It had been one week since Sam ran away. Masamune had slowly started drinking a little more then normal. It was a slump his loyal retainer knew he'd fallen into and didn't see getting out any time soon. He really wished the woman would return and sort things out with his lord. The retainer sighed deeply.
Kojūrō knew his master wasn't in love or held any romantic feelings for Samantha. It was as basic as making a new friend and losing them due to his own childish actions and temper. Kojūrō's gold eyes fell heavily on his lord who was leaning against the round, wooden beam supporting the over hang hovering over the deck.
Date continued to stare off into the cold, early Spring rain. A white, porcelain cup held only by the rough pads of his fingertips. Masamune rocked the cup back and forth gently. Not a sound stirred from the great general who felt as if he was the lowest thing in the land.
His loyal retainer, who was his greatest advisor and best friend had no words of comfort. Both men knew the truth and it was hard for the prideful man to know he screwed up beyond all repair. Unlike other servants, she was only bound by words; he had no true power over her like a lord would under normal circumstances. No..., a tiny detail slipped by him and it burned him to have missed it. Sam was there on her own will.
Masamune's solemn face grew a little darker. He had someone in his grasp that saw him eye to eye. A woman, no less who would speak her mind. She was untainted by political issues, position, or money. All she required were access to her books and a working schedule. Date, sneered inwardly.
Sam had spunk, she had spirit and he broke it, he figured. Date wouldn't blame her if she never returned. He hailed from a strong, heartless family and it was apparent she was not. She had a gentle side that he himself wanted to investigate, Masamune thought as he remembered her soft voice prior to the argument.
Masamune quickly downed the burning, bitter liquid. Kojūrō raised an eyebrow as his lord reached out the empty cup. The retainer picked up the porcelain jug and uncorked it. "My lord..." The loyal retainer spoke in a concerned tone. "Tch, I know... Just pour...", his master said with a ring of disdain in his voice.
Once Kojūrō was done and corked the fat jug, his sensitive ear picked up an odd sound. It was something muffled against the loud, down pour of the heavy rain. His gold eyes quickly glanced to his lord who was now on one knee with his hand on the hilt of his sword. His left eye scanning the tall wooden fence to pin-point the location of the mysterious noise.
The slight high pitched sound was heard again, this time a little louder. It sounded like a child almost. A distressed child... Both men's hearts started racing as they leapt to their feet and charged out of the gates. Kojūrō running behind Masamune at full speed.
Once they passed the tall gate and down the stone path, the men came to the dirt road that traveled into the town, but bordered the thick, green forest. Masamune's left eye grew large. The person creating all the noise wasn't a child. His chest ached briefly as he clutched his white haori firmly over his heart.
A sense of relief was quickly washed over by sheer anger as his dark eye observed what was happening. Masamune snarled as he watched Sam shielding a young child behind her. The young woman looked scared, wet, and muddy to the point he couldn't tell if she really was wearing any cloths.
A tall man with long dark hair, in a golden kimono with black petals in front was quickly making his way to the pair. The other two short ,dark haired men, slowly stalked behind him with malicious grins. Both dressed in fine red and white kimonos decorated in golden flowers and clouds. All three of them armed with long swords, unsheathed and ready to use.
"Short stack", he growled between his teeth. Masamune knew something was a miss but he'd have to sort it out later. "Kojūrō!" "Behind you, my lord", the man yelled out to his master. Date was already at a full sprint ahead of his retainer, who was close behind.
Both the One-Eyed Dragon and his Right-Eye jumped into the small group of men. The heavy rain offered no comfort to Sam as she watched Kojūrō, in a green flash, jump in front of her and slice a man nearly in half. The strange man's dark eyes shifted to the retainer now standing in front of the short woman. The man's hand dropped the blade. Kojūrō was already sheathing his sword as he pivoted to face his opponent.
The sound of death, was the only way Sam could describe it as her eyes took in the sight of the back of Kojūrō's green haori. It wasn't like the movies with sound effects to make it more dramatic. The retainer's sword only flickered a brief second before the man fell forward. Not even the intonation of pain escaped his lips. Just the thud of a body hitting water and mud.
Kojūrō glanced over his shoulder to see a young woman covered in dark, black dirt with large emerald green eyes trembling. Half her face dotted with specs of dark soil; the other half, looking as white as a geisha's painted face. His brow furrowed as he felt uneasy having her there. The man worried for her mental state as it was evident that she had never seen anything like this before.
Kojūrō used his body as a shield as he walked up to her. Her eyes searching his stoic face for something. Sam didn't know what she was looking for but her green eyes beaded in fear. Kojūrō's golden eyes softened before turning his head back over his shoulder to check on his lord.
The scar on his left cheek was a simple reminder of the era she was in now. These men took lives on a daily basis. She found no comfort in her thoughts. Samantha wanted to scream but her body was to tense.
Sam tried to form words on her lips but couldn't find them. She was in a state of shock and terror. Her body went numb and froze. It was as if everything had shut down, the 17 year old didn't even realize she needed the breath even though her mind was slowly growing fuzzy.
Something familiar shuffled against her back and moaned in pain. The boy, her mind snapped. Sam inhaled a sharp, cold breath of air. Her limbs started working again as she pivoted on her toes and knelt in front of the child who was as white as she was.
Kojūrō looked at the boy's cloths. As muddy as they were he still could see deep red silk, bordered with bright yellow and gold flowers. The golden lotus to be exact. The symbol of the Sato family. His eyes grew wide as he just realized who they just saved.
"What's going on here", Masamune snapped as he walked up to the mud covered woman. "Sam-chan", the boy cried out before collapsing. Sam picked up the young boy with panic in her expression. "Please... I'll explain later. I need a dry place, clean bandages, sterile needle and thread." The woman was surprised, how quickly her voice came back.
Her deep green eyes darkened as she clutched the boy to her securely, shifting him in a more protective fashion. Masamune found himself tugging against his gut instinct; he knew she had a good heart, but he too saw the lotus symbol on the boy's kimono. The man had a sour taste in his mouth.
The Sato family were a bothersome group that held little moral in their way of doing business. Masamune didn't know how or why, but Sam was caught up in it and he didn't like it. He sneered. "Fine but when your done you have lots to explain." The lord crossed his arms and used his body to shield Sam's eyes from the dead men behind him, much like his retainer. The little woman nodded as rain started come down harder. It was like the sky itself was falling.
The woman didn't even feel the hard rain any longer. She was in shock and the men could see it. She was functioning only on pure instinct now. "B.. before I... I forget... There's a carriage back on the road, behind the forest. 3 dead men and my pack are still there", her voice choked out the words she needed because her lips were quivering to much to really speak.
Masamune started putting the pieces together. While he and his men used standard size swords. The Sato family and guards used long swords. "Tch." He knew she probably came upon an assassination attempt and got pulled into the whole mess.
"Damn it, short stack. Let's get back to the dojo, care for the brat, and take a bath..." Sam didn't know if he was mad at her or what was going on. His glare and voice was as cold as ice and sent a shiver down her spine. Her eyes started to dilate again. Masamune closed his eye and quickly turned his head before opening his left eye again. Anything but to see her eyes engulfed in fear, he thought.
Kojūrō offered a gentle, warm hand on her back as he could see Sam not letting go of the boy any time soon. Sam nodded and started limping towards the direction of his home. She winced with each step. Causing the loyal retainer to pause. "Want me to carry you", he asked in a concerned tone.
This caused Masamune to become slightly irritated, unfortunately he didn't know why it ate at him. His brow twitched. He felt heat building inside as it seemed to warm him against the bitter cold. Sam thoughtfully declined the offer. It added to his temper. The One-Eyed Dragon felt something bubble in him and he couldn't place it. He figured he'd put off thinking about it for a while or at the very least, until later tonight.
Before Sam or Kojūrō could react. Masamune stepped in front of her, taking the unconscious boy from the woman. Everything happened so fast, Sam's eyes couldn't adjust quick enough to the movement and before she could yell, give him back, Kojūrō had swept behind her.
The tall retainer hoisted her up, cradling her in his arms a small yelp followed by a protest could be heard from her shaking lips. "Please... I'll get your cloths m.. m.. muddy." "Shh..", Kojūrō said in a soothing tone. "Relax. Once we get back you tend to the boy." Sam mumbled something in English he didn't understand but her pouting face gave him some clue to what it was.
Samantha wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, her trembling began to stop and he could feel her heart start to slow. "Thank you..." Kojūrō chuckled to himself as he watched his lord's shoulders flinch. He knew very well his master had excellent hearing and was listening to the whole conversation.
"Lady Samantha, can I ask you a question?" "Sure", she quickly responded. "But don't call me lady... just Sam..." The man had to let out a light chortle. "Alright then", he continued to speak in a soothing tone. "Why did you come back?" Sam mumbled again and sighed. "Grams idea... I took my practical and failed. The main reference book I need to study is in Masamune's clutches."
The lord didn't like how he emphasized the world clutch. It was as if she was making him out to be a monster or something. "She figured since I have 2 weeks off from school, it would do me some good to apologize and see about staying here in my time off. Of course, I'd go home ever so often to get more change of cloths, grab some home work, and help her out but for the most part honor the agreement we made."
Sam's voice was tender. Masamune's anger was quickly snuffed out. "Tch, then after the bath I want my tea", he announced like a spoiled child. Sam gave Kojūrō a puzzled look, who was on the verge of laughing. "People skills aren't Master Masamune's forte, but it's good to see you came back." The man gave her a gentle smile causing her to smile back.
"It's alright, I'm grateful you two came but I'm still calling Masamune an asshole." Her smile turned into a smirk as she closed her eyes, knowing his master was going to rebuttal. "That's alright short stack..." "Eh.. I'm stuck with that name aren't I", she asked in a little bit of a whimper. Kojūrō shook his head and laughed.
"You bet...", Date chuckled looking over his left shoulder back at her. He donned a devilish grin. Kojūrō was happy to see his master back in good spirits and over all glad to see Sam was, for the most part, unharmed.
This was going to be an interesting two weeks, he thought as his gold eyes looked down at the young woman who seemed be wearing practically nothing in his eyes, filthy from head to toe, and yet still managed to bring a smile his lord's lips. Kojūrō wondered if she really was sent from the Heavens to make his lord smile like so...