The Hunter

Chapter Eight

It was with mixed feelings of relief and regret that Rin left the village with Kohaku the next day. The source of both was the man walking next to her, regaling her with stories of his childhood misadventures. She hadn't brewed up Miho's drug-laced tea, but she could feel it in the lining of her obi sitting there as a constant reassurance and source of guilt. In the days that had followed her attempted escape she'd begun to see a new side of Kohaku, or rather, she had allowed herself to accept what had been there all along.

He was kind to her and funny when he wanted to be. His whit made her crack a smile every once in a while, and from time to time she was able to forget who he was and why she was with him. Yet once they left the village her old questions returned with a vengeance and the reality of their circumstances became impossible to ignore. She belonged to him. Not by choice but by bond and now she must follow him to Edo and whatever he had in store for her there. In all their conversations not once had he mentioned what he planned to do with her once they arrived, which led her to suspect that whatever it was it wouldn't be to her liking.

Kohaku stretched his arms high over his head and cast a subtle glance at the girl walking next to him. She been withdrawn and distant since they'd left the village. There was sadness in her eyes when they met his and he struggled to understand its source. Had something more sinister happened to her at the hands of the bandits than what she'd told him? The thought had him reaching for the handle of his sword out of frustration. He had yet to forgive himself for that bout of carelessness. All that had happened to her at their hands was entirely his fault. Being in that village, surrounded by the warmth and good cheer of his new companions, had made him complacent. He'd let down his guard for a moment and she'd been hurt. He was loathed to imagine how much worse it could have been had he not found her in time.

Yet, even while content to blame himself there was one truth he could not deny – she had tried to run away. He hadn't yet told her that he knew about her escape attempt and debated whether he should. Perhaps it had been a single, foolish misadventure. Perhaps her silence now was an indication of her guilt. Or perhaps it meant that she had every intention of trying her luck again when the next opportunity presented itself. Either way, he would have to make it known what the consequences would be if she tried to leave again.

He didn't enjoy reminding her of what she'd once been or the precariousness of her position. In truth, he rather enjoyed the illusion that they were simple travelling companions, headed to Edo and enjoying each others' company along the way. But the expression in her eyes when they met his served as a sobering reminder that in her estimation he was little better than the bandits that had taken her from her home. And how different was he really? His intentions were noble, but he found it hard to believe she would see them that way. Once she learned the truth, whatever tentative friendship they had formed would be over.

There had been many moments since they'd begun their journey when he'd considered abandoning it completely. More than once, he'd contemplated leaving her in a village and disappearing in the dead of night to give her the opportunity to find her way home. But her abduction had made it clear just how naïve he'd been to entertain such notions. These roads were treacherous, even for a seasoned fighter like himself. If anything were to happen to her…

He sighed and rubbed a tired hand through his hair. When he'd first departed on this journey, he'd never imagined that he would develop feelings for her. He wasn't even sure how to define them. He wanted to protect her, to watch her paint, to be the only one who could make her smile. He wanted their journey to go on forever, without ever reaching its destination. It was a cruel joke of fate that the first time he felt more than a passing interest in any woman it would be for one he could never have.

Whatever his feelings for her, they didn't change what he must do. She was the last hope for his village and he her deliverer. Pride and honour dictated that he must fulfill his mission, and he would, he only wished it didn't come with quite so high a price.

"May we stop?"

Kohaku started at the unexpected interruption and turned to find her watching him with a guarded look.

"My leg…," she explained, gesturing to her injured limb, "It's tired. And we've reached Touji-ba."

The area was one of Japan's better-known hot spring regions. It was famous for its many natural springs and baths, which claimed to cure any number of ailments. Was it possible they'd reached it so soon? He glanced around the empty path bordered by trees and gave her a questioning look.

She sighed impatiently and folded her arms into her sleeves. "There was a sign a ways back. Or were you too lost in your daydream to notice?"

Feeling his face momentarily flush with embarrassment, he coughed and put up a token resistance.

"If you rest for too long, we'll end up sleeping in another cave."

"I won't be long," she protested, frowning at him.

"I suppose a short stay can't hurt. A soak in the hot spring will do your leg some good."

Rin turned down the first marked path they reached and followed it to a kidney shaped natural spring, backed on one side by a large boulder. A thin layer of steam curled over the pool's lightly scented waters and Rin quickly divested herself of her clothes. After hanging them over a nearby tree branch, she gingerly tested the pool's temperature with her foot and then slipped into the water.

The hot spring was deeper than it looked and almost covered her shoulders once she sat down atop the smooth rocks. Exhaling a soft sigh, she closed her eyes and tried to relax. A raven cawed in the distance, sounding alone and mournful. Opening one eye, she glanced up at the man watching her and frowned.

"It is rude to stare," she scolded, closing her eye again.

"I am only admiring the view," he protested with a boyish grin.

Rin heard the creak and groan of his leather boots and armour as they were pried off and dropped to the ground. This time, both eyes snapped open.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

He shrugged and stepped out of his pants before tossing them over a tree branch.

"I thought I might join you. I could probably use a bath too. The way you avoid me sometimes, I must smell pretty bad."

"Well that is certainly true," she retorted, attempting to look affronted while simultaneously averting her eyes.

It was the first time she had seen him naked, and even she had to admit the view was not unpleasant. His muscles were well defined beneath his tanned skin and she discretely let her eyes roam to more sensual places. It was obvious he was aroused, but to her surprise he made no move to reach for her once he slipped into the hot water. Instead he exhaled loudly, closed his eyes, and rested his head back against the rocks.

They sat in silence a long while, her watching him, him feigning sleep, before he lifted his head and gave her a long look.

"I have been thinking about the bandit attack," he began slowly.

She swallowed and averted her gaze. In the days since the abduction she had debated the wisdom of telling him the truth about that night. Each time she'd managed to convince herself not to for one reason or another. However, the way he was looking at her now suggested he knew more than he was letting on.

"What were you doing so far from the main road?"

Pulling in a deep breath, she let it out slowly and kept her eyes on the water. If he already knew the truth, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of hearing it from her lips.

"I may be young, but I am not a fool, Sakura."

"I know that," she snapped, feeling a fresh tremor of guilt run through her. Drawing her knees into her chest she rested her chin atop them.

"Promise you won't try to leave again."

"I will never promise that," she insisted, her expression hardening.

"Sakura…"

"You're ruining my bath."

He sighed in defeat, then closed his eyes and went quiet. She regarded him in silence, watching the faint rise and fall of his naked chest as he breathed.

Feeling emboldened, she asked a burning question of her own: "Why are we going to Edo?"

He opened his eyes slowly and seemed to deflate before her. He looked at her as though he had been expecting her to ask that very question for some while. For numerous reasons she had avoided it, the main one being that deep down she didn't want to know.

A part of her wanted to believe the lie that they were nothing more than travelling companions. Another part of her, the shrewder half, realized that his answer would change everything. She watched as he shifted uncomfortably under her gaze and knew at once that her fears were about to be confirmed.

"You will be given to the daimyo in Edo as his oiran. You are a gift."

Her mouth momentarily hung open in disbelief. She had assumed from the very beginning that Kohaku had bought her for himself. Never once had it occurred to her that he had rescued her from one slave master only to deliver her to another. Fresh anger rose up inside her chest and she clenched her trembling fists at her sides.

"Why?" she demanded, giving him a fierce look. He withered under her glare and had the grace to look ashamed.

"My village has suffered two poor harvests and a harsh winter. We will not survive another year without the favour of the feudal lord."

Too angry to speak, she abruptly got out of the pool. Miho's voice, promising that "No man saves like that unless it is for a bride," came back to taunt her. She'd been such a naive little fool.

Snatching her yukata off the tree, she punched her arms through the sleeves and wrapped it tightly around her body. Kohaku was offering explanations and justifications for what he'd done, but they went unanswered. What did she care of the hardships in his village when she didn't even have one of her own anymore? At least his people had their freedom, which was far more than she had at the moment. Once again she was to become someone else's property – to be bartered and sold like a bolt of fabric or a common cow.

Kohaku stood up out of the water, forcing her to look away. Feeling her face burning with anger and embarrassment, she retrieved her obi from the tree branch and hastily tied it around her waist while he clothed himself. At the moment, she couldn't bear the sight of him. Remembering his words was enough to make her blood boil.

"Sakura, I have no choice," he pleaded not unkindly.

"If you expect sympathy, look elsewhere," she said bitterly, keeping her back to him.

Staring down at the freshly knotted obi bow between her hands, she considered it a moment and then let them fall away. Until now the bow had been at her back to disguise the fact that she had once been a whore, but she saw no reason to continue the façade. It was all anyone saw then they looked at her – the soldier in Kyoto, the thugs from the last town, and Kohaku too – what was the use in trying to pretend anymore?

Chin held high, she walked stiffly to where Kohaku stood waiting for her. His gaze lingered on her obi and his frown deepened a fraction before he stepped out of her way. She brushed past him and navigated the narrow trail back to the main road with him following close behind.

*touji-ba (therapeutic hot springs that were a popular tourist destination during the Edo Period)

* oiran (high-class prostitutes that became popular during the Edo Period. In addition to sexual prowess, oiran were trained in the traditional Japanese arts and highly educated. An oiran was not simply a pretty face – they were expected to be witty, intelligent and eloquent entertainers.)


Author's Note: I'm blown away by how many positive reviews I've received this week. Thank you everyone for your support! I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. What do you think of Kohaku's true mission? I'm interested to hear your thoughts.

Until next time,

Langus