A/N: If only my reviewers had been my 10th grade lit teacher. She said I had no talent and I shouldn't write. It would just hurt people's ears. Well, I'm not a writer. So, I guess I did go with her wishes. Good grammar? I've tried. ^_^'
And yes, it was "The Samurai's Tale". The book that I got this idea kinda from. Let's just say, this is a combo of it, RK, CB, Xav Babe (he's a guy, not a girl. Don't ask about the name. It takes too long) and the chapter titles are from him. Kal-a-fourna has decided that he's going to help out with a little of getting the song lyrics. I have so many nice friends!
And, because I am putting Yoshiaki out of the title of shogun, that makes the year this story took place, 1573.
A good place for information on the Sengoku Jidai and the generals names I'm using, go to
It has a lot of good info on the generals and the families, maps and all that blah.
Laura-chan—Good grammar eh? Hey, I like that comment! English isn't my first language! I actually don't think I really have one. Curious? That's one of my qualities as a writer. I took a quiz to see what kind I was.
Blue Moon—I feel too lazy to log in my self a lot of times. ^_^' And, thanks for reminding me of the title. I just got back home and I started reading it again. I loved it all over again!
animegurl—Brilliant writer? *blushes* I wish you were my lit teacher!
Creativity—And I really liked that one word! "WOW!" That I likes. I likes.
Rei2—Oh alright. I'm writing again. I'm writing. I love putting in cliffhangers, but I hate reading them myself. But, I love suspense. I live for the moment!
ChineseKyootie—With as many reviewers saying they want me to continue, I think I'll get killed if I didn't continue! So, I will. Don't worry.
animefreak211—Ya, I went home and read the book. I absolutely love it! Pretty good? I hope it is! I feel I have no reason to continue if you say it's bad, so thanks!
The Black BridgeFell Upon the Stars are the Last Souls of Light "A walk
and the universe is me
After a cascade
It's water is always you
an escapade
Life is in the woods
And then a ballad
It's subject is always you
A walk
and the universe is me
After a cascade
It's water is always you
It's like the green of the fields and
Like a bird that flies
It's always you
It's always me
It's always the rock
of the excited soul
Like a child who sees
The time pass like a funny
It's always you
It's always me
On the wings and the songs of great love
It's like the green of the fields and
Like a bird who flies
It's always you
It's always me
Always the rock of the excited soul
In this cybernetic era
Full of computer people
It's the only fantasy here for always
It's always me
It's always you
Like the green of the fields and
like the bird that flies
It's always you
it's always me
It's always the rock of the excited soul
Like the air it's sweetly sharp
The blue of the sky is clearly apparent
It is the only fantasy here for always
It's always you
It's always me
For forever
and more days
and days
and days
It's always you
and me
and you"
"My Lord Takeda. Shogun Yoshiaki has been exiled."
"Oda has found out about him has he?"
"Yes. He knows of his joining with you."
"I knew it would happen soon."
"Is there any other news Abe?"
"Iie."
The lord pointed his fan out. Lord Abe Katsutoshi walked out. It was true that there was no more news. Except that of the Kurobashi, but the great war lord Takeda Shingen had no need to hear of menial hitokiri.
~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~~
"Kagome." Lady Kayura knocked lightly on her daughter's door. There was no sound inside. She hoped that her daughter was alright. Opening the door slowly, she looked inside. There was no blood. No dagger. No ronin. And, no Kagome.
"Her father will commit seppuku if she doesn't arrive soon!" The lady shut the shoji. "And, I may steal his sword myself if something happens to her."
"Kayura?" Kagome's father noticed his wife was troubled. "What is it?"
"Our daughter, Ippei. She is not here." Kayura was distressed. Higurashi Ippei could tell.
"Do not worry, my love. She will be fine. You never know. She may have a lover." Ippei knew his wife wanted Kagome married. He felt the exact same way. He loved children. Sadly, only Kagome and her brother, Souta, had survived.
"Yes. That must be it." The lady laughed. It would be a good thing if it were a daimyo's son.
"Soon, she will need that new kimono." The lord tried to calm his wife. He knew his Kagome was smart enough to stay away from the bad out there.
~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~~
"So, which screen is yours?" Kuro still had her in his arms. She had told him not to worry about taking her to Kaede's.
"That one. The last one." Kagome pointed to the one next to the dormant Japanese magnolia.
"It seems the house is down for the night, ne?" Kuro stated.
"Of course! It's the hour of Rat!" Kagome giggled. He always stated the obvious.
"Hai. It is." Kuro looked off into the wind.
Setting Kagome down gently as he opened the screen, he placed her on her futon.
"You don't need to walk around too much. It will hurt your ankle more." He said gently.
"Can…you stay with me? You will have food and protection!" Kagome liked this 'Kuro'. He was so different from the other men her mother was forcing upon her.
"I'd rather not. I will visit you when spring comes again. How about that?" Kuro pleaded.
"Why so long?" Kagome asked.
"I have…business. It does not concern you." Kuro's eyes went back to their steel look.
Kagome knew that she shouldn't ask anymore questions. Instead, she took a small ribbon and gave it to him.
"Now, you'll remember me in your travels!" Kagome smiled. Kuro looked at it and gave her a weak smile.
"I have to go now. I promise I will be back." Kuro then closed her screen and Kagome lay back onto her futon.
He seems nice. A bit old for me, he must be at least 28! By his speech and manners, he's almost 67!
I hope he will return soon and be ok…
And with those last thoughts, Kagome fell to sleep.
~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~~
"Kagome! Come back here! You have to! Onegai?" Kagome's mother raced after her. Kagome ran out to the trail.
"I'm going to Kaede's. I don't want to talk about this right now!" Kagome flung the paper to her mother.
"But Kagome! This will help us! Lord Hojo's son will be here soon! You are at the proper age to marry! Kagome! This is needed badly!" Kayura tried hard to plead with her determined daughter.
"No! I will not marry that…pig!" Kagome shouted.
"Kagome! You are my daughter! Your father and I will determine what is best for you! Not yourself!" Kayura then flew back to the house.
"What's best? How would you know? You're not me!" Kagome whispered to herself. "I'm just some tool to make alliances! That's all marriage means in this era, doesn't it?"
"I won't stand for it! I'm going to Kaede's and never coming back! I'll turn into an old shrine maiden before I marry that supposed 'man'!" She stomped her foot and started running up the trail to Kaede's.
~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~~
It was almost spring. Buds of the trees showed their faces and the frosts had been long gone. Kaede swept at the steps when she heard the familiar click and clack of Kagome's shoes.
"Kaede! Lady Kaede! I'm here!" Kagome shouted.
Kaede appeared from behind the shrine and nodded to the girl.
"Yes. I haven't seen you in so long, Kagome-chan." Kaede wearily put the broom next to the shed.
"It has been a long time." Kagome's eyes glazed. She liked the old woman. And she had missed her.
"Something is bothering you, tell me, you know you can." Kaede went inside and Kagome knew to follow.
That was what she liked about Lady Kaede. She could tell her anything.
A/N: Well, another chapter down!
The lyrics this time were from "Fantaisie Sign" again from CB (Cowboy Bebop) and last chapter's were from "Rain." A song I really really love!
So please review and tell me how I'm doing! If you have any questions, comments, ideas, suggestions, complainants, blah, tell me! Please! I would really love that.
~~~Y.L.S.
Not M.S. or A.R.A.
Next chapter is "Blood on the Cherry Blossoms only makes the Aki Faster."