Komuso, the name of the pesky zebra. The name means "Monks of Emptiness." However, the zebra that decided to follow us, doesn't seem to follow the rules of emptying oneself. His tengai was not even proper, an opening allowing his face to show. His addled mind was filled to the brim with stories of every genre. Tales that he tells us with gusto.
It's been two days since Komuso proclaimed that he was going to follow us. Sakura, of course, found this to be a delight. The past nights were filled with fantastical journeys that Komuso apparently went on. There was nothing I could do, nor did I want to, as it was the only thing keeping Sakura quiet.
I sighed, as if such a night had befallen us once again. We chose an outcropping to rest for the night, gathered wood became our fire for the night, and Komuso settled into his story-telling position. My eyes, impassive as ever, looked at the darkening horizon. It was my duty to this child to stay vigilant and protect her from any harm, be it beastly or civilized.
My gaze strayed in every direction, looking at the beauty of Tsukuyomi's night. The crescent moon glimmered slightly, its light basking the terrain below in a silvery sheen. The stars, dotting the endless black sea, creating pictures if one were creative enough. The spectral dust, painting the dark sky with purples and blues.
"Master Ronin." I barely flinched when Komuso slid beside me, a contented smile dancing upon his lips. "The night truly is an artpiece tonight. Tsukuyomi must feel intense joy and pride whenever she brings the veil over the world."
"Why are you here?" I interrupted, not one for the arts.
"Is it truly such a crime to journey with a fellow traveler?" The zebra's smile wilted under my hard gaze. "Alright Master Ronin, if you truly must know. A week ago, from this very day, I was robbed. My sacred flute was taken from me. I had hoped that if I followed you, I might have that chance to reclaim what is mine."
"Hmm..."
✿✿✿
"Mister? Where is your sword?" Sakura trotted next to me, her hooves moving at a faster pace than mine, trying to keep up with my brisk pace. "I didn't see it in the noodle place, then you had it! I don't see it right now, also."
"Why nopony saw it before I pulled it out?" The little filly nodded, her eyes sparkling. I thought for a second, then pulled something off of my back. "Can you keep a secret?" Another nod. "My daisho is invisible. It was a gift after I helped somepony...way back then."
"That's so cool! Can I see it?" I groaned. Why are foal eyes so powerful? With a quick fwish, I drew my katana out of its sheath and demonstrated that it turns invisible if sheathed. I did the same with my wakizashi. Once I was done with my presentation, Sakura clopped her hooves together with elation.
I almost smiled back. Curse these wretched foals for being too...perfect! After I dealt with my own mentality, I glanced back, realizing that Komosu was lagging behind. The usual uppity zebra was despondent, head low, and tail dragging in the dirt. I stopped for a little bit, waited for the monk to catch up, then followed step by step.
"I do not wish your company as of right now." I cocked my head; Komosu changed his speech pattern. No longer grounded, as if he converted back to being a true monk.
"And if I won't leave?" I'm not sure what made me hang back and talk to the zebra, but my instincts have never led me astray.
"Then I will regard you with coldness befitted of an enemy." True to his word, Komosu's gaze turned oh so cold. i didn't reply, there was no need to. The two of us trotted side by side, Sakura bouncing up ahead. The only moment she turned back curiously, I shook my head slightly and she grinned in reply.
Then, just like that, the wind turned sour. An incredible amount of years on the road has finely tuned my senses. The moment the scent of poison touched my nostrils, I was on guard. The key to having the element of surprise is to let nopony know that you know. My demeanour didn't change; my gait didn't change; not a single thing changed besides the more erratic movement of my eyes. Keeping my pace with Komosu, I glanced around as imperceptibly as possible, trying to catch the movement of the source of the foulness.
My guard increased drastically the moment the wrongness faded in the air. It caught me so off guard that my ear flicked. I kept my gaze forward, watching the pink filly, making sure she was safe. I found her staring at a peculiar flower that was growing inside of a rock.
There! A glint of forged steel in the bushes. Then a whistling noise. Instincts took over, and I let it guide me; it forced the monk down. A kunai sailed right where his head was, and thudded deep into a tree that was nearby. Just as quickly, another blade shot out of the bushes. After a couple more of those kunai, our assailant jumped out of their tree and came at us. The pony was a supreme slate gray specimen, with a greenish blue mane that looked to be the color of green fog. The face, covered in a mask depicting a monster of sorts.
Pushing Komosu behind me, I quickly grabbed my katana and met our attacker head on. I ignored the scared scream behind me and focused on the pony coming at us. They seem to be using a kama, and a particularly sturdy one at that. With a growl, the pony swung the weapon, but I quickly sidestepped and bucked our attacker into the side, sending them sprawling.
"That pony is the one that forgone all niceties and snatched my flute!" The monk's eyes were no longer indifferent, but burned with a blue flame. The zebra attempted to take a step forward, no doubt wanting to whale upon the poor pony with surprisingly good equipment., but I held out a hoof to stop his advances. Komosu merely glared at me, but I wasn't backing down.
A sharp pain sparked in my hind leg; I quickly rolled away and accessed what caused it. The pony was up and running, their kama stained red. It didn't look too bad, a shallow cut, so I picked myself up and charged at our attacker. The two of us met with a clashing of blades, but my years of experience quickly bested his youthful energy.
I had knocked them out cold and took their kama, which was now attached to my belt, in plain sight, and I had tons of questions to ask. However, before I could satisfy my needs, the monk stepped up and said something that still baffles me to this very moment.
"Stop, leave her alone." The zebra that Sakura and I both know as Komosu had somehow just disappeared entirely. "For now, this is where we part ways, I wish you luck on your journey."
"Farewell?" I sheathed my katana, keeping my mouth free to talk. "Why?"
"I have the need to interrogate this pony and it's better to be done with a single presence." Komosu gestured at the unconscious lump, then at himself. "Not to mention, I only joined for revenge. It is not the way of bushido. As I've said, may the ancestors guide you and the filly. There is many adventures to be had."