Hello everyone. Yes, I know I've been gone for almost three months. It's a long story. For all of April, and the beginning of May, I was very busy finishing up the school year. And, after I finished, I went on a couple of trips with my friends and family. On May 19th, I headed to New York with a group of friends. And, a week later, I went to Charleston with my family. When I finally got some time to write, I didn't know how to continue what I started. This chapter was by far the hardest to write, thanks to a bit of writers' block. Still, I managed to get it finished. And I know it's very long, but consider that a gift for having to wait so long. I decided against splitting it in two, because I wanted to give you guys the whole thing. Don't worry, the others won't be as long as this one.
A lot of things have happened since I last updated. My first time to New York was pretty amazing. Not to mention I got to see the Mets beat the Yanks. Early in May, before school was let out, Project Pericles (the film team at Elon) held the premiere for our movie Testing Positive. It had a pretty nice reception, too. All in all, it's been pretty good lately. Oh, I almost forgot the best thing: the Carolina Hurricanes won the fucking Stanley Cup. How sweet is that?
Okay, enough rambling. It's a long chapter, so read on and enjoy.
Being Alive
Chapter 9
Stopping once again to catch his breath, Dante took in deep breaths as sweat rolled down his face. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, trying to keep the sweat out of them. After exhaling one final time, he gathered his strength, pushed up against the weight of the old man he carried on his back as he ascended up the semi-steep hill through the woods.
The young American Private had been trekking through the woods for a several hours now, ever since they had gotten off the main trail. It was nearly dawn now, and had been over a day since they had first set off from the border after their daring escape from the decimated castle. And half of that time had been spent carrying Gorobei full on his back. And by now, since they had made only a few rest stops, he was nearly exhausted.
When they finally reached the top of the short hill, Dante only saw more of the same: an endless path of woods in front of him. He groaned slightly before turning his attention to the old man.
"Hey, pal," he said, "we're taking another rest now." He laid the old man down by a tree, and slumped down by another himself. After catching his breath again, he turned back to his companion. "You sure we're going in the right direction?" he asked as he pulled out his pack of Marlboros.
Gorobei had been very quiet during the trip, having only spoken to give the youth directions when necessary. He was still very weak from the injuries he sustained during the escape, and, if anything, was in worse condition than earlier since he hadn't gotten much medical help since the incident. Dante had patched him up with some bandages and even a few painkillers from his tiny First Aid kit, but it only did so much.
He stifled a cough before answering. "I'm sure we've been going the right way, at least for a while. I haven't traveled this area before, except for the journey I made to the east. And that was weeks ago." He coughed again. "But, when we get closer, I'll be able to recognize it. There should be a trail not far from here that leads to the village."
"You're positive 'bout this?" Dante asked as he lit up a cigarette.
The old man smiled. "Trust me. I know our land better than anyone in our entire village. And I'm not even the oldest." Gorobei abruptly coughed up as he finished his sentence.
"Okay, enough out of you" the youth said, moving closer. "Every time you talk, you get worse. Best for you to just be quiet. No offense, I just wanna be able to bring you home in one piece."
"No, you're right. I'm only slowing us down with my pointless rambling." He coughed up again, this time harder. "Still…I don't know if I can make it. I've probably just wasted your time…"
Dante stood up. "Okay, knock it off! Look, you're gonna make it. Just hang in there, and we'll be at your place in no time. We just need to hurry." He crouched down with his back facing the old man. "C'mon, climb on."
Sighing, Gorobei leaned forward, latching onto the red-haired youth. With a groan, Dante stood up, lifting the weight of the old man, and setting off into the woods once again.
Not far from the spot of woods where the two escapees were traveling, there was a small grove of trees in another spot of the forest. Inside the grove, a small brook fell into a garden-like waterfall, leading to a small pond, which was surrounded by a few seat-sized rocks. A small path led from out of the woods into the grove. In the minutes before dawn, the pre-morning light was all that bathed the area.
On one of the small rocks, a young girl in a sleeping kimono sat, one leg resting off the side of the rock. She was about 17 years old, with her dark hair falling down to her back, tied into a small ponytail at the end. As she sat on the rock, she looked to the eastern horizon. It was almost dawn.
She had come to the grove a half an hour earlier, having gotten up long before her villages' usual waking time. She hadn't been able to sleep, and had gotten up, not even bothering to change out of her sleeping kimono. The grove, which was in the woods right outside her village, was her favorite place to relax. It had always been, as long as she could remember. And, right now, she was feeling depressed, as she had been for the past two weeks.
She kept gazing at the horizon, as though waiting for the sun to come up. After a while, however, she sighed, and looked down to the object she carried in her hand: a small, Shinobue bamboo flute. She lifted the flute up to her face, and, with a deep breath, began to play a soft, soothing tune. It was a piece that she played whenever she felt sad or alone. As she played, she returned her gaze to the horizon, and continued playing as she watched the sun come up.
After a while, the sun was visible on the horizon, and the girl finished her tune. She held the flute to her mouth for a few more seconds before lowering it, and drooped her head down, sniffling as a tear dropped from her eye.
Grandfather…
About an hour later, Dante could glimpse the rays of the sun through the trees as it appeared over the horizon. It was finally dawn.
Jesus, he thought. Just how long have we been walking anyway? He looked at his wristwatch, and sighed. More than twenty-four hours…more than twelve carrying this guy around. God, we better be close to that village…
At that moment, he heard something that made him stop in his tracks. He could barely make it out, but he could hear it: someone was playing a flute. And they were close.
Wow, he thought, standing still so he could hear the music better. That sounds like one of those older bamboo flutes…the kind they used in Kabuki! The Shinobue…wonder who's playing it…and at a time like this…maybe it's the village! If it is, I'm in luck. And so is Gorobei here.
He kept still for as along as the flute continued to play. When it finally stopped, he listened to hear if it would start again. It didn't,
Shit, he thought, that was nice. Wish I could'a heard more…And, with that, he began moving again, heading through the woods, this time in the direction of the music.
Unbeknownst to him, Gorobei had actually been conscious during the little piece. And it struck a chord in his memory.
Could it be…Wakana?
About a half hour later, Dante was still making his way through the woods, carrying the injured and malnourished man on his back. He had lost the trail of the flute music, and was now just heading where his gut told him. Still, even though he felt they were close, he didn't know how much longer he could carry the old guy. He was getting pretty exhausted himself, since they hadn't stopped for a while.
Taking in a deep breath, he continued walking. When he cleared a long row of trees, he stopped to catch his breath, and wipe the sweat from his face.
When he moved his hand away from his face, he saw it- a cleared path in the ground. And it lead straight out of the woods.
Excited under his exhaustion, Dante began walking faster, as fast as his tired legs would carry him. The path kept going for a number of minutes before the woods opened up to reveal a breathtaking sight.
Dante stopped in his tracks so he could gaze at the sight before him. Several huts, both big and small, stood in a large outcropping of the woods. Other larger buildings were among the huts. A small stream ran through the village, and other paths led into the woods, no doubt leading to farmland and a nearby mountain that was visible from the village.
Dante was still taking in the sight when he remembered Gorobei. He turned his head to look at him as he hung from his back. "Hey, old man, we're here!"
Gorobei did not answer. Dante looked closer, and saw that he was unconscious. Probably from having fainted. I'd better get him to some help, and fast, he thought, turning back and heading towards the village.
As he moved into the village, he saw that only a few people were even up. This was no surprise, seeing as it was just after dawn. Still, he hoped he was in the right village, and that he could find help right away.
As he moved closer to one of the huts out in front, he began to survey the people walking around a little closer. Most of them were men, carrying farm tools and other equipment around, no doubt getting ready to start the days' work. Still, there were some women out as well, tending to laundry loads and gathering supplies for working around the home.
Two men slowly made their way through the village, heading towards the paths that led to the fields. One of them carried a couple of gardening tools while the other had a sack of chicken feed slung over his back. As they began to pass the south entrance to the village, they noticed someone standing there, gazing at the village. He looked very strange, different from anyone they had seen in their lives, and appeared to be carrying another man on his back. Confused, they looked at each other, then went over for a closer look.
Dante noticed the two men approaching him, and braced himself for anything that might happen. He still didn't trust simple townsfolk, after how he had been treated in the last two towns. After the men looked at him for a few more seconds, the taller of the two, with the garden tools, spoke.
"Who are you, stranger?" he asked, not with too much contempt, but not too politely either. "What do you want?"
Even though he had been confident earlier, the red-haired youth found himself at a loss for words. He didn't really know how he was supposed to tell these men, whom he had never seen before, that he was bringing back a long lost resident of their town. For all he knew, these guys didn't even know the old man.
"Uh…well…listen, this is hard to explain…"
The two men kept eying him suspiciously, scanning every inch of him. The tall one spoke again when Dante failed to provide them with an explanation.
"If you have no business with us outlander, I suggest that you leave." His gaze moved to the man on Dante's back. "And take your friend, whoever he is, with you. We have no room for strangers like-"
He suddenly stopped before he finished his sentence. He kept his eyes locked on Gorobei, who was still unconscious on Dante's back. He dropped his tools, and ran up to the soldier and old man. "Could it be…"
"What's wrong, Tahei?" the shorter one asked, moving in to look at what his friend was looking at.
"It's Gorobei!" he yelled suddenly. "Look at him, Matakishi!"
"It can't be,", Matakishi said, going in for a closer look at the unconscious man. His eyes went wide as he got closer. "G-Gorobei-sama!"
A woman, carrying a basket of produce, suddenly appeared from behind one of the huts. When she noticed the group of men at the entrance, she yelled at them in irritation. "What are you two doing? Just because it's early doesn't mean you can slack off from your jobs!"
Tahei immediately turned around to yell back at her. "Keiko, come quick! A stranger has brought back Gorobei! Get everyone out here!"
At this, the woman donned a surprised look. At first, it looked like she doubted them. But, sure enough, she found herself running over to the group, and looking at the old man riding on the back of the stranger. She, like the others had a look of utter shock on her face.
"I don't believe it! It's him!"
"I thought for sure he was gone! He never returned from that journey to the east!"
"He looks like hell, though! Quick, go get the other villagers, and let's get him to rest!"
At this, Keiko ran back into the village, while Matakishi and Tahei began to take Gorobei out of Dante's hold. They slowly lifted him off the shoulder's back, and hoisted him by his shoulders. By the time they had taken him from Dante, tons more people were outside the entrance, caught up in the commotion of their returned friend.
Wakana sighed as she sat in the grove. She had been sitting there for almost an hour after she had stopped playing her flute. She really wasn't looking forward to her daily work duties, but she knew she would have to attend to them anyway. Nothing seemed as good as it had been…not since her grandfather had disappeared…
She suddenly heard someone running up the path. She groaned. Probably her friend Miyuki, coming to tell her that it was time to get to work. She stood up just as her friend came running into the grove, stopping to catch her breath. Wakana stared at Miyuki for a second before speaking.
"What's wrong? I know it's time for work. What made you come running like this?"
The girl rose her head up, still breathing heavily. "Wa…Wakana…you won't believe what just happened! He's back!"
The girl looked at her friend with a confused look. "What are you talking about?"
"Your grandfather! Everyone's at the south entrance, tending to him! I swear, it's him!"
Her eyes went wide as she went into partial shock. "What? Are you serious, Miyuki-chan?"
"Yes! They said some stranger or something walked in carrying him on his back! Hurry, you have to come!" She grabbed her friend by the hand, and pulled her down the path at top speed. Wakana did all she could to keep up. Jii-chan…could it be? Are you still alive?
Dante watched as the crowd in front of him got even bigger. Dozens of people were out in the open now, all gathering around the fallen old man like spectators at some rowdy cockfight. People on the outside were struggling to get a good view. Although he couldn't see clearly, those in the center had laid Gorobei down on the ground, placed a cushion of sorts under his head, and were rapidly tending to him.
And the youth continued to stand and stare, unsure of what to do next. Little, if any, attention was being paid to him, and he didn't know if they'd want him to stick around or not. Nonetheless, he wanted to at least see if the old guy was all right…
After seeing the crowd at the south entrance to the village, the young woman had gained new vigor, and began to run faster. She had run ahead of her friend, and was now upon the crowd. She began relentlessly pushing aside her fellow villagers, her heart set on what was in the center.
"Please, out of the way! I need to see him!" she yelled as she pushed through a pair of male workers. "Jii-chan! Are you there?"
After pushing aside one of the village women, she finally found what she was looking for: laying on the ground, and being held in a seated position by one of the men, was her grandfather. The same man who had raised both her and her brother from a very young age; the same man who had given her hope in life; the same man who had left weeks ago with a small group of villagers to travel east to buy supplies, and had never returned; the same man whom she had given up for dead long ago.
All of a sudden, right before her eyes, the old man began to stir. The others had given him water, and he was slowly coming back to consciousness.
"Hey, everyone! He's waking up! Gorobei-sama's alive!" At this, the crowd fell silent for a few seconds before everyone resumed struggling to get a better look.
Wakana took her grandfather in her arms, holding him in a seated position as the other man let go, and looked into his eyes as he began to open them.
"Jii-chan! Are you all right? Can you hear me?"
When Gorobei finally opened his eyes, he slowly forced a smile out of his weak face. It had been weeks since he had seen his young granddaughter. And, merely a day and a half ago, he truly believed he would never see her again, nor any of his other friends or family. The gods worked in mysterious ways.
"Wakana…" he said, raising a weak hand up to touch his granddaughter's face. "It's wonderful to see you again…you're as beautiful as ever."
Wakana nearly fainted from euphoria from her grandfather's touch, and from hearing his voice again. Even if he had told her that she didn't look as good as before, she would still have been just as happy. Her eyes tearing up with joy, she brought her grandfather into a tight embrace.
"Grandfather…I was so worried…I thought you were gone for good…"
Gorobei returned the embrace to the best of his ability. "It's all right, dear…the gods have proved benevolent. And besides, I didn't make it back alone."
When Dante saw that Gorobei was finally going to be okay, he sighed in relief. He'd actually helped the old man get back home. It may have taken some extra time, and a lot out of him, but he felt it was worth it.
Still, he saw no reason other than to take off. A few of the villagers were looking at him as he stood there, but most of them were still preoccupied with their village elder. Although he really didn't feel too well, he thought it would be best if he just left. So, sighing again, he picked up his things, and turned around to head back into the woods.
After the village doctor and a few others had finally gotten her to let go of her grandfather, Wakana watched as they helped him to the nearest hut to help him. After they were gone, she sighed in relief, wondering how long it would be until he was back on his feet…
"Hey, look! The stranger's leaving!"
When she heard this, she immediately remembered what her friend had mentioned to her, and whipped around. She saw someone just outside the entrance to the village, heading into the woods. Without even stopping to look at him clearly, she leapt to her feet, shoved her way through the villagers, and ran up to the boy.
"Wait!" she yelled to him. "Please, wait! Don't leave!"
Dante stopped when he heard a voice calling to him. Hesitating once, he slowly turned around.
The voice belonged to a girl. She was young, probably about the same age he was. One thing that struck the young soldier about her was how pretty she was. She was taller than average height, reaching about 5' 7'', and had her jet-black hair running down her back, hugging her rather noticeable figure. Although he hadn't seen that many females around, she was one that stood out from the rest, and definitely a sight that lifted his spirits, even if only for a little while. Plus, he couldn't help but notice that she was still wearing a rather small sleeping kimono…
He shook his head after letting his eyes drift, and answered her. "Yeah?"
Wakana didn't notice where the young outlander was looking. She was too busy observing him herself. She was almost bewildered by what he was wearing. His style of clothing was one she had never seen before, being so green, with so many tiny objects attached; his shoes, as well as the bag and equipment he carried on his back, all seemed strange, yet extraordinary in some way. And his pale skin, while unusual itself, was nothing compared to the sight of his hair, which was a very dark red, almost like the radishes they grew in the fields, or the leaves that fell during the autumn season.
She also noticed that, despite the fact that he looked absolutely exhausted, he was rather attractive. His athletic, slightly muscular build showed through his sweaty clothes, and his face was certainly no eyesore. He was better looking than several of the men she had met in her life. When she realized she was staring, she shook her head, bringing her focus back to the stranger.
She slowly approached him, moving closer until she was only a few feet away. With a deep breath, she looked him in the eyes, and inquired.
"Are you the one who brought my grandfather back here?"
The youth raised his eyes in surprise at her words. What'd she say? Is she…his granddaughter? He blinked before going back to what she had asked. He slowly nodded. "Yeah, I guess…you could say that…"
He nearly jumped back in surprise when the girl threw herself into a deep bow, her head touching the ground.
"Arigatou! Arigatou gozaimasu! Please, accept my thanks!"
Dante watched as she continued to bow, sweat dripping down his face. Just like the time back at the river village, he felt very uncomfortable with everyone watching him in this kind of situation. His uneasiness only increased when he saw others walk up from the crowd, and bow as well. He attempted, fruitlessly, to wave them off.
"Hey, c'mon…it's nothing, you don't need to…" When he saw that they were still bowing, he gave up, letting his eyes drift to the rest of the crowd. While most of them were just staring, some were whispering to each other while looking at him. Noticing some rather uneasy stares, he decided that now was as good a time as ever to walk away.
"Well," he said, taking a deep breath, "don't mention it. And so long." He turned to leave.
When Wakana heard the outsider give a farewell, her head shot up to see him leaving. She immediately jumped up, and ran up to him, grabbing him by his right arm.
"Wait! You can't go now!"
"Huh?" The boy looked back to see the same girl holding onto him. "Hey, will you let go?"
"No!" she replied sternly, still holding onto him. "Just look at yourself! You're in no condition to travel!" She slowed down, surprised at how forward she was being. "And besides, we're not finished with you yet!"
Dante's eyes widened slightly. Not finished with me? What's that supposed to mean?
The girl smiled wryly as she continued to speak. "We're civilized, honest people. Do you think we're just going to let you walk away without any proper thanks after what you've done for us? You're sadly mistaken, outlander!"
Dante tried, half-heartedly, to take his arm away from her, but she held firm. "Hey, look; I appreciate all this, but I really-"
"But what? If you truly appreciate our effort to help you, why do you refuse? Are you resisting our hospitality because you're afraid? Or is it that you think you're too good to set foot in our village?"
The youth held up his hands in defiance. "That's not what I said!"
"Then what's your problem?" The girl moved her face closer to his, almost staring him down. "You traveled long and far to bring my grandfather back from some desolate battlefield, after we all thought we had lost him. I have no intention of letting you leave without giving you the proper thanks, stranger. You can be sure of that. Understand?"
Dante could not believe how forward this girl was being. He'd just met her a minute ago, and she was already being quite firm with him. He was about to refuse her once again when she gave him a firm look. Giving up, he quit trying to pull away. "All right, all right! You win."
Wakana smiled, letting go of the soldier's arm. She started looking him up and down, searching for injuries or signs of malnourishment. "You don't seem to be hurt very bad." She then looked closer, and noticed that his entire right arm was wrapped in white bandages. "Wait, what happened here-"
As she got closer, she suddenly let out a whiff of breath, almost coughing up. Noticing, Dante asked, "Hey, what's wrong?"
Holding her hand over her face for a second, she inquired, "Um…I'm sorry, but…when did you last bathe?"
Confused, the young soldier answered. "About a week, I guess."
Wakana's eyes went slightly wide, and she shook her head. "That just won't do. Don't you know important hygiene is? Come with me." She immediately took him by the hand, and led him into the village, through the crowd that was now giving the two their full attention.
A number of minutes later, Dante sat alone in a small hut the girl had brought him to. After she had left, a couple of men had entered, bringing bandages, food, water, and other supplies. They patched up any injuries he had, and gave enough food and water to get his energy back. Afterwards, they had left too. And that was where he was waiting for whatever would come next.
Even though he was alone in the hut, he could hear the crowd of people right outside as they talked amongst each other. Although he couldn't hear them clearly, he knew what they were so worked up about. And he didn't know if they all shared that girls' sentiment about him being in their village.
I guess it couldn't hurt to stay a day or two, he thought. It's not like I'm in a real hurry to get anywhere; hell, I should really find out just what it is I'm looking for before continuing; but how am I supposed to do that? I don't even know where I'm going, much less what I'm trying to find. And besides, these people seem nice enough. As long as they don't find out about this goddamned curse, I should be okay.
The young girl from before suddenly poked her head into the hut. "Is everything all right, stranger?"
He turned in surprise to see her entering the hut. "Huh? Oh, I'm fine. Everything's all right, really."
She sat down next to him. "That's good. I hope you're feeling a bit better after eating." She smiled at him.
"Uh, of course. Thanks."
Still smiling, she let her head droop low, and began to dig her fingers into the ground. "You know…there's so much I wanted to ask you…and I know that they're still discussing what to do with you…" She suddenly rose her face up to meet his eyes. "Oh, that's right!"
The youth looked at her, not knowing exactly how to respond. "Wha-, what is it?"
"I forgot that I still don't know your name! I've been talking to you all this time, and I haven't asked. I guess I've been too preoccupied with grandfather…anyway, what is your name, stranger?" She looked into his eyes, her face only inches away from his.
For a few seconds, the red-haired youth could only stare back into the young girl's hazel-colored eyes. Having this girl talking to him like this brought back old feelings he rarely got to experience in high school. With a deep breath, he spoke.
"It's Dante."
The teenage girl was a bit surprised at his name. "Dan-te…Dante. It's a strange name…but a nice one!"
Man, he thought, this girl is just so…so…how do I say it? She's got something about her…
He nearly fell back when she moved even closer. "Hey," she said, "your eyes!"
Confused, he gave her a surprised look. "What?"
"They're such an unusual color. I've never seen it before…they're so…blue…"
Dante was nearly sweating at how close the girl was. Most people he knew never got this close to him, and especially not since he had been thrown back in time. Well, maybe the Emishi girl…
Wakana backed off slightly, allowing him to sit up more. "It's a joy to meet you. I'm Wakana." She smiled again. "So, can I ask you something else-"
At that moment, someone else stuck their head in the hut; another girl, about the same age as Wakana. "Wakana-chan, Gorobei-sama is doing better; and he wants to speak with you."
At this, the girl turned to her friend to answer. "Hai, Miyuki-chan. I'll be right there." She quickly turned back to Dante. "I've gotta go. I'll be back soon, though." She got up and walked to the entrance and, looking at him one last time, left.
Dante watched her leave, and breathed a sigh of relief when she was gone. Not that he had really minded being with her…he just didn't feel as nervous when he was alone.
Wakana…so that's her name. And that was her friend…man, these 14th century girls are REALLY something…she was more forward than any girl I've ever met…and pretty kawaii, too…
At that moment, he slapped himself mentally, surprised at what he had just thought. Then he slapped himself physically. Where the HELL did THAT come from! I haven't used that word since I was eight fucking years old! Am I so dug into this place that I'm gonna start THINKING in Japanese too? He shook his head, trying to get the thought out of his mind. Remember, boy…you're an AMERICAN…and don't forget it!
But he had to admit, being in this place really reminded him of his childhood. The district where he'd grown up had had the atmosphere of a small town, similar to the village he was in. Unlike the place where he'd encountered the gang of samurai thugs, this place seemed a lot smaller, with more unity in the villagers. And it was nice to see a place like this, considering what he had been through up to this point.
Just then, the tarp at the entrance moved to the side as someone else entered the room. This time, it was a man, most likely in his fifties. He was followed two other men, and two women, all ranging from 30-60 by appearance. Although only these five entered the hut, he noticed many others standing right outside the entrance before it closed behind the last person. When all five of them were seated before him, the man, who sat in the middle, cleared his throat and spoke.
"Good morning to you, stranger. The village elders, the heads of the families, and myself have been discussing your presence, and we want greet you with the most generous hospitality. I am Sanzo, and these people to my sides are the heads of the families. We want to express our deepest thanks for rescuing our beloved elder." When he was finished, all five of them bowed to the young foreigner from their kneeling positions.
Once again, Dante showed embarrassment, and motioned his hands, but was cut off by Sanzo before he could speak. "And, in order to show our gratitude, we ask that you stay with us for the time being. We have planned a feast tonight for the entire village. And you have been invited as the guest of honor."
This really caused the teenager to break into a sweat. "No, come on, you really don't have to do any of that-"
"I believe we do, stranger. In our village, it is a custom to show one's gratitude for actions such as yours. And we will certainly be doing so for you. Now, we only ask that you introduce yourself to us now. All other questions can be saved for tonight."
Dante nearly cringed at the last comment, but decided against any more negotiating with them; they clearly wouldn't have any of it. So, once again, he introduced himself by the name he had gone by during his childhood in Japan.
"Kurosaka Dante."
"Once again, we show our gratitude." All five of them bowed again. "And now, I hope you are ready to relax. You must be exhausted from your long journey." He turned to the entrance, and called to someone outside. "Ryuji!"
A younger man who had been waiting by the entrance, stepped inside. "Yes, Okashira."
"Have the others prepare a hot bath for this gentleman. You lead him to the changing room, and make sure he has no trouble."
"Yes, sir!" He walked over to Dante, grabbed him by his right hand, and led him out the door. "This way, friend." Seeing no reason to object, Dante followed.
"Man, what a morning…yeesh."
The teenager sighed as he rested his head and arms on the side of the large wooden basin that made up the bath. It was located behind a few huts, on the edge of the woods, surrounded by a few trees. It was partially dug into the ground in order to provide easier access, and was wide enough for about five people. The man had brought him to a nearby hut, which acted as the changing room for the bath, and had given him the necessary supplies with which to bathe. His clothes remained folded at the side of the tub. He'd made sure not to take the bandage off his arm until he was sure no one was around.
Dante breathed in, and leaned his back against the side of the wooden basin, letting himself feel the heat seeping into his skin. It really did feel good to do this after the exhausting time he'd had over the past two days. Since the basin was big and deep enough, he could literally stretch his arms and legs all the way out and stay submerged up to his neck. It was bliss.
I guess it ain't all bad, he thought. I'm not too crazy about what'll happen tonight, but at least the people seem nice. If the whole thing weren't directed at me, it would be just fine. Well, I guess that's what I get for bringing an old man back to his home: lost of unwanted attention. He chuckled slightly to himself. Something like this has happened every time I've come in contact with people at all. It seems like I do nothing but create chaos. He thought before smiling to himself. Well, I AM a modern-day white male, wearing U.S.-issued military clothes and carrying state-of-the-art equipment and weaponry. Guess I can't argue about any of this.
As he let the water seep in, he slowly raised his right arm out of the water, gazing at the large, ugly dark-maroon scar that covered most of it up to his shoulder. I don't believe it: it's actually gotten bigger. He sighed, noticing that the mark was getting closer to his wrist. If this keeps up, I'm gonna have to get a glove, or something close. And I gotta keep it wrapped up for as long as I'm here. If they find out that I've got this mark on my arm, they might recognize it as a curse, or something. And if that happens, they'll probably run me out of town.
He suddenly heard footsteps approaching from behind and quickly dunked his arm back into the water. He turned his head to see the young village girl, Wakana, approaching the furo, carrying a small stack of towels and washcloths.
"Is the water good enough for you, stranger?" she asked as she walked up and set down the towels.
Dante moved slightly away from her before he answered. "Um, yeah. Everything's fine, just fine." He noticed she was rolling up the sleeves of her kimono, and looked at the towels she had brought. "Uh…what are you doing?"
She grabbed a washcloth from her stack, reached over to dunk it in the water, then started to twist and squeeze the cloth until the water came pouring out of it. "I'm here to help you bathe."
The youth's eyes went wide. "Huh? Wait, what are you talking about?"
She moved closer until she was standing on the edge of the submerged basin. "Come here, let me wash your back."
"Wha-, hey!" He backed away further, until he was backed up against the other side of the tub. He brought his knees to his chest, attempting to cover himself in the clear water. "I'm fine, I…I don't need any help bathing!"
"Oh, don't be ridiculous. You're never going to get fully clean without someone aiding you. Now, come here."
The teenage boy was feeling uncomfortable for two reasons. One, he was afraid that, if she washed him, she would discover the mark on his right arm. Two, he wasn't really comfortable having a young girl be around him, much less touch him in this state…
"L…look, I'm telling you, I can take care of this myself! I'm not some three year-old you have to wash by hand! Now, can you please leave?" The soldier did everything he could to curl up and hide his private areas, knowing that she could see down into the tub from where she stood. He also leaned down on his right side, attempting to hide the mark on his arm better.
The girl smirked, and nearly stifled a laugh when she noticed the young boy trying to cover up. "Oh, please. I have a younger brother who needs help every time he bathes. Besides, men like having women wash them. Are you refusing the service I'm offering to you?"
Dante moved closer, and, in a quick movement, snatched the washcloth from her hand with his left hand. "Yes" he said abruptly. "I like to wash myself, thank you. Now, can you please turn around?"
The young maiden sighed, rolled her eyes, and turned around, moving a few paces away before sitting down. Seeing that she had finally moved, Dante began scrubbing himself with the washcloth. Really, he wasn't doing much other than trying to pass the time, since he had basically scrubbed off all the dirt earlier. Did that guy send her to give me the towels? Yeesh. For crying out loud, she almost saw my scar. That was a real close call. He continued scrubbing himself, not really paying attention to where he was doing it.
As Wakana waited for the outlander to finish bathing, she caught sight of his clothes, which were in a folded stack nearby. Moving closer, she reached out her hand to touch the piece that was on top, his fatigue. Feeling the semi-soft cotton material between her fingers, she also looked very curiously at the strange design of the shirt.
"Strange," she said to herself, "very strange. But nice, too."
Dante stopped scrubbing, and turned to see her holding up his shirt. "Huh?"
When she noticed the stranger was looking, she set the shirt back down. "Sorry. I- I was just taking a look at your clothes. I've…never seen this kind before."
Dante smiled as he went back to washing himself. "That's all right. I know you haven't seen it before. I don't think anyone around here has."
The girl moved her eyes to the side, as though to steal a glance of the young visitor. "Why do you say that, stranger?"
Dante stopped scrubbing for a second when she asked the question. "Well…because I'm not from around here myself."
"Well, then, where are you from?"
He let the washcloth go, allowing it to float to the surface of the water. "Huh? Wha…what do you mean?"
"I mean, where are you from? What part of the lands did you come from? Do you come from back east?"
Dante fished the washcloth back, and resumed washing himself. "Well…not really."
"It's strange," the girl said before Dante could say any more. "I've seen plenty of outsiders before, but I've never seen one that looked quite like you, Dante. I wonder what sort of a place produces people with red hair, or even pale skin like you have." She nearly blushed when she realized what she had said. "Sorry if that didn't sound nice…"
The young soldier chuckled, allowing himself to lean back against the side of the tub once again. "No, that's all right. It's sort of hard to explain. I'm…I'm not really from this land."
Wakana's eyes raised in curiosity at this statement. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well…how do I say this…I'm not from any part of this island. Or any of the surrounding islands of Japan."
Her eyes went wide at this. Even though she hadn't traveled the whole of Japan, and hadn't left the village in so long, she knew what the land was made up of. But, beyond the islands of Japan, she didn't know anything…
She suddenly whipped around to look at the youth. "You mean…you came from across the sea?"
When Dante heard her voice closer this time, he turned around, only to see her looking straight at him from less than a foot away. He yelled slightly in surprise, and fell back into the tub, falling against the other side, and splashing water onto the ground.
Wakana fell back on her rear, laughing heartily. Dante sat up, shaking the water out of his hair. "Hey! What's so goddamned funny?"
"You are!" she said through a giggle. "You're so high-strung…and pretty shy for a boy your age! You act so insecure when a woman's around!"
The youth tossed the washcloth back at her, which she dodged. "Yeah, go ahead and laugh!" They've all been staring and shit ever since I arrived. It's been like this at every stop I've made.
Still, he couldn't help but notice how cheerful the girl seemed to be. This, along with along with the girl back in the Emishi village, made for a real surprise. They were surprisingly forward, not to mention polite to him. Not to mention that he'd never really gotten to know that many girls in his youth…
At that moment, Ryuji, the man who had helped guide Dante to the changing room and bath, appeared from around the nearest hut. "Stranger, I've been sent to help you- what the…" He stopped in his tracks when he noticed his fellow resident sitting right next to the tub with the outlander.
When Wakana saw Ryuji approaching, she jumped to her feet, and quickly gathered the towels and washcloths back up, all the while a blush forming on her cheeks. "H-here!" she said, placing them right next to his clothes. "I just came to give these to you so you could dry yourself off. Sorry if I've been bothering you…"
Dante looked from her to the young man and back, smirking slightly. "That's okay, really." He turned back to Ryuji. "What is it?"
Before he was answered, Ryuji turned to the girl. "Wakana, the other women still need help in preparing the produce and fish. Why don't you go back to helping them?"
"Y-yes." She stood up, and began to leave, taking one last look at Dante before disappearing behind the nearest hut.
When she was gone, Ryuji turned back to his guest. "Sorry about her. She's just very outgoing when it comes to strange or different things and people."
Slightly confused, the youth gave him a look. "What do you mean?"
"You should see her every time something new is brought back to the village, or whenever a traveler passes through. She's always the first to see it. Not to mention, she's still trying to express her gratitude to you for bringing back her grandfather."
That reminded Dante of what he was thinking earlier. "So she's his granddaughter…say, does he have any other family here?"
The man's smile faded. "Sadly, no. Other than Wakana and her younger brother, Kosuke, they don't have anyone. Their parents died not long after Kosuke was born. He's taken care of them ever since they were very young, though. And they've been together ever since we finally settled down here…"
Dante felt his spirits sink a bit after hearing this. Man, who'd have thought…I guess she's got a lot more about her than she lets on.
Ryuji turned to Dante, who was still leaning his right side against the wood of the tub to conceal his arm. "Are you sure you'll be all right drying yourself, friend?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'll be fine." I hope he leaves, if only just for a second…
"All right then." He nodded, and headed for the changing room. "I'll be in here when you're ready to dress again." He disappeared into the hut.
Dante watched him go, and breathed a sigh of relief. Whew. Now I can wrap my arm up again. Still, do these people have to stand over me every second? He hoisted himself out of the tub, and grabbed the nearest towel, wrapping it around his waist. He then grabbed the long white bandage he'd been using to hide his scar, and began wrapping it around his arm. The bandage finally ran out when it reached his shoulder, and he tucked it under to tighten it. And with that, he grabbed his clothes, and headed for the changing hut.
As he got dressed, Ryuji stole a glance at the visitor's right arm. "Forgive me for asking you, friend, but what happened to your arm?"
Dante stopped pulling up his pants, and tried to think of an excuse. "Uh…it's nothing, just a…a wound I got in the last town. Kinda' left a scar, you know…"
"Do you want me to take a look at it?" he asked, moving towards the arm.
"No!" Dante said, moving his arm further away. "I mean, no, that's all right. I'm fine really."
Ryuji backed away after a second, a slightly surprised look on his face. "All right, if that's what you wish…anyway, Gorobei-sama has requested to see you once you are finished here."
Dante turned around once he was finished putting on his pants. "Is he feeling better all ready?" He began to put on his jungle fatigue.
"Yes. He was awfully weak when you arrived with him, but we were able to save him from malnourishment. He's not up to full strength just yet, but he can definitely speak now. Come along." He made his way out of the hut. Dante followed him, buttoning the last few buttons on his fatigue.
Ryuji had led him to a hut further down in the village. When Dante had entered, he had left, allowing the youth to spend some time with the elder man.
Dante sat on a small stool next to the bed where Gorobei lay. The old man may have been bedridden, but he was still sitting up, with plenty of energy for someone his age.
"Are you sure you're feeling better? I mean, you were pretty messed up only a few hours ago."
"Believe me, son, I have enough energy to last me two more lifetimes! All that fighting and escaping from the Tanaka clan…it seems ages ago."
Dante laughed lightly. "Yeah…it does."
"So, I trust my dear friend Sanzo and the others saw to it you were taken care of?"
The youth laughed again. "Yeah, pretty much." He continued, speaking under his breath. "Still, though, that girl was pretty insistent…"
The elder man heard him anyway. "Girl? Who do you mean?"
Dante's eyes shot up in embarrassment. "Huh? Oh, no one, just that girl from- er, you know…"
"Oh," he said with an amused look, "you mean Wakana."
"Uh…yeah, her."
"Enthusiastic, isn't she?" he said with a grin.
"Huh? Well, yeah…I mean, sort of-"
"Relax, friend. I'm just having a bit of fun." He shifted around on his bed, trying to find a more comfortable spot. "You don't need to worry about her. She's just very happy that we made it back here. And she also loves it whenever there's a cause for celebration. Today is like a holiday for her."
"Well, that makes sense. I guess…I guess she just seemed a bit excited when I was talking to her…"
"Well, naturally, she'd want to get to know the person who rescued her grandfather. Plus, she certainly has no fear of foreigners. If you think she was forward, wait until tonight when the whole village is present."
Dante groaned slightly under his breath. "I don't have a good feeling about that…all the last few times I've had a lot of attention, things ended up real bad."
"That was different, friend. The Tanaka soldiers were hardly warm welcoming people like us. You obviously see the difference."
"Yeah, I know." He suddenly remembered something from earlier. "Hey, that reminds me; how far is it from here to Kyoto?"
A confused look came across Gorobei's face. "Oh, I don't know for sure; I've never traveled there myself. But word from merchants who wander through here is it's at least a weeks' walk, if not more. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing, really. I was just thinking about Takeda and the others."
"You mean those men who escaped with us? Don't worry about them, Dante. I'm sure they got on their way just fine. And if they didn't, it's not that great a loss…"
"Hey! They helped us escape, you know."
"I guess…but they were in a real hurry to get going after that. And besides, you were the reason anyone escaped that night, friend."
"Well, c'mon, I didn't do it alone."
"I know. But believe me, no one else would have helped me the way you did. You stand out from all the rest."
"Hey, c'mon, don't mention it…"
The rest of the day seemed to go by rather quickly. As it turned out, Dante got to meet several more of the village residents during the day when Ryuji and Sanzo took him on a tour of the village grounds. Many men, women, and children watched as he passed by their places of work or play, always with interest. Dante even looked back on occasion to see a group of boys, no older than seven, following them at a distance. They brought him by the fields where they grew daikon and rice, as well as the lake where they did their fishing. One of the more memorable sites was the Shinto shrine at the foot of the mountain outside the village. It didn't look too old, meaning the people had certainly not been there forever. After the tour, he spent the rest of the time talking with the two men, although he really didn't do much talking himself, preferring to listen to them as they told him more about their daily lives. After the last two signs of civilization he'd come across, never would he have thought he'd find a place or people that would offer him this kind of hospitality. Maybe the forces of life weren't out to screw him over after all.
Finally, night came, as did the time for the entire population to gather in the center village. A large bonfire had been lit in the center of the grounds, and all the people were strewn around it. All the village children were closer to the fire while the adults and elders remained on the outer layer. Although they had told him it would be a simple gathering, the atmosphere was a lot like a full-fledged festival.
It wasn't that Dante didn't like festivals; he'd experienced plenty during his early age; but he wasn't crazy about the fact that nearly all eyes were on him most of the time, despite the bonfire being the proper main attraction. Everywhere he went, there were always people trying to talk to him in one way or another. People wanted to know who he was, where he was from, why he looked different, why he wore such unusual clothes (which he was still wearing during the feast), how he had rescued Gorobei- it was endless. One of the more embarrassing moments for him occurred when a group of teenage girls, broken off from the others, gathered around him and began bombarding him with questions. They acted so forward that it really surprised him. Until he'd met Wakana, he'd always imagined old-time girls to be stuffy and uptight. In reality, they weren't that different from the girls he'd known in high school, except that these girls were actually interested in him in one way or another.
Despite the pressure of all the attention, he actually had a really good time. Food was served all around, and children were playing several games around the fire. He was also relieved when Gorobei started to draw some attention away by telling the villagers about their daring escape from the Yoshiaki town. Although he his story wasn't too different from what happened, he always began to exaggerate when he came to the moments that involved fighting, notably Dante's use of weapons. This garnered him and the red-haired youth a lot more looks of awe and amazement.
At one point, several people got up to dance around the fire, at first by themselves, then in pairs. When it was the teens' turn, Wakana suddenly pulled Dante from his seat, and asked him to dance. She ignored his initial refusal, and dragged him into the dancing circle with the others, where he eventually got the hang of it. It was still hard for him, though, knowing that all eyes were watching the two as they danced around the bonfire.
When the two had finished their dance, Dante went to sit back down, where other girls immediately approached him to ask for a dance of their own. He was distracted, however, by Wakana, who had joined the band that was making the dance music, playing her transverse flute alongside a young man who was striking a taiko drum. Over the sounds of laughing, singing, and other instruments, he could hear her playing, and was suddenly reminded of the tune. Hey…that sounds like…like what I heard this morning just outside the village! Was that…was that her playing? He watched them play for a while, often letting his focus drift to the young maiden as she played her shinobue. He later learned from Ryuji that several of the villagers had once been traveling performers, going from town to town to put on shows of music and dance. After a number of years, they had finally settled down where they now lived, finding a place just far enough away that they could live in peace. All this really opened Dante's mind, and he found himself eager to listen to others.
After the feast had ended, most of the people had gone back to their huts to turn in for the night. The fire was out, and the village center was pretty much deserted. Dante found himself sitting in a hut with Gorobei, Ryuji, Sanzo, and few more of the village leaders and elders. He was finishing his story of how he had come to Japan, which he had decided to tell them after much inquiring. Of course, he altered it a little to prevent any panic or confusion. Telling them he was cursed would probably make them scared, and telling them he was from the future would probably make them think he was downright crazy.
"So, you found yourself in this land after drifting ashore when your ship sank, and wandered into an Emishi village," Sanzo said, going over what Dante had told them, "then you ran into a giant boar god that had become a demon. And then you made your way south, ending up in the Yoshiaki territory." He finished, a bewildered look on his face. "That's quite a story, son. Simply unbelievable."
"Do you mean to tell us that the Emishi are still around?" an old woman asked.
"Legend has it they were driven out of civilization five-hundred years ago! Are you sure you didn't make a mistake?" one of the elder men asked.
The woman replied back before Dante could answer. "He described them very well, Tarou! I think he's telling the truth."
The old man sighed, crossing his arms. "Well, they must have really been something, if they were able to bring down a raging demon god." During the retelling of his journey, Dante had let slip the presence of the tatari-gami in his travels, and quickly made up an alternate story that didn't involve him getting cursed. "What I wonder is why a boar god would attack a rural village like that."
"Look at the way the daimyos treat this land," the old woman said, "no wonder they hate us humans."
"Hate 'em back, works for me" Dante said, under his breath, but loud enough for others to hear. The old man laughed at his comment, while the woman gave him a look of surprise and disapproval.
"You can't mean that, child! The gods control all and deserve our respect."
The young soldier scoffed. "I haven't received any respect from either god or man during all the time I've been here. If they want respect, they'll give it first."
The elder woman sighed, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Whatever the case, we understand how tough it must be for you, child. Separated from your homeland, as well as your army, with no way to get back to your people! You must be very lonely out there."
Dante sighed, drooping his head before lifting it again. "Well, it's not too bad. I manage one way or another." He let loose another long sigh before continuing. "And, personally, I've gotten used to being alone."
"Oh, don't say that" the old woman said. "No one in this world wants to be alone, child."
"Either way," Sanzo said, clearing his throat, "we understand your plight, friend, and we want to extend our hand to you. If you wanted to, you would be more than welcome here." All the others nodded in agreement.
Dante was at a loss for words. He didn't know how to tell these people that he couldn't stay. They certainly had become attached to him over the last day, but he was still surprised. "Listen, I-"
Sanzo raised his hand, motioning for him to be silent. "It's all right, friend. If you wish to move on, we will understand. We will await your answer in the morning, and we only hope that you will consider our offer."
The youth slowly nodded, and sighed once again.
After a bit more conversation, everyone decided to turn in. Ryuji had already showed Dante where he would be sleeping, and Dante waited outside the hut. Feeling the itch for tobacco, he reached into his pocket to pull out his pack of smokes, and ended up pulling out both the pack and the little iron ball he'd been carrying ever since leaving the Emishi village. When he noticed it, his memory was instantly jogged. That's right…I have to see if anyone knows anything about this. Then again, the odds of any of them knowing anything about this…they're low. But still, this is the first place I've come to where anyone'll even talk to me…I've gotta try it.
He turned around to look for anyone he might be able to ask, and noticed that Gorobei was remaining by the hut, sitting cross-legged. He decided now was as good a time as any, and walked over to sit next to him.
Gorobei raised an eyebrow as the youth sat next to him. "Well, good evening, friend. I see you still can't sleep."
"Yeah, more or less" Dante replied, pulling out a cigarette, and lighting it right before Gorobei. For a second, he thought the old man would react in a strange way, like Ashitaka had back in the Emishi village. But, to his surprise, he took no real notice, or pretended not to. Instead, he remained calm and serene, enjoying the nighttime atmosphere.
"It certainly has been quite a day, hasn't it?" he said with a low chuckle.
"Yeah," the soldier replied, taking another puff. He then remembered the tiny iron ball. "Hey, there's something I've actually been meaning to ask you."
The elder man turned to face him, not taking notice of the secondhand fumes Dante was exhaling. "Yes?"
He reached into the pocket of his fatigue, and pulled out the little iron ball he had brought from the Emishi village, holding it out to the man. "I was wondering if this looked familiar to you, since you're a blacksmith. I don't know if you've ever seen something like this, but I'm not sure."
Gorobei eyed the ball before taking it in his hand. He brought it close to his face, and inspected it closely, centimeter by centimeter. When he was finished, he lowered it, facing Dante. "Where did you get this, friend?"
"It was in the body of the boar god that attacked the village. It was just my luck that they were able to kill it before it did any damage. And they told me that this was what caused it to go insane and become a demon."
The man handed the iron ball back to Dante before speaking again. "Well, that ball is made of iron, very pure iron in fact. But other than that, I don't know what to tell you."
"Oh," Dante said, pocketing the ball.
Gorobei stopped, and began to think again. "Well…there is one thing."
"Yeah?" Dante asked, giving the man his full attention.
"I remember hearing about something during a trade I was making in a town out west. One of the local blacksmiths was telling me where most of the iron comes from in this area. Apparently, some woman by the name of Lady Eboshi runs an iron works far out in the west. According to the legend, she's the daughter of one of Nara's fallen Samurai, and she somehow managed to get her hands on a large piece of land that was very rich with iron."
"And you think this is where it might have come from?" the youth asked.
"It might have. I don't know how much truth there is to the story, though."
"Do you know where this place is?"
"You mean the Tataraba? I'm afraid I don't, lad. Although, if you were to make your way west, you would probably be able to find it."
Dante nodded, glad that he had finally gotten a lead on the problem he'd faced ever since being thrown back in time. Maybe now, he would be able to find out just where he needed to go. Standing up, he extinguished his cigarette with his foot. "Well, thanks a lot. I guess I'd better turn in. Good night."
"Good night to you, friend," he said, watching the youth walk away.
After everyone else had left, Dante considered heading to the hut to turn in, but found he still couldn't sleep. He decided to do a little more exploring. After walking along the edge of the village for a few minutes, he found a trail that led into the woods. He hadn't been down this one before, so he decided to follow it. After walking the path for another few minutes, he found himself standing in front of an awe-inspiring sight: a small grove in the woods, accompanied by a small pond with a tiny waterfall coming in from a creek. It was a rather calm spot, and was dimly lit by the moonlight.
This place is perfect, he thought. He decided to rest there a bit before heading back to the hut. He sat down by a tree, leaning his back against a trunk. He pulled out his pack of smokes again, lit one, and sat back while taking in the sight and feel of the grove around him, and taking time to reflect on the past week.
Ever since he had found out that he had been thrown 600 years into the past, he'd been feeling insecure and alone. Even in his own time, he never really felt he had a place in the world. He'd been born into one family, and was raised following them, before having his life turned around one day, and eventually being forced to live with another family in a very different lifestyle. And all by the time he was ten years old. When he ended up in the past, things had only gotten worse. He spent most of his time wandering the wilderness, and, when he did find civilization, it rejected him as though he was some sort of monster. However, finding Gorobei and bringing him home ended up giving him a whole new feeling. For the first time in his life, he actually felt accepted.
Thinking about all that had happened to him suddenly gave him what they called 'the blues'. And there was only one thing to do when that happened. Reaching into his shirt, he pulled out his harmonica, which hung on a small chain around his neck. Putting down his cigarette, he cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and began to play a bluesy tune.
For a little while, there was nothing but the sound of his harmonica to accompany the peaceful, easy feeling of the grove around him. As he played, he felt himself drifting off. Not quite falling asleep, but off into a state where he would just keep playing, not noticing the things around him. During this time, he had kept his eyes closed. And, when he opened them again, he found himself staring at something that jolted him from his calm state.
"Whoa!" he yelped, falling on his side in surprise. He slowly rose himself back up, and looked back at the young girl in front of him. "W…Wakana…"
The girl crouched down to face him, and smiled. "And a good evening to you, too."
The youth dusted himself off before looking at her again. Her face was just visible in the moonlight. "What are you doing out this late?"
"I could ask you the same thing" she said. "I just couldn't sleep. It happens to me all the time, so I come here whenever I want to relax. But it looks like you found it without my help!"
Dante laughed with her before lying back against the tree again. He then realized that she must have been listening to him playing his harmonica. "Oh, man. So, you must've been…"
The girl found a seat against one of the small boulders around the grove. "I was just heading over here when I heard the most unusual music" she said. "When I got here, I saw you." She looked at the harmonica in Dante's hands. "Just what is that thing? You were playing it like a flute, but it makes a different sound entirely. It's strange, but very nice."
It took the youth a second to gather himself. He held up the tiny instrument for her to see. "This is called a harmonica" he said. "It's kind of like a flute, but it works a different way." He removed it from around his neck, and held it out for her to take.
Wakana sat up and moved closer, reaching out to take the instrument. She inspected it closely before returning her glance to Dante. "It's made of metal…I've never seen anything like this before." She remembered what Dante had done, and brought it up to her mouth. Taking a deep breath, she blew into it. When nothing happened, she blew harder, causing a full harmonic sound to resonate from the tiny instrument. She laughed at the sound she had made, and handed it back to the soldier.
"Thank you," she said, bowing slightly before sitting back against the boulders.
"That's okay," Dante replied. He then remembered what he had been thinking earlier. "Hey, can I ask you something?"
Her head perked up. "Of course."
"You were playing your flute during the feast, right?"
"Yes, that was me."
"Were you doing it really early this morning? Around dawn?"
Her eyes went slightly wide at this. "How…how did you know that?"
Dante began to scratch the back of his head. "Well…when I was making my way here, I heard what sounded like someone playing a flute. It was around that time that I heard it, and I wasn't far from here. And it was actually pretty good."
Wakana smiled warmly, a blush adorning her cheeks. "Thank you…I'm not that good, though."
"You're good, believe me," he said. "Your friend mentioned that a lot of your people used to be traveling musicians."
"Yes, that's how I learned to play," she responded. "I learned from my grandmother before she died."
Dante sighed again, remembering what Ryuji had told him about her. "I'm sorry about that."
"Don't be. It's alright." She leaned back against the rock, letting out a deep breath as she stretched her arms. "Listen, there's still something I wanted to ask you…"
Dante looked at her, waiting for her to ask. "Okay."
"I…I was listening to Jii-chan when he was telling everyone the story of what happened; how you two escaped. He said that both of you were taken prisoner by an invading clan, and were forced to work. And I just want to know why you helped him, and why you bothered to bring him back to us. You didn't even know him before that day."
Dante sighed after hearing the question, not really knowing how to answer. After thinking a bit, he spoke. "I…I just had to help him, that's all…no one else was doing anything to help him. Everyone was being used as a slave, and they probably would have killed him if I hadn't done anything. I mean, I didn't wanna just sit back and watch that happen. I couldn't. And there was no other way he was going to get home unless someone took him." I guess people like these don't expect the kind of kindness you might get in my time, he thought.
"But you nearly got killed too, didn't you? And you exhausted yourself getting here."
"Yeah, but that doesn't matter. I can handle that. Your grandfather couldn't."
Wakana looked at the boy, moved beyond words. He just wanted to help him, she thought. It didn't benefit him at all, yet he still did it. She'd never met anyone quite like this boy before her. Ever since she had first laid eyes on him earlier that day, she had become attached to him in some way. Spending the day with him only brought her closer. And hearing these words come from his mouth made her see him in a whole new light. I really like this boy, she thought. He's got so much about him. He's handsome, he's brave, he's noble, he's honest, he's funny, he's shy…he's even a musician. For a while, she couldn't take her eyes off the boy.
After a while, Wakana decided to break the silence. She reached into her kimono, and pulled out her shinobue flute. She brought it to her mouth, and began to play, her fingers moving along the holes to make the right tune. After listening for a bit, Dante realized she was trying to play the blues tune he had been playing earlier, but was having difficulties. Chuckling, he took his harmonica, and began playing the tune himself. She got the idea, and began to play along, eventually getting the hang of the tune. And the two continued playing a bit longer into the night,
Later that night, Wakana walked through the village, on her way back to the hut where she slept. All the while, she couldn't stop thinking about the young man she had met that day. In a single action, the boy had changed her life, as well as the lives of everyone in the village. Before that day, she wouldn't have believed that people with that sort of heart even existed anymore. And, while she still thought people like that were a dying breed, she knew this boy was different.
She'd been listening in on them when he was talking with the elders. While she was happy to find out where he had come from, she was sad to hear that he had nowhere to go. And she had listened closely when Sanzo had offered him asylum in their village. Although he hadn't given them a straight answer, she was wondering if it was possible. Would he stay?
I really do want him to stay, she thought to herself. He's different from anyone I've ever known before. And certainly better than most of the boys here. If only he would stay with us…I could be with him…he could really become someone around here…
She stopped in her tracks, and began to think deeply. I wonder…
At the sound of the whistle, Dante jumped to his feet, and followed the other men out of the chopper. He jumped off the edge of the bird, his feet hitting the ground, and tore off in the direction of the jungle.
It was a few hours before dawn. The battalions were being sent in on a night mission to flush out a large group of VCs, and the grunts tore into the bush while others waited at their posts outside, ready for the ensuing firefight to come their way.
Dante moved along the shore, clutching his M-16 tightly. Artillerymen were firing flares up into the night, enabling the men to see where the marsh ended and the jungle began. They wouldn't be the only lights; pretty soon, fires would be breaking out inside the jungle. This was how they aimed to take out Charlie.
As he was moving closer to the bush, Dante noticed something a bit up ahead, at the foot of the jungle. A number of soldiers had slowed down as they passed a few men who carried a large spotlight. When Dante got closer, he noticed it was a camera crew, just like the ones that were always making their way through the camps during the day, and even into the jungles during full-fledged firefights. As he neared them, he could hear the man in front yelling out to the soldiers.
"Keep on going, just keep running by, it's for television! Don't look at the camera, just go on!" The director was waving his hands towards the jungle and yelling at the grunts to move on, while the cameraman and the light grip were standing close by, trying to get visible shots of the of the action; the assistant, who was arguing about something with the cameraman, was struggling to hold on to his papers, which were in danger of being blown away in the massive wind caused by the choppers. "It's for television, don't look at the camera! Just keep going, go on, go on! It's for television!" Dante stopped right in front of the camera along with Connolly, the blonde corporal in his unit. "Don't look at the camera, don't look at the camera! Just keep going by, like you're fighting! Like you're fighting, keep going! Don't look at the camera, just head on through! Go through! Get into the jungle, go on!"
At a loss for words, Dante nodded and moved on towards the dark jungle, the light of the camera crew fading as moved into the thick trees. He clutched the top of his helmet as a chopper flew over them, sending another gust of wind over the tall grass.
As the flares kept coming in, guided by tiny parachutes, he heard shots being fired: they'd spotted the gooks. He crouched down, slowing to the pace that other soldiers were going, and chambered a round into his rifle. Most of the soldiers had held up at a point in the jungle, and were firing over a wall of sandbags left behind by the VCs. He peeked over the barricade, hoping to get a glimpse of what was going on.
All of a sudden, a flare floated into one of the darker areas, lighting it up briefly; just long enough for them to see a small group of black-clad men scurry away.
"Down!" a voice suddenly spoke into the young Private's ear as a strong arm grabbed him by the shoulder, and forced him to the ground along with him. Dante looked up just in time to see another infantryman aim an M79 grenade launcher into the bush, and fire.
After the ensuing explosion, which sent dirt and gravel raining down on them, Mason let his junior up from the ground. "You're all right" he said quickly with a tap on the shoulder before setting his mind back on Charlie.
At the sound of another explosion, which rocked the ground they were all standing on, Dante heard a yell, and all the men climbed over the sandbags, dashing into the dark jungle. They didn't wait for any order from the senior officer, wherever he was- it didn't matter. They all took their orders from the jungle. Everyone did.
And with that, Dante followed them into the jungle, not looking back-
Sitting up at a violently fast speed, Dante bolted awake. Breathing heavily, he looked around the room of the hut he had been given to sleep in. He was wearing nothing other than his wife beater and boxers, and the futon he was sleeping on was nearly soaked in sweat. Irritated, he groaned to himself, pulling his knees to his chest.
Just what the hell does all that mean? he thought, remembering the dream he had been having. I keep seeing it all again- that night over a month ago. But what's it mean? I don't get it!
He sighed, falling back onto the futon. Even though he'd offered to sleep in the bachelors' quarters, for some reason, they'd insisted on giving him his own room. They probably wanted to give him time to consider their offer. He shut his eyes, trying somehow to go back to sleep.
Just when he thought he was about to fall asleep again, he heard a noise. It was faint, but he heard it. Someone was inside the hut. His instincts told him not to immediately sit up, but he eventually turned over to get a look- and found himself face-to-face with Wakana, who was sitting over his futon.
As he had with her before, he reacted in surprise. He quickly sat up, only to fall back down again. When she moved to help him, he sat himself up steadier this time, and looked at her.
"I'm sorry for surprising you. All you all right?" she asked.
"What the hell are you doing in here?" the youth inquired, almost harshly.
She reacted with a few seconds of hesitation before speaking again. "I didn't mean to disturb you…I…I just wanted to be close to you. For now."
"Why? Just because we talked earlier? Listen, we can talk in the morning-"
"No, no, that's not it. I wanted to tell you something…and, ask you something as well. Will you listen to me? Only for a little while."
Dante sighed, figuring it was best to get it over with. "All right."
Wakana wiped the sweat off her face, and took a deep breath before beginning. "I wanted to tell you that…you're a very special person to me. It's hard for me to say all this, but…I really mean it. Ever since I first saw you walk into the village, I knew you were different. You acted differently than any other person I've ever met. You went out of your way to save my grandfather, whom you couldn't have known for long. That makes you a very noble and honest person. I know that much." She noticed Dante's head drooping in slight embarrassment, and continued. "And, over the course of the day, I've grown to like you even more. You're just so different from any other boy I've known, even the ones I spend my days with. You're brave, you're funny, you're kind…you're even shy." She noticed the blush that was suddenly adorning Dante's cheeks.
The youth didn't know what to say. It took him forever just to get the gist of what she had just told him. "W-wait a minute," he said, stuttering. "What are you saying?"
She lowered her head, looking at the ground. "I…I'm saying that I care for you. I really do like you." She rose her head to face him. "And that's what I wanted to ask you about. Are…are you going to stay with us?" She looked at him with semi-hopeful, semi-fearful eyes.
This was what Dante had been dreading all night. Only he had thought it wouldn't come until the next morning, and would have more time to think up a way to break the sad news. He sighed deeply, and lowered his head.
"Wakana…I'm sorry. I can't stay here."
Her face suddenly took on a scared and confused look. "What? Why not?"
"I can't tell you why, but I just can't stay here. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Why do you have to leave? You said yourself that you had nowhere else to go! Do you not like it here? Is that it?"
"That's not true at all!" he said. "You don't know how much I envy all of you. You should be happy to live in a place like this. You have people who care for you."
"We care for you, too! Everyone in this village loves you. Didn't you see how we welcomed you?"
Dante held up his hands, trying to calm her down. "That's not the reason-"
"Then why? Why do you have to leave? I don't want you to go!" she suddenly blurted out.
Dante grabbed her by the shoulders, surprised at her words. "Listen, I know how you feel, but it's not really like that. We've only known each other a day."
"But I…I…" Tears were starting to form in her eyes. She drooped her head, calming down. "I understand what you mean…but I still want to know why you have to leave. Please, to put my soul at rest."
Dante sighed, seeing no way out of this. "Do you really want to know?"
She nodded silently.
"All right." Taking a deep breath, he reached up to his shoulder, and began to unwrap his long bandage.
When it was all off, he let it fall to the floor, and watched as the young girls' eyes went wide at the sight of the ugly maroon blotches on his arm. She inched closer to get a better look, but did not try to touch the scar.
"What…what evil did this to you, Dante?"
Taking another deep breath, he explained. "You remember when I told the village elders I encountered a boar demon in the northeast?" The girl slowly nodded, and he continued. "Well, I left out this part. I was the one that got into a fight with it, and I was cursed. I didn't tell any of you, because I was afraid you would run me out of here."
She looked at him with a slightly offended look on her face. "We would never do something like that" she said, almost sternly. "But I guess I understand. Most people would have tried to get rid of you."
"Anyway, this is why I can't stay. If I don't pursue the cause of my curse and try to find a cure, it will eventually kill me. And besides, I'm too much of a danger to you people. This curse has already claimed a few lives it shouldn't have."
After looking at him during his whole explanation, she drooped her head low. Dante tried to help her. "Look, I'm really sorry…I really enjoyed my time here with you. And I couldn't be happier knowing you all live in peace like this."
She lifted her face to meet his, smiling. "Thank you," she said. After thinking for a second, she stood up. "Wait here," she told him, leaving the hut.
She returned a few minutes later, carrying what looked like a bundle. She sat down next to the youth. "I want you to have this. I was originally making it for Jii-chan, but I think you'll need it much more." She unrolled the bundle to reveal a dark, brownish-green cloak-like piece. Looking at it closely, Dante noticed it more closely resembled a poncho. It was made of thick animal skins, as well as fabrics made from other things, and even had a hood.
Dante took the poncho, and held it out in front of him. "Wow…this is amazing. You made this by yourself?"
She nodded. "I only hope that it'll help you on your journey. Please, take it. I want you to have it."
Dante thought of telling her that he couldn't take it, but reconsidered. Besides, it was really a nice poncho. And it would definitely help him later on. "Thank you very much" he said, trying it on. It fit perfectly.
Wakana smiled as she watched him put it on. "You're welcome. Oh, and there's something else." She reached into her pocket, and pulled out something small. "I want you to have this as well. Keep it as a good luck charm. It always brought me good luck."
Dante looked into her hand to see what she was holding…and his jaw nearly dropped. In her hand was a tiny wooden doll. It had the body of a man, but the head had the face of what looked like a deer. It even had small wooden antlers. He though the doll looked familiar…like he had seen it somewhere…but he couldn't put his finger on it…
"Is everything all right, Dante?"
The youth suddenly broke out of his trance. "Oh, nothing. I'm all right." He took the doll from her, and looked at it before putting it with his things. "Thanks a lot. Not many people would have done anything like this for me."
She smiled at him, moving her face closer to his, until they were only an inch or so apart. "And even fewer would have done what you did for us." And then, she shocked Dante by taking him by the shoulders, and kissing him, full on the lips. Although he was completely surprised, he did not resist. The kiss ended rather quickly though, and she let go of his shoulders. Looking at him again, she finally spoke. "If you want to go on now, I'll understand. In fact, it's better for you to get a head start. I'll tell everyone about your decision."
Dante, shaking off the faze from the kiss, thought about what she said, and nodded. "Yeah, I think your right." Leaving was the best thing for him to do.
He got dressed slowly, albeit embarrassedly, knowing that Wakana was watching him the whole time. When he had gathered all his things, she met him at the entrance to the hut. He sighed, stepping halfway out the door.
"I guess this is it. Thank you for everything. And goodbye." With one final look in her direction, he stepped outside.
The young maiden watched him go, every step of the way. Thank you for everything…Kurosaka Dante. I'll never forget you.
Dante had made his way outside the village entrance when he stopped. It was in the early hours of morning, a bit before dawn. Twenty-four hours ago, he'd been making his way here with Gorobei on his back. It was a slight feeling of déjà vu.
"You really are prepared, aren't you, friend?"
Hearing the sudden voice in the darkness, Dante whipped around to see someone behind him. When he looked closer, he saw it was his old chain gang mate. He breathed in relief.
"Jesus…you scared me there for a moment. How long have you been there?"
The old man smiled. "I've been waiting here for a bit, ever since I heard you talking with Wakana."
Dante's eyes perked up. "You mean…"
"I heard everything. Don't worry, friend, I understand as well. And I'm sure the rest of my people will understand. I just wanted to say goodbye, is all."
Dante smiled, glad to have gotten a chance to say goodbye as well. "Yeah, me too." He stepped closer, eyeing the man. "You know, I really had a great time…I hope you all live on. It would be a shame for a peaceful place like this to get ruined by any outside conflicts."
"That's why we live out here, friend. We'd had enough of the outside world, and just wanted to settle down. Of course, we know that the outside world isn't all bad. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here now. And I want to thank you for all that you've done for me, as well as my people."
"I know. And I just wanted to thank you for all the fun I had. I don't think I'm gonna meet anyone as nice as you people again."
The old man laughed before reaching over his shoulder, and pulling something off of it. "Before you go, though, I want you to have this." The elder man held out the object for Dante to see, and his eyes went wide.
Sitting in Gorobei's hands was a sheathed katana. The sheath was made of wood, and painted black, with a small silver design at each tip. The handle was of the same design, being lined with black silk, and topped with a silver piece. On each silver design was the kanji symbol that stood for 'daringness'. Gorobei spoke while Dante continued to look at the sword.
"This belonged to my father. He fought in one of the many wars with the daimyos decades ago. He was a samurai, and was bound to a code, one that eventually took his life. He left me with only this" he said. "It hasn't been unsheathed since that day. And I can't see myself or anyone else here ever needing it. We are peaceful here. But where you are going, you will most certainly need it."
Dante was still speechless from the sword itself. When he finally found the words, he responded. "I can't take this. This is way too personal…you've had it for so long-"
"My father gave it to me because he thought I would need it, friend. And now, I don't. Letting something like this go to waste when it could be useful is just something I can't do. Please, take it. It will bring you all my well wishes."
Breathing deeply, Dante reached his hand out to take the sword. He picked it up by the sheath, noticing it had a shoulder strap attached. He grasped it by the handle, and unsheathed it. The naked blade shone in the moonlight, reflecting right back into the youth's face. Looking closer, he noticed a bluish tint in the blade. It was a very good sword.
"Beautiful" he said.
Gorobei scoffed. "Feh, I never much cared for it. But, then again, I'm no expert."
Dante tied the sword to his backpack by the strap, and turned back to the old man. "Well, I guess this is it."
He smiled back. "I guess so."
Dante moved closer, putting his arms around Gorobei's shoulders. The elder man did the same, and they gave each other a long pat on the back. When they released, they looked into each other one last time.
"Goodbye" Dante said, turning around and heading out into the woods.
"Goodbye, friend" Gorobei said, watching him leave. "And good luck." And do I mean the best of luck.
When dawn finally came, Dante was already a few hours off from the village. He was sitting against a tree trunk, watching the sun come up.
As he watched the sun peak over the horizon, Dante felt an uneasy feeling of dread as he anticipated the things to come. He had had a moment of peace in his journey of suffering; but now it was over. It was time for the journey to continue.
He pulled out the little iron ball from his pocket, and held it up, over the sun as it rose above the horizon. The road was going to be rough ahead. But he would take it nonetheless, and keep going with renewed vigor, every step of the way.
Whew. Man, that took so long to write…once again, sorry for the delay. I promise you, I will try to update a lot faster now that I'm on vacation. Plus, the other chapters are already lined out, so they will come faster. Starting next chapter, we'll be getting into more familiar territory.
Well that's it. I really hope you're all enjoying the story as much as I am. So long, and happy trails.
Music for Chapter 9:
Evening at the
Ironworks, by Jo Hisaishi
Harmonica Blues
(Cowboy Bebop)
Rock House Jail (aka Navy Seals Theme), by Hans Zimmer (The Rock Soundtrack)
The End, by The
Doors (listen to this at the end of the chapter)