Sundowner
The dry winds hit with force against my skin as the horse ran across Kuri. It wouldn't take long for the winds to reach the capital. After what felt like too long, I finally felt the nudging of various familiar presences.
A warm sensation covered the tip of my fingers. Unclenching my hand, I rubbed together my blood coated fingers as the palm of my hand ached from carving my nails into it without realizing it.
"Oden!" Jumping off the horse, I landed a few meters away from them. They had slowed down not long ago having already felt me coming their way.
Oden turned around. I didn't need sight to know he had his usual smile plastered on his face. Right now, as my jaw clenched more and more, that comforting smile of his only felt dumb and annoying.
"Yasu!" Oden responded in a cheerful tone that only annoyed me further. "How was your father?"
His face felt really punchable right now "Why didn't you wait for me?! If not for Toki, I would have never known!"
"Well, you were kind of away at the moment, so..." He rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke, they really wanted to leave me behind and now he was making excuses. Little flames came out of my left hand unintentionally, I really didn't care right now.
"Kanjuro could have sent a message. Don't come up with stupid excuses!" I pointed at Kanjuro and the rest. They all had straw hats covering their faces "Why do you want me not to come!? If you're going to fight against Kaido I can't just back down and watch! I can help!"
"Why train me and let me live with you all for years if you're going to go ahead without me when there's a problem? I'm not weak, not anymore, you know that"
"I know that, but yo-"
"Then why don't you let me go?" I cut him off, my voice quivering for a moment. He really was adamant in not letting me go with them.
Oden sight, dropping his smile before continuing "Yasu, you have to be in the capital with your father and the people you care about. You have to keep them safe if anything happens.
And we...you made a promise you would go out into the sea, beyond Wano, many things await for you out there"
Screw that promise. Between them and a promise I knew what to choose.
"Defeating Kaido would also keep my father and the rest safe. There's a better chance of that if I go with you, please" At this point I was just hanging at any burning nail I could grab on.
Oden placed his hand on my shoulder. There was no force on the hand, but I still felt as if my knees would give up '"When you go out into the sea, you will meet friends and family whom you will care for and fight for. But now is not that time"
His hand moved to the top of my head, making me face slightly down,. He revolved my hair gently as he spoke "Also, we're not planning on losing anyway Uhahahahaha!"
Again, I didn't need Haki to know Oden was smiling from ear to ear, and again, that smile was contagious as always as I felt a little smile of my own, trying my hardest to ignore that damp feeling trickling down my face.
"Go ahead, seek your father and keep him safe if anything happens" Oden spoke, and I just nodded my head, everything that I wanted to say just got stuck in my throat.
I turned around walking to the horse I came here with, I hated the idea, but Oden was the most stubborn person there could be, and still, if push came to shove I wouldn't stay still.
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As Yasu faded into the horizon, riding on his horse, Ki'emon walked to Oden. "Oden-sama, are you sure of this?"
Oden nodded. He knew that Kin'emon really trusted him so he didn't mind the question "Yes, I don't want to involve him, he's got a more important role to play than us"
'Oh Roger, you couldn't be more right'
Kin'emon nodded, and without the need of Oden to say anything they all continued walking, one way or another they would defeat Kaido.
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As the samurais and their lord walked with the red sun coating the warriors, a black and white tinted bird flew way up in the sky with a scroll gripped with its talons.
After the night, the events that transpired would forever be engraved on the people of Wano's minds.
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Short chapter, I was debating if cutting it here or not, this should have been in the last chapter but I couldn't bring myself to write more. now im rested and went at it with a positive mentality and enjoyed a lot writting this one.
Because this one is short, another one will come very shortly, im eager to write the next few chapters.