5

I did not wander too deep into the forest, for I felt I would get lost or my captors would think I was trying to escape and may hurt Nathan. The trees here seemed peaceful than our trees back home, I noticed. When I arrived back, Ujio immediately confronted me out of nowhere.

"Woman!" he snapped at me and I stared at him intently as he stopped in front of me. He motioned his head at the forest. "You do not go there unless escorted." His voiced dripped anger and his eyes matched his tone. He reminded me of a slave strict slave owner who demanded nothing but obedience from those beneath him. I quickly nodded to diffuse the situation and he motioned me back in the direction of his home. I began to walk towards the direction and he followed closely behind me. I glanced back at him from time to time to make sure he was not too close to me. Once back at his home I was escorted back to my room and just left there. Beside my small cot of a bed, there was a bowl of rice and water. I ate it in silence wondering what I was to do now. Would I just simply be kept in here, away from Nathan?

Would I not be allowed to do anything while under Ujio's watch? Once I was done eating I began to grow anxious as Ujio had not come back. I was walking around the room looking out the window into the new world around me. I had let my hair down preparing to get comfortable, when the door slid open and I turned and looked to see Ujio with a small jar in his hand. He looked careful and cautious as he approached me. In response I backed away unsure of his motives until he stopped a few feet from me.

He held up the small jar to reveal it was actually bowl with a brown powder inside. I stared down at it for a moment before he pointed at me.

"Put this on your face." he commanded lowly. I looked up at him in confusion, because suddenly remembering my run in with the woman earlier. I touched my cheek feeling tenderness and mild pain. I looked at the bowl for a second wondering what this white stuff was. He gave a low grunt and motioned the bowl at me and I lifted my hand and took it, feeling his calloused hands softly graze mine. He released the bowl all too quickly and began to turn and move toward the door.

"Thank you." I called out. But he did not reply. He just disappeared from the room. I noticed the door was not completely closed, but I pushed those thoughts aside and looked down at the soft powder. I gently pressed my finger tips to it. It was soft and not too coarse. I scooped some of it up and gently rubbed it into my cheek. It was definitely soar, but I was grateful to Ujio.

Ujio POV

I left my lodge and moved down the village with great stride. I knew the African woman wouldn't attempt to flee. If she tried, I would use necessary punishment to ensure she knew her place, but with her past life as a slave, I sensed she would be obedient. I wonder how obedient she really was in her position. I stopped in my stride and sighed heavily closing my eyes some and mentally scolded myself. There was no room for such lecherous thoughts right now. I rarely even have them anyways. She would have no interest in me anyways, I was a monster to her- her captor. If she could escape with her American dog master, then she would. I was mildly disturbed by that thought.

I almost forgot where I was going, until I saw Aika walking with some wood in her hands. She had struck Grace and my face immediately hardened. This deed could not go without acknowledgement. I marched up to her as she was nearing her lodge.

"Aika." I said with force and she turned almost and looked at me with big innocent eyes.

"Ujio. What can I do for you?" she asked. Aika was a curvy woman just like Grace, but her intentions were rotten and her character was ugly much like her pig face. But she is one of us, so I respected her and would protect her if needed.

"The slave woman who came with the American. You hit her… and you will not do it again." I stated and now her eyes filled with anger and she just shook her head.

"You scold me! That creature had the audacity to touch MY child. She does not know her place!" she said viciously. My eyes hardened, but my stance remained still as my hands were crossed.

"She is our lord's guest. You would dare strike a guest of our lord?" I asked and now she stiffened and looked away.

"She's just a slave." she said. I felt offense take over me and I stepped closer to her with a deep frown.

"You will never put your hands on her again." I said and she was quiet and I craned my neck to the side looking at her intently. "Do you or do you not understand?" I could tell she was thinking about challenging my authority, but she nodded and that was enough for me. I turned and left her to mutter her curses.

Grace's POV

I felt like I was going to go insane just being in this room by myself. I had to remember that Katsumoto said I could explore if I wanted. That had to trump any of Ujio's commands. I began to move toward the sliding door and began to look down the beige hallway.

It was empty and quiet and now I felt like I was making a mistake, but I would pace myself. Maybe I could explore this lodge I was in and not get too much in trouble. I took soft steps out and looked around to see just plane walls. There were no decorations, no furniture to give this place life. I looked around more as I moved into this home. Most of the sliding doors were open revealing cots. I was also making sure Ujio was not around and I moved quietly so I could hear him if he was coming. This home was basically naked. It was unlike any home I had seen in America. But one room did catch my attention as I walked past it. I froze and looked inside it. There was a stand positioned in the middle of the room. I blinked in utter fascination and curiosity as I saw the armor placed perfectly on the stand.

It was the armor Ujio wore when his people attacked us. I slowly stepped inside making sure the room was deserted. It was a small room, so it wasn't hard to tell. I looked at the massive armor and wondered how much it weighed. It was clean and put together so perfectly. I knew nothing about samurai armor, so if something was out of place I wouldn't notice it. But I was sure Ujio would have. He appears to be all about focus, like nothing could be out of place. I looked at the dark colors that danced off this armor and it was like nothing I had ever seen in America. There were greens and soft blues that covered the entire stand. I looked at the helmet with long black spikes shaped like those of a bull's horns. It was so strange that such a thing existed in the part of the world, a culture not like the whites. I felt my body tense. My people are not like the whites, yet we were still kidnapped and enslaved. My eyes now fell upon the golden circle that was positioned right in the middle of the armor. I swallowed some and tilted my head examining it close. I was right in front the armor and wondered what something like this felt like.

I lifted my hand and slowly grazed my fingers across the hard armor. It's cold and hard. My eyes outlined the ring a bit now thinking of all the samurai in this armor. They were truly an interesting people. I heard a low grunt which caused me to gasp and turn to see Ujio standing there almost taken back. Maybe it was because I had left my room without his permission. I felt my heart beating fast and move into my stomach as I swallowed. I parted my lips to speak, but it seemed we were both at a loss of words. His sword was on him and that made things even worse. I shook my head, lips parting to speak. But no words left my throat and now Ujio came into the room further and I backed away from the armor, and on cue, my body straightened my hands clasped together and I kept my head down not looking up unless commanded.

This is what house negroes did when in the presence of their master. I felt that was the only thing I could do to show submission for leaving my room. I only heard footsteps, and I glanced up to see him in his strange two toed socks. His eyes didn't leave my face, and this made me look down again, eyes planted on the ground. He was getting even closer to me, and I felt my body start to lightly tremble as if my weak body stance was not enough. I shook my head now.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left my room it was wrong, and I'll never do it again please just don't hurt me I just had to leave my room-" my words were immediately cut off, by his calloused hand covering my mouth causing me to jump a bit and whisper. Now he's just leaning in staring at me. He shakes his head slowly looking me over once.

"You talk too much." he said roughly. Hardly! I wanted to say but, I just stared at him and he just leaned back and took his hand off my mouth and my lips quivered some. I remained silent and still as he leaned back and looked at his armor. I swallowed and just watched as he eyed his armor with pride in his eyes.

"My father… wore this armor many years ago… into battle." he said his voice thick and low. I remained quiet as I listened. "He defended his country and gained honor and respect." I just stared at him for a moment looking at his armor now before feeling I should converse with him.

"Did your father serve Katsumoto?" I asked lowly and he glanced at me.

"He served his father. They both died honorable warriors. Now, he will lead us into victory against our enemies, the American scum." he said with bitterness. I was quiet for a moment and I looked away. Ujio looked at me firmly. "You disagree."

I looked up at him now and shook my head.

"It's not that. I don't have much of a say in the matter." I merely replied. Ujio continued to look at me and I just kept my eyes down.

"Go back to your room. You will join me for dinner." he stated. I looked up at him and wondered what he meant by that. Did he want me to leave my room and eat with him wherever it was that he ate? I almost couldn't comprehend his words before he said something in his language and it sounded serious, so I hurried and left back to my room.