The Samurai That I Loved

第15章

The mountains gave way to higher plains where the clouds seemed boundless in their ascension towards the heavens. Wildflowers scattered over the grassy hills while tall blades of grass danced in the gusting mountain winds.

Feeling closer to the clouds than she ever had before, Eliza raised her head to view the limitless expansion of sky overhead with a truly happy smile on her face.

Today was a beautiful one after the last few laborious days through the more treacherous, mountain terrain behind them.

Shojiro had informed her along the way that they were approaching a place called Nagano. However, he had not told her how very beautiful the area was. But then again, everything she had seen along their journey was captivatingly stunning.

Another bit of good news she became aware of was how close they actually were now to entering inside the Echigo province. It wouldn't be long before she was finally face-to-face with Ernest.

Strange though...she thought she would be more excited. Why wasn't she?

Shojiro halted the horse when they reached a high field of wildflowers that overlooked all the surrounding mountains in the distance. Eliza turned to glance down at him in questioning before she dismounted as well.

"What are we doing here?" She asked him with a quizzical frown. Removing the straw hat from his head, he then took off his outer kimono robe before dropping it to the grassy ground and pushing back his sleeves.

He cast her a smile then with a downward tilt of his chin and narrowed eyes while taking out his bow and arrows. Eliza stared on in confusion.

"I teach you. Dakara anata wa kanzen ni yakunitatanai wakede wa arimasen." He explained.

(So you are not completely useless.)

"What was that?" Eliza asked with a frown and lift of her brow. Shojiro simply grinned in response before lifting his bow and a single arrow towards the sky.

Holding her breath, Eliza watched on as the winds blew through his black hair and around his face even though his dark eyes were narrowed and clearly focused on a bird flying overhead. His poise was calculated and practically elegant in the way he kept stoically calm before releasing the arrow into the sky.

The arrow hit its target and the fowl descended to the earth as Shojiro handed the bow to her and went to collect the hunt.

"Now you, Eliza-chan." He called over his shoulder, bending down to retrieve the bird and arrow. After walking back and securing the hunt inside a cloth bag tied to the horse's saddle, Shojiro returned to Eliza.

Dumbly holding the bow with both hands, she shook her head helplessly at him as she remarked,

"I have no idea how to use this thing! What do you expect me to do? I may accidently shoot you!"

"No. Here, hold it like this." He murmured coming up behind her and placing both arms around her, forming his hands over hers. Eliza's pulse quickened and she felt herself freeze up. It made no difference, however, for he merely lifted her hands for her.

She could feel the strength and practice within his grip, the finely honed aim he controlled with ease.

"Focus on the flower there." He murmured in her ear before dropping his arms and stepping back. Eliza centered her vision on the flower in question that was yards away. Taking a deep breath, she released the quiver and watched in amazement as the arrow went flying forward. Straight into the dirt.

Lowering the bow dejectedly, she scowled when she realized Shojiro had begun laughing from behind her. She turned around just in time to see his smirk. With a flare of indignant anger, she stomped her foot and exclaimed,