Impromptu friendship

"Mind walking and talking?" Toshiro asked in reply

"Nah , we should probably get to that first part right now anyways" He replies and with that turns and makes his way over to the saint's horse.

"The short version is I was framed for some high profile murders" Toshiro said following him

The ronin hops atop the steed and grabs onto the reigns of a nearby supply horse "Get on"

Toshiro is happy to do so

With that Take snaps the reigns of the horse and gallops off down the street "My name is Takehiko Masada by the way"

"Good to meet you" Toshiro replied "Anyway by high profile I meant the Empress's sister"

"Oooooooohhhh" Take replies with a wince "Well...did you?"

"I did not kill her... I killed someone else but that's another story" Toshiro said

"Hmmn ...well haven't we all killed someone before ? Nothing to be ashamed of really long as you had a good enough reason"He replies as he scratches at his stubbled chin a bit.

"I'd say I did" was Toshiro's vague response

"Y'know tentai the more mysterious you act the more I'll suspect you " He replies with a laugh as the horse trudges down the almost flooded dirt roads of the countryside "There! That bridge, there's a small waystation near it we can make shelter there!" He says motioning to the ancient looking stone bridge ahead.

"Yeah that works" Toshiro said and asked "So who are you though, burping in a sword saint's face? a dangreous game"

"Well uh...I'm..I'm kinda totally wasted right now " He replies with a laugh as he steers his horse over to the bridge and they begin to cross , then suddenly the earth begins to shake beneath them.

"What the hell?" Toshiro said casting his gaze around

From beneath the bridge a massive three fingered arm reaches up over the guard rail , I looks like the hand of a frog , but a deep red. "Oh what the hell? What did they mix into that drink?!"

"I see it too" The tentai said "It's an oni"

"Those really exist?" He replies with a laugh as he gets off the spooked horse , hand on his sword hilt as another arm reaches up .

Toshiro gets off the horse as well "What's your bussiness here?" he asked

Slowly it lifts it's toad like body up and squats down on the bridge ,taking up the entire thing with it's girth , yellow eyes locked on the two . It's garbed in a purple loose haori and some grey hakama pants , large prayer beads around it's neck and a pipe in his mouth. In it's right hand a massive naginata with a broad blade , slowly it opens it's mouth and though it's lips do not move words begin to flow "I am the guardian of this bridge mortals , though I have been gone quite a while , you must pay my toll or turn away" It states , it's voice deep and having a strange echo to it.

"Or, and hear me out here, you could let me through or I could blow up the bridge with you on it and find another way to cross...." Was toshiro's reply to the Oni, he was not inclined to be pushed around by a frog

The oni laughs laudly , spit flying all over the two of them "Yes I'd like to see that little mortal, very much so in fact" (this guy sounds like Aku btw)

The tentia fires the the most powerful explosive blast he is capable of at the brige from his hand

Bridge however isn't some l'il ol bitch and takes it like a champ. The oni laughs again "A good try young one , but this bridge has stood for one thousand years , and shall stand for 1000 more if I have anything to say about it.

Now Toshiro had been taught not to curse as he came from a right thinking tentai family, but as that ony should have been caught in a blast that would tear men apart "Ah shit, are all of immune to explosions?" he asked refering to Oni