Jack wandered through the meadow, the same he'd been wandering for the past few days or so-it seemed as if he'd been walking for eons-maybe he had been. All he know was he was very desperate to get home at this point. Victory seemed so distant, especially as each day had proven nothing getting him closer to the end of his quest. He started to tire again-but he kept going as he saw a village in horizon-just close enough that he could make it before sunset. His pace did not change, but he knew he would make it just in time.
As he drew closer to the village, the people in it noticed, but didn't pay him any mind-they didn't even seem to be interested in being any help to him at all. Jack's stomach growled but, he noticed that as he made eye contact with shopkeepers in the village-in response they closed shop, and ignored him. He frowned.
He continued walking along, but slowly began to grow desperate, as he hadn't eaten in multiple days. His stomach told him so, with periodic rumbles. He sighed in desperation and frustration to his situation, and hurried into another shop before they could close their doors to him.
"We're closed." Said the shopkeeper, tone sharp as a dagger, eye contact even moreso. She was a middle aged woman-older than fifty. To Jack, she reminded him of a much crueler version of his mother, as her hair was long and loose, greying, the same way his mother's had been the last time he'd seen her. She was in better shape, however, as she was wearing a light blue silk kimono, and slight make-up. She kept her shop in a strict order, as she organized her fruits by ripeness, color, and size. Other than her two word statement, she had paid the young samurai prince no mind.
Jack frowned. "I need a place to eat and rest for the night." He said calmly, trying to reason with the woman.
The woman glared at him. But then sighed, coming up with a way to get rid of him. "At the edge of the west side of the village, you will find a home with two Sakura trees in front. Inside will be a young girl-of course she will claim she is not one" the woman said in a tone of bigoted disgust. "She will be willing to take you in." The woman finished her statement, and then kicked Jack out of her shop.
Jack followed the woman's directions exactly, until he reached the house she had spoken of. He knocked on the door. There was no immediate response and Jack began to wonder if the woman had been lying. He, of course, knew that there was a possibility the one who lived here might just not be home, or did not hear him.
He was about to knock again, when he felt something brush against the bottom of his robe. He looked down and saw a fat, black and white cat nuzzling against his leg. He slightly smiled and crouched down, giving the cat a small affectionate rub on the head, which the cat replied to with a small "mrrrp". He smiled more.
Then the door to the house opened.
"I'm sorry" said a soft, feminine voice.
Jack stood up and almost nearly gasped as his vision met pure beauty, the likes which he'd never witnessed before. She was dressed traditionally for the village-a way that even reminded Jack of his own home that he missed so dearly. But physically, she was different. She had red hair, in a shade that almost seemed pink-it was done in a traditional style, in a way that framed her face perfectly. Her eyes were a deep hazel-a jade green backdrop with gold, silver, and a chestnut brown intertwined in rings, just so. Her skin was pale, but dotted with light freckles that the pattern resembled of the stars in the sky. Her lips were painted pink, and she wore a pale purple furisode kimono, an appearance as if she was prepared to go somewhere special. She had a remorseful face for having taken so long. "I was cleaning." She was leaning against the frame of the door and appeared to be catching her breath and regaining her sense of where she was. "I had to prep so that I wouldn't have to worry about it after I got home from singing in the square" she got a good look at Jack. She immediately flushed pink.
"It is quite alright." Jack bowed to her, in respect.
She flushed even more, as he returned to his former stance and made eye contact with her.
"I humbly request a warm meal and shelter for the night." He politely asked.
She blinked, and for a moment Jack took this as a "no" and began to turn around-until she answered.
"Of course. Come in." She gestured for him to come inside.
He followed her into her home, and she gestured for him to take a seat.
"I actually, already had started dinner." she said, smiling at him gently.
Jack made himself comfortable. He felt safe in the familiarity of the style of her home. He breathed in, taking in the familiar scent of her home as well.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked from the kitchen.
"Yes...very kind of you..." he replied, relaxing a little more.
She came out, with a tray that had tea and cups.
"How is one as young as you living alone?" Jack tilted his head.
She poured a cup's worth out for him and handed it over. He took it, and blew on it, before taking a sip. He looked back up at her.
She shrugged a little. "I don't have any family here. I wandered in when I was very young, five or so, and I was taken in by an elderly couple. They taught me the way of life around here. They passed a few years ago and left me their home." she replied to him, as she took a sip from her own cup.
The same cat from earlier wandered in and brushed against her, purring, as she pet him.
"Is this your cat?" Jack asked.
"Yes. His name is Rick." she pulled the cat into her lap, and gave him neck scritches.
"Forgive me, I forgot to ask your name." Jack realized, he'd been very rude. Of course, he wasn't really rude, just in his mind, he was raised to at least learn the name of whomever is helping him.
"My name is Pumpkin." she smiled.
"A very unique name." he replied.
"Well, I was found in a pumpkin patch." she slightly laughed.
He smiled. The cat crawled out of her lap and into Jack's lap. He pet the kitty again.
"And what is your name, might I ask?" she tilted her head, with a cheeky grin, and a slight raised eyebrow.
"They call me Jack." he replied, setting his cup back down onto the tray. Pumpkin stood up and went back to the kitchen and returned a moment later with dinner.
Jack tried to be polite, and not eat ravenously, but he couldn't help it. He was starved, from his long journey through that endless meadow.
Pumpkin couldn't help but giggle. "My, you're hungry." she smirked a little.
"Yes. I am sorry."
"No, no, it's okay, there's plenty to go around." she accidentally touched his hand. Jack realized and flushed, and so did Pumpkin. She pulled away. She looked down and blushed more, and stood up. "You can help yourself. I have to go now." she stood up and started to leave. Then she turned back "Oh, and you can sleep in whatever room you want, except the last one on the right, that's my room." then she left.
Jack finished eating his food, then prepared himself to go to bed. He went into the first room he saw, and undressed. It had been a long time since he'd slept in an actual bed, so he had trouble falling asleep. But eventually he did.
Morning just came too soon.