3
Ujio turned and looked at motioning me with his hand to stand up. I carefully did watching his every move and he moved around me swiftly taking the robe from me. I tensed some wondering what he would do. I felt him roughly take hold of my shoulders and I visibly flinched. His hold stilled and he didn't move for a moment. Instead his hand slid down my arms and I felt his calloused hands on my flesh as he touched my arms beneath the robe. He killed many with these hands, I could feel how rough they were. They were like Nathan's.
He raised my arms and I kept them up after hearing him say something. I remained still feeling him take the robe and open it. I just remained still thinking about Nathan. Was he okay? Should I ask about him? It would make no difference, no one could understand me and I would probably make them upset with my presence. I felt the robe lie on me and I placed my arms through them and I felt his body move closer as his arms came under my arms so he could bring the robe together. I felt his scent wash over me. He smelled clean and had a musk much like other men I met in America. He suddenly said something and I looked over my shoulder at him and he stared at me for a moment in shock. I didn't know what he was saying. He just looked at my back and continued to tie something behind the robe, so I just turned back around.
Ujio's POV
This woman was nothing like I had expected. I had heard many stories and seen many pictures of Africans being taken as slaves. They looked very ugly in pictures. Their skin was dark as coal and their lips were huge and they had large spears. Now that I actually respected them for. They did not use the weapons of the swine Americans. They made their own weapons and had their own culture. I could not blame her for her situation. I know Americans treat others like dogs and I know her kind are brutally mistreated. She was not like the pictures I had seen. She was not very dark and she had very interesting curly hair, it wasn't thick, but I could see actual coils. I leaned in a few inches, hardly something she'd notice, and smelled her hair. It smelled different than the women here. Her lips were full and not thin like the whites. Her eyes were vibrant and brown like the trees and I could see something in them. The will to live.
"How did you come to live with that dog?" I asked with acid in my tone. It was obvious she was given to that cur. She looked at me and that's when I saw her face. It was full and smooth. It was clear she was confused and couldn't understand me. I could speak English, but that is not my mother tongue, so I would not shame my ancestors by speaking such a language. The girl, whose name I did not know, turned away when I averted my gaze.
My lord will most likely send for her, so she had to be presentable. I did not want Lord Katsumoto to think I had mistreated her. I would never mistreat a woman, but I had to remember she is the outsider and if she proved a threat, I would kill her. I was not surprised she did not know how to wear the kimono, and I should have sent for Taka or the other women who did this kind of chore, but I wanted to do it. It was interesting to see an African in a kimono. Once she was dressed, I stepped back quickly and moved around her and in the direction of the door again opening and attempting my way out of it.
Grace's POV
I was lost in my own thoughts until I felt him move back and walk quickly in the direction of the door. If I was to be his captor we should at least try and be on common ground and be polite with introductions.
"U-Ujio." I said and once more he stopped and whipped his head back at me and for a moment he looked offended and I just looked down at this robe I was wearing. I looked back up at him and felt the words get caught in my throat. He just nodded.
"Kimono." he said stiffly and quickly. I looked down at this dress. He must think I was asking what this was, but I am glad I know. I looked back up and pressed my hand to my chest and he watched with confusion.
"Grace." I replied. He looked me over once before nodding.
"Grasuh." he said mildly rolling my name off his tongue. I looked him over feeling mild humor enter me, because of how he said it, but I pushed that down not wanting to offend him.
"Yes." I replied and he just bowed his body a bit to me before leaving. Now I was just left in this room. I looked around the square floors. I slowly walked around for a few minutes before looking at the small bed I was given. I moved over to it and just lied my body on it. Maybe I would ask about Nathan once I awoke. I thought my fear would stop me from sleeping, but my exhaustion kicked in now that I was comfortable and I fell asleep. I could see darkness for a minute and then I heard screaming and panic and I saw bodies falling down dead.
"Grasuh." I hear him say softly, but his voice was still rough. I felt a quick but soft nudge to my shoulder and immediately I was awake, and I sat up and Ujio was standing over me, still in his attire from earlier. I looked out the window to see the sun was higher in the sky. That's right, we were taken in the morning. I looked up at Ujio wondering what he was going to do. He took hold of my forearm. "You come now."
He spoke English. I was shocked for a moment. Would he continue to speak English?
"You speak English?" I asked. He didn't say anything except grunt and motion me to follow. I did. We left his home and once more we were walking in the village. It was the same as before except more people were out. I could see men in a field standing in three rows and they had swords. They were swiping at the air and twisting and turning. I saw a man on a horse riding it fast, except his hands were not on the horse. A large bow and arrow was in his hands and he was aiming at a target that looked like a person. That was so… astounding. No one on my old plantation could do that. I saw some man standing in the middle of three men who tried to attack him.
Who were these people? I followed Ujio to another home that looked similar to his own. He led me up the three stairs and inside anther room, but there were no walls so all of the world could be seen. Inside was Katsumoto sitting down in front of something. Ujio bowed and said something before leaving. Now I was alone and I just stared at the back of the man's head. Slowly he stood up and turned to me. His smile seemed genuine, but I was sure I could not trust it.
"Hello again, Miss Grace." he said calmly and I bowed my head, feeling my body tighten up and my hands curl together.
"Hello." I said with uncertainty. He began to take calm steps, his hands moving behind his back. He motioned his head in the direction Ujio left in.
"I trust Ujio is treating you with respect." he said. I looked in the direction to see Ujio go join the men with the swords. I looked back at Katsumoto.
"He has not harmed me." I said and the man nodded.
"Good. Your friend is at my sister's. He will be taken care of and when he has his strength, you may see him. His wounds are not life threatening." he said. I visibly gave a sigh of relief and nodded.
"Thank you." I said and he nodded now standing directly above me.
"Tell me, please. How did you come to meet this soldier?" he asked. I looked down for a moment and then back up at him.
"He… bought me from a plantation for his wife. She died in childbirth along with the baby. It's been he and I for a long time." I said, his eyes watching my mouth move. I spoke slower and he just nodded.
"A plantation?" he asked in mild shock. "You were a slave." I nodded.
"Yes then he bought my freedom." I said. He nodded slowly.
"If he… bought your freedom then why not leave and start a new life?" he asked. I shook my head.
"I could have easily been kidnapped and put back into slavery." I replied and he tilted his head nodding slowly.
"There are no laws," he asked looking away as if thinking of the right word before looking back at me, "against that?" I shook my head.
"It would not have mattered." I replied. He just nodded once more now walking off around the room.
"This plantation, I hear some of your people work in the fields. Is this correct?" he asked. I nodded.
"Yes. I did not work in the field." I told and now he looked at me.
"What did you do?" he asked. I was confused at why we were having this conversation.
"I worked inside the home until I was eventually sold." I replied thinking of the day I met Nathan. Katsumoto nodded.
"Should I be worried about your soldier?" he asked with a more serious tone. I looked back at him and shook my head.
"No." I answered and he just nodded before smiling.
"Good. I have enjoyed this conversation in English." he said. An elderly man with a sword came up to me. Katsumoto said something to him and then looked at me. "You will be escorted back to Ujio's home, but if you wish to explore the village, you are more than welcome to."
I stared at him for a moment surprised the talk was over, but I just looked at the old man who just waited for me to move. His grey hair was pulled back in a knot as well and I wondered if it was long like Ujio.
"Your world is very different from mine, I would like to learn about it." I said softly looking at Katsumoto who just smiled wider.
"Of course. We would be happy to teach you. Ujio will teach you our language." he said before motioning me on my way. I nodded and gave a calm smile before leaving. The old man escorted me back to Ujio's home and I just remained there. When it got dark, all was quiet and it seemed everyone was sleeping. I was given another black sleeping kimono and I managed to dress myself this time.
"NO!" I hear a blood curdling scream and my eyes snap open. "No!" It was Nathan. I knew that scream all too well. He had nightmares about the war. Usually he would drink the memories away, but I doubt he was getting that here. I heard more screaming, and I was immediately on my feet. I slid the door open and ran through this maze of a place. I was not completely awake, but I remembered where the door was that led me outside.
"I TOLD YOU!" I hear him scream.
"Nathan!" I yelled making it to the door only to be grabbed around my waist by arms of steel and I was immediately restrained. "Let me go!" My heart was pounding in my chest as I struggled. I hear him yelling more and my need to comfort was mixing with the fear of being mandhanlded.
Ujio says something sharp and loud and angrily.
"No!" he says and I am pinned to the wall, his face inches from mine, his hair flowing over his face. "He must deal with his demons." Panic was all over my face as I was forced to listen to him scream and suffer. I closed my eyes and just cried myself and Ujio just held me there.
