Letters to a Traveling Solider
Summary:
He was a soldier, off to war; she was a waitress, staying home. They had known each other, what, an hour? She couldn't be falling for him .. could she? Sure, they had written letters upon letters to each other, and she had kept every single one. But their relationship went nothing deeper than friendship, right?
Author's Note:
This story was inspired by the song, Travelin' Soldier, by the Dixie Chicks. I strongly suggest you listen to the song if you have the time.
Disclaimer:
Sadly, I own nothing but the plot to this story. Technically I don't even own that, since it was inspired from a song owned by Dixie Chicks. Bummer.
Letters to a Traveling Soldier
Chapter One: Strangers
Hello, my name is Sango Taijiya, I am precisely 23 years old and I work as a simple waitress. Boring, I know, but hey, it pays the bills. Now, I'm just an ordinary person, but I'm here to tell you of the time I fell in love; in love with a traveling soldier I met only once.
I was only 17 at the time, working the same job as I do now, I expected just another day. Same old routine, same old customers. The only difference was, my country was at war. My father had already been drafted, and I had recently gotten notice of his death. Now, I'm not a crier, but I bawled my eyes out, only when I was alone though. After that, I isolated myself from the world. It was pointless, I had lost my mother when I was young, she died giving birth to my younger brother, Kohaku. Now, he was my responsibility.
Anyway, back to the story, I thought it would be just another plain day, nothing special. Little did I know this would be the day I fell in love..
- -5 years ago- -Sango is now 17- -
I groaned as I rolled over in my sleep, and woke with a start, nightmares had plagued my sleep once again. All I could see where dead bodies, and among them was my fathers. His blank stare was enough to send me teetering over the edge, and when he uttered the words,
'Why did you let me go,'
I spiraled into the midst of solitude, confining myself to the deepest corners of my mind. Blaming myself for my father's death, but of my own as well. Now, I wasn't dead per sae, as I was still walking, talking, and breathing, but I might as well have been. My soul died with my father, left my body the same moment he took his last breath.
Even if I wasn't aware of it till the say I got the letter.
I read that letter over and over and over inside my mind, thinking that there had to have been some mistake; somewhere there had to be another Sango Taijiya with a father enlisted into the army with the name of Jiro Taijiya. But I knew there wasn't, my father was gone, just as I'd feared.
I cried for days after that letter arrived; I spilled so many tears on the parchment, that the printed words blurred together, so not even Kohaku had a chance to read it. He was so angry with me, it just made me cry more. Not only did I now have 2 dead parents, but a little brother who hated me.
For days I sat alone, refusing to eat. I ignored the itch in my throat, pleading with my mind to drink; I discarded the emptiness in my belly, gnawing at my insides for food. If it hadn't been for Kagome, I probably would have starved to death.
After that, I was a pretty much a robot, I got up, got dressed, worked, went home, ate, slept, got up, eh, you get the picture. I eventually grew out of that phase, I guess you could call it, but deep down, a little bit of that robot still resides, like burning embers thriving in a fire, long after the flames went out.
Kohaku forgave me, and life went on; or so it seemed.
After I had showered and changed into my uniform, I set off. Kohaku had long since gone to school, since he was always the first one up. Most of the time, I'm so sleepy I don't even remember him leaving, but I know he does; I don't know how, but I do.
Work is simple, take the paying customers orders, bring them the nasty food, and be on your way. Simple enough.
But today, today is different. I don't know why, I can just feel it. You know the feeling that you get when you think someone is watching you, but you can't prove it; the air just seems heavier? That's what today feels like. I don't like it, I don't like it at all.
"Sango, will you take table four for me?" I turn around, there is my best friend and savior, Kagome Higurashi. She's a tad shorter than me, maybe by an inch, and has wavy black hair, as opposed to my straight locks. Her eyes are big and brown and full of emotion, whereas mine are almost black and empty. She's perky, happy, is friends with everyone, and always has room in her heart for another kind deed, where I'm distant and not trusting, sad, and lack-luster.
But despite our differences, we love each other more than life itself. I wouldn't be here without her, she wouldn't be here without me. See her current boy toy, Hojo, is a total air head. Always used to blow her off, and call her names, and criticize her every move. It got to the point Kagome almost slit her wrists because she thought she wasn't good enough. I had a talk with Hojo and he was genuinely surprised, and they talked it over and he explained he lashed out at her because of his own insecurities.
But, everything's fine, now.
With them, at least.
"Of course Kagome." I reply, curious as to why she doesn't want the table; I take one look in the direction and immediately get the answer. It's the old guy who always hits on her. At first we all thought he was kidding, but now Kagome's just down right scared of the man, so we all cover for her.
As I take the potential-rapist-slash-stalker's order, a big bus pulls up in front of our little restaurant.
Weird, I wonder, no buses ever come here. It's true, I live in a tiny little town where everyone knew everyone. This just wasn't a tourist type place.
When the first man stepped off the bus in a sergeant's uniform, I knew. These were new recruits off to war, taking a short rest-stop. I gulped nervously as the soldiers piled out of the large vehicle. As I skimmed over the young men, no older than my age, I noticed, one of them caught my eye. The very last rookie, he had a sort of shine about him, but that wasn't what got my attention, it was his eyes.
They were staring directly into mine, insistent for an escape; and I couldn't look away.
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Next time:
Chapter Two: Just trust me?
The two strangers meet and spend some time together.
Sango maybe learns to trust again, if only a little.