Chapter 10
How a poor man paid debts.
A band of children stood huddled against the wall; a girl in rags stood petrified before a pair of young boys. None of them were over 11. Arm-raised, a woman with a rolling pin struck down on the oldest girl's arm, ignoring her muffled yelps.
"How many have you stolen, you little heathens. Huh? How many more would you have stolen if I didn't catch you today? Should I turn you over to the police? Should I!?" She struck again, but the bruising girl banked left, catching a blow meant for the curly-haired boy whimpering behind her.
"Bastards, the lot of you. Filthy little—" She bore down on them.
And in one, deft movement, in a blur of red, the rolling pin was wedged between a pair of palms. The children were left trembling behind a dusty grey gi. The little girl gasped, eyes trailing to the katana at the stranger's side. She held the younger boys closer.
"Forgive this lowly one, Milady. But it is not very civil of you to turn your…rolling pin… on these children, that it is not." He finished calmly. "This will stop now, that it will."
The stern-faced lady scowled, twisting the wooden weapon out of his wormy grasp. "How dare you," her eyes skit to the dirt in his hair. "—beggar. These kids are thieves—thats what. They'll never learn right from wrong otherwise. I've lost countless batches of buns to them…and this is my business! Get your nose out."
She raised her arm again, ready to aim it past the red-haired beggar. Behind him, the children tugged on his clothes, their palms sweaty. He didn't shift a millimetre, and caught the rolling pin easily as it dragged past his right side.
"Milady. That is very uncourteous of you." His voice was low and monotonous now. With a twist of his wrist, the pin spun out of her grasp, and he hovered it before her offended eyes.
"They are merely children… this lowly one will pay their debt in their place, that he will. " The lady hardened her eyes, skimming them once over his frayed clothes.
"What's a beggar going to offer me? You've money to repay forty steam buns?"
"No."
"You've something valuable to give?"
"No."
She was furious now, eyes milling between the beggar and the three pathetic children cooped up behind him.
"This lowly one will endure their punishment for them, that he will."
The beggar stepped forward, dipping his head and bowing low with the weapon outstretched in offering.
"Please forgive this lowly one on behalf of these children, Milady." He said simply. " This one said he will pay the debt. Do as you wish until you consider it paid."
The lady raised her brows, chuckling quietly to herself as if she'd just heard of the stupidest thing.
"Ehe…And you won't retaliate?"
"No."
Her expression was contemplating, and she side-eyed the thieves. The lady took the rolling pin back. With a wry smile, the beggar turned to the kids.
"This lowly one is sorry, Dear Lady, and Sirs. You've been brave!" He grinned. "But you may leave now. Please don't look back. This one will be fine, that he will."
And the bruising girl drank in the beggar's bright-eyed smile, taking in the ugly cuts on his cheek. She swallowed, tugging a boy in each hand, and bolted out of the way. The boys resisted, eyes glaring towards the beggar's strange, red hair. But she tugged them away as the angry lady flung her arm forward, striking him to the floor.
When the girl came back alone, there was blood in the alleyway, and the adults were gone.
Notes
This lowly one: translation of "Sessha"
Kenshin defends some street kids.
(I originally put loaves of bread, but lol that wont work, so now its batches of buns.) Thanks!
Next time, on Kyoto No More...