Fated meeting

The large fist whisked past Takeshi’s face as he managed to lean his head back at just the right second. The ronin retaliated with a jab to the ribs of the bearded man, sending him staggering back.

All around the tavern was clamoring with cheers and jeers. Takeshi had never been one to back down to a fight, in fact he had always hurled himself headlong into battle like a true samurai. But this time he realized he may have bit off more than he could chew. His katana lay out of reach, it was useless in such close quarters, and there were at least five woodland brutes from the north wanting to beat him into a fine paste.

“Not bad, Easterner,” the man Takeshi had punched rumbled. “But we’re not done yet.”

Takeshi kept his fighting stance as one of the men rushed him intent on tackling him, Takeshi dropped his weight on his back leg, and fell with the man kicking his free leg up as he used his opponent’s momentum against him to send him flying into a table.

Quickly the young ronin got to his feet, narrowly avoiding the boot meant for his face.

“Hold still you slippery bastard!” the man taunted.

Takeshi shook his head, all of this over ordering tea in a tavern? Seemed he had more adjustments to make aside from the language. A fist sent Takeshi’s world rocking as he stumbled to the side, catching another blow to his torso. Takeshi staggered getting back into a fighting position and warding off another fist as he felt something crash against his back and sending him staggering.

One of his foes closed in with a wicked grin only to be sent to the floor from a shoulder tackle as a man suddenly intervened. He was a westerner wearing a worn gambeson, and seemed to be around Takeshi’s age with brown hair and a wide grin plastered on his face.

The five thugs backed off, reassessing the situation.

“Oh, so you want in on this whooping too?” one of the men grunted. “Alright, suit yourself.”

The stranger signaled to Takeshi. “Come on - back to back.”

“Right,” Takeshi nodded.

The stranger blocked a left hook and countered with a right cross to his foe’s face, his foe spinning on his heel from the blow and toppling over. Takeshi let out a cry as one of the men rushed him, the ronin landed a front kick to his opponent’s sternum and sent him tumbling onto his back.

“Why are you helping me?” Takeshi asked, “I could manage on my own.”

“Shut up and fight.” the stranger replied in between punches.

The two fought on together, two strangers in a tavern with nothing seemingly in common, and yet they fought together seamlessly, despite their different fighting styles. They each took blows from their foes but neither went down.

Eventually the last foe fell, and there were none left to challenge them, only a cheering barroom, and applause from those assembled.

“Huzzah,” a patron cheered. “Good fight!”

The two fighters regarded one another. They made eye contact, neither knowing what to say, then Takeshi spoke.

“Thank you for the help.” he bowed.

The stranger smiled. “Five on one wasn’t very sporting of them. Happy to even the odds. Name’s Decius.”

He extended a hand, Takeshi wasn’t used to handshakes, he clasped the forearm of his new found friend.

“I am called Takeshi.”

“From the Eastern lands, yeah?” Decius asked as he nursed his broken lip.

“Correct,” Takeshi replied. “I have journeyed far, seeking new purposes.”

“You’re out of a job, in other words?” Decius asked.

Takeshi paused before he spoke again. “Essentially.”

“Me too, but there’s always work for a sellsword,” Decius replied, taking a swig from a discarded bottle.

“That was selfless of you,” Takeshi stated. “Jumping in like that. You have honor, for a westerner.”

“And you didn’t fight half bad yourself.” Decius smirked. “But me, selfless? Hardly.”

He turned to a pair of barmaids: a blonde and a redhead who were quick to get under each of his arms with a giggle.

“Scored me more attention from the ladies.”

Takeshi shook his head. “Have a good night, then.”

The ronin didn’t think much else of the encounter, dismissing it as a one time occurance. Takeshi thought of life as a sequence of events: some meaningful, some not... and something told him that this entire situation was not underwritten by the gods, but mere happenstance. Decius would be a stranger he would remember on occasion, and be grateful for, but the next morning as Takeshi set out on the lonely winding mountain road he found he was met with a familiar sight.

Decius was staggering outside the inn, his clothes askew as he buckled on a longsword and rondel dagger.

“Have a good night?” Takeshi asked.

Decius grinned. “We meet again it seems.”

“Yes,” Takeshi replied simply.

Decius finished dressing as Takeshi began to walk away, but the ronin didn’t get far until Decius was next to him.

“Do you even know where you’re going?”

Takeshi shook his head. “Wandering is my lot in life now. ...Until the wandering ends.”

Decius made a face. “Ugh, trying to get philosophical? Look, if you need work there’s a caravan leaving today that needs guards.”

Takeshi paused. “A caravan guard? Me?”

Decius shrugged. “It’s not fancy, but it pays well and free transportation. If you’re lucky, bandits will try to rob the caravan.”

Takeshi grunted as he pondered the path before him. It was hardly a glorious occupation, but he didn’t have much in the way of options.

“I suppose I can accompany the caravan.”

Decius grinned and slapped Takeshi on the shoulder. “Great! They’ll be happy to have you, I’m sure!”

They walked in silence for a bit before Decius spoke again.

“So, uh, how’d you end up all the way out here?”

“Long story.” Takeshi sighed. “Betrayal, dishonor. Long story. What of you? No, don’t tell me... a woman was involved?”

Decius gasped. “You’ve known me for but a day and you already think you know everything about me?”

“Well, am I wrong?” Takeshi asked.

Decius sighed. “You’re right, but not for the reasons you think.”

Takeshi didn’t press for more information. After the silence became unnerving, Decius spoke again.

“You know, I have a good feeling about this.”

Takeshi didn’t reply, but he had to admit: since he’d left his homelands he was finally feeling something he hadn’t felt before, like he’d finally found a place to fit in.