This one isn't quite as dark as the last but not much less. Its mostly just sad, though. It has been edited as of February 2021.
Kaiya was awoken, the following morning, by a Sika Deer smelling her face. When she raised her hand to wipe away the moisture that it left behind on her face, it turned and jogged away. Kaiya instantly regretted waking up, for a flood of pain rushed through her. She blinked hard for several moments to clear the black spots that swam across her vision.
After the pain receded, Kaiya realized that it had been her broken arm that she had moved, and the ensuing pain had mainly resulted from her arm. Careful to not move her arm and trying to not breathe to deeply, Kaiya got to her feet, careful to mind her ankle. She couldn't hear anyone nearby, so she decided to hobble in the general direction where she knew some of the herbs she required, grew. What should have been a ten-minute journey ended up taking her over half an hour to reach. Once she could see the sky, she realized it was very early in the morning and most city dwellers didn't rise quite so early, explaining why she hadn't seen anybody yet.
When she was finally in the field she had been aiming for, she did the best to search for the herbs that she desired. It took her over an hour to find them, then clutching them in her left arm, she hobbled west hoping that she wasn't too much further away from the lake. Another two hours, sweating and in considerable pain, she had finally made it to the lake. She collapsed at the water's edge and carefully stuck her painful arm in the cool water to try and take down the swelling.
After about ten minutes, she finally sat up and then stuck both feet into the lake. She took the bundle of herbs she'd carried with her and with two large stones she found within arm's reach, she mashed half of them into a paste. Kaiya was already missing her med clinic, but she was still too filled with shame and couldn't bring herself to go back. She ever so gingerly applied the paste she'd made to her arm and a tender spot on her face. Then after looking to see if anybody was any where in sight, she pulled opened her kimono to survey the damage to the rest of her body. She did the best she could with one usable arm and no cloth, to rinse off yesterday's sweat and grim and made herself look and feel a little more human again.
She then applied more paste to her body, then quickly pulled her kimono closed; sickened with how her body looked. She then pulled her sprained ankle out from the water and applied the ointment to it. She was slowly starting to feel better, with the herbs doing their job in reducing pain. She hobbled back to her feet and found two large leaves than scraped what remained of the paste into them so that she could later reapply it as the herbs wore off.
Kaiya stood there for several long minutes, uncertain what to do next. She'd left Kyoto without a clear plan, just to run. She still felt the shame of what had happened to her and felt like she had not just disappointed Souji and Saitou but also the rest of the Roshigumi. They had spent time to make it possible to defend herself and the first time she had been attacked, she was unable to defend herself. Kaiya sighed, but how was she supposed to be able to defend herself against a man like Serizawa? He was a Samurai; she was just a physician who had just learned to defend herself. If she went back, what would happen to her? What would the others do? Would they be forced to execute her because she ran away? Then there was still the problem of Serizawa.
Finally, after considering her options, she'd decided to it was time to go home. She looked down at her damaged body…that was going to be difficult. It had taken her two weeks to reach Kyoto when she was something resembling healthy, it'd take at least twice as long in her current condition. Well maybe she could hitch a ride with a farmer or a merchant who was heading in her general direction? There was a town just a little further down the lake, maybe she could find someone there to take her.
It was well past noon when she finally hobbled into town. It was a small farming type of town that was accustomed to seeing travellers. Kaiya took a seat on a bench that was placed near a local restaurant. Her stomach rumbled loudly as she sat there. Besides the few berries and other various edible vegetation that she'd found on her way, she hadn't eaten anything since lunch yesterday.
Unfortunately, she hadn't thought to bring any money with her. She literally only had the clothes on her back. The only thing she had to barter with, was her skills. She sat on that bench for an hour before a curious passerby stopped to talk to her. He was a middle age balding man, who looked like he worked with his hands.
"Miss, are you alright? I've noticed you sitting there for a while."
Kaiya did her best to smile despite her bruised cheek. "Well I've had better days, but I think I'll be ok. Unless you know someone who is heading in the direction of Edo?"
"What's in Edo?" The man asked.
"I'm not heading to Edo, just a small farming community not far from it. That's where home is."
"May I ask what you were doing here?"
The man took a seat beside her. Kaiya smiled while she studied him, trying to decide whether this man harmless or not.
"I came to visit my cousin, who lives in Kyoto. I had a bit of a…incident and decided it was time to go home."
The man tapped his chin like he was in thought. "Ah!" He exclaimed. "I think I may be able to help you. My neighbour and his wife are going to Edo! The day after tomorrow, I think. Would you like me to introduce you to them?"
Kaiya considered for a moment, he did seem harmless she decided and travelling with a husband and a wife would make her feel better then travelling with a man or a group of men. "Alright, if it's not too much of a burden."
The man helped her to her feet when he noticed her struggling to get up, then supported her as they walked down to a residential area. After a few moments of silence, he finally asked. "Are you sure you want to be travelling in your condition?"
"Thank you for your concern, but I'll be alright. I should mention, I don't have any money to pay them for a ride, but I am a doctor if that'll be of any help."
"A doctor, eh? Well, that'll be for you to discuss with them."
Presently they came up to the door of a middle-class looking house and the man knocked. After a few moments a very petite looking woman answered the door.
"Tanaka-san! It is nice to see you! Who's your friend?"
"This is…I don't believe I got your name."
"I'm Ishikawa Kaiya." Kaiya gave a polite bow.
"Yes. Ishikawa-san is on her way back to her home village near Edo, but she's injured, and walking will be quite difficult. I remembered that you were planning on going to Edo in a couple of days and I was hoping that you might allow her to accompany you in your wagon."
The woman stared at her for a moment, then said with a smile. "I think it should be okay, but I will go ask my husband. Wait here a moment." The woman closed the door and Kaiya could hear her steps walking deeper inside the house. When she returned, she was still smiling. "Yes, my husband says it should be ok. Do you have any skills?"
"Oh yes, I can do all the normal things that are expected of a woman like cooking and such, but I am also a doctor, like he said. If you have any injuries or ailments, I can treat them, but I'm afraid I don't have any money."
The woman indicated the bruising on Kaiya's face. "Is that what happened to you?" She asked.
Kaiya looked down; she didn't want to tell the truth, but it wouldn't be a completely lie either. "…yes." She said quietly.
"Oh, you poor thing. Please come inside I doubt you have any where's to stay." She stepped a side and indicated for Kaiya to go in.
Tanaka bowed his head as Kaiya took a step forward. "I should you leave here than. I'm glad it has worked out for such a beautiful young woman as yourself. I hope your return home is a safe one, Ishikawa-san."
Kaiya turned and gave Tanaka a polite bow, "Thank you very much. I wish I could repay you for your kindness."
"The pleasure of your company has been enough." He replied then turned and left.
Kaiya followed the woman inside. "I do believe I have been rude. Let me introduce myself, I am Morita Hamako. You may call me Hamako-chan and what shall I call you?"
"Kaiya-chan is fine."
"Well then Kaiya-chan, let me introduce you to my husband. Then get that ankle wrapped, it looks painfully swollen. And your arm, I should be able to help make a better splint than that."
Hamako lead Kaiya to the back of the house where her husband was loading up supplies into the back of a wagon. "My dear husband, I'd like to introduce you to Ishikawa Kaiya. She says she is a doctor, maybe she could help you with your bad back. Kaiya-chan this is my husband, Morita Kenchirou."
"Morita-san will do." He stopped what he was doing and studied her. "It don't look like she can do much of anything right now."
Kaiya bowed, "Forgive me. I'll do whatever I can to not be a burden to you. I may be able to help you with your back. When you have a moment, may I take a look?"
The man shrugged his shoulders and turned back to his work. "Maybe. We'll see."
Hamako guided her back into the house and instructed her to sit down. Kaiya did as she was told and watched Hamako disappear into one of the other two rooms. When she returned, she had a stack of old linens in hand. Kaiya stuck out her swollen ankle and pulled from her sleeve the paste she had made earlier on in the day.
Kaiya applied the paste herself but instructed Hamako how to best wrap her ankle. When Hamako grabbed her arm and tried to untie her bindings, Kaiya nearly passed out from the pain. Kaiya told her that it was best to leave the splint in place for now and just use the remaining cloth to better bind it. Then Kaiya pulled out the second small bundle of herbs she hadn't yet mashed and asked for a pot of water so she might make a tea out of them for her pain. While they waited for the water to boil, Kaiya did her best to assist Hamako with the making of the evening supper.
"You really are a doctor, aren't you?" Hamako asked.
Kaiya smiled, "Yes."
"You don't very often see female doctors." She gave Kaiya bit of a meek smile.
"Well I didn't get my education by ordinary means, I learned it from my father. He had no sons and women don't generally receive that sort of education." Kaiya said as she stirred the broth.
"Well, you are very fortunate. Do you have no husband?"
"No." Kaiya didn't really feel like explaining herself and thankfully Hamako never asked. Kaiya drank her tea and did her best to help Hamako with preparing supper. When her husband finally came inside to eat, they all sat in a slightly uncomfortable silence. When they were done Hamako led Kaiya off to where she was to sleep.
"I must apologize for my husband" Hamako said quietly. "He has nothing against you. He's really a very kind man but he's had a hard life and has never been one for words. He'll say more once he gets used to you."
Kaiya chuckled, then was reminded of her ribs. After the pain receded, Kaiya smiled at her. "Don't worry. I've become accustomed to the strong silent type. A friend of my cousin was like that. He came across as serious and brooding but was a really sweet man…although I would never call him sweet to his face. Men seem to hate being called sweet."
Hamako chuckled as got to her feet. "They are such strange creatures, aren't they? Now you had better get your rest. We decided this morning to leave a few days earlier, so we'll be leaving in the morning."
"I had wondered when I saw your husband packing." Kaiya paused a moment then bowed. "Truly thank you! I am a complete stranger who has nothing to give but you and your husband have given a roof over my head for the night and are giving me a ride to my home. I am in your debt."
"Not all. I only hope someone would be as kind to me if I was in your situation. And you're welcome. Good night, Kaiya-chan." Hamako turned and left her alone.
The tea Kaiya had drunk before supper had started to make her very drowsy. She had been fighting to stay awake since halfway through supper and now that she was a lone and she had a futon and a blanket, she could barely stay awake long enough to crawl into bed.
In what seemed like no time at all, the morning came. Kaiya actually felt refreshed after having spent the night before sleeping upright against the tree. She was still in considerable pain but even that seemed to have dulled somewhat. Kaiya applied what remained of her medicinal paste to her ribs and ankle, then awkwardly rewrapped her ankle.
When she stepped out into the living area, Kaiya found Hamako making breakfast. When she heard Kaiya approach, she turned and smiled. "Good morning, Kaiya-chan. I was beginning to wonder if I might have to wake you."
"Sorry. I'm normally an extremely early riser but that tea did me in." Kaiya responded with a smile.
"Well, I hope you feel better this morning." Hamako said as she returned the smile.
"I actually feel surprisingly refreshed. Is there anything I can help with?" Kaiya knelt down carefully beside Hamako.
"No, breakfast is almost finished and Ken-kun is almost done loading. All there is to do is eat really. Seven days or so from now you should be under your own roof." Said Hamako encouragingly.
Kaiya sighed. That would be nice in some ways, to be home again but it also would be horribly lonely without any family there. That was her life now, she'd just have to deal with it. Besides the villagers were so good to her, she couldn't complain.
"Yes that will be nice."
Shortly thereafter they ate their breakfast and Kaiya and Hamako got on the back of the wagon while Morita hitched up the horse to it. Thankfully, the Morita's had a covered wagon so Kaiya wouldn't be out in the elements, cramped in the back of the wagon. Hamako and Morita sat together in the front as Morita set the wagon in motion. As they plodded along the street on the way out of town Kaiya saw a familiar figure step out in the street behind them.
Nagakura stood in the middle of the street looking around. Kaiya quickly ducked behind the fold of the canvas covering the wagon to avoid being seen by him. She wasn't sure if he was looking for her, but it wouldn't surprise her either. Technically she had broken the rules by leaving and the consequence was death. Kaiya choked back the tears that threatened to burst forth. Part of her still didn't want to leave but with Serizawa there, she could no longer remain. So, she remained hidden until she could no longer see Nagakura.
She spent the rest of the day miserable and depressed. Between the physical pain and the pain of running away from her new family, she was barely keeping it together. The rocking motion of the cart did not help her ribs, but it was saving her ankle and time. Once she was home, she would give her body a better chance to heal up. The psychological scars would take a lot longer time though.
111
That evening, they camped out underneath the stars with little more than a blanket. Kaiya managed to track down some more herbs to make the paste for her wounds and even found some herbs that she recommended Morita have Hamako apply to his back to help with muscle pain.
The following days they fell into a pattern. Get up at the crack of dawn, eat, pack up, set out again and then in the evening they would stop just before dusk, eat again, Kaiya would apply her paste to her wounds, and they'd all go to sleep. Blessedly, there was no rain and the temperature was mild. Fall was now in full swing and nature had become a vibrant array of colour.
Watching the scenery crawl by and watching the various wildlife, helped make the journey more tolerable. The constant bouncing and rocking did not help Kaiya's injuries and after the second day she was wishing their journey had been over. Kaiya also distracted herself by talking with Hamako and even Morita had begun to speak with her; she might've even seen him smile.
They were an adorable couple really. Every morning Hamako would crawl up into the wagon beside her husband and the whole day they sat close together, sometimes Hamako would even put her head down on his shoulder. When they looked at each other you could see the love in their eyes. Even a blind man could see these two were utterly in love. Which made Kaiya very envious, she wished she could be in love like that.
That's how Kaiya remembered her parents being, so in love. Her father had been devastated when she was murdered. Kaiya wondered if her existence had been the only thing that kept him going. He never showed any interest in another woman, as far as Kaiya could remember. For him, the only things that mattered in his life was his daughter and his work.
On the fifth day, Kaiya became even more depressed as her last days with Roshigumi began to swirl by. It didn't help that when talking with a fellow traveller on horseback, who'd just come from Kyoto, started talking about the Roshigumi and they had been renamed the Shinsengumi. Kaiya hadn't recalled any mention of them considering renaming themselves and apart of her wondered why. That brought back the memories of the excitement she'd felt when Hijikata told her that Saitou had returned.
She had been looking forward to him teaching her how to use that dagger effectively…that might've come in handy, which caused her to swirl into all the what ifs. Ultimately, she now regretted leaving but now it was way too late. Part of her wished she had jumped out of the wagon when she saw Nagakura and begged for forgiveness; Kondou was a very kind man. But certainly Serizawa would want her dead for attempting to refuse him and even trying to stab him. After all you were supposed to do whatever your commanding officer wanted, even if that meant giving herself to him. Kaiya bowed her head and choked back the tears.
Once again, thanks for all of the love for this story!
Shockra
