Black Water

Chapter 1

This was not how Kyoko pictured her trip through the rolling hills and vast landscapes of Wyoming would be. The stage she boarded in Little Laramie was stuffed with others baggage both on top of the stage coach and crammed inside, with just enough room for herself. The stage diver seemed nice enough as long as she paid the fare to get to her destination; that place being Sulphur Springs. What, might you ask had her taking a baggage coach through Sioux Country in a very dangerous way and the answer is Shotaro Fuwa.

The letter had finally arrived that she had been waiting for. Sho had finally sent for her, along of course with most of his possessions but in her heart she believed he was finally noticing and needing her existence. And who was she to deny her prince.

The afternoon sun was torturing her in the tight space so crammed with Sho personal belongings he had left behind with his parents. Unable to breath she opened the window flap more, praying for some kind of breeze. Her dress was stifling and for once she was very glad she didn't own one of the more modern dresses that had layer upon layer she had seen around town on every other woman. Kyoko felt the coach begin to slow and whatever the reason she was happy for it, ready to be rid of the cramped quarters and maybe even convince the stage driver to allow her to sit up front for a short time. The stage finally came to a complete stop and her door opened revealing the much needed wide open space.

"Miss Mogami, I need to tend to one of the horses, it seems he's stepped in a gofer hole and I'm afraid his foot might be hurt. I thought you'd like to stretch." The stage hand who introduced himself as Sam Childers in town explains as he helps her down the steps onto the barely there trail. Kyoko took the time to stretch her legs glad to be free of the confined space, and she smiled at the landscape before her. No matter how often she saw it she felt she would never get used to such space and open country as this. The scenery seemed to be endless, only the far off horizon seemed to cut the land in two to make room for the unbelievable blue sky and clouds so white contrasting against it all. The small rolling hills and far off tree line seemed to hide nothing from her wandering eyes. Even with such thoughts something ominous seemed to creep down her spine, the feeling of eyes on her. A little unsettled she ventured toward Mr. Childers and the team.

Sam heard Kyoko coming near and worked on calming his nerves. The horse was indeed lame but the hole in question was odd, it looked man made and fear crept into the pit of his stomach. They could continue on as they had been doing but their pace would have to slow significantly due to the injury. This being Sioux Territory he had a right to want to get out of it as quickly as possible.

"Mr. Childers will the horse make the trip?" She asked with genuine concern lacing her voice. The possibility of him having to shoot it out of mercy crossing her mind and hoping it didn't come to that.

"No problem, Miss Mogami we'll make it to the next stage station and exchange him with one of the other horses and be on our way in no time. Granted we'll have to go slower till we can." He said with a small smile to put her worries at ease. Kyoko nodded her understanding.

"How far until we reach the next stage station?" She asked still feeling slight discomfort even with his reassurance.

"About an hour to an hour and a half at the speed we will have to go, not much further either way." He replied aloud but his inner dialogue was different. 'Were they going to attack?' He didn't know but he had to at least get Miss Mogami out of here and he offered her his hand up onto the drivers seat beside him. As he crawled up behind her he sent out a fervent hope that nothing further would delay them from their next destination. He hallooed and the horse jumped to start moving again.

Kyoko scanned the horizon and every size hill her eyes could see for any kind of life unable to shake the feeling they were being watched. Her spine shivered at the possibilities, who or what was out there ready to pounce. Even with the hint of danger Kyoko was glad Mr. Childers hadn't made her go back into the stuffy cabin. She breathed in the clear air and revealed in the slight breeze she could feel against her face and through her long dark hair.

In her peripheral vision she thought she saw movement and she jumped slightly when she adjusted to see around Mr. Childers. His posture seemed different, slumped forward slightly and the calling he had been doing to the horse had quieted. She corrected his posture and gasped in horror when she recognized what had silenced him.

"Oh God." She breathed staring at the arrows protruding from his ribcage and stomach. Blood running down his shirt and pant leg over the side of the stage.