The samurai and the vow to the moon

Chapter 10

We're on the path home from Otento. As we turn off one road, and the bell tower comes to view, light drops of rain begin to fall.

- Ah, it's started raining. Should we seek shelter, I ask. Just to be safe, I've been walking a distance from Toshizo, but as I call out, I jog to catch up with him.

- Not raining hard enough for that, Toshizo says. He reaches out, takes me in his arms, and pulls me close. As I brush up against his shoulder, he pulls off his coat, and holds it over both of our heads, like a makeshift umbrella.

- Oh, I say.

- What, Toshizo asks. He looks down at me, but for once, there isn't a hint of ice in his eyes.

- Whoa. Why's he looking at me like that, at a time like this, I ask in my head. I can feel the warmth of his body, as we huddle up together. A faint, not unpleasant scent rises from him. The smell of a man. I'm not used to that.

- If you don't like it, then keep your distance, and walk home on your own, Toshizo says. He looks off to one side as he says it.

- I think it's a nice smell, I say.

- It's not anything special, Toshizo says.

- Is that supposed to mean that it's his natural scent, I ask in my head. I've never been in any kind of relationship before, so just that scent alone is enough to get my heart racing.

- I bet he has all the geisha in town lusting after him, too, I say in my head. I'm not quite sure why, but there is a warm, glowing sensation somewhere in my chest.

- We should run, Toshizo says.

- Okay, I say. With his arm around my shoulder, he begins to sprint at a pace he knows I can match.

- He's going to drive me crazy if he keeps being so nice to me. And I can't believe how close he is, I say in my head. I'm breathless, but not from running. My heart is pounding so hard, I'm sure he can hear it.

- Come here, and let me give you a handkerchief, Toshizo says.

- Oh, thank you. Sorry about that, I say. We're about to walk into Toshizo's room, when..

- Oh, Soji says. Who should we find relaxing there, but Soji.

- Soji. You have your own room, Toshizo yells.

- Ah, what's the big deal. You weren't using it, Soji says.

- Just because I'm not here does not give you permission to enter my room whenever you please, Toshizo says.

- I like to think of it more as our room, Toshizo. We share it, Soji says.

- Not willingly, we don't, Toshizo says. Soji shows no sign of moving, even as Toshizo fixes him with a grim stare.

- Get out of here, Toshizo says.

- Unfortunately, my room is currently occupied, Soji says.

- Let me say it again. Get out of here, Toshizo says.

- Ugh. Fine, fine, Soji says.

- I get the feeling that this happens a lot, I say in my head. That's the feeling I get, watching Toshizo half-heartedly yell at Soji, while Soji barely acknowledges Toshizo's disapproval.

- Hey, Toshizo says.

- Yes, I ask. I'm still waiting outside in the hall. Toshizo spreads open a handkerchief, and with one large hand, begins drying off my hair.

- You're all wet. Dry yourself off, or you'll catch a cold, Toshizo says.

- Thanks, I say.

- He really is worried about me, I say in my head. Then, Toshizo proceeds to the main room, unbothered by the rain. I stare at him dreamily as he goes, until I notice I'm being peeked at, and playfully goaded by Soji.