Chapter 6 The Kitchen Incident
Night. Clouds hid the dull shining moon from sight. The streets of Edo were empty, and silence was eerie when the occasional wind howled. All was in shadows where the moon did not shine palely on; except for some house where small lighted lanterns dangled and swayed with the wind.
The silence is disturbed with sound of quick feet pattering on the rooftops. In the dark night, all that could be seen were four dark figures perched on the roof. Either end had a figure crouching and in the middle of it one sat. A slightly shorter figure stood beside the sitting one, her arms crossed. The wind blew their cloths about.
"Working for him can't earn tomorrow's lunch. We will probably switch to the other side." The right end figure said.
"Just to tell you, no hard feelings." The other end said.
"Sempai…"
After being silent all the while, the standing one spoke.
"Don't you care about our creed? The Ninja Creed??" She uncrossed her arms and let it fall beside her.
Laughter came from the two ends of the roof.
"…Ninja Creed??" she exclaimed incrediously. "Who cares about that? It's not like it ensures us a full stomach!" Right-side figure laughed again. Left-side figure moved a little and spoke.
"A piece of advice, girl…don't dwell on those sorts of things. The era has changed, and so have we shinobis. The creed has no benefit for us anymore." She smirks. "After all, things like creed are invented for our benefit, no?"
"If you have common sense, girl, you should join us too." The other added. "Leave your father; he seems to be doing well without you. It's time to take the future of your life into your own hands. You're still young."
The girl clenches her hand beside her and her head lowers a bit. The sitting figure next to her has no reaction, but remains quiet.
"…Gomenasai, sempai. But I cannot go with you."
After a moment's pause, the right side figure sighed and stood up. As if in cue, the other end figure stood up too.
"…What a silly girl. Only fools still care about the creed in this era." She snorted and lifted her head to stare at the sky. The moon was peeking out of the clouds, the only illumination on the endless dark sea. "Like mother, like daughter."
With that she leapt and was gone in a blink of an eye, and the other end of the roof was suddenly empty too.
"……." The girl looks beyond the roof, the sleeping town of Edo looking back at her.
"…hahahaha…" The sitting figure is finally making some noise. The girl's gaze does not waver.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" the woman throws back her head and laughed, a shrill pitch cutting into the night.
"Like mother, like daughter." She whispered.
….
"Oy, are you awake, Machida-san?" said a voice distinctly.
Kei turns in her warm futon to the direction of the voice. The paper doors were glowing with the sunlight outside, and the shadow of a figure stood in the middle of it. She didn't need to hear the voice again to know who it was.
"What is it?" she said softly, clutching her blanket against her. She felt a heaviness in her head, and reached up to clamp a hand over her forehead. The skin was hot.
She mentally cursed her fever.
"Your father wants to see you. He expressed his puzzlement why you are still not up yet." Kichisaburo's tone was annoyed, and in truth that was what he was now.
Kei rubbed her eyes and answered, this time louder.
"I'll be right there."
…
"So you're the spy that has been giving out our information." Kichisaburo neared the obviously frightened man, who darted looks here and there like a caught prey. He could smell the sweat on his body.
"Too bad, you shouldn't have done that." He charged, and the man fled down the alley, whimpering. He gave chase easily and sliced him on the back. With a small yelp the man went down, still forever.
"Yowai na…" he muttered as he dab a finger on the bloodied katana, tasting the metallic taste. With a short flick of the wrist, the excess blood flew off and he was about to sheathe it when he caught the reflection of the roof behind him.
He turned and smirked.
"Let's go," Kei, dressed in traditional shinobi clothing with a cloth covering half her face said. Beside her a taller woman stood, also similarly clad. Except the taller shinobi did not cover her face, and Kichisaburo vaguely made out the wisps of blonde hair that came free and her startling clear blue eyes.
Foreign shinobi?
Kei turned and was about to made her exit.
"You have an interesting bodyguard here, girl." A sing-song voice casually remarked.
Kei's back stilled. Kichisaburo's eyes flickered to the taller woman.
"I do know that." She replied.
"Really?... Well, interesting people like this are rare to come by. You should make better use of it." She let out a soft giggle.
Kichisaburo narrowed his eyes and looked about he was going to kill somebody this instant. Kei glanced at him briefly and took off on the roofs.
"That isn't for me to decide. Let's go."
"…You watch your mouth, woman, or I'll cut it off." Kichisaburo scowled, and went after.
Akesato stared after them and snorted.
…
The insistent buzz of twenty voices rose gradually and buzzed on outside the room. Inside however, was an atmosphere of silence.
"Your mission has arrive from Masuya, Kei. You should listen in too, Kichisaburo." Machida Kimatsu calmly said to the two people before him. Kei was kneeling politely, her hands clasped on her lap and eyes alert, although he detected a paleness to her face. Kichisaburo leaned against the wall, a bored look on his face.
"Kei, your next mission is to be a temporary cook in the Shisengumi headquarters. The mission was originally given to Hotaru, but she has failed it and it seems to be that she has quit being a shinobi. Hence, this task will be given to you." He paused and cleared his throat.
"But I must warn you, the Shisengumi are very tricky dogs so you must be careful. You will find whatever information about their movements and report to me every alternate day. Is that clear?"
"Hai."
"Now, you." He turn to Kichisaburo and expected to find the bored look still on his face, but it was replaced by a uncanny mask of coldness.
"This should be easy for you. I received certain…interesting information, say, about you. Your job is to check on her weekly—" He caught the look her daughter sent.
"—and report back. Don't be fussy, daughter. It's all for your own good." He continued.
"I don't need anyone to chaperone me when I'm on my mission, Father." She said, head bowed. "I certainly know how to take care of myself."
He shook his head and sighed.
"That is all. By the way, you look a bit pale, Kei."
She started and touched her face. "…Just a mild fever." She murmured.
He rose and went over, putting a hand over her forehead.
"…I suppose so. Get a few days rest before you go." He said and went out of the room.
Kei bowed and waited for the sliding door to shut before getting up. Kichisaburo made a sound and exited through the other door. The room's atmosphere focused back on her, the only one left in the room.
…
Tak tak tak as the sharp kitchen knife hit the wooden block beneath, cutting the vegetables into small, even pieces. Kei tilted the board into a open liquid-filled pot which was boiling right now and swept the vegetables into it. That done, she put down the board with a clack and looked at the bucket of meat next to her on the floor, putting a hand to her temple.
Damn, the fever is getting worse. Her head throbbed insistently, threatening to blow off any minute, which, much to her displeasure, did not. She had wanted to rush off to town to buy some fever medicine, but twenty ronins were a hard bunch to handle. They were already complaining of hunger, since when she woke up it was already in the early afternoon. Her father had kindly assured the ronins and rushed off for another meeting with the other revolutionist.
After the meeting, Kichisaburo was no where to be found. Again.
She felt like wringing his neck for real this time.
She growled lowly and heaved up the bucket of meat. She was surprised how heavy it was today. Normally it would be lighter. She shrugged and pulled out one fat slice of it and began to chop it into pieces.
Her head hurt a lot. That was why she hated fevers.
She continue to chop until a searing pain on her hand made her look up. She saw blood trickling down to the palm from one of her fingers. It looked like she cut somewhere between the skin and her nails.
She noticed a presence in the room and quickly turn around. He scowled back at her.
"…what?"
"……"
"You've cut your finger." He stated. She quickly hid it behind her but it was too late. She gestured at the half chopped meat.
"Can you help me a bit? I've got to bandage this."
"What do you think I am? A maid?" he remained scowling, but moved forward anyway.
"I'll be back in a minute."
…
"Where is our lunch, woman!?"
Kichisaburo turned his head slightly. That face seem oddly familiar…
"…Hey!" Suddenly the man turns white, the blood draining out from his face. "Aren't you the guy from the forest—" As if memory confirmed it, he stepped back rather hurriedly and ran out.
He resumed chopping. Now he remembered. It was one of the guys he didn't kill that day at the forest. The one who ran shrieking back.
Kei came back into the kitchen, her finger bandaged.
"What happened?" she immediately asked.
"That was the guy that managed to escape that day at the forest."
She stood still for a moment, then cursed and stormed out again.
He took another fat slice out of the bucket when there was a commotion outside and Kei stumbled back in again, trying to restrain a rather big-sized man from coming in.
"Inoue-san, I would be—"
"Hey, you! The man over there!" he shouted, pointing to Kichisaburo's back. "Aren't you the guy who murdered Minato and the others!?"
"You got to have gut to call me that. Yeah, I'm the guy." He turned around, knife still in hand. He placed a hand on his hip and smirked.
Kei was looking pretty flushed now. She rubbed her temples again.
"Don't you give me that cheeky smile, you bastard." His hand went to the hilt of the sword on his waist suggestively. "I'm gonna get you for killing Minato and the others."
Kichisaburo smirked even wider.
"Let's take it outside."
…
Damn. She trudged after Kichisaburo, resisting the urge to kill him right there and then. She wanted to tell him the consequences of his actions but she was brushed off.
At first, there was only a few ronins in the yard, but rumour spread quickly and soon it was as crowded as that day. Almost twenty ronins push and bustled each other, anticipation thick in the air. The crowded around a circle.
Kichisaburo surveyed the bustling scene with a confident smirk, swaying the kitchen knife in his hand lazily. His opponent stare at him with such intensity that if his eyes could fire, it would bore two holes in him.
"Are you going to fight me with that?" he looked pointedly at the knife in his hand.
He snorted.
"This will be enough to take you out."
His opponent turn a shade of red, offended. His hand clamped on the hilt of his sword and he tensed, ready to attack.
"We'll see about that."
Kei lingered at the edge of the inside circle, a feverish look on her face. She kept shaking her head now and then. Despite that, she shot daggers glare at Kichisaburo. He returned it with an indifferent glance.
Another man, raised his hand high above like a referee, and brought it down swiftly. A roar echoed throughout the yard as his opponent charged.
The sword came out from it's scarbbard and he raised it above his head with a war-like cry. He dodged the first blow easily by side stepping aside. Without giving the ronin any time to recover he kicked him from behind. He grunted and stumbled, almost losing his balance and toppling over. The crowd gave a roar and punch their fist, some crying out encouragement.
Humillated, his opponent regain his balance and once more sword raised, faced the smirking Kichisaburo again. His kitchen knife was rested on his shoulder casually.
"Is that all you've got? That way, I won't even have to use this." He waved the knife.
With a second loud cry, the samurai charged again, with the crowds support ringing behind him. Kichisaburo meet the sword with his knife, the sound of steel ringing. He pushed the ronin away and spun, giving a round-house kick which his opponent blocked with his sword. His left leg shot out in a kick but missed.
The sound of steel ringing sounded as they continued. Kei watched them through narrowed eyes. Beads of sweat stuck to her face, under the heat and all the ronins gathered here. Her fever made all this even worse. She didn't know if she should go out and call her father back, or stay and monitor the fight to ensure that nobody got hurt. By right, she should have intervened it, but now it was impossible.
The samurai made a wild swept at Kichisaburo; he dodged it and came in, slashing with the knife. He blocked most of it, but his breathing was getting more ragged. His movements were also getting slower. Kichisaburo noted this, and he smiled. He saw an opening and rushed in for an attack. He didn't cut as deep as he hoped, but it was close. He stepped back and glanced at Kei.
At first, when he looked, he couldn't see her. Then he spotted her on the ground, unmoving. His eyes widened slightly.
His opponent took advantage of his diverted attention and charged. Kichisaburo recovered quickly and thrust his knife up. He kicked him in the stomach. He needed to end the match, now. Appearing beside him in a flash, he brought down the knife---
The sudden, authoritive shout stopped his knife from going home.
"STOP!!"
The crowd gasped and turned to the source of the shout. Kichisaburo, his knife a few inches from his opponent also turned to look, slightly annoyed.
"What is going on here?" Kei's father asked in a softer tone, but sternly. He looked around, as if looking for his daughter.
The crowd murmured before one explained loudly. Machida-san frowned. Another man, smaller in size leaned and whispered in his ear. The few important looking man parted for a man to pass. His being alone commanded respect, for the way he carried himself, dark bangs covering half of his face, was silently saying elegant and awe. Beside him a white-haired youth stood.
Yoshida xxx calmly listened to Machida-san's explanation. He stepped forward and addressed the silent crowd.
"Brothers, I understand you furiousness. But unfortunately, this man is very important to our organization of throwing the shogunate. Therefore, I cannot permit this match to continue." Oddly, the crowd did not made disappointing noises, but remain staring at him.
"This match is cancelled. Fellow comrades, our biggest revolution is coming up soon. Personal fights in the group will not be permitted. Anyone who does not obey this," For a brief moment his eyes had a glare in it, and judging by the looks on the ronins, they did not missed that threatening glare.
"…Seppuku will follow." He ended icily. The white haired boy beside stare triumphtly at them.
The crowd watched as he left, pausing to say something to Machida-san.
Kichisaburo's opponent staggered up, huffing. He shot a glance at Kichisaburo and sheathed his sword, who returned it with a small scowl. The crowd dispersed rather hurriedly, none of them glancing back.
Letting the knife dropped with a dull thud on the ground, he moved and squatted beside the unconscious Kei. She was lying on her side, eyes closed and a slight flush on her face. A few tendrils of hair stuck to her face.
He touched her sticky hot forehead. Fever. He put a hand behind her back and another across her legs and hoisted her up without much difficulty.
Her father came running towards him.
"What happened??" he asked urgently.
"She fainted." He said shortly.
"It must have been the sun and all those ronins. They've all gone now; take her to her room. I'll go and find some medicine." He said and hurried off.
Kichisaburo looked at the small face nestled against his chest and headed off to the direction of her room.
…
Darkness.
A sudden feeling of consciousness. Kei opened an inch of her heavy eyes, and it fluttered a few times before she could open it fully. She felt some sort of cool, rough cloth on her forehead, the only source of coolness. The rest of her body emitted a heat wave and her head still ached.
Her eyes darted everywhere and she regonizsed it as her room. There was nobody in the room.
Sighing, she got up slowly and found her yukata sticking to her back with all the sweat. Hot. It was so hot. The wet cloth on her forehead fell and she caught it out of habit, discovering that the underneath of it was almost as hot as her own body.
Getting up rather shakily, she pushed open the doors and went outside. As far as she remembered, there was still twenty lunches to cook.
"What are you doing?" she blurted out the question before she could stop herself. What did he looked like doing? But it was still unbelievable.
Kichisaburo ignored her and resumed cooking. Out of curiousity, she neared him and watched. His quick yet precise movements amazed her.
"Where is Father?"
"He went out to buy some fever medicine. Since the those useless buckets of meat are complaining for their lunches, here I am." He said sarcastically, gesturing around.
When he finished cooking, she helped him fill the food into the plates to be served. Still her father hadn't came home. She spent her free time helping Kichisaburo serving the ronins, who glared at him whenever he came near. He ignored the glares and went on serving.
"I'm back, Kei." Her father announced finally, in the late evening when dusk was about to fall. He held up the brown paper packet of medicines. She took it and went to the kitchen. He followed her and enquired about Kichsiaburo.
"He's retired to his room already."
"Really? Then I'll have to call him out again, since you are in no condition to cook. It is better for you to get some rest, before you go on your mission."
"I will do so."
"Oh, and by the way, Kei," her father said as he was about to walk away.
"I just met with Masuya. The ronins will be stationed at a place Masuya bought down in the town." He winked. "They will be leaving tomorrow."
…
"Thank you." She said suddenly.
He turned his head to look at her. He looked a bit surprised for a moment, but then smirked.
"Fever makes one say weird things, no?" he said as he turned back.
Kei felt insulted. This was after all, nothing to do with her fever. It had subsided since she took the medicine.
"I'm not having a fever. It just subsided a while ago." She said indigantly.
After receiving no reply from the purple eyed man, she went to the centre of the kitchen and opened the boiling pot of miso soup. She stirred it in gentle rounds before taking a sip from it. She blinked. The miso soup was tasty.
She took a sip again. Yes, it was tasty. With a unique taste unlike the ones she herself cooked. Ah, he really is a dark horse.
"Why are you still here? I thought your father told you to take a rest." She detected something in his voice, but couldn't put a finger to it.
"He did." She said. "Are you having some problems with my father? You sound like you don't like him very much." She added.
He didn't answer, but he stopped chopping for a moment.
Kei immediately thought of something, and she pondered it.
"Oy…" Actually she wanted to call him by his first name, but then as she pondered it, she thought it was best not to. It wasn't as if they had been together for a long time, just a couple of months.
"How did you end up in the Boy's Teahouse?"
"…that's none of your business." He made a sound and turned around.
"Is it true that shinobi's are always noisy for information? I was wondering if it was a bad idea after all of agreeing to babysit you."
"Babysit?" she repeated, her eyes at once narrowing. "Since when, have you actually babysited me?" she asked incrediously.
"Isn't this whole bodyguard thing equivalent to babysitting?"
"No, it isn't. Bodyguards are suppose to protect their clients—"
"—which is almost the same as babysitting." He cut in.
Seeing the look on her face, he smiled a sideways smile. Then he looked up, and his eyes glazed a bit, as if he was remembering something. Kei noticed this and watched him.
"…you are an orphan, aren't you?" she voiced her earlier thoughts.
Immediately, his eyes cleared and he glared at her, his face a mask of coldness like the day down town.
"…that's none of your business. Keep your nose out of it." He said coldly.
She made a small noise as he turn, his back to her once more.
"…Are you doing anything tomorrow?"
"What?" he replied grumpily.
"I heard that there is a dance on town tomorrow night. It's a Kabuki dance. I though you might find it interesting."
It was a while before he answered.
"It is boring staying up here in the mountain everyday. Unless you count having fights with stupid ronins." He said gruffly.
She smiled.
"I take that as a yes, then."