The Stabbing Fang
Tokyo 1789
"Mistress,your father summons you."
"Hmmm?I wonder why. And this late?He knows that I hate being disturbed as soonas I close the door of my chambers."
"He says that it is a very important matter,Mistress.I'll show the way."
"Just tell me where he is and I'll go there myself."
"He is in the tea room,with the samurais."
"Thank you Keiko,I'll go now."
Seventy-seven samurais stood up as the only child of the Imperial Army's Captain came into the room. "Kasumi-chan,must I remind you again that you should always have at least one of our servants accompany you?" Captain Akira Sagara said as he looked at her.
"Toussan,this is my home,remember?I know every twist and turn."Kasumi replied as she poured tea for him.
"I called you in here because I have good news,very good news in fact."her fatehr said.
"Well,don't keep me in suspense."she replied.
"First,I was appointed as General of the Army."
"Oh Toussan! That's great!"Kasumi said.
"The other good news,is that you'll be getting married two days from now Kasumi!"
Kasumi felt the color drain from her face."Nani? Toussan,with whom?And how did all this happen?"
"You're engaged to Aoshi Shinomori. His father and I settled it as soon as the two of you were born."
"NO I WON'T DO IT!"she said,enraged.She ran out of the room ,her kimono flapping.
"Keiko,come in here. Help me pack up.Please don't tell anybody that I'll be running away."Kasumi said.
"But Mistress,it is very dark already.Surely this can wait until tomorrow?"Keiko protested.
"Keiko,I'll be getting married in two days.Toussan won't let me out of the house!"
"But where will you go?"Keiko asked,folding her mistress' clothes.
"I'll go to Okayama. I know a temple there where I can stay . I could buy a small house there and I'll write to you here under the name of Inoue Kamiya.Do you understand Keiko?"Kasumi asked looking at her faithful servant.
"Oh mistress!What will I tell them?"Keiko wailed.
"Simple.Just pretend that we didn't see each other tonight.Then tomorrow,as you come here to do your daily duties,you will see a note that I will write. That's when you come tell my father." Kasumi said calmly.
The next morning,an icy tension has its grip on the home of the Sagara's.
"Master,I came in her chambers this morning and found this lying on her breakfast table!"Keiko wailed.
"Why would my daughter run away?She knows that I only want what's best for her! And where would she go?" General Sagara asked,enraged.
"SHISHIO!BATTOUSAI!HIKO SEIJURO!AOSHI!"He said,summoning the best of the samurais,together with Kasumi's bethrothed.
They appeared soundlessly on the doorway.
"Find my daughter for me and bring her back to me unhurt!"He told them in an authoritative tone.
"Hai!"
Okayama
"Kasumi! What are you doing here? You look awful!Come in!It's freezing out there!" Shizuru said as she let Kasumi in the temple.
"Why do you have a lot of luggage with you?"
"Shizuru-san,I , I ..........."Kasumi began.
"You did what?"
"I ran away from home. I'll be getting married to a man I don't know."
"I see. Well,what do you plan to do now?"
"I want to ask you if there is any house in here that I can buy.Money is no object."
THREE MONTHS LATER
The river was singing its way down into the ocean and it was a gorgeous spring day. Kasumi heard a child screaming,and she saw Yusuke,a young child of one of her neighbors had fallen into the river where the current was at its strongest.
"HOLD ON YUSUKE-CHAN!"
She jumped into the freezing water to help the child. She was able to reach him easily and set him on the riverbank. But the sudden heaviness of her kimonodragged her down.
"NOOO!!!!"
The last thing she saw before sinking into the freezing water was Yusuke running for help and the pink cherry blossoms swirling above.
I had a good life anyway. Yusuke-chan don't bother with rescuing me. I might die any minute now ................
"SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP US!"Yusuke hollered as he ran through the woods. He bumped into a tall man carrying a pair of kodaichi.
"OH!Mr.Samurai!Please save Kasumi-san!It was really my fault!"
"Did you just say Kasumi?"
"Yes sir! Kasumi Sagara!Please!SHE'S GOING TO DROWN!"Yusuke pleaded.
But the samurai was gone.
Aoshi Shinomoru ran to the river where he saw only an arm sticking out of the water. "HOLD ON!"he yelled. After what seemed like years, together with the other samurai,were finally able to pull her out of the water,but she is unconcious.
"Wait a minute!What do you think you're doing?!"Shizuru asked.
"Miss,do you have any idea who this lady is?She is the only child of the Imperial Army's General.She doesn't deserve to live in a place like this." Hiko Seijuro said.
"Tokyo is only a few hours of travel,we really have to go now. I would like to thank you for taking care of my fiancee."Aoshi said,bowing gratiously to Shizuru.
Kasumi was a fool!If I were bethrothed to a man like him,I'll never leave home!Shizuru thought.
TOKYO
"Master the samurais you sent are home already!"Botan exclaimed.
"Is Kasumi?" the General asked.
"She's already in her room, but she is unconcious."
"What happened?"
"I don't know Master."
Akira Sagara ran into his daughter's chambers to find Aoshi sitting on her bedside,holding her hand. "Aoshi,thank you for returning my daughter home. What happened?"he asked.
"She was staying in a small house in Okayama. She almost died because she rescued a young boy from drowning. Her head hit a rock before she went down into the water."Aoshi explained.