Disclaimer: Guess what? I don't own jack crap! Well except for Maiko and company, everyone else belongs to Yuu Watase!
**********************************************************************
Chapter 3: Starting Over...
My eyes flutter open in response to the rising sun. An awful, putrid smell thickens the air. I wrinkle my nose in disgust,
and I realize I must hurry and bury my father before the stink is too much for me to bare. His decomposing flesh makes me sick
to my stomach, but I swallow the acid-like bile, shut my eyes and try to ignore the stench.
The sun shines through the open windows, and it knows nothing of the past events. I remember that I am supposed to start
working right now. However, my body feels to frail and weak to do anything; my injured ankle absorbing all of my strength. My father's
death has been devastating to me, leaving me in a state of shock. Although my energy has left me, I must find the willpower to talk to
the other villagers about my father's burial.
Without using my left ankle, I somehow pick myself up from the haystack and limp to the doorway. A humid breeze sends my hair
afloat and I make it out of the shack. A villager notices my condition and scurries to my side. He takes my arm and puts it around his neck,
his other hand occupying my waist. I glance over and notice it is Ken. Ken is my age and his father was my father's good friend. Ken and I
grew up together always talking about when we would grow older what we would do with our lives. I remember it like it had just happened.
***"When I grow up! I'm gonna be th...the next emperor!" I can remember the very moment he said this. We were walking through the village,
playing with the other kids every now and then, but mostly just paying attention to eachother. I remember giggling after he said that he wanted
to be the next emperor. He frowned and said "What's so funny?" I just shook my head. "Well what do you want to be when you grow up???"
He asked. I looked up, my big aqua eyes filled with anticipation "I don't want to be anything..." I said. Ken cocked his head; a question mark
painted on his face. "Huh?" He said. I smiled "I just want to fall in love!" I finished. He stuck his tongue out and ran off, leaving me to chase
after him***
I smile at the sweet innocence of reminscing and continue to try and keep my balance. "Maiko? Did you hear what I said?"
A deep yet mellow voice breaks into my thoughts and I turn my head to face Ken. "Huh?" I ask, completely unaware that he had spoken
to me. He just lets out a soft chuckle and gleefully repeats himself, "I was just wondering how you hurt yourself." "Oh, I fell while wandering
the marketplace." I reply, my ankle still in complete and immense pain. Ken nods his head "Oh, What were you doing that you fell and hurt
yourself so bad?" He continues. "I was trying to hurry back..." I hang my head in grief yet still find the strength to continue, "I was trying to hurry
back in time to see my father." I finish; my eyes brimming with fresh tears. Ken just simply nods his head again and we arrive at the village
doctor Chitose's house.
The open door is a welcome sign that anyone is allowed to walk in. Ken, still helping to balance me guides us over to the doctor
who is sitting in front of a table by a hearth. "Chitose, Maiko has injured her ankle and needs tending. Would you be so helpful as to see to her?"
Ken asks Chitose politely. The old woman nods her head, her fox-like silver hair splashing around her face. "Of course my dear." She says
smiling, allowing the wrinkles to define her face even more than they already had. Ken smiles thankfully and Chitose's deep, burgundy eyes
peer down at my swollen ankle. "Ah yes. You're injuries are not as severe as I would imagine." She says, her voice deep with wisdom and
kindness. I smile "really?" Chitose nods her head, and begins to feel for the most painful spot. "I want you to tell me when I reach the spot
that hurts the most." She says. I nod as her fingers begin to gently push down and feel for the area most painful. She begins to get closer
to the pain as the throbbing gets harder and harder in my ankle. She gently pushes down on a spot next to my ankle-bone on the right and
I let out a pain-filled scream. She nods her head "Yes, a mere sprain. Give it time and it shall leave you." Chitose moves from her seat and
grabs some herbal leaves, placing them into a pot boiling water. The smell of sweet herbs and the aroma of freshly brewed tea start to invade
the air. I sniff in the soothing scent and let out a deep breath as the wonderful aroma glides gracefully into my nostrils. She pours some tea into a
small cup and hands it to me. "Drink this for the pain." I greatfully take the cup from her frail, bony fingers and blow the top to let it cool. I drink it
without thought and finish the whole cup within minutes. The warm liquid spreads through my entire body like the blood that flows through
my veins and I let out a jubilant sigh.
After thanking Chitose for her assistance and the tea, Ken and I take our leave. As we walk out into the open air, I start to feel the
pain in my ankle slowly disintegrate and am relieved that the tea has already started to work. However, Ken's assistance is still needed and
he helps me without hesitation. "How's your foot feeling?" He asks as we arrive back at my little shack. I nod and smile "Better." Ken helps me
into the house but we soon retreat, remembering the thick stench inside. We go outside once again and let the fresh but humid breeze pass by
us. "Maybe we should talk to the villagers about your father's burial. "Yes, I think we should." I reply, the memories of my fathers death still
burning into my mind. "Stay here, while I gather all of the villagers." Ken says and goes from one house to the next informing everyone about
the village meeting about to be held. Ken and I are like siblings, he's always watching over me.
Before long, Ken has everyone standing in the center of the village. I can hear a variety of voices speaking among me but it's all
just a blur. I can't believe I'm going to bury my father, it's still so hard to take in. I know Ken will be here for me though, his soothing golden eyes
calming my spirit as I grieve through the days. "Okay. Maiko and I, have gathered everyone here to discuss Benjiro's burial." Ken sighs,
knowing this will be a somewhat difficult situation. He runs his fingers through his midnight black hair. He is the complete opposite of the man
I saw in the marketplace with that hair made of fire. Ken's hair is so dark, blacker than the blackest of black. His locks reminding me of the
endless night sky. While the other man's hair is like the gleaming of the sun, or the spark in a blazing fire. Completely contrasting men. My
thoughts are interrupted when Ken says my name "Maiko, I think we should bury him by the pond, I'm sure he would have liked that." I nod
heavily. Father always loved being by the water, he once said ' you can always deal with your problems much easier if you can
hear the gentle flowing of a creek or stream.' My father always believed that water could calm even the most wildest of spirits.
Ken tells the villagers where my father should be buried and some of the men rush quickly into my home and remove his heavy body.
As soon as the men start filing out of the shack, I turn my back; not wanting to see the deceased face of my father. I feel a hand on my shoulder,
I turn around and see two deep, mellow amber eyes shining on me. Ken turns me around and gives me a light hug "I'm sorry for your father's
death but now he can join your mother in her resting place." I smile "Thank you, but it's ok. I know that it was hard for me at first, but I'm glad
because soon they'll be together again." "Ok." He whispers into my hair and releases me. We follow the villagers to the burial site and bury
my father by the pond. As the villagers leave the site, I stay behind. I gather a few rocks in my hands and pile them into a pillar onto the freshly
dug up dirt.
I kneel down onto the dirt, soiling my dress even more. My eyes start to well up in tears as I kneel on my father's grave. "I will miss
you dearly father." I say and stand up from the grave. My grief tears at my heart and I have to leave before I break down. As I walk solemnly
from the grave, I turn around one last time, "I love you father." I take my leave and return to the village.
As I return to the small village I call my home, I notice a white cloth and two lanterns on each side have been hung above the doorway
to my shack. A sign that someone has died in that small house. My house. Another death, another life taken. Another time to mourn and grieve
in the loss of another, a compensation for the gods to repent for our sins. Do the Gods know the toll it takes on the people who live here in
China? Must several lives be taken everyday just to compensate for sins that not everybody has commited? It's a touchy subject I'm sure,
to defy the Gods by asking these ridiculous questions. Am I really defying them? Are they listening and getting ready to take my life as well?
I'm not really sure, but all I know is that I must live on to take care of my father's farmland and take care of myself.
As I begin to walk, I notice that the pain in my ankle is completely gone, but I know that the injury couldn't have disappeared so easily.
It's just the pain medicine I took that is making the hurt in my foot very numb. I hang my head in silence and sadness. Letting the villagers notice
my weary and tired soul. I look up and notice that there are no villagers, everyone is already inside their own homes minding their own business.
I realize I can't go on like this forever. Moping and sulking in silence. Letting the melancholy invade my mind and heart. It's like a disease, killing
my happiness and murdering my optimistic spirit. It takes control of me and there's nothing I can do to stop it from tearing up my insides. I'm
slowly dying inside from my grief and unless I start to have goodness and wholeness inside, I'm sure I'll just wither away like a dying
chrysanthemum. At last I know that I shall allow happiness to conquer the sadness inside, and happiness will surely be victorious.
I let out a sigh of defeat and suddenly feel a deep sense of security. I know my father is with the four gods just like mother. I'm very sure
he's happy as well as she. I know their probably having a festival with a feast and having the time of their lives with our ancestors. I know their
watching over me, telling me not to fret and not to worry. They say I'll be alright and for the first time in years, I believe them.
I let a lopsided smile appear on my once sullen face. I feel the grief and melancholia lift off my shoulders and I wander inside my shack.
The once awful, gross stench that had lingered here earlier is starting to disappear, but there is still a hint of it in the air. It doesn't really bother me
and I just dismiss it. I can hear the slight grumbling of my stomach, and suddenly feel very hungry. I remember the last time I ate was the night
before I left for the marketplace and hurt my ankle. I take a look around and notice a half empty sack of home-grown rice.
Just before I take a handful of rice, I notice a small weaved basket hidden under a dirty cloth. My curiosity takes over and I lift the
soiled fabric to find a small basket full of money. I guess this must've been our small savings, there is about ten or twelve gold pieces in the
carefully crafted basket. I think of the food that I need and I grab about four coins and take off towards the marketplace. I wonder if the man
with the flaming hair will be there?
**********************************************************
End of Chapter 3
Will Maiko finally be able to meet the man with the hair made of fire? Will he even be at the market this time? Why can't Maiko forget about
him?
A/N: Hi there! So how is it? I know it's quite slow, but rushing a story just ain't my thing. I like to take the time to develop the characters and the
settings so you can have a feel for the story and feel like your there while everything is happening. I know there are quite a bit of descriptions,
but it helps me picture the scene in my head so I can know what Maiko will say or do next and how the characters will react to her actions.
However, keep sending those reviews! This chapter was probably short as well but it's hard to determine the length when you're writing on
notepad (I don't have Microsoft Word yet.) So sorry for the short chaps! I hope you keep reviewing too, it sure does encourage me to write more!
Thanks much to all who have read this and reviewed, hope you keep reading and reviewing!!!!
**********************************************************************
Chapter 3: Starting Over...
My eyes flutter open in response to the rising sun. An awful, putrid smell thickens the air. I wrinkle my nose in disgust,
and I realize I must hurry and bury my father before the stink is too much for me to bare. His decomposing flesh makes me sick
to my stomach, but I swallow the acid-like bile, shut my eyes and try to ignore the stench.
The sun shines through the open windows, and it knows nothing of the past events. I remember that I am supposed to start
working right now. However, my body feels to frail and weak to do anything; my injured ankle absorbing all of my strength. My father's
death has been devastating to me, leaving me in a state of shock. Although my energy has left me, I must find the willpower to talk to
the other villagers about my father's burial.
Without using my left ankle, I somehow pick myself up from the haystack and limp to the doorway. A humid breeze sends my hair
afloat and I make it out of the shack. A villager notices my condition and scurries to my side. He takes my arm and puts it around his neck,
his other hand occupying my waist. I glance over and notice it is Ken. Ken is my age and his father was my father's good friend. Ken and I
grew up together always talking about when we would grow older what we would do with our lives. I remember it like it had just happened.
***"When I grow up! I'm gonna be th...the next emperor!" I can remember the very moment he said this. We were walking through the village,
playing with the other kids every now and then, but mostly just paying attention to eachother. I remember giggling after he said that he wanted
to be the next emperor. He frowned and said "What's so funny?" I just shook my head. "Well what do you want to be when you grow up???"
He asked. I looked up, my big aqua eyes filled with anticipation "I don't want to be anything..." I said. Ken cocked his head; a question mark
painted on his face. "Huh?" He said. I smiled "I just want to fall in love!" I finished. He stuck his tongue out and ran off, leaving me to chase
after him***
I smile at the sweet innocence of reminscing and continue to try and keep my balance. "Maiko? Did you hear what I said?"
A deep yet mellow voice breaks into my thoughts and I turn my head to face Ken. "Huh?" I ask, completely unaware that he had spoken
to me. He just lets out a soft chuckle and gleefully repeats himself, "I was just wondering how you hurt yourself." "Oh, I fell while wandering
the marketplace." I reply, my ankle still in complete and immense pain. Ken nods his head "Oh, What were you doing that you fell and hurt
yourself so bad?" He continues. "I was trying to hurry back..." I hang my head in grief yet still find the strength to continue, "I was trying to hurry
back in time to see my father." I finish; my eyes brimming with fresh tears. Ken just simply nods his head again and we arrive at the village
doctor Chitose's house.
The open door is a welcome sign that anyone is allowed to walk in. Ken, still helping to balance me guides us over to the doctor
who is sitting in front of a table by a hearth. "Chitose, Maiko has injured her ankle and needs tending. Would you be so helpful as to see to her?"
Ken asks Chitose politely. The old woman nods her head, her fox-like silver hair splashing around her face. "Of course my dear." She says
smiling, allowing the wrinkles to define her face even more than they already had. Ken smiles thankfully and Chitose's deep, burgundy eyes
peer down at my swollen ankle. "Ah yes. You're injuries are not as severe as I would imagine." She says, her voice deep with wisdom and
kindness. I smile "really?" Chitose nods her head, and begins to feel for the most painful spot. "I want you to tell me when I reach the spot
that hurts the most." She says. I nod as her fingers begin to gently push down and feel for the area most painful. She begins to get closer
to the pain as the throbbing gets harder and harder in my ankle. She gently pushes down on a spot next to my ankle-bone on the right and
I let out a pain-filled scream. She nods her head "Yes, a mere sprain. Give it time and it shall leave you." Chitose moves from her seat and
grabs some herbal leaves, placing them into a pot boiling water. The smell of sweet herbs and the aroma of freshly brewed tea start to invade
the air. I sniff in the soothing scent and let out a deep breath as the wonderful aroma glides gracefully into my nostrils. She pours some tea into a
small cup and hands it to me. "Drink this for the pain." I greatfully take the cup from her frail, bony fingers and blow the top to let it cool. I drink it
without thought and finish the whole cup within minutes. The warm liquid spreads through my entire body like the blood that flows through
my veins and I let out a jubilant sigh.
After thanking Chitose for her assistance and the tea, Ken and I take our leave. As we walk out into the open air, I start to feel the
pain in my ankle slowly disintegrate and am relieved that the tea has already started to work. However, Ken's assistance is still needed and
he helps me without hesitation. "How's your foot feeling?" He asks as we arrive back at my little shack. I nod and smile "Better." Ken helps me
into the house but we soon retreat, remembering the thick stench inside. We go outside once again and let the fresh but humid breeze pass by
us. "Maybe we should talk to the villagers about your father's burial. "Yes, I think we should." I reply, the memories of my fathers death still
burning into my mind. "Stay here, while I gather all of the villagers." Ken says and goes from one house to the next informing everyone about
the village meeting about to be held. Ken and I are like siblings, he's always watching over me.
Before long, Ken has everyone standing in the center of the village. I can hear a variety of voices speaking among me but it's all
just a blur. I can't believe I'm going to bury my father, it's still so hard to take in. I know Ken will be here for me though, his soothing golden eyes
calming my spirit as I grieve through the days. "Okay. Maiko and I, have gathered everyone here to discuss Benjiro's burial." Ken sighs,
knowing this will be a somewhat difficult situation. He runs his fingers through his midnight black hair. He is the complete opposite of the man
I saw in the marketplace with that hair made of fire. Ken's hair is so dark, blacker than the blackest of black. His locks reminding me of the
endless night sky. While the other man's hair is like the gleaming of the sun, or the spark in a blazing fire. Completely contrasting men. My
thoughts are interrupted when Ken says my name "Maiko, I think we should bury him by the pond, I'm sure he would have liked that." I nod
heavily. Father always loved being by the water, he once said ' you can always deal with your problems much easier if you can
hear the gentle flowing of a creek or stream.' My father always believed that water could calm even the most wildest of spirits.
Ken tells the villagers where my father should be buried and some of the men rush quickly into my home and remove his heavy body.
As soon as the men start filing out of the shack, I turn my back; not wanting to see the deceased face of my father. I feel a hand on my shoulder,
I turn around and see two deep, mellow amber eyes shining on me. Ken turns me around and gives me a light hug "I'm sorry for your father's
death but now he can join your mother in her resting place." I smile "Thank you, but it's ok. I know that it was hard for me at first, but I'm glad
because soon they'll be together again." "Ok." He whispers into my hair and releases me. We follow the villagers to the burial site and bury
my father by the pond. As the villagers leave the site, I stay behind. I gather a few rocks in my hands and pile them into a pillar onto the freshly
dug up dirt.
I kneel down onto the dirt, soiling my dress even more. My eyes start to well up in tears as I kneel on my father's grave. "I will miss
you dearly father." I say and stand up from the grave. My grief tears at my heart and I have to leave before I break down. As I walk solemnly
from the grave, I turn around one last time, "I love you father." I take my leave and return to the village.
As I return to the small village I call my home, I notice a white cloth and two lanterns on each side have been hung above the doorway
to my shack. A sign that someone has died in that small house. My house. Another death, another life taken. Another time to mourn and grieve
in the loss of another, a compensation for the gods to repent for our sins. Do the Gods know the toll it takes on the people who live here in
China? Must several lives be taken everyday just to compensate for sins that not everybody has commited? It's a touchy subject I'm sure,
to defy the Gods by asking these ridiculous questions. Am I really defying them? Are they listening and getting ready to take my life as well?
I'm not really sure, but all I know is that I must live on to take care of my father's farmland and take care of myself.
As I begin to walk, I notice that the pain in my ankle is completely gone, but I know that the injury couldn't have disappeared so easily.
It's just the pain medicine I took that is making the hurt in my foot very numb. I hang my head in silence and sadness. Letting the villagers notice
my weary and tired soul. I look up and notice that there are no villagers, everyone is already inside their own homes minding their own business.
I realize I can't go on like this forever. Moping and sulking in silence. Letting the melancholy invade my mind and heart. It's like a disease, killing
my happiness and murdering my optimistic spirit. It takes control of me and there's nothing I can do to stop it from tearing up my insides. I'm
slowly dying inside from my grief and unless I start to have goodness and wholeness inside, I'm sure I'll just wither away like a dying
chrysanthemum. At last I know that I shall allow happiness to conquer the sadness inside, and happiness will surely be victorious.
I let out a sigh of defeat and suddenly feel a deep sense of security. I know my father is with the four gods just like mother. I'm very sure
he's happy as well as she. I know their probably having a festival with a feast and having the time of their lives with our ancestors. I know their
watching over me, telling me not to fret and not to worry. They say I'll be alright and for the first time in years, I believe them.
I let a lopsided smile appear on my once sullen face. I feel the grief and melancholia lift off my shoulders and I wander inside my shack.
The once awful, gross stench that had lingered here earlier is starting to disappear, but there is still a hint of it in the air. It doesn't really bother me
and I just dismiss it. I can hear the slight grumbling of my stomach, and suddenly feel very hungry. I remember the last time I ate was the night
before I left for the marketplace and hurt my ankle. I take a look around and notice a half empty sack of home-grown rice.
Just before I take a handful of rice, I notice a small weaved basket hidden under a dirty cloth. My curiosity takes over and I lift the
soiled fabric to find a small basket full of money. I guess this must've been our small savings, there is about ten or twelve gold pieces in the
carefully crafted basket. I think of the food that I need and I grab about four coins and take off towards the marketplace. I wonder if the man
with the flaming hair will be there?
**********************************************************
End of Chapter 3
Will Maiko finally be able to meet the man with the hair made of fire? Will he even be at the market this time? Why can't Maiko forget about
him?
A/N: Hi there! So how is it? I know it's quite slow, but rushing a story just ain't my thing. I like to take the time to develop the characters and the
settings so you can have a feel for the story and feel like your there while everything is happening. I know there are quite a bit of descriptions,
but it helps me picture the scene in my head so I can know what Maiko will say or do next and how the characters will react to her actions.
However, keep sending those reviews! This chapter was probably short as well but it's hard to determine the length when you're writing on
notepad (I don't have Microsoft Word yet.) So sorry for the short chaps! I hope you keep reviewing too, it sure does encourage me to write more!
Thanks much to all who have read this and reviewed, hope you keep reading and reviewing!!!!