Chapter 27
The next day Katsumoto, Algren and Ujio met at the temple to discuss the attack, the trio stood amongst the cherry blossom blooms in the temple garden.
"Was it the emperor?" Algren asked, "Omura?" Ujio scoffed at the mention of that man's name.
"If the emperor wishes my death, he has but to ask," Katsumoto replied sadly.
"So it was Omura," Algren gathered, sighing.
"I was not the only target it seems," Katsumoto sighed, pulling a small roll of parchment from the sleeve of his robe. Katsumoto unrolled the parchment and handed it to his right-hand man. Ujio read over the symbols.
"Bring the girl with yellow hair back to Tokyo alive. Ensure the traitor Katsumoto meets his death." Ujio read aloud, his jaw clenching tightly.
"Omura wants you dead and Arabella… what imprisoned, hung, beheaded?" Algren asked. Ujio face twisted into disgust picturing any of those things happening to me.
"Yes, the offer of a reward brought them nothing, so now they came to take her themselves," Katsumoto commented. "But the Emperor has granted a safe passage to Tokyo, we leave tomorrow," Katsumoto informed the two men.
"I am to come with you?" Algren wondered aloud.
"You are to be free to go back to your life Mr Algren," Katsumoto spoke as he turned towards the cherry blossom tree, he reached his hand up and touched one of the pink blooms.
"What of Arabella?" Ujio asked, he hoped his Lord did not expect him to hand over his wife to that dog Omura.
"She will stay here, Taka will care for her I am sure," Katsumoto replied, earning a sigh of relief from his longest friend. One of Katsumoto's men shuffled into the temple garden, handing over a woven bag to his Lord. Katsumoto held it in his hands for a moment before offering it to the American.
"When I took these, you were my enemy," Katsumoto said sentimentally, he quickly turned on his heel and left the two men in the temple garden. Ujio side eyed the American before he too left with a sharp stride.
When Ujio returned to the house that night he had a look of discontent on his face, he did not say much, he was quite clearly unhappy about something. I had dinner ready on the table, the rice was a little too soft and mushy, the vegetables a little too hard but I tried my best, I was still learning. Ujio sat at the table in silence, picking at his food.
"What is wrong?" I asked softly as I picked at my own bowl, was the meal really that bad? Ujio's eyes met mine briefly before he stared back down at his rice.
"Tomorrow I go to Tokyo," Ujio announced roughly. I swallowed hard, almost choking on a piece of carrot.
"Tokyo, what? Why?" I asked, my voice panicked. I had not yet recovered mentally from the night before, the bloodshed, the chaos. I was anxious and scared even in our home, what if more attackers came while Ujio was gone? What if I went into early labour? Panicked thoughts filled my head, whilst a sickly feeling filled my stomach.
"The Emperor has offered safe passage to Tokyo, for Katsumoto to meet with him," Ujio informed me, there was no emotion in his voice, no concern, no sadness.
"What if it is a trick? What if more attackers come when you are gone?" I gasped, switching to English as I became overrun with emotion.
"The Emperor would not-"
"But Omura would!" I raised my voice. "You cannot leave now, not when the baby is so close, what if something bad happens?"
"You cannot order me, I am your husband, you will stay here and await my return, you must stop with this worrying Arabella," Ujio raised his voice in return. I threw down my bowl of rice heavily onto the table and heaved myself up onto my feet. Ujio did not even blink, his face was blank. My throat grew tight as I held back my anger, pain and tears.
"That is if you return," I uttered harshly, marching as fast as I could to the bedroom where I slammed the sliding door closed with a bang.
Ujio did not come to bed, if he did, I did not hear him. When I awoke, he was not there, only and empty space lay next to me. I dressed quickly in a simple bottle green Kimono, I wrapped a crimson red Obi around my back over the top of my bump and tied it quickly. My loose curls tumbled down my back, I had no time to wrestle them into a bun. As quickly as I could I shuffled out of the bedroom, I called out for Ujio but there was no reply.
In a rush I slipped on my sandals and left the house, I half walked half jogged as quickly as I could, one hand gripping my stomach as it bounced with my pace. As I approached the village, I saw a large group of men on horses gathered near Taka's home, that must be the party travelling to Tokyo!
As I grew nearer I saw Algren was with them dressed not in Japanese clothing but in a military uniform. I slowed to a walk as I approached the group, my eyes scanned the crowd of men for my husband on his black steed, but he was not there
"Algren-san, Algren-san!" A small voice called from the house, Higen ran down the steps and over the grassy verge to the man on horseback. Higen held out a scroll to the American, who took it carefully. Higen backed away, his head bowed. I took this as my opportunity to approach.
"You are leaving?" I asked breathily. Algren nodded his head slowly, closing his eyes.
"I thought you might stay, you made a home here," I commented sadly. "Did you say farewell to Taka?" I asked, looking around for my beautiful friend. She was nowhere to be seen either. Higen stood sadly in front of his home, his little brother at his side.
"I did," Algren replied with a nod. I was relieved he had said his goodbyes, but concerned by Taka's absence, she was clearly hurt and heartbroken by the Americans sudden departure.
The sound of horses caught our attention, we turned our eye to the back of the group where a white horse followed by a shiny black one made their way to the front. I stepped back off the road and stood next to the two young boys, I pulled Higen to my side and comforted him, rubbing my hand on his back he sniffled sadly. The wind tousled my curls, blowing golden ringlets across my face.
Katsumoto and my husband approached on their mighty horses, they stopped at the front of the pack next to Algren. Ujio's hard eyes locked with mine just for a moment, he nodded to me before raising his arm into the air and shouting out a command, I was too dazed to listen and translate properly, my head spun and my stomach churned. Ujio waved his men forward without a second glance and took off down the dusty path. A single tear dropped onto my cheek; its presence was not long lived as I wiped it away roughly with my sleeve.
Algren held back for a small while and looked down upon the two boys, everyone in the village could see how close they had become, he was almost a second father to those boys. Higen and Magojiro looked on woefully as the American joined the stream of samurai heading down the village path. I spotted Nobutada, Nakao and Algren's shadow in the heap of men, I hoped and prayed we would not need them in the coming days.
"Where is your mother?" I sniffled once the men had ridden out of sight. Higen pointed to the house sadly, I nodded and thanked him. I hoped the young lad would be alright; it must be so confusing losing your father and then also losing the man you came to respect as a father figure. I felt horrible for the two boys.
Taka was inside her home, kneeling on the floor, tears in her eyes. Nothing I could say would make her feel any better, I approached quietly and just knelt next to her. Her hand reached for mine and she squeezed me tightly, I squeezed back. We both sat in silence as we thought about the departure of our loved ones, and if they will ever return.
Writer - I'm sorry this is a short one, I hope you enjoy it anyway, many thanks for your reviews and messages.