Okay, another chapter! One of the last in the story. For now, italics will
be words inside [I] [I] so just imagine they're there. Er, yeah. Hope you
like this chapter. It turned out rather . . . interesting ~sweat~ You'll
see. R/R!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"In here."
Migra led Jenrya into a dark room. She shut the door behind them and turned. Candles instantly began to glow, sending chills through the girl's body. [I] I'm sorry Jenrya.[I]
"Well, well. If it isn't Jenrya Lee."
Looking up, Jenrya felt his eyes widen in surprise. The person who had spoken looked too familiar. They rose from their grand chair, motioning to the guards to step away.
"Kenru?"
The young man smiled.
"So, you remember me brother." He turned to Migra. "Thank you, I dismiss you now."
Jenrya also turned to his sister.
"You knew?"
She looked down and studied her feet.
"Of course she knew Jenrya. Everyone knows. Come and sit down while we talk."
Numbly, the boy made his way over to the low table. He sat down across from Kenru, feeling uneasy.
"How have you been? The last I heard, you were living on the streets."
Jenrya raised his head. "That's right. A street girl took me in."
Kenru seemed amused. "A street girl, hm? And tell me, did anything happen between you and this girl?"
"No, we never -" Jenrya paused. There had been that one night when Ruki and him had been drunk. . . His face flushed at the memory.
[I] So, [I] Kenru thought, [I] I was right. Something did happen between them. [I]
"You never what?"
"We never got close to each other. She just helped me out a few times."
"And what did you do, living on the streets? Did you steal for food?"
Jenrya shook his head.
"Then how did you get food? You must have ate."
"People gave it to me."
"They gave it to you? And why would they do a thing like that?" When his brother didn't answer, Kenru narrowed his eyes. "Tell me." He hissed angerly.
Jenrya sat still, glaring at the man across from him. This imposter wasn't his brother. It couldn't be true.
"You helped them, am I right? You used some sort of power and helped them?"
"Maybe."
"Answer me! Did you not use those powers that father so foolishly gave you?! Answer me you freak!"
Kenru's behaviour didn't surprise Jenrya, but he still refused to believe this was his older brother.
"Do you know why you were born?" Kenru demanded. "You were born to be a living experiment! Father favored you because you were different. He had somehow managed to give you a special power, a power to heal. He gave you all his attention, treating Migra and I like we were nothing! NOTHING!"
Kenru rose and paced the room.
"He never cared what we did, it was always 'Jenrya this, Jenrya that.' And when Shuichon was born, he didn't pay that much attention to her either! It was always you! You, the freak of nature who shouldn't even be here!"
Everyone in the room fell silent. Migra glanced at her brothers. Jenrya looked as if he was made of stone, Kenru as if he were glass ready to break.
"Lock him up!" Kenru yelled to the guards. "Get him out of my face! I never want to see this freak again!"
Two guards came forward and hulled Jenrya to his feet. They brought him down a long, dark hallway to a small room of cells. Jenrya suspected he was now below ground. They shoved him inside a cell, locked it, and left. Jenrya slumped against the wall. How could this have happened? If he had just listened to Ruki, he'd still be with her in the streets. The boy closed his eyes. He might as well get some sleep because he wasn't going anywhere soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next sound Jenrya heard was metal on metal. He opened his eyes, seeing it was dark still. How long had he slept? The cell door creaked.
"Who's there?"
"Shh, Jenrya, it's me."
"Ruki?"
The boy stood up. Ruki had just opened the door, using the end of an arrow. She slid it into the quiver on her back.
"Are you okay?" She questioned hesitantly.
"I'm fine now, thanks."
In the low light Ruki saw him smile at her. She felt herself blush and looked away.
"Come, I know where they're keeping your father."
The two made their way silently out of the prison. Through a window Jenrya saw moonlight. So, it was night again. Ruki led him outside and across a courtyard. Near a small building she stopped.
"He's in here."
The girl reached for an arrow and began to pick the lock. Jenrya glanced around, in case there were guards, but he didn't see any. The door opened and Jenrya entered inside. Janyuu Lee was in one corner of the room . . .
Kenru in the other.
"So, you came after all. I thought maybe the street girl would go soft on me."
"What?"
"You mean you haven't guessed? She was working for me all along."
Jenrya stepped back, bumping into Ruki. She had just entered the building. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of Kenru.
"You again!"
Kenru sighed. "Don't try to fool the poor boy, he already knows."
Jenrya's eyes darted between Ruki and Kenru. It couldn't be true, could it? Ruki had tried to warn him, had saved him.
"Don't listen to his lies Jenrya."
His eys resting on Ruki, Jenrya gave her a long look. She gazed back at him, her own violet eyes hard.
"Lies are they? I'm his brother, his kin. I wouldn't lie to him street girl."
"Yes you would! You don't care about him, no matter if he's your brother!" Ruki shot back angerly. "You killed your mother and youngest sister! You locked up your father and now you want to kill Jenrya too!"
Grey eyes wide, Jenrya watched Ruki yell at Kenru. She hardly ever shown any kind of emotion, but now she was full of an angery fire.
"Tsk, tsk. It is the street girl who lies brother. I never meant to hurt anyone, especially you."
"Lier!" Ruki screamed. "Lier!"
"If you don't shut up street girl, I'll call for the guards. Now Jenrya, who are you going to believe? Some street girl or your only brother?"
Ruki bit her lip. Jenrya would pick Kenru, she knew it. She would die because she had tried to save him. How foolish she had been. Jenrya spent a long moment thinking. Then, he turned to Ruki. He took her bow and grabbed an arrow out of her quiver.
"Yes, do it!" Kenru encouraged. "Kill the lier!"
Fear grabbed Ruki. So, Jenrya was to kill her then? But to her shock the boy turned.
"I will Kenru, and you are the lier."
He raised the bow, knocked on and aimed. Kenru's face went pale.
"Jenrya, think about this, please. She's just a street girl, you can't-" He was cut off as Jenrya released the arrow.
There was a blood chilling scream.
"Ruki, help me get my father out of here!"
The two teens grabbed Janyuu and made a run for it. Just as they escaped the yard, Migra and some guards came. The girl picked up the arrow and gazed in the direction of her younger brother. Jenrya froze, knowing she had seen them. But she didn't shout, just mouthed,
'Good luck.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jenrya lay his father on the bed, watching him closely. The man was still out cold. The boy sighed and sat in the lone chair of the room. Hopefully Janyuu would be okay. Ruki came in and held out a cup of water to Jenrya.
"Drink."
He took and drank from it, realizing hiw thirsty he was.
"Thank you Ruki."
She nodded and gazed over at Janyuu.
"Is he going to be okay Jenrya?"
"I'm sure he'll be fine. You can go get some sleep, I'm staying here tonight."
Ruki turned to the boy. He didn't sound worried, but she could see he was. His grey eyes were unusually cold-like and hard. His forehead creased in concern, his dark hair falling into his eyes. She reached over and lay a hand gently on his cheek.
"If you're staying, then I'm staying."
Jenrya pulled her onto his lap. She curled up against him and closed her eyes. Tonight had been horrible. Kenru's scream echoed in her mind, and the insane look in his eyes would haunt her in dreams. Ruki could only imagine what Jenrya must be thinking.
"Ruki? Why did you come back?"
She gazed up at Jenrya. His eyes held a questioning look now.
"Well, because I had to."
"You had to?"
Ruki nodded, stalling to find the right words.
"Even though you hadn't listened to me, I had to help you. I know Migra was your sister and I know you had to trust her." She added, seeing the look Jenrya gave her. "We've known each other for almost a year, and I couldn't just through that all away because of a fight. I saw the dagger Migra had tied to her ankle, but decided not to warn you. Later on I felt guilty and knew I had to save you."
"So you did it because you felt guilty?"
"No, I-" Ruki stopped when she saw the amused look on Jenrya's face. "What's so funny?"
"You Ruki-san." Jenrya replied.
"Arigato Jen-san," She answered sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
They laughed.
"But seriously Ruki, was it just because you felt guilty?"
"No, it's because I-" She paused and gave him a long gaze. "Ai shitaru Jen- san." Ruki murmured softly.
The boy's eyes now widened in surprise. He hadn't expected that, but he was glad she had said it. The girl let out a yawn and leaned against him, closing her violet eyes.
"Ai shiteru Ruki-san," Jenrya whispered as the girl fell asleep in his arms. He stroaked her hair before settling in for the long night of caring for his father. "Wo ai ni." The boy repeated with a smile. (A/N: to my knowledge, "wo ai ni" is chinese for I love you. Correct me if I'm wrong please.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two weeks later Ruki woke as sunlight poured into the window. She rolled over and smiled at Jenrya, who lay next to her.
"Wake up."
She shook the boy, making him groan.
"It's too early Ruki."
Letting out a small giggle, the girl leaned over and kissed him. Jenrya wrapped his arms around her waist, his grey eyes grinning at her.
"Aren't we perky this morning," He teased.
The girl blushed, something only Jenrya could make her do. Ruki lay her head on Jenrya's bare chest, sighing contently. After Kenru's death the government had taken care of the guards and other people following the man. It seemed he wanted to take over China. Word was, Kenru had gone crazy. Migra had disappeared - Jenrya thought she had fled the country. That left him to care for his father. Ruki had agreed to help, moving into the Lee's home.
Jenrya yawned. "I have to go check on father." He kissed Ruki's forehead and rose from the bed to dress. Once he had left the room, Ruki also got up. Entering the kitchen minutes later, she began to prepare breakfast. Janyuu was now strong enough to eat in the main room with the teens. Jenrya brought him in, then helped Ruki finish making the meal. As they sat down, Janyuu smiled at the girl.
"I thank you for my life and Jenrya's. If there is anything you want, just name it."
Ruki was quiet. There was something she wanted. Something she found she needed after seeing what had happened with the Lee family.
"Sir?"
"What is it?"
"There is one thing I want . . ."
"Just name it."
Ruki could feel Jenrya watching her. She hadn't told him yet, the one thing she wanted. Ruki hoped it wouldn't hurt him.
"I want to return home, to Japan, and find my family."
"Then I'll make sure Jenrya gives you enough money for the trip then."
They finished the meal in silence, everyone lost in thought. Jenrya helped his father back to bed, then watched Ruki cleaning up. His grey eyes followed her every move. When Ruki couldn't take it anymore she looked at him.
"Just say it. Tell me you hate me. I know you do."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do, I can tell."
Ruki walked over and stood in front of him. Jenrya shook his head.
"I don't hate you."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cloth. Ruki could hear the sound of money inside.
"This should be more than enough for your trip."
The girl took the cloth, holding it to her.
"Thank you."
"No Ruki," Jenrya hugged her. "Thank you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two days later Ruki stood in front of the ship that was to take her home. This was what she wanted, she wanted to go home. Jenrya lay a hand on her arm.
"I'll miss you Ruki."
She gazed up at him. Funny, her rule had always been not to get emotionally attatched to someone. Now look where she was.
"I'll miss you too Jenrya."
He leaned down and kissed her softly. For the first time it hit Ruki, she was leaving him behind. They pulled back, giving each other sad looks.
"I have to go. Goodbye Jenrya."
Ruki picked up her one bag and turned towards the ship.
"Take care." Jenrya called after her.
Boarding the ship, Ruki cast one last look his way. Then she turned her back to him, not liking the pain she felt in her heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Jenrya returned home, his father was waiting for him out front. Janyuu put a hand on his son's shoulder.
"The ship left?"
"Yes."
Janyuu studied the boy for a moment. Then he said,
"Another ship leaves in three days. You could go to Japan and find her."
Jenrya looked up in surprise.
"But what about you? I can't leave you all alone back here in China. Besides, mother would have been upset if I went after some street girl. She thought that nobles had to marry nobles."
"True," Janyuu replied. "Your mother would have wanted you to be happy though. I know you love Ruki, and I know she cares deeply about you. She risked her life for you. Go, and don't worry about me."
Go to Japan and find Ruki? His father really wanted him to go after her?
"Are you -"
"I'm sure Jenrya, go. It's my fault all this happened, the least I can do is let you be with her."
Jenrya smiled. "It's not your fault. Just think, if none of this had happened, I'd have never met her." He leaned over and hugged Janyuu. "Thank you father."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"In here."
Migra led Jenrya into a dark room. She shut the door behind them and turned. Candles instantly began to glow, sending chills through the girl's body. [I] I'm sorry Jenrya.[I]
"Well, well. If it isn't Jenrya Lee."
Looking up, Jenrya felt his eyes widen in surprise. The person who had spoken looked too familiar. They rose from their grand chair, motioning to the guards to step away.
"Kenru?"
The young man smiled.
"So, you remember me brother." He turned to Migra. "Thank you, I dismiss you now."
Jenrya also turned to his sister.
"You knew?"
She looked down and studied her feet.
"Of course she knew Jenrya. Everyone knows. Come and sit down while we talk."
Numbly, the boy made his way over to the low table. He sat down across from Kenru, feeling uneasy.
"How have you been? The last I heard, you were living on the streets."
Jenrya raised his head. "That's right. A street girl took me in."
Kenru seemed amused. "A street girl, hm? And tell me, did anything happen between you and this girl?"
"No, we never -" Jenrya paused. There had been that one night when Ruki and him had been drunk. . . His face flushed at the memory.
[I] So, [I] Kenru thought, [I] I was right. Something did happen between them. [I]
"You never what?"
"We never got close to each other. She just helped me out a few times."
"And what did you do, living on the streets? Did you steal for food?"
Jenrya shook his head.
"Then how did you get food? You must have ate."
"People gave it to me."
"They gave it to you? And why would they do a thing like that?" When his brother didn't answer, Kenru narrowed his eyes. "Tell me." He hissed angerly.
Jenrya sat still, glaring at the man across from him. This imposter wasn't his brother. It couldn't be true.
"You helped them, am I right? You used some sort of power and helped them?"
"Maybe."
"Answer me! Did you not use those powers that father so foolishly gave you?! Answer me you freak!"
Kenru's behaviour didn't surprise Jenrya, but he still refused to believe this was his older brother.
"Do you know why you were born?" Kenru demanded. "You were born to be a living experiment! Father favored you because you were different. He had somehow managed to give you a special power, a power to heal. He gave you all his attention, treating Migra and I like we were nothing! NOTHING!"
Kenru rose and paced the room.
"He never cared what we did, it was always 'Jenrya this, Jenrya that.' And when Shuichon was born, he didn't pay that much attention to her either! It was always you! You, the freak of nature who shouldn't even be here!"
Everyone in the room fell silent. Migra glanced at her brothers. Jenrya looked as if he was made of stone, Kenru as if he were glass ready to break.
"Lock him up!" Kenru yelled to the guards. "Get him out of my face! I never want to see this freak again!"
Two guards came forward and hulled Jenrya to his feet. They brought him down a long, dark hallway to a small room of cells. Jenrya suspected he was now below ground. They shoved him inside a cell, locked it, and left. Jenrya slumped against the wall. How could this have happened? If he had just listened to Ruki, he'd still be with her in the streets. The boy closed his eyes. He might as well get some sleep because he wasn't going anywhere soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next sound Jenrya heard was metal on metal. He opened his eyes, seeing it was dark still. How long had he slept? The cell door creaked.
"Who's there?"
"Shh, Jenrya, it's me."
"Ruki?"
The boy stood up. Ruki had just opened the door, using the end of an arrow. She slid it into the quiver on her back.
"Are you okay?" She questioned hesitantly.
"I'm fine now, thanks."
In the low light Ruki saw him smile at her. She felt herself blush and looked away.
"Come, I know where they're keeping your father."
The two made their way silently out of the prison. Through a window Jenrya saw moonlight. So, it was night again. Ruki led him outside and across a courtyard. Near a small building she stopped.
"He's in here."
The girl reached for an arrow and began to pick the lock. Jenrya glanced around, in case there were guards, but he didn't see any. The door opened and Jenrya entered inside. Janyuu Lee was in one corner of the room . . .
Kenru in the other.
"So, you came after all. I thought maybe the street girl would go soft on me."
"What?"
"You mean you haven't guessed? She was working for me all along."
Jenrya stepped back, bumping into Ruki. She had just entered the building. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of Kenru.
"You again!"
Kenru sighed. "Don't try to fool the poor boy, he already knows."
Jenrya's eyes darted between Ruki and Kenru. It couldn't be true, could it? Ruki had tried to warn him, had saved him.
"Don't listen to his lies Jenrya."
His eys resting on Ruki, Jenrya gave her a long look. She gazed back at him, her own violet eyes hard.
"Lies are they? I'm his brother, his kin. I wouldn't lie to him street girl."
"Yes you would! You don't care about him, no matter if he's your brother!" Ruki shot back angerly. "You killed your mother and youngest sister! You locked up your father and now you want to kill Jenrya too!"
Grey eyes wide, Jenrya watched Ruki yell at Kenru. She hardly ever shown any kind of emotion, but now she was full of an angery fire.
"Tsk, tsk. It is the street girl who lies brother. I never meant to hurt anyone, especially you."
"Lier!" Ruki screamed. "Lier!"
"If you don't shut up street girl, I'll call for the guards. Now Jenrya, who are you going to believe? Some street girl or your only brother?"
Ruki bit her lip. Jenrya would pick Kenru, she knew it. She would die because she had tried to save him. How foolish she had been. Jenrya spent a long moment thinking. Then, he turned to Ruki. He took her bow and grabbed an arrow out of her quiver.
"Yes, do it!" Kenru encouraged. "Kill the lier!"
Fear grabbed Ruki. So, Jenrya was to kill her then? But to her shock the boy turned.
"I will Kenru, and you are the lier."
He raised the bow, knocked on and aimed. Kenru's face went pale.
"Jenrya, think about this, please. She's just a street girl, you can't-" He was cut off as Jenrya released the arrow.
There was a blood chilling scream.
"Ruki, help me get my father out of here!"
The two teens grabbed Janyuu and made a run for it. Just as they escaped the yard, Migra and some guards came. The girl picked up the arrow and gazed in the direction of her younger brother. Jenrya froze, knowing she had seen them. But she didn't shout, just mouthed,
'Good luck.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jenrya lay his father on the bed, watching him closely. The man was still out cold. The boy sighed and sat in the lone chair of the room. Hopefully Janyuu would be okay. Ruki came in and held out a cup of water to Jenrya.
"Drink."
He took and drank from it, realizing hiw thirsty he was.
"Thank you Ruki."
She nodded and gazed over at Janyuu.
"Is he going to be okay Jenrya?"
"I'm sure he'll be fine. You can go get some sleep, I'm staying here tonight."
Ruki turned to the boy. He didn't sound worried, but she could see he was. His grey eyes were unusually cold-like and hard. His forehead creased in concern, his dark hair falling into his eyes. She reached over and lay a hand gently on his cheek.
"If you're staying, then I'm staying."
Jenrya pulled her onto his lap. She curled up against him and closed her eyes. Tonight had been horrible. Kenru's scream echoed in her mind, and the insane look in his eyes would haunt her in dreams. Ruki could only imagine what Jenrya must be thinking.
"Ruki? Why did you come back?"
She gazed up at Jenrya. His eyes held a questioning look now.
"Well, because I had to."
"You had to?"
Ruki nodded, stalling to find the right words.
"Even though you hadn't listened to me, I had to help you. I know Migra was your sister and I know you had to trust her." She added, seeing the look Jenrya gave her. "We've known each other for almost a year, and I couldn't just through that all away because of a fight. I saw the dagger Migra had tied to her ankle, but decided not to warn you. Later on I felt guilty and knew I had to save you."
"So you did it because you felt guilty?"
"No, I-" Ruki stopped when she saw the amused look on Jenrya's face. "What's so funny?"
"You Ruki-san." Jenrya replied.
"Arigato Jen-san," She answered sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
They laughed.
"But seriously Ruki, was it just because you felt guilty?"
"No, it's because I-" She paused and gave him a long gaze. "Ai shitaru Jen- san." Ruki murmured softly.
The boy's eyes now widened in surprise. He hadn't expected that, but he was glad she had said it. The girl let out a yawn and leaned against him, closing her violet eyes.
"Ai shiteru Ruki-san," Jenrya whispered as the girl fell asleep in his arms. He stroaked her hair before settling in for the long night of caring for his father. "Wo ai ni." The boy repeated with a smile. (A/N: to my knowledge, "wo ai ni" is chinese for I love you. Correct me if I'm wrong please.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two weeks later Ruki woke as sunlight poured into the window. She rolled over and smiled at Jenrya, who lay next to her.
"Wake up."
She shook the boy, making him groan.
"It's too early Ruki."
Letting out a small giggle, the girl leaned over and kissed him. Jenrya wrapped his arms around her waist, his grey eyes grinning at her.
"Aren't we perky this morning," He teased.
The girl blushed, something only Jenrya could make her do. Ruki lay her head on Jenrya's bare chest, sighing contently. After Kenru's death the government had taken care of the guards and other people following the man. It seemed he wanted to take over China. Word was, Kenru had gone crazy. Migra had disappeared - Jenrya thought she had fled the country. That left him to care for his father. Ruki had agreed to help, moving into the Lee's home.
Jenrya yawned. "I have to go check on father." He kissed Ruki's forehead and rose from the bed to dress. Once he had left the room, Ruki also got up. Entering the kitchen minutes later, she began to prepare breakfast. Janyuu was now strong enough to eat in the main room with the teens. Jenrya brought him in, then helped Ruki finish making the meal. As they sat down, Janyuu smiled at the girl.
"I thank you for my life and Jenrya's. If there is anything you want, just name it."
Ruki was quiet. There was something she wanted. Something she found she needed after seeing what had happened with the Lee family.
"Sir?"
"What is it?"
"There is one thing I want . . ."
"Just name it."
Ruki could feel Jenrya watching her. She hadn't told him yet, the one thing she wanted. Ruki hoped it wouldn't hurt him.
"I want to return home, to Japan, and find my family."
"Then I'll make sure Jenrya gives you enough money for the trip then."
They finished the meal in silence, everyone lost in thought. Jenrya helped his father back to bed, then watched Ruki cleaning up. His grey eyes followed her every move. When Ruki couldn't take it anymore she looked at him.
"Just say it. Tell me you hate me. I know you do."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do, I can tell."
Ruki walked over and stood in front of him. Jenrya shook his head.
"I don't hate you."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cloth. Ruki could hear the sound of money inside.
"This should be more than enough for your trip."
The girl took the cloth, holding it to her.
"Thank you."
"No Ruki," Jenrya hugged her. "Thank you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two days later Ruki stood in front of the ship that was to take her home. This was what she wanted, she wanted to go home. Jenrya lay a hand on her arm.
"I'll miss you Ruki."
She gazed up at him. Funny, her rule had always been not to get emotionally attatched to someone. Now look where she was.
"I'll miss you too Jenrya."
He leaned down and kissed her softly. For the first time it hit Ruki, she was leaving him behind. They pulled back, giving each other sad looks.
"I have to go. Goodbye Jenrya."
Ruki picked up her one bag and turned towards the ship.
"Take care." Jenrya called after her.
Boarding the ship, Ruki cast one last look his way. Then she turned her back to him, not liking the pain she felt in her heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Jenrya returned home, his father was waiting for him out front. Janyuu put a hand on his son's shoulder.
"The ship left?"
"Yes."
Janyuu studied the boy for a moment. Then he said,
"Another ship leaves in three days. You could go to Japan and find her."
Jenrya looked up in surprise.
"But what about you? I can't leave you all alone back here in China. Besides, mother would have been upset if I went after some street girl. She thought that nobles had to marry nobles."
"True," Janyuu replied. "Your mother would have wanted you to be happy though. I know you love Ruki, and I know she cares deeply about you. She risked her life for you. Go, and don't worry about me."
Go to Japan and find Ruki? His father really wanted him to go after her?
"Are you -"
"I'm sure Jenrya, go. It's my fault all this happened, the least I can do is let you be with her."
Jenrya smiled. "It's not your fault. Just think, if none of this had happened, I'd have never met her." He leaned over and hugged Janyuu. "Thank you father."
