Chapter Ten: Fishing

When they got back to the dojo, they returned to their seats near the fire. Sanosuke laid back on the stoop of the dojo and sighed contentedly. The Akabeko never disappointed.

Chisa wasn't sure where to go from there. What happened to Rin was a turning point in her relationship with Jin-e. Whether age or circumstance, they became much closer friends, but just that: Friends only.

"So were there ever happy times?" Yahiko looked genuinely interested.

"There were plenty really; especially when we were younger of course, but in adulthood as well. What makes you happy changes as you get older though." Chisa nodded. "Let me tell you about a fun day we had…"

The summer following Rin's death:

Three months had passed since Rin had drowned in the pond. In the late afternoons when Jin-e would arrive at the Kitagawa property, the children were no longer permitted to swim in the pond even on the hottest days. If she could have, Mrs. Kitagawa would have had the thing drained. They were permitted to fish, however, if they promised to only go as a trio. This served two purposes: The first was a safeguard if one of them fell in; one could help the fallen person out, one could run for an adult. The second purpose was because Mrs. Kitagawa was beginning to worry about her nearly teenage daughter spending time alone with a non-relative boy. Akari had become pregnant out of wedlock, something she was going to prevent with Chisa.

On this particular day, Jin-e came prepared with his fishing rod that, of course, Mr. Kitagawa had secretly purchased for him. He had taken Jin-e on as a surrogate child to some degree, knowing that the boy had no male role model in his life aside from the Nikaido Heiho master who was tough on him. They didn't spend much time together, but the times they did they had man-to-man conversations about Jin-e's training or fishing or, very awkwardly, girls.

Jin-e wasn't much interested in girls at the time (and he told Mr. Kitagawa this), just swordsmanship and romping outside with Chutaro and occasionally Chisa. He knew she was just a friend anyway, so that didn't matter. The two women he knew the best, his mother and Mrs. Kitagawa, were both abrasive at times with one being sometimes cruel and the other being the stern matriarch of a family of four (then three) children. He wasn't interested in courting a woman like that.

Chisa and Chutaro both met him at the pond on this hot day, both already sweating in the heat. They had their rods, lines, and bait prepared already when Jin-e got there, so he was feeling like he needed to catch up a bit. He hooked the bait and accidentally jabbed his finger. "This must be some sort of an omen already…" he thought to himself.

No one was catching anything, most likely because it was the hottest part of the day in the direct sunshine. They kept waiting to no avail. Akari was in for a visit and brought them out kombu onigiri as a snack. "You know there's a better fishing spot further up in the creek that feeds this pond. It's shady and I guarantee you guys are going to have better luck. Just walk until you get to a clearing and can tell that the water is deeper." She smiled, "You just have to make sure you don't get caught."

"I don't think that's such a good idea." Chutaro chimed in. "You know how our mother can be right now with us around water."

"It will be fine!" Chisa really wanted to be more brave and free-spirited like Akari. She also really wanted to catch a fish to show her father. Akari recognised this and winked at her little sister.

The three headed upstream to an area where the trees thinned out and the water deepened. There was a buffer of mud between the creek bank and the creek itself, so they felt safer about the situation as well. They cast their lines and waited impatiently.

"Do you think Akari is really telling the truth? That we'll catch something? Or do you think she's just trying to get us in trouble…" Chutaro was still worried about getting caught, but he knew that he also would get in worse trouble for leaving Chisa and Jin-e by themselves.

Jin-e kept quiet. This was a family matter and he was just going with what the two of them ultimately decided. He really did want to stay and fish though. He had been training hard and his master had been pushing him a lot lately. He was the youngest pupil in the school and they were expecting him to perform on the same level as the older students. Taking a break and spending time with his friends was all he wanted to do.

Without warning, Chutaro yelled out. "Hey! I think I got something! It's heavy! Help me pull it in!"

The three of them helped him get the fish on the shore. It was shiny and green and about the length of his arm measured from fingertips to elbow. He no longer cared that they might get in trouble; he was just excited to have caught something before the other two. They pulled it off the hook and popped it in a basket they had carried with them. They were hoping that Mrs. Kitagawa would clean their catch and put it on the charcoal grill to serve as a treat for the three friends. They most likely wouldn't have enough to feed everyone for dinner.

Not long after they got the fish in the basket, something jerked on Chisa's line. Not expecting it, she lost her balance and face planted in the mud on the shore. Chutaro busted out pointing and laughing at her. Jin-e ran to her side and helped her up. She was laughing as well, despite her dirty face and soaked yukata. She looked up at him, wiped her face on his collar, and smiled at him. Her hair was wet with sweat and water from the creek. He suddenly felt like was kicked in the chest.

Maybe he was becoming interested in girls after all.