-BOOM! Chapter 2! That's right! *starts break dancing* Okay so yeah, it's always been kind of hard for me to do 3rd person, I don't know why I did it in the first place…so if I accidentally switch back and forth from 3rd to 1st person Eve then I'm sorry! _ Anyways, here ya go! Chapter two! I don't own anything except Randy (kind of XD) Yui and Eve…..*grumble*
They then entered into a large cave, carvings of different creatures and people entranced deeply on the wall. The roof was decorated with smooth arches and small holes were hammered in to hold little candles, the room emanating a yellow aura. The place looked like a large Japanese temple to the girl and she gazed around in shock, her mouth slightly parted.
"Come on, we have to keep going." Randy said roughly.
The girl sighed and straightened out her kimono, sucking in a deep breath and following her mother and father through the gorgeous cave.
But the girl's breath was caught when they entered a large, round room with high rock wall cliff. It looked like they were standing at the bottom of a well, looking upward from the enormous rock walls and to the ceiling. That's why the girl gasped, it was beautiful. It was the night sky, twinkling white stars and a beautiful crescent moon along pitch black. The stars seemed to twinkle and the moon shimmer but wait, it was just mid-day outside when she last checked, how could it be night? She strained her eyes and noticed that in fact, it wasn't the real night, but just an illusion, maybe a painting of some sort to keep the sun off from this place, the rain too. The girl was somewhat disappointed when she realized that it wasn't the real night but none the less marveled at its beauty.
"Where are we?" The girl gasped in awe.
"Haven't you guessed?" A voice chuckled. "We're standing in the cauldron of a dead volcano. Welcome to the home of my clan."
The girl swerved to her left to see a tall man standing several feet away from her. He was garbed in all black, black hakama trousers, a black coat, and a long black mask or scarf of some sort wrapped around their face. His eyes were cold and distant looking at first glance but as she studied them once again they seemed to be warm and show some happiness and compassion.
He chuckled. "Sorry if I startled you, you must be the new family."
Randy smiled and nodded his head. "Hai." He said. "Watashi-tachi wa atarashii kazokudesu. Watashi wa Randy-desu, kore wa, watashi no tsuma Yui, soshite kono watashi-tachi no musume-desu—"
Musume! The girl exclaimed in her mind! That's-that's daughter! "I'm—" She squeaked.
The man smiled, he obviously did not hear her. "Anata no subete o mitasu tame ni wa yoi kotodesu. Watashi wa mura no rida, Shusaku-desu."
The girl blinked and leaned her head back. All of this was just flying over her head. She couldn't speak Japanese. I knew I should have paid more attention in school…She thought to herself. I have no idea what they are saying.
The man looked over to her and smiled with his eyes, as if waiting for something. "O namea wa nani-desu ka?" He asked.
"Uh…" she muttered. Namea….name, I know that. And nani is what so….oh! "Uh, watashi wa…uh...Eve-desu." She said slowly, making sure it sounded somewhat right.
The man gave out a small chuckle. "Kon'ichiwa Ibu-desu."
"Ah, n-no uh, nai!" She exclaimed, stuttering nervously. "Eve, Eve-desu."
"Ibu means Eve in Japanese." The man chuckled.
The girl was caught off guard when the man spoke English.
"Nice to meet you Eve." He smiled.
Eve blushed and fumbled with the sleeves of her kimono.
"Now," the man smiled. "If you care to follow me," He waved his hand toward the entrance/exit he came from and began walking to it. "I shall show you around."
They exited the large room to a large network of alleys and passageways, each lined with an array of candles and doorways were people smiled and looked out at the newcomers and Shusaku. There were a few animal pens and horse stables down several always but not much and she gave a smile at a small pig in a pen next to her. Rarely would there be a passage way that didn't continue but instead was a dining room or a 'living room' of sorts.
"This is where most of the villagers sleep and eat, the Shinshitsu." Shusaku said matter-of-factly. "That large circular room you were just in is the Tera no Heya, where ceremonies, town meetings, and any sort of gatherings are held."
Yes, Eve thought to herself. That is what I shall call it, The Circular Room and…Sleep Alley. Yes, much easier than the Tera no…whatever and Shin...I give up.
They continued into a deeper passageway.
The next room was similar to eve's Circular room, carvings of people and animals on the walls, candles in carved out stone holsters. The cave was filled with equipment and weapons: "wooden horses, sword racks, tables on which had been laid a number of bows and crossbows. Armor lay strewn on the floor, and in some cases and been placed on straw-and-leather mannequins." (Blood Ninja, 217)
"This is the weapons room and where the children of the village sleep," He said pointing toward wholes that had been carved off to one side of the wall, the length of a grown man. "Over there, in those." Blankets rested lined them and a large candle was the only light source.
"This is where I have to sleep?" Eve gasped.
The man turned to her and smiled. "You are not a child, right Eve?" He chuckled. (-Okay, throughout the story when I say he 'smiled' it refers to with his eyes. Cuz I don't want to write' he smiled with his eyes' throughout the entire story. Okay? Okay.)
Eve blushed at her mistake and outburst and brought her sleeves up to cover her face.
"I shall show you to your room, unless Lady Eve wishes to reside here." Shusaku chuckled.
"Ah—no, I-I'm good." She muttered.
The man turned around and motioned for them to follow him, and they did. They traced back through the intricate web like system of hallways and Eve saw the Circular Room up ahead. But Shusaku took a sharp left and they went down a hallway Eve had not seen. They walked down it a little ways and we came out in a beautiful area. Candles were lit in crevices and torches hung on walls around the large oval shaped room. There was a small river that snaked its way through the area but taking a closer look the river was a stand still. It was an irrigation stream. It branched off in smaller streams to rice paddies and to small corn patches. Along the banks of the irrigation river was sparse patches of green grass. A Small bridge went over the river to tread those who wished to cross, across.
Looking further down there were three houses in the shape of a crescent that lined the far wall. They were much nicer than the houses in Sleep Alley and were larger. They looked like little wooden huts and Eve found them actually quite adorable.
"Here is where you shall be staying," Shusaku smiled. "Along with me and another elder of the village, Kawabata-san."
They bridged over the river and he instructed us to the far right house.
"I am this one," he said pointing to the one in the middle." And that is Kawabata-san's. If you need anything, please ask us…" He drifted off. He seemed hesitant about us asking this 'Kawabata' person. "But anyways," he said, clapping his hands together. "I am sure that you will find everything here hospital (-not the kind of like medical but the uhhh like adjective thingy? Yeah…), I know it is not what you are…" He took a quick look at Eve. "Used to."
She gulped and then giggled nervously.
"I'm sure it will do fine." Yui smiled, then turning to give Eve a quick nod. "Right Randy?"
"Of course," He said with a toothy grin. "Don't worry about us, we are very…adaptable." He smirked.
Eve gulped again.
Shusaku gave Randy a knowing and slightly suspicious look before nodding. "Wonderful, and if you need anything, remember, we will be here." And he bowed and took his leave.
Eve turned to glare sharply at Randy and he just laughed. "Oh come on!" He said, elbowing her lightly. "You know I'm just having fun!"
"Yes but that fun will get us caught!" Eve said sternly.
Randy gave a wry smile and shrugged. "Whatever, let's go inside and get comfortable."
"That's the first sane thing you've said all day." Yui sighed. "Oh why did I ever marry you…?"
*Translation: "Hai. Watashi-tachi wa atarashii kazokudesu. Watashi wa Randy-desu, kore wa, watashi no tsuma Yui, soshite kono watashi-tachi no musume-desu—" –Yes, we are the new family. My name is Randy, this is my wife Yui, and our daughter—
"Anata no subete o mitasu tame ni wa yoi kotodesu. Watashi wa mura no rida, Shusaku-desu." –It's nice to meet you all. I am the village leader, Shusaku.
"O namea wa nani-desu ka?" –What's your name?
"Uh, watashi wa…uh...Eve-desu." –Uh, my name is…Eve.
"Kon'ichiwa Ibu-desu." –Hello, Eve.
"Nai!" –No!
Shinshitsu –sleeping hall
Tera no Heya –Temple Room *