A/N- Things are going to get a little sillier… not much, but some. Soujiro barely had a chance to grow up properly, after all, and he's friends with a young woman who has been a… er, slave to her master since she was seven…come on! And let's face it. Soujiro locked his feelings of hate and anger away that left happiness and humour to cover up things. Not then and not now does there serve for a complete lack of sense of humour, you know. He wasn't inhuman, and life is pretty funny at times.
Even if you only laugh because otherwise you'll cry.
Oh, and I don't know the names for the Japanese clothes and stuff, so the descriptions won't be with their actual names. I'm sorry, but on the upside most people will know what I'm talking about since I doubt many know the names, just like me. ^_^;;
PS- Thanks, Alexia ^_^ will not be so lazy, and if more than three people are reading this… REVIEW, DAMN YOU!! Ahem.
Language notes:
-bachan – aunt
Neesan/chan- older sister
Yokkata- thank goodness/I'm so happy/ relieved etc
Chapter Four: Ame no Chi
Bloody Rain'Hm…'
Kenji narrowed his eyes at his mother.
'What?'
Madam smiled at her son in a manner anyone but he and possibly Soujiro and Reiko would think was innocent.
' "What" what, dear?'
'You only "hm" like that when you're planning something.' Kenji said, putting down his brush. Madam sighed with feigned annoyance at her son's sharp skills of observation and put down the local newspaper.
'I was reading about Germany and the medical technology they have there.'
'And…'
'And I was also thinking about Reiko.' Madam said, watching her son's expression. 'We had a wonderful windfall with that deal last month.'
Kenji's expression remained frozen, until he bowed his head so his bangs cast his eyes into shadow.
'You want to send Rei-chan to Germany for treatment, mama?'
'I think it would be a good idea. While I know she loves us here, this house holds painful memories for her.'
'I know. She winces every time she passes Pa's room.' Kenji snarled. Madam kept her own expression neutral at the thought of her abusive late husband. His room… it still smelt of blood and old sex. No one went in there anymore.
'It might do her some good.' Kenji said at last. 'But she's so shy…'
'She'll be all right.' Madam said. 'I know someone at Yokohama who's going to Germany soon. If we can get her safely there Rei-chan and Neesan will get along great!'
'…Kyoko-bachan?' Kenji stared. 'Your older sister? Oh man, I feel sorry for Rei-chan.'
'Neesan isn't that bad, Kenji.'
'Yes. Says you. You weren't the one hung from the edge of the roof.'
'I did tell you not to make remarks about her waistline, but you wouldn't listen to me.'
'Whatever. But Mama…. We can't leave to go with her right now and-'
'We wouldn't be much use anyway. You're right.' Madam stood up gracefully and crossed the room to stand on the edge of the balcony, looking out at the garden in silence. The long pause was enough for Kenji's young yet sharp mind to jump onto the same tracks as his mother's. A grin that was not exactly what one would call innocent split across his face.
'You're gonna ask Soujiro-niichan.'
'Huh?!'
'You heard me. Don't play dumb.'
Soujiro wisely took a moment to gather his wits before he babbled like an idiot. Kenji and Souta were already on the edge of killing themselves with laughter. Madam, on the other had, merely regarded him with clever eyes and one arched eyebrow.
'Why me?' he managed. 'I mean…'
'Well, you did save us, Soujiro, once before.' Madam said, and cast a meaningful look at her children. Kenji rolled his eyes, but dragged Souta out of the room with him and shut the door.
'There's another reason?'
'Well, yes. You probably aren't aware of this since, you have only visited twice and only for one night a time, but you are somewhat of an anomaly.'
Soujiro's brow wrinkled.
'Huh?' he was saying that a lot around this house. Madam stood and crossed to the window.
'As you are aware Rei-chan was in this house, prior to his death, as a plaything for my husband. As a result of his cruel sense of lust her base instinct now is to avoid men, since not one she has met has not taken advantage of her. You are an exception to both taking advantage of her and her avoidance of you.'
Soujiro remained silent.
'I don't believe you are a young man who would ever sexually abuse a girl. Pushed to your breaking point you may kill-' Soujiro's head flew up '-but this does not particularly worry me as Reiko does not care about her life herself. What she needs is gentleness and protection, which she feels unconsciously she can find in you.' Madam laughed shortly. 'And I must admit she's also quite worried about you.'
'Worried?' Soujiro murmured. Sure, he could understand the wanting to hide behind someone who was stronger bit, but… worried about him? That was new. Oh no… not this again…he thought too much!
'Yes, you do.' Madam agreed, and giggled at his expression. 'Yes, you did say that aloud, Soujiro.' Her eyes were warm, her smile sincere as she turned to face him fully again.
'On the basis you are a strong fighter, and the only person Rei-chan trusts that can travel at the moment, I beg of you to take her to Yokohama safely. Onegai, Soujiro.'
Time slowed down. Soujiro stared at Madam's sincere expression. Curiosity was killing him. How could she trust him? How could a woman who must turn to others for help be so obviously strong and powerful? How could a fragile girl like Reiko continue on so happily but not trusting any but a select few? How did that work? How could that girl place her trust in him as much as Madam said?
Did she really worry? Reiko? Did she really worry? How could she, if it were true?
He'd called her Reiko. As if he had the right to that intimacy.
Madam smiled as Soujiro nodded, questions all over his face. She was reminded of her sons, so full of questions. The only problem was that Soujiro had other knowledge, experiences, to complicate things. Like a child he soaked up everything new, too uncertain and easily intrigued to cling to something with the iron grip of most adults, set in their ways. If you want to rebuild a brick house because it doesn't stand right you have to tear the whole thing down, because brick is just too hard to change. But… you can use the same bricks, Reiko had said, when Madam had mentioned this. Reiko had turned and smiled her sad, sweet smile.
'You can use the same bricks.'
'But many will break, Rei-chan.'
'You can use new bricks with the old. If the old bricks that survive remember where they belong, then the new bricks will support them and the house will be stronger. And building will be easier, because you know where to place them. I think…you have to remember you make up a house of bricks. It is a house made of bricks, not simply a house.'
'Don't forget to send letters. If you forget I'll hunt you down myself.' Kenji ordered. Reiko nodded and bowed.
'Of course, Kenji-sama.'
'Didn't we talk about that "sama" thing?' the child demanded, in a perfect imitation of Soujiro's voice. Reiko blinked, and let out a short, breathy laugh. For some reason Soujiro found the corners of his mouth trying to turn up at the sound.
'Sorry, Kenji…kun.'
'Much better. Oi, Soujiro-niichan! You'd better take good care of her!'
'I will.' Soujiro promised, adjusting his bag over his shoulder a bit. He looked at Reiko. 'Shall we go, Reiko-san?'
Reiko nodded and bowed once more to Madam and her two children. Souta had been crying, but Reiko and Madam had managed to comfort him. Then the girl adjusted her kimono so she could walk better, and trotted towards Soujiro, who turned towards the gate.
'Ja ne, Soujiro, Rei-chan!' Souta and Kenji shouted after them.
'Genki de ne.' Madam's soft voice passed along the wind.
~~~~~~~
'Maa… rain again!' Soujiro moaned, looking up at the grey sky through the raindrops as he shielded his eyes with his hand. He glanced behind him. Reiko jumped over a puddle; Soujiro could see why the westerners wore "boots". Sandals really weren't meant for cross-country excursions in the rain.
'Daijoubu, Reiko-san?' he asked. They'd been on the road for a week. Reiko had had one attack per day; she said it was the cold, and that it used to be a lot worse. Soujiro found himself worrying about her as opposed to being annoyed she slowed down the trip. He was doing this for her sake, after all.
Funny. He'd never used that phrase before in his life.
'Daijoubu.' Reiko said, jumping over another puddle and giggling a bit as her feet grazed the edge, splashing water. The corners of Soujiro's mouth tugged upwards. She took a few small steps over to where he was standing; close enough for Soujiro to hear her breathing was slightly laboured. He re-asked his question.
'No, no, I'm fine, Soujiro-san.'
They'd had a few run-ins with the "Seta-sama" thing too, but Soujiro was glad she seemed to have gotten over it now. He could deal with "Soujiro-san".
'Well, all right.' He said. 'Let's get under the trees for now and wait it out.'
Rain. He'd had to deal with the memories it brought back ever since Himura had "broken his seal". Sometimes, when he turned his head, he thought the droplets were red and thick, but it always turned out to be his imagination. He'd thought he had hated the rain, but now… now…
'Eep!'
Soujiro's head swung around.
'Reiko-san! Oh…' he glanced down. Reiko was giggling on the ground, her foot in a small ditch filled with water. She wiped her wet hair out of her eyes and smiled up at him, almost making Soujiro take a step back. Water made her hair go a bit wavy, and he had just noticed the way it made her travelling kimono cling to her skin…
'I'm sorry, Soujiro-san, I'm so clumsy.'
Soujiro shook himself.
'No, you're just not used to wandering in the forest, that's all. Here.' He leaned down, offering his hand. Reiko slid her small, pale hand into his without hesitation. Soujiro's eyes widened slightly as the rain drops splashed on their joined arms, the curious light of the sunset glancing off to make it look like-
-blood, covering his hands… again, in the rain. Soujiro jerked his hand free in panic, his breathing suddenly turning to pants.
'Soujiro-san?' Reiko said, scrambling to her feet from where he had dropped her. Soujiro looked at his hands, trying to get himself under control. No. An illusion, again. Something born from..
'Soujiro-san?' Reiko-san said worriedly from in front of him, her hands clasped. Soujiro stared at her for a moment, and got a grip.
'I'm all right. I just… thought saw something.'
Reiko breathed out.
'Yokkata…' she breathed. Soujiro stared at her again, and a thought, which had been trying to get his attention, gave the rest of his thoughts a good kick up the rear.
'Ah, I dropped up in the mud!' Soujiro said, his hand flying to his forehead. 'I'm so sorry, Reiko-san!'
'Oh…' Reiko endeavoured to look at her own behind, never an easy thing to do, especially in a kimono. 'I didn't even think of that. It's all right, I'm not hurt.'
'But you're even wetter and now you're… quite dirty.' Soujiro pointed out, feeling an bit embarrassed to be looking at Reiko's behind. Several other thoughts of the kind he had previously been too occupied to entertain sniggered something. He hurriedly shoved them back in the box, but nevertheless agreed with one idea that had practical allusions.
'We'll have to find somewhere to stay and get warm, Reiko-san; we'll both catch cold. You especially. Come on. Maa, it's getting heavier!'
They were still in the mountains; perhaps there was a cave and if they were lucky, perhaps a hot spring she could warm up in. Not that they really had anything to get dry with… he could make a fire, of course, but her clothes would still be wet so… Soujiro cut that thought off right there. He wondered, waiting for his heartbeat to stop filling his ears, if most teenage boys went through this stage and if so, when did it stop. Or was this something experienced all throughout life?
'Soujiro-san, I think I see I cave.' Reiko said, interrupting his thoughts.
'Really?' Soujiro asked with relief, though not just because of the chance to get out of the memory-filled rain. He followed her gaze, and saw the hole in the hillside.
'All right, let's go. I hope there aren't wolves or something there…'
'Uh, really?'
'Oh y-' Soujiro stopped. 'No, I was just joking.'
He could hear her sigh of relief over the rain, and almost grinned. He would have, had he not realised he was going to.
Soujiro sneezed, sighed inwardly, and continued staring at the wall. He'd made Reiko undress; on the basis she was more fragile than he was. For all he knew she was completely naked, two metres behind him, in front of the fire. His clothes were sticking to his skin. He was cold. No, he was freezing. Soujiro didn't actually think these things; he didn't even really register them. They were, on the other hand, guessed by the female occupant of the cave who was not butt-naked as Soujiro was really trying not to imagine. She was in her under-dress, a simple, light fold-over modelled after a simple kimono for the purpose of warmth and, given the fragile nature of the opening in the kimono, modesty. Reiko didn't really understand Soujiro's panic about her undressing, but Madam had pulled her aside before she had left.
"Rei-chan", she had said, "I think I should just warn you; Soujiro-kun has had a sheltered life, although not in the normal way the phrase means. He's probably never… been involved with a woman. Whereas you…"
"-am perfectly used to that kind of situation." Reiko said. Madam nodded.
"Yes, so… try and take into consider his feelings, dear. He might get a bit edgy."
Reiko stared at the flames. She was quite dry, and almost warm. Her outer kimono was a different matter, but still… she crawled across the dry cave floor and touched Soujiro's shoulder. It was still soaked.
'Soujiro-san? Come and sit by the fire and get dry.'
'I'm all right-' ACHOO '- Reiko-san…' ACHOO
'Yes, Soujiro-san, and Souta-sama is really Kenji-sama's pet monkey.' Reiko tugged at his sleeve. Soujiro's eyes widened at her comment and he was surprised enough to turned around at look at her, and faced her small, sweet, slow smile from point-blank range.
'Come on, Soujiro-san.' She told him, tugging at his sleeve again. 'You're catching cold.'
'Well-' Soujiro said, weakening. Reiko smiled at him. Soujiro gave up.
ACHOO!
Soujiro sighed to himself. He was beginning to feel sorry for himself. Maybe because he'd never had a cold in his life, the gods were going to stick a real bad one on him now. Reiko patted his clothes; she'd made him take off his shirts.
'Still wet.' She sighed, sitting next to him. Soujiro tried not the shirt nervously; all too aware there was quite a pretty if a bit thin girl in what was very nearly her underwear next to him. The rain was still coming down, heavier than that time…he didn't want to think about it.
'Reiko-san, do you miss Madam and her children?'
'A little bit,' Reiko said, after a short pause. 'But only when I think of them for a long time; I'm having fun travelling with you, Soujiro-san.'
Soujiro blinked.
'You are?'
Reiko nodded. For some reason Soujiro felt relieved. He sneezed again. Reiko glanced at him.
'Soujiro-san, I realise you might not be all right with this, and I sorry to unnerve you but-'
'What?' Soujiro asked.
'Please lie down.' Reiko said, the tiniest bit a steel coming into her voice. For a brief moment Soujiro had a vision of Yumi, bossing around everyone. Something in Reiko's gentle, concerned voice was reminiscent of that command. And, like he did with Yumi, Soujiro smiled and held up his hands.
'Maa, I'm all right- ACHOO!'
'Soujiro-san… what did I say about Kenji's pet monkey?' Reiko asked. 'Onegai, you'll get very sick.'
Soujiro hesitated, and then lay down, edging a little closer to the fire.
'What are you going to-' he stopped as Reiko lay down and put her arms and head on his chest, tucking her frail body up against his. She was warm…
'R-Reiko-san-'
'I'm just warming you, Soujiro-san. Just rest, please, you'll get sick.' She was almost pleading with him, now. Soujiro tried to relax, but his arm was trapped and- Reiko sat up suddenly and gently took his trapped arm, lay back down and pushed it over her shoulders.
'Just sleep.' She told him, tapping his chest.
'Y-yeah, right.' Soujiro managed to agree, as she snuggled up against him. He had to admit she was warming him up, and she was somehow… relaxing. He'd found that before, actually. Reiko was a soothing person. She was also, apparently, rather good at soothing when she meant to do it as well. His head felt fuzzy. Soujiro felt his eyes flutter closed, and Reiko shift slightly against him before unconsciousness swept in.
'There you are… I never expected you to hide in a place like this…'
He came closer, his greedy little eyes glimmering with malice-
If you're strong you live-
'Hey, where did you get that expensive-looking wakizashi?'
If you're weak…'Was it in the rice shed? Gimme…'
It rained blood.
Reiko listened as Soujiro's breathing became quick, like he was panicking or frightened. She could here his heartbeat speed up. She took her head off his chest and glanced outside; it was totally blank, except for the dying embers of the fire. She must have been dozing for longer than she'd thought. She'd meant to keep totally awake to keep an eye on Soujiro, but- Reiko kept as close as she could to the boy, reached over and tossed a small piece of wood on the fire for the flames to pick up. Soujiro was sweating- placing a hand against his forehead, she decided it wasn't all due to his mild fever.
'Soujiro-san..' she murmured, his the boy bit his lip in his sleep.
It rained blood. Rich, red, almost black in the night. Then the rain, the real water rain came back. It washed the red rain from his cheeks, but…water touched his skin, and ti wasn't from the rain.
'Are you crying?' Shishio-san said from where he leant on the storehouse door. Soujiro looked up at the clouds through his soaked bangs, feeling the warmth of his tears against the cold of the rain and then…he "knew" they weren't tears anymore. He wouldn't be crying because…
'No, sir.'
The strong live. He lived… he breathed, standing in pools of blood..
Reiko's eyes widened as Soujiro's teeth dug so hard into his lip blood trickled down his chin. Reaching across, she brushed it away and placed her hand on his shoulder.
'Soujiro-san.' She said, shaking him, but he wouldn't wake up. It only made him worse.
'Soujiro-san..' there hadn't been a woman here before. Soujiro glanced at Shishio-san, to see if he would kill her, but… Shishio-san faded from his sight.
'Shishio-san!' Soujiro cried, running to the spot where the man had stood. 'Shishio-san!'
But now he was all alone. But that was all right, because… because…
'Soujiro-san.' Soujiro looked up, holding tight onto his wakizashi, his truth. The woman was really pretty, he noticed, half-dressed, but she didn't look cold.
'Who are you?' he asked. She didn't answer, sitting down on the storehouse steps, patting the ground next to her. Little Soujiro found himself sitting where she directed.
'Why are you crying?' she asked.
'I wasn't crying!' Soujiro smiled, but at her comment, his eyes stung again. Why? What was wrong with him?
'I try and do what my heart tells me.' She whispered, looking at the rain. Soujiro's blue eyes widened. 'Whether I live or die… I can be happy that way.'
'You're weak.' Soujiro said. She smiled.
'Yes, I am. But is being weak… really that bad?'
Soujiro shook, her words reaching right into his soul.
'Soujiro-san? Is it?'
Reiko took Soujiro's clenched fist in her small hands and gently pried his fingernails out of his palm, slipping her hand in to protect his skin. She gave the boy a gently hug
'Wake up, Soujiro-san…' she murmured. After a moment, she realised his heartbeat had calmed down. She let herself relax, and his heartbeat slowed down again. She smiled faintly. At least it seemed she could help, after all…
