Samurai and Ninjas Chap. 6
I do not own Persona or the character's likenesses, sorry everyone. Atlus does. Blame my lack of creativity.
This story takes place towards the middle of the Heian period of Japan. I am not being completely historically accurate with this, so do not get all over my back about it. How much Personas will play a part in it, I do not know about that one.
A note, I will mainly use first names first, then last names. I know this is the one glaring difference that I am using in respect of their culture, but since I am writing in English… I will write as such.
Edge of City Limits- Nara
Before Sunrise
Away from the same city gate that Souji Seta had gone through twice yesterday, traffic was busy before the sun had risen. The guards were doing their best to stay aware even at this very late… or early hour. The sentries had been switched, but those pulling the night shift were still very tired. Archers were still waiting for any intruder trying to enter Nara without permission, even if they too were tired.
The wooden gates and its guards were the first line of defense. If they fell, there would little left until they reached the palace. The invaders would be able to slaughter everyone in the other districts, including merchants and monks. That's why it was important that the guards stay vigilante, no matter how tired they got.
Two messengers had been let through the gate before the sun had risen along with a single samurai. The samurai was quite displeased at having to be up so early. His shoulder had been smashed by the blunt end of a kusarigama yesterday and the attacker went unpunished because of a smartass samurai. The only reason Souji Seta saved that little boy was because of his cute face. If the kid had not tried to kill him… well that kid did look pretty cute.
The two messengers waited right outside of the gate for Togodai. Togodai had a different message for each one of them. The samurai was wearing a black hakama, but with the heavy shoulder bandage; Togodai was a comical sight.
Both of the messengers were clad in black that suggested that they were in the hire of Lord Tanaka. Considering that the man giving them the messages was the lead samurai of Lord Tanaka; it was pretty obvious of the messengers' allegiance.
Togodai sighed as he flexed his undamaged left arm. His right arm was still pretty much immobile. He was actually really angry at having to be awake right now. Lord Tanaka gave him messages last evening for him to give to the messengers. So, here he is now, so damn early to deliver what only Lord Tanaka knows all over the place.
As the first rays of sun began to peak over the horizon, one of the messengers asked, "What do you want us to do? Where are we going?"
Togodai was affronted that this guy would dare ask him that first question. It was probably because that they had been standing around for a few minutes, but still… unacceptable.
"You'll go where I tell you," Togodai told the messenger, a short man with a short bowl-cut.
The second messenger, a taller man with longer and unruly black hair asked, "Then where are we going?"
Togodai was almost ready to pull his sword and use it with his left arm. Sadly, he was not much of a one-armed swordsman. Togodai ended up just taking a deep breath to calm himself and pulled one of the messages to give to the clean-cut man.
As he walked up to him, Togodai said to him, "Take this to Heian, and give this letter to head of the Fujiwaras."
"You mean Lord Adachi?" the messenger asked.
"Yes… Lord Adachi," Togodai said curtly, "Don't dally and don't give it to any other lord or lady."
"Yes, sir," the messenger nodded before leaving, a smirk on his face.
Togodai knew that particular messenger had a long road ahead of him.
"You…" Togodai pointed at the other messenger. The other messenger walked over and as he handed him the other letter only part of what Togodai could be said, "When you take this… be careful. No one can know where you went…"
"You sure?" the second messenger nodded.
"I'm sure," Togodai answered, "Now go…"
"Okay…" the messenger said, placing the message in his tunic.
The other messenger turned away from Togodai and headed off soon after the same dusty road. The other man would soon be taking a different road for his separate journey.
"If this is important enough for my lord to make me get up this early, then I hope he gets what he wants out of it," Togodai said as he walked his couriers start their journeys away from Nara.
Togodai turned and motioned to the guards to let him back into the city. The guards were peeved that they had to open the gate again so soon after they had opened it and closed it, but Togodai wanted to get some more sleep. If Togodai had to get up this early, he wanted to get something out of it.
Servants' Quarters- Palace of Nara
Before Sunrise
Naoto was not a girl who slept in really late. She did not sleep until the sun was at its highest point in the sky. Naoto did not normally get up too early either. Imagine her shock when she was roughly shaken by Shu at god knows how early in the morning on her first day. Everyone else was in the middle of dressing or running back and forth getting assignments.
"Hu… Huhhh?" Naoto said groggily.
"Time to get up," Shu kept shaking the new servant, "You're late."
"Wha…?" Naoto shut her eyes, blinked a few times to try and wake herself up, and then opened them. Shu was wide awake, dressed, and ready for the day.
"You really want to be yelled at, hit, or beaten right after you were given a second chance after whatever you did?" Shu warned.
"Hit?" Naoto looked confused as she slowly pulled herself out of bed, still dressed in nightclothes.
"Sometimes… some of the people we serve are not as forgiving of mistakes made as others. Not necessarily Lord Tatsumi, but anyone above us," Shu explained.
"So, they might beat us if we screw up at all?" Naoto looked at Shu.
"There are those people," Shu responded. He was getting impatient as Naoto was unfolding her yukata and getting ready to put it on, "Hurry up already…"
"I'll meet you out there," Naoto said before she asked, "Do you know where I am supposed to go?"
"You're supposed to talk to the head servant to find out your assignment," Shu said, "But I'll talk to him, so you can just meet me outside." He looked harried, "Get moving… The faster you move, the less trouble I'll end up being in."
Shu turned away from Naoto and made for the door, Naoto called out, "Shu…"
Shu turned around, "Hmm?"
"Thank you," Naoto said.
"Just hurry," Shu called out.
Shu left the room to find the head servant and Naoto could finally undress and start her first day in the service of Lord Kanji Tatsumi. She needed Shu to leave before that could happen and when he left; she was all alone in the room. As she took off her nightclothes and pulled on the maroon yukata of the Nara, Naoto struggled tying the midsection. She was thankful for the bandages that she had around her chest. A yukata was a perfect piece of clothing for hiding her gender. A small washbasin on the side of the room was the only place to clean her face. She tried not to get any water on her fancy clothes. She did not want to get beaten.
Adjusting her blue hair and moving that one blue piece across the center of her forehead, Naoto opened the sliding door and left the servants' quarters. Waiting for her was a very impatient-looking Shu.
Her larynx clenched as Shu say and ask with a bit of anger, "I've had time to see the servant and come back. What took you so long?"
Shu could not understand what it was like to be a girl. I guess he expected Naoto to rush like none other to be ready for work.
"I'm sorry, Shu," Naoto put her head down.
"Come on," Shu said, "You need to go to the kitchens with me and get the food to serve to Lord Tatsumi for breakfast."
The pair started walking quickly, making a left turn, and heading towards the kitchens. The two were walking side-by-side; one was much taller than the other. Naoto was a only a little nervous about everything.
As Shu kept his head forward, Naoto turned her head towards the older servant and asked, "What does Lord Tatsumi usually have for breakfast?"
"Whatever he wants to have for breakfast," Shu answered, "A good servant stays quiet."
Naoto turned her head back front and closed her mouth. This was going to be harder than she thought.
Going around one corner, and then another to reach the kitchens; the two servants opened the door that was overflowing with the smell of cooking food and fresh produce. It was somewhat intoxicating to Naoto and her senses. Behind that door, there were a multitude of servants all preparing the food that would be served throughout the day. There were also a few other servants that looked to be on the same assignment as Shu as Naoto, meaning that they would be serving breakfast for Lord Tatsumi or other distinguished members of the palace.
Seeing all of this food, Naoto was struck with thoughts of all of the people who must be starving at this very moment. They could have fed everyone in the village with one-fourth of the food being prepared at this moment. She did not even want to know how much food would probably be wasted after the meal. It would probably make her sick to find out.
Shu stood at attention with the other servants. Seeing this, Naoto soon followed by standing next to him, face forward, and trying not move.
It was an arduous process for Naoto. Watching the cooks at work on dishes at a cutting board or other device for minutes on end was making the petite girl fidgety. Only when Shu elbowed her discreetly did she stop moving.
After the cook was done, they would give the dish to a servant, and they would then give the dishes or platters to a servant like Shu to take to Lord Tatsumi or other members of state.
Servants with cooked dishes were now flying out of the kitchen, and it was not long until a male servant handed a platter with three breakfast dishes for Shu to take to Lord Tatsumi.
"Hurry…," the male servant said to Shu, "He'll probably be ready for breakfast in a few minutes."
"I understand," Shu said, while balancing the platter on his arm.
A second servant came from the main table and handed a platter of fruit to Naoto, "Take this to Lord Tatsumi."
Naoto looked at the fruit. They were cut into all sorts of interesting and unorthodox shapes. One of the plums had a beak, a circular body, and padded feet. That one looked really eccentric.
"Hurry up now," the servant said, causing Naoto to jump.
Naoto tried her best to balance the platter on her right shoulder as she left the kitchen to try and catch up with Shu. It was one of the few people she knew in the palace, and she did not want to be late according to Shu.
Naoto could not exactly go very quickly because of the food she was carrying. It was so precarious being there and she felt she was going to drop it at any second. She also needed Shu because they had not passed the dining room on the way to the servants' quarter last evening. Naoto breathing quickened for a moment as she turned side-to-side, trying to find Shu.
"Shu!" Naoto called out, not loudly, but not softly. She had to work hard to keep her voice low.
Around the corner, Shu comes back holding his food looking very angry. He walked over to Naoto and was about ready to yell in her face. He said to her in a soft but angry voice, "What are you yelling about?"
"I… I couldn't find you," Naoto responded, "I didn't know where to go."
"Don't yell about it," Shu huffed. He shook his head, "Just come on… We're late."
Naoto, cheeks red, followed Shu down an unfamiliar hallway to an unfamiliar room. Opening the door, the two entered a lavish room. There were lit cotton wicks hanging from the ceiling that were covered by paper and bamboo. That provided the light in the room. There was a large stone table in the middle of the room, and at the center sat Lord Kanji Tatsumi. He was wearing black and gold today, but the maroon colors of Nara was prevalent in the room. He was currently growing out a very thin moustache and beard that he had started a few days ago. He had accidently shaved it too far, so Kanji had to all but start over.
Shu came forward to the table where Kanji was sitting and handed the platter in front of him. He seemed to be waiting for Kanji to pick a dish of the three to eat. Shu looked a little nervous, but Kanji would need to think before he decided on a dish.
"Thank you," he said before he grabbed a dish of rice mixed with eggs and vegetables.
Shu bowed and picked the platter back up before he returned to the line of servants in waiting.
Kanji grabbed his chopsticks. He was about to start his meal when he spotted that servant he had saved from execution yesterday was carrying fresh fruit.
Kanji looked at Naoto and gestured towards her. "Come here…"
Naoto took a deep breath and slowly walked towards the table. The last thing she wanted to do was drop the food that they gave her to carry. Her steps were slow and uneasy before she finally got to the table. Her body shaking, Naoto placed the fruit on the table in front of Lord Tatsumi. There was an empty plate included so the lord could choose and place his fruit on the plate.
Kanji seemed most interested in plums and when he saw the circular slice that had the beak-like formation; he grabbed it in a hurry. He smiled and said to Naoto, "Thank you…"
Naoto was very nervous and was having trouble moving her body. Kanji, meanwhile, had swallowed the slice of plum whole. He looked up from his food and stared straight at Naoto.
"You can go now…" Kanji told her.
Naoto turned scarlet. She knew she was in deep trouble. She had to force herself to move. Her body did not want to move, but she forced each limb, one-by-one, to budge until she was back in line with the tray in hand. At her side, she knew that Shu was furious with her.
A third servant had given Lord Tatsumi a drink, and now Naoto was noticing Shu and the other servant passing their trays off to the others waiting in the line. Naoto decided that she was supposed to do the same. Naoto handed her platter of fruit to a pretty female servant to the right of her. The idea must be in case Lord Tatsumi wanted anything else.
Naoto saw Shu leave Kanji's and she decided she was supposed to leave with him. His expression immediately changed once the pair exited Lord Tatsumi's dining hall. Shu's expression of perfect calm turned into cold fury as he confronted the new servant.
"Can you do anything right?" Shu said with anger, "I don't care that you're new. Some of the things that you should be doing are obvious."
Naoto was hurt. She was trying her best, but she was just really nervous with this whole thing. It was making her make mistakes.
"I'm sorry," Naoto bowed her head.
"Do not blame me if the lord beats you," Shu told Naoto, "Part of me wants beat you myself."
Naoto was scared that Shu would beat her. Lord Tatsumi was mad at her… and he just helped her out.
"Naoto…" someone called out.
Naoto turned her head around to see who had called her name. It was a man wearing blue robes, or Lord Dojima.
Shu walked up to Lord Dojima, "How can I help you, Lord Dojima?"
"I need to speak with Naoto," Ryotarou said, "Can you go on with your duties, please?"
Shu looked at Naoto with the same angry look, "When you are done speaking with Lord Dojima, we are cleaning the springs… meet us there"
Shu bowed to Lord Dojima before he turned around and headed towards the springs. He was still very angry.
Naoto bowed her head towards Lord Dojima. Lord Dojima looked at Naoto. She looked scared and sad. Dojima said to her, "I need to speak with you about something important."
"What is it, Lord Dojima?" Naoto asked the lord.
"Are you having a rough day?" Dojima asked.
"It has not been my best day so far," Naoto responded.
"It's the only first day," Dojima said, "The best way for it to get better is experience."
"If you say so," Naoto did not seem any happier.
"Now, for the reason I wanted to speak with you," Dojima cleared his throat. He asked, "Can you read and write?"
"My grampa taught me," Naoto nodded. She asked, "What is it that you want me to do?"
"There is a meeting tonight between Lord Tatsumi, Lord Tanaka, a representative of the Taira, and a member of the royal family," Dojima told Naoto, "I want you to be there and serve them."
"You want me to at a meeting where there is a member of the royal family attending?" Naoto looked astonished, "What would you possibly want me to do?"
"Serve drinks and pay attention to everything that happens," Lord Dojima explained, "Anything peculiar that you notice; I want you to write down on a scroll that a servant of mine will provide you."
She was confused. It was as if there was a plot going on inside the lords and Dojima wanted to root it out. She knew that Lord Tanaka was a bastard, and she would have to call herself a liar if she said she liked any of the others. Yet, was there something going on between all of the others?
"Why won't you be there, Lord Dojima?" Naoto asked. She was curious about that.
"I need to be with my wife," Dojima answered, "She is very sick."
"I understand. I will be there," Naoto said.
Dojima knew how hard she was trying. It must be so difficult for a girl like her to conform from being a free peasant to a servant.
Naoto bowed, "I must help Shu now."
"Very well," Dojima said.
As Naoto left, all she could think about was the very difficult task ahead of her. With Lord Dojima, he would not yell at her, but he sure knew how to make her life impossible to handle.
Dojima headed the other way towards the gates. He wanted to talk to Souji… again.
Gates of the Palace
Mid-morning
Souji had spent a long time trying to figure out what was going on with his life. He had not slept that well that night. He arrived to the gates to see that Yosuke had already arrived. Souji was surprised to see that Yosuke was holding one of Lady Satonaka's servants by his robes at the left side of the gate. He was confused at the least.
"Why didn't you tell me Takashi!" Yosuke yelled
"I had no idea," Takashi responded, "Lord Nagase just showed up all of a sudden. You know he's such a coward."
"Yeah… right," Yosuke said before questioning, "How could you not know?"
Souji needed to stop this. Yosuke had a nasty temper sometimes. "Lord Nagase probably got a kick in the pants by his cousin," Souji cut in as he walked up from the right side of the gate, "He has wanted to do this for over a year, and after Lord Ichijo forced him to; it just happened."
"Souji…" Yosuke looked at him and said slowly and softly, "You warned me about this."
Yosuke dropped Takashi. The servant ran off, thankful to be free of the brown-haired samurai. "It was bound to happen sometime," Souji said.
"But not so soon…" Yosuke hung his head, "Not so soon…"
"I'm sorry Yosuke," Souji told him.
"Souji," a gruff voice called out. It was Lord Dojima. He had arrived as he had told Naoto.
Souji turned his head, "Yes, Lord Dojima?"
"My cousin wants to meet you formally this afternoon," Lord Dojima told him, "I would prefer you visit."
"This is highly unorthodox for Lady Nanako to make a request such as this," Souji responded.
"I would like you to do so. It is her request," Dojima said, "You don't actually have to see her… physically, I mean."
"Then… I will do it," Souji sighed.
"Thank you," Ryotarou nodded, "I need to visit my wife."
As Ryotarou left through the palace gates, Yosuke turned to Souji, "You marrying Dojima's daughter? Isn't she eight?"
"I have no idea what I'm going to do," Souji shook his head.
"I just think it's kind of sad that you're moving on from little boys to even younger girls," Yosuke sneered. He shook his head, "I'm sorry. I'm just in a really bad mood."
"It's okay, but I never did anything to that kid," Souji responded.
"If that's what you say," Yosuke said slowly.
Residential District
Mid-afternoon
Souji walked up to the household of Lady Nanako Dojima. He was met by the long-haired caretaker in a cream-colored yukata. She was pretty, but Souji was not here to see a caretaker.
"Lady Dojima is waiting for you," the caretaker said.
"Okay," Souji responded, "Lead on."
Souji followed the long-haired girl into the residence and past the living area towards the Nanako's chambers. The door to her chamber was not opened, so Souji could not see her face. The caretaker left Souji upon his arrival next to Nanako's chambers.
"Lady Nanako…?" Souji asked. He could not see into the chamber.
"Cousin?" Nanako responded and asked.
"I am here, Lady Nanako," Souji answered.
"Please… just call me Nanako," she requested.
"As you wish, Nanako," Souji nodded.
"Please… can you come… come in so we can talk?" Nanako requested.
Souji was unsure if he really wanted to do this, but it a lady that was requesting his presence.
He opened the sliding door to see the young girl working on calligraphy again. She was wearing white and pink robes that went well with her short brown hair. She sat against the side of the table she was practicing on. Souji knelt down a few feet away from the sitting girl.
"We did not have a chance to talk at all last time," Nanako said.
"We had things to do," Souji nodded.
"That's true," Nanako responded. She picked up her calligraphy, "I've been practicing my calligraphy, but I'm not very good."
Souji saw a fan she was writing, "Let me take a look at the fan you wrote."
"Oh… okay," Nanako looked a little surprised.
Nanako lifted the fan and Souji took it from her. Souji read the fan. He could tell it was addressed towards him. It was nowhere as innuendo-filled as say a fan from Lady Kujikawa, but it had charm. It was rather sweet.
"I'm trying my best to get better, but I have a lot of work to improve on," Nanako told Souji.
"If you fill your fan with lots of words about having sex, then it will be perfect," Souji shook his head. He was not being completely serious.
"I see," Nanako dropped her head. She looked up, "So… My father says that I need to get married."
"There is no reason you have to get married this very second," Souji said, "You have a choice in who you marry as well."
"If something happens to my dad," Nanako frowned.
"You are still part of the family," Souji said, "The family will continue even if Lord Dojima falls."
"I still… I still need to be married," Nanako continued.
"Don't rush into a decision without thinking it through, Nanako," Souji told her.
"My dad thinks I should marry someone I can have a son with," Nanako said.
"That is something any man you marry would want," Souji responded.
"Souji? What kind of man should I marry?" Nanako asked.
Souji sighed before he said, "You should marry someone who will treat you right. You would not want to marry someone who will abuse you, or hurt you."
Nanako looked into Souji's eyes. Souji could see innocence in Nanako's eyes. It was the sort of thing that made him question why Lord Dojima was even offering her. "Would you treat me right if I married you?"
Souji sighed before answering, "I would treat you well."
"Do you want to marry me?" Nanako asked.
"I don't know I want," Souji said, "It's hard imagining myself marrying someone who is so young."
"It seems scary to me too," Nanako agreed, "But… I can wait."
"I need to think about it," Souji told Nanako.
"I'll be waiting," Nanako smiled, "My father will be as well."
Souji was in a great hurry to leave. He needed to get back for an important meeting between important lords. His mind would not be on protecting the lords, however. His mind would be on his cousin and her offer of marriage.
This was interesting, and I have lots to keep writing about as I move on. Many chapters to come.