Chapter 28: A Brief Respite
"Everyone's teamwork has been getting better and better these past few days, and Kael's Summoning Beasts have had some unexpected effects. It's been tiring, but if we keep up this pace, we'll be able to solve a major problem for the village..." Watanabe Musashi said, his voice light.
"They're just a disorganized mob. The senseis and Kael-nii-san's summons barely had to make a move before those Jashinists scattered," Rei added with a smile, assuming their captain was referring to the Jashinist problem that had been plaguing the village.
Inoshita and Kael exchanged a look but said nothing. They both understood the hidden meaning in Watanabe's words.
The 'problem'... he must be talking about the Feudal Lord, Kael thought, a cold smirk playing on his lips. Inoshita had told him that the Feudal Lord had been pressuring the Village Leader to resolve the unrest caused by the Jashinists as quickly as possible.
The Feudal Lord... hehe, he doesn't even stop to think. How could our small village possibly drive out, let alone eliminate, the Jashinists from the Land of Hot Water? Captain Watanabe and the rest of us can see that, so how can he, the Feudal Lord, be so blind? He just doesn't care about the lives of our shinobi. He really does just see us as tools.
A fierce light flashed in Kael's eyes, and he gritted his teeth.
"Kael! Show some respect for the Feudal Lord!" Inoshita hissed, shaking his head at him, a silent warning to watch his words.
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Inoshita quickly changed the subject with a laugh. "Kael, why hasn't that eagle of yours brought back any food yet? We haven't had any meat for a week!"
Hearing this, Kael suppressed his anger and rolled his eyes. "It's the middle of winter. Why don't you go find some game?"
"Hahaha, Rino-sensei, the kid is so rude to you! If it were me, I wouldn't stand for it!" Izumi, who was on good terms with Inoshita, fanned the flames with a mischievous look in her eyes.
"Sigh, I don't know when it started, but the boy has just been so disrespectful," Inoshita said with a dramatic sigh, which made the others chuckle.
It's because you all wouldn't let me lay low and power up! Fine, I'm done pretending! The gloves are off! Kael thought, but a smile touched his lips. He actually enjoyed being with these people. They didn't have the strict, hierarchical mindset he had expected from shinobi.
Maybe it's just a small village thing, or maybe it's unique to the Hidden Hot Water...
Before long, the Wind Eagle returned, dropping a black-bristled wild boar with a bluish tint to its skin from the sky. The group's eyes lit up. They were sick and tired of eating dry rations.
"Who's up?" Kael asked, pulling out some tools and salt from the large backpack on Rei's back.
The others looked at each other, then their gazes all landed on Kael.
"My summon caught the boar, so I've already done my part. Besides, I don't know how to butcher an animal," he said, holding his head high.
The others had to admit he had a point, so they all turned to the resident good guy, Inoshita.
"Fine! You're all going to pick on this old man, are you?" Inoshita said, raising an eyebrow. Despite his words, he moved quickly. He stepped forward, and with a few deft movements of his kunai, he had skinned the boar and cut it into plate-sized chunks.
Everyone grabbed a piece, skewered it on a branch, and held it over the fire. Rei had already prepared the oil, salt, cumin, and chili powder.
"Little Dragon, go get more firewood," Kael said, patting the Earth Dragon, who was still mesmerized by the fire. The creature immediately slithered off to find more wood.
A dozen or so minutes later, Kael was finally enjoying his first taste of meat in days. After eating their fill, it was time to sleep. They had been on the move almost non-stop and were all exhausted. But with the current situation in the Land of Hot Water, someone had to stand watch.
"I'll take the first watch. You all get some rest," Kael said, noticing the fatigue on Inoshita's face.
Just as the group wouldn't let a young girl like Rei do the messy work of butchering the boar, they also wouldn't let her take on the arduous task of standing guard. Kael knew that if he didn't volunteer, Inoshita would have. He couldn't bring himself to let the forty-something-year-old man, who wasn't in the best of health, stay up all night.
"Look at that, the boy is finally taking some responsibility. It's not easy!" Izumi teased the teacher next to her.
"Yeah, the kid is a sly one, never one to lose out. He's finally getting it..." the other teachers chimed in with a laugh, then found a clean spot to lie down and rest.
Only Inoshita remained, watching Kael sit quietly by the fire, a faint smile on his lips. He walked over to him. "Staying up all night is too tiring, you won't be able to handle it. I'll take the second half of the night," he said softly.
"Just go to sleep. If I can't handle it, there's still Rei. Young people can stay up later than you old folks," Kael said impatiently.
Inoshita: "..."
His face twitched. "...Alright." He went back to his spot and lay down, letting out a comfortable sigh.
A cold wind blew past, waking Kael from his drowsy state. It was the middle of the night. The bonfire had shrunk, but it was still burning. The Earth Dragon, without being told, was periodically adding more firewood.
A small smile touched Kael's lips. He looked up to see Rei walking toward him. "Why are you awake?" he asked in a low voice.
"Kael-nii-san, you should go to sleep. I'll take the second watch..." Rei said softly, crouching down beside him.
Kael was taken aback. He looked at the concern in her eyes and was suddenly at a loss for words, a lump forming in his throat. What he had said to Inoshita was just an excuse; he had never intended for Rei to actually stand watch with him. But she had overheard and had taken him seriously.
He looked at the girl crouching in front of him, as obedient and gentle as a kitten. He smiled warmly and ruffled her soft, long hair. "I was just teasing Rino-sensei. I didn't think I'd fool a silly girl like you... I'm not going to let you stand watch. I would never let my little sister do something so boring."
"Kael-nii-san..." Rei's eyes grew misty, and she murmured his name.
Since her parents had passed away, she had never felt so cared for. Those who are starved of affection often cherish it all the more when it comes. And for Kael, it was the same. Rei, his new sister, may not have been a girl of many words, but her actions always showed how much she cared for him. She had offered him her sincere heart, and how could he not cherish this sensible, caring sister in return?
"Go on," he said with a gentle smile, his tone leaving no room for argument.