What you are, I'm not

Hallo again. I'm stuck. I have a request. Should I continue with my other story or should I go with this one? I love them both! Perhaps I should try and upload both...?


Chapter 1

The sun stood high on the sky and the outlaws where out and hunting. Even if they got a lot of gold from their raids, food and water was still hard to get their hands on. Shiba and the strongest of them were always out, trying to find food for all of them. The treasures were used to trade rice, spices, herbs and clothes. After a raid they would split the plunder and everyone got to do what he wanted with it.

Shiba was the leader. He was the strongest fighter of them and one of the best hunters. With a body that was a bit over 6.1 feet and filled out with muscles he was not someone to mess with. He ran through the forest searching for a deer or a boar to kill. They needed some meat so they could trade it with rice. There was a village not far away from the mountain they were staying on. It was always Ensei that went. The guy didn't look as scary as Shiba and was one of the few men he really trusted with the meat and furs. A cracking twig turned his attention back to the hunt. He slowly started to crawl closer to the sound when voices came to his ears.

“Come out, come out where ever you are pumpkin!”

“If you don't come out now we're gonna fucking kill ya!”

“Well we could have some fun first, right sweetie?”

Suddenly the sound of bushes being pressed aside could be heard and just as Shiba came to a glade three men threw themselves over a couple of bushes. And pulled out a girl. A beautiful girl in a green and golden kimono. Her hair was long and brown and her big brown eyes were filled with tears.

“So, little slut, thought that you could hide from us? Hah?!”

“Come on Akihiko, I want some sex.”

“Yeah, yeah, me to.”

“Fine you two, but I'm gonna go first. You don't mind, right pumpkin?”

The girl started to trash in one of the men's arms and tried her best to get away but against three big men it was pretty useless. They started to rip in her kimono and pushed her down on the ground.

“No, no, no! Help me, someone heeelp!” The voice was so light and sounded like music in Shibas ears. She must be a prostitute that had tried to run away. He felt sorry for the girl and he knew that she would be killed after they were satisfied.

“No one's gonna hear you pumpkin. Now, why don't we use your pretty mouth for something else? If you bite I will pull my sword right through your stomach.”

“That wouldn't be too nice don't you think?” The three men turned around and found a young, muscular man black clothes. His hair was light, almost blonde but his eyes were black.

“What's a fucking kid doing out here?”

“Don't ya see that we're really busy?”

“Don't mind him, let's just focus on our little prey.”

They turned back to the girl that had backed away a couple of feet but they were quickly around her again. One of the men grabbed the end of the kimono and started to tug it down. The second grabbed a leg and gave a hard pull. And the last one of them grabbed her hands with one hand and grabbed the back of her head with the other. He was standing over her and it was obvious what he wanted.

“Please help me!” Shiba looked at the girl. Her eyes were glued at him and she looked so scared. So small and scared. A slap could be heard over the forest roof.

“Shut the fuck up slut. Just takes this like a good whore and...”

“You don't hit women. You know that right?” The three men turned, but were dead before they had time to realize that he was behind them. They all fell to the ground and the girl quickly backed away. She had blood on her kimono and she looked liked a scared dear.

“You okay?” She flinched and turned her eyes towards him. She looked like she would turn and run, fine by Shiba. He didn't want to take care of a woman, and she didn't fit in the camp either way. Not with a bunch of horny outlaws.

“y—yeah. Thank you so much. You don't know if there's a house or a village nearby?”

“Yeah, walk south for an hour or so and you will reach it.” Shiba turned and started to walk away when he heard a wince. He turned around and saw her limping, no more like jumping.

“What are you doing?”

“They broke my ankle so I wouldn't be able to run from them.”

“And you're going to walk to the village? That will take you a day. If not an animal take you first.” Shiba walked up to the girl, turned his back to her and crunched down. “Get on.”

“What?”

“Get on.”

“No way.”

“Look, either you climb up on your own or I'll just throw you over my shoulder. That is not going to help your foot. One of my guys is a doctor. He can help you.” The girl carefully climed on his back and snaked her arms around his neck. He turned his head a little and saw a cute blush spreading on her face.
He smirked and squeezed her legs a little harder. Then he turned and started a slow jog towards the camp.

-----------------------

“Where the hell is he?!”

“Calm down Ensei, he probably lost track of time or found a big deer or something.”

“He wouldn't be late because of something like that. Hell no, I'm gonna sit here while he...”

“While who do what?”

“SHIIIBA! I missed you, please don't do that again!”

“Shh, you'll wake her up, she just fell asleep.”

“What, the deer?”

“Stupid Ensei. You still haven't noticed the girl on his back.” Wait. The outlaws both whipped their heads to Shiba and the girl sleeping on his back. Such a young and small girl. So...beautiful.

“Wow, cuute.”

“Where did you find such a beauty?”

“Well, she found me. She was being chased by three men. Think she is a runaway prostitute or something like that.

“Yeah? You gonna share her?”

“What? No. I'm going to leave her at Riskos' hut and let him heal her and then she is free to go.”

“Oh... Really? It's a shame...”

“Ensei!”

“okey, okey! I was just joking Kike.”

“I don't think she thought it was so funny.” Shiba and Ensei turned their heads towards the girl. She was red as a tomato and her eyes had grown big again. Kike quickly walked up to Shiba, grabbed her like a ragdoll and started to carry her to Risko and his hut.

”Watch it! Her ankle is broken!”

”Yeah, yeah. I got it Shiba.” Kike changed his grip on her and kept walking to the hut. It was one in the middle and the few men that were awake turned and looked at Kike and his treasure. He picked the pace up and soon found himself outside Riskos' hut.

”Oi Risko! You awake?”

”Yes, come in.” Kike walked in with the girl in his arms and stopped as soon as he came in. In the middle was Risko. He was the oldest in the village, about 30 years old and a friendly type. He healed and treated all the injured and looked after everyone. He and his son Rako was living with them because the village they lived in had thrown them out when Risko refused to heal a young man. He had raped a girl in the village but gotten stabbed by her. He had killed her and then went for treatment. Risko had refused and even sent for the royal guards in the village, but the boy was the richest man's son and got away from his crime. Risko and Rako were sent away. But Risko enjoyed this place and Rako had fun being taught by the men in the village.

”What are you doing here Kike? And who is this little lady?”

”Well, it was Shiba that found her. She was being chased by three men. He killed them. They broke her ankle so he took her here.”

”oh? Okay, can you wait outside Kike?”

”Sure thing Risko.” Kike slowly put her down and help her sit and then left the hut. Risko was sitting at the fire in the middle, steering something in a pot. He looked up at the girl and smiled before standing up and walking up to her.

”Now, little lady. Why don't you show me that foot of yours?” The girl nodded and pulled her kimono up so he could inspect the foot. He carefully lifted it up, but quickly put it back down when she winced. He grabbed a couple of big branches and bandages. He grabbed some sort of oil and a jar with something that looked like green porridge in. He smeered it over the ankle and started to wrap it up. He broke the branches and held them tightly around the foot and wrapped the bandages around. He ignored the whimpers coming from the other person.

”Now then. My don't you tell me your name little boy?” Shit. The boy looked away and blushed.

”Oh? You thought that I wouldn't see that you where a boy?” The boy could only nod.

”Your name?”

”Himeko.”

”Himeko? Isn't that a girls' name?”

”Yes, but I have always been raised as one at the brothel so.”

”Oh. By the way, you can't put any weight on that foot for a couple of weeks but I'm sure that you can stay here with me until you're healed.” Himeko only nooded. Risko signed and then stood up.

”Kike.” The young man walked in and stood by the door.

”Take Himeko to Shiba. He can sleep with him. My place isn't big enough for three.”
Both looked at him. Himeko was about to protest but Kike beat him to talk.

”That's a male?!” Himeko just turned his head away and looked down on the ground. Risko signed and then went over to Himeko with some tea. He smiled and thanked him with a nod. Risko grabbed Kike and went outside.

”Tell everyone that Himeko is a male. Otherwise the men in this camp will go in rampage. If they know he's a male he might not be attacked.” Kike nodded and then went to tell Shiba, Ensei and the others. Risko went back inside and saw Himeko sitting by the fire, looking at the pot. Then he turned to Risko.

”If you put more salt and raspberry in it the taste from the meat will come out more.”
Risko raised an eyebrow. Himeko suddenly bend down and bowed in front of him.

”I—I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I swear, please forgive me.”

”Hush now, I didn't tell you that you couldn't speak. Just curious. Where did you learn how to cook?”

”Well as a prostitute you have to be able to cook and clean and other simple tasks like that. And to...entertain people.” Risko nodded and then went out. But before he closed the hut he turned back to Himeko.

”Thank you for the tip. I'll see if I can find that stuff. You stay here.” Himeko nodded and went back at looking at the pot, steering time to time. The minutes ticked away slowly but then suddenly the skin that covered the door ripped open and there was Shiba, gasping for breath and staring at him.

So, what do you say? Worth a try? Or should I finish with Big Bad Wolf first?