Notes and review response are at the bottom.
Chapter 4 - Aoi
"Heart-to-heart" is the name of a plant with heart-shaped leaves. To the exquisitely symbolic mind of the Heian era, its use in wrappings of letters and missives signified intimacy.
"It's good to see you hale and hearty, my old friend!"
"Oi! Don't sneak up on me like that—you nearly gave me a heart attack! How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to watch you hoe that row nearly into a ditch. How you make anything grow is beyond me."
"Hmph. As if you're any kind of a gardener."
"I can't argue with you there. I'm not much good at anything but iron and steel, and that's a fact. Well, are you going to make us some tea?"
"I'm coming, I'm coming! Let me put these tools away; I'm done anyway for today. You know where the teapot is – go ahead and put the water on the fire while I wash up."
A tiny bright-silver disc made its stately way across the velvety, midnight-blue sky, sailing serenely high above both teller and listener. The big tree behind the chicken coop rustled softly in the slight movement of the cool night air. Twin columns of tobacco smoke drifted lazily from twin bowls glowing red under the soaring spangle of stars.
Constellations wheeled; smoldering ashes dimmed. Night creatures stirred, then settled and slept. The Teller hushed, his tale finished.
The Listener knocked the spent ashes out of his pipe and pulled a worn pouch out of his sleeve. Loosening its drawstring, he pinched out a dark-brown, aromatic lump, and packed it tightly into the still-warm bowl. The Teller declined the offered refill. The Listener re-stowed the pouch, then reached back through the doorway for a small stick of kindling, touched it to the banked fire in the stove, and brought it out, shielding it against the draft. Concentrating on this important task, he puffed in practiced rhythm, and the bowl leapt to life. "I wondered why you returned so quickly."
"When I saw that mei, I knew that katana was meaningful, even aside from its strange form. That, combined with that hair and scar… So I asked around in the swordsmiths' community. They certainly knew exactly who I had seen, and then, well, I had to make sure you were all right, that I hadn't foolishly endangered you."
The old one reflected before speaking. "I'm curious: what made you pick him out for rescue?"
It was Yoshi's turn to consider his thoughts carefully. "I'm not sure. Of course, his need was dire, but it was more than that. I was with him for only a few hours, but it didn't take even that long to detect someone going under for the last time."
"My feeling, too. Life has dealt him a harsh hand, that it has."
The tsubako nodded in the silent dark. "He's killed, you know. Many, if the reports are to be believed."
"I know. He has scars."
"Well, scars don't necessarily…"
"Chigaimasu! That kind of scar."
"Ah."
"I haven't seen scars like that since… Well, that was another lifetime for both of us, wasn't it?" He waved a dismissive hand; this subject was well-worn between them. "He has also lost, and lost deeply, I'm sure of that."
"What do you mean?"
"He didn't open up easily—you noticed that yourself—but I'm not so obtuse either, you know. I think there must have been someone important, once." He puffed slowly, thoughtful gaze focused somewhere deep within. "Odd: he seems beset by guilt over it, too, somehow."
"Still, I don't believe he poses any kind of danger. Are you thinking he should be tracked down, or someone warned, or anything like that?"
"No, not at all. My instincts agree with yours. It's true that he has a long, dark valley ahead of him. He's only just started his journey, but he has strength. More than he realizes, even. That one will come out all right in the end."
Yoshi hugged his cloak closer to him against the damp night air. "'The end'. And to what end do you think his path will lead him?"
Gozaemon leaned back against the wall of the cottage, raised his chin, and sighed from the depths of his years. His old, pale eyes searched the stars. "That, my old friend, is the question, is it not?"
Notes:
"chigaimasu" : "difference" (polite form, used to indicate that things are quite contrary to what was just said)
Review responses: moera himura: Oh, I get it now! (sometimes you have to use words of fewer than 2 syllables with me!) lolo popoki: I'm glad you liked this conversation. I was a little uncertain about it. After all, nothing "really happens" here! omasuoniwahbanshi: Thanks for the compliments about the setting. I like it when other authors take the trouble to "put me in the picture", so I'd hoped this worked here, too! Chibi Binasu-chan: I write "delicately"? blush Thanks! And you are certainly welcome for the reviews; they were most heartfelt! WolfDaughter: "without being wordy or breaking the flow of the story": high praise, indeed! Thanks! RE a "side story": you reviewers have me thinking seriously about that. I like these guys, too, so I think I will research the era better and see if I can come up with something postable! SiriusFan13: Hmm …a longer timeframe … I hadn't considered that, but now you have me thinking about it! (and don't even think the word "inadequate" in the same thought as "Out of Time"! hmmph! It is such a finely-crafted story; I stand in awe of it!) Wistful-Eyes: A new reviewer! Yaaaaay! But, please: I'm not at all really knowledgable about "Japanese ways"! I have a Japanese friend, and my daughter studies the culture, so I mine their minds, so to speak! I plan to do more research, however, especially about this era! Mir: I love your work, so I'm extremely pleased you are reading this! IKnowNot: I'm sorry this chapter wasn't up to par—I'll try to do better in the future. Shirou Shinjin: Later, I discovered that the purpose of this chapter was just to let me write more about Gozaemon and Yoshi. I don't know whether they'll show up farther down the road, but they've shoved their way more centrally into my other chaptered fic, "A Good Deed." Although I like these guys, this chapter makes even me squirm—I keep feeling as though Yoda is going to pop into frame at just any old point…