Chapter 4: Ending Freedom
"Oneesan, please don't leave," Suzana said, sitting on the bed. Misaki was up and pulling on a simple dress.
"I have to get some air. I'll be back," Misaki promised.
"Mother will be upset," Suzana whispered. "You are soon to be a duchess."
Misaki smiled. "Which is why I must have my fill of freedom before I'm locked away," she replied. "Please Suzana?" Misaki asked. "I just need this air."
Suzana sighed. "Very well," she said. "I'll cover for you."
"Thanks Suzana," Misaki said blowing a kiss to her sister. Suzana went back to sleep while Misaki crept out of the room and down the long flight of stairs. Her bare feet were cold as they touched the marble floor.
Misaki grabbed a shawl and wrapped it around her head. She then crept into the study and escaped out the window. As soon as her feet hit the grass, she was running. She didn't stop until she burst into the horse stables. The stable boy was still fast asleep. Misaki quickly stripped down to nothing and pulled on a loose cotton shirt and sturdy pants with a rope belt. To finish her disguise, she tied her hair into a ponytail and stuck her feet into leather boots.
Misaki folded up her dress and undergarments and hid them in a stack of hay. She made sure that no one could see any fabric poking out. Afterward, she got up, dusted off her knees and straightened the loose white shirt she wore. Misaki grabbed the worn leather jacket off the hook and pulled her hat over her eyes. Double checking the area to make sure no one saw her, she then climbed up a ladder and retrieved a dagger which she hid under her shirt. Just in case though she never had to use it except for peeling fruit.
After checking her disguise, she sneaked out of the stables feeling free at last. The thick boots she wore on her feet made her feel powerful and Misaki could now efficiently run. She dashed over to the stone wall bordering the villa.
Misaki pushed the hat down more and then rubbed her hands together.
"One...two...three!" she counted to herself. Misaki grabbed hold on a stone in the wall and pulled herself up. After years of practice, she easily scaled the rocky wall and dropped to the other side.
Misaki casually wiped her dusty hands on her pants and headed to the busy part of town.
Everyone was talking loudly and artists played on the street, displaying their talent. Misaki smelled food as well as the scent of herbs. The sights were endless as one vendor stall led to the next. Colorful fruit overfilled the stall of one while shiny pots and pans would decorate another.
"Hey lad!" a voice called. "Buy a fresh apple?"
Misaki smiled and tossed the stall owner a coin. She examined the apples and finally selected a dark red one. She roamed the streets while crunching into her treat. She wiped the juice that dripped down her chin off with her sleeve. A noble woman would never do that but right now Misaki was Mikio, a common stable boy.
Her favorite spot in town was the tavern. The tavern she went to was not dark and full of drunk men. It was large and very airy. Men and women alike all sat around exchanging news. Misaki loved listening to the stories.
She took the remaining bite of her apple and tossed it into a trash bin.
"Hello Mikio!" the tavern owner greeted. "Haven't seen you roaming about in a while," he said smiling.
Misaki grinned. "Got to work," she explained. "The Countess is traveling a lot these days."
She tossed the owner a coin and he slid a glass of ale to her. Misaki had never actually drank it before but she felt more in place with the thick mug in her hand.
"Say boy," a man called. "Ya work for the Countess?"
"Stable boy," Misaki called back, raising her glass to him.
"Have you heard anything about the male title issue?" the man asked. He gestured for Misaki to sit at the table.
"Heard bits and pieces," Misaki replied.
The people in the tavern all swarmed around to hear. Misaki noticed that even the owner craned his neck but pretended to be wiping glasses.
"Well tell us, lad," a woman said. "We're not going to be run out of our homes are we?" she asked. "I heard some nasty rumors..." she said quieter. There was a chorus of agreements. Misaki set her mug down.
"Don't worry," she said. "The Countess got her daughter marrying," Misaki said casually.
She often put the townspeople to ease, provided counseling and warned them of upcoming conflicts. The people here never suspected though. They just assumed she was the nosy stable boy who eavesdropped on the nobles.
"Boy, how do you know?" another asked.
Misaki pulled her hat down a little more. "I'm the stable boy," she said, "I hear all sorts of things. No one ever notices me."
"Will Lady Misaki's marriage protect us?"
Misaki swallowed hard. "Indeed..." she said. She cleared her throat. "She marrying someone way up there," Misaki said raising her mug. "Seika will prosper."
There was a chorus of whoops and whistles.
"Marrying the duke I hear," a voice said.
Misaki turned to see a blonde man leaning against the counter. The man had a mug of ale in his head. Misaki knew he was a pageboy by looking at his outfit. No one else knew though because they weren't nobles with pageboys.
"How would you know?" the tavern owner asked. "You a stable boy too? Dressed awful nice to be a stable boy."
"I'm a page," the man explained. "I am always running errands for the duke."
"Oh..."
"Tell us what you know then," someone shouted.
"Don't know much," the man said with a shrug. "But I heard that the duke has yet to accept the marriage proposal."
Everyone began talking among themselves.
"Why would he not accept?" Misaki asked.
The more time she spent in the tavern the more she realized she needed to marry the duke. All these people were counting on Lady Misaki to ensure that they will have a home and food to eat.
"Duke doesn't like noble woman. Thinks they're vain."
Misaki smiled. "Maybe the Lady Misaki ain't so bad," she said.
She laughed on the inside. If she was vain, she wouldn't be sitting in a tavern drinking ale in men's clothing.
The blonde man shrugged. "They seem all the same to me," he said. "Selfish and arrogant," he shook his head in disgust.
Misaki knew a lot of noble women who were selfless and humble. "The Ayuzawa household is no such thing," Misaki argued. She stood up and face the man. "I am willing to defend their honor against such wretched assumptions."
"I don't believe you," the page challenged.
"Duel! Duel! Duel!" everyone cheered.
The man was amused. "A stable boy?" he asked.
"A page?" Misaki countered.
The crowd got rowdy and someone tossed Misaki and the man each a sword.
"No bloodshed," the tavern owner warned.
Misaki nodded.
"I may be a servant but I duel like a gentleman," Misaki promised. She drew her sword as they walked into the open court yard.
"What does a stable boy know of swords?" the page asked again.
"The same way a page would know," Misaki retorted.
The page smiled. His smile was very handsome, straight white teeth, paired with amused eyes.
Misaki wiped some dust on her hands and experimentally swung the sword around.
"What's your name boy?" the man asked.
"Mikio," Misaki answered.
"Tadao" the man called. Tadao casually sliced the air with his sword a few times. He glanced up at Misaki with a grin on his face.
Misaki got into her ready stance and tightened her grip on her sword. There was a pause as Tadao and Misaki both studied each other. Misaki made the first move and swung at her opponent. Tadao swiftly blocked it and pushed her back.
"Not bad," he remarked.
"Save it," was all Misaki said.
Tadao swung back at Misaki and Misaki easily knocked it to the side. The two circled each other, eyes locking, bracing to strike. Misaki tried to read Tadao's body movements. He was very fast on his feet and actually seemed experienced with a blade.
Their swords clanged together again, twice, and then three times. They resumed circling each other.
"Let's get some action!" Someone yelled. "Quit staring at each other."
Misaki rolled her eyes. These people clearly didn't understand the art of swordplay. But just to please the crowd, Misaki jabbed at Tadao in a series of short blows. She managed to make him step back a few feet. The crowd cheered.
Tadao didn't seem worried though. He had this glint in his eyes as if he had a funny secret.
"You're pretty good for a stable boy," he commented.
Misaki glared at him. "Then fight back!" she yelled.
Her sword rained blows down on him but every one of them was expertly blocked. Tadao kept playing on the defensive side, hardly even trying to advance.
Misaki hated being looked down upon. She smiled and switched the sword over to her dominant hand. The crowd whooped and cheered. They were just looking for a show.
Tadao laughed. "I am impressed!" he said. "...But are you good enough?" he asked, tossing his sword to his other hand also.
Misaki silently swore. She thought she had him with that one. Misaki loosened up her shoulder muscles and resumed her ready stance. This time she charged at him. She swung over her head. Tadao met her halfway. Misaki pressed all her weight behind the sword but Tadao's arm didn't even move an inch.
"Brace yourself," he said, nonchalantly.
He pushed Misaki back and started fighting offensively. Misaki desperately blocked blows. Within seconds, she was pushed back to the edge of their circle. She gritted her teeth and tried to return to attacking but Tadao never gave her the opportunity. He left no openings.
Misaki used every technique she ever learned but nothing seemed to faze her opponent. Her shoulder muscles were burning and her arm flamed even when she lifted it to simply wipe her face.
"Give up?" Tadao asked.
"Never!" Misaki shouted.
The answer seemed to please him and he resumed the duel. Misaki was getting very annoyed with him. It was evident that Tadao only wanted to play. Every time Misaki left an opening, he would attack it and hit her butt with the flat edge of his sword.
The crowd laughed and Misaki blushed though it was hard to tell because her face had been so flushed already.
Tadao let Misaki play offensively for a while but then pushed her to defend herself. Finally, he locked Misaki's sword with his and flicked his wrist. Misaki's sword went flying and dug itself into the dirt.
"It's been fun, Mikio..." he said nodding to her. "I take back everything I said about the Ayuzawa family," With that, he turned on his heel and left.
Misaki stood there with her mouth open. The crowd cheered for Tadao and offered consoling pats on the back for her.
"You got what you wanted didn't ya?" one man said slapping her on the shoulder. "Man...that was some duel though," he said laughing.
Misaki politely answered him and stalked off. She reached a local well and took a long drink from it. She quickly washed her face though simply moving her arms hurt. She angrily stalked back to the borders of her home.
"Ouch!" she exclaimed as she fell off the wall for the third time.
Her arms and shoulders were too sore to support her weight. Misaki took a few deep breaths and threw her hat and jacket over the wall first. She leapt onto the wall and forced her arms and legs to climb.
"You can do this!" she muttered.
Her fingers slipped and she was sent sprawling back onto the grass.
"I hate you, Tadao!" she exclaimed. "How dare you play with me like this...?"
Misaki shook her head angrily and attempted the climb again. She realized the more she thought about that arrogant man, the faster she climbed.
"Making fun of me," she hissed. She climbed up a little higher with more vigor.
"Playing around...Insulting my family...Being annoying..." before Misaki was even done with the list, she found herself on top of the wall. She leapt off and snuck back into the stables.
"I swear if we ever meet again..." Misaki said shaking her head.