20
I followed behind Emperor Meiji not knowing what I should say, but then again I knew well enough to just not say anything until he spoke first. I looked to my right to see a small fountain with flowers and trees growing all around it. Some women with white painted faces were watching as young children were playing around the fountain.
"I trust… my teacher treated you with respect on your stay in the mountains." The emperor said catching my attention and I looked up at the back of his head. I nodded softly.
"Yes. I was not harmed." I replied wondering why we were having this conversation. He nodded.
"I knew as much. Does Mr. Algren plan to fight against him?" he asked and I bit the inside of my cheek keeping my hands together as I followed.
"I do not know, Enlightened One." I replied. At least I wasn't fully lying. I didn't know what Nathan planned, but I knew he would not go up against Katsumoto. The emperor stopped and suddenly turned to me.
"You follow Mr. Algren wherever he goes even if he is going to war?" he asked, and I lifted my head some before nodding and letting my head fall back down to maintain my respectfulness.
"Yes." I replied and he nodded stepping toward me. I glanced back up at him before looking down again.
"If you had a choice to return to America… where there is slavery and horrors brought upon your people, or to stay in Japan where you would experience such a life, which would you choose?" he asked. Now I looked at him deeply confused and taken back by his words. Not go back. That would mean never seeing Nathan again.
"I would have to ask why I was even given such a proposition." I replied. Emperor Meiji nodded and continued his slow stroll down the hall and I followed.
"Please walk closer Ms. Grasuh, I do not want to keep twisting my body all the way around just to speak with you." he said and I was even more stunned that he would want me closer. But I picked up mild speed and walked to the point I was almost by his side.
"You seem to be more knowledgeable on Africans and slavery." I replied and he nodded.
"Yes. After our last talk, I have realized I know about slavery in America and took it upon myself to learn as much as I could. Your President Lincoln abolished it back in 1865. Does this not please you?" he asked and I stared at him for a moment before looking ahead at the gardens we were now at.
"I was a slave when Nathan bought me, my old masters were not as kind as he was. He bought me for his pregnant wife who died along with the child during birth. But Nathan did not give me up. I had been with him for nine years and even though slavery was abolished, I am forever still in danger." I replied. The emperor was shocked some as he listened.
"I take it… slave owners and other whites are still very unkind to Africans." he said and I nodded.
"If I am separated from Nathan, I could be kidnapped and still sold into a horrible life, because to Americans I am not a human being." I replied before giving a gentle scoff and looking ahead at the cherry blossoms. I even moved over to some of the flowers that fell on the floor and picked one up. "If I knew I would be treated with respect, like my life amounted to something, then I would stay here."
Emperor Meiji nodded.
"So let me offer you a place in my palace." he said. Now I whipped my head at him and took a step back before bowing at him.
"I- I don't understand your highness. Why would you want a colored person- woman no doubt staying in your wonderful palace?" I asked. My brain was officially rattled. None of this made sense.
"Because I want to know more about American ways through the eyes of someone who is also on the other side like I am. I hear they are greedy, but Omura thinks I should trust them and let them westernize my country. But it seems through you I already know the great lengths they will go to in order to have power and to get what they want." he explained. I stared at him for a moment thinking of his words. It wasn't a good idea especially because he is at war right now.
"Enlightened One, I mean no disrespect, but you are in a war right now. Maybe this is something we should discuss maybe after these crazy times have died down. You are looking for peace-"
"And how do you think I should go about bringing peace and doing what is right for my people?" he asked with a tilt of his head. I stiffened some and looked down not knowing anything about war.
"I am not skilled enough to answer that. I do not know about your country, only what I have seen in the mountains and your culture is beautiful. Your history is beautiful. Even your people are beautiful." I said and he smiled some at my words. I shook my head some. "My people were taken from our beautiful history and culture. If I was a tribal elder, I would accept that times are changing, we can only move forward even as slaves. But even though I was made a slave, I would not dare try to forget my history or let anyone bully me into forgetting." The emperor smiled softly even more.
"You love your people and you also love the samurai warrior." he said. My body stiffened some and I looked down feeling flushed. Which is also a reason why I wanted peace. I didn't want Ujio to fight and die not after the weapons I have seen. I inhaled some and nodded.
"I do." I replied and he gasped softly.
"I have never seen such a thing. A Japanese and an African. I did not think such a love is possible." he said quite surprised. I have seen numerous marriages in America. Usually it's a white man and another race of woman, but I have still seen it in different kinds of people. I walked up to him and raised my hands to him revealing the flower to him. He looked down at with mild confusion and I slowly, and I mean slowly, moved to take his gloved hand. He watched me and I lifted his hand in between our bodies and I placed the blossom in his hand.
"It's a good thing love is colorblind." Was my only reply and I smiled and took a step back and bowed at him. "Enlightened One." He looked at the blossom for a moment gently holding it to his chest before looking at me and bowing at me with his eyes closed.
"Ms. Grasuh." he replied, and I knew he was giving me permission to leave. I kept my warm smile on my face and I lifted my dress some and left back down the hall. I was escorted from the palace and once I was back outside with the rest of the world, I realized I was alone, and Nathan was nowhere in sight. I guess now was the time to go and look for him and Ujio too. I arrived in town noticing some people were huddled together watching something. I moved over wondering what had happened until a familiar yelling caught my attention and I pushed through the crowd until I was at the front and my eyes widened as I watched two soldiers standing around Nobutada. But he was on his knees screaming as one of the soldiers were cutting off his topknot. I felt immediate pain at the sight.
"NO!" I screamed moving over toward them. I didn't know what I was going to do, but I was immediately grabbed by Nathan and held back.
"Grace don't!" he shouted holding me to him. Once they were done, the kicked him over and threw his knot on the ground. They laughed and mocked him as they walked away and Nathan and I moved over to him and helped him up.
"Nobutada." I said softly helping him up. I don't know what happened but it was a horrible sight.
"Come let's get you out of here." Nathan said and Nobutada nodded.
"Jolly good." he replied. Later on that night, Nathan and I managed to check into a nice inn allowed to us by the emperor when we were last here. Our things were all still here. I knew it wouldn't be long before it was time to pack and be on our way. I was removing some parts of my dress when a knock on the door caused me to jump some. I moved over to answer it to see it was Col. Bagley. I hid my disdain for him ignoring his wandering gaze. I stepped bac so he could come in and I walked into the other room so the two could talk. I had finally shed my dress and put on a red dress and I left my hair pulled back and tightly in place.
And of course, I was worried for Katsumoto and the other samurai who have with drawn into the forest as agreed upon by the emperor and Omura.
"Well it doesn't matter now." I heard Bagley say and I looked at the door and moved toward it quietly pressing my ear to it silently. "Katsumoto has been arrested and Omura won't let him last the night. And with him dead, it won't be long before we wipe out the rest of the rebellion. Even without you."
I backed away shaking my head and covering my mouth with my hand. Katsumoto? Arrested? How did this even happen? I pressed my ear back to the door hoping to find an answer.
"Tell me… what is it about your own people that you hate so much?" he asked and it was silent for a moment and so I came back in and moved over to Nathan.
"Let me help you pack." I replied not wanting them to think I was listening in. I then glanced back at the colonel who now stared at me with blatant intent and Nathan just glared at him watching him carefully.
"Anything else?" he asked. Bagley looked at him now and shook his head.
"I hope the bottle you crawl back into lasts you forever." he said and turned and left the room. I looked over at Nathan with wide eyes.
"We have to do something." I said and Nathan nodded grabbing his coat.
"Stay here." he demanded and my eyes widened.
"Stay here? Where are you going? Omura's men are bound to be waiting for you to leave- surely to kill you." I replied.
"Keep the door locked. Don't let anyone in." he said and with that said he was gone into the night. I moved over toward the window before sighing heavily and wondering what it was I could do. I had to do something right?
