My good friend Jack in Austraila drew a comic based on this fic. It can be found here: http://www.anre.net/samsite/gallery/album14 And please check out the rest of her gallery. She is a fanastic artist and an even better friend.
Jack sighed as he continued down the snowy forest trail. The scene was a common sight for him; bounty hunters warm in the inn, and he was stuck in the cold. Sometimes it didn't pay to be Samurai Jack. He shivered in the cold and rubbed his arms for warmth, his gi so unsuited for this weather. He glared at the gray sky as fat snowflakes began to fall. With still no shelter in sight, he sighed and continued on. "I'll never give up," He reminded himself. "No matter what Aku throws at me."
But as the hours dragged on, his vow was tested to the max. What started as a light snowfall became a full blizzard. Snow pelted his weary body, his hair now a wild mane of black and white. Dragging himself onward, he prayed for relief soon. He shouted in frustration as he dropped into the snow below, too weak to continue on. "I will never give up," He whispered to himself, though a tear snuck down his face, knowing his time was soon over. Thankfully, he blacked out and he became numb to the cold.
* * * * *
He was dimly aware of being pulled from the snow, his connection with reality was that of a dream-like quality. A voice echoed thru his mind, the words mumbled and faint to him, but at least he knew he was alive. His lips curved as best they could into a slight smile, grateful for the caring soul who braved the cold to help him.
"Easy there, Jack, I got you." A woman said softly as she carried the fallen warrior back to her cabin. "You'll be alright."
"...thank you..." He whispered, his voice barely audible.
She smiled at him, "Anything for you, Jack, anything for you." She entered her house and took him straight to the bathroom. She started to fill the tub with warm water and turned to poor Jack, who was leaning against the wall for support, and still shivered from the cold. She carefully stripped him of his soaking wet attire, and helped him into the tub. Instinctively, his body recoiled at the sting of heat against his cold skin, but it soon gave way to soothing warmth. He sighed in relief and sunk into the water. The women smiled to herself and carefully began to scrub him gently with a soapy washcloth. She undid his topknot and watched with happy eyes on the mane of thick and luxurious hair spilling out onto his shoulders. She rubbed in shampoo and conditioner, her fingers digging into his scalp in extacy. Jack lost himself in the special treatment he was recieving, such a change from what he was used to.
"Shhh, it's OK, Jack," She soothed as she gently rubbed his frozen body with the warm cloth. His great muscles forgot their tenseness and relaxed in the water, happy and content. She smiled at the sign of relief coursing thru him. "I'm here, you'll be fine."
She emptied the tub and patted him dry with great care. She squeezed out his damp hair with her hands, careful to massage his scalp. Jack tried to help as his strength was returning but she wouldn't have it. "No Jack, you are not strong enough yet. Just let me."
Fighting his mind's chastisement for being so weak, he settled down, grateful for the caring treatment he so desperately needed. If it weren't for her, he'd probably be dead, and what a death it would be. The mighty Samurai Jack does not fall in battle to Aku, but to the forces on nature and the unrelenting cold. And when you consider his mother living out in exile from her beloved Japan in Siberia, while her husband slaves under Aku, and her son travels the future of a world where the tyrant ruled over for centuries, yes what a dishonorable death it would be!
She dressed him in baby blue flannels made of the softest cotton. His hair still rested against his back, but he had no strength or will to tie it back into a topknot.
"Lean against me, Jack," She said as she pulled him up out of the tub, threw his arm around her neck, and assisted him into the bedroom, only stumbling twice. She swung him onto the bed and tucked him in nice and tight, his head resting on her most comfortable pillow.
Jack snuggled in quickly, very comfortable and content, "Thank you for everything."
His caretaker smiled, "Anything for you, Jack. I'll be back with some food and drink." He was so beautiful lying there helpless, totally dependent on her. She left only for a minute and returned with a bowl of miso soup and green tea. "Can you sit up for me?"
He did his best and scooted himself up more.
"Good job. I see your strength is returning," She sat alongside of him and spoon-fed the soup to him. "You can stay here for as long as you need. I won't put you out before I know you are fully healthy again. The world can't lose her savior," She paused a moment and whispered, "And neither can I."
Jack smiled sweetly, "Thank you."
She blushed in modesty, "Come on now, there's still more then half the bowl left."
His face flushed as she spoon-fed him, thinking of what the world would think if they knew. Aku would die laughing watching his greatest foe being spoon-fed by a woman, and the Scotsman…
"Ha! Yer a real pansy now, laddie," Jack heard the burly man say in his mind. He said nothing in response, maybe he was a pansy, but he was enjoying this.
When the last of the soup was down his throat, he settled back into bed, the woman still sitting next to him, watching him with caring eyes. "I can never repay you for your generosity."
She shook her head, "Of course you can, by never losing faith and defeating Aku once and for all. I know you can do it, just believe in yourself." She rested her hand against his cheek, "I've lost so many loved ones to him. I've watched helplessly as they struggled as slaves to his will, but they never gave up hope that you would come thru."
"I will always remember, and never give up hope," He said, determination flowing thru out his voice. "I am sorry that I could not liberate your people, but I will avenge their deaths. I swear it."
"I believe you, and I know you'll keep your word. I have complete faith in you," She whispered, stroking his soft, soft hair.
For the first time Jack noticed she was of Japanese descent, about 26 like himself, tall, thin, and something very familiar and soothing about her eyes.
She smiled at him, "You stare at me somthing fierce, dear Jack, what is on your mind?"
"You just remind me of someone I knew long ago in my homeland."
"Oh? And who would this be?"
He sighed as his memories took a happy road into the past, "When I was a child my favorite pasttime was to chase the locusts in the field. On one summer day, I ran into a little girl, and together we chased the locusts. When the last one flew away, I made her a origami locust to remember our fun. She kissed my cheek..." And his voice trailed off into deep slumber, his body giving in to the comfort and ease of deep sleep.
She smiled at him and brushed away loose strands of hair, tears falling onto his face. "She never left you, Jack, she's always with you, even when you cannot see it." She laid a hand over his heart, and laid her head on his shoulder, holding him close. They laid together like that for all the night and morning. Around noon the next day, he dragged himself from the peaceful dreamword and back to reality.
"Good morning, dear Jack," His caretaker greeted, sitting next to him on the bed.
"Good morning," He greeted with a smile. "Thank you so much, my friend. My strength has returned to me and I feel my best." He tried to get up out of the bed but once again he was pushed back.
"Forgive me if I say I enjoy treating you this way," She smiled at him. "But surely you can honor my request for a little longer."
"Of course, it is the least I can do in return for your generousity."
"Good, how would you like a little breakfast?"
His stomach rumbled in response.
She laughed, "I'll make it a large breakfast then. You need to keep up your strength." She made eggs, bacon, pancakes, and French toast by the stackful, delivering them all to Jack in bed. As he gleefully ate his meal, she washed his gi and obi clean of all filth and fluffed it until it was soft and gentle as cotton once again.
"Here you are, Jack," She placed his clothes on a pile at the end of the bed as he piled up his dishes. "But please do not think I am pushing you out."
"I know you are not, but it is time that I continued my journey."
She nodded and left the room while he dressed. She met him at the front door, where the storm had stopped and the sun shone brightly.
"I wish you the best of luck on your journey, and I know you will someday defeat Aku and return home, and to me, my sweet Harutomo." With the softest of lips, she kissed his cheek.
Jack was stunned. Harutomo... his true name, but had told nobody that here in the future. She had to be... she had to be...
"Keiko?" He wondered aloud. The same girl that chased locusts with him in those lost years of innocence?
She smiled brightly at him and nodded, "Soon Jack, we will be reunited when all is right with the world." Her body was engulfed in light and Jack was forced to look away. When the light faded away, she was gone, no trace of her at all. His hand touched the cheek she had once again blessed with her lips,
"You saved my life, my sweet Keiko. I will defeat Aku and return to the past, I swear it."
Jack sighed as he continued down the snowy forest trail. The scene was a common sight for him; bounty hunters warm in the inn, and he was stuck in the cold. Sometimes it didn't pay to be Samurai Jack. He shivered in the cold and rubbed his arms for warmth, his gi so unsuited for this weather. He glared at the gray sky as fat snowflakes began to fall. With still no shelter in sight, he sighed and continued on. "I'll never give up," He reminded himself. "No matter what Aku throws at me."
But as the hours dragged on, his vow was tested to the max. What started as a light snowfall became a full blizzard. Snow pelted his weary body, his hair now a wild mane of black and white. Dragging himself onward, he prayed for relief soon. He shouted in frustration as he dropped into the snow below, too weak to continue on. "I will never give up," He whispered to himself, though a tear snuck down his face, knowing his time was soon over. Thankfully, he blacked out and he became numb to the cold.
* * * * *
He was dimly aware of being pulled from the snow, his connection with reality was that of a dream-like quality. A voice echoed thru his mind, the words mumbled and faint to him, but at least he knew he was alive. His lips curved as best they could into a slight smile, grateful for the caring soul who braved the cold to help him.
"Easy there, Jack, I got you." A woman said softly as she carried the fallen warrior back to her cabin. "You'll be alright."
"...thank you..." He whispered, his voice barely audible.
She smiled at him, "Anything for you, Jack, anything for you." She entered her house and took him straight to the bathroom. She started to fill the tub with warm water and turned to poor Jack, who was leaning against the wall for support, and still shivered from the cold. She carefully stripped him of his soaking wet attire, and helped him into the tub. Instinctively, his body recoiled at the sting of heat against his cold skin, but it soon gave way to soothing warmth. He sighed in relief and sunk into the water. The women smiled to herself and carefully began to scrub him gently with a soapy washcloth. She undid his topknot and watched with happy eyes on the mane of thick and luxurious hair spilling out onto his shoulders. She rubbed in shampoo and conditioner, her fingers digging into his scalp in extacy. Jack lost himself in the special treatment he was recieving, such a change from what he was used to.
"Shhh, it's OK, Jack," She soothed as she gently rubbed his frozen body with the warm cloth. His great muscles forgot their tenseness and relaxed in the water, happy and content. She smiled at the sign of relief coursing thru him. "I'm here, you'll be fine."
She emptied the tub and patted him dry with great care. She squeezed out his damp hair with her hands, careful to massage his scalp. Jack tried to help as his strength was returning but she wouldn't have it. "No Jack, you are not strong enough yet. Just let me."
Fighting his mind's chastisement for being so weak, he settled down, grateful for the caring treatment he so desperately needed. If it weren't for her, he'd probably be dead, and what a death it would be. The mighty Samurai Jack does not fall in battle to Aku, but to the forces on nature and the unrelenting cold. And when you consider his mother living out in exile from her beloved Japan in Siberia, while her husband slaves under Aku, and her son travels the future of a world where the tyrant ruled over for centuries, yes what a dishonorable death it would be!
She dressed him in baby blue flannels made of the softest cotton. His hair still rested against his back, but he had no strength or will to tie it back into a topknot.
"Lean against me, Jack," She said as she pulled him up out of the tub, threw his arm around her neck, and assisted him into the bedroom, only stumbling twice. She swung him onto the bed and tucked him in nice and tight, his head resting on her most comfortable pillow.
Jack snuggled in quickly, very comfortable and content, "Thank you for everything."
His caretaker smiled, "Anything for you, Jack. I'll be back with some food and drink." He was so beautiful lying there helpless, totally dependent on her. She left only for a minute and returned with a bowl of miso soup and green tea. "Can you sit up for me?"
He did his best and scooted himself up more.
"Good job. I see your strength is returning," She sat alongside of him and spoon-fed the soup to him. "You can stay here for as long as you need. I won't put you out before I know you are fully healthy again. The world can't lose her savior," She paused a moment and whispered, "And neither can I."
Jack smiled sweetly, "Thank you."
She blushed in modesty, "Come on now, there's still more then half the bowl left."
His face flushed as she spoon-fed him, thinking of what the world would think if they knew. Aku would die laughing watching his greatest foe being spoon-fed by a woman, and the Scotsman…
"Ha! Yer a real pansy now, laddie," Jack heard the burly man say in his mind. He said nothing in response, maybe he was a pansy, but he was enjoying this.
When the last of the soup was down his throat, he settled back into bed, the woman still sitting next to him, watching him with caring eyes. "I can never repay you for your generosity."
She shook her head, "Of course you can, by never losing faith and defeating Aku once and for all. I know you can do it, just believe in yourself." She rested her hand against his cheek, "I've lost so many loved ones to him. I've watched helplessly as they struggled as slaves to his will, but they never gave up hope that you would come thru."
"I will always remember, and never give up hope," He said, determination flowing thru out his voice. "I am sorry that I could not liberate your people, but I will avenge their deaths. I swear it."
"I believe you, and I know you'll keep your word. I have complete faith in you," She whispered, stroking his soft, soft hair.
For the first time Jack noticed she was of Japanese descent, about 26 like himself, tall, thin, and something very familiar and soothing about her eyes.
She smiled at him, "You stare at me somthing fierce, dear Jack, what is on your mind?"
"You just remind me of someone I knew long ago in my homeland."
"Oh? And who would this be?"
He sighed as his memories took a happy road into the past, "When I was a child my favorite pasttime was to chase the locusts in the field. On one summer day, I ran into a little girl, and together we chased the locusts. When the last one flew away, I made her a origami locust to remember our fun. She kissed my cheek..." And his voice trailed off into deep slumber, his body giving in to the comfort and ease of deep sleep.
She smiled at him and brushed away loose strands of hair, tears falling onto his face. "She never left you, Jack, she's always with you, even when you cannot see it." She laid a hand over his heart, and laid her head on his shoulder, holding him close. They laid together like that for all the night and morning. Around noon the next day, he dragged himself from the peaceful dreamword and back to reality.
"Good morning, dear Jack," His caretaker greeted, sitting next to him on the bed.
"Good morning," He greeted with a smile. "Thank you so much, my friend. My strength has returned to me and I feel my best." He tried to get up out of the bed but once again he was pushed back.
"Forgive me if I say I enjoy treating you this way," She smiled at him. "But surely you can honor my request for a little longer."
"Of course, it is the least I can do in return for your generousity."
"Good, how would you like a little breakfast?"
His stomach rumbled in response.
She laughed, "I'll make it a large breakfast then. You need to keep up your strength." She made eggs, bacon, pancakes, and French toast by the stackful, delivering them all to Jack in bed. As he gleefully ate his meal, she washed his gi and obi clean of all filth and fluffed it until it was soft and gentle as cotton once again.
"Here you are, Jack," She placed his clothes on a pile at the end of the bed as he piled up his dishes. "But please do not think I am pushing you out."
"I know you are not, but it is time that I continued my journey."
She nodded and left the room while he dressed. She met him at the front door, where the storm had stopped and the sun shone brightly.
"I wish you the best of luck on your journey, and I know you will someday defeat Aku and return home, and to me, my sweet Harutomo." With the softest of lips, she kissed his cheek.
Jack was stunned. Harutomo... his true name, but had told nobody that here in the future. She had to be... she had to be...
"Keiko?" He wondered aloud. The same girl that chased locusts with him in those lost years of innocence?
She smiled brightly at him and nodded, "Soon Jack, we will be reunited when all is right with the world." Her body was engulfed in light and Jack was forced to look away. When the light faded away, she was gone, no trace of her at all. His hand touched the cheek she had once again blessed with her lips,
"You saved my life, my sweet Keiko. I will defeat Aku and return to the past, I swear it."
