Ash Ronin

Kumiko: Lovely. *goes and sits on a futon* Hmmm. Comfy.

Kimoto:  So shall we get some sleep?

On a low table next to the deck, there sits a jug of sake and four little cups. A lone tabby cat wanders in from the outside, its fur soaked.

Kumiko: Awww, you poor baby. *crawls over to the cat and scoops it up, holding it close as she dries it off with her then taken off skirt* There there. You must be so scared of the rain.

Yumi: Aw, hey there, little kitty. *Goes over to it* What are you doing over here? *Lets the cat sniff her hand*

The cat looks around, and nuzzles Kumiko and Yumi

Kumiko: I wonder if it's a stray? Probably is. *holds the cat between her boobs*

The cat looks bewildered, but not bothered. It wriggles free of Kumiko, and goes up to the sake, sniffing the opening to the jug

Kumiko: Now now, that's not water little kitty. Come here, I haven't dried you off enough.

Kimboto: I'm not a big drinker but the cat has the right idea. Atleast it's not a Bakeneko.

The cat goes under the table, inching out just a little bit and looking at Kumiko

Kumiko: COme on now kitty. *pats her lap*

Yumi: Certainly is pretty friendly for a stray. Maybe it has an owner?

Ten years ago, in a busy village, in the back alleys behind the marketplace. A tall, gaunt man with shaggy black hair down to his neck and a goatee, dressed in a red happi is pushed into a wall by three thugs.
red happi man: Hey come on now, you wouldn't rob an unarmed man would you?
thug: That's sort of what we do. Now come on, give us all your money, Mr. unarmed man.
red happi man: Hm. Yeah, I didn't say I was unarmed. I was just seeing if you would rob an unarmed man. That is all I need to know.
thug: *laughs* You are armed, eh? Where is your blade?
The two other thugs hold the man in the red happi against the wall, and the main thug punches him in the gut a few times.
thug: Where is your blade?!
Unknown to the men, a small, young girl with matted black hair watches from behind a few barrels. Her view is that the man in the red happi is obscured by the thug on his right.
red happi man: Did you not see it? *gestures to the thug to his right* Ask him.
From the point of view of the child, a long katana blade shoots out from his back, then he falls to the ground. The man in the red happi cuts down the thug to his left with the same katana, and points it to the main thug, who is now backing away fearfully.
thug: Wh-...where...eh?!
red happi man: Oh my mistake. Your friend was holding it for me. *slices the thug across the chest upwards in the blink of an eye, then bends down to root through his clothing for money*
The girl watches him stand back up, now without a blade in hand, but with a pouch of coins. He puts it in his happi and walks away briskly. A few moments later, a small tabby cat follows him, clutching a section of long, shabby rags in her mouth.

Present time, back at the inn.
The cat slinks out from under the table, and nestles in Kumiko's lap

Kumiko: Ah, there we go. *pets the cat*

Yumi: Like I said, it must've had an owner. Though I'm not sure why they'd let a kitty this cute wander around in the rain. *Pets the cat*

The next morning, dawn sunlight filters through the trees into the inn room, as Amiko walks into the room from the deck, and takes a couple drinks of the sake.
Amiko: Hm. Would have been better warm...

Kimboto: Mmmm*stretch* good morning Amiko. Where were you last night?

Kumiko; *sits up in her futon with her hair disheveled* Mmmm... *yawns* Oh good grief.

Amiko: I was...thinking. We should find work. The money from our last job isn't going to last forever.

Yumi: *Walks into the room, rubbing her eye sleepily* Yeah? What'd you have in mind for us to do?

Kimoto: Yeah we should. But who shall we ask.

Amiko: We brought back the granddaughter of the village elder a few days ago, but the bandits that kidnapped her are still out there. I say we go after the leader, bring him back and get a reward.

Kimoto: Yeah let's go get them.

Yumi: You have any idea where they could be?