The two siblings argued about their nationalities and their petty
characteristics while Soujiro felt anxious about leaving. The tavern wasn't
something he missed, but the tables turned on him and he felt the urge to
go back for some unknown reason. Chiriko went inside, like before, hoping
to see his friend. It's been a long time. Had he forgotten the argument he
had with his father?
THE WANDERER'S EYES
(Chapter 15:Gyenryu's Trifle Mistakes and the Discovery)
"People thought you'd never change, you sly devil. Look at you now. It's as if you married a yeoman, dressed in that- that- lady of the night's dress!"
"Pathetic, you are. You used to be better with your tongue. Father always praised that you knew so much in vocabulary and cares not notice me! Me, the middle child!"
"It wasn't my fault mother made you then."
"Don't you dare insult MY mother!!"
"For your information, she's my mother too. You shouldn't be so sharp either, insulting father as if he knew absolutely nothing.."
"Youblahblahblahblahblahblah.."
The fight seemed to go on and on. The rising of the sun had passed minutes, or what seemed to be hours, ago. The two kept taunting the other side and neither wanted to quit. Soujiro thought about how the two appeared to fight like Shishio's many comrades, especially Kamatari and Chou (A/N: I'm trying to avoid using their full names). The difference was that these two were siblings. Soujiro often thought siblings got along with each other. It was only the adopted kid that had the worst of them.
The rain.. The cold rain.. It was as if he was returned to that horrible night. No, not horrible. It was just a cold rainy night. Blood curdled on their lips and the tears from his eyes were swept away by the raindrops. Bodies lay in crimson beds and a head lay under a horrid house. A smile he grasped and the stranger with his sword. His beginning, his truth. The night that he killed them. The night he was set free.
"Are you just going to stand there all day?"
Soujiro awoke from his daze. Taro repeated, "Are you just going to stand there all day? I'd be obliged to leave you with this bafoon!"
Soujiro shook his head and hurried out to Taro. The quarrel was over, well, a bit. The two still stared at each other as they went their separate ways. Soujiro inquired, "Have you and your sister ever got along?"
"Me?" Taro sarcastically remarked "She's the one with the problem with me. She never understood love and all. She just thinks that when you're poor, you're poor. You can't mingle with people that aren't as aristocratic as you."
Soujiro smirked. Taro never acted like an aristocrat before and he never had an impression he'd be one. He acted mature at first, but you'd see a childish person when you get to know a bit better of him.
Taro, however, confessed, "I do admit, though, that I don't get along with people easily. Master Gyenryu disliked me when I first entered his room. I tried stealing hi silver slate and almost got away with it. He did scream in my ear, which I practically abhorred all my life. Never wanted to hear about that slate ever again!"
Soujiro smirked again. He remembered the time he too got screamed at when he first entered. He also tried taking the silver slate. He didn't mention to Taro that he got the silver slate in his room, but he just didn't care to see what was inside it.
"There's also little Soushi. He bit my finger when I first met him. Thought I was an intruder. I did pity him when I heard he was blind."
Soujiro smiled, as Taro went on, "Nagi was kind at first, but I think I got mad at her. She's just stubborn and skeptical. She didn't believe my stories. I used to see ghosts and monsters in that house. The more she tried to convince me how much of a madman I were, I got that subject off my head and never saw one ever again. Cold and pessimistic girl, that's what I think."
They were inches away from the tavern. He held up the bottle and then, a stout dumpy man went out and said to them, "Aye. Enter laddies!"
Soujiro felt relieved that he didn't see that girl again. He felt embarrassed that a girl got the best of him and his money and he didn't even get his drinks still. Taro went on with his statements, "The only person I never liked in that house was that witch. Her sister was awfully charming, but she was charmingly awful! I can't stand that witch!"
"Then, there's also Sai."
Soujiro stopped in his tracks for a moment. He heard of that name before, but he couldn't recall when and where.
"What's wrong? Looks like you've seen a ghost or something."
Soujiro was stumped again. He saw the girl that offered him sake but then took his money without him saying a word.
"Taro-kun! Aye to that bottle! Oh- that's rat boy.."
He catcalled, "Who are you calling a rat, you fiend?! You took all my money and never gave me my drink!"
Taro looked at the girl and spoke, "You do know, Meria, that he's my friend. You ought to give him his money back."
"Aw, Taro.. I won't get my lot!"
"Meria!" Taro raged.
She handed him his money back and he counted them immediately. It was exact, and he was glad. Taro thanked her and whispered something which he heard like, "We'll be going to the Lakewaste's. Don't go looking for us, okay."
She nodded and let them alone. Taro beckoned Soujiro to a staircase that led them down. He had a torch with him and Soujiro carried a box of matches. Taro repeated his words before the woman Meria came to them, "Then there's Sai. Nice but arrogant girl. Nagi never had a nerve of her, I don't reckon they even fought. I can't stand her! She'd go up to me and often challenge me to a duel. She would fall flat on her feet and she'd still boast at how great she was at fencing. I didn't hate her as much as I hate Kitsune. Mind you, her brother died."
Soujiro appeared to have understood a bit now. He remembered the lie that a girl had often mentioned. Soushi, whom she claimed as her brother, wasn't her brother. The girl whom he remembered as Sai must've had a very bad trauma, so she went on in an insane life and thought of Soushi as her brother, since his sister was dead too.
The path was dangerous at the point where the torch kept blowing off. There were weasels and raccoons trying to get in their way. Taro engaged in cutting their heads off with pleasure and kept proclaiming, "I just hate animals."
Soujiro understood the game they played, and he also sliced their heads until the steps on the stairs were painted red. They often slipped because of the gushing blood of the critters that swirled round and round their feet. Taro took off his zori at one point and let his toes feel the blood squish between them. Soujiro delighted in seeing his companion bask in the ghoulish contentment he had.
Soon, he noticed that the box of matches had none anymore. He tried to get Taro's attention, but a mole jumped into his hair and he deliberately tried to mash it into the wall. After a few struggles, he managed to kill it and at the same time, get his hair messed up and covered in the guts and gore of the beast.
Soujiro imagined walking in the dark while his accomplice cleaned his hair and take the mole's liver off his ear. When he finally got the chance to squeak "We", Taro beat him and even hollered with excitement, "We're here atlast!"
Taro grimaced at the beauty of it. Soujiro was petrified, not with fear but with awe and amazement. It was a sealed cave under the lake. Above the window they looked out off, fishes and many other creatures swam around in spectacular moves. There were many colorful and vivid plants that made the undersea cave appear to be a blessing.
"T-T-Taro," he stuttered "T-This is amazing!"
"Yep, it has been. I love it here. Not that many people knew of this place. Grandad built it when he built the hospital dojo. He said he wanted a place where he can escape to. Only Grandad and me knew of this. Boten was jealous that me and him told each other stuff."
The water was clear and blue, yet above it appeared green and murky. You couldn't see a single object in the lake and would assume that it is a dead lake. A large dead lake.
There were many windows and places where you can view outside the cave. It wasn't really a cave, since there is no other opening but the one they emerged from. It was mostly made of fresh earth and clay. Paint were on the walls, where there displays many images. Some where the winged women and children and some where riding the griffin Gyenryu talked about.
"I don't suppose you don't like it. Yuri never saw this ever because she hated stepping in the dark. You have to be mad to hate it."
"I can't hate it. It's too beautiful!" Soujiro exclaimed.
Sea creatures circled and danced around the area they were. They seem to like being watched by humans. Their fins and tails were dabbed in many shades and hues, and their eyes appear to be shaped like stars. Bigger creatures joined the ensemble, and they would often create shapes that were artistically lovely. The plants and herbs under the lake swayed and swirled in accompaniment. It was definitely a beautiful site.
"It is sad though, that Soushi wouldn't have the chance to see this ever." Taro said, in a very grim and lonely tone.
THE WANDERER'S EYES
(Chapter 15:Gyenryu's Trifle Mistakes and the Discovery)
"People thought you'd never change, you sly devil. Look at you now. It's as if you married a yeoman, dressed in that- that- lady of the night's dress!"
"Pathetic, you are. You used to be better with your tongue. Father always praised that you knew so much in vocabulary and cares not notice me! Me, the middle child!"
"It wasn't my fault mother made you then."
"Don't you dare insult MY mother!!"
"For your information, she's my mother too. You shouldn't be so sharp either, insulting father as if he knew absolutely nothing.."
"Youblahblahblahblahblahblah.."
The fight seemed to go on and on. The rising of the sun had passed minutes, or what seemed to be hours, ago. The two kept taunting the other side and neither wanted to quit. Soujiro thought about how the two appeared to fight like Shishio's many comrades, especially Kamatari and Chou (A/N: I'm trying to avoid using their full names). The difference was that these two were siblings. Soujiro often thought siblings got along with each other. It was only the adopted kid that had the worst of them.
The rain.. The cold rain.. It was as if he was returned to that horrible night. No, not horrible. It was just a cold rainy night. Blood curdled on their lips and the tears from his eyes were swept away by the raindrops. Bodies lay in crimson beds and a head lay under a horrid house. A smile he grasped and the stranger with his sword. His beginning, his truth. The night that he killed them. The night he was set free.
"Are you just going to stand there all day?"
Soujiro awoke from his daze. Taro repeated, "Are you just going to stand there all day? I'd be obliged to leave you with this bafoon!"
Soujiro shook his head and hurried out to Taro. The quarrel was over, well, a bit. The two still stared at each other as they went their separate ways. Soujiro inquired, "Have you and your sister ever got along?"
"Me?" Taro sarcastically remarked "She's the one with the problem with me. She never understood love and all. She just thinks that when you're poor, you're poor. You can't mingle with people that aren't as aristocratic as you."
Soujiro smirked. Taro never acted like an aristocrat before and he never had an impression he'd be one. He acted mature at first, but you'd see a childish person when you get to know a bit better of him.
Taro, however, confessed, "I do admit, though, that I don't get along with people easily. Master Gyenryu disliked me when I first entered his room. I tried stealing hi silver slate and almost got away with it. He did scream in my ear, which I practically abhorred all my life. Never wanted to hear about that slate ever again!"
Soujiro smirked again. He remembered the time he too got screamed at when he first entered. He also tried taking the silver slate. He didn't mention to Taro that he got the silver slate in his room, but he just didn't care to see what was inside it.
"There's also little Soushi. He bit my finger when I first met him. Thought I was an intruder. I did pity him when I heard he was blind."
Soujiro smiled, as Taro went on, "Nagi was kind at first, but I think I got mad at her. She's just stubborn and skeptical. She didn't believe my stories. I used to see ghosts and monsters in that house. The more she tried to convince me how much of a madman I were, I got that subject off my head and never saw one ever again. Cold and pessimistic girl, that's what I think."
They were inches away from the tavern. He held up the bottle and then, a stout dumpy man went out and said to them, "Aye. Enter laddies!"
Soujiro felt relieved that he didn't see that girl again. He felt embarrassed that a girl got the best of him and his money and he didn't even get his drinks still. Taro went on with his statements, "The only person I never liked in that house was that witch. Her sister was awfully charming, but she was charmingly awful! I can't stand that witch!"
"Then, there's also Sai."
Soujiro stopped in his tracks for a moment. He heard of that name before, but he couldn't recall when and where.
"What's wrong? Looks like you've seen a ghost or something."
Soujiro was stumped again. He saw the girl that offered him sake but then took his money without him saying a word.
"Taro-kun! Aye to that bottle! Oh- that's rat boy.."
He catcalled, "Who are you calling a rat, you fiend?! You took all my money and never gave me my drink!"
Taro looked at the girl and spoke, "You do know, Meria, that he's my friend. You ought to give him his money back."
"Aw, Taro.. I won't get my lot!"
"Meria!" Taro raged.
She handed him his money back and he counted them immediately. It was exact, and he was glad. Taro thanked her and whispered something which he heard like, "We'll be going to the Lakewaste's. Don't go looking for us, okay."
She nodded and let them alone. Taro beckoned Soujiro to a staircase that led them down. He had a torch with him and Soujiro carried a box of matches. Taro repeated his words before the woman Meria came to them, "Then there's Sai. Nice but arrogant girl. Nagi never had a nerve of her, I don't reckon they even fought. I can't stand her! She'd go up to me and often challenge me to a duel. She would fall flat on her feet and she'd still boast at how great she was at fencing. I didn't hate her as much as I hate Kitsune. Mind you, her brother died."
Soujiro appeared to have understood a bit now. He remembered the lie that a girl had often mentioned. Soushi, whom she claimed as her brother, wasn't her brother. The girl whom he remembered as Sai must've had a very bad trauma, so she went on in an insane life and thought of Soushi as her brother, since his sister was dead too.
The path was dangerous at the point where the torch kept blowing off. There were weasels and raccoons trying to get in their way. Taro engaged in cutting their heads off with pleasure and kept proclaiming, "I just hate animals."
Soujiro understood the game they played, and he also sliced their heads until the steps on the stairs were painted red. They often slipped because of the gushing blood of the critters that swirled round and round their feet. Taro took off his zori at one point and let his toes feel the blood squish between them. Soujiro delighted in seeing his companion bask in the ghoulish contentment he had.
Soon, he noticed that the box of matches had none anymore. He tried to get Taro's attention, but a mole jumped into his hair and he deliberately tried to mash it into the wall. After a few struggles, he managed to kill it and at the same time, get his hair messed up and covered in the guts and gore of the beast.
Soujiro imagined walking in the dark while his accomplice cleaned his hair and take the mole's liver off his ear. When he finally got the chance to squeak "We", Taro beat him and even hollered with excitement, "We're here atlast!"
Taro grimaced at the beauty of it. Soujiro was petrified, not with fear but with awe and amazement. It was a sealed cave under the lake. Above the window they looked out off, fishes and many other creatures swam around in spectacular moves. There were many colorful and vivid plants that made the undersea cave appear to be a blessing.
"T-T-Taro," he stuttered "T-This is amazing!"
"Yep, it has been. I love it here. Not that many people knew of this place. Grandad built it when he built the hospital dojo. He said he wanted a place where he can escape to. Only Grandad and me knew of this. Boten was jealous that me and him told each other stuff."
The water was clear and blue, yet above it appeared green and murky. You couldn't see a single object in the lake and would assume that it is a dead lake. A large dead lake.
There were many windows and places where you can view outside the cave. It wasn't really a cave, since there is no other opening but the one they emerged from. It was mostly made of fresh earth and clay. Paint were on the walls, where there displays many images. Some where the winged women and children and some where riding the griffin Gyenryu talked about.
"I don't suppose you don't like it. Yuri never saw this ever because she hated stepping in the dark. You have to be mad to hate it."
"I can't hate it. It's too beautiful!" Soujiro exclaimed.
Sea creatures circled and danced around the area they were. They seem to like being watched by humans. Their fins and tails were dabbed in many shades and hues, and their eyes appear to be shaped like stars. Bigger creatures joined the ensemble, and they would often create shapes that were artistically lovely. The plants and herbs under the lake swayed and swirled in accompaniment. It was definitely a beautiful site.
"It is sad though, that Soushi wouldn't have the chance to see this ever." Taro said, in a very grim and lonely tone.