Chapter 25: Compromise

After some of the worst sleep of his life, Nobu emerged from his room with the kind of expression typically reserved for mothers with quadruplets, code monkeys, and game developers adding the finishing touches on a project that had been delayed by several years. There were dark bags under his bloodshot eyes, as, even with a mask covering the lower half of his face, the putrid smell of piss and shit wafting in from the city streets was enough to drive lesser men insane.

Surprised by the aura of gloom exuding from Nobu's entire being, Yui, despite having spent the last ten minutes knocking on his door, promptly decided against lecturing him. Instead, she pulled out a bottle of mint oil she had extracted during their stay in the mountains, asking, "Is it really that bad?" while applying the substance to a fresh cloth.

Since even speaking allowed a foul aroma to rise up through the back of his throat, Nobu simply nodded in response to Yui's words. It was only after she had handed over the moderately cleaner cloth, the smell of fresh menthol invading his senses, that he deigned to speak, answering, "We're going to be traveling with a merchant caravan, right?"

Nodding her head, Yui placed the old cloth into her satchel before explaining, "Due to the number of people traveling to the capital around this time of year, the merchant guilds and za traders have reached an agreement with the provincial army to act as escorts. Though travelers are expected to work, gather materials, and carry supplies, it is the safest way to travel without a permit."

Noticing the confusion in Nobu's eyes, Yui restrained a sigh before gesturing towards the stairs and appending, "Nian has become increasingly unstable ever since the Ashikawa Clan acquired the title of Shogun from the dishonored Kamakura Clan. Though there have yet to be any large-scale wars, tensions between the various provinces and prefectures are at an all-time high. This has contributed to a growing number of people fleeing poor and impoverished territories in order to seek shelter in neighboring provinces. To combat this, the Ashikawa Shogunate introduced a law prohibiting travel between prefectures without a warrior, merchant, or travel permit. Very few Daimyo actually uphold this law, but, to prevent denunciations and accusations of treason, they have implemented policies similar to this one so that people can travel freely at certain times throughout the year."

"Mmm..."

Since he didn't really have anything to say, Nobu just hummed a simple response before stepping out of the relatively warm lodge and into the cold. Winter might have ended, but, due to its close proximity to the sea, a frigid and biting wind assailed Owari-Asai in the early mornings. It would get warmer as the sun emerged from over the horizon, but, as that was still more than three hours out, an icy sensation washed across the lower-half of Nobu's face due to the minty oil suffused through his makeshift mask...

Though she was a little annoyed by Nobu's curt response, Yui managed to rein in her emotions as she gestured towards the distant city gate, explaining, "We need to hurry. The caravan is scheduled to depart the moment the sky begins to illuminate. If we're not checked in before the first call, our seats will go to someone else. It is a three-week journey if we end up having to walk. Traveling with a caravan isn't much faster but it allows us to rest in a carriage and seek shelter from the rain. Let's hurry."

Without waiting for Nobu to answer in the affirmative, Yui grabbed his hand and began pulling him along at a running-jog. This gave the former the urge to pull his hand away but Yui had preempted this by manifesting a golden manacle around his wrist and fastening it to her own. Thus, even if he wanted to escape, doing so was easier said than done...

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Thanks to his Breath Progression Technique, Nobu wasn't even remotely winded by the time he and Yui reached the gate. There, Yui signed both of their names in a migration registrar before dragging him to the bustling merchant caravan located a few hundred meters away.

As one of the few caravans that benefitted from a military escort, more than a thousand people had gathered with the intention of purchasing inexpensive fare. This was far larger than the usual group that would gather at the beginning of the year, and, as a result, a dispute seemed to be taking place between a small group of uniformed people and a much larger group of soldiers.

Though quite a number of people were drawn closer to this conflict, Yui ended up dragging Nobu towards one of the larger supply wagons located near the very front of the convoy. There, a middle-aged man with off-color blue hair could be seen barking orders at various younger men and women. His hair color, alone, would have been more than enough to draw attention back on Earth, but, as if he wasn't content with simply standing out, the backs of the man's ears were lined with a layer of fur that came to a point near the tips...

"So beast-human hybrids really are a thing in this world..."

Hearing Nobu mumble under his breath, Yui turned her head, asking, "Did you say something...?"

Shaking his head, Nobu was about to say it was nothing before remembering they were still cuffed together. He also recalled the 'cover story' Yui had come up with, so, before she could drag him any further, he stopped his feet and said, "We're supposed to be a married couple. What are you going to say when people ask why we're handcuffed together?"

Furrowing her brows, Yui began searching for an answer until Nobu exhaled an annoyed sigh and said, "Just take it off. I'm not going to run away. Besides, even if I tried, you would just catch up to me."

While she was more than confident in her ability to track him down, Yui didn't immediately release the shackle around Nobu's wrist. There was a very real chance he would alert the provincial army or ask for help from someone with a higher cultivation base if she allowed him to wander freely. From that moment onward, the only option she would have is revealing her identity or accusing him of a crime he didn't commit. Neither of these outcomes would be ideal, so, before removing the golden manacle, she adopted the most serious expression he had ever seen before saying, "I will remove it if you promise to stay close and not make a scene. There are far greater dangers in this world-"

Before Yui could finish her mixed warning/threat, Nobu adopted a serious expression of his own, saying, "I already said I wasn't going to run away. Seriously, woman. You need to stop stressing out over everything. Nobody likes a clinger."

Though she squinted her eyes in response to the unfamiliar expression, Yui knew better than to fret over everything that came out of Nobu's mouth. He was the type of person that could call someone every insult under the heavens without actually meaning any of them. This would lead most people to believe he was disingenuous, but, after spending nearly a month observing him, Yui had come to realize that he rarely deviated from the things he said he would or wouldn't do.

Hoping she hadn't been wrong about him, Yui maintained a serious expression as she said, "I trust you..." in a delicate yet somber tone. This caused a deep frown to appear on Nobu's face, but, while others might interpret this as an expression of dissent, Yui interpreted it as something positive. He would never admit it, but, despite behaving as if everything was troublesome, Nobu had a relatively straight-forward and surprisingly earnest personality. If he cared as little as he pretended to, there's no way he would offer advice and question the flaws present in the existing system...

Clicking his tongue, Nobu tore his gaze away from Yui's crystal clear eyes, muttering, "Whatever..." in an aloof tone.

Had she been the more expressive type, Yui might have smiled in response to this. Instead, she replied with an approving nod before dissipating the shackle and saying, "I used the rest of my savings to secure our passage on one of the main supply coaches. They are transferring tea and spice to the capital so the smell shouldn't be unbearable unless you dislike the aroma of herbs. As for our individual duties: I explained that you sustained an injury that left you unable to speak and act normally. I'll have to defend the cargo during the evenings, but, so long as you don't draw too much attention to yourself, you should be able to relax until we reach the capital."

Though he got the sinking suspicion he was somehow being looked down upon or manipulated, Nobu just grunted in response to Yui's explanation. They were still a fair distance from the actual convoy and he was already lamenting the journey to come. Animals and livestock weren't exactly fragrant, so, with a number of horses, oxen, and a few animals he didn't recognize making up the convoy's beasts of burden; the less he had to work, the better.

Thinking Nobu was already beginning to play his part, Yui nodded in approval, saying, "Let's go." before leading the way to the dog-eared man. When he noticed them approaching, an even fiercer expression than the one he was already wearing developed across his face as he shouted, "Well! It's about damn time! A few minutes longer and I'd have sold yer spots off to some of those migrant bastards!"

Crossing her right hand over her heart, Yui performed a curt yet respectful bow as she said, "You have my most sincere gratitude, Atarashi-dono. I will do everything in my power to ensure I do not inconvenience you a second time."

Snorting through his nose, the furry-eared man, Atarashi Tsuneo, shifted his gaze from Yui to Nobu, asking, "This is the man you mentioned previously? Nanamori Nobu, was it? Quite the difference in your appearance..."

Without missing a beat, Yui calmly and confidently explained, "My husband is a former Yamabushi Monk's Apprentice. He lost most of his faculties and cultivation after being attacked by a Demonic Spirit. Please do not draw attention to it a second time."

Though his cover would be blown the moment Nobu opened his mouth, his appearance wasn't all that different from a Yamabushi Monk. They were ascetic mountain hermits who lived outdoors and spent most of their time communing with nature. Most wore little more than rags, and, due to their ascetic practices, they were inordinately thin and lanky. The only thing that distinguished Nobu and a conventional Yamabushi was his hairstyle, as, the moment they took their vows, most shaved their heads...

Without tearing his eyes away from Nobu, Tsuneo issued a grunt of acknowledgment before saying, "Well, so long as he doesn't cause trouble for me and my men, I couldn't care less. Just keep him in line. If he wanders off into the woods, we ain't sending out a search party."

Nodding her head in understanding, Yui pulled Nobu a little closer, naturally linking her arm with his as she said, "Worry not, Atarashi-dono. As a Golden Warrior, my words carry a similar weight. I promised we would not inconvenience you. If something happens, I will resolve it on my own."

Since he couldn't really afford to just stand around and make idle chatter, Tsuneo just waved Yui off, saying, "Yeah, yeah. I hear ya. Just stow him away in coach three. We'll be departin' the moment the Governor's forces finish their pissing contest with the provincial army. Seriously, those louts have no sense of self-preservation..."

Rather than responding to the comment, Yui performed another quick salute before guiding Nobu towards a massive cart pulled by a total of six inordinately large oxen. Her gentle behavior caught him by surprise, but, rather than appearing even remotely appreciative, Nobu's expression gradually darkened as the smell of cow feces grew stronger the closer they got to the coach...

"Fucking bullshit..."

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(A/N: Yes. Quite literally o_o...)