The Samurai That I Loved

第34章

Fullness: an encapsulating feeling of being completely and fantastically in the state of newly-discovered perfection. Her body felt full, worn, different...yet brilliantly light. A smile slipped up her well-kissed mouth with the remembrance of why she felt this enchanting newness.

Shojiro-san.

Bracing her arms, she tiredly pulled herself up into a sitting position with her legs tucked beneath the warmth of her kimono. She looked around the small space in the tent to find it empty except for a bowl of savory, cooked fish and rice waiting for her. Laying next to the bowl was also a pile of freshly picked roses.

The snow had melted off the petals, leaving clear beads of droplets forming and dripping slowly off the soft edges like tears. Eliza smiled at the sight with an unsettling sense of deep devotion and joy.

But it didn't feel right to be this happy. She knew what happened the night before was a choice with no return, therefore ensuring her life would never be the same. Ever.

But she did not consider herself ruined by any means. Not at all.

For the first time in her life, she felt free.

No matter what consequences were waiting for her back in England beneath the benevolent, watchful eyes of her father, mother and the rest of society, she would never regret her decision.

After finishing the hearty breakfast of fish and rice, Eliza fumbled to detangle her hair with her fingers and knot it into a long, coiling braid. Afterward, she moved towards the tent flap but faltered once more. Lifting both her hands, she quickly pinched her cheeks to give them more rosy coloring.

"Oh goodness, Eliza, calm down." She chided herself as she readjusted her kimono. Realizing how silly she was acting, she snickered lightly to herself before exiting the tent with a radiant smile and new excitement for the day.

When she stood to her feet from the tent, the snow crunched beneath her boots and a frigid wind snaked across her face. Shivering and pulling her robes closer around her neck, Eliza scanned the open clearing of pristine white.

"Shojiro-san!" She called out after seeing nothing but sporadic trees and falling snow. The silence was all that greeted her with a faint echo of her own voice.

Feeling confused and saddened all at once, Eliza crawled back inside the tent and began to think the worst.

Huddling into a ball, she clutched her roses and took a shaky breath.

"Trust him. He told you to trust him. You can trust him, you can." She whispered to herself with closed eyes.

Minutes later, the knicker of a horse came from outside the tent. Eliza lurched to her feet in seconds and threw the tent flap out of the way. To her immense relief and joy, she saw the most delightful sight.

Shojiro appeared from the fog of falling snow, galloping into the clearing. He was wearing a fresh, black kimono and his hair was tied up into a loose bun with silken, black strands falling around his face. His eyes found hers instantly and a smile spread across his face.

Before the horse even came to a halt, he was swinging off the side and striding towards Eliza like a man with a purpose. She beamed at him and opened her mouth to greet him when he suddenly yanked her into his arms and covered her mouth with fast, needful kisses.

His hands held her face as he slipped his tongue against her lips, parting them, then kissing her deeply with an urgency that could be felt within every sweep of his tongue against hers.

When he finally eased back, he hugged her to him and said softly, "Hello, little hana. You sleep good, yes?" He smiled broadly as a flush spread over her face at his words before leaning down and kissing her once more on the tip of her nose.