first proof of the third chapter
Road of two shadows
Chapter 3 -picking up berries and carrying love letters-
Now sun was only glowing red colour all over the hills. It only warmed so that
it could been said to be the sun not the moon.
Wind had changed it's direction, it blew soft and a bit of coldly now.
Kiku and Rikimaru had been in the forest several hours talking and picking berries. Kiku was faster, of course.She had more experience. All thought Rikimaru hadn't been that much behind. He was a fast learner. Only that Kiku seemed to know where all the big berries did grow and how to pick them whit out making them jelly in her hands.Kiku had found Rikimaru sunked in to his thoughts. After some time Kiku had shacked the old Rikimaru that she know in to the surface.
They talked. Anything that was casual. Kiku didn't want to bring up the subject about Ayame because she had noticed that it got them both bit of glum.
"That's so, not like my dad! He is so responsible and liable. How could he do that to you?"
"Guess it wasn't his idea. And it was properly just suitable test for my age
of ninja." Rikimaru said grinning as Kiku watched him in disbelief.
She had all ready stopped the berry chase.
"I would have not read it, but, you gotta believe me, the paper literally
flew in to my eyes! Somewhere around that I was starting to wonder if I was
being fooled…" He continued
"Were you?"
Kiku asked changing her face like her having more faith in what was Rikimaru
saying.
"Sort of… Like I said it was a test. I had to deliver -the letter- whit out
being noticed." He did take a small pause,
before he said.
"God, I didn't even have any weapons with me, I was only a boy back then."
His tone got lower.
"Now I can admit that I was a bit of scared then… "He rolled berries in his
fingers and looked down.
" All thought I don't think any harm would have happen to me even if I had been caught red-handed…"
Kiku watched Rikimaru's expression as it stardet to go darker. He's got that glazed look again, Kiku thought. She hurried to say.
"Yes you would! My dad would have absolutely killed you!" She said laughing,
nearly too much.
"Do you really think that it was my dad who put you up to it?"
"I don't believe that it was you dad's idea, he properly had just written
the letter and told me for whom it was meant to go because;
someone wanted to test me…"
"You mean… oh, Master Shiunsai?"
"You don't remember him well, do you? p "Actually, no I don't.
Sometimes I remember something nice about him so clearly. And then it fades
again. He was a good man, He and my dad were very close friends, did you know
that?"
"Your dad has told me something, they really did get along well, even as
there was to no war to dealt with …, but I guess
that the subject is still too hard for him to talk about. It was in those same
day's that he lost his…"
He stopped as he realized what was he going to say. It was like he had kicked
him self awake. He looked to Kiku
who looked maybe interested plus bit of fearful.As Rikimaru see that he said.
"I'm sorry, I could have let that unsaid.."
"Don't …, its okay, my dad hardly ever talk's about them, or peoples in the
past…"
She said and then decision to change their subject.
"Have you read the book that I borrowed to you, was it any good?"
"Yeah…" He said accepting that Kiku didn't want to talk about the time that she had lost her mother,at least for now she wasn't ready to hear it from another angle.
Day had set down until Kiku and Rikimaru started they journey back to the village. They walked down a green hill. It was very sheltered place all thought not nearly a forest. Small footpath curled through pointy stalks of grass. Here and there were one or two old trees. All of them were shorts but plump. Atmosphere was nice, in cosy kind of way. Actually, quite romantic. Air was gentle and there weren't any tattered clouds in the convex sky.
Rikimaru carried their baskets that were full of voluptuous, wine-red cherries. They were, or at least Kiku was tired. Day had been long, hot and overflowing exhausting.
They did get along well despite their age difference. Kiku was charming company in a day like this or any day Rikimaru thought. Shouldn't wonder about how good they did get along because they had known each other for as long as they could remember.
-Rikimaru's thoughts-
-"She is quite tired. Maybe we shouldn't have been there for so long. Or other matter, at least she should have brought someone whit her. Well I suppose it will go unnoticed… "-
As they arrived back to the village it seemed like everyone would have gone indoors to get some sleep. Sun had come down and they could only hear grasshoppers chirping. They had to take cherries in shelter for the night. Otherwise picking would have gone to waste. They came to an old, brown storage house as suddenly…
"Who's there?"
Voice out of darkness came out.
Neither one of them didn't get to answer as an old farmer stepped out of
shadows.
"Ou, princess Kiku, and Rikimaru. So you did find some time to pick up cherries then?
The farmer said by smiling.
They were both bit of stunned.
After they had putted the berries inside the hut, the grinning farmer promised
to but doors clocked and said.
"Of you go, you two…"
They had stepped couple steps away from where the farmer could here them. Rikimaru said to Kiku who wasn't quite sure what the farmer had meant.
"Maybe, next time you should bring one of you maid's with us."
Kiku plushed a little when she see the look in Rikimaru's eyes.
"People have a dirty mind, it's not our fault…"
Rikimaru interrupted Kiku's faltering words.
"Yes, but you are a princess and now you are starting to be crown up…"
They walked, again, in complete silence. Kiku watched Rikimaru's face as he watched her back. She didn't know what to say. Suddenly she just said what she thought of.
"I know that I have to be an example to others.
But I don't care what others think if it is just malicious gossip!
It should not be like I wouldn't have permission to be whit people who I love…"
"Calm down!" Rikimaru had stopped Kiku just before she would have lost her
words, again.
"You are dear to me, as I am to you… And yes, people are sometimes malicious, but that it's just the way some are. You don't need take them so serious…"
As Rikimaru gave her the speech Kiku realised something. Something that made her tremble. Only feelings that the green eyed man had for her were more like protecting brother than prospect lover or not to mention a future consort. Rikimaru stopped preaching as he noticed that Kiku was looking awfully pale.
"Are you okay, you look pale to me?"
Kiku had heard the question, but it took some time before she could answer it.
"Yes. I'm fine." She heaved trying to get her
thoughts back together. "I'm just so tired."
Rikimaru watched Kiku gape.
"Well then I'll let you go to get some rest then…" He said smiling. "See you in the morning princess."
"See you, Rikimaru"
She answered already walking towards her residential building. She stopped for
a moment at the door way.
"Starting to be grown up…" She thought of her self as she looked over her shoulder, watching Rikimaru walking a way.
It was so dark that this basify
ninja had to light a candle in his room. He went to wash him self and went to
bed. He closed hid eyes and crossed his hands over his chest.
As he had been in this position about a minute he hissed to him self.
"Come on now, I want to get some sleep…?"
Evidently it didn't work so he opened his eyes and stared the ceiling.
He could not just lay still. He felt too
energetic or too useless. His main needed rest. Again was another day gone in
the past and Ayame hadn't come back.
He stud up sitting in his bed fazing the door.
Finally he walked to the terrace and looked around at the empty yard area.
Basket's laying around buildings, full of cherries, feed, rise and all kind of
vegetables and seeds in them. Stars were twinkling and the moon was rising up
to the grey sky. Nothing to get worried about.
He all most wished there would be something so he
wouldn't have to come back inside, back to loneliness.
He went back inside and back to bed as he had drunk a class of could water. He
fell in a restless sleep.
15 miles away from the village was a man coming home. He was riding with strong and fast horse. He carried lot of stuff whit him. He was in no hurry. He had passed those areas that still hold some solders.
War was ending.
