" Kyonosuke stand up straight!"
Chiyo was leading exercises with her patrol team and they had been at the same drill for a few hours. She sighed to herself and thought," I must be doing something wrong. We've been going over this drill for hours yet none of them have it perfected to the point where they can actually use it in combat!"
Her men looked tired. Sweat pouring down their faces and excessive panting. It was very hot and even her just standing there giving directions was already making her dizzy.
" You can all stop now. Good work but you all still need improvement. However, it is hot so go and get some rest until you are called again."
" Yes sir!"
The men immediately dispersed laughing and joke amongst themselves. Many headed for the well to drink water or wash the sweat off their bodies. Chiyo sighed sadly again. Sometimes, she found it hard to teach. She didn't know how to direct them to the way she envisioned it in her head.
She started to head back to her room when she saw Heisuke standing by a pole. He waved and she ran towards him.
" Hey Chiyo how's it been going? It's so hot today right?"
" Yup! I think I pushed my men too hard today.", she paused before asking," Do you have any tips for teaching?"
" Trying to teach them a new drill eh?"
" How did you know?"
He laughed while she groaned. " Well, I asked Harada the same question a long time ago. It gets easier later on but only once you can successfully teach a few drills by yourself."
" Really! Can you please give me some tips?"
" Sure. First of all you ha-"
He was interrupted when a Chizuru called out," Chiyo-chan there's someone to see you! He's out by the front gate."
" Okay thanks Chizuru!" she shouted back.
" Sorry Heisuke-kun, I gotta go!"
" No problem, we can talk later!"
She ran towards the front gate pondering," Who in the world could be looking for me at this time of day? Actually...I should be asking who would actually go outside in this weather…"
There was a man outside waiting for her. When she walked within seven feet of him she could smell the strong odor of raw fish. The heat didn't improve the smell either. There was blood on his clothes and some chunks of meat that clung to the cloth. She fought the sudden urge to gag but put on her best smile.
" Hello what can I do for you?"
" Are you umm Nanarel or Chiyo?"
" Yes what's wrong?"
" Well, this foreign lady with red hair and very fair skin asked me to come to this address to give you a message."
Chiyo's heartbeat quickened. Was Aunty finally here? She asked in anticipation," Oh that must be Aunty Tellula! What's the message?"
" The lady wants you to meet her and a group of strange foreign kids at the docks in a few hours. They are residing in a shabby inn called the Ichinose Inn and you just need to ask the man in the front desk. That is all."
" Thank you sir! Oh and before you leave; have you been paid?"
" Yes miss the lady gave me a hefty sum."
Chiyo reached into her pocket and pulled out a copper coin. " Here's for running in the hot sun.
Chiyo ran back to her room as quick as possible. Excitement ran crazily through her body as she yearned to see her family after many years of separation. Yamazaki was still sleeping soundly by the time she got back. She closed the door silently and tiptoed to her desk where she pulled out a mirror and searched frantically through a wooden chest.
" Now Nanarel, I want you to take this dress with you."
" But that's your favorite dress Aunty! I couldn't possibly take such a treasure!"
Her aunt gave her an exasperated smile and said," Just take it please. There will be a time where this dress will come to use. When that happens, I need you to use it. My mother had this dress tailored for me when I moved to England. I wore this through my tough troubles. Now wear it through yours."
" Ah hah! Found it."
The polyester felt like cool water on her hands. She could feel the grooves and ridges in her hand from the texture of the cloth. The dress was a rich navy blue as blue as the stormy ocean. It was a plain blue dress with simple gold buttons on a bib like collar at the top of the dress. The skirt was wide and A-lined so it could fit a petticoat underneath. At the bottom of the dress was some cream tube ruffles that made the more feminine. They were originally white but years had covered the white ink stains. Overall it was a very handsome and plain dress that was meant for work.
She pulled out a simple white petticoat and slipped it on her waist. The petticoat had tulle underneath to create some sort of poof and had cotton lining over it. This was also her aunt's old petticoat which she forced Chiyo to take along. Finally she tied on a corset over her torso. The corset did nothing to make her thinner like most women used it for. Instead, it helped her keep her posture and have keep shape for the bodice of the dress. Without it, the top of the dress would have wrinkles and unseemly folds. The corset had the ties in the front for easy access without a maid or servant.
" 1, 2, 3 pull!"
She yanked as hard as she could and she could feel the hard boning of the corset pull around her waist squeezing the air out of her while she tied it in place. Everything felt so different to her. A while ago, this was her usual daily routine but now it seemed to alien to her.
" It's been such a long time since I have worn clothes like this. Everything seems like such a distant memory." she thought as she pulled the blue dress over her head. She smoothed out the skirt and turned around looking to see if anything was out of place. Before, the dress ended at her calves but now it rested right under her knee. She smiled. Well at least I'm getting taller right?
After a quick brush of powder and patting some rouge on her lips and cheeks, she brushed out her hair and pulled them into loose braids. It only seemed proper to look presentable while meeting her family. When Chiyo was younger, she always marveled at how high the heels were on her Aunt's normal boots. They made her look powerful and majestic. She was so brilliant and those shoes just added to make her seem perfect. Before she had left, Lucilla who was also a fan of heels, gifted her with a pair. They still smelled like leather and shined in the light. She had never worn them so they were still new. Silver buttons trailed from the front of the shoe all the way to the top.
Slipping her feet in them she felt like a proper English woman. Because of the buttons, putting on both pairs of shoes took some time but she treasured every second of it. Somehow, wearing the shoes made her feel like her Aunt. Powerful and authoritative.
After a final look in her mirror, she made care to walk silently to the door as to not disturb her sleeping roommate. Harada and Shinpachi seemed to be having an arm wrestling competition of some sorts with Heisuke, Chizuru, Gen, Okita, and Saito watching. The heat really must have gotten to them she thought as she stared at them blankly before shaking her head. As she walked close she could hear a chorus of them yelling," FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!" Yup...really must be the heat. Chiyo was already starting to sweat in the dress. The long sleeves and many layers of undergarments made it very stuffy and uncomfortable. How does Lucilla and Aunty do it?
" Neh Yaka-kun what's the occasion?" asked Okita with a sly grin on his face.
" My Aunt's at the docs. I am going to pick them up."
" But why are you dressed like that? You look weird."
She rolled her eyes and sighed," Well your highness, I'm sorry if I look weird to you. However, you standing there with that grin of yours is even weirder than my dress."
Chizuru got up from where she was sitting and walked over to Chiyo. " I think you look really pretty today Chi-chan. This dress is so pretty!" she said while rubbing the material of the dress between her fingers.
" White! Chiyo looks so different!" exclaimed Heisuke.
Even Harada and Shinpachi stopped their arm wrestling and marveled at Chiyo. Sarto observed while seated. He thought," Yakamura-kun looks so different...she looks...pr-"
He shook his head. He couldn't have those feelings for her. They were partners...nothing else. Plus, he sighed, she seemed to have interest for Yamazaki. He seemed better for her.
" Wah Chiyo you look like those elegant foreign ladies I have seen in the market before. I've never seen you in nice clothes and makeup before!"
" Ah th-thanks but I think I'm not that spectacular in the looks department. I just thought it would be polite to look presentable while seeing them." Chiyo stammered with a blush. She had never been very good with compliments. She looked over at Saito and waved while smiling. He looked down.
Okita snorted and said," No matter what, those elegant ladies you have seen probably have the brains of a fly."
" Well, this fly has beaten you in hmm shall we say seven matches? Anyways…" She placed one foot in front of the other, picked up the ends of her skirt, and bowed down low. A curtsy," I shall be off. Can you please tell Hijikata-sa-"
" What do you need?"
Hijikata was walking down with Kondo with his usual stern scowl on his face. Chiyo originally had thought that him and Saito were siblings...she was pretty sure that she wasn't the only one who thought that.
She bowed respectfully to both and said," I just want to tell you that I'll be taking the rest of the day off. My family is over here and I wish to help them get settled in. Is there any last things you need me to do before I go?"
" That explains the whole...ah", he gestured towards her clothes," And no you have the day free to yourself."
Kondou also added," Would your family like to join us for dinner by any chance? They are more than welcome to-"
" Oh no we couldn't possibly-"
Kondou put a hand over hers and smiled gently," I insist. You have done so much for us and I want to see of the rest of them are as kind as you."
" Well then thank you. We will all be back this evening."
Saito walked Chiyo to the front gate. The two had grown closer since the gun wound incident. Chiyo was more open about her feelings and health and well...Saito had also begun to share his too.
" Mah Saito-san, you've never got the chance to tell me about what you liked to do in the summer as a child."
Chiyo had asked him that before she was shot in the back of the shoulder. He sighed and sat down next to her on the steps.
" Well I lived with my father, mother, and two sisters. The youngest one and I liked to go outside to catch bullfrogs. Then, we normally raced them. The one who won was the one who got the biggest slice of watermelon when we got back home. It was nice…."
" That sounds fun. But...I've talked so much about my family. However, I know nothing of yours."
He frowned and looked away. Chiyo gently put her hand on the side of his neck. They were cool and rugged from working with her sword. " I'm sorry. I may have asked too much. You can tell me one day when you feel more comfortable."
Chiyo's voice nudged him out of his thoughts," Thank you for walking me to the front. Take care Saito-san. She started to walk out the gate but he suddenly grabbed her hand.
" I never had the chance to tell you how u-uh different you looked. B-but! It's in a good way."
Wide eyed she smiled and giggled a little before saying," Thank you. I'll be on my way then."
" Be safe. And also, I wanted you to know that my father was a scholar. "
A smile from her.
She started off after waving to him one last time. Saito remained at the door step watching her figure disappeared. He sighed. A faint blush still graced his cheeks from his earlier confession. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
" Well it looks likes someone is in love."
Saito turned to glare at a clapping Okita with his usual smug face. He thought to himself," If Souji was an animal...he'd be a goddamn fox. He looks like it too."
" What do you mean?"
He laughed obnoxiously and said," You're different when around Chiyo. You seem more happy and at peace. I've also heard that you've even opened up a small sliver of your childhood. Face it Saito-kun…",he leaned close to his face," You're in love with her.
" You're jumping to conclusions again like you always do. We are friends and nothing else."
Okita sighed like a little child and replied," I heard you're little chat with Yakamura. No doubt that there's some feelings for her."
" I don't even call Yakamura-kun by her first name yet. We haven't reached that sense of familiarity yet."
" So you're saying that once she lets you call her Chiyo-chan, you'll admit you like her?"
" N-no! I wasn't meaning it like that!"
" Whatever you say...whatever you say…"
Okita gave him a knowing smug smile and walked away. Even after Okita had completely disappeared, Saito still stood there thinking.
" What are my feelings towards her?"
Chiyo could start to smell the sharp ocean breeze as she walked closer to the docks. Her heartbeat only quickened for every footstep she took. Her family was so close to her...she could almost touch them. She stopped and looked at the horizon. The ocean was also so close. Chiyo had always found the ocean to be so fascinating. It was this vast thing that connected so many worlds together. This ocean could bring you anything. Family. Wealth. Adventure. New lives. Opportunities. Death. Demise. Ruin. The ocean was a mystic treasure box that held all the world's secrets. What a beautiful creation.
As she neared the docks, Chiyo could see that everyone was in a rush. They carried the hands of children and boxes here and there. Some were agitated and some were excited. The docks were also a place of wonder. When had encountered the docs many times. The first time was when she was leaving Japan for England. She was awed at the number of people who buzzed around as if they were in a beehive. The docks of London were even more busy. There were smells of the most delicious morsels ever. Strange breads with a salty yellow spread. Foreign curries that smelled like the world's secrets. Tea that was spicy and flowery at the same time. All that combined with the salt air to create a perfume that could only be found at London's docs. There was things from all over to see. Strange animals with a long gray nose. Big cats with brown spots on a buttery sun yellow coat that gleamed like water. You could find jewels that seemed to glow in multiple colors like a rainbow at the same time. There were old books bound in fragrant chocolate colored leather. Rich and fancy dresses that all the rich high class women wore. Smooth velvets and silks that ran through your fingers like the ocean. Jewels and embroidery that seemed to catch all the lights rays. All this formed a beautiful song that greeted you in it's arms when you first set foot onto this strange land.
When she had first arrived she felt so out of place. She was a dark haired girl with almond brown eyes and a light blue hakama with boots. In her hand was a single suitcase that held nothing but some spare clothes, a hairbrush, an old shriveled flower crown that she had made with Chiyo, her sword, along with some other memories of her childhood in Japan. Chiyo remembered feeling so out of place. Women wore dresses that covered every inch of their bodies. Skirts fell all the way down to their feet and they wore boots with sharp heels. Their hair was done in some sort of intricate math problem. And there she was. A foreign girl with strange clothes and a leather suitcase with the leather peeling off. She remembered some people pointing to her, touching her clothes, trying to talk to her. However, she could only remember hearing water on rocks and shushed whispering. At the time, the only English she was " good morning" " thank you" " hello" " goodbye" and " where is". She later learned that people saw her as a " exotic" as most things from Asia were seen.
While she was reminiscing, she never realized how far she had walked. The next thing she knew was that she was standing in the middle of the docks. She had to ask a few people about the Ichinose Inn but finally tracked down. The Inn seemed to be very old and family owned. There was a frail looking old women at the room.
" Excuse me miss."
The elderly women who seemed to be taking a nap suddenly snorted and her eyes shot open," Oh dear please excuse me. I'm just a bit tired in my old age. What can I help you with?"
" I am here to see my distant family. Can you please tell me call them down for me?"
" Of course dear. What's their surname or a description?"
" Hmm how do I put it? They are a group of foreigners with a woman with red hair.", she took out a picture that her Aunt had sent her to help locate them.
The old women squinted before a flash of recognition brightened her face. " Oh yes! They were the first foreigners that we have had in such a long time!"
" Maho-chan come here!"
A young girl that seems about ten rushed out and said sweetly," Yes Grandma?"
" I need you to call the foreigners out to greet?", the lady looked at Chiyo.
" Nanarel."
" Tell them to greet Nanarel. What an unusual name."
The girl rushed off excitedly. Chiyo made some small talk with the elderly lady and learned that the Inn had been in the family for one hundred fifty years. They wanted to rebuild the Inn to fix some problems but were lacking money to do so. However, those changes would make the Inn beautiful once again and hopefully attract many customers. She learned that her Aunt paid the money to do so. Chiyo sighed," She probably messed up the conversion of currency…"
Suddenly their talk was interrupted when a cheerful voice sang out," Nanarel is that you?"
Hey guys this is Author! I was wondering if you could tell me what my writing is like. Could your describe my writing to me please? I want to know how to imrpove the content I write for you guys! It would mean a lot to me if you could take a few minutes of your time to write a review and maybe some suggestions on how the story should go. You guys are my inspiration to keep going in life!
- Author
