A/N: I am SO sorry this took so long to get out. I have even more work this term than I did last term. I have exams starting in a few days so I doubt the next chapter will be up faster than this one was. -_-;;; I am really sorry about this. Please don't yell at me.
Soujiro-san e: to Soujiro
Aniki: another way of saying "older brother".
Jaa, kore de… genki de ne. Reiko-yori: Well, that's enough. Stay well, from Reiko.
Chapter Seven: Tegami no Sekai
A World of Letters
Reiko carefully ran her fingers along the crease of the letter and slipped it into the already addressed envelope. She put that letter to the side and picked up another sheet of paper, and regarded it for a while. She then took up her ink pen, and wrote carefully on the top of the page:
Soujiro-san e
As the pen moved in graceful lines, relating what she had the say, Reiko's mind paid no attention to the strokes that shaped the characters. With her dark hair undone and tumbling around her shoulders, the hairpin next to her on the desk, her eyes indicated she was reliving what she was telling the young swordsman- if, indeed, he still was one. In her heart Reiko doubted Soujiro would ever really give up using his sword. There was too much guilt there. What for, Reiko accepted she would probably never know, and in truth, didn't really care. What she cared about was whether Soujiro-san found his truth, whatever that was.
Today, Kyoko-neechan and I went shopping inside the city…
It had started off ordinary enough. The car ride had been nice. It was summer now; beautifully warm, with a few white clouds speckled across the sky. The warm breeze had brushed past the faces of the two women.
'I think I'll get some new hairpins,' Kyoko was saying. Reiko turned away from the window to look at the older woman. 'Perhaps something in blue this time. What about you, Rei-chan?'
'I'm not sure,' Reiko said, still unaccustomed to voicing her own wants or needs. Kyoko rolled her eyes.
'Rei-chan…'
'Yes, yes, I know.' Reiko sighed. 'My dress is getting a little worn…'
'Which one?'
'The red one…'
'What? No!' Kyoko wailed. 'You look gorgeous in that!'
'Yes, that's why it's worn.' Reiko said. 'You always make me wear it.'
Kyoko looked suspiciously at Reiko. Sometimes she wondered if the girl was developing a sense of humour.
'Well, we'll get you a new one,' the woman said, waving a hand airily. Her eyes began to sparkle. 'And you can wear it when Soujiro-san comes to whisk you away when we arrive back in Yokohama!'
A sweatdrop slid down Reiko's forehead.
'Um… Kyoko-san-'
'Neechan!' Kyoko shouted. 'I'm not "san"!'
'-neechan,' Reiko quickly amended. Kyoko subsided. 'I don't think Soujiro-san is going to-'
'Don't be stupid.' Kyoko said. 'Sou-chan, if not at the port, will run into you fairly soon afterwards.'
She'd sent him a very succinct letter on the matter. Including death threat. Reiko looked sceptical, but nodded. Kyoko saw the small flicker of hope. It was strange how quickly one got attached to some people. The problem with hope was that it can keep keep you going; but if your wish doesn't come true, that same shattered hope can break everything you have and are.
Soujiro found himself in a small town, about the same size as the one that Madam and her sons lived in. It seemed fairly run down; the people here seemed tired. Not unhappy, as such, just tired. Life must be fairly difficult out here, Soujiro mused. Perhaps the rice doesn't grow well or something.
He decided not so stop here. The people looked like they had enough troubles themselves, without having some stranger walk in on them. As he passed though the town, his sharp eyes also noticed something strange.
They paid absolutely no attention to his sword, just like in Madam's town. Suspicion began to bloom; perhaps here they also had someone who lorded it over everyone, isolated the town. Japan had bigger problems at the moment than to worry about some tiny town that barely produced enough for itself. As if to confirm his suspicions, a pair of men, armed, swaggered down the street towards him. The others in the street automatically began to walk on the edges of the road. The men looked out of place in the navy-blue uniform they wore. Soujiro recognised in them the street thugs and drunks that were like cockroaches; wherever you go, they're there, and seemingly impossible to get rid of. And most of these were oppurtunistic, which had no doubt resulted in men like the two before him.
'Hey, shrimp.' One of them leered. Soujiro suppressed a sigh, and smiled up at them.
'Yes, sir?'
The smell of sake hit his nostrils. Drunk as well. Well, that was no real surprise. Soujiro had never been able to drink sake. He was afraid of what it could do to a man… he's seen in first off, after all, at the age of eight years old…
'What're you doin' in a place like this?'
Soujiro was mildly puzzled. He'd thought that was a line used on women, but perhaps there were some crucial differences. The lack of the term "sweet thing" for one. This came as somewhat of a relief. Kamatari's jokes all those years ago were one thing. He didn't need to be hit on by some drunken thug with a sword who was under orders to kill people like him.
'Just passing through.' Soujiro smiled. As with most drunks, the man's mood changed like lightning.
'Why're you SMILING?!' he bellowed, raising a fist. Soujiro didn't flinch, which angered the man more.
'Stop it!' the other man yelled, and this time the other raised fist did lash out. Soujiro took the punch easily, though it didn't look like it. The force made him take a few steps back, but no one around had seen enough battles to notice the way his feet moved. Soujiro raised his head, the angry red mark on his cheek flaming.
Maybe… your true self…
The pen paused in it's movements across the page. Reiko seemed to shrug, and kept on writing.
When they had reached the street, full of shops, Kyoko and Reiko went to the coffee shop for a quiet drink to further plan their day. There was a cry from just beyond the café; one belonging to a child. Reiko quickly stood up, following several other people towards the sound. Kyoko put down her spoon and hurried after Reiko.
It was a cat. It was stuck up a tree, insofar as a cat could be stuck up a tree. Kyoko said they could in fact get themselves down. It was just that they had an inferiority complex, so they needed to see the humans that fed and looked after them running around in a panic.
'That seems rather selfish.' Reiko commented, looking at the grey cat that was standing on one of the highest branches in the tree.
'Well, no one ever said cats were generous.' Kyoko replied. 'A bit like humans, really. Oh, here we go.'
A young man stepped forward, giving his jacket to the little girl to hold. The young man was, Reiko realised, Kurt. A small part of her she was just a little bit scared of started laughing rather nastily. Kurt climbed the tree and ignored the cat's hisses and scratches, and got back down again. He gave the cat to the little girl, who beamed happily and carried the poor animal off via a clumsy grip under its forelegs. Kyoko felt an odd pang of pity.
'Is your arm all right, Kurt?' Reiko asked, amid the applause. Kyoko smacked her forehead, wishing she'd remembered to tell the girl to curb her caring instincts at least until everyone else had left. Kurt looked at her in surprise.
Well, it looked so much like surprise that Kyoko seriously doubted that it was. Oh, what she would give to smack that all-too-handsome face of that absolute-
'Reiko!' he smiled. A few women in the crowd sighed, recognising Young Love when they saw it. And between such a perfectly matched couple, too; the young, wealthy businessman, and the young, beautiful and wealthy foreigner Reiko, who had won the hearts of many in the town with her caring and submissive nature. While normally love was frowned upon, here, between two acceptable people, it was beautiful.
'It's just a few scratches, Miss Reiko.' Kurt said. Kyoko felt like screaming as Reiko pulled out her handkerchief. Anyone who didn't know the girl very well would be giggling at the sheer romanticism of it all. Reiko tied the handkerchief around Kurt's arm and passed him his jacket as well.
'Thankyou.' Kurt said, with a tender smile. Kyoko began wondering how she could prove herself innocent of homicide.
'That's all right,' Reiko said.
'Miss Reiko? There is something I'd like to ask you.'
The noise Kyoko made can only be described as '-gck'
'What is it?' Reiko asked.
'Would you accept an offer to unite yourself with me?'
Reiko stared at him.
'Would you marry me?' Kurt translated.
Reiko continued to stare. Her lessons in manners and etiquette from both countries completely failed her. The audience began to applaud, obviously taking Reiko's shock to be one of endearing surprise and awe at the gracious offer.
'Hold everything!' Kyoko bellowed. It was a voice of command. Kyoko marched up to the couple and glared up at Kurt.
'What,' she snapped, 'do you think you are doing?'
Maybe… your true self…
Soujiro didn't seem to move, but the sword swished past in a clumsy arc. The young man's right hand twitched.
..doesn't want to live at the expense of others
Soujiro gripped the hilt of his sword. Sunlight rippled through the air as the blade moved and turned. The two bodies of the men hit the ground behind Soujiro, who looked at his sword. Reversed, but…
Soujiro's hand shook. What if he forgot? Wouldn't it be better just to let them kill him?
He wasn't afraid of dying; it was just that… he just didn't want to.
Soujiro sheathed his sword. He'd killed so many, and he hadn't wanted to. He would never be able to save as many as he had killed with his sword; not in this life, not in this Meiji world. It was getting much harder to travel with a sword at his side. He ran a hand across his forehead. He regretted killing, all those years, yes. But, a part of him argued, he hadn't known what he was doing wasn't really what he wanted.
But even that didn't excuse his crimes. But… he looked at his sword. Was that was what he was afraid of?
But it was the only thing certain in this world. Soujiro's grip tightened briefly.
'TASUKETE!' the scream hit Soujiro's ears and sent a wave of coldness right through his body. His head flew up. 'DAREKA! TASUKETE!'
Soujiro disappeared, and re-appeared in front of the children, fighting down the urge to laugh as they crashed into him. Oh, this was too ironic.
He grinned up at the three men chasing them, and saw the dead faces again. One, two, three, all in a row above him…
'Niisan-' the girl whispered, looking up at him. Soujiro knew both of them were crying, but he didn't look at them. He pushed them to one side. Was he going to do what no one had done for him?
Soujiro didn't know if the world deserved it. Now, he looked at the children. Twins, from the look of them, no more than eight years old. They were terrified, covered in bruises and dirt. Soujiro's shoulders began to shake as his hand slid up to cover his eyes. His lips parted, and a breathy laugh escaped. The three men's weapons- a sword, two sticks- were lowered slightly in surprise, but the sword raised again quickly.
'What are you laughing at?!'
Soujiro's laughter filled the alleyway. The little boy looked closely at the young man, and saw a teardrop trickle down his cheek. His grip on his sister tightened.
'He's nuts, aniki.' One of the attackers said, looking at the man with the sword. 'Let's just kill him as well.'
'Right! HYAAAAH!'
They charged, and Soujiro continued to laugh and cry through his fingers. The children hugged each other, eyes wide in terror. Just before the sword came down- Soujiro's hand dropped. A few watery sparkles flew through the air.
'DON'T TOUCH THEM!'
'Miss Kyoko?' Kurt asked, his smile becoming a little fixed.
'You heard me,' Kyoko said, putting a protective arm around Reiko.
'I want to marry Miss Reiko,' Kurt said. 'It would be in her best interests, and you know that.'
Kyoko's eyes narrowed as he continued.
'Not only will she be able to have the medical treatment she needs, but she will be financially secure for the rest of her life and able to live in comfort. She will be happy and able to fulfil her duty as a woman with me.'
'Duty as a-' Kyoko shook her head. 'You're referring to children, of course.'
Reiko pressed herself back against Kyoko's arm, though no one else could see the movement. Kyoko could feel the fear beginning to radiate off the girl.
'You make it sound like you can control her emotions.'
'To have a secure husband, children and a comfortable household? What else would a woman want?'
The worst thing, Kyoko thought, somehow managing to hold her tongue, was that he really had no idea. The whole concept of a woman being more than an accessory was completely beyond the man.
'I didn't want to tell you this,' she ground out. Reiko's fingernails dug into her arm, and Kyoko's mind turned over. No, she couldn't tell him that. Change to melodrama.
'She's already engaged to someone back in Japan.'
'What?'
Reiko stared at Kyoko, who shrugged. Kurt looked scandalised.
'Why did you not say anything?!' he said to Reiko.
'I… didn't think your intentions towards me were serious.' Reiko whispered.
'Fool! Why else would I be spending so much time around you?'
Kyoko winced. This was going to get ugly. She was surprised when Reiko, her hands shaking, gripped the material of her dress and looked up at Kurt.
'I thought you might simply be a friend. I see that is not the case.'
Kurt snorted. His ego was hurt; Kyoko knew there was very little she could do now to make him hold his tongue without risking being shut out of the town. As a woman she was bound by the unspoken laws… oh, for the freedom of a seaport back home…
'Were you not educated in the duty of a woman?' he sneered.
'I was,' Reiko said, a look coming into her eyes that Kyoko did not like, 'but it was a little different from you believe it is. Let's go, Kyoko-neesan.'
'Right.' Kyoko said, hurrying after the girl. Kyoko looked at Reiko's expression as the crowd parted before them with shocked whispers.
'Um… Rei-chan?'
'I want to see Soujiro again.' Reiko whispered, her voice hoarse. Her bangs covered her eyes. Kyoko nodded.
Yeah. In Japan they had the duty of a woman too. But at least in Reiko's case, in Japan… she had people who would never forgive anyone for making her follow it. And anyway… Reiko… could never have children of her own…. But that topic was far too depressing, and Kyoko had never been a woman who was stay upset or angry for a long time.
'You didn't say "Soujiro-san",' she grinned evilly. Reiko's eyes widened, and she looked at the older woman's expression. She began to blush.
'Ky-Kyoko-san, it's not-'
'Oh, it's EXACTLY what I think!' Kyoko cackled. 'BWAHAHAHA!'
'STOP IT!' the little girl screamed. There was a flash of light as Soujiro faltered in mid-swing, and then carried the stroke through. Three bodies hit the ground, and Soujiro's sandals skidded to a halt. The girl was shaking against her brother, her eyes wide and tearful.
'Don't…' she mumbled. 'They're… our family…'
Soujiro's eyes were wide as he slowly stood up. His lips twitched.
'They're not dead.' Her brother said, standing up from an examination of the bodies. 'They were…. going to kill us.' He looked up at Soujiro, who nodded. '…I…. thankyou… but… what do we do now? If we go back, they'll kill us…'
Are you coming with me?
Yeah..
Soujiro sheathed his sword.
'I know a place you can stay, at least for a while.' He said, not looking at them. 'I understand… you want to stay with your family. But do you want to die?'
It was a blunt way of putting it, but Soujiro knew bluntness was the only way to talk to children, for them to remember the words. He still remembered them, after all. The silence behind him told him the children were remembering the past terror. What would he have done?
I may be weak… but I prefer the way things are.
If someone had saved me, what would I have done? If I hadn't had the wakizashi..
'We…' the boy said, struggling to get the words out. Soujiro looked over his shoulder. 'We… want to stay but… we don't want to die, either…'
'You'll have to choose.'
'I don't know.' the boy whispered. 'They're all the family we have. What would you do?' he looked up at Soujiro. Soujiro almost took a step back, and then laughed quietly, looking up at the storm clouds growing overhead. There was always rain.
'When I was your age? I…' Soujiro trailed off. 'I don't want you to die.' He resumed. He wanted to know there was a happy ending, somewhere, for people like him.
'The people here don't love you. They don't think of you as family, even if you do. As someone older than you… I think…'
As someone older than you? The little girl thought. What a strange way of putting it…I wonder if he….
Her grip tightened on her brother's sleeves, just as his little jaw set.
'Where will you take us, niisan?'
Soujiro started walking.
'Yokohama. There's a house there I know of…'
Jaa, kore de… genki de ne.
Reiko-yori.
Soujiro stopped staring at the scenery outside of Madam's house, and looked back at the letter in his hand. The black ink letters were neat, careful as always. A smile twitched across his lips. He'd have to write and tell her about the twins, Ryoko and Kaji. She'd love to hear about the time Kaji walked into that hot spring inn they had passed on the way back…the women's side. Soujiro got up and slid open the door, and promptly crashed into Kenji, who was sprinting down the side corridor.
'ITAI!' they both yelped, reeling back.
'Soujiro, watch where you're going!' Kenji snapped. 'You're getting clumsy in your old age!'
'Who's old?' Soujiro asked, feigning offence. The two young men stared at each other, and then burst out laughing. Soujiro helped Kenji back onto his feet.
'When're you heading off?' the young master asked.
'Tomorrow morning,' Soujiro said. 'I was just going to say goodbye to Souta, before he falls asleep.'
Kenji nodded, and they parted ways. Soujiro stopped halfway down the corridor, and glanced at the garden on his right. He wondered when Reiko would be coming back. He felt an odd pain in his chest, and his hand clenched a little on the fabric. He laughed, softly to himself.
'Baka…' he mumbled, and continued his search for Souta.
Several weeks later:
Reiko-chan e
Soujiro paused, looking at the opening. He frowned, and picked up another piece of paper, raising a hand to brush the old one aside and into the rubbish bin. He stopped, and stared at the opening for a much longer time. He carefully put down the fresh piece of paper, and picked up his pen again, continuing from where he had left off.
I've had some adventures in the last few months I think you'll love hearing about…
Some time afterwards, he signed the letter and began to fold it up. He blinked as childish sniggers sounded from over his shoulder. He turned around. Kaji and Ryoko were grinning at him from half a metre away.
'Sooo….' Ryoko giggled.
'Who's "Reiko-chan", Sou-chan?' Kaji grinned evilly. Soujiro felt a sudden urge to back away.
'Um…'
'BWAHAHAHA!'
~ Soujiro-yori
Reiko managed to get her giggles under control long enough for her to pass the letter to Kyoko. The women didn't get past the first line.
' "Reiko- CHAN"?!'
