Miko no Chikyuu, Gejo no Nihon
An: Hello. Well I have a bad sunburn, sweating (gross!), and feeling energetic. =P So I decided to write a new chapter and sacrifice a night of homework. Bad student! Anyway I didn't intend for Usagi's new "chapter" continue this long but NOTHING ever comes out the way I plan. O.o; Guess I'm bad at organization! Well thanks everyone for reviewing I love ya for it, please continue to do so! =P
*~~~~~~~*
"Come now Usagi show him you're pretty face, stop hiding!" He then took hold of her chin and lifted her face up where she met his gaze directly!
*~~~~~~~*
Usagi saw through her silvery blue eyes Trowa's emotionless face. She looked into his forest green eyes and saw nothing. He didn't even react to her face as if he forgot about her, she saw this but didn't feel this. Deep down she felt that he knew exactly who she was but slyly hid it.
"You're daughter is very pretty." He said as he looked back up and Atsui.
"Thank you, Sir." He let go of her face and looked out the tiny window. "I want to thank you by the way for taking me to Wei territory, especially since I know they don't like you soldiers."
"Or you." Trowa finished for him and Atsui had a little bit of shock on his face.
"Well I'm just a humble businessman. I'm not into political affairs." He had an uneasy look on his face, like he was worried about something but Usagi was more concerned with her own problems.
'Could Atsui be setting me up? Why else would he have Trowa here? That must be why he's so nervous. Dammit! Why am I always the one with the problems. Hotaru… I hope your life is better than mine!' Usagi could feel the warm drops of salty water begin to cloud her eyes but she held them back and just closed her eyes falling asleep.
*~~~~~~~~~~*
"Usagi! Usagi!" Usagi opened her eyes and saw Atsui trying to shake her awake.
"We're almost there Usagi-chan. Wake up." Atsui said as Usagi sat up and looked out the window. The town was pretty nice considering the times they were in. The houses were small, slightly dilapidated, she even saw some people living in tents. The people weren't totally starved, although they did look hungry, but when she looked in front of the carriage she saw the tallest building she'd ever seen! It was about four stories, built with polished oak wood and several cherry trees planted around the edifice.
The carriage stopped at the entrance and there were several other rich businessmen waiting at the front for Atsui.
"Gentlemen. So glad you could make it." He said getting out bowing to them, which was returned.
"Well we have much to discuss." The rather fat businessman said motioning towards the hallway.
"Wait one moment gentlemen. I'd like you to meet my daughter." Usagi then stepped out of the carriage with Trowa coming out behind her. She walked in front of Atsui and he laid his hands on her shoulders. "Uwakimono, Usagi."
She bowed her head to them. "Good evening." They all warmly greeted her with slight annoyance.
"Atsui-san. We must get going." A creepy thin businessman said walking into the hallway.
"Usagi-chan. You may do as you please, just don't wander off alone." He took one of his servants and told her to watch Usagi closely. Usagi watched as Atsui disappeared down the hall with Trowa in tow.
"Where do you wish to go Ma'am?" The servant asked.
"Don't call me Ma'am. I used to be a slave you know, worse than a servant. I don't want this position and money to go to my head." Usagi said looking up at the servant who didn't quiet know what she meant by this.
"Never-mind. I don't want you to feel out of place if you wish to be traditional." Usagi took off her wooden shoes and threw them to the servant. "I hope you can keep up!" Usagi then ran down the road, back towards the town, as fast as she could. The maid could barely keep up and she finally tripped because of her wooden shoes as well.
"Get back here you brat!" The maid yelled but Usagi just ran laughing. 'I love this!' Usagi thought, with the warm spring breeze in her hair. She stopped running when she reached the town drinking well. She looked down and saw the water wasn't the cleanest she'd ever seen, but she'd drank worse before.
She looked around and spotted a man with a cart and miscellaneous items. But what really caught her eye was a conk-shell. (Did I spell it right?) She put it to her hear and listened to the ocean and felt as though she really were at the beach, she adored it.
"Would you like to buy this?" The salesman asked stepping next to her.
"Yes I would. I haven't seen or heard an ocean in years." She said looking at it's coral pinkish colors. "Well if you want to see an ocean there is one only about a mile down that road." He pointed to a dirt road to his left and Usagi put the shell back.
"I'll be back for it!" She yelled as she ran down the road in ecstasy. The man was left in the dust with a less than pleased face on.
*~~~~~~~~*
Usagi came over a sandy hill and saw the gorgeous blue ocean laid out in front of her, a dock filled with ships to her right. There were several other people sitting down in the water or gathering salt from the water.
She smiled as she ran out to the front of the water. She lifted up her kimono and stepped into the chilly water, refreshing her feet. She ran around the water for awhile before getting cold and walking out towards the docks.
When she walked out onto the dock she received several glares and got the feeling that she wasn't wanted on the docks, which she didn't really understand. 'What's with these sailors?' She thought avoiding them all best she could.
She stopped at the edge of the dock and looked down, she spotted a jellyfish swimming around with several kinds of fishes nibbling at some of the dead fish that had fallen out of the netting.
Then she saw a young girl run onto what had to have been her father's boat happily hugging him, but her affection was not returned. He began to yell at her. "Stupid girl! You know that women bring bad luck to the ship and its crew if they walk on its deck! Get off now!" He then slapped her face and she ran off the boat crying. She ran into her mother and cried into her cheap kimono, the mother just lightly patted her head.
The mother walked over to the father and bowed her head to him and he took her hand walking off the dock with her.
Usagi couldn't believe the mother did nothing, and the sad girl just walked behind her parents wiping her tears away. Usagi looked at the other sailors who acted like nothing had happened and were going about their regular business. 'I think I should go.' Usagi quickly rationalized walking fast off the docks.
She came back to the beach, which was now pretty much empty, and saw a small smooth and shiny black shell. "I think this is all I need for memories of this place!" Usagi put it in a tiny pocket within her kimono.
*~~~~~~~~*
Usagi came up to the expensive edifice, once again, and saw her maid at the front entrance with a look of scorn written on her face.
"Where'd you go?" She sternly asked, even though it sounded like a demand.
"The beach." A few moments of dead silence past, with several intense stares along the way. "You know it's not my fault you couldn't keep up." That really struck a nerve in the maid and she grabbed onto Usagi's arm dragging her down the hallway.
"Let's just go inform you're 'father' about your insubordination." The maid dragged her to the last door on the left. She swung the door open and Usagi saw her and her father stuffing money into small chests.
The "businessmen" started yelling and Atsui walked up to his maid grabbing onto her shoulder, tightly, and pushed her out the door as she quickly apologized.
"I'm very sorry Sir!" She said as he slammed the door on her face. She bowed to the door and quickly walked away letting go of Usagi, leaving her there. 'What was that about?' Usagi thought.
After mustering up all her courage Usagi lightly knocked on the door. Atsui opened a crack in the door and looked down at Usagi. "What?" He asked still pretty pissed off.
"I was just wondering what we're doing? I thought we were going to China."
"Dear we're very busy right now and we'll be leaving for China after dusk just wait for us." He then shut the door on her face.
'What's going on?' She decided not to press on so she decided to go eat something in the kitchen.
*~~~~~~~*
She finished her bowl of rice, oranges and cup of fresh milk when Atsui came running into the kitchen grabbing onto her.
"We have to leave now!" Is all he said as he dragged her into the carriage.
"But what about Trowa?" Usagi asked getting awfully confused.
"Damn that boy to hell!" He harshly said.
He ordered the carriage man (Or whatever you call the drivers. -.-) to take off and quickly as he shoved one of the chests onto the back of the carriage. He climbed in as the driver took off as fast as the horses could run.
"What's going on Atsui-san?" Usagi asked with a voice of panic. But he never answered her.
*~~~~~~~~~*
They finally reached the docks she had been on earlier and Atsui's "friends" were already there loading things onto a ship. Everyone was in a hurry, but what for?
"Atsui-papa? What's the matter?" But no matter how much she pleaded for answers Atsui gave her none. Then before she knew it Atsui was shoving her onto the boat, but she refused to board the floating vessel.
"What's your problem girl?" He hurriedly asked in a full panic.
"I'll be beat if I get on that ship!" Usagi cried out getting frustrated herself.
"What the fuck are you talking about girl?" He once again tried pushing her on the ship but Usagi held onto the side of the ship so tight her knuckles became white.
"Stop being difficult! I've given you food and shelter what more do you want brat?!" He was so angry now his face was turning red and his eyes were filled with a burning fire ready to burst.
"Forget her Atsui-san! Let's save ourselves who cares about her!" A young bearded "businessman" yelled out desperate to leave as well. After a few moments of hesitation he finally gave into his comrades pleas to leave Usagi on her own.
"Fine stay here! Don't blame me when you're rotting in a jail cell!" When he mentioned a jail cell she immediately thought about her past encounter with the law. But before she could even react to his comment she heard soldiers armor running up to the docks and when she looked into the distance she saw many men running towards them, swords unsheathed.
Usagi turned her head to see that Atsui was no longer there but was actually on the ship.
"Atsui! Don't leave me here!" Usagi begged beginning to have a breakdown.
"Sorry kid! But I gotta get out of here! They'll take care of you!" He shouted with an empty sentiment and reassurance. She turned around and there was Trowa less than five feet behind her! Usagi let out a loud scream while preparing to jump of the dock, only to be foiled by Trowa grabbing onto her wrist.
"You're not going to get away this time!" He coldly said, which sent a shiver down Usagi's spine. He knew her, and had known her all along! Just as he picked her up more soldiers scrambled to get onto the ship which was departing, and slaying several crew members that put up a bit of a fight.
It was over, she was going to jail along with the other men and she didn't even know why!
*~~~~~~~~~~~*
Usagi was lying in a jail cell all alone. She'd never felt this depressed ever before, all she had with her was the black sea-shell within her torn and dirty kimono. Then Trowa walked into the room ordering her to her feet, and she silently complied.
He walked her down several dirty hallways with angry men and women screaming and spitting at them when he finally led her outside.
"I don't understand. Why are you freeing me?" Usagi asked getting confused.
"Atsui Uwakimono isn't a businessman. He's really a con-artist and has also avoided paying government taxes collecting hundreds, maybe even thousands. Every time we went to capture him he was always a step ahead, until now. I was set up as a guard for him in a town, which he has already scammed, so of course he accepted me with open arms. All I needed was to wait for him to collect money from several of his comrades. Then I assembled some troops to over take him and his men, but somehow he found out about it and decided to flee to China a little before schedule, where he would be completely out of our reach. We were lucky that you stalled him or we wouldn't have made it, the Japanese army thanks you for that." He finished his long explanation and turned around to leave before Usagi stopped him.
"But I thought you arrested me because of my "treason" back about a year ago?" She knew she was pushing it but she had to know.
"We arrested you because we weren't sure weather or not you were in on this or not, he told us that you were just a maid of his and had nothing to do with it. Your 'treason' was inspected and the leader of the rebellion told us he'd never heard of you or your friend and that little girl later confessed that she lied to us as a practical joke. We sent her to 3 months in jail for lying to Japanese officers. Sorry for the trouble Miss." He bowed his head slightly and opened the door to the jail cell.
"But where am I supposed to go now?" Usagi asked beginning to feel that lonliness creep back up on her.
"Where-ever you want as long as you don't bother us." He said shutting the door behind him.
/Well there I was. Back to square one again and in a totally foreign land to me. I knew no one and had no idea where I was. But even though Atsui had put me through all that and lied to me I can't help but love him. That may sound odd but I think he truly cared for me especially when he stood up for me in jail even though I was the reason me got caught. It shows that there are truly kind people in my world even if they may come off heartless./
TBC………….
An: Well that was pretty long. =P Anyway Hotaru's chapter is next and with her I think I'm gonna skip two years, just to get this story moving quicker. Well I have to go and study so bye-bye and please review! I love it when you all review! ^.^V