Chapter 5. The Thing of the Past

It brought a smile to her face, "…Would you want me to stay?"

Soujirou nodded, "Ixesu."

"…Then, I can't ever leave."

The summer crickets started their symphony and the trees rustled gently against the breeze. Sleep was easier to achieve once peace was in their minds. Though, not for long, "Soujirou…" a small voice whispered, "Soujirou-san." Was it a dream? Who could be calling for him in the middle of the night? No, it wasn't a dream; he mentally pinched himself when the screen door opened. "And so here you are." Honjou smiled as he stepped into their room.

"You… How? Why-What are you doing here?" Soujirou whispered, careful not to wake Kikari.

"I came to give you this." Honjou unwrapped a shaft covered in cloth like a banana. Wide eyed, Soujirou stared at the weapon he was most familiar with, the katana, "Take it, and use it."

"I...I can't I-"

"Shhh…" Soujirou was silenced by a finger at his lips, "Do what you've always done Soujirou-san." Honjou teasingly withdrew his finger, and gave a sly grin before he hopped off the balcony.

"Tatakiokosu Kikari."Soujirou shook her shoulder lightly.

"Uun. Why?" she groaned, "But it's so…so early."

Soujirou laughed a little, oh how light hearted he looked…"Early? It's almost noon Kikari-chan."

"Hiru! How? Yare, I must get up." Kikari hustled out of the bedding and started to untie her ponytail.

"Kikari-chan, why do you have to wake up? Is there something you wanted to do? Somewhere to go?" Soujirou asked.

She stopped knotting her hair, and gaped at him. Why do I have to? "I don't know…I'm too used to getting up early." She replied solemnly, and then smiled to herself, "Good question, I don't know where to go…"

Soujirou walked to her, "Then, what now?"

"…Hm, Dore…" A light clicked in her mind, "Futami, have you ever considered traveling?"

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"Ize, here's the plan; I go work as a waitress for the day, and I know that there is an old ojiisan up the Nuriji Hills. He grows white leaves so he can sell them to a pharmacist doctor. Ojiisan gives about ten ¥ per package delivered. I've tried helping him once, but I can't carry that much at a time, and the doctor's office is about three fourth's of a mile's walk taking the shortcut through the forest." Kikari gazed at Soujirou with eager eyes, "Can you do that Futami? I can understand if you don't want to work, it'll just take longer for us to get those tickets."

"Don't be silly Kikari-chan, of course I can do it." Soujirou assured her with a smile.

"How can I hide from her like this? After all she's done…treating me with kindness." Soujirou spoke to himself, observing the katana Honjou gave him yesterday night, "I have to tell her. I can't possible carry a weapon like this…though; it feels so familiar in my hands." And that Honjou person…How could I have known him?

"Yamade, Chiisa douji.(Stop, little child boy)" A sudden voice that surprised Soujirou a bit. A tall man stepped from behind a tree, "And where might you be heading?"

"I…I am delivering for an old man…" Soujirou responded quite bashfully.

"White leaves? How rare!" He exclaimed with a grin wide enough to cover his face. An ugly man indeed, he was skinny, but he had a wide face, "Give them to me douji!"

"N-no!" Soujirou hugged the sack of leaves protectively.

The man's expression grew angry, "Bakayarou! I've been waiting for hours for a person to come by here, don't disappoint me douji! I need them white leaves for some more money." He patted the heavy bag of coins fastened to his belt.

"Stay back!" Soujirou shouted. He didn't know why, but he wasn't afraid as he should be, "I'll hurt you!"

"Hurt me?" the man burst out in laughter, "Don't be a fool douji! I'm an old ronin, experienced and fearless, now give them to me!"

"A ronin huh?" Soujirou smiled, "Well, usually ronins only wander, they don't steal from people to disgrace their honor."

"Shikan! Stop smiling like that! What's the matter with you?"

"Smiling?" Soujirou noticed himself, "I am, aren't I…?"

The man placed his hand on his katana handle, "Okkuu! Give them to me NOW!"

"Please mister, I'm only delivering these-" There was no time for Soujirou to finish his words, the man had begun to draw his sword to attack him. I can do it. I can- I know how! I have to! Soujirou screamed as loud as his lungs would allow, and summoned his hidden strength to counter the man's blow.

They froze in their positions, like statues. Soujirou was overcome by his power; he felt a recognizable ability come back to him…the ability to kill. He turned back to stare at the frozen man with no pupil eyes. Slowly, a red line started to seep through his clothing, and ran along sideways on his stomach. When the line divided him perfectly in half, the upper body fell heavily onto the ground, creating a mist of dust.

Soujirou stared at the dead body, at his face. What has he done? And why doesn't he feel any…guilt for it?

"Futami…" Kikari desperately waited outside the restaurant, "It is late evening…why aren't you back? ...Maybe I shouldn't have…urged him."

"Kikari-chan…" Soujirou called out. I…have to tell someone, Kikari…I must tell her. But…

"Futami! Oya! I've been so worried about you!" The first thing Kikari noticed was a bag of money, it seemed, "Oyamaa! Futami, where did you get so much money?"

"I…I…" Soujirou tilted his head down, and looked at her, "I recieved them, from Ojiisan."

Gasp! Souji-chan is LYING!

Vocab time!

Ixesu: Yes

Tatakiokosu: Wake up

Hiru: Noon time

Dore: Let me see…

Ronin: A samurai class but less honorable

Shikan: Silence

Okkuu: Troublesome; annoying

Oyamaa: Extended version of Oya. Means goodness gracious!