The Crimson-Eyed Stranger

The moon was high in the sky even though the horizon was still brightly lit in an array of colors. By this time, Kiriko was deep in the woods. She pulled out her map a couple of times to see if the trail was located on it. It was drawn on the map but the ink was very faded. I hope I make it to Kyoto in the next two nights…… I knew I shouldn't have stayed there another day but it did feel nice sleeping in a warm room. I actually had fun working there even though it was for a day and a half. As Kiriko got deeper in to the woods, the trail started to fade away. The ground became more rocky and steep. I must be in the Hakone Mountains she thought as she continued up the steep slopes and came upon a small cave.

Kiriko peaked inside. There were some remains from a fire and two jugs by the far wall. Obviously someone was either living here or was traveling like her. Who ever is living here might not be too friendly, she moved quickly away from the cave. As she trudged along down hill, the woods started to open up.

"Wow!" She exclaimed as she stood in front of a magnificent waterfall. It wasn't very big but it shined under the great moonlight. A silvery mist surrounded the large pond below. It almost looked magical. Kiriko couldn't help herself; she just had to take a quick dip.

She took a quick look around to make sure no one was watching. Who am I kidding, there's no one way out here…Oh this is so exciting. I've never been skinny dipping before. She started to giggle as she placed her satchel and clothes on a nearby rock. Then she took out the French braid Ayana put in her hair. Kiriko dipped her toe in. BBRRR It's freezing. This only made it more exciting for her.

"Well here I go!" She took a deep breath and dove into the pond.

Not to far away, the young stranger from the tavern was coming back to the cave. He figured he'd better get some more water before he left for Kyoto. The stranger picked up one of the jugs and headed for the pond.

As he got closer, he heard some splashing in the distance. He put done his jug and pulled out his sword. Did someone follow me from Odawara, he thought

He walked towards the edge of the woods cautiously. Then he decided to climb a tree and observe the situation from above. When he got to the top, he peered through the thick brush to spy on his intruder. What he saw instead almost made him lose his balance.

There was a young girl swimming in the pond. She had long dark hair that circled her like a pool of red wine. Her pale skin glowed under the moonlight as she dove into the water and splashed back out again flipping her hair over her head. She started to swim towards the shore. As she emerged from the water, her long hair flowed around her, concealing her body but accentuating every heavenly curve. He couldn't turn his eyes away, as the pond's mist encircled her and she seemed to be floating to the nearby rocks along the shore. This can't be real, he thought shaking his head, she must be a water spirit.

Ooohh that felt wonderful, she grabbed her satchel to get her towel. Suddenly, Kiriko got the sudden feeling she was being watched. She wrapped the towel around her quickly then looked over her shoulder at the woods. The trees were still but then a couple of leaves fell out of one of them. THERE! She grabbed the bokken.

He watched as she put the towel around her. He tried to adjust himself to get a better look at what she was doing. A couple of leaves fell out of the tree. Then she disappeared. Where did she go, he looked around but all of sudden he felt a presence of someone coming at him fast.

"PERVERT!"

He turned quickly and used his sheath to block the bokken from hitting his head. "WHAT THE-!"

"YOU PERVERT!" Kiriko yelled as she swung the bokken at him again this time towards the right side of his face.

He blocked it again. "WHOA! Wait a minute!" He scrabbled away from her and jumped out of the tree. Kiriko came flying after him. She swung for his head again and he blocked it again.

"YOU DIRTY PEEPING TOM!" She screamed as she spun and swung at his neck.

He ducked and aimed for her hand to knock the bokken out but she moved fast and caught him in the gut.

"OOOOmph!"" he doubled over as the wind was knocked out of him.

Finally, Kiriko stepped back. "Get out of here you peeping Tom! Before I do more then just knock the wind out of you!"

"I'm…not …a peeping tom." He said finally able to breathe again.

"Then what the hell were you doing in that tree, HUH! Bird watching!" She yelled at him.

He got up and dusted the dirt of his hakama then he looked at her. Is this the girl from the tavern? He couldn't help but to stare at her in the short white towel that barely cover her milky thighs. After a moment passed, he realized he was staring. Clearing his throat he proceeded to answer her, "Uuumm….No I wasn't bird watching, either. I came down to the pond to get some water and-"

"OH-HO! You can really get water from the top of the tree! Yeah, try another one buddy that lie isn't working!" She glared at him with her arms folded over her chest.

He looked at her annoyed, "As I was saying, I came down to the pond to get some wat-"

"I told you that line isn't wor-"

"Will..you shut up." He said rolling his eyes.

Kirko gasped, "HOW DARE YOU! YOU WERE THE ONE PEEPING AT ME YOU ASSHOLE! I SHOULD KNOCK THE-"

"Will you let me FINISH!" His voice bombed at her. She took a step back but didn't say a word.

He signed. "As I was saying. I was coming down here to get some more water until I heard you splashing around. I thought someone was following me so I went into the tree to check out the situation. I thought I would see some men looking for me but instead I saw you."

Kiriko glared up in to his glowing chestnut red eyes and could see that he was telling the truth. "Okay…fine you thought someone was following you, but let me ask you this, why didn't you come down the tree when you saw it was me?"

"What the hell are you doing way out here in the first place?" He was obviously trying to change the subject.

"That's none of your damn business!"

"Hhmm…fair enough." He then put his sword back into it's sheath on his back and turned to walk away.

This made Kiriko angry, "WELL! Aren't you going to answer my question!"

He turned slightly and looked at her over his shoulder, "Why should I answer to a little brat like you?" Then he walked back into the woods.

Kiriko was fuming. She quickly put her clothes on and continued on her way. That asshole. He's got some nerve! He has no right speaking to me like that. Damn pervert! As she walked, she thought about when he got up to dust off the dirt. She remembered him standing about a foot taller then her. She could see the moonlight touching his hair, making it shimmer with an almost blue-black radiance. His long wild bangs concealed most of his face but Kiriko could see his eyes. Those extraordinary eyes that looked chestnut brown but glowed with a crimson iridescence, they were very………… enchanting.

Kiriko stopped in her tracks and shook her head. "YUCK, what am I doing thinking about that asshole, peeping Tom." Kiriko said out loud to herself.

It was getting late and she was extremely tired.

She built herself a small fire and got comfortable. Kiriko fell asleep of the image of him standing in the moonlight.

Why didn't I apologize, he thought as he laid on the cave floor watching the fire dance. He could almost see her moving amongst the flames. First splashing out of the water then emerging from the pond with the mist wrapped around her. He could still see her beautiful eyes glowing with anger at his rude out burst. Why did I say that to her, he blinked his eyes and looked away from the fire. Why am I even thinking about that brat?.

"UGH! I need to get some sleep." He grunted in frustration. Then he rolled over and fell asleep. That night he had three wonderful dreams about water spirits.