Just a side note, Shinta is Kenshin's childhood name, and Kao is Kaoru's childhood name. Also, Kyeong Seong is the old name of Seoul, South Korea, and Joseon is what Korea was called when both north and south were united. Manchuria is basically along the northern border of North Korea. During this time, the Japanese have been occupying Korea, which obviously started some uprising amongst the Korean people.
Also, Koreans bury their dead a little differently than western cultures. They sort of bury them above ground rather than below creating a large dirt mound, and many are buried in the mountains of Korea. Also, "nay" means "yes" in Korean.
Of course, I don't own Kenshin or Bridal Mask sadly :(
Chapter 3: Love Lost
13 years ago, on the road to Manchuria...
Streaks of pink and orange wash across the nearly cloudless sky, clashing with Shinta's flaming red hair, as four men on horseback trot beside the passenger carriage. Shinta and his father sit at the reigns while Akane and Katsura rest inside, the creaking of the large wooden wheels is a welcome sound compared to the chaos of Kyeong Seong.
Only one day on the road has passed when a bundled up mess comes waving at their caravan. Crying, the girl pleads, "please help us. We have to meet my father in Manchuria." Shinta jumps from the wagon immediately, looking towards a slumped figure propped against a tree nearby. Glancing back at Hiko, the older man rushes to check the woman on the ground.
With blue eyes reflecting the snow covered path, Kao has shed too many tears already to cry in front of these strangers again. Hiko's solemn features say it all, Kao is alone. Her mother couldn't keep her promise to be reunited with Koshijuro, to be a family once more.
Seeing the distraught look on the young girls face, Shinta asks his father as he heads back to the carriage, "can't we take the child with us?" Hiko isn't a man so heartless that he would let a child die out in the snow, so he nods, and Shinta invites her inside.
Sensing her hesitation, Shinta looks at the cold figure on the ground. "Father?" Another nod, and the fifteen year old helps the mourning child bury her mother deeper within the forest.
Even though she tries to hide it while awake, not one day has gone by in the past two months that Kao hasn't let go in her sleep, calling for a mother that will never appear. Shinta can't help admire her from the opposite end of the carriage, resting her head on Akane's lap. She's only four years younger than me. Noticing that the two are sleeping, he kneels down for a closer look. She is really... brushing her hair from her face, Shinta notices the crescent shaped birthmark on her ear. He doesn't really know what to make of this aching in his chest, this need to be close to her. It's when Kao's eyes flutter open that he realizes the obvious, "young master?" Moving away quickly to his seat, "I told you, you don't have to call me young master."
Kao's eyes hide behind thick black bangs as she mumbles, "but I like calling you that."
For some reason, he never wants to see this girl upset, so he nods slightly. "Alright then, from now on I will call you Kao-dono." Shinta smiles brightly.
"Kao-dono?" Contemplating a moment, Kao grins, falling back asleep.
Winter was harsh that season, but that didn't stop Shinta from trying to find fun things for them to do. Kao's bounding laughter in his ears as she holds tightly while flying down the snow covered hill has sealed the deal for him. He never wants to see her tears again, only laughter from now on Kao-dono. No matter what, only this from now on. Shinta's smile is beaming feeling Kao's arms surrounding his strong abdomen.
Both can't stop laughing as they tumble from their makeshift cloth sled, landing to lay beside each other in the snow. "That was fun right Kao-dono?" She nods, giggling.
Kao notices something strange in the snow nearby, and picks it up to see that it is a metal hilt. "Look what I found!" Mumbling now, "I wonder where it's from."
"That's mine, don't touch it!" Shinta yells, but calms instantly when he realizes he was being a bit harsh. "My father had it made especially for me. See that engraving?" He points to the words "swords heart."
"I'm already pretty good with Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu." Excitement pours from the boy, "that's my father's style, he's been teaching me since I was ten." Pausing for a moment, "I can teach you when we settle down if you want."
"Yes, I'd like that. I haven't been able to practice much since my father went away." Kao states a little sheepishly, but remembers how much she loved training with her dad. "It's the sword that protects," her smile could light the moon.
"Hm, the sword that protects?" Shinta contemplates gaining a quizzical look from the girl beside him.
"What? Isn't that what you do with weapons? Use them to protect the people you love?"
Thinking for a moment, the red head nods, "I never looked at it that way. My style is more about speed, and fighting many opponents at once." He says, using his arms as swords for emphasis. But, seeing as Kao is unimpressed, "I think I like your way better." He smiles.
Suddenly serious, Shinta turns his head to the girl next to him. "Kao-dono?"
"Yes young master?" Kao giggles again at the names they have come up with for each other.
"Let's all live together when we get to Manchuria nay?" Kao's eyes light up at the suggestion. "It will be hard to start off in a new country without knowing anyone, so we should be a family."
"Really?" Nothing would make Kao happier than to be able to see Shinta every day.
He nods an affirmative, and Kao's cheeks start to hurt from smiling so much. Oh what the hell, he thinks to himself, and gives her a playful, chaste kiss on the forehead before running off with Kao chasing after him.
Hiko can't help his own smile when he sees his youngest son taken by this small girl whose laughter could possibly bring all of Joseon happiness. Returning back to the men waiting for him inside the tent, sitting indian style, "we should reach the border in two days time," Hiko's oldest son, Katsura states, pointing to a map laid out on the ground.
Each man has been loyal to Hiko since he began this small independence movement, but because of this, each has now become a wanted fugitive. When Katsura, a boy of only nineteen wanted to join as well, Hiko couldn't say no. Glancing at his father, "when we get settled, we can start planning our next move."
Hiko hates the fact that they are fleeing, but thinking of Akane and Shinta there is no choice but to get them to safety first. The idea of them being tortured is too much for him to stand. "We will meet the others at the border crossing." With a nod, they each head to their respective tents to rest.
Seeing Shinta and Kao near the campfire, his son offering her a cooked sweet potato, is almost enough to make him forget all the atrocities happening in his country. To keep children like them safe, it's the only way.
The next two days fly by, and Shinta can see a grass field in the distance. Only a few more hours and we should finally be at the border. He smiles at Kao from across the carriage, and remembers, turning to his mother sitting beside the girl, "mother, when we get to Manchuria... We should all live as a family don't you think?" He pauses to see her reaction, "when we meet Kao's father, we can all live in the same house right? It'll be good to have people we know nearby."
No response yet, "we can have dinner together, walk to school together..." His mother nods and smiles, "of course."
Kao is beaming with the approval of Akane, and turns, hugging her fiercely. "Thank you so much." Taken slightly aback, she returns the embrace easily, giggling, "with you two around, how can you not smile?"
With the sun setting in the horizon, orange and yellow once again streak the sky. Shinta can hear one of the horseman outside galloping to the front of the carriage, "sir, the comrades have come." He looks outside to see where the man is pointing, and at least ten men on horseback start racing down the mountain towards their caravan.
Comrades? With swords raised? The familiar schwing of his father's blade leaving its sheath is unmistakable as Shinta's heart sinks seeing the man he thought was a friend fall to the ground. "It's an ambush!" Hiko yells, and the carriage rocks harder against the ground with him at the reigns.
"Young master?" Shinta turns from the window at hearing Kao's frightened voice, her innocent blue eyes filling with liquid. Placing a hand on hers, "don't worry Kao-dono. I won't let anything happen to you. I will protect you." Facing Akane now, "you too mother. I will protect you both." Akane doesn't say anything in response, but everyone in the carriage screams as they feel the wooden contraption toppling over, wheels crunching against the rough terrain.
"Hurry, open the door," Akane rushes, but Shinta is already at the door, which is now the roof. It won't budge even with using all of his strength, "it's jammed!"
Their hearts race as they hear men screaming outside. Shinta reaches for his katana just as the door to the carriage opens. "Take my hand," a universal sigh of relief is heard as Katsura's head appears over the opening.
Signaling for the kids to get out first, Shinta and Kao scurry up as fast as possible. Kao can't stop the fear from creeping into her heart as she sees the crimson snow, and bodies on the ground. "Hurry, run away first, don't worry about me!" Akane pushes Shinta and Kao while Katsura helps her outside. With a look at his older brother, Shinta grabs Kao's hand and takes off toward the tall grass in the distance.
Racing with all the strength her small legs can handle, Kao trips with her hand losing its grip to fall hard on the ground, head scraping a nearby branch. Helping the girl up to run again, Shinta looks back towards their group, and sees three men almost upon them with swords at the ready. Without a second thought, he stops, turning his back to Kao. "Kao-dono," his voice has changed, holding a fierceness she's never heard before. "Close your eyes."
Trusting the young man in front of her, her lids close, heightening her other senses. Schwing, and her shoulders tense at the sound of Shinta's blade leaving its home. Gurgling is the only noise she hears before she feels Shinta's hand in hers again. "Kao-dono, look at me." Blue sees gold as he blocks her view of the fallen men.
Running again, they finally reach the center of the tall grass. Huddling down quickly, Shinta takes the knife from his pocket, "take this."
Clutching the dagger in her small hands, shocked blue eyes stare at the inscription on the hilt, "sword's heart," she whispers, head throbbing from her open wound. Frightened eyes look into those of the young man kneeling before her, calloused hands wrap around hers, "young master," her innocent voice pleads.
"Keep this with you always," he looks around quickly, he can hear them coming, giving chase through the tall grass the two are hiding in. "Promise me you'll stay alive, can you promise me?"
"What do you mean?" Her voice is taught, eyes stinging, "where are you going?"
"Just promise me you'll stay alive," he's desperate now, "no matter what happens, you cannot die," his grip tightens against hers, and she nods in hesitation.
"I will find you, if you stay alive, I will find you..." Pausing, "don't follow me Kao-dono, okay?"
Another pause, "run away now." With that, Shinta races towards the oncoming men, leaving Kao too scared to move. Even though she wants to listen to her young master, she can't help it, and manages to stand up. Instead of running the opposite way, she uses all her strength to rush and catch him. Finally arriving at the scene, she sees three dead on the ground, and Shinta fighting another man. Running towards them, she screams as a tall, gruff man wraps his arms around her waist.
"Kao-dono!" Shinta screams, surprised to hear her voice. Distracted, the man he was fighting manages to slash the boy's thigh, and Kao's eyes widen in fear as the man brings his blade down for another strike. Shinta manages to block, but can't keep his eyes off the girl being held by that monster of a man.
Fury rages within, and with a swift blow, Shinta brings up his blade, piercing the man's heart that stands above him. Kao screams once more, and removes the dagger from its sheath, jabbing it in and out of the thick arms holding her. The man drops her instantly, and she takes off running towards her young master.
Just as they are about to reunite, a shot rings out, followed by a look of terror on Shinta's face as he falls slowly to the ground. "Young master!" Kao cries, arriving at Shinta's side. He can tell that he's been shot in the side with blood pouring from his being. The field is fading when he says to Kao, "run away now. Please." Shinta can't stop the tears anymore, "please run, please survive. If you run now, I will find you, I promise." His heart aches as he says the words because he knows it might be a lie. "Please," he begs, "please go."
Unsure what to do because she doesn't want to leave him, "I," he pauses, "I love you Kao." He reaches for the dagger enclosed in Kao's small grip. "Keep this with you always. I will find you, I promise, now go."
With tears blinding her sight, Kao races away from the bloody scene. Shinta smiles seeing her running, but his expression changes instantly when he sees a tall man closing in on her. Even trying to will his body to move accomplishes nothing, and all he can do is watch. Just as the blade comes down, Shinta closes his eyes, he can't bare the thought of his Kao dying before him. Even so, he can't stop the images of a blade slicing through her tender flesh from engulfing his vision.
It's over in an instant, and he opens his lids to see a crumpled figure lying on the ground in the distance. "Kao," sobs wrack his tired form, "Kao-dono." He can't stop mumbling her name as his world finally goes black.
Well, that's it for now :) I really love this plot, so I hope you enjoy. I know it might be confusing because I am using pretty much mostly Japanese names, so maybe at the end of this chapter or the beginning of the next one I will provide a list of characters who are Japanese and who are Korean. Anyway, thanks, and happy reading ^_^x