Chapter Three: Hirotine
Hirotine?
Who are you?
You are Hirotine, are you not?
No.
But, I'm sure of it that you are.
I'm not Hirotine; I don't even know who he is. Who are you?
Hirotine, have you really forgotten me?
I told you, I'm not Hirotine!
Hirotine, you must remember. I am Shinca.
Shinca?
So you really have forgotten all of your past?
I have no past, I don't know you. Where am I?
I'm sure of it, you are Hirotine. Some day you will awake my warrior.
The wind howled as it ran along the plains. The sun had just reached the peak of its day casting its greatest amount of heat onto the rich soil below. The birds flew along the perfect blue sky as they sang.
Gazico turned from his side onto his back and could feel the rays from the sun stab at his eye lids until he opened them. He felt tranquil and for a moment forgot why he was out in the middle of no where. Slowly he got up just enough to rest on his elbows and began looking around. There wasn't anything, just endless eye sight of green. He eventually came across the girl he was escorting; she was sitting up staring right back at him.
Gazico thought about his dream and realized that the voice that spoke to him not to long ago must have been the same voice that spoke to him in the forest, her voice.
So her name is Shinca? he thought to himself.
"Good afternoon," he said.
She smiled and closed her eyes, however, still made no sound.
Gazico stood up and quickly stretched out his muscles, after a few positions he noticed that she had gotten up and was trying to imitate his moves. He laughed a little inside and smiled on the out.
After they had eaten a little Gazico stretched his arms straight up to the sky, "We can rest a little more," he said, "But we better head out and try to reach another village. I'm not sure how long we can stay out here."
She made no sound, or attempt to argue, the girl got up and stood, waiting for Gazico to walk by her side.
"Can I ask you a question?" he asked as he slowly pushed himself up.
She nodded her head.
"Your name, is it Shinca?" he asked.
She nodded her head again with her eyes closed and mouth open wide smiling. She seemed pleased that he had understood what her name was.
I see, he though, So she can talk to me in my dreams. I wonder if she can read my thoughts.
Gazico looked up at her, to see if she had responded to what he had just thought, but her emotion was unchanged.
That's good; at least I think I have privacy while I'm awake at least. Better not think about this anymore.
Gazico walked forward in the opposite direction from where they came, and Shinca followed.
The sun was begging to set and the strain of walking for hours was taking its affect on Gazico and Shinca. Gazico did his best to hide his fatigue, but Shinca limped and panted with great difficulty. When they had walked a few more miles, Shinca collapsed on the ground.
"Shinca, are you okay?" Gazico exclaimed.
She had fainted, most likely from heat exhaustion.
"We can't wait here another day, we are out of supplies," he spoke to her, but felt as though he was just speaking to himself.
He took off his quiver and bow and put them on her back and then bent down and picked her up, securing her on his back. Her head rested on his shoulder and he could hear her slowly breathing into his ear. Her aroma was pure and filled his mind with images of cherry blossoms in the spring. Her very essence kept reminding of the home that of which he had left.
After a few more miles had past on the harsh plain, Gazico finally spotted what looked like some houses. As he came closer, more houses came into view. They ranged from small ones like in his village to giant ones that he would have never thought to have been made. Gazico stared at the buildings in awe as he walked into the village.
People were running left and right from him, many eager to reach their destination as fast as possible. It seemed just the same as his village, except there were many drunken people trying to walk, but stumbling or wobbling from left to right.
The curious villagers stared at Gazico who still had Shinca safely on his back. He was embarrassed to have so much attention until some women began calling him a letch, a pervert, a horrible man, and other things that Gazico had never even heard before. Some men told the women to be quiet and cheered him on for such a fine catch he had made.
"The greatest woman is an unconscious one!"
He said no words, but just stared at everyone as he continued his way down the path. Eventually he reached a sign that announced the building was an inn. Gazico remembered the elder telling him that people with no home in a big village would stay at a place called an inn. He walked in.
Inside there was a man sitting next to the door, slowly tapping his fingers on the ground. When he noticed Gazico he stood up quickly and brushed himself off.
"Welcome," he said.
"I need a place to stay for tonight," Gazico mentioned.
"Well, you've come to the right place. This is one of the best inns of the whole village of Uzana; down right cheap too. Only four notes a night," he finished with a smile.
Gazico stared at him confused, "I have no 'notes' he told him honestly."
The man looked disappointed, "You can't expect to do anything or stay anywhere unless you have some money. Are you crazy?"
"Money?" Gazico fished into his bag and pulled out two gold pieces, "Will this do?"
The man's eyes widened, "That's real gold! That's so hard to find around these parts! Where did you get this?"
Gazico didn't answer, such gold was found common in his village, he had hundreds more of those coins in the bag.
"Is this enough for one night?" he asked.
"Is this enough for one night you ask? Heck this is enough for two weeks, with the best room and full service. Please come this way, er–" the man stopped speaking.
Gazico was unaccustomed to the way that people talked around here and just stared at him until the man sighed.
"What is your name Sir?"
"Why do you want to know?" he asked.
"I just figured, the best customer had in years, I should at least know his name."
"I would rather not. Please just show me to my room."
The man did as he asked and they walked down the hall way then up the stairway and to the third door on the right.
"Here you are Sir," he slid the door to the right.
Gazico stepped in and looked around. The room was at least two times as large as his back in the village. In front of him, against the farthest wall, was a large bed, to the left of that was a fire place, and to the right was a sofa. To his immediate right was a small desk and chair, along with a bucket for trash. Further left from the desk against the wall was a semi-large window that peered out on the street.
"If there is anything I can do please ask," the man closed the door slowly and Gazico heard his footsteps leave down the hallway then down the stairs.
Without anything to think about he remembered that he was still carrying Shinca on his back and quickly put her down on the bed. He took off the quiver and bow so she could lay on his back, and laid them on the ground. He grabbed some water and gently held up her head as he poured the water down her throat. She coughed a little but seemed better, so he let her down and walked over to the chair next to the desk.
He pulled it out and lifted it over to the window and sat and watched the villagers outside. He watched them for a long time and saw no difference in any of them from him himself. Why wasn't he aloud to ever interact with people outside the village? Looking out this window, the rules seemed silly and childish.
All right, he decided, I better go out there and see how these people really are.
He stood up and pushed the chair away, quickly making his way to the door. He slid it opened and stepped out, however, before he could close the door he heard a faint whimper sound and turned around. Shinca had regained consciousness and was sitting on the bed staring at him, tears forming in her eyes.
Gazico smiled, "Don't worry. I'm not leaving you; I just want to go look around. You need to rest up anyway; we can't stay here more than tonight."
His smiled seemed to calm her and she laid back on the bed, he slide the door shut and walked down the hall.
Gazico's first order of business was to receive some of these "notes" that the villagers used for trading. He assumed that most villages he came across would probably use the same system for trading. He walked into four different buildings before he found someone that would trade one of his gold coins for notes. He received two hundred notes for one of his gold pieces. Gazico wasn't sure exactly if that was truly a fair trade, but he trusted the man, and he knew he wouldn't need very many notes to begin with anyway.
As Gazico left the building he noticed one directly in front of him. It seemed the people inside were eating and drinking, and it reminded him of his own hunger. He quickly, with curiosity, walked in and took a seat at a long table were others sat left and right from him. Nothing seemed strange about the place, however, one girl was sitting alone by herself, and at the other end, four men drank merrily while singing.
When the owner asked him what he wanted he told her to please just make him the most common thing. She was confused at first but accepted his order and walked off. As soon as she was gone she came back with a bowl, a small cup, and a small bottle. He gave her the notes she requested and she placed the bowl in front of him. He wasn't sure what was in the bowl but grabbed the chop sticks to his right and tried some of the meat that sat on top. He was surprised to find it was quite delicious, and the drink added to the flavor.
The men on the other end of the table were no longer singing.
"This damned government cannot be built on such faulty fucking laws!" one man argued.
"Faulty fucking laws? Is that what you think of our new society?" the other man exclaimed.
"Come on, come on," one man begged, "This isn't the time or place for arguing about the government. We are supposed to be having a good time with our time off."
"He's right," responded the last man, "We should be looking for women now, not ways to fix the government. For instance, like her."
He held out his katana at the girl across the table who sat alone, gently drinking her sake. Gazico stared at the woman, she wore a blue and purple kimono and her face was covered by her hair and the shadow of her hair.
Gazico let on no emotion, but he was disgusted by the way these men acted and thought. The woman got up after finishing her drink and walked out the door.
After he was done with his food he picked it up, and was about to walk it to the owner, but she told him he could leave it on the table and that she would grab it later.
"Thank you," he said to her, making her blush.
He bowed to her and walked out the door, the four men stared at him.
"What a disgusting pathetic man," one commented.
The sun had almost completely disappeared when he emerged from inside. He looked up at the stars beginning to show, and then walked off.
"Wait."
He turned around to see who called him. It was the woman that was sitting near him.
"If it's not too much trouble, will you follow me to where I am staying? I don't like walking alone at this time of night, especially with men like those in there just freely doing what the want," she walked up to him.
Gazico was confused, "If you don't trust men, why would you ask me for help? I have never met you; likewise you don't know who I am."
She came up to him, slowly bringing her face towards his, peering with her dark green eyes into his. He could see she wore light make up and her face seemed soft and warm, as pure as Shinca's.
"I don't know," she finally responded, "I just feel as though I can trust you. Will you please help me?"
Gazico didn't think much into it, "Aye," he responded and they began to walk off.
Clouds had formed over the skies, increasing the darkness. He kept a far distance from her, but still enough to see her. Gazico touched his chest, and noticed he couldn't feel the strap of his quiver or the string from his bow.
He gasped, I left the bow and arrows with Shinca. Why didn't I remember this sooner? If people do come and I have to fight, I only have the Lenoria to fight with.
Just as Gazico had thought of this he heard footsteps break the gap in between him and the woman he was watching over. As they both had expected, the four men had followed her from the start and were moving in. They hadn't noticed Gazico yet; he stayed silent and moved even quieter.
Finally they reached her and one man jumped on her from behind. She fell to the floor and before she could scream he held her head up and grasped one hand over her mouth.
"You are ours now bitch," a foul sour smell came out of his mouth as he whispered.
The men chuckled and helped keep her down while they brought out rope.
Suddenly one man shouted in pain.
"What is the matter with you!" the other man whispered as loudly as he could at him.
"A rock flew and hit me, I think," they all four turned around and saw a figure standing in the dark.
All four men stood up and slowly drew their katana's, letting the naked blade taste fresh air.
"What you are doing is wrong, and I will not allow such acts to go on," Gazico spoke broadly and projected around them.
"You want to fight us you moron. Fine, you can die by my blade. I've been waiting to test this new one I just got."
They four lunged at him at once; the woman got up and took deep breaths in. Gazico stood still as they came at him until the blade was next to his face. He dodged the attack with ease.
I'm glad, he thought as he continued to evade, At least they are slower than me. At this rate all I have to do is tire them out and take them with my own hands.
As Gazico thought he lost his concentration and one of the men succeeded in slashing his upper left arm. Blood spewed from the wound and Gazico was knocked to the floor. His body tensed up and he rolled along the floor missing various attacks at him. He jumped up and evaded the group with a back flip. When he was a few feet from them he stood up straight and grabbed his arm. He was panting lightly.
"How foolish," he spoke under his breath, "I lost my concentration."
The clouds parted from the moons light and the scene became illuminated. All men were staring at him, blood thirst filled their eyes. Gazico's eyes widened as he looked past them. They turned around in curiosity. Shinca was standing a few yards away from one man.
He looked back at Gazico then quickly ran towards her. He grabbed the top of her face, covering her eyes and pulled her head back, exposing her neck. Gently he placed a cold dagger on her throat and stared back up at Gazico with a smile.
"Shinca! Please don't hurt her! I'll do whatever you want! I admit defeat; just don't hurt her I beg of you!"
The man who held her sneered at Gazico, "I don't want you to admit defeat now. I want you to suffer."
Gazico ran toward the two as fast as he could.
"Hirotine!" Shinca screamed out and Gazico froze paralyzed.
He laughed and pushed his dagger from one side of her throat to the other, breaking the skin and cutting deeply into her neck. Blood sprayed from the wound and poured all over the dagger. Gazico watched as her body stopped struggling and she lost all tension.
The man took the almost lifeless body and threw it to the side, where Gazico quickly sprinted for it. He forgot all about the men and for that moment could only see her. The wound on her neck was fatal.
She looked up at him and lifted her hand to his face, but not making it. Gazico grabbed her falling hand and held it to his cheek like she wanted.
"Hirotine," her voice was soft and weak, "I'm…sorry," her voice cut out.
Gazico was amazed by the amount of words she had just spoken with her throat cut in two. She closed her eyes and mouthed three last words.
I…Love…You…
Her hand slipped from his grip and crashed to the ground. Gazico closed his eyes, unable to understand the great emotions of pain he felt. He did not know her this well to feel this pain. Was it Hirotine's pain? Did Hirotine know what was happening? He sat there motionless with Shinca.
The four men walked up to him, each with their katana held out ready to slash downwards. Just as they screamed and their blades sliced the air, Gazico raised his hand.
"Etra dristan!" his voice was clear, smooth, and deep.
All four men flew away from him and fell to the ground harshly. One man broke his neck, instantly killing him, another broke his arm, and screamed in pain at the sight of seeing his elbow ripped out of his skin. The other two men seemed fine and stood up, scared of the force which had just attacked them.
Gazico stood up and held out his right hand in front of his wound, "Kir'ra takor."
A flash of light surrounded his wound and when it disappeared there was no mark or blood to be seen.
He reached over for his sword and grabbed it firmly from the hilt. The dull blade emerged and faced the opponents. It seemed as though they were confused that he would draw out a dull sword that looked harmless, when he could easily shoot them into the sky.
"Icara Lenoria!" lights began to sparkle around the blade and caused an eruption of light.
The shine was so bright that the two men closed their eyes and screamed in agony. When it had vanished they tried to look back and saw a brand new blade on the sword, steam still emerging and rising upward. Gazico slowly turned the blade in the moonlight and a reflection of light moved from his waist up to his eyes, where he stopped.
The woman who had remained silent this whole time gasped, his eyes had changed. They were slick and filled with anger, the color had changed to a dark wine red and there was no reflection in them at all, just darkness.
The men pleaded for their life as he stood in front of them.
He looked over to his side, "I see I have failed you again, my Lady Shinca," he bent down and kissed her forehead, "Again, my life has been cursed."
The woman stood up and looked at him. She knew deep in her mind that the person standing in front of them was not the person she asked to protect her early that night.