Escort to the Leaf (c)

✿ While Jiro busied himself with unloading his pony from the cart and settling in for a good lunch, Asuka was suddenly faced with a incredibly sincere apology from Mayu. The girl approached her, looked her dead in the eye, and said 'sorry.' And Asuka stared, albeit a little confused and taken entirely off guard. Suddenly she felt like the bad guy, and visibly deflated, sighing past her lips. Some part of her knew she was socially awkward by default, and her temper did not make the best impression in people. But she knew she must have hurt Mayu's feelings somehow, and as much as her pride burned to take it all back, it wouldn't do any of them good to have the two of them at odds with one another like this.

Asuka had always been curt with people she did not know. It's a defense she had built over the years that derived from an intense trust issue that really started with her father. While she has these issues to deal with, Mayu did not deserve the brunt of her anger.

Raising a hand to rub the stress out of the back of her neck, Asuka tilted her eyes away and mumbled her next set of words to Mayu. "You don't have to apologize."

She could have gone on. She could have acknowledged that Mayu was only doing her job and that her kekkai genkai is actually pretty impressive; unique and kind of cool. But giving that much was a feat for even her. Hopefully Mayu has a good sense of hearing between the words because she wasn't about to say more. In fact, Asuka is quite ready to drop it altogether and move on.

Turning on her heel, she rejoined Cheng's side and dropped her pack at her feet to rummage through for a snack. And more water. Damn this heat. Cheng kept himself alert, nothing short of what she would expect from the swordsman and their break carried on without much incident. Once everyone was rested, Asuka helped Jiro hook his wagon back up to his pony and the four of them were on the move again.

During their trek, this time Asuka did not voice a single complaint about Mayu. Her eyes often drifted toward the other girl though, making sure she was okay in her position in the wagon. She may not have a definite control on her own chakra, but she did understand the concentration and the stress that can build up from prolonged jutsus and kekkai genkais. She just hoped that Mayu did not burn herself out too quickly. They did have a long way to go yet.

All too soon, the sun began to set, and their first night was upon them. They made quite a dent in their journey, and according to Cheng, they may very well arrive in Konoha ahead of schedule, which is good news to Jiro. They set up camp for the night, building a campfire between them and strategically securing their perimeter for any potential threat. Asuka was quick to volunteer to take first watch. Honestly, at this rate, she really did not expect much excitement through the night. At the mission briefing, there had been mentions of marauders and bandits having their eyes set on Jiro's wares, hence the whole reason for an escort. But there hasn't been hint nor clue to anyone scheming against them. Yet.

Asuka sighed, and crossed her arms, pausing in her rounds about their campsite to take in the clear night sky hidden overhead by a dense canopy of trees. She yawned once, a long winded yawn that forced a stretch of her arms. Exhaustion crept into her consciousness, but she shook her head to rid herself of such ideas of sleep and rest. This is important, she reminded herself. I'm finally doing what's expected of me as a shinobi. Stay away, Asuka.

Back at the campsite, a twig snapped in the darkness. Jiro's pony shifted restlessly, shaking his mane and flicking his tail in a nervous twitch. The forest sat quiet. No crickets or owls to be heard. Jiro himself slept soundlessly, but something was not right.