Chapter 7: Chapter 7 The Blacksmith

After quite a bit of walking, Azi and Shizu arrived at the smithy on the edge of the southern portion of the village. The smithy was a large wooden house that had an attached section that was made of stone. It looked somewhat wore down but was standing none the less, but the large scratches and gashes against the wall of the house was a bit worrying. A large chimney was protruding from the roof the stone section of the smithy and the clanging of metal could be heard ringing out in a rhythmic pattern. As Azi and Shizu made their way to the stone section of the house, which Azi could deduce was the workshop and was evident as he began to feel a large amount of heat encroach on him as he got closer. As Shizu opened the workshop entrance to the smithy she shouted in a loud call.

Shizu: "Hey old man Kajima are you here?!"

With a grunt, an enormous man threw a hammer towards the door which startled Shizu as she panickily moved Azi and herself out of the path of the hammer to avoid getting struck in the face. I seemed that luck was on Shizu's side as she was quick enough to move herself and Azi out of the way but was horrified by the sight of the hammer impacting the hard ground with a *thunk*. The hammer had imbedded itself down into the ground until only the handle could be seen.

Shizu: "Oi Kajima, what was that for?!"

Kajima: "Little Shizu, for the last time never bother me when you hear my working. How many times have I told you this?"

Shizu, looking a bit pale, turned her head away but was only met with the deadpan eyes of Azi as she could tell what he was say with his eyes.

*Not only do you lack patience, but you lack memory as well* *Smirk*
A noticeable tick mark appeared on Shizu's head as her pale expression became one of red anger and embarrassment.

Shizu: "You!!! ...."
As Shizu was about to open her mouth she was interrupted by Kajima.

Kajima: "Who is this Shizu? Have you finally found a man at your age? He looks good, a bit scrawny but he has got a good pair of strong legs. Hahaha. Oh, to be young again."

Shizu, whose face was now red with embarrassment only scoffed and stated:

Shizu: "Never not in a thousand years would I marry this abhorrent man. I have better taste in men than that Uncle Kajima and I am only 21 I still have time to get married."

Kajima: "Oh? My mistake Shizu but you are a bit behind since when I was at your age, I was already having kids. How about you little boy how old are you?"

Azi, hiding his chuckles quickly calmed himself and said plainly.

Azi: "I'm 27."

Shizu/Kajima: "27!!!!"

Azi: "Yup"

Shizu: "You are lying, there is no way you are that old. You look like a kid."

Azi: "Says the one acting like one, but I find that fitting as I'm the older one hahaha."

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Shizu pouted at Azi's comment and gave him the silent treatment as she refused to make eye contact with him until she had calmed down. She walked away from the workshop and began to take time mumbling to herself in a whisper to calm herself down.
(Whispering mostly likely in anger towards Azi and her 4 previously "failed" fiancés) 

After Shizu had walked away, Azi and Kajima were left looking at Shizu's back as they gave her a wry smile and a slight chuckle. Noticing each other's small laugh, they both coughed and began introductions.

Azi: "Name's Azi Montagne, I got saved by Ozen from the dangers of the mountain and I was told I would be left in good hands. I believe he was referring to you."

Kajima: "Well met Azi, as you know from Shizu my name is Kajima. I have known Ozen since we were just soldiers in the great Yamatan Army. Considering how Shizu is with you and your statement of how Ozen he would leave you in good hands, I believe you are correct. Seems it's time for me to repay my debt to the King of Kujyuri."

Azi: "What is this debt you speak of?"

Kajima: "During the previous war, I asked Ozen to take care of my family as I went on campaign to fight in the war. With how he was King of Kujyuri and I was a simple citizen at the time, between the two of us I was the one conscripted back into the army to fight in the war. While Ozen did act as a general, he rarely got to do his favorite pass time of fighting and brawling like in his youth. After the War, I owed him a favor as my family was able to survive the 2 years I was away for and the 2 brutal winter's that plagued Shisayama."

Azi: "I see, how about you introduce me to them."

Kajima's face morphed into an expression of sadness as he began reminiscing about the past. In a soft tone he stated:

Kajima: "They have passed on."

Azi: "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I'm sorry for your loss."

After a bit of shock, Azi did a slight bow to show the sincerity in his words. Kajima, brushing off his brief reminiscence and motioned to Azi to take a seat as he grabbed a stool for him to sit on. Azi then sat on the offered stool and Kajima did the same. They then began getting to know each other as Azi shared his story of how he came to be here but had to omit the part about his hellish experiences after his car accident and the remaining memories of his life prior to meeting Ozen. Kajima also shared that after the war he returned to his family and put all his time into blacksmithing to hopefully get away from war and do what he loved to do. He began to create tools meant to ensure the lives of others in their work as he learned from the war that he could not ensure the lives of all the people he cared about with only his singular self. So, he endeavored to give them reliable tools for their trade. 

*******

Shizu Point of View (POV)

Sitting on a nearby boulder Shizu was contemplating or .... calming down as she processed her thoughts and emotions. Which resulted in her talking to herself in a soft tone.

Shizu: "Just how can he look that young but be that old. I thought he was just an orphan or lost kid my father found in the forest, but how in Gods name is he 27 years old."

With her hand facepalming herself, she remembered that she struck the Azi, who by age, was he senior in life experience. She was frustrated by how laxed she was in front of him as she usually acted more refine with older men. Remembering her actions, she felt like crawling up into a ball to hide away her embarrassment. Her initial view towards Azi was that he was an uncivilized boy who could take a punch from her, but when she found out he was older than her she realized that she made a horrible impression on him and wanted to somehow show him her good side. For the last 6 years Shizu has been trying to get married but after 4 attempts, which resulted in the incapacitation of 4 fiancés, she was feeling depressed as in her eyes there were no good men her equal. The 4 all failed her first test which was to take one of her strikes without fainting and be able to land a follow up strike. After 6 years passed without success, she felt that she should give up on looking for a man but one day Azi appeared and was surprised to find that he actual somewhat passed her first test. Not only did he not faint but he had enough energy to retort her for her actions, while not a physical strike his words left an impression as she was usually idolized for being Ozen's oldest daughter and her looks. She was curvy in all the right places, had a well-developed chest, was incredible skilled in warfare and single combat, and her looks were envied by more mature women than her. So, when she was called a psycho, she was taken aback how anyone would use that word to describe her. 

Shizu then remembered how Azi had teased her for her lack of patience and remembered the feelings she got when he looked at her or teased her. This caused her cheeks to become bright red with embarrassment, and she hugged her knee against her chest to hide herself way as she silently screamed in her mind and tried to think of a way to regain the dignity she had lost or a way to get one over Azi as pay back.

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