She must have been more tired than she thought, for she barely remembered falling asleep. The next thing she knew, morning sunlight was coming in the small window of the infirmary cart. Stretching, she absently checked for her pouch before putting it around her waist and going outside. The morning sun was sort of cheering, she thought, shining on no matter what was going on in the world. Though it seemed like it had been a while since the sky had been clear like this.
"Okay, are we ready to pull it down?" she heard Nikado's voice from somewhere ahead, and the noblewoman spotted him standing with his sister. "Okay, we're taking it down!"
Ameko looked up as something seemed to flicker above her for a moment. "What was that?" she questioned, more to herself than anyone else.
"It's a barrier, of course," Talira called over to her. "What did you think it was?"
Ameko looked from one to the other. "You're twins," she realized after a moment.
"Sure are," Nikado said with a grin. "How are you feeling this morning, Ame?"
"I feel fine," she told him, rather wishing he'd stop asking that. "So we're heading out?"
"Yeah. Oh, before I forget, let me introduce you to Jer. Well, his name's Jericho, but everyone calls him Jer," Nikado explained, leading her to the mapman.
She could see the resemblance to Aizaem in the light brown hair and pale skin, and moreso in their calm, almost stony expressions. The difference was that where Aizaem was a bit shorter than herself, Jer was taller. Much taller, and massive besides. "Jer, this is Ame, the girl we found the other night. She's trying to get to Mayama."
"So I heard. Well met, Ame," he told her, holding out a hand. She accepted, giving it a brisk shake with the right amount of pressure. "Glad to see you're feeling better. We don't usually venture to Mayama this time of year, so we'll have to take the long way around."
"I appreciate the help," she told him sincerely.
"She was going to be on guard duty with me and 'lira," Nikado told her. "Think that's okay?"
Jer looked over at her. "Is she feeling well enough to, so soon after being attacked?"
"Are you expecting trouble?" Nikado asked with a frown.
Jer didn't answer, turning back to the maps. "Okay, let's do a triangular formation," Nikado mused slowly, "in three groups. You take the front with Jer, Ame. I'll take the left and 'lira will take the right. We'll divide everyone evenly."
Jer nodded, rolling up the map in his hands. "Why left?" she asked of Nikado.
"Because I'm left-handed," he told her with a grin before walking toward the back of the caravan. "It's lucky for me!"
"What an odd man," she observed to herself before looking up at Jer. "*Are* you expecting trouble?"
"I'm not sure. I just have a bad feeling. It's not very strong."
"Jer has a really good intuition," Anko told her as she joined the front of the group, checking over the front mules.
"I see."
"So you keep saying," Anko laughed. "Don't be so formal, darling, tell us what you really think."
Ameko looked at her. "You are a very strange group."
"But never one so cheery," she laughed. "We're pretty different from you, darling. We can take care of ourselves, so what goes on in the world doesn't bother us like it does people like you."
"You can't be so casual about it," Ameko argued. "What would you do if a war broke out?"
"You honestly think there's going to be one?" Anko shrugged. "We'd get the hell out of there. What do you think we'd do?"
"You can't run from everything. What would you do if it was everywhere?"
"It's not running, it's not getting involved in other people's squabbles. Not like they'd listen to us," she stated. "Then we'd go someplace else without people and take care of ourselves." Anko looked over at her. "Like I said, we're not like you. We don't want our happiness to depend on the world."
"I suppose not. It's like you can do anything about it," Ameko sighed as she looked back at where Nikado was. The man was chatting with the people around him as if he hadn't a care in the world.
"So, you're interested in our little Nikado, huh?" Anko said from beside her with a grin. "I don't blame you. I'd hit that."
Ameko gave her a look. "So would I. With my sword."
"Oh c'mon," Anko laughed. "Surely you're at least a bit curious about him? You did say he was odd."
"Fine, indulge me. Tell me his life story," Ameko snapped.
"Well, I don't know his entire life story," she said with a shrug. "When they came to the caravan--that's when Jer and Aizaem's parents were still running it--they were just kids. No parents or anything. Ah, he was so cute as a kid~ Talira, of course, has never been cute, but she sure grew up to be a hottie. Haven't grown up much, the two of them," she laughed. "Well, they have, and they were the ones to start actively protecting everyone from bandits and what have you. But sometimes they're just like kids, him especially. I guess it's because adults are so much like you, Ame."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Everyone spends their time worrying about what's going to happen with the world, but Nikado just wants everyone to be happy now. He really is a sweetheart," Anko laughed. "So, if he's not your type, what is, Ame?"
"My type?" Her mind drifted back to the night of the party, the night she had run away. "I don't have a type. I'm not going to be married. I'm going to go to Mayama and join their faith. That's all."
"Wow. Uh, well, if that's what makes you happy," Anko murmured, and let the conversation fall into silence.
The bandits didn't come that day, but they did come the next, and after they had been dealt with Ameko was trying not to admit that she was impressed with the way the group had reacted, defending themselves and the noncombatants. What was more surprising was the decision to let the survivors go free. Nikado had shrugged it off as he let Aizaem treat a deep gash on his arm. "We're not in the habit of murdering or keeping prisoners."
"They could come after you again, you know."
"I doubt they will. They don't want a difficult target. And even if they did, we'd just beat them again. Ow! Damn it, Aizaem, do you have to *poke* at it?"
"Shut up and let me finish," the healer ordered, pulling the wound shut before placing his hand over it. "This won't take long."
"Serves you right, Nikado," Talira laughed at him. "Even the rookie did better than you."
Ameko gave her a glare. "I'm no rookie."
"Here, you are."
Nikado let out a sigh as Aizaem finished, Talira handing her brother a cup. "It's a nice night out. You can see the stars. Look!" He pointed up. "A shooting star!"
"Ah, there's another one!" Anko said in surprise, grinning. "Isn't that a sight to see! What causes them, Aizaem?"
The healer shrugged. "Some say they're an ill omen. That they're the dreams of people that have failed to come true."
"You're terribly depressing, Aizaem."
"What kind of dream do you have, Ame?" Nikado asked her.
"I don't have any kind of dream," she lied as she shrugged. "You?"
"Hm...I don't know. I'm happy right now with the way things are. I guess...I'd like to have a family some day."
"A family?"
"Yeah. You know, a wife and some kids and we'd live together in a little house. We'd have dinner together and I'd bring her flowers and protect the kids and we'd teach them the ways of the world. How to take care of each other and so on. I guess it sounds silly," he admitted. "I guess guys are supposed to dream about being heroes or something."
"Being a hero is stupid," she snorted, pulling her knees to her chest. "...I like your dream."
"Really?"
"Yes. It's a beautiful dream." She was silent for a long moment, looking up at the stars. "Do you mind if I ask about your parents?"
"Hm? I guess not, but why do you ask?" He considered the question. "I was real young, but I remember them just...walking away and us staying behind. That's it. I mean, it's so vague, it might just be a figment of my imagination. What about your parents?"
"My mother died when I was young, so I grew up with my father. I loved him very much. I'm a bit envious of you."
"Why? If you loved him, he must have been a kind man."
"He was, very much so. That's why it hurt so much that I had to leave him. But if I'd been like you, I wouldn't have anyone to miss."
"I think that's a terrible thing to say," he said with a frown. "It's much better to be loved and love in return then never knowing love. Even if you have to part. Is your faith that important to you?"
She didn't answer, looking at the ground. "So it's not that," he said softly. "You're running from something?"
"I don't want to talk about it," she whispered.
"All right. I can understand that." He moved over to sit by her, putting a comforting arm around her and hugging her. "I won't ask any more questions. I'll just be here. I'm not your dad, but...at least you don't have to be alone. Is that okay?"
"Yeah. It's okay."
