The Samurai That I Loved

第33章

Makato-san entered the Musashi province in the twilight time of day. With his band following behind him, they made their way into the city of Edo in a proud procession.

He headed directly towards the Imperial Palace to join his peers, Hiruma-san and Shojiro-san for the impending meeting of the Shogunate. After years of complacent, idle peace, this was exactly the kind of excitement he was looking forward to.

Afterwards, it would be a pleasure-filled night inside the Yoshiwara district.

Makato smiled inwardly at the notion of being able to rest and dine in aesthetic pleasure of all that the city had to offer.

Walking past the street stalls filled with shouting vendors, carts being hauled by peddlers selling everything from chickens to oysters, the artful stands of the Ukiyo way of life displayed in the beautiful scenic paintings drawn across wooden slabs, while also drawing attention to the nearby teahouses where steam rose slowly from their rooftops to the sky.

Ukiyo, or the beauty of impermanence, was an atmosphere that seemed to envelope and ignite the entire city over the turn of the century with a fast-paced venture into creating art, seeking pleasure in the fleetingness of life, and thrive into the flourishing suburban area it was now.

The winds of revolution and change were more evident here than anywhere else in the country. Perhaps that is why he always felt so drawn to it. Makato loved his status, but he loved progress even more.

Entering upon the gated grounds of the Palace, he was greeted by Hiruma-san walking down the wide stone steps towards him in the open courtyard.

Makato dismounted his horse and approached his fellow Samurai. They bowed to each other before Hiruma-san began to speak.

"I trust the journey went well?"

Makato-San nodded and clapped a hand on Hiruma-san's back.

"Indeed it did. Would you believe I found Shojiro-san, the great and cold Samurai, shrieking and flailing a knife around the entire group of smugglers? I had decided to have a little fun at his expense and he went ballistic."

Hiruma-san smirked and asked,

"What? What do you mean?"

Makato-san chuckled and angled his head at him as he answered,

"The girl. I taunted him with her, thinking that would get him out of his revelry about the others, however it backfired. He looked as if he would kill any man who dared touch her. I found it...strange. But all that is behind us. Tell me, where is he and the prisoners now?"

Hiruma-san's brows immediately indented with a wary expression of unbidden suspicion.

"I thought they were with you." He murmured, glancing past Makato-san's shoulder.

Instant unease filled Makato-san then. His memory recalled the flash of death in Shojiro's eyes, the way he had gripped the girl to himself atop his horse like a lover would...

No. Impossible.

No Samurai would be so foolish to put his own head on the line.

"No. I allowed him to travel his own way. I was certain he would be here by now, but the blizzard may have held him back." He offered before turning away to remount his horse.

Hiruma-san continued to glare past him towards the parted gate doors with a look of contempt riddled in his features. Makato-San cursed beneath his breath before adding loudly,

"Yet where are the others? The women and white man."

Breaking out of his transfixed state, Hiruma-san jerked his eyes up to the other samurai.