Morning
I had a dream. I was a dragon---- I was flying.
My mind whirls. The dream, more like a nightmare, overwhelms me.
Dreams. Memories. That's all it was. -'The past.'- A small comfort.
I shudder, remembering. It all seems so long ago, my days as an opera actor, my days as Ryo Chuin. When I was weak and helpless. When I was easily taken advantage of.
Then I discovered my powers. They were small in comparison to what I can do now, and even more miniscule than what I can do with my shin, but power nonetheless.
I smile, remembering how I repaid those that hurt me.
I start.
Breathing. I hear breathing. Rhythmic breathing, someone sleeping.- 'Jia.'- I assume.
I open my eyes.
Her face is inches away. I jerk. She doesn't stir.
She is kneeling by my bed, her head pillowed on the mattress, her breathing slow. So peaceful.
"Jia."
She sighs and opens an eye slowly. A brown eye. The eye from my dream. Her other eye flies open. She scrambles to her feet.
"Sorry." She blushes. "I must have fallen asleep. I have been so worried about you." She falters. "I couldn't leave you. I was afraid you would hurt yourself." She stares at me, begging forgiveness. "You must have over exerted yourself."
-'Obviously'-
"I came to wake you yesterday morning, but there was no response." She twists her fingers in her apron. "You have been asleep for the better part of two days."
"If it can be called sleep."
She averts her eyes. "You said many things and were violent." I pale. "Brother had to hold you while I gave you your medicine."
-'It did not happen again. The boy just triggered memories.'- I am relieved. I had not realized how afraid I was.
"Then," she blushes. I didn't know anyone could turn so red, "you cried."
My eyes flash. My anger flares. "You will never speak of such things!" My voice is deadly. "Whatever I said and did in my dreams is my own business, never repeat them!"
She cowers under my cold rage. "NO! Never!" she sobs. "I wont say anything! I'm sorry!"
-'She knows too much! She must know about Nakago and the others and my past.'- I burn. I feel like ice. –'She will die.'-My anger is cold and calculated. –'Not yet.'- Another voice advises, soon
"Out!" She doesn't move. "Out!" She runs to the door.
Alone. I am finally alone.
I collapse. I curse myself. My body is weak. I ache. My muscles burn.
I grit my teeth. –'Paint.'- I am resolved. –'I need paint.'- I struggle to stand. –'I will go into the city.' -I look down at my sweat soaked clothes. –' After I change.'-
I search for cleaner clothes. There is a pile on the chair.
I strip. A basin of water sits on the table by the bed, no doubt to cool my fever. I use the water to rinse. It is lukewarm.
-'I wish I had a mirror.'- I would have to ask for one the next time Jia came around.
I step into the hall. I run into a serving woman. She nods in apology. She scurries off.
"Wait! Where is the owner?"
She turns. "He'd be back in the kitchens."
*****
I find Jia's father, not in the kitchens but in the stables.
I bow politely. He dismisses the stable boy. "Yes?"
"I wish to purchase a few items for my performance in town." I lower my eyes. "I expect it to be added to my other expenses, of course."
"What kind of things?"
"A performers tools." The tools I would need to become Tomo and return to Nakago.
He is silent, considering. "Very well." He reaches into a purse well concealed at his waist. "This should be enough." He hands me two large coins. This is hardly enough to by a piece of straw.
"Arigato." I bow graciously, hiding my scorn.
I make my way to the door. A tan burnoose hangs on a peg. I know its many folds will keep me cool and protect me from the harsh sun. I put it on.
I step into the light.
It is still early morning. The road dusty. I begin my search.
I had a dream. I was a dragon---- I was flying.
My mind whirls. The dream, more like a nightmare, overwhelms me.
Dreams. Memories. That's all it was. -'The past.'- A small comfort.
I shudder, remembering. It all seems so long ago, my days as an opera actor, my days as Ryo Chuin. When I was weak and helpless. When I was easily taken advantage of.
Then I discovered my powers. They were small in comparison to what I can do now, and even more miniscule than what I can do with my shin, but power nonetheless.
I smile, remembering how I repaid those that hurt me.
I start.
Breathing. I hear breathing. Rhythmic breathing, someone sleeping.- 'Jia.'- I assume.
I open my eyes.
Her face is inches away. I jerk. She doesn't stir.
She is kneeling by my bed, her head pillowed on the mattress, her breathing slow. So peaceful.
"Jia."
She sighs and opens an eye slowly. A brown eye. The eye from my dream. Her other eye flies open. She scrambles to her feet.
"Sorry." She blushes. "I must have fallen asleep. I have been so worried about you." She falters. "I couldn't leave you. I was afraid you would hurt yourself." She stares at me, begging forgiveness. "You must have over exerted yourself."
-'Obviously'-
"I came to wake you yesterday morning, but there was no response." She twists her fingers in her apron. "You have been asleep for the better part of two days."
"If it can be called sleep."
She averts her eyes. "You said many things and were violent." I pale. "Brother had to hold you while I gave you your medicine."
-'It did not happen again. The boy just triggered memories.'- I am relieved. I had not realized how afraid I was.
"Then," she blushes. I didn't know anyone could turn so red, "you cried."
My eyes flash. My anger flares. "You will never speak of such things!" My voice is deadly. "Whatever I said and did in my dreams is my own business, never repeat them!"
She cowers under my cold rage. "NO! Never!" she sobs. "I wont say anything! I'm sorry!"
-'She knows too much! She must know about Nakago and the others and my past.'- I burn. I feel like ice. –'She will die.'-My anger is cold and calculated. –'Not yet.'- Another voice advises, soon
"Out!" She doesn't move. "Out!" She runs to the door.
Alone. I am finally alone.
I collapse. I curse myself. My body is weak. I ache. My muscles burn.
I grit my teeth. –'Paint.'- I am resolved. –'I need paint.'- I struggle to stand. –'I will go into the city.' -I look down at my sweat soaked clothes. –' After I change.'-
I search for cleaner clothes. There is a pile on the chair.
I strip. A basin of water sits on the table by the bed, no doubt to cool my fever. I use the water to rinse. It is lukewarm.
-'I wish I had a mirror.'- I would have to ask for one the next time Jia came around.
I step into the hall. I run into a serving woman. She nods in apology. She scurries off.
"Wait! Where is the owner?"
She turns. "He'd be back in the kitchens."
*****
I find Jia's father, not in the kitchens but in the stables.
I bow politely. He dismisses the stable boy. "Yes?"
"I wish to purchase a few items for my performance in town." I lower my eyes. "I expect it to be added to my other expenses, of course."
"What kind of things?"
"A performers tools." The tools I would need to become Tomo and return to Nakago.
He is silent, considering. "Very well." He reaches into a purse well concealed at his waist. "This should be enough." He hands me two large coins. This is hardly enough to by a piece of straw.
"Arigato." I bow graciously, hiding my scorn.
I make my way to the door. A tan burnoose hangs on a peg. I know its many folds will keep me cool and protect me from the harsh sun. I put it on.
I step into the light.
It is still early morning. The road dusty. I begin my search.