Chapter 8: Phoenix

Jin sat on his knees and watched as the train left. "Asaki…come back…"

The train left, its destination unknown to Jin. The trainmaster blinked having seen him running after the train.

He walked over to Jin, tapping him on the shoulder, "Miss your train sir?"

"Yeah…something like that."

"Next train won't be leaving 'til tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow morning?"

"I'm afraid so sir. It'll cost you 2158.40 yen for a transfer. Can I see your ticket?"

Jin looked at the man, "I'm afraid…that I don't have a ticket."

"Oh is that so? Well, it'll cost you 16,188 yen for a ticket."

"16,188 yen! Where am I supposed to come up with that kind of money?"

"Why is it so important to you to get on that train?"

"I have my reasons. Tell me, where is that train going, the one that departed today and the one that is departing tomorrow morning?"

"You need to get on that train and you don't even know where you going." The man sighed, "To Tokyo of course."

"To Tokyo…I see…"

"Someone…you care about is on that train right?"

Jin turned his head quickly, looking at the man, "What?"

"No sense hiding it young samurai, I can see it in your eyes. Well I'll tell you what. Play a game of Shogi with me and win and I'll waive that fee for you."

"And if I lose?"

"Well those swords of yours just might catch the eye of a few buyers, what do you say?"

Jin looked down at where the train had left as though still seeing it there and Asaki's beautiful face. He looked to his swords and then to the man and nodded, "Alright, I accept."

"Good. Come along, right this way."

Jin nodded, following the man. They walked down the dirt paths coming to a small, well kept home. The man walked inside, Jin following close behind him. The shogi board was set up and the two began to play. The man had obviously been the more experienced player at shogi. However, Jin was a samurai and a swordsman. He was use to looking five moves ahead of his opponents. They began to play with Jin making the first move.

Meanwhile, Asaki rode on the train. She looked out the window at the glorious and uninhabited hills and countryside. She sighed, looking back down at the ground. She thought to herself, "Oh Jin…why couldn't you have just come with me? We could've been so happy together but now…but now we won't know happiness." Tears welled in her eyes and soon fell down her lightly tanned cheeks. She soon cried herself to sleep. A few hours after she fell asleep, a man from the train, gently tapped her and shook her lightly.

"Miss. Hey Miss."

Asaki blinked, opening her eyes, looking up, "Y-yes?"

"I hate to bother you miss, but we have arrived in Tokyo."

"Oh. Thank you for telling me." she sat up, rubbing her eyes, yawning a little. She stood up and made her way out of the train, the man following close behind her.

"I never did catch your name. I am Hotsuma, Hotsuma Komomeshi."

Asaki blinked and, once out of the train, turned around to face the man. She smiled a little at the man, bowing, "I am Asaki Yakamoto. It's nice to meet you Hotsuma and thank you for waking me up. Knowing me, I would have been on that train for days without realizing it was my stop."

"Excuse me, Miss Asaki."

She blinked once more, "Yes?"

"I just wouldn't feel right if I didn't walk you home. It would be simply improper."

Asaki shook her head, "It's really not necessary I don't live too long from here."

"Please, I insist."

"Alright I suppose it wouldn't do any harm if you escorted me home. Thank you." She bowed again and the two started off.

Hotsuma was as honorable and kind hearted as a samurai who followed the samurai code. He was a man that any woman would be happy to be with. He was tall, standing 6'3". He had long, flowing, straight black hair and emerald green eyes. He wore a black quilted keikogi top and white pants all tied together with a white obi belt. Asaki was amazed by his look alone. Those that wore keikogi's were almost always associated with kendo or "the way of the sword." Even though he wore such things, he did not have a sword or katana with him.

"Miss Asaki?"

Asaki stopped, "Yes Hotsuma?"

"I'm sure that train ride made you very hungry. Please, allow me to take you somewhere to eat."

Asaki blinked, "It's really not necessary and I should get…"

Hotsuma stopped her midsentance, "Please Asaki, it is my treat."

Asaki looked down. She was quite hungry but something about going with this man whom she just met on the train didn't feel right. Her rumbling stomach got the best of her and she nodded, "Very well." She had to give herself an advantage; she had to go to a place she knew with people that knew her. "How about we go to Katane's restaurant. I know where it is and I…"

Hotsuma shook his head, "I was thinking something a bit more your style. How about that place over there?" He pointed to Yasuke's restaurant. Yasuke's restaurant was one of the most top notch places to eat in Tokyo. Asaki had only heard about it and how exquisite their food was. She, unlike Cithara, could never afford to go to a place like that.

"Hotsuma, I can't let you do that. It's very expensive to eat there."

"I'm the one paying remember?" He smiled, "Don't worry Asaki. Come on, let's go."

Asaki hesitantly followed him and they were seated at a small table. Asaki looked around the place to get a feel for it. It was more beautiful and exquisite than she had heard. There were many flowers adorned around each small, secluded dining area and a bottle of sake and two small sake cups at each table. It was obvious that this sort of place was reserved for couples or those who were in love. Asaki wanted to leave. She didn't want to give this man the wrong impression about her. She thought of bringing Jin here but soon remembered that he did not want to come to Tokyo.

"Asaki are you alright? You seem kind of distracted."

Asaki blinked, shaking her head, "N-no it's not that it's just…I guess I'm just hungry that's all."

Hotsuma smiled, a bit relieved, "Well Asaki, no need to worry about that for much longer. Look, here comes our food."

"Our food? But we didn't even order…yet."

Hotsuma laughed a little at her, but it was soft and kind hearted, "You've never been to a place like this have you Asaki?"

"No I haven't, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too Asaki. Sorry that men have resisted your beauty and haven't taken you to a place like this." He smiled, "Asaki, they serve the same thing here to everyone and you get to decide what you'd like to eat. They will bring many trays so please eat as much as you'd like."

Asaki nodded a bit, still not quite sure about how the place was run and what to do. She saw one of the men bring over two trays of food. One was a variety of fish, ranging from sushi to salmon and on the other tray were a variety of rice from plain white rice to rice balls. As soon as the trays hit the table, Asaki was ready to dive in. Hotsuma could only smile as she ate away at the fish and the rice. Never before has he seen a woman like this.

"You really are a unique one Asaki. I'm glad to have met you on that train."

"Well listen, about that train. I need to tell you something about that…"

"It's quite alright Asaki. You don't need to explain anything."

"No really I do. You see I just…"

"Shh…relax Asaki. Relax and enjoy your food."

Asaki nodded and went on eating. It was dark outside. With the train ride, dinner and talking that the two did, it had grown quite dark.

"Asaki, why don't you stay with me tonight? My house is not too far from here."

"I really can't Hotsuma…"

"I won't hear another word about it. You are coming home with me."

Asaki blinked as she was practically dragged and led to his dojo. It was a large dojo, five times the size of hers. She was amazed at how much land that Hotsuma had and how well maintained it was. She couldn't believe it. Asaki could barely afford her dojo and even then she had to fix it up a lot.

"He must have one hell of a job." Asaki thought to herself.

The two walked inside the dojo and both were very tired from the trip. Hotsuma had Asaki wait in the first area as he went down the hall to the left. When he returned, he wore a red prosperity cheongsam with white cuffs, a yellow dragon stitched on the front.

He smiled, looking over at Asaki, "Now it's time to get you changed."

Asaki blinked, "Time to get me changed? What do you mean? Changed for what?"

"For bed silly. Now come on. I had them get this just for you." He brought out something wrapped in fine, silk cloth. Asaki blinked, unwrapping and unraveling it. Her eyes widened, seeing the beautiful lavender silk shou kimono robe. It had a wonderfully and delicately stitched phoenix sewn on the back of it.

"This is for you. You may take a bath and sleep in it if you wish."

Asaki was stunned, she didn't know what to do or say. She managed to mutter "Thank you" through her excitement and disbelief. After having taken a bath and being given a room to sleep, she lie in bed with a wide and gracious smile upon her face. The smile quickly faded and turned into a worried expression.

She whispered, "Oh Jin…where are you now? I miss you already…"

Meanwhile back with Jin…

Jin moves another piece, stern faced, "I believe that I have won."

"Well I'll be. There's someone that's even better at this than I am, well what do you know. Well just as the deal said, you get one free ticket for tomorrow's train. Here, I'll even throw in this extra money."

Jin shook his head, "That isn't necessary. All I need is to get on that train tomorrow."

The man laughed and shook his head, putting the money in Jin's hand, "That's more reason why you should take it. Just take it. It belongs in your hands."

Jin nodded slowly, "Thank you."

"Listen if you don't have anywhere to stay, you can stay at my house. It isn't much but it'll get you through the night."

Jin nodded, "Thank you sir…for everything."

"No, it was my pleasure. Thanks for givin' an old guy like me such fun playin' a game of shogi."

They went back to the man's house and Jin slept in a small, tattered bed. At this point, he didn't care. All he knew was that tomorrow he would be able to see Asaki again.

Jin thought to himself, "Asaki…I'll be there soon so just wait."