A Date with Fate

Ni

Diary Entry Ni (2)

April 24, 1120
Okinawa, Japan

My health has improved since then. The scar on my cheek has healed completely. I've also been allowed to leave the guest room and walk around.
I was in a clean, dark blue kimono and a warm grey hakama. I took a bath yesterday in a nice spring just outside the village. My long hair was tied back. In the sun it looked tinted red, but was naturally brown.
As I slid open the door I came upon the daughter again. She was startled at first but then quickly bowed. I bowed back with my eyes still on her. I tried to find the words to say... but found nothing.
She started to walk away, but I stepped in front of her.
"Are you free? Could you perhaps show me around the village?"
After a while of just silence, I took it as a no. But before I could walk away, she grabbed my arm and looked at me with a smile. "Yes, and if it's not any trouble you could help me with some things?"
I gave her a warm smile with a nod. She walked on ahead and down the hall. I looked around, viewing into different rooms that were left open. One was a dojo and then a classroom. Her mother was teaching how to play the shamisen. A three-string lute with a fretless fingerboard used in many Japanese musical traditions.
The daughter was glancing over her shoulder with a smile looking at me. It caught me off guard at first, but I smiled back as well, a bit awkward with a nod. She lightly laughed at my actions, continuing to walk ahead. I could get used to this, but I know I shouldn't.
We were walking around the village, people greeted her as if she was a princess. She might as well be, for she fit the role quite nicely. I continued to observe the village. There were many samurai, and just everyday normal people. It was peaceful.
I found myself smiling to myself, breathing in the crisp air. I saw out into the distance a tree that was beyond beautiful. I have seen it before when my master would let us have a break from training. It was the same exact tree in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by a zen garden. I reached my hand out to let a small pink petal fall perfectly into the palm of my hand. I blew it out of my hand, and let it continue its journey to elsewhere.
The daughter was staring at me, with a small smile. I quickly dropped my smile and remembered what was happening around me.
"Sorry... I didn't mean to space out like that." I told her as I bowed my head to her.
"It's alright, sometimes I find myself being drawn in by the beauty of the cherry blossoms as well," she said sweetly to me, holding out her hand as well to catch one.
Cherry Blossoms. That is the name of that beauty. I wouldn't be surprised if her name was Sakura, because they are both magnificent in my eyes. Feeling daring at the moment, I walked up to her side as we walked on.
"Miss... what is your name?" I asked, so very curious.
"My name is Sukereshi Musashi," she told me bowing, "What about you dear?"
I didn't exactly have a name, but I assume a name is just something that you call a person. Right? "My name is... Ichi."
"Ichi? Well, that is very interesting," she said with a smile, now facing me. "I like it. Nice to meet you Ichi."
I could feel my face heat up. "Nice to meet you as well." Oh, yes. How nice it was.
We walked on and on, down straight paths and down curved paths. I started to think that she really didn't need me to help her with something but just to hang out. We walked and talked for hours, and I finally warmed up to her. My heart still jumps at her unexpected actions towards me, but I do not fear her. She taught me many things that my master never cared or dared to teach me. It was true enjoyment.
Upon a shrine, there was a waterfall about seven feet high behind it.
"This is one of my favorite places..." She told me, walking over to me and grabbing my hand to drag me over to the waterfall. "You are the first person I've ever shown."
I pointed to myself and looked around to act as if she might be referring to someone else. "Me? I'm really the first?" She nodded at me with a smile, glancing at the waterfall now. "I'm honored Suke."
Tugging more on my arm she teased me, "You better be!"

Somehow, before we both knew it. We were taking off our clothes and getting into the waterfall. Talk about freezing, but oh so worth it. We wore our undergarments due to the cold water. We laughed and laughed, splashing each other and just enjoying the time we have together. After a while, we calmed down. Staring into each other's eyes. We both were at a loss of words. I wanted to kiss her. Reach out and embrace her. Be with her forever. This feeling was unexplainable. What felt like forever staring into each other's eyes, we were suddenly interrupted by a servant. "Miss Musashi, your father wishes to see you." He told her while bowing the whole time. She nodded to him while letting go of my arm, taking one last glance at me before walking away. I wanted to reach out to her and tell her how I really felt, but I don't think that's going to happen. How did he know where to find us? Was he following us? Whoops. It's dawn already, and since the waterfall I haven't seen Suke. Sometimes I sit under a tree and watch everyone go on about their daily lives. Life here is very different from the life I had before. Very. Different. It feels like I've been here a lifetime and my new life has only just begun. People don't really talk to me, more like they avoid me. Maybe it's because I'm an outsider. From the corner of my eye, I saw Suke walking quickly somewhere. I jumped up and ran after her. "Suke! Suke wait!" I yelled after her hoping it would gain her attention. She stopped in her tracks without turning around. I caught up and just stood there. "Suke?" She then suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me into a room. I was shocked at her bold action towards me. I couldn't see her eyes. "Suke, what's wrong?" She finally lifted her head to look at me with tears in her eyes. Wrapping her arms around me in an embrace, I stiffened a bit. She buried her face in my chest and began to cry. I was taken back but I patted her back. 

"Suke, did something happen with your father?" 

She said nothing. Just continued to cry. In my arms. But she finally calmed down and the tears stopped. "My father doesn't want me to be around you any longer..." She said not meeting my eyes. "I have been arranged to marry someone I do not know." 

It hurt. It shouldn't hurt me, but it hurts. We could never be a thing. I couldn't have her to myself, so this was bound to happen sooner or later. I shouldn't act so surprised. 

"You should be happy, Suke." I try to comfort her in some way. 

"He is only doing this because he thinks you are a male and I spend too much time around you." I raised a brow at her. "Then tell him I'm a female." 

She looked at me, grabbing my chin so I couldn't move away. Our eyes locked on. 

"Then he would worry more why I fell in love with you."