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Chapter 4: Respite

An odd pair was the thought that had struck innkeeper Sakamoto Toji when she first laid eyes on the young man and his charge. For one, the boy had incredibly bright red hair, unusual eyes the color of the twilight sky, a cross-shaped scar on his cheek and a sword. That was not all though- there was something about him, something that set him apart from anyone she had ever met. And running a little inn on a well-traveled road, she had met her share of unusual people.

Toji was a widow, and the small inn she ran with her widowed daughter Aya was her main source of income. It wouldn't have been very successful if this village hadn't been a rest point for traders, but still money was hard to come by. That was one of the reasons she didn't protest much when Aya led the young man to her one evening explaining that he and his charge- a little girl aged around five; needed a place to stay for a few days and that he'd be willing to work for it. She was apprehensive at first, but it was difficult to make ends meet in winter, and she just couldn't say no to this beautiful stranger. Besides, as Aya pointed out, there was a small back room that could easily accommodate both of them.

He was a little hard to figure out, this violet-eyed stranger. He was polite and courteous, but reserved. He hadn't given a name- just smiled placidly and told her he was a Rurouni when she had asked him who he was. The child, who enthusiastically introduced herself as Amaya, also seemed to call her red-haired companion 'Rurouni-san' as well. They were definitely not related- she saw nothing of the good-looking youth's features in the snub nose and coarse curly hair of the girl. An orphan he picked up? Toji had lived in this village almost all of her life, ever since she came as a young bride of fifteen, and she had never met anyone who was so reticent. But after a while she hadn't minded that. He was a hard-worker, quick, efficient and sincere. He didn't ask for much, and he never complained. And most of all, the little one made her daughter smile again.

Toji had a broad, soft body that had borne seven children, a strong, warm spirit which valiantly tried to save them from the inching hands of death, capable hands that had buried six of them. Aya was the only comfort she had had, the only one who survived into adulthood. She didn't look like she would survive much longer though- her health had taken a beating when last winter she had nearly died giving birth to a stillborn child and her husband's death a few months later hadn't helped things. She was a listless, disconsolate shadow of herself before they came.

The day generally started off with cooking breakfast and serving it to the guests. Toji found the boy to be a great help here- he couldn't cook, but he learned what she needed very fast. He also cleaned the rooms, fetched the provisions, chopped wood and ran errands uncomplainingly even in the worst weather. Amaya could do not much except get in everyone's way, but Aya took care of her whenever the boy was busy. She listened to the child's endless chatter while she sewed- just repair work mostly, no one gave her anything new to do. In very little time, the child grew fond of Aya to the point where she trailed her constantly- except when the boy went out, she generally always wanted to go with him then- and sometimes he would take her, but most times he wouldn't, leading to an almighty sulk on her part.

One day though, Toji wondered at the sudden screaming that erupted from the back room. She had sent the boy with a letter to send and a small shopping list, and he had taken the child along. Why then should she be wailing like that? Motioning the boy to stay there, she approached the back room and heard her daughter's soft voice trying to soothe the girl. Pushing the door open, she witnessed the child throwing a fierce tantrum, weeping and screaming while Aya patted her, trying to console as best as she could "Amaya-chan, you know you have to take the medicine to get better, right? Be a good girl and take it darling" but evidently the brat did not want to be consoled. Instead her wails only grew louder, along with broken refrains of "Don't want... bitter... Don't want!"

This was definitely a job for her. Picking the bawling bundle up in her arms, ignoring all flailing, she held her tight and motioned her daughter to be quiet. The child screamed with furious energy for a while, but quietened down gradually when no one paid any attention. Sighing, Toji mustered the deep voice that had kept child after child terrified "Now listen here pet and I'll tell you a secret. Do you want the bad little demon in you to win? He'll just go on and on unless you help the good little goddess cure you. And for her to fight him, you have to drink up!" There was a silence, and after a while a sulky voice piped "Bitter... Amaya doesn't want. Want mamma's medicine..." and struggled some more. Toji refused to let go, and slowly lifted her so that they were eye-to-eye "That's just what the bad demon likes. He loves sweet things, and if you keep eating them, he'll become bigger and bigger, stronger and stronger. Soon, he'll become a big, evil demon who'll eat the sweets before you can even taste them! You'll put sweets in your mouth, and all you'll taste is a bitter taste worse than the medicine. So do you want that to happen?"

This apparently was a new idea. She mulled it over a long time, and then said "Amaya doesn't want that", and reluctantly reached for the medicine in Aya's hand. She winced as Aya poured it into her mouth, but swallowed most of it- spluttering and wheezing. The deed done, Aya put the medicine aside and took her from her mother into her arms, crooning nonsense and thoroughly spoiling her some more. Smiling a small, secret smile, Toji turned to leave and found the boy standing by the door, looking past her at the pair. The look in his eyes was hard to figure out, but Toji was entranced- never had she seen someone so beautiful and so sad.

He noticed her in a second, gave an embarrassed little smile and stepped aside to give her room to leave. Polite as ever, she thought as she motioned to him to follow her. "What does she suffer from?" she asked, jerking her head towards the back room. He hesitated, and then in a lower voice than usual, she had to strain her ears to hear him, said "She has Rougai. The village doctor said that there's a good chance of recovery so..." he trailed off. She stopped in her tracks and looked at him. "Why didn't you tell me before?" she asked. He bowed "I apologize deeply. I do realize that I had no right to have imposed on your hospitality like that and if-" She cut him off mid-sentence "Do you think that I'm asking you to leave? Do you think I'm such an incredibly unfeeling person?" He protested, waving his hands over his face "I had no intention of offending, no-" "Well, you're both staying here, and not leaving until I say so. So don't you dare say you'll go" she snapped. There was a pause, and then he smiled- a smile so heartbreaking and touching, it made him look even younger than usual. She smiled back, making a mental note to keep him with them forever.

Maybe it was all too good to last, Toji pondered as she wiped a stray tear. This is no time for tears, I have to be strong. Strong at least for Aya's sake. She glanced at her sleeping daughter. What would she tell her in the morning? Yet shamefully, deep inside, she felt relief that they were gone.

The day had started out normally- his morning chores done, the boy went off to buy her tofu and took Amaya along, she guessed it was to take her to the doctor. She had just finished preparing lunch when she noticed a stranger come in. Suspending the cooking, she went to him just as he rang the bell. "What will it be, sir?" she asked, wiping her hands. He bowed and stepped forward, and in a light, cool voice inquired if she knew where her boarder- a red-haired young man with a cross scar on his cheek- was. She opened her mouth, but closed it again when she got a good look at him. The man was tall, very tall- dark-haired and hook-nosed. He had a sallow face and cold, calculating eyes. It was the eyes that frightened her, more than the sword he carried, they seemed so evil. "I don't know what you're talking about-" she began, but was cut off by the silky voiced stranger "Please don't lie, my good woman. Everyone in this village knows he's staying here" She flushed and withdrew a bit "I don't know.. he's out... I don't know where" He stared at her a long moment, and she felt her heart thump in her ears. Finally he withdrew, baring his yellow teeth in a fiendish smile and casually tossing an "I'll pay another visit then"

Evening approached, and she went about her duties with a seemingly impassive face but utter panic in her heart. Aya had gone to bed very early as she was unwell. Where was he? Why was he taking so long? Toji was relieved when finally she heard the little back door open with a creak, and rushed out. He was there, adjusting his bucket of tofu and a sleeping Amaya and looked up with a puzzled smile when she approached. "There's some dangerous man looking for you" she blurted out, and was startled as his smile dropped and the lavender eyes narrowed a bit. "Did something happen?" he asked, putting down the bucket and reaching for his sword automatically, with an ease of motion that suggested that this had happened many times before. And Toji knew then that he was no ordinary boy.

"No.." she stammered again, "No... he asked me where you were, and when I told him you were out and all, he just.. leered and left. He said he'd come back later" The boy looked past her for a minute, and when he looked back there was sadness in his eyes "I'm most sorry that you came to harm because of me. I will leave immediately. Thank you for all you've done for us" he bowed and turned to leave. "No... you can stay... we'll be okay" she whispered.

Did he read the hesitation in her voice? Had he felt the slight doubt in her mind?

He turned back and smiled "Thank you most kindly. But I could not possibly put you in any danger" She had nodded, knowing there was nothing she could do "Wait a bit. There are a few things I'd like you and the little one to have"

A few minutes later, she had handed him a small pack "There's nothing much in there. Just a few clothes and some food. I'm sorry that you have to go like this..." His eyes had lit up, and he accepted with a deep bow. Waving a small fingered goodbye, she had watched this thief of hearts, this enigma of a person disappear from her life as easily as he had appeared.

Author's note: Somehow this chapter was very hard to write. I like it, but I sort of feel that sometimes the flow of the chapter is all cluttered.

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