The enigmatic past of the doctor was revealed, but the one of his
friend remained a mystery. She was a mystery that had links that could not
be revealed as soon as possible. If that is so, Soujiro was off to discover
the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle...
THE WANDERER'S EYES
(Chapter 5: Of The Fox and The Hound)
The rain poured outside once again and the noise that was there before was gone. Soujiro ran through the halls of the large dojo with a wooden carved box in his grasps. He had the spirit of finding out the hidden secrets inside the past that he felt that he was linked to, so he wandered in the dojo looking for Sai. He had already searched Soushi's room, but to no avail, she was gone. Suddenly, he heard a voice singing in Latin. That voice was what he needed to use. The voice would decipher for him the words engraved upon the box. He was lead to the room where Kitsune was laid down on. She was singing a song in Latin, "Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti. Beatae Mariae semper Virgini. Beato Michaeli archangelo. Sanctis apostolis omnibus sanctis. Et tibit Pater. Quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo et opere..."
She shook her mauve-haired head when he entered. Her cherry red eyes sent him a signal that he should be careful around her and that anything dangerous can happen. He spoke rather awkwardly, "D-do you understand Latin well as much as Sai Tomore does?"
She smirked at the thought of it, "Why? Do YOU know how much SHE knew, hmm? Do you THINK she knew more than I do, hmm? Then you thought wrong!"
Her ego was unbearable and he thought of leaving her, but she raised a question he cannot refuse to leave open, "Did you like her?"
He smiled innocently and blankly. He didn't know what to say because she was more than a friend or a best friend to him. She was like a sister that he wanted when he was still with his miserable adopted family. She was unlike them, for they punished Soujiro in anyway they want, whenever they wanted to. He was unable to even move.
"So," she jeered "I see there's someone that likes old musty! Jeez, I can laugh my head off! She's not pretty. She's not half as smart as I am. What's there to admire about? Her pale skin?"
Soujiro defended her, "You don't know her that well to say such nonsense!"
"Who are YOU to tell me that either when I have been here longer than SHE was?"
Soujiro became embarrassed because it was the truth. He had been used to her company, but he had only been there for a couple of days yet. Although at that state it would be hard to speak, he continued to protect her, "For such a long time you've spent, you never knew her as the person that she was."
He was able to turn the tables even if he doesn't know how she felt. He ceased the argument and went on with his favor instead of having to search for Sai, "If you may, tell me what this means right here engraved on the box."
He handed it to her carefully, but it was no use. Her rowdy and disrespectful behavior was different from the one he heard talk to Taro.
She cleared her throat and read aloud, "De profondus clamo adite domine.. I think it means out of the mists cries the Lord."
"You think? Do you know exactly?"
"IDIOT!!! When I think, I know!!"
Soujiro grabbed the box immediately before she was going to tinker with it any longer. He doubted her definition and wanted Sai to translate it for him, in case it was wrong and he was lead to a wrong clue. He was also in a hurry to get away from the egotistic woman. She was definitely different from the woman he had met with Taro, or should I say, met behind Taro. She was also rude to say that Sai was no match for her. He wished Taro was there to see her like that. He stepped outside during the rain. Sai was an odd girl, for she goes out on bad weather and stays inside in the nicest seasons. She had a different sense of philosophy.
Soujiro caught a glimpse of her. He saw her sitting under a tree right by the gate separating the dojo from the world. He went to her to see if she was calmed down.
"Don't you wish sometimes that you want to go back in time to stop something before it ever happened?.."
Soujiro gazed at her differently this time. Her pale frozen skin was more inclined to her bones and her bones seem to trace her limbs. She was thinner than what she saw that morning and blood curdled upon her lips. Her cobalt eyes lost its glow and her soft jet-black hair was darker than ever. He sat beside her and he put his arms around her to solace her. She leaned on his shoulder as if she was never going to see him again.
"Yeah, I wish we can..."
He wiped off the blood on her cheeks with his finger. The blood appeared to be blue in hue and he was wondering if her illness had something to do with it. He also wondered if what she meant was about the tragedy or if had been because she was going to die and leave him sooner than he thought possible...
"I remembered my friend at the funeral... It was sad to see Saime and I separated. She was a thoughtful friend. Taro disliked her for some reason... I just don't know why..."
"I thought he respected her and admired her."
"He pretends to. At the day of the funeral, he tried not to show her that he cried too. I thought it was a precious sight. It was funny the way- "
She was unable to finish her sentence. Soushi was out on the porch steps and he cried out to his elder sister, "Shishou-Nagi(Master???)(A/N:I forgot what Nagi meant but it's part of the story)...Come play with me..."
Soujiro opened his mouth to ask her why he called her such, she answered swiftly, "He is the sweetest thing you can ever see because he calls everyone his master... It is sad he does not call me by my name or by sister..."
She ran to him and lifted him in the air. They both laughed and he eventually jumped around, feeling the soft earth through his toes and the water splashing on his clothes. The winds were calm and gentle that even a bird can fly safely through. Soujiro also acted like a sibling to Soushi and he felt great having played with someone younger than himself. He also felt like he had done something important: making dreams come true. He thought of Soushi's confinement inside the dojo was no good for him. Her influence on him taught him to take each day special and let anything that comes passing by an enjoyable experience.
Often, Soushi fell on deep puddles that made him cry although left a mark on either him or on his clothes. Sai and Soujiro found themselves sometimes to be frightened or worried. However, falling taught Soushi a lesson that in every fall he makes, he should stand up and face the rain all over again. The last time he fell, Dr.Kirashime stormed out to retrieve him.
He scolded, "Soujiro! What are you making Sou-chan do? You know very well he can die because of that! Sou-chan, get inside!"
Soujiro was unaware that his actions were seriously going to take effect on the child. He thought less of responsibility but he didn't blame it on Sai. Then again, where was she?
Dr.Kirashime carried Soushi to his bed and changed his clothes faster than he would normally do. Then, he took Soujiro by his wrist and scolded him outside Soushi's room.
"What were you thinking? He could get pneumonia and-"
"I'm sorry..." he apologized.
He let go of his wrist, "I apologize for my actions as well. You see, Doukuu did the same thing to his brother too. I spoiled my youngest and even if he was cruel to me, I never had second thoughts on him. It was absolutely unconditional love. The reason he died was because Doukuu and Setoh were under the rain and Doukuu never thought that anything bad would happen. Little did he know that Setoh would die from it..."
"I'm sorry. I really am sorry." Soujiro comforted him.
"I thought I could bury my problems under this house but I was wrong once again. I have them nailed in my heart. My eldest son died saving his comrade. My daughter died of abuse. I'm lucky to have Doukuu here only that he is leaving off to live with his mother. I can't help losing all my children."
He hugged Soujiro in memories of them. He lost all four children but he has one companion with him left. Soujiro, involuntarily, wrapped his arms around him too, "You haven't lost all your sons and daughter. You have me."
Dr.Kirashime held him tighter and tears rolled down his worn-out eyes. He let go of him, having to go to another patient who, again like the first, was screaming.
Soujiro walked in the room to see if Soushi felt even more ill than he was. Little Soushi said in his meek way, "Don't worry, brother, I don't feel worse..."
He added too, "Thank you for taking me out to play..."
Soujiro responded with a your welcome but he was hoping to hear a sound and asleep child on the bed. Still, Soushi stayed wide-awake. Not a sight of fatigue filled his poor, weary, little head.
He walked out of the room, wishing he can say goodnight to his friend just before he goes to sleep that cold, lonely night...
THE WANDERER'S EYES
(Chapter 5: Of The Fox and The Hound)
The rain poured outside once again and the noise that was there before was gone. Soujiro ran through the halls of the large dojo with a wooden carved box in his grasps. He had the spirit of finding out the hidden secrets inside the past that he felt that he was linked to, so he wandered in the dojo looking for Sai. He had already searched Soushi's room, but to no avail, she was gone. Suddenly, he heard a voice singing in Latin. That voice was what he needed to use. The voice would decipher for him the words engraved upon the box. He was lead to the room where Kitsune was laid down on. She was singing a song in Latin, "Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti. Beatae Mariae semper Virgini. Beato Michaeli archangelo. Sanctis apostolis omnibus sanctis. Et tibit Pater. Quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo et opere..."
She shook her mauve-haired head when he entered. Her cherry red eyes sent him a signal that he should be careful around her and that anything dangerous can happen. He spoke rather awkwardly, "D-do you understand Latin well as much as Sai Tomore does?"
She smirked at the thought of it, "Why? Do YOU know how much SHE knew, hmm? Do you THINK she knew more than I do, hmm? Then you thought wrong!"
Her ego was unbearable and he thought of leaving her, but she raised a question he cannot refuse to leave open, "Did you like her?"
He smiled innocently and blankly. He didn't know what to say because she was more than a friend or a best friend to him. She was like a sister that he wanted when he was still with his miserable adopted family. She was unlike them, for they punished Soujiro in anyway they want, whenever they wanted to. He was unable to even move.
"So," she jeered "I see there's someone that likes old musty! Jeez, I can laugh my head off! She's not pretty. She's not half as smart as I am. What's there to admire about? Her pale skin?"
Soujiro defended her, "You don't know her that well to say such nonsense!"
"Who are YOU to tell me that either when I have been here longer than SHE was?"
Soujiro became embarrassed because it was the truth. He had been used to her company, but he had only been there for a couple of days yet. Although at that state it would be hard to speak, he continued to protect her, "For such a long time you've spent, you never knew her as the person that she was."
He was able to turn the tables even if he doesn't know how she felt. He ceased the argument and went on with his favor instead of having to search for Sai, "If you may, tell me what this means right here engraved on the box."
He handed it to her carefully, but it was no use. Her rowdy and disrespectful behavior was different from the one he heard talk to Taro.
She cleared her throat and read aloud, "De profondus clamo adite domine.. I think it means out of the mists cries the Lord."
"You think? Do you know exactly?"
"IDIOT!!! When I think, I know!!"
Soujiro grabbed the box immediately before she was going to tinker with it any longer. He doubted her definition and wanted Sai to translate it for him, in case it was wrong and he was lead to a wrong clue. He was also in a hurry to get away from the egotistic woman. She was definitely different from the woman he had met with Taro, or should I say, met behind Taro. She was also rude to say that Sai was no match for her. He wished Taro was there to see her like that. He stepped outside during the rain. Sai was an odd girl, for she goes out on bad weather and stays inside in the nicest seasons. She had a different sense of philosophy.
Soujiro caught a glimpse of her. He saw her sitting under a tree right by the gate separating the dojo from the world. He went to her to see if she was calmed down.
"Don't you wish sometimes that you want to go back in time to stop something before it ever happened?.."
Soujiro gazed at her differently this time. Her pale frozen skin was more inclined to her bones and her bones seem to trace her limbs. She was thinner than what she saw that morning and blood curdled upon her lips. Her cobalt eyes lost its glow and her soft jet-black hair was darker than ever. He sat beside her and he put his arms around her to solace her. She leaned on his shoulder as if she was never going to see him again.
"Yeah, I wish we can..."
He wiped off the blood on her cheeks with his finger. The blood appeared to be blue in hue and he was wondering if her illness had something to do with it. He also wondered if what she meant was about the tragedy or if had been because she was going to die and leave him sooner than he thought possible...
"I remembered my friend at the funeral... It was sad to see Saime and I separated. She was a thoughtful friend. Taro disliked her for some reason... I just don't know why..."
"I thought he respected her and admired her."
"He pretends to. At the day of the funeral, he tried not to show her that he cried too. I thought it was a precious sight. It was funny the way- "
She was unable to finish her sentence. Soushi was out on the porch steps and he cried out to his elder sister, "Shishou-Nagi(Master???)(A/N:I forgot what Nagi meant but it's part of the story)...Come play with me..."
Soujiro opened his mouth to ask her why he called her such, she answered swiftly, "He is the sweetest thing you can ever see because he calls everyone his master... It is sad he does not call me by my name or by sister..."
She ran to him and lifted him in the air. They both laughed and he eventually jumped around, feeling the soft earth through his toes and the water splashing on his clothes. The winds were calm and gentle that even a bird can fly safely through. Soujiro also acted like a sibling to Soushi and he felt great having played with someone younger than himself. He also felt like he had done something important: making dreams come true. He thought of Soushi's confinement inside the dojo was no good for him. Her influence on him taught him to take each day special and let anything that comes passing by an enjoyable experience.
Often, Soushi fell on deep puddles that made him cry although left a mark on either him or on his clothes. Sai and Soujiro found themselves sometimes to be frightened or worried. However, falling taught Soushi a lesson that in every fall he makes, he should stand up and face the rain all over again. The last time he fell, Dr.Kirashime stormed out to retrieve him.
He scolded, "Soujiro! What are you making Sou-chan do? You know very well he can die because of that! Sou-chan, get inside!"
Soujiro was unaware that his actions were seriously going to take effect on the child. He thought less of responsibility but he didn't blame it on Sai. Then again, where was she?
Dr.Kirashime carried Soushi to his bed and changed his clothes faster than he would normally do. Then, he took Soujiro by his wrist and scolded him outside Soushi's room.
"What were you thinking? He could get pneumonia and-"
"I'm sorry..." he apologized.
He let go of his wrist, "I apologize for my actions as well. You see, Doukuu did the same thing to his brother too. I spoiled my youngest and even if he was cruel to me, I never had second thoughts on him. It was absolutely unconditional love. The reason he died was because Doukuu and Setoh were under the rain and Doukuu never thought that anything bad would happen. Little did he know that Setoh would die from it..."
"I'm sorry. I really am sorry." Soujiro comforted him.
"I thought I could bury my problems under this house but I was wrong once again. I have them nailed in my heart. My eldest son died saving his comrade. My daughter died of abuse. I'm lucky to have Doukuu here only that he is leaving off to live with his mother. I can't help losing all my children."
He hugged Soujiro in memories of them. He lost all four children but he has one companion with him left. Soujiro, involuntarily, wrapped his arms around him too, "You haven't lost all your sons and daughter. You have me."
Dr.Kirashime held him tighter and tears rolled down his worn-out eyes. He let go of him, having to go to another patient who, again like the first, was screaming.
Soujiro walked in the room to see if Soushi felt even more ill than he was. Little Soushi said in his meek way, "Don't worry, brother, I don't feel worse..."
He added too, "Thank you for taking me out to play..."
Soujiro responded with a your welcome but he was hoping to hear a sound and asleep child on the bed. Still, Soushi stayed wide-awake. Not a sight of fatigue filled his poor, weary, little head.
He walked out of the room, wishing he can say goodnight to his friend just before he goes to sleep that cold, lonely night...