The conversation with Gyenryu didn't help as much as he thought. He
thought of going to Soushi to ask few things about his sister and if he
knew where he had left the box at. With the silver slate, enigmatic chess
set and wooden box as his clues to the biggest mystery he ever had, would
he find out a few more about his own past and that of the eccentric
patients in the dojo?
THE WANDERER'S EYES
(Chapter 8: Tavern By The Lake)
Soujiro brought a paper crane he made to Soushi's room. He was quite eager to get out of Gyenryu's room because he was ill tempered and sophisticated. He couldn't bear much of his attempts to scream either. He slid aside the wooden door and saw Soushi looking at his window with a little bird in his hands. He brushed its soft feathers and lay it on a little paper box full of cotton. Soujiro greeted.
"How're you little one?"
"Who's there?" Soushi asked at once.
"I'm your sister's friend, Soujiro. Do you recognize my voice?"
"Yes!" he joyfully answered "You're back! Are you going to play with me?"
He ran up to Soujiro, but because he was blind, he tripped and fell flat on his face.
Soujiro panicked and rushed up to see if he was hurt. Soushi, without any sign of frustration, said, "Sister always said to never cry when I fall down. The thing to do is stand up because I'm not a hopeless case yet like she was."
"I see that she isn't. You think your sister is incredibly intelligent. Do you still remember her that well?"
Soushi recalled with a grim expression, "You mean Nagi-chan? Yes I do. Nagi-chan was always the kindest person-"
"Don't you mean Sai? You keep calling her Nagi though that's not her name."
Soushi stared with his useless big eyes into the crane to tell what it was, but he exclaimed, "Sai? Oh! Saicho Myougi was her best friend!"
"Pardon? Sai isn't your sister?" Soujiro bewildered with much thought.
"Nagi Tomochi was my sister! Soushi Tomochi's sister!"
Soujiro had an idea. He thought that: Perhaps the bride he had been seeing in the dead of the night was Nagi, his sister. Then Sai had been mistaken, or rather, the doctor had! Soushi was not Tomore but Tomochi. Oh bother his ideas!
He was dazed as he was hazed that he fell on the floor as he sat. So which was which and who was who? Gyenryu confused him enough, now Soushi had too. The calmness of the breeze strayed by his window and Soujiro noticed the contraption Soushi toyed with earlier. It was a tiny hammock that was made out of the simplest things there were. The tiny little creature appeared to be a gray robin that had a broken wing. Soushi, in a mysterious way, felt that Soujiro had noticed his dear pet.
"Kururu was here a day after I was. I saw him spluttered on the floor when Haha(mom) lay me on the tonfa. I thought that was the day I'd meet God. Chichi and Haha(mom and dad) never believed in just one god the way Nagi did. She was the bestest sister I could ever have. She never left me all alone. She's the only one I can see really."
He took the paper crane from Soujiro's sweaty palms. He pretended it was a bird and gave it a soft nudge on the beak, "She promised she'll never leave me. She promised..."
Soujiro took his hands and felt the warmth of every finger. He said in his most comforting voice, "Don't be frightened. She won't leave you."
Soujiro went out, having a flash from his past pass him by. It was the day he sliced off one of his brother's head. To him, it was something he always wanted because they treated him too unfairly. They would boss him around like a slave. He didn't mind cutting off his head. He wasn't even his real brother. He was just an adopted son, and that's what he'll always be.
Tears fell on the northern wing hall. The echo of each drop remained in his mind as if it were the day he had that struggle. Then, he caught a glimpse of Sai's hair passing by the corner. He thought he could confirm everything. She wouldn't lie to him, or would she?
He ran to the corner he saw her pass. No sign of her. Curious as he always was, he looked around that way for her. She has to be there. There's no other way to get out other than to pass him. He then bumped into Dr.Kirashime. Hoping to clear things out, he asked, "Did you see Sai pass here?"
Dr.Kirashime's tray fell down. Horror had struck him and his face showed a terrified face. He stammered, "N-no. I-I-I haven't seen her for a long t-time."
Soujiro immediately asked permission to go outside, but he warned him, "I shall allow you, but do be careful. There are many scumbags in the slum areas of the town. I advise you to carry your sword."
Soujiro longed to have his sword back before, but now he felt different. He didn't want to bear with him his sword, having to cause trouble.
Dr.Kirashime gave his sword, and he was able to pass using the front gate. The back door was in chains and Soujiro carried with him a map he found lying on the floor by the chess set. The chess set, by the way, was in a different position that morning. Someone, apparently not Soujiro, had placed all the pieces back in their proper positions, all except the queen. The queen was in the middle of the set and its head had been knocked out of place.
At once, he saw many Cherry Blossom trees and bushes with an assortment of flowers. There was a lake not far away and houses stood the way they usually do but here, they had inscriptions printed on their doors. He didn't have time to read what they said. He just wanted to look for that piece of paper he lost.
The back door was carved out of fir, you could tell. There were supposedly pictures to be made but the carvers didn't seem to finish it. The light pencil marks were that of creatures Soujiro had never seen before. They were of many characteristics, but they all bear wings. Most were women and some were as small as an infant. At the very center of the door was another lion, sketched the way Gyenryu's was. He didn't look at it much longer. He began to scavenge the ground and the wide bushes that surrounded the area.
"Ouch!" Soujiro bellowed. A thorn pricked his cheek as he was crawling in the bush. The bush he crawled in was wide and long. Children could live there if they prefer. Blood as scarlet as that of the purest blood ever found dripped on the emerald grass. It was a minor cut, but the pain was excruciating. He leapt out of the bush and saw a shadowy figure with a bag full of paper enter a house beside the lake. Soujiro quickly dashed to the place.
When he entered, he was greeted with lots of music and the smell of fine food. It was a tavern where men had a drink and there was much laughter in the background.(A/N: Ever heard of a beer house or watched a part of a movie or show that there were beer and music? That's what he saw.) Soujiro looked over everyone's appearances, hoping to find the man that he saw with a bag, bloated with pieces of paper.
Rowdy men spoke in loud voices and some did the craziest things like drink with their mouth open and dance the jig while they're at it. A woman in tight ninja's clothing went up to Soujiro.
"What d'yeh wanna drink? I s'pose yeh want a manly drink like the rest of these scalla'ags, eh?"
Soujiro hesitated, "No. I think I'd rather not."
The woman was surprised at his actions and offered, "What about a great big jug of sake? It's our house specialty!"
"No."
"Then what are yeh doing here, yeh sissy? Yeh ain't here for nothin'! Get out then!"
"Wait," Soujiro defended "I'm looking for a man who just came in. He carried a large bag of papers. I'd just like to kno-"
"Buy yerself a drink and I'll look for that man."
He nodded. Soujiro couldn't disagree with her. That was his only chance of having to stay long enough to know where his piece of paper went. Although he did say he'd drink, he never really had a manly drink before. Sake is one of those he hadn't tried and wouldn't even want to try. He dug his hands into his pocket and got out a few coins as the woman directed him to an empty seat. The woman looked at his money and instantly grabbed them.
"That would be enough to have three glasses of sake."
He didn't want three glasses and he didn't want to spend all his money for them. It wasn't exactly his money. The good doctor gave him a few leftover money and hopes to do that atleast every week to support Soujiro.
He was seated beside a bunch of rude men who kept boasting about how they fought with warriors. One of them arrogantly said, "I found myself in a fight with the Battousai! He was a wicked fellow, he was. Had that crossed mark scar on his neck as I always thought so. I even beat him! To think that he was said to be the best samurai there was! I wou-"
"The real Battousai Himura isn't that easy to fight with," Soujiro interrupted after he overheard "Mind you, his scar was on his right cheek."
The man became infuriated, "Liar! I say I fought with the man, I say- "
"You scoundrel! We knew your brag was nothing." Other remarks of the man lying raised. Soujiro, having fought Battousai Himura(A/N: Okay, it was Kenshin, but I'm just using his other name.), was pleased to know his lie had been found. The man who bragged, with a lot of rage, punched Soujiro in the shoulder.
Soujiro, having felt the intense burn of his punch, quickly took out his sword and cut the man in half! Everyone became afraid, but they all clapped at the talent he had. The man that had been cut in half, had a dagger in his hand and stabbed Soujiro in his neck. He too fell down...
The blood flowed far from him and he saw nothing else but blue light. He saw an image of a young lady, and after that, he was in deep sleep. However, he wasn't yet dead as they, that crowded around him, all thought...
THE WANDERER'S EYES
(Chapter 8: Tavern By The Lake)
Soujiro brought a paper crane he made to Soushi's room. He was quite eager to get out of Gyenryu's room because he was ill tempered and sophisticated. He couldn't bear much of his attempts to scream either. He slid aside the wooden door and saw Soushi looking at his window with a little bird in his hands. He brushed its soft feathers and lay it on a little paper box full of cotton. Soujiro greeted.
"How're you little one?"
"Who's there?" Soushi asked at once.
"I'm your sister's friend, Soujiro. Do you recognize my voice?"
"Yes!" he joyfully answered "You're back! Are you going to play with me?"
He ran up to Soujiro, but because he was blind, he tripped and fell flat on his face.
Soujiro panicked and rushed up to see if he was hurt. Soushi, without any sign of frustration, said, "Sister always said to never cry when I fall down. The thing to do is stand up because I'm not a hopeless case yet like she was."
"I see that she isn't. You think your sister is incredibly intelligent. Do you still remember her that well?"
Soushi recalled with a grim expression, "You mean Nagi-chan? Yes I do. Nagi-chan was always the kindest person-"
"Don't you mean Sai? You keep calling her Nagi though that's not her name."
Soushi stared with his useless big eyes into the crane to tell what it was, but he exclaimed, "Sai? Oh! Saicho Myougi was her best friend!"
"Pardon? Sai isn't your sister?" Soujiro bewildered with much thought.
"Nagi Tomochi was my sister! Soushi Tomochi's sister!"
Soujiro had an idea. He thought that: Perhaps the bride he had been seeing in the dead of the night was Nagi, his sister. Then Sai had been mistaken, or rather, the doctor had! Soushi was not Tomore but Tomochi. Oh bother his ideas!
He was dazed as he was hazed that he fell on the floor as he sat. So which was which and who was who? Gyenryu confused him enough, now Soushi had too. The calmness of the breeze strayed by his window and Soujiro noticed the contraption Soushi toyed with earlier. It was a tiny hammock that was made out of the simplest things there were. The tiny little creature appeared to be a gray robin that had a broken wing. Soushi, in a mysterious way, felt that Soujiro had noticed his dear pet.
"Kururu was here a day after I was. I saw him spluttered on the floor when Haha(mom) lay me on the tonfa. I thought that was the day I'd meet God. Chichi and Haha(mom and dad) never believed in just one god the way Nagi did. She was the bestest sister I could ever have. She never left me all alone. She's the only one I can see really."
He took the paper crane from Soujiro's sweaty palms. He pretended it was a bird and gave it a soft nudge on the beak, "She promised she'll never leave me. She promised..."
Soujiro took his hands and felt the warmth of every finger. He said in his most comforting voice, "Don't be frightened. She won't leave you."
Soujiro went out, having a flash from his past pass him by. It was the day he sliced off one of his brother's head. To him, it was something he always wanted because they treated him too unfairly. They would boss him around like a slave. He didn't mind cutting off his head. He wasn't even his real brother. He was just an adopted son, and that's what he'll always be.
Tears fell on the northern wing hall. The echo of each drop remained in his mind as if it were the day he had that struggle. Then, he caught a glimpse of Sai's hair passing by the corner. He thought he could confirm everything. She wouldn't lie to him, or would she?
He ran to the corner he saw her pass. No sign of her. Curious as he always was, he looked around that way for her. She has to be there. There's no other way to get out other than to pass him. He then bumped into Dr.Kirashime. Hoping to clear things out, he asked, "Did you see Sai pass here?"
Dr.Kirashime's tray fell down. Horror had struck him and his face showed a terrified face. He stammered, "N-no. I-I-I haven't seen her for a long t-time."
Soujiro immediately asked permission to go outside, but he warned him, "I shall allow you, but do be careful. There are many scumbags in the slum areas of the town. I advise you to carry your sword."
Soujiro longed to have his sword back before, but now he felt different. He didn't want to bear with him his sword, having to cause trouble.
Dr.Kirashime gave his sword, and he was able to pass using the front gate. The back door was in chains and Soujiro carried with him a map he found lying on the floor by the chess set. The chess set, by the way, was in a different position that morning. Someone, apparently not Soujiro, had placed all the pieces back in their proper positions, all except the queen. The queen was in the middle of the set and its head had been knocked out of place.
At once, he saw many Cherry Blossom trees and bushes with an assortment of flowers. There was a lake not far away and houses stood the way they usually do but here, they had inscriptions printed on their doors. He didn't have time to read what they said. He just wanted to look for that piece of paper he lost.
The back door was carved out of fir, you could tell. There were supposedly pictures to be made but the carvers didn't seem to finish it. The light pencil marks were that of creatures Soujiro had never seen before. They were of many characteristics, but they all bear wings. Most were women and some were as small as an infant. At the very center of the door was another lion, sketched the way Gyenryu's was. He didn't look at it much longer. He began to scavenge the ground and the wide bushes that surrounded the area.
"Ouch!" Soujiro bellowed. A thorn pricked his cheek as he was crawling in the bush. The bush he crawled in was wide and long. Children could live there if they prefer. Blood as scarlet as that of the purest blood ever found dripped on the emerald grass. It was a minor cut, but the pain was excruciating. He leapt out of the bush and saw a shadowy figure with a bag full of paper enter a house beside the lake. Soujiro quickly dashed to the place.
When he entered, he was greeted with lots of music and the smell of fine food. It was a tavern where men had a drink and there was much laughter in the background.(A/N: Ever heard of a beer house or watched a part of a movie or show that there were beer and music? That's what he saw.) Soujiro looked over everyone's appearances, hoping to find the man that he saw with a bag, bloated with pieces of paper.
Rowdy men spoke in loud voices and some did the craziest things like drink with their mouth open and dance the jig while they're at it. A woman in tight ninja's clothing went up to Soujiro.
"What d'yeh wanna drink? I s'pose yeh want a manly drink like the rest of these scalla'ags, eh?"
Soujiro hesitated, "No. I think I'd rather not."
The woman was surprised at his actions and offered, "What about a great big jug of sake? It's our house specialty!"
"No."
"Then what are yeh doing here, yeh sissy? Yeh ain't here for nothin'! Get out then!"
"Wait," Soujiro defended "I'm looking for a man who just came in. He carried a large bag of papers. I'd just like to kno-"
"Buy yerself a drink and I'll look for that man."
He nodded. Soujiro couldn't disagree with her. That was his only chance of having to stay long enough to know where his piece of paper went. Although he did say he'd drink, he never really had a manly drink before. Sake is one of those he hadn't tried and wouldn't even want to try. He dug his hands into his pocket and got out a few coins as the woman directed him to an empty seat. The woman looked at his money and instantly grabbed them.
"That would be enough to have three glasses of sake."
He didn't want three glasses and he didn't want to spend all his money for them. It wasn't exactly his money. The good doctor gave him a few leftover money and hopes to do that atleast every week to support Soujiro.
He was seated beside a bunch of rude men who kept boasting about how they fought with warriors. One of them arrogantly said, "I found myself in a fight with the Battousai! He was a wicked fellow, he was. Had that crossed mark scar on his neck as I always thought so. I even beat him! To think that he was said to be the best samurai there was! I wou-"
"The real Battousai Himura isn't that easy to fight with," Soujiro interrupted after he overheard "Mind you, his scar was on his right cheek."
The man became infuriated, "Liar! I say I fought with the man, I say- "
"You scoundrel! We knew your brag was nothing." Other remarks of the man lying raised. Soujiro, having fought Battousai Himura(A/N: Okay, it was Kenshin, but I'm just using his other name.), was pleased to know his lie had been found. The man who bragged, with a lot of rage, punched Soujiro in the shoulder.
Soujiro, having felt the intense burn of his punch, quickly took out his sword and cut the man in half! Everyone became afraid, but they all clapped at the talent he had. The man that had been cut in half, had a dagger in his hand and stabbed Soujiro in his neck. He too fell down...
The blood flowed far from him and he saw nothing else but blue light. He saw an image of a young lady, and after that, he was in deep sleep. However, he wasn't yet dead as they, that crowded around him, all thought...