The Samurai That I Loved

第6章

Hours before the first rays of sunlight would hit over the mountain peaks, Shojiro awoke and dressed, striding past the sleeping white woman as he went outside to the nearby field. Walking through the morning fog, he made his way up to one of the highest hills surrounding the village.

With years-old practice ingrained in his every movement, he settled into a meditative stance, keeping himself centered as he focused on the sunrise. Distracting nuisances meant nothing on this blessed hilltop. The rest of the world seemed to die away with the deafening silence of the morning dew over the mountain peaks in the distance. This was one of the few places Shojiro felt truly at peace.

After the sun rose, he stood back to his feet and left to meet with the elder, Daimyō. Sitting inside the great house at the top of the valley, Shojiro met with Kenji-sama, the lord of their village.

"What are your intentions with the foreigner?" Kenji-sama asked while finishing the last lines of his scroll in front of him.

"I believe there are others in the Echigo province, sichou. When I found the girl, she repeated that word as if her life depended on reaching it. After collecting the rest, I'll take them to appear in front of the Shogunate." Shojiro voiced quietly as his eyes stared through the opened doorway down at the bend in the road where his home sat nestled between the trees.

Kenji-sama nodded his approval as he carefully put away his scrolls. "Chiyo-chan is unhappy. Of course, you already know this. As her future intended, I trust you take into consideration her fragile heart." His eyes lifted to meet Shojiro's with the barest sliver of humor inside his dark irises. Shojiro immediately looked down at his lap to veil the expression of annoyance that flitted across his face.

Being the daughter of one of the most prominent samurai families, Chiyo-chan was expected to be his wife as he was one of the finest, known Samurais in Nagasaki. Although he considered the union to be a great honor and sign of respect amongst his peers, Shojiro had never taken an interest in the girl beyond that of a rambunctious little sister.

She was a sweet girl by nature. However, she chased after his heels, invaded his privacy, constantly pestered him to the point where he took round-about walks just to avoid her in the village. The situation had become even more precarious when she rudely entered his house the day before to stare at the foreigner. Having to keep pleasant ties with the girl for the sake of her family and father, he was growing weary of her presence, and they weren't even married yet. He wanted to find a wife someday. However, she was not a welcome destiny besides the succession and respect they would gain together.

Shoving thoughts of Chiyo-chan out of his mind, he bowed his head respectfully towards his elder before standing to his feet and declaring, "I'll leave promptly. Expect me back in three months on the new moon."

Kenji-sama lifted a hand in farewell as Shojiro turned and walked towards his home. As soon as he had casted the foreigners to the Emperor, he would return and claim his destined wife, increasing his loyalty and honorable ties. Although displeased, he kept his face and spirit impassive to the stark facts of his reality... After all, he should be satisfied, happy even.

Why couldn't he be?

Sliding open the door, his eyes took in the sight of the blanket bundled around the white girl's sleeping form in the corner of the room. To his amusement, the blanket was completely covering her head, although she seemed to be mumbling strange words in her sleep.

"Ernest... kiss me again...preacher's wife...I'm not dancing with the Earl of Shropshire, Mother, you can't make me..."

Walking towards her mat, he grabbed hold of the blanket and tossed it aside. The girl immediately huddled into a ball, clutching her arms about herself to keep warm. Refusing to open her eyes, she mumbled something with an arrogant flick of her hand, "Go away, Amelia, I want breakfast in bed today."