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Legends: Chapter 2

Between her Youth

It was early April, the spring of 1878. The air was sweet. Fresh and fragrant, there was a sense of newness of hope, love and excitement in the air. At least that is how it felt for me. Yochiro and I were officially going to be married. I beamed as I walked down the street towards Akabeko. He walked beside me, erect and proud, his brown eyes darting about with excitement. Occasionally he would look glance down at me, and smile. I kept my eyes lowered, but I could see him. He made my heart flutter.

The streets were busy and lively. Mid morning is a good time for a stroll through the market, everyone out and about. Vendors were shouting, children played. I was happy. We passed a sweet stand, and I couldn't help myself, I had to look, if only to dream.

"Do you want something?" Yochiro asked, as he noticed the path of my eyes.

I silently inclined my head, answering neither yes, nor no. Hoping he would understand my smile. He did, and without a sound or touch, he gave me a slight bow as he led the way to the sweet stand.

"Don't look now, but see who's coming," Yochiro said, his voice taking on a conspiratorial quality. I looked anyway. It was none other than Kamiya Kaoru and her redheaded friend Himura Kenshin. He walked in front of her, though she was close behind, occasionally grabbing his gi to get his attention or simply to whisper or diddle. Those whispers and diddles interested me. Even here, among all these people, she has to stand out. She has to stand out and separate herself by making a public display of their intimacy. That was the second time I'd seen them in the streets together. This time, just like the last, Kamiya made a point to distinguish herself. The first time I saw her, she and Himura had brazenly walked side-by-side, closer than necessary, their shoulders almost touching. Now, she actually put her lips to his ears, she took his gi in her hands, and he seemed to take it all in stride. As if it were natural for her to touch him, to claim audacious ownership with brazen acts of affection.

"I can't believe they act that way in public," Yochiro said. "She's just a young girl all alone, so maybe she can be somewhat excused. But this guy is supposed to be samurai, he ought to have some shame."

Shame. We walk with this in mind, bowing our heads and keeping our distance. This is what I know and understand. I don't need to touch Yochiro for him to understand my feelings. I don't want to cast our affection into the public streets for everyone to see. I want it to be secret, precious, between only the two of us. Yochiro understands this. But even so…

"I wouldn't behave that way, but what's wrong with it Yochiro? Why should they have to hide their…relationship?"

Yochiro never misses a beat. He knows I'm playing devil's advocate. I want to know what he thinks. I want him to agree with my heart.

"Some things aren't for everyone to see. Besides if they want everyone to know about their relationship, then they should get married. But it's not like I really care. That Himura guy seems nice enough, even if he does look like a foreigner. Plus apparently he was an indispensable help to the police awhile back when all those politicians were getting killed."

They were passing us, and we stood still with everyone else, staring. My eyes met Kaoru's then, and for some reason, I smiled at her. In a split second she sized us up then threw me a wink and a sly smile.

What was that? I'd never had a conversation with Kaoru, had only been distantly acquainted with her as a child. We didn't know each other now, so why wink at me as if we were friends? The smile I can understand, but why a wink? I blushed and turned my head.

I stood there, slightly dazed. The notorious Kamiya Kaoru had winked at me. Me.

"Did she just wink at you?" Yochiro asked, his voice laughing with casual shock.

"Me? What are you talking about? There must have been someone behind me that she knew."

"Yeah, probably."

With that, Yochiro began to move again. He didn't need to speak or touch me. I followed his body. Kamiya had winked at me, and in her eyes was a knowing and mischievous smile. As if she knew something I didn't. A wink is often shared as an expression of some secret between two people. Perhaps she was just teasing me, having a little fun with the very average demure girl on the streets. We were both the same age but worlds apart. Two girls in the market and two men. One couple casting their affections, without shame into everyone's faces, the other couple, silently courting in the most proper manner. Perhaps she was mocking me, flaunting her freedom in the face of my conformity. When I did get to know her, I asked about it, but she did not recall the incident. So what she meant by that wink, I still do not know.

But at that moment I resolved to find out. I would corner this girl and get the truth.

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