Jin came to be with his wife as the doctor examined her. She explained her symptoms and what she was feeling. The doctor had spent time on the continent and was said to have been taught in the arts of ancient Chinese medicine. Her belly was round, but she still bled. She was fatigued, and other symptoms mimicked pregnancy, but she was taking herbs made by the village midwife to prevent it. Jin's worst fear was that it was a tumor.
Jin watched as the doctor examined Shiroko. She lay in bed, as she had for the past week and a half. The doctor asked her again about her symptoms, listened to different parts of her body, and then finally took her pulse. He asked Jin to leave for a more personal part of the exam.
When Jin returned the doctor privately told Jin that Shiroko was undoubtedly pregnant.
Jin uncouthly blurted out "But she is still bleeding!"
"Yes," said the doctor "this is true, but I have seen it before. It means she is overworked and must stay in bed for the remainder of her pregnancy. If she does not rest you could lose more than just that child."
"But she can't be" said Jin unable to believe it. "She was taking herbs!"
"Those herbs aren't as reliable as you'd like them to be. They are often not mixed properly by the old midwives who sell them."
Jin was shocked. 'How could this happen? And after I thought we were in the clear.'
Shiroko wanted to talk to Jin about their renewed situation. Jin would not say much else than "This is what fate has decreed. We should be more careful in the future."
Time passed and Jin coped with the idea of a child. He loved Shiroko and would love their baby, but the worry and guilt over putting their lives in danger ate away at him everyday.
Now that Shiroko knew his fears she was more capable of quelling them, but Jin was still being distant.
As Shiroko swelled with child the students picked up more of the responsibility. The larger Shiroko became the more worried Jin became. He was suspicious of everyone and their motives, even his students.
Jin began to fear their betrayal. Jin whispered these thoughts to Shiroko one night. She smiled softly and said "Jin, you have not betrayed them, correct?"
He nodded an affirmative. She leaned her head on his shoulder and stroked his chest. "Why worry? They all adore you."
"Hmm?"
Shiroko could tell Jin was not convinced. He kissed her temple and rested his chin gently on her head. He loved the scent of her hair and the shape of her round cheeks. Jin allowed the back of his fingers to stroke her cheek. He had grown to love her so much in the past couple of years that he almost forgot what it meant to be lonely. His fear of that loneliness returning was in part why he was acting as he was.
Fuu was beating out the dust from the mats when she heard someone call out for Sensei Jin. Shiroko's husband was in the courtyard lecturing to the students about the act of meditation and Fuu went to receive the visitor.
Due to Shiroko's condition she was not receiving anyone. Fuu went and met the large muscular man with dark eyes and intentions in the doorway.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"I came to meet this Master Jin I've heard about."
"I'm sorry, he's—" Fuu was interrupted when he batted her aside and stormed through the house. Shiroko heard the thud of Fuu landing and peeked through a crack in the door. Fuu scurried into Shiroko's room, ignored by the visitor. Fuu said "I've seen Jin in action before, and he can take care of himself." Fuu pulled out her blade and said "You, on the other hand area bit disadvantaged."
She spotted a large man walking straight through to the courtyard where Jin was speaking to the students. Jin ceased talking when he saw the man. He could sense in the man's posture that he was looking for a fight.
The man pointed at Jin and said "Jin of Mujushin Kenjutsu dojo?"
Jin sighed and said "Yes" Jin did not remember this man's face as any of the others students he trained with "…and you are?"
The muscular man shook with rage and blurted "You asshole! How…" He growled to himself then said "I am Keiki."
Jin then remembered a page boy who was new to the dojo when Jin had made his departure. "The page?"
"YES. I was small then, but as you can see" he flexed an arm "that is no longer so."
"You have come to avenge our master, I take it?" Jin said recognizing this man may have had bulk, but no skill.
"Pfft" responded Keiki "No, I am here to gain revenge for myself. You ruined my life, Jin, and I will ruin yours."
The large man walked back through the house and back to the road. Jin felt all eyes on him and decided to continue his lecture without acknowledging the incident right away.
Jin continued to speak about Zen principles and peace of mind all the while concerned for Shiroko and their child. The students tossed glances back and forth during the lecture. At the end without skipping a beat Jin told them "In regards to our visitor: he is the perfect example of why you should never take up a sword unless you are willing and able to pay the consequences. You are dismissed. That is all for today."
The students slowly got up and swaggered away. Jin closed his eyes and decided he should put some of his meditation teachings into use.
Two of Keiki's men took up a spot across the street from the dojo and hid themselves in the trees there. No one in the dojo noticed. The two men would be replaced on shifts according to Keiki's demands. This way they always had someone watching the Champloo Dojo.
Shiroko was tired of sitting alone in her room and snuck into the kitchen to chat with Fuu. Shiroko watched Jin from the back door of the kitchen. Jin sat on a bench in the courtyard and Shiroko sent Fuu to bring him a cup of tea. The sun was warm, but the breeze was cool; autumn was up on them.
When Fuu returned to the house, Jin noticed a young boy, no more than five watching him. Jin went through the faces of his new students and there was none among them who was that small. Nor did Jin think there should be. Jin kept his gaze forward as he drank his tea. 'Perhaps if ignore the child he will leave' he thought.
The boy was not deterred by Jin's silence and took a seat next to him on the bench. Jin's mind began to wander and he unconsciously let out a "Mn."
The little boy mimicked Jin's posture on the bench then let out a "Mn" of his own.
Jin spared the boy a glance out of the corner of his narrow eyes then tried to lose himself in the falling leaves. The little boy watched how Jin's fair fingers gently held his cup. The boy took in the details of the beads Jin wore around his wrist.
Fuu appeared with a cup of tea for the boy then left before Jin could protest.
The breeze blew and Jin looked down into his tea. He looked at his own reflection and pondered his existence and that of the coming child. Jin then saw not only the reflection of his own eyes, but that of the boys' in his tea.
He saw the boy look down into his own tea and put on a pensive face. The boy didn't see what was so interesting about his own tea. The boy moved closer to Jin and peered into the samurai's tea. This broke Jin's concentration but made him laugh inwardly.
Shiroko watched them with Fuu from the doorway. "Who is that little boy, Fuu?"
"I don't know. I didn't see him until this afternoon" replied the younger woman.
Kurou walked by and Fuu asked him if he knew about the boy. "Oh yea, that's some orphan."
"His name is orphan?" asked Shiroko.
"No, hahaha, he doesn't have a name. His parents were killed sometime back by a group of samurai. A ronin was passing by, stepped in, and saved the kid."
"Wow" said Fuu.
"Yeah, but the ronin disappeared and that kid's been living in the streets with us. Being orphaned is a pretty common story" then Kurou continued on to what he was doing.
Jin looked down at the boy who was still comparing his own cup of tea to that of Jin's.
Jin said "Your parents must be worried about you."
The boy then looked back down into his own tea. Jin thought about the living conditions of most of his students and realized the boy probably had no parents. "I see. That is unfortunate" said Jin.
The boy looked up at Jin and met his eyes.
"I cannot be your father" said Jin.
The boy broke eye contact and put down his tea. He rested back on his hands and looked at the trees around them. His eyes then settled back on Jin.
The boy's large young eyes examined the samurai. The orphan child admired Jin's disciplined posture. The kid looked up at the trees again and sat with Jin a little longer in the cool breeze.
Inside Shiroko said to Fuu "That poor boy. I believe he just wants to belong somewhere."
Jin let his hair blow in his own face and said "We are not running an orphanage here. If you stay you will have to work." The man sat straight backed and continued to drink his tea and enjoy the change in season.
The boy tried to mimic Jin's perfect posture and would occasionally steal a quick glance at the samurai. The boy smiled at Jin and the boy's eyes glittered.
Jin sipped his tea and said "It will be hard work, but at least you will have a place to stay."
The boy began to giggle. Jin was perplexed and said "What's so funny?" When he saw he wasn't getting and answer he said "Mm"
He looked at the boy and began to wonder if Shiroko was going to have a boy or a girl child.
Jin hoped for a boy to teach and guide. He looked down at the kid again and said "Come with me."
The boy gladly hopped off the bench and after his tall samurai savior.
In the training hall Mugen sparred with Kurou as the other students paired off. Mugen quickly disarmed the boy and moved on to the next student. Mugen worked his way around the room disarming then beating each student in turn. When he finished he sighed and said "You guys' suck!"
One of the braver students said "Well, yeah! I mean you've got loads of experience. We're just learning!"
"The reason you suck is because you're trying to do it my way. You gotta fight in your own style."
Jin entered behind him and sighed he took in the scene and said "You are supposed to teach them not injure them."
"I can't help it. They all suck" said Mugen examining the damage he caused.
Jin said "They lack knowledge and skills which you, as their instructor, are to impart to them."
Jin looked at the students Mugen sparred with. Most stood rubbing their arms others sat nursing fresh bruises on their legs. One student stumbled around with a hand on his head "This is how I learned" said Mugen drawing Jin's attention.
Jin was quick to say "Yes, thus explaining your lack of skill and knowledge."
Mugen raised his wooden sword "Why you—"
Jin drew his katana with lighting speed and silenced the wooden sword in half.
The small boy who followed Jin stepped back in horror at the sight of the shining blade. The boy froze in terror. One of the other students pointed to the little boy and said "Hey look, the little orphan is stuck again, hahaha!" The other boys laughed and Jin and Mugen looked at the boy.
The little orphan boy was transfixed on Jin's blade.
Author's Notes:
crazy4dogboi - Cool Beans! I'm glad you reviewed! Thanks! Chizz -muffinChik - Preggers? HahahahaI love it. That's a great word. Stay tuned and find out!
Am super-tired. Thanks for your reviews, sorry I havent updated, please review. Going to grab sleepies now. G'nite.