The Nagita Army field hospital was a scene of total chaos. Wounded and bloody soldiers were coming from all directions, some on horseback, others being carried by comrades, some dragging themselves along, some too weak to make it dying on the side of the road leaving ghastly directions to the hospital.
The doctors had been given only an hour to setup and before that hour was over the wounded were already starting to arrive. They'd setup in a rural brothel and had enlisted all of the girls to help sort the wounded. The minor wounds the girls cared for, the serious but not deadly wounds were put in order and the severe cases were taken straight in. The dead were piled on the far side of the house to keep them from the other wounded, every hour that pile got bigger and bigger. For the young country boys drafted into the army this must have looked like the end of the world.
Inside Rei Kasanagi was working at a fever pace. She was stripped to the waist, a tight cotton wrap around her healthy chest. Her pale skin was soaked in blood, she had pulled the top of her kimono off hours ago because the blood weighed her down so much. She was desperately trying to tie the arteries of a man whose leg had been severed. He was screaming for the pain to stop, fighting against the two men Rei had with her. He kept screaming and struggling until he went limp as if his plug was pulled and all the life drained out of him at once. Rei shook her head and they carried him out back to be tossed with the rest. Rei didn't cry, she'd seen enough of them to stop caring.
Another came up, holding his guts in with his straw sampan hat. Rei looked at him, not screaming, just staring intensely forward as if he was glaring up at heaven, daring the gods to take his life. Rei took the hat and pulled his breast plate off. She began to sow, slowly and with confident hands. The needle pushed through the skin over and over, slowly, extremely slowly the needle reached the end. The thick black thread was holding his guts in. This one would survive to see another battlefield.

Three and a half weeks ago Rei had traveled to Nagita so she could harvest Black Dragon Kelp, a sea plant that had amazing effects against all manners of animal poisons like bites from snakes or spiders. She had gathered up a good amount, it was an excellent year for Black Dragon Kelp. Rei was on her way home with two full bags of kelp when she was stopped at the border of Nagita and forced into the army as it desperately tried to defend against the ravaging army of Hokikyo, Nagita's much larger neighbor to the south, who had suddenly and unexpectedly attacked. They had no choice, well other than be executed as Hokikyo spies. Rei was spared being sent into combat after they found her medicine bag. Rei was a traveling physician much like her grandfather before her, she traveled all across all four islands that were called Itten. She would probably have helped regardless of being forced into it, she had devoted her life to helping those who couldn't.

The man was sewn up and carried off for the next to come up. It never seemed to end. The next was hard, barely a teenager was shot with three arrows. He was sobbing from the pain, begging for his mother. Rei told him to be strong, she knew this was fatal. She gave him powerful pain killers, stuff that would make it so he wouldn't know. It was hard for Rei, in the beginning she would spend all night crying after a day like this. She still cried and would occasional vomit but she knew this was her job.
Injured soldier after injured soldier was placed on the rough wooden table before Rei, her nostrils filled with the stench of death, her body soaked in hot blood that ran all the way down to a great puddle around her feet. She worked, over and over, wound after wound until she couldn't remember one wound from another. The sun went down and the lanterns were lit but the wounded just kept coming.
By midnight the number of fleeing soldiers became greater and greater, they weren't stopping they were fleeing past the hospital, even the wounded weren't stopping. Rei managed to stop one, a man who was now covered almost head to toe in sticky mud. Before he had probably been a noble samurai, under the thick covering of mud his armour looked incredibly expensive, but now he was just another fleeing soldiers. " What happened?" asked Rei.
" They're coming" he said, " we couldn't stop them, the general is dead, they are coming. You must flee, they will kill you all."
Rei let the man go and rejoin the flood of fleeing men. Rei was turning to go back into the hospital and gather her things, she was not going to die here today. But before she could a train of men approached, she immediately recognized the man in the lead, it was Lord Kunji, one of the leaders of Nagita. " Halt Men!" the big barrel chested man bellowed, " you will make a stand here, or you will die."
Lord Kunji's loyal retainers leveled their spears and blocked the men from fleeing down the road, " We are not beaten yet!" he shouted, " stand and ready for the attack."
" Sir, what of the hospital?" asked one of the doctors, his hands trembled and shook, he'd gotten into the brothel's sake before going to work.
" You will stay too" he said, " you will take up weapons and you will assist us, it is victory or death."
" We are doctors!" Rei shouted, " we aren't warriors."
" You are now" he said before turning about to rally more of the fleeing men who had started to run through the rice paddies on either side.
Down the road Rei could see the torches of the advancing Hokikyo army, it looked like thousands of giant fireflies hovering over the land. These beaten, exhausted and demoralized soldiers would never be able to even slow this machine. Rei felt death hanging about her neck, death if she was lucky, she was a rare beauty, she hoped death would be all that she was in for tonight. Rei went back into the brothel, the voice of her mother echoing through her head, chanting over and over the warning she had give Rei the day she left four years before, 'You'll Find Your Death Alone In Those Foreign Lands.'

Saya Mizuno was unhappy, she was having some of the worst luck of her life. She had gotten caught between the Hokikyo and the Nagita armies earlier today, she had almost gotten away when a lucky arrow had struck the top of her shoulder slicing a deep wound in her shoulder. Saya had her black gloved hand clutching the bleeding wound, she had been trying to get around the massive Hokikyo army so she could reach the village of Aikashi on business that did not concern this army, but her appearance and the direction she came from told them she was working for Nagita and had been hunted all day. In desperation she had turned around to wait out the battle but ran into the advancing Nagita army who made the same assumptions Hokikyo made only in reverse. She was wounded in the side by a spear, thankfully the spearman was an inexperienced child who only sliced her flesh and didn't damage much else.
She was now sitting perched atop the brothel's roof watching as the Hokikyo's unstoppable army began to clash with the last rallied remains of the Nagita army. It was an uneven contest, Saya hadn't seen a battle so uneven, Hokikyo outnumbered Nagita, they were flush with success, these soldiers stood no chance, neither did their wounded, or their doctors in this makeshift hospital.
Saya just hoped they would hold out long enough so she could sneak inside this brothel and get some bandages and maybe some healing oil before it was too late.

Saya gracefully flipped into the top window and silently snuck down the steps to the second floor. Saya could hear the symphony of battle ringing in her ears. It would be over very soon. Saya picked up the pace, she was soon running, her footsteps were completely masked by the symphony of death outside, she could have set off one of her bombs and it would have gone unnoticed by now.
When she reached the first floor she found the madam gathering up her girls so they would be safe. The soldiers would probably leave them alone, they would all be flush with money and these pretty girls would be more than willing to help them spend it tomorrow. She slipped past them and found herself in the main room that was now the surgery.
The soldiers had broken in already, it was so amazingly fast, Saya was not ready for it to all fall apart just yet. Saya ran at full speed through the main room and burst through the curtain into the kitchen. There were boxes of bandages, bottle upon bottle of healing oil awaited her. She was grabbing a handful of bandages when suddenly a figure appeared. She spun and saw it was a woman, a gorgeous woman. She was soaked in blood, she must have been one of the doctors.

Rei looked at the woman, she had to be a ninja, she looked just like a ninja was supposed to. She was dressed in a black kimono with dark grey trim and a tight grey sash. Over her mouth and neck was a long black scarf. " Hold it" she said, " you've lost, it doesn't mean you can loot us yet."
" Out of my way" said the ninja, " I'm in no mood."
She reached for a bottle of healing oil but Rei stepped in between. This was incredibly stupid, Rei was going to die in minutes but for some strange reason Rei was going to protect the supplies, it was the only thing she could do anymore. The ninja glared at Rei and took a swing at her.
It was a weak punch, obviously the ninja just wanted to scare Rei out of the way, but Rei wasn't some little flower that would immediately wilt under the threat of violence. She countered with a rather weak kick, she didn't want to hurt her, but show her that she would fight back.

Saya yelped in pain, the doctor had just kicked her in the same spot that the spear had torn her open earlier today, her luck just kept getting worse. The flash of white hot pain was enough to stumble Saya and make her fall to one knee, as it drained the last drops of energy in Saya's sore exhausted body.

Rei instinctively reached out and helped the ninja up, " You're hurt" she said.
The ninja looked at her with very sarcastic eyes, Rei knew if she wasn't in such pain she would be assailing Rei with some very choice words. Before Rei could apologize there came a symphony of screams as the Hokikyo soldiers began to massacre the injured in the hospital. " Hurry" said the ninja said, " we have to flee."
Rei grabbed as much of the supplies as she could and jammed them in her satchel, which she had set against the back door. She grabbed the bag and helped the injured ninja out the back, Rei was going to save one last person before the end.

Saya was as much carrying the doctor as the doctor was carrying her, both were too exhausted to flee very far. They crossed through the backyard of the brothel, and rounded the smoke house were the brothel cured its meat. The brothel sat on a small hill, they were on the opposite side of the hill as the army. They made their way down to the small creek at the bottom of the hill and began to follow its lazy path deep into the forest.
After several painful minutes of stumbling through freezing cold water they saw salvation, a small ramshackle house sat on the edge of the river. It looked ancient, it leaned to one side, no doubt a strong wind would finally put this sagging old house out of its misery, but at that moment it looked like the grandest palace to both women.

The ninja made a pained whimper as she sat down inside the one room house. " Let me" said Rei reaching for her scarf.
A sudden hand lashed out and slapped Rei's hand away. " No" she said.
" Look, I don't give a shit right now" said Rei, too exhausted to be diplomatic, " I want to mend your damn wounds because you are my only hope of getting out of this alive. You have two choices, I mend your wounds or I leave now."
The ninja seemed incredibly reluctant but slowly removed her scarf. Rei took a surprised breath in as it cleared her face, she was beautiful, her features were fine and perfectly proportioned, her lips had that slight bee stung pout to them, a look Rei would have killed for, she always thought her lips were too thin. Rei then saw why she was reluctant to remove the scarf, as it cleared her neck she saw a nasty scar on her neck, it would have been a deadly wound when it was made. She must be an incredibly tough customer, someone who would get her out of this hell alive. Rei gently pushed the ninja's kimono aside and soaked the first bandage in healing oil.
She instinctively took a hold of the ninja's hand and pressed the bandage on the wound. She felt the ninja squeeze tight as she hissed, healing oil always burned very bad but it worked.

Saya felt rather silly for holding the doctor's hand like she was a scared six year old having her scraped knees mended. She let go and let the doctor gently bind her wound. Saya was impressed, she was the most skilled doctor Saya had encountered, the bandage was on tight but still allowed her to move her arm. Saya gently winched her kimono off exposing her second wound to the doctor. Rei caught sight of tattoos on her arms, they were secretive symbols that must mean something in the world of ninjas. Rei found them incredibly intriguing, they were incredibly detailed but she would have time later to inspect her tattoos.
The wound in her side was much worse than she had expected. She hadn't thought it did that much damage. The doctor took her needle and thread out and with the same level of incredibly skill sewed the wound up before placing another bandage over it. The doctor smiled at Saya and Saya found herself smiling back, there was a comforting warmth that radiated from her when she smiled that made Saya's wound seem to hurt less. " Thank you" she said.
" Think nothing of it" she said, " my name is Rei Kasanagi."
" Saya, Saya Mizuno" she said.
Rei's stomach growled, " Sorry" she said, blushing, " I don't think I have eaten in a few days."
Without thinking Saya dug into one of the pockets on the side of her kimono and took out the last of her food, a dried rice ball. " Oh no, I can't" said Rei.
" Its payment for the bandages" said Saya, " besides that growl will give us away unless we do something about it."
Rei took the rice ball and devoured it in two bites. " How are we going to get out of this?" she asked.
" Hopefully the army will be in camp tomorrow" said Saya, " after fighting all day and night they will be exhausted, and drunk with victory. Hopefully that will give us enough time to flee."
Rei nodded, " We should try to get some rest" she said, still sounding like a doctor, " we will need it."
Saya nodded and the pair laid down and stared at the ceiling for over an hour, sleep was impossible to find for either of them. Images of their own ghastly deaths at the hands of the soldiers kept sleep far away. " A doctor huh" said Saya, still laying flat on her back.
" Yes, I'm a traveling physician from Jota" she said.
" You're a long way from home."
" Yes, very" said Rei, a touch of homesickness in her words, " you are a very impressive ninja."
Saya gave off a small bitter laugh, " Some ninja, I got waist in trouble here" she said.
" But if you hadn't, I'd be dead by now" said Rei, " I think Rupan guided you to me."
" You took pretty good care of yourself back in the brothel" said Saya.
Rei motioned to her large breasts, Saya had to admit she hadn't seen breasts bigger or more perfectly preportioned, " These have made me learn how to take care of myself" she said, " trouble seems attracted to them."
" I'd bet" said Saya, looking at her own chest, which in comparison was very small.
" Can I ask what you are up to?" asked Rei, " or is it a secret."
Saya shrugged, " Its nothing, I was carrying a message to Aikashi" she said, " it seems so silly, I nearly get myself killed over a scroll of paper."
" What group do you belong to?" asked Rei, " are you part of the Society?"
Rei felt incredibly stupid for asking that, she sounded like a star struck yokel from the back of beyond. " Yes, yes I am" said Saya with a certain degree of pride.
The Society was the most secretive and renowned of all the surviving ninja clans. During the era of the Nokota Empire when Nokota ruled all of Itten the competing clans still warred with each other with armies of ninjas. The Society was the largest of all the ninja clans and they were loyal to the Nokotas. But then the Nokota Empire fell and Itten was plunged into twenty fives years of war known as the Era of Blood, most of the ninja clans were destroyed and those that survived had disappeared into the darkest shadows to conduct their business as always. The Society had survived and never once allied itself to any of the new kingdoms now working for its own purposes. Everyone knew a dozen stories about the exploits of the Society, many incredibly and amazing things.
Rei wanted to ask a million more questions but she decided enough was enough for one day and the pair rested in silence for another hour or so until the sun began to spill through the doorway. Saya sat up and realized she had almost been asleep, she looked over and saw that Rei was gone. Saya looked about, worried Rei had been captured. She tied her kimono closed and hurried out of the door. She saw Rei, washing the blood off her naked body. Saya bit her lip and watched as Rei's nakedness sparkled in the morning sun, she was incredibly beautiful. She looked up and saw Saya looking at her, " Morning" she said, " you were asleep, I didn't want to wake you yet."
" Its okay" she replied, " ready?"
Rei wrapped her breasts back into a fresh cotton wrap and slipped herself into a very attractive white kimono with black squares on it. She shouldered her satchel, " I'm ready" she said.
Saya and Rei started off down following the creek until well after midday until they decided they were far enough away to emerge from the woods to the road. It was quiet, the road was empty. The sun was shining, and even a few birds were happily chirping in the trees.

They walked for most of the afternoon in silence both were rather apprehensive of what was to come. But as the day wore on both became more and more relaxed, " Aren't we a little over dressed?" asked Saya, " I mean it is nice but a little fancy."
" It's all I have" said Rei, " Nagita took my clothes when they enlisted me."
The pair walked for the rest of the day and rested a few feet off the road safely concealed in the woods.

The next day they started down the road to Aikashi, the tranquil scene had totally changed into a scene of horror. They passed farms that were reduced to charred skeletal frames, and rice paddies filled with blackened bloated corpses that were ruled by swarms of black flies so thick it looked like a solid black mass hanging in the air. They passed pyres of dead bodies stacked ten and fifteen feet high being set alight as monks in their red robes chanted prayers for the burning towers of the dead.
They spent the night in an abandoned inn, most of the villagers hadn't returned to their homes and were still hiding out in the forests. There wasn't a grain of rice to be found in the entire building, not that they didn't try numerous times. In the end they munched on the few remaining herbs in Rei's medical bag and drank from the rain barrel.

Thankfully by mid morning on their third day of foot sore travel they came in sight of Aikashi. The pair felt their tired spirits lifted and their walking became more leisurely and the pair began to idly chat about everything from the weather to home remedies for various problems. As they crossed over into Hokikyo the world entirely changed, it was as if there never had been a war, the border had only two guards, both old men who were half asleep being held up only by their spears. They walked into Aikashi and Saya took a left. Rei followed close, she was trying to figure out a way to stay with Saya for awhile, it would certainly be exciting.

Saya stopped in front of a closed tea house, " Excuse me for a moment" she said.
Saya slipped inside leaving Rei to lean against the wall wondering what kind of ninja business was going on inside.

Saya sat down at what looked like an empty table, she drew out the small scroll and placed it in the middle. " Thank you" said a wrinkled old man as he lit his pipe illuminating his face for a brief moment, " it isn't everyday one of us manage to make it through two warring armies. I see you're hurt, nothing serious at least."
Saya was always impressed by Rolo, nothing got by him. Daisuke Rolo was a senior member of the Society, he often gave Saya her assignments. " It is nothing" she said, " I fear this intelligence is no longer reliable, they say she changes hideouts frequently."
" No matter, we now have an area in which to hunt for her" he replied, lazily smoking his long pipe, " you are able for another task, one more fitting your skills?"
" Always" said Saya, " name it."
Rolo gently slid a piece of paper across the table along with a healthy bag of coins as payment for the last job and no doubt an advance on the next, " Strange business in the north" he said, as Saya read her next mission.
Saya gently set the paper on fire and watched it disappear in a flash. " I will look into it" she said.
She stood up, " What of your new traveling companion" he said, nothing ever got by Rolo, " what will you do with her?"
" If she wishes to travel to Namaguichi what can I do to stop her" said Saya, acting as uncaring as possible.
" If she wishes, she may assist you, a good doctor wouldn't go amiss here" he said, " but don't think she will be as interested in you as you are in her."
Rolo was right, but Saya wanted to at least try. " I understand" she said, Rolo was the closest thing she ever had to a father, he was the only person who would talk to her in this personal way.
" Then best of luck" he said.
Saya left the inn and found Rei, " I'm heading to Namaguichi now" she said.
" I was thinking" said Rei, she already hated how it was starting out she sounded so silly, " I'm concerned your injuries maybe infected, I think it would be best if I looked after them for a few days, it isn't like I have anyone waiting for me. Besides, Namaguichi is known for some excellent hot springs."
" Then I think we should find a ship" she said, " unless you fancy walking the entire way."
" Of course not" said Rei, " unfortunately I am a little short on money, the army doesn't exactly pay well."
" Consider it payment for caring for my wounds" said Saya, " I am well compensated."
" Shall we go then?" asked Rei.

The pair head down towards the docks that sat on the banks of the great Kyokawa River, the longest and largest river in Itten. The Kyokawa was a mighty river, powerful and rushing. It was fed in the mountains of Namaguichi and Tottori far to the north it can all the way to the sea. The river was filled with all manner of boats, from small ferries that took people across to large sailing vessels that navigated up down the river. The pair went straight for the nearest noodle stand, two days of munching on medicine herbs and drinking foul rain water had made them hungry.
After three bowls apiece they released half of their money had been spent. They set out for the docks to find passage north, they were preparing themselves to haggle and barter the ship captains for passage.

The first ship they came across looked like a winner, it was sturdy, the captain and crew looked fit and competent, it wasn't too new. There was a small table next to the jetty where the ship was tied and a man was sitting there advertising passage to anywhere on the Kyokawa on board the Soyokaze Maru. " Greetings" he said, " and where might we take you two?"
" Namaguichi" said Saya, " we want to spend the winter at the hot springs."
" An excellent choice" he replied, " two tickets will cost you 85 tae, which includes three meals a day."
Rei watched as Saya casually paid it in full, no haggling no complaining, she just paid like it was another bowl of noodles. Ninjas certainly are well paid, better than a traveling physician.

The crew smiled and welcomed the pair aboard as they walked down the gangplank and boarded the Sokokaze Maru. A new chapter in Rei's life was about to begin, a chapter she had looked forward too all her life. This was the beginning of true adventure for her.