NOTES: Okay, I'm here again. I just drew an adorable picture of Soujiro and Jessie. Soujiro is fishing and Jessie is sitting behind him, and the boy is wearing a light blue hakama and gi. It's cute, and I'm proud of it. Unfortunately I would share it with you people, but I have yet to figure out how to use a scanner. Oh well.
Um...hehe…I bet you are all wondering what Jessie looks like. Well, don't worry, it will all be here. The reason why I didn't place in the previous chapter is because I didn't think that Jessie would dwell on his features. He's only eight, and I don't think eight-year-old boys from the late 19th century thought about their looks at all.
Now the communication issue, I'm going to try using this method since I barely know any Japanese: I'm going to both have them speak in English, but you guys know that they have no clue what the other is saying. Its kind of complicated, but I read a story for my World Lit class that did the same thing and the result was hilarious. And the different perspectives will be interesting too. After all, Jessie is an American boy traipsing around in a foreign country. He's going to have to get used to a lot of things, including Soujiro. And Soujiro is going to have to figure out how to take care of and protect the little kid.
Now with that said, let us go on with the story!
WHEN THE RAIN FALLS ON THE OCEANPart II
Soujiro woke up from his slumber by the sounds of the early birds chirping outside the window. Yawning, he pushed himself away from the wall and looked down to the small slumbering form lying beside him. After rescuing the boy from the drunken foreign sailor, Soujiro had brought him back to the inn he was staying at. He had the boy change out of his wet clothes and into a sleeping robe before the boy curled on the sleeping mat and fell asleep. Soujiro had feared that maybe others would connect the sailor's death with him, so he let himself sleep sitting up, his sword propped against his shoulder.
It was not a reverse blade sword, like Kenshin Himura's. It was a normal Japanese blade, not that expensive since Soujiro had very little money to his name. It had been nearly three years since he had started his ten-year wandering. During that time he saw both truths: that of the strong live and the weak die, as well as the strong protecting the weak. It was very confusing, and still Soujiro could not tell which one was the greater truth.
He had been quite proud of himself, for in those three years he had not killed. He had defended, injured, and maybe even maimed a few individuals who intended to harm him, but he had not taken a single life. But last night, after leaving the inn to stroll the docks, he had come upon the little foreign boy and the drunken foreign sailor. He did not understand what was going on, but when he saw the man take out his gun and point it at the boy, and the boy sat trembling on the ground, his lips moving, whispering something in his foreign tongue, he reacted. He slashed the man across the back, killing him. It was a kill that would make Shishio smirk, and Himura frown, but the reason behind it was the opposite.
The boy was weak, and was food for the strong. Soujiro had no right to save him, for he could not protect himself. The sailor was weak and food for him. Soujiro should have let the man kill the boy…but he didn't. Seeing the boy reminded him of himself, thirteen years ago, facing death just as the rain began to fall.
Soujiro blinked as the boy started to stir. The Tenken had to remind himself to call the boy by his name, and an odd name it was: Jessie.
Jessie was a very pale little boy, with large bluish green eyes that reminded Soujiro of the ocean. His hair was blondish gold, and hung long, nearly to the boy's small thin shoulders. The hair seemed to be a common color among the foreign sailors that came from the European countries and America. He was very young looking, and it made Soujiro wonder why the foreigners would bring such a young boy here. The only foreign children that ever came to Japan were the children of rich merchant and ambassadors. He had never seen a child brought across the ocean that was of Jessie's status.
The boy lurched up suddenly, his eyes wide as he gazed around with a little fear in them. He gasped and looked at Soujiro, those large eyes uncertain and confused. Then the boy looked down and touched the still hanging fuzzy luck charm.
Soujiro waited, wondering what the boy was thinking.
Finally Jessie looked up at him and spoke hesitantly, "I…I thought this was a dream."
Soujiro frowned. He did not understand English. Shishio had been planning that he learn the language so that when Soujiro dealt with the foreigners he could understand them. Of course that never happened, and Soujiro found himself regretting this. There was still uncertainty in Jessie's eyes, so Soujiro said softly and gently so as not to frighten the boy, "Don't worry. I will not hurt you."
Jessie frowned. "I don't understand."
Seeing the frown Soujiro said, "I don't think anyone will connect that sailor's death with us. Nobody was around and I made sure it was a clean kill." Soujiro felt the tugging of a smile.
Jessie made an exasperated sound and snapped, "I said I don't understand!"
Soujiro blinked down at him, seeing that he was becoming agitated. Thinking fast he got to his feet and went over to a small clothes rack that had some clothes draped over it. Picking it up he held it out so that Jessie could see. "The kind Inn lady saw you and the condition of your clothes. This used to be her son's, and now she has given it to you to wear."
Jessie gaped at the foreign looking clothing. He was NOT wearing those silly looking things that looked like skirts! "Where are my clothes?"
"What?" Asked Soujiro, knowing that he was asking something.
The boy jumped up to his feet, scrambling around the room as he said heatedly, "No! No 'nani'! Where are my clothes? They are mine! Where are they?"
Soujiro was dumbfounded. The boy was angry. He had become angry when he had shown him the clothes. Now he was looking for something. Soujiro blinked, realizing then what the boy looking for. "You clothing? The kind Inn lady burned them."
Jessie looked about to cry, "What are you saying?! I don't understand."
Seeing the miserable look Soujiro now questioned the choice of having the boy's clothes destroyed. To Soujiro, the clothes were odd, he had never understood why Houji wore such Western things that looked tight and uncomfortable. He had never considered that the boy thought the same about his clothing.
Storing this in his memory, Soujiro sighed and leaned close to the miserable looking boy, smiling. "Why don't you take a bath before you put on these clean clothes. I'm sure it will help you relax." He suggested.
Jessie glared up at him, "I bet you burned my clothes."
Still seeing the glare, Soujiro smiled even more, "The kind Inn lady would love to see how you're doing. She was very worried about you last night."
Jessie pointed at the clothes and looked up glared becoming more heated, "I don't want to put those on! They look stupid."
Soujiro could have sworn that the boy had just insulted the clothes. Not knowing how to handle this, Soujiro thought back. His 'family' would have beaten him to a bloody pulp if he behaved like Jessie. He had, at the beginning, but when the beatings became harsher he stopped protesting. They had broken the fight out of him. Soujiro stiffened at the thought, already knowing that he would never lay a violent hand on Jessie. The mere notion of him hitting a child made his stomach churn with something unpleasant.
Even when he worked with Shishio, he had never killed or harmed a child. This made him pause and wonder at this. He knew that Shishio had ordered the murder of hundreds of children and their families, yet he was never the one to do the job. Three years ago, would he have hesitated in killing Jessie if Shishio had ordered him to?
Soujiro then had to gape as the clothes were snatched out of his hands and dropped to the floor, followed by a pale dirty foot. "This is what I think of your stupid clothes!" Shouted the boy, then spat on the floor.
Soujiro blinked. Then blinked again. Finally, when the boy started fidgeting where he stood, Soujiro went over to the washbowl, picked up a clean rag, wet it, then went back and handed it to the boy. He watched closely as the Jessie looked from the rag, to him, then to his spittle on the floor.
"No way." Jessie dropped the wet rag on the floor.
Soujiro leaned down so that the small American boy and him were eye to eye. Soujiro let the smile slip onto his lips and said politely in a tone of voice that he used when someone had displeased Master Shishio. "Please clean up your mess. You need to take a bath then we have to leave."
The boy stared at him, his eyes wide. Soujiro knew that that boy had no clue what he was saying, so he picked up the wet cloth again and handed it to him. His smile becoming deadly. "Now, please."
He saw a fight occurring within the boy. His features changing from frightened to anger to confusion. He knew that the boy knew what he had told him to do. Now it was to be seen if the boy was going to obey him.
Finally, with an angry blush on those pale dirty cheeks, and a resentful look in those ocean eyes, the boy knelt and violently scrubbed the floor clean. When he finished, he stood, gave Soujiro a dirty look, then went over and placed the cloth in the washbowl. "Fine, I did it! Are you happy now?" He snapped.
The boy was clearly unhappy with him, but Soujiro ignored him. He turned his head when there was a light tapping on the door, and then the Inn lady entered, her kind weathered face beaming. "Good morning Mr. Seta. I see the boy is fine now."
Soujiro said kindly, "Yes, but he is not happy with the clothes. I'm still not sure how to make him bathe."
"Oh dear." She said, giving the boy a stern look.
Soujiro wondered about that look, but then looked down at Jessie who was suddenly grinning.
"Hey, I know what you guys call her! She's an 'onna' right?"
Soujiro found himself quite surprised when the boy spoke. He then nodded his head and said, "That's right, Jessie, she is a woman."
The boy actually beamed, "That's right!"
The Inn lady laughed at this and said to Soujiro, "Well, one word is better than nothing, isn't it Mr. Seta?"
"Yes." Answered Soujiro, watching the boy as he stepped away from him, ignoring the clothes that were still dumped on the floor, and going around, seeming to explore the room.
"You are not experienced with children, are you Mr. Seta?"
Soujiro looked at the astute lady and laughed nervously, "Is it that obvious?"
The woman smiled, "I can tell from the way you look at him that you have no clue what you're doing."
Soujiro rubbed his neck, "I don't really. The ones who raised me…well, lets say I wouldn't use the same methods on Jessie."
The woman nodded sagely then asked quietly, "Why not leave him here? I young boy like him should not be traveling on the road for long."
Soujiro thought of this for a moment. He knew nothing of child raising. He knew nothing of foreign children. The Inn lady was kind, and was a mother of children who had grown and left. But…he looked at Jessie again, who was staring in awe out the window. The boy had seen him kill. The boy could get in trouble with the authorities for that. He would also drag the Inn lady as well if he left the boy here. The boy was brought here by sailors and had survived. He would survive Soujiro's wonderings…at least for a while.
"I'm sorry. I'm sure that the man who had attacked Jessie would have comrades. I'll have to take him somewhere else that is safer. But thank you for the offer, you are too kind."
The woman sighed, "I guess you're right." Then she smiled. "Well, the least I can do is give that boy a good bath. These foreigners know nothing of cleanliness. And judging from the way the boy has reacted to you so far, I'm sure that it will be quite an experience."
Soujiro's eyes widened, for it had not occurred to him that Jessie would fight tooth and nail when taken to the bath. He bowed to the woman; "I am indebted to you for your kindness and help."
The woman wagged her finger at him, "Oh, don't worry, you'll be there to help me!"
Soujiro gulped, "I…I am?"
"You will watch how I deal with that little boy and learn. You aren't getting out that easy."
Soujiro laughed half-heartedly. He really was not looking forward to this.
The woman beamed, "Well then, I'll get the bath ready for him. You bring him over with the clothes."
She left then with a wave and slid the door close. Soujiro stared dejectedly at where she left, then looked Jessie who stood next to him again. The boy gave him and look, and Soujrio smiled.
Then Jessie said, "You look like you're going to be sick."
***~~~***~~~***
Soujiro believed that he and the Inn lady had traumatized the boy.
Well…who wouldn't after he had to literally hold Jessie in the bath while woman scrubbed years worth of dirt off the boy's skin and hair. The whole time the boy yelled, screamed, and he was sure cursed them in his language. There was no doubt in Soujiro's mind that since Jessie had been in a way a sailor, he knew words that a sailor would know and use. He was just thankful that neither him nor the Inn lady knew what exactly the boy was calling them while they bathed him clean.
Then there was the harrowing job to get him to put the clothes on. The boy had bolted from the Inn lady when Soujiro offered the clothes to him. He was in a clean robe, his hair was wild from the woman's rough drying, and he looked miserable, and a little betrayed when Soujiro came with the clothes. His had shouted one word, "NO!" and had run like the devil was behind him.
It was simple matter catching him, but the Inn lady was not happy with Jessie's behavior and had given his little ear a harsh tug, making the boy yelp. Soujiro winced, hoping that he'd never have to do that to Jessie. Then once again, with Soujiro holding the boy still, the Inn lady forced dressed him.
Now, exhausted and looking like he had been tortured, Jessie sat silently and obediently while the Inn lady brushed years worth of tangles from his long hair. Soujiro knew that the boy was not happy, especially with his tabi and sandals that were tied around his ankle for travel. Even now he was moving his toes in discomfort, not used to the his new footwear.
Finally, the woman tied the hair back in a small golden tail at the base of Jessie's neck and said, "We are finally done!"
Soujiro sighed in relief.
Jessie was extremely quiet when the Inn lady led them out and gave Jessie a motherly hug. He looked surprised at it, but allowed her to kiss his now clean cheek. She then handed Soujiro two bags, and said, "Some extra clothes for Jessie, and some extra food since now there are two mouths to feed."
Soujiro bowed to her, "How can I ever thank you?"
The Inn lady gestured to a sad looking Jessie who was staring at the people walking about their business. "Take care of him, Mr. Seta. That's all I wish. He is only a little boy…and maybe…if you're in the city again, and he's still with you, bring him over so I may see how he has grown."
Soujrio found himself looking away from her kind face. "I…I'm still not sure if I will keep him. Like you said, a young boy like him should not be wandering."
"Do you know where you will leave him?"
"I…I'm not sure. I have to see how things go before I decide."
Her look was gentle when she said, "He will be very sad if you leave him."
Soujiro sighed, "He doesn't seem happy with me."
The woman shook her head and said, "He does not understand and is frightened. But he trusts you. If he didn't he would have run away by now."
Soujiro looked at Jessie again who now looked a little relieved for some reason, "You think so?"
The woman nodded.
Soujiro grabbed Jessie's wrist and bowed, pulling at the boy's arm till he mimicked him reluctantly. When he stood and walked away, the Jessie paused and turned and waved to the Inn lady then hurried next to him, grabbing his long sleeve in a hand.
So they left together, walking in a calm pace past the people around them. Jessie had kept silent the whole time, and Soujiro was starting to get worried when he heard the boy giggle.
The boy grinned up at him and pointed at the people, "Look! They all dress as weird as you!" He laughed and let go of his sleeve walking ahead slightly with confidence.
And Soujiro had no idea what Jessie had just been said.
Sighing tiredly, he wondered if he had just made the biggest mistake of his life.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!
Yay! I finally finished this part! Sorry for the long wait. All I ask of you is to never give hope on me cause I will update (don't know when) so just be patient. Maybe check this fic in a month or so!
::laughs nervously::
So what did you think?
Also, does anyone know when Kenji was born?