Author's Note
This is my second attempt at a good story so I hope you like it!
Human names used!
Rating will go up in future chapters.
Warnings: None for this chapter
Disclaimer: This is a fan-based story. Hetalia: Axis Powers and Hetalia: World Series are both owned by Funimation Entertainment, Hidekazu Himaruya, Gentosha Comics, and Tokyo Pop. Please support the official release.
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1849 Edo, Japan
The morning light streams softly through my window, causing my shadow to fall upon the shrine before me. The candles flicker from the slight breeze coming through the door while the incense burns and the small streams of smoke rise in rolling waves. I bow low on my mat so my nose nearly touches the floor. Stone tablets with carvings of my ancestor's names reflected bright light onto the walls.
"Bless my house and my fields. Let this be a great harvest." A pray quietly, sitting back up, folding my hands. My robes and the sheer heat of my home cause me to perspire, but a little discomfort could not make me leave from my morning ceremonies. Outside, the other families also have their doors open, attempting to catch a breeze and cool themselves. All is quiet at the moment because like me, everyone holds morning ceremonies to the highest importance. The families would be together, praying silently and then they would have breakfast before work began and the markets opened, "Let me make my ancestor's proud of my actions and decision in this life." I continued.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, screams break out and feet trample outside. I glance over to my open door. Shoguns in heavy armor whizzed past the streets, wielding their heavy blades. What is happening? My heart pounds in my ears and I say another quick prayer, "Protect my country and my Emperor." I bowed once again and bounded into my room, stripping off my robes as I went. I changed from my ceremonial robes into my casual light brown robe which I wore every day. I folded my robe neatly and placed it on a low table in the corner by where I would normally sleep.
Whatever was happening, I had to see it. All my life, I'd never seen anything so strange as the Shoguns being so frantic. Normally they were so fierce and composed. Something must have happened and I intended to find out.
My sandals were by the door, right where I put them after I came in from the fields. I hurriedly put them on, tying the strings. My neighbors also took notice of the commotion and began to come out of their homes. They looked around for signs of danger. Finding none, they trailed after the Shoguns. Some of our warriors yelled for the villagers to stay back, jabbing at them with their swords, not meaning to injure, but to serve as a warning.
The day was warm and the flowers bloomed with little sweet smelling flowers. A slight sea breeze stirred the air and the gulls squawked, but when the people began to emerge from their homes so abruptly, they silenced. I joined the growing crowd as we made our way to the beach. Like me, everyone was interrupted in their morning ceremonies and were frantic to change so most of everyone's hair was in a frenzy and our robes were wrinkled. Some of them didn't even put on sandals and sand covered their feet and ankles.
I couldn't quite see over the crowd as we merged onto the beach. The waves rolled lazily and washed over the beach, hissing as it receded back into the sea. I must see what is happening. I tightened my fists and shoved my way through the crowd, trying to keep low. I had finally made it to the front of the crowd, only to bump into one of the Shoguns. He was in full uniform so my nose was smashed against his armored back. He didn't seem to notice, however, and continued watching the water.
A little ways away, a small canoe with half dozen or so men in strange clothing were conversing with the Shogun. They were still in the water so they had to yell to be heard over the water breaking on the shore. The strange man was shouting something, but I wouldn't understand him. That can't be Japanese. I rubbed my nose, thinking.
The man pointed in the distance. Three of the largest ships I'd ever seen in my life were shimmering in the distance. They were dangerous looking and grey shining in the sunlight. They also had long, dark cannons, all pointing toward the shore where we stood.
Another man aboard the canoe yelled. I could understand this one, "In the name of the President of the United States of America, let us come ashore! If you refuse, we will open fire!" he raised his voice above the waves.
This caused a stir in the crowd. Some of them began to run back to their homes while some shouted back. I could only stand there, mouth agape. Why would they do this to us? Are we not on good terms with the United States? These questions swirled in my head, causing a twinge of pain in my temples.
Our warriors began whispering amongst themselves, glancing over to the leading Shogun. The situation was perplexed; either give into what these foreigners demand and let them enter the isolated country or refuse and be open fired upon. Either way, not everyone would be happy with either decision.
The head Shogun whispered to his right hand man, "Call the Emperor; tell him foreigners are demanding his attention by show of force." and then he turned to the strangers as the man nodded and shoved his way through the crowd to make his way to the temple, "You may come ashore, but be warned: if you are looking for a fight, you shall receive it!" to make his point, he jabbed at them with his blade.
The man then turned to the other in the canoe and said something to him. He gave a command and the other men began to paddle with their oars, bringing them onto shore. They were indeed strange looking. All of their hair was a shade of yellow or light brown and they wore trousers with boots and a simple shirt with ruffles at the shoulders and cuffs. They each had on their back some sort of weapon, I presume, though I wasn't entirely sure what it was supposed to be.
The translator met my gaze. He seemed a little different than the others. His face wasn't as rough as the others from the sea breeze and his bright emerald green eyes held a certain sparkle to them. This man was much taller than I and his hair was an ashy blonde with a strange group of hair sticking straight up where his hair parted. He smiled when he noticed me. I felt my face heat up and I looked to my feet.
Why did I just do that? I shook my head at myself, watching the water swallow my toes before leaving once again. I didn't know why I felt so self-conscious all of a sudden, but now I knew my face turned a deep shade of pink. I began fixing my robes, straightening them out and combing out my long hair with my fingers.
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Author's Note
Yes, Kiku has long hair at this point, but in ancient Japan, a lot of guys grew their hair out.
Like I said previously, the rating of this FF will go up in future chapters, but I don't expect this story to be any more than 25 chapters.
Next chapter: Kiku meets the mysterious stranger