Black Water

Chapter 3

Muffled voices woke Kyoko from the darkness she had been lost in. She shifted and a jolt of pain ran up her leg, she cried out in pain. Shocked she opened her eyes and they raced around the unfamiliar area. The room was small, the bed she laid on with a chair sitting at her side, a water basin and vanity mirror set was all that filled the room. The voices from before quieted and Kyoko could hear the footsteps getting closer. She tried to keep the fear off of her face, not knowing who was going to open the door. A woman strode in confidently juggling a basin of water and sat it down at the edge of the bed and sat in the chair. She was pleasant to look at, her hair placed in a charming array of ponytail, her bangs just above her eyes and strands falling just under her chin. She smiled at Kyoko energetically and bowed slightly.

"Hello Miss, how are you feeling now? We were able to bandage your arm but Ren had to leave to find suitable splints for your leg. Ren's the man who saved you by the way. Oh, and my name is Jelly Woods, you can call me Ms. Woods for now. Welcome to LME Ranch, short for Lory's Majestic Equestrian Ranch." Ms. Woods stopped to take a breath and smile at Kyoko expectantly.

Kyoko was still processing the information when a small knock interrupted at the doorway. A small girl peaked around the door frame. Her pretty little pink dress barely visible and wavy long hair tied loosely with a bow falling over her shoulder. She peaked at Kyoko her hazel eyes curious, then turned to Ms. Woods.

"Grandpa needs you." The young girl said then disappeared back behind the wall.

Jelly gives Kyoko another energetic smile and runs off closing the door as she yells happily.

"I'm coming Darling!"

Kyoko sits in the silence of the room and goes over all that happened. She remembers Mr. Childers body lying in the dirt and she grips her hands tightly together. 'All I wanted was to meet with Sho.' She thought fighting against the desire to cry. Another knock at the door disturbed her and she looked up greeted by yet another person. He took off his hat as he walked in and pushed the glasses further up his nose. He sat in the same chair Ms. Woods had set in and gave Kyoko a small smile.

"My name is Yashiro Yukihito, I'm the one who bandaged your arm. I need to change the bandage if you don't mind too much." Kyoko nodded the okay and Yashiro got to work. He unwrapped the bandage lightly and Kyoko looked at the gash in her arm. It wasn't too deep but infection was a serious worry and she watched as he cleaned the wound and wrapped it in clean bandages again.

"You'll be fine Miss..." He left the statement open and hoped she would obliged. Kyoko looked at his encouraging smile and decided she could trust them enough to tell him her name. One of them had rescued her after all and he was tending to her wounds.

"Kyoko Mogami, thank you very much for helping me. Can I ask what happened to Mr. Childers?" Kyoko asked hoping for the best, but Yashiro's expression of sadness quenched her hopes.

"I'm afraid Sam didn't make it. His wounds were quite fatal. Ren brought his body back on one of the stage horses." Yashiro thought back to the scene, his friend riding much slower than normal with someone in his arms and a spare horse trailing behind him. Yashiro called into the house and everybody gathered on the porch. He stopped inches from the raised porch and repositioned Kyoko in his lap, his arm protectively around her stomach holding her close to him.

"Sam's stage was attacked by Sioux braves just north of the pass, I'm afraid he didn't make it." Ren motioned toward the trailing horse where Sam's body was laid out on its back. Then he continued with his story.

"This girl seemed to hold her own until she was injured and the stage tipped over on top of her. Her leg might be broken and her arm was gushing pretty good so I tied it in my bandana till I got here. I took out two of the braves but one got away so they may come for a fight later. We should be prepared." Ren looked down at her as he spoke of her heroism and the way he looked at her spiked more than one persons interest on that porch. With some help they got her where she was now and coming out of his mind Yashiro continued.

"The Ishibashi brothers are digging Sam a final resting place now. By sunset we'll have a service for him and you should be able to walk again, your welcome to come along." Kyoko nodded slightly.

"Mr. Yukihito, thank you again. I'm sorry to burden you like this, I'll heal as fast as I can and get out of your way." Kyoko refused to be anybodies burden and she wanted him to know she would not get in his way.

"Please Miss Mogami, call me Yashiro I'm not one to stand on ceremony and you are no trouble at all. In fact, I'm sure you'll be most welcome to everyone here. Just rest and get better at your own pace." He smiled and stared up into the doorway sharply when he heard the commotion outside.

"Ren what do you think you're doing! Go dust yourself off first, I just swept this floor!!" A very agitated Ms. Woods shouted.

After a few minutes and much grumbling from Ms. Woods Ren was allowed inside and he headed straight for Kyoko's room. When he walked in Yashiro had to stifle the laughter. Ren was filthy, his cloths and body smeared with soot and ash. His hands were full with the splints he left for and a variety of cloths and objects, which were are as filthy as he is.

"What happened to you?" Yashiro asked an amused smile on his face as he watched Ren place the cloths on the other side of the bed and the splints next Kyoko's leg.

Ren glared at Yashiro warningly and removed his hat, his hair falling around his face unrestrained.

"Give me a minute will you." He replied to Yashiro then met Kyoko's golden gaze. Kyoko almost lost her breath looking at him. He was ruggedly handsome even through the black smudges and really tall, even more so than her prince Sho. His blond hair and stunning blue eyes boosting his looks above Sho easily. He reminded Kyoko of a child from her past and she had to force herself not to say his name out loud.

"Excuse me Miss." Ren said as he walked over to the water basin and dunked his whole head in. He rose seconds later and rubbed his face with his hands trying to get rid of the blackness that streaked his face as best he could. Ren dried off with a nearby towel and smoothed down his hair with his hands as best he could and turned back to the curious eyes.

"Better?" Yashiro smirked and Ren sent him another warning glare.

"The Sioux came back for their dead at the stage crash and the left behind horses for food. Much of the luggage was picked through but I was able to save some. Everything else was too burned to salvage." Ren gestured to the stack of clothing he'd laid on the floor, and something caught Kyoko's eye and she nearly jumped out of the bed but the pain stopped her instantly.

"Miss Kyoko you shouldn't move around until we secure the splints, we set your leg while you were unconscious but the pain will still be there." Yashiro said hurriedly trying to avoid further injury.

"Is there something you need?" Ren asked slight worry on his face. Once the pain subsided she replied.

"Could you get me that pouch peaking out of that dress pocket, please?" She pointed to the dress balled up on top. Ren picked it up and handed it to her. Her expression softened as she felt the weight and sighed happily but worried when she thought it might be damaged. She opened the pouch and tipped the contents into her hand. She smiled brightly, blinding Yashiro and Ren couldn't believe his eyes. It looked exactly the same as it did years ago.

"Corn thank god you're safe." Kyoko said to the shining purple stone clenching it in her hands lightly.