The wandering samurai

The streets were slick with rain, glittering around me like diamond droplets as I ran down the narrow alleys. I hoped I didn't appear out of place as I bowed my head and pulled the thick cloak over my face, just like anyone else hurrying to get into the shelter of the fogged up restaurant windows, or the lantern lit thresholds of fabric stores. I didn't stop long to check.

I didn't know exactly where I was going, it had been so long since I was actually able to walk these streets by myself without a set bodyguard, and the night's rain made it ever more difficult to make the direction of my final destination.

Back a couple years ago when my father had the money to afford such luxuries, I had a bodyguard named Jin. He was tall and thin, surprisingly a well-known and impressive samurai from the Tokugawa period. But he was nothing to me how he had been portrayed to others, he had always been kind, quiet and calm in temperament. I could never have imagined him using the katana he wore hitched to his waist. But those days were peaceful…not like the days of corruption and thievery that was upon us.

The more I ran almost aimlessly past shops and restaurants the colder the night air became, I knew I was nearing the outskirts of the town though, as more trees cropped up here and there, their long wet leaves almost touching me as I neared the big bridge connecting to the neighboring town. I stopped, by now the rain had soaked me down and I shivered, not just because of the coldness that now clung to my skin like clothing, but for the thought of actually going through with this act. But I knew I had nothing more to live for here, and with nowhere else to go, I wanted only for my mother.

The bridge was empty of course; no one in their right mind would be out this hour and in this chilling rain as well. I stepped up onto the slippery wood, my breathing slow and shallow, but my heart was thumping faster as it had earlier but in a way like it wanted to beat as much as it could before it, like a candle was extinguished in this cold night air.

My own shaking hands reached out like pale ghosts to grasp the wooden railing of the bridge, the water surging underneath me was almost like a song as it beckoned me to its watery arms. I closed my eyes as I leaned forward lifting one foot onto the lower wooden railings, the hard pit in my stomach growing into a lump as I tilted my head back and embraced the coolness of the rain…it fell calmly now, almost at peace, but my stomach churned violently. I tried to push the thought of not really wanting to do this out of my head.

"River ain't deep enough yet for you to drown yourself"

I spun around startled, my other foot slipped on the railing and I screamed, as I tried desperately to hold onto the slippery wooden boards, half my body dangling over the powerful water filled with jagged rocks. Panic toke over me, as I prayed for someone to help me. I looked up, squinting against the rain at the shadowed face with a wild mass of hair above me, for a moment I opened my mouth but nothing came out as I silently pleaded to the stranger.

Skinny arms laced with vivid teal markings snaking their way around the stranger's wrist came towards me. Surprisingly strong hands hoisted me up over the railing and before I knew what was happening I was clinging to the tall stranger, face burrowed into his tunic like shirt, sobs wracking my frame and mind reeling. I heard an intake of breath, and the same rough hands pushed me off. Before I could get a glimpse of his face in the dim moonlight, a haze fell over my eyes causing him to double and then eventually fade to black.

Part 2

My eyelids felt heavy, as if sleep didn't want to leave me. Slowly my eyes flickered open to a dimly lit room, candles were perched precariously around the boarded room, the thin straw mattress I lay on hurt my back. Sitting on a wooden bench in the corner I could make out a female's frame, she lay head against the wall slumped into herself. I could make out her eyes closed and chest moving slowly, it was clear she was fast asleep. Foggy reminders flashed before my eyes as I let my eyes rove around the room once more. The engagement, the final argument with my father, the chilling rain, and then those vivid teal markings on the wrists of a stranger…a stranger who had apparently almost cost me my life and saved it all in one.

Panic was slowly setting in, I didn't know how much time had passed since I lost consciousness or even where I was but I knew for certain my father would be on vigilant watch for me. I got up, kicking off the light patchwork sheet that lay over me and got off the bed, head spinning as I hurried over to the sleeping form of the woman. As I drew nearer I realized it was a young girl who laid asleep, mouth open slightly. She couldn't be older than 12 or 13 years old.

"Excuse me" I gently shook the girl's shoulder, and almost dizzyingly fast she shot up; wiping her mouth and staring up at me with an apologetic look on her face.

"S-sorry about that…didn't know you woke up miss" She looked nervous and frightened as though I would yell at her or even hit her so I tried to make my voice sound as gentle without the hint of anxiety in it.

"Uhm can you explain to me just how long was I asleep for? Where am I?

She shot me a sad look, her eyes shifting to the door. "A young man bought you in last night…he said you were out in the rain and slipped and lost consciousness. He didn't know who you were so he bought you here."

"Where is he now?" I asked as I began walking hurriedly towards the door, but she grabbed my wrist and turned me back around.

"He-he left last night I haven't seen a trace of him, and nobody seems to know where he came from either!" She had such a puzzled look I fought the strange urge to laugh; it was no time for laughing in a predicament like mine!

"Miss, trust me, if I was to see him again I would know right away…" my mind flashed back to the strange vivid teal markings that snaked their way up his wrists. The crop of wild and unruly hair that surrounded his face like a halo, a face I struggled to remember now.

Her face looked worried but she didn't raise any more protests as I made my way out the door. I stood in a narrow but long hallway; it was a shabby place really with candles here and there along the wall, the wax melting and dripping down the candle shaft. She came out after me, and beckoned me to follow her down the hall. We came then into a sitting area where people ate small morsels of food and drank cups of ale, their threadbare clothing barely thick enough to shelter them from the coolness that lingered even inside here. Unconsciously my skin crawled. I had, despite the lack of love and attention, lived a mostly privileged life of soft warm beds, and meals whenever I wanted, nurses and maids at my hand and foot, even body guards to watch over me whenever I did leave my house. I struggled to face the reality of these peoples situation. Their dark and tired eyes seemed to know I wasn't from amongst them, the glared at me until I shifted my eyes elsewhere and color darkened my cheeks.

I stood by awkwardly until something caught my eye, a flash of teal! A piece of red fabric whipped around the door and almost unconsciously I started after it. I heard the young girl shout out to me when she realized I was running out but I continued on anyways, for some reason my heart pumping almost too where I thought it would have flown out of my mouth. I spun around the corner, almost falling as I made my way onto the cobbled street. I stopped for a moment as I righted myself, panting and holding my side.

I couldn't believe it, it was night time again and the wind whipped back cold and breezy. I had been asleep for a whole day! I was aching for a shower, and just then my stomach grumbled reminding me of other needs as well, but I couldn't think on that now, I had to find this mysterious young man first. I felt as though my life depended on it at this point.

As I scanned my surroundings though I couldn't find a trace of teal, or of the red shirt that I had seen disappear around the doorframe. I gashed my teeth together, balling up my fists at my side, a sudden surge of anger and hopelessness overtaking me. It felt as though the stranger was avoiding me for some reason, but why would he? Why would he even stick around long enough showing himself only when he knew I was there? It was maddening to me and I wanted to go home even though I knew that was a crazy and impossible thought. I had no home anymore.

I knew I had to keep moving though, someone was sure to be after me for compensation but I didn't even have a cent on me. I pushed off the wall of the building I leaned on and rushed forward, goosebumps erupting on my arms as I hurried up the street. As I rounded the corner I heard the door of the shabby inn slam open and a man's voice thundered down the quiet houses. "Where did she go" he growled. My heart was hammering, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead despite the coldness. I had to find somewhere to go, and fast!

Every shop I silently raced past was closed, or the few that were open looked as threadbare and uninviting to outsiders with the big metal bars outside of the windows and doors. I had to be very far from my house because I had never seen this kind of ram shackled houses where I lived. I could hear hard steps thundering behind me but for some reason I could not stop and turn myself in to this man, he would sure to question and interrogate me, possibly even turn me back into my father, where God knows what he might do to me. I still felt a wave of shame roll over me because I was better than some starving dirty scammer.

Finally up ahead I saw the small swaying sign of a restaurant. It was shabby as everything else on these blocks was, but it was open and warm. Not to mention the enticing aromas that drifted from the slightly opened door. I managed to squeeze in without pushing it open and drawing attention to myself, thankfully it was also dimly lit and crowded inside.

I snaked my way around people, head bowed and hands shaking, feeling like a right ol criminal. What the hell was I really planning on doing? I had to face it, I was nothing more than a sheltered and pampered girl with no particular skills and trades; I was only a pretty face if even that. I could not evade these inn workers, much less my brilliant father for very long. I understood now why he had chosen to utilize the only asset that I possessed. I wasn't made for the real world at all!

Tears stung my eyes as I made my way further into the crowd. I felt people push past me roughly but I didn't look up, I couldn't allow myself to be crying in a place like this least someone asks me anything. I started feeling lightheaded, my stomach growled loudly and I leaned against the wall trying to be casual. I closed my eyes for a second, breathing in slowly. When I opened them, across from me in a wooden booth sat a young man; he leaned comfortably back into the thin wooden backing of the booth, eyes closed with an almost sarcastic smile on his brown structured face. One elbow propped him up on the booth's edge, while the other lay casually across the table. But what was most peculiar was the bright red Gi he wore, the shock of unruly brown hair. Teal markings ensnared his brown wrists, bright in comparison to his darkly tanned skin. His ankle which jutted out jauntily also had the strange markings on them as well. He jiggled his foot easily.

This was him. He was here sitting unmoving and peaceful across from me. Had I passed out?