"One Day"
Sanzo once said that blood was not the only thing that was red. I had always wondered what someone could see in crimson hair and eyes, if not blood, but as I spoke my thoughts aloud one snowy day, I found out.
"One [Snowy] Day"
Gojyo sat outside an inn smoking, as it was not allowed inside. He was busy thinking about why he was there. It was a snowy day, and the sun was slowly setting down the western sky.
"Why am I here? I must be a fool to travel with those three morons!"
"Traveling and wondering 'why?' is better than standing still and wondering 'what if I had gone?'," cheerfully stated a smooth, female voice.
"What?" Gojyo turned around to look at the human kid who had spoken only to discover that a woman of twenty-two, that was nearly six feet tall, had spoken. Her eyes and hair were a crimson red.
I remember turning around and expecting to see a kid, but instead, I saw a woman my age, smiling at me. Her hair was the same as mine, and her eyes red like mine but brighter. They did not remind me of blood, however. They were more beautiful then anything I had seen, and they put a sunset and sunrise to shame. Never before had I seen something so beautiful, and in nothing else but her hair and eyes, will I.
Gojyo was unsure as to where his voice had gone at first, but after a moment he asked, "Who are you?"
"My apologies, sir. My name is Sen Kanashimi," she said with a short, graceful bow.
Her name meant "great sorrow", and it didn't seem right for someone with such a beautiful face to be called that. I had guessed that it was her parents who named her that, and I later found out that I was correct. For parents to name their child that must have meant they thought her to be the source of their sorrows. It pained me to think such a thing, but I knew that I was probably right. Even so, no parent should think that of their child.
"Kanashimi? The name doesn't suit you," Gojyo said with a sorrowful look in his eyes.
"Many have said the same thing, and all have called me Shimi instead."
"If it's alright with you then, I think I'll call you that too."
With a nod she said, "I have yet to hear your name. Though sincere you are, it is only polite to introduce yourself to someone who has introduced themselves."
"Aw, Yes. Well, my name is Sha Gojyo."
"It is a pleasure, Sha Gojyo," she stated with a bit of a chuckle.
"That which seems the purest of all, is often the most corrupted". If only I had known that then. I wouldn't have listened either way, but at least then I could have blamed myself and not her.
"When I saw your hair and eyes it was-" They both said at the same time and then paused.
"Go ahead," stated Gojyo.
"No, I insist. You first."
There was silence at first and then they both finished the sentence at the same time.
"-The first time I hadn't seen blood in the color."
She felt the same as I did. It was then that I could feel something happening that I never thought would happen: I was falling in love. I had been with many women, but never did I think I would truly fall in love. For the first time I could recall, I didn't know what to say to a woman.
"So, I am not the only one. I didn't think anyone else saw the color red as blood. Everyone else always saw it as the color of fire," Kanashimi stated quietly.
"Fire, eh?"
"Yeah. Kind of stupid. Don't you think."
"I always thought so."
"Well, I'm sorry to say it, but I must be off. I have a few things I have to do before I can retire for the night."
As she began to leave Gojyo lightly grabbed her arm. She turned to look at him. Gojyo than asked, "Can I see you again? In the morning perhaps. I'll be leaving this town around that time."
"Do not worry, Sha Gojyo. We will meet again. Though I do not know if the circumstances are going to be ones you will like." Her eyes were filled with a sorrow so deep It put her name to shame.
I didn't care then if the circumstances were good or not at that time. I just wanted to see her again. If I were asked now if I could see her under either good or bad circumstances, I would care even less than I had then.