The rundown house I used to visit was burning. Smoke poured out from every opening, coursing into the sky. The flames cackled as they leaped and danced from the roof of the house. Ah well, it was time to find a new hiding place anyway.
I remember that some people had gone it before the fire. They wore touquise blue uniform. Shisengumi.
Well, let them burn in the depths of hell. I didn't care.
Wait, what about the girl who went in just a while ago? She looked as if she was looking for someone. I watched amusedly as she pulled down the yellow paper amulet from the door. Then she went in.
Ah, somebody was coming out. I craned my neck in my spot on the tree to see better. The Shisengumi and the girl previously came out. I grunted. So they didn't burn in the depths of hell after all.
I jumped down from my tree and scooted closer to burning house. What were they doing in there anyway? I continue forward until I was at the back of the house, hided well from the view of the group. I walked around, surveying. The fire here was the same as the front. I kept my distance.
I almost jumped in shock as a series of pounding sounded behind me. I turned around and neared it cautiously. It was nailed. It continued to pound away, and then the sound changed, as if it was being kicked.
A board fell off it. But the pounding was getting softer now, as if whoever behind was losing his/her strength. Then, it completely stopped.
Curiosity filled me now. There was somebody behind it. I wonder who it was. Maybe it was somebody the Shisengumi was fighting just now. An escaped convict or rebel. Either one, my father could find a use. Might as well save him/her now.
I peeled the semi-broken wood off the door. It was almost broken into half, which made my work easier. Strong, I thought. When it was completely off, I slide the wood shoji door aside.
A figure lay sprawled at my feet, garbed in white yukata. It was a man. Long, dark hair covered the stranger's face. I turned him around. A young white face with defined lashes meet my gaze. My mouth parted slightly. This guy was young! I had expected someone older, with more wrinkles. This man's face was smooth, with no creases at all. Except the fact that he was unconscious, and I heard a small creak above.The ceiling was on the verge of collapsing. I pulled him away and up to the grassy slope.
The house was falling apart now as I watched it. The stranger was still beside me.
I loomed above him. First I slapped him, but got no reaction. I put my first three fingers under his chin. Nothing throbbed. I removed my hands and thought what to do next. I refuse to give up. It was rare that my father had somebody young to do his work, except me, and I had taken an interest to this young man. He looked a bit feminie though…I sweatdropped. Feminie or not, he was still useful, I reminded myself.
Just then I noticed the sword in his hand. My eyebrows went up. Ho ho, so this guy knows how to handle a sword then? Interesting…I grinned. Now I was more determined to save him. A swordsman…
I put my hand over his muzzle, and lowered my face to his. Just inches from contact with his mouth, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Eyes widening, I sprang back agilely, narrowly avoiding my neck being chopped off by the sword, which was out of the scarbbard.
I retreated a few steps, still crouching, and wiped my lips with my backhand. I grinned; so this guy was good.
The figure rise up, coughing. He looked at the falling house, then looked at me, katana still in hand. His shoulders rose and fall with each breath he took.
"Is this the way to treat your savior?" I stood up, grinning even more wider now. He narrowed his eyes at me.
"…who are you?"
"My name is not important. But seeing you owe me your life, you have to do something for me." The words were not out of my mouth before I saw the glint of the katana at my throat.
I tensed, and my hand behind me slowly produced the small kunai hidden in my kimono sleeve.
"Fuck off," the young stranger hissed into my face, eyes narrowed. "Why should I listen to you?"
In a flash, my hand with the kunai whipped out and charged straight at his face. His sword twisted to meet it; but I was only feinting. My other hand came up, equipped with kunai too, and stopped at his heart. The same instant his free hand shot and caught my throat.
The stranger's eyes travel to the kunai at his heart, to his hand at my throat. His grin mirrored mine.
"You're good with kunai," he stated.
"You're not so bad yourself." I replied. His grin got wider.
"Okay, I'll listen to what you have to say…"he finally said. "But I won't guarantee you that I will accept it. Now," his eyes traveled low. 'Why don't we each let go?"
Slowly, with his eyes on my movements, I moved my kunai away and stepped back. He released my throat and did the same. I massaged my throat gingerly.
"What an ungrateful dog you are." My throat hurt. It was going to have marks now.
He smiled. "De, what is it you want me to do?"
I straightened. "My father could use some good swordsman like you. Let's just say, he's involve in throwing over the Shogunate. You have two choices: If you chose to accept, you'll be welcome to stay at our house for as long as you like. He'll provide wages if you want. But the important thing is that you will live." I paused, studying his expression, in case he attacked again. He appeared to be listening.
I continued. "But if you choose to decline it, then I will kill you now."
He laughed. "You? Kill me?" he sneered. I narrowed my eyes, but said nothing. It would be a pity if I killed him, that was true.
The stranger regarded me with slanted eyes, before he gave his answer.
"I accept your offer." He stated coolly, as if he didn't care if I killed him or not. "But first," he carelessly slide the sword back into it's scarbbard. "I think I should at least know the name, of my savior-he pronounced it sarcastically- and who I'm working for, neh?" He flashed his sneering smile.
One thing I was sure about, I was going to hate his sadistic tone.
"I am Machida Kei, daughter of Machida Hisamatsu." I answered curtly.
Author's note: This is my first attempt at action flick. Please comment if there is anything wrong with the moves. Thank you for your time.