so brotherly to their kind, some shared a camp fire with others. But none dared to come near Jiru or Echo.

Jiru threw the last of his firewood into the pit and lighted it. He grilled the last of the boar as well without doing anything too special to it. He added some herbs, squeezed lemons and soy sauce. He put his gourd near the fire and turned it into warm tea. It wasn't long before a stranger started to play her lute to break the tense air. Jiru remained silent, sipping his tea as if nothing was wrong.

[laraine]

Echo noticed the other traders all but ignoring and staying away from them. She was curious why they were being distant and cold to a fellow merchant. But when she looked to Jiru for answers, he seemed in his own world, ignoring the others as well and pretending nothing was wrong.

This annoyed her.

As the music interrupted the silence, she huffed and sat down next to Jiru as the fire cooked the food.

"What a welcome.." she muttered to Jiru, then looked him in the eye and smirked. "IS the food done yet? I'm starving."

She was eating some of the food in her bag, chomping away and acting very unladylike.

If they want someone to stare at, I'll give them something indeed...the whole lot are idiots..

Granted she was dressed as a boy, but since Jiru could tell she was a girl, she assumed it wouldn't be long before these people figured out her gender anyway.

As she waited for his answer she continued to munch on food, wondering in the back of her mind if this was a good idea.

[JxSlaughter]

"Yes, it is done. I'm just... not yet." Jiru ignored the statement she whispered to her just then. Jiru eye kept following the two armored soldiers that continued to chat among themselves.

Because of the culture that the town grew up in, they had no reason to expect that Echo was in fact a girl. If they heard her voice out loud once or twice they would still be in denial. The woman playing the lute had silky black hair. Her attire showed that she was a woman, and didn't try to hide it. Such a thing to them was unthinkable.

At night the two guards switched out and rode back with their horses. Immediately they were replaced with three more. These poor saps had the duty of night guarding. Though before the two from before disembarked, they notified the new guards of something. Just then one was seen pointing at Jiru, but quickly flinched back to correct himself.

The horses galloped on, and the soldiers felt Jiru and Echo alone. But one of the merchants got up and started to talk to them quietly. The silent night helped make out what he was saying. But they talked so quietly, it was hardly heard.

The merchant started the conversation, "Why aren't you telling them to leave? We don't sell directly to normal merchants. Especially Nakashima merchants. "

"I was told the man is from around here, the boy-- I don't know. I was told that the main gate will deal with them."

"But that's a day away. They would have traveled for nothing. "

"I said, the gate will deal with them. "

"You aren't going to let them in are you?"

"I wont repeat myself."

The merchant went back to his camp and started to chat with one of the others.

Jiru heard the conversation, but continued to sip his tea.

[laraine]

Echo also heard the exchange and wondered what the difference between merchants were. This was way beyond her so she ignored them instead thinking about the food before her.

She rolled her eyes at Jiru's lack of appetite and instead raised out her arm and took a piece off the fire and ate it quickly.

"If you don't eat soon I'll eat it all...you know I can..." Her smart alack look was directed at him, as if trying to help ease him away from the tension in this place.

She took off another piece of meat and ate it all in one swallow. The another piece and another. This continued until her seventh piece when she began to get sleepy. She yawned gently and stretched, ignoring the other merchants and guards.

[JxSlaughter]

It did ease Jiru, a little bit. He ate part of the leg, and gave the rest to the dog. He went to bed as well, eager to leave the camp in the morning.

When everyone else was surely asleep he wasn't. He looked up to the starry sky he had seen all his life and whispered to Echo, hoping that she was still awake. "Hey... where did you go last night?" He felt that it was for some reason beyond him. Something that he needed to know. But was doubtful she would answer him even if she was awake.

[laraine]

Echo was awake, and considered making up some excuse like bathroom or something. But she herself knew she had spent a long time out there. She hadn't realized he was awake then, so it shocked her.

But, she still had to tell him what she thought. "It...might be better if you don't know." She answered truthfully. She turned around and looked away.

She considered saying something else, but instead closed her eyes tightly and willed herself to sleep. She couldn't let him find out...never...

The day he finds out my secrets is the day i discover his...

[JxSlaughter]

Jiru suspected such. He wasn't too disappointed, but at least now he knew it wasn't something small like sleep walking, or something like that-- since she didn't answer. He didn't question her any further and went to a deep, and lonely slumber. He felt a little home ...

[laraine]

For the first time in years, Echo dreamed about the last day of her old life. The look of determination in her father's eyes, her mother hugging her before she is torn away. Her brother shielding her from the attack of those thieves. Then he suddenly yanked away and she runs after them, screaming his name. Then she is suddenly hit from behind. She looks down and sees a sword impaling her small body. She looked up at her attacker to see a scar over half of his face. He had a blood red eye and crooked grin.

"Goodnight dear priestess." He laughed.

Echo fell through the darkness.

And awoke, sitting up instantly.

Oh god...not again....

She was breathing hard and put a hand over her eyes to calm herself down. She looked around and luckily she must not have been screaming loud enough to awaken anybody from their sleep.

Still, she was shaking from remembering the past. She looked up at the stars. "Was this your warning?" She whispered to them. Then sighed.

[JxSlaughter]

Jiru was still laying close by the fire. He was facing where she was sleeping with his eyes looking at her. "You okay?"

He really wanted to ask who was she talking to, but assumed that she wouldn't tell.

[laraine]

She jumped when she heard his voice, and turned to him. She gave a small smile. "Fine, fine, just a nightmare. Hehehe"

That was close, I thought for sure he would ask who I was talking to....whew...

"Its okay, go back to sleep. I'm all right.." She brushed a hand through her hair.

She herself didn't want to go back to sleep. It was too much for her to handle...She looked away from him. Almost nearly ready to break down.

[JxSlaughter]

Jiru rolled up in his bed, also away from her. They both held lies, and they both held secrets. Neither of them wanted to say anything. Jiru fell asleep because of the cold chill of the night. He dreamt of lies, his material objects, Echo and his eye. His evil, demonic eye.

He didn't cry out. He just held himself and hid under his blankets.

He saw a pond, turning black... Then everything went black.

He got up before sunrise, and couldn't get himself to sleep again. Reality hurt as much as his dream did. Again, he was among lies and gossip. Another day done, and one day left.

[laraine]

Echo pretended to sleep, but in fact she never slept after that. Thus, when he awoke and didn't go back to sleep, it was her turn to open her eyes and sit up, looking up at him. She tilted her head to the side.

" I suppose I should ask you the same question, you okay?" She smiled.

But she knew, like herself, he would guard his secrets with lock and key.

Even if he knew my story...he wouldn't be able to do anything...