Lady Samurai

Chapter 19

The few following days passed for them as if in a dream. They spent the whole time together, cutting themselves off from the outside world. They talked a lot, getting to know each other and practicing his English. She found his accent and pronunciation endearing and often openly giggled when he said something sounding funny, like combersation or bery much...

One day, during a stroll in the gardens, they were talking about the past and the future, when suddenly Lottie felt an overwhelming conviction that she could trust Hikaru with anything. Absolutely and unreservedly. She stopped mid-step, finally allowing her memories to resurface and pour out without any restrictions.

He noticed a change in her and all the powerful emotions clearly displayed on her face. "Are you well, my dear?" He stepped closer with obvious worry.

"Yes, My Lord." She smiled, touched by his concern. "I just..." Lottie hesitated, unsure how to start her confession. "I wish to tell you my story." She concluded with simplicity.

He seemed surprised by that. Nevertheless, he just nodded and they walked a short distance towards the small pavilion built in the shade of old trees.

"From the very beginning you wanted to know where I learned your language and why I am really here." They sat down, facing each other, but then she seemed suddenly lost for words.

He didn't rush her, understanding that it would not be easy to open up like that. Especially, as he suspected from the beginning, for a person who was used to hiding and controlling her emotions.

"My father was an archaeologist..." She started. "He travelled around the world, learning about other cultures, their customs and history." She hastened to explain, seeing his incomprehension.

"We were on our way home from Russia, when a powerful storm threw us towards the Japanese shores. The ship crashed on the rocks and we were all suddenly in the water. With the last of his strength, my father pushed me on some floating debris... He and the rest of the crew drowned..." Her voice broke and a single tear run down her cheek.

"I was tossed about by the waves for a very long time. But finally the sea threw me on the shore, barely alive... I was found by a poor fisherman. He and his wife felt pity and took me in, knowing very well they would be harshly punished for harbouring Gai-Jin... I was seven years old..." She was silent for few minutes, recalling those events. Hikaru also remained silent, deeply saddened by the loss she had suffered at such a young age. He wished he could spare her the pain, but understood that reliving the story may bring her closure.

"I was very ill for a long time." She continued after some time. "But somehow I survived. They died my hair black, using a disgusting potion, and announced me to be a poor orphan, some distant relative from the far north and a mute. We lived in a lonely spot, so it was easy to keep me out of the way and hidden."

He smiled, trying to imagine her as a little girl with black hair and those striking blue eyes. He marvelled at the fact that she had managed to avoid discovery for such a long time.

"They taught me Japanese language and customs." She spoke in the meantime. "Since they didn't have any children I was as a surrogate daughter to them... And I was happy there. At least for a time...

"Eventually, the longing for my real mother became unbearable and I decided to return to Europe. Disguised as a boy I snuck onto a ship bound for China and from there, with some help from the English mission, I made my way home, to England... Only to find out that my mother miscarried a child she had been carrying and died from a broken heart after hearing about our ship's disappearance and our presumed deaths." Again, her voice faltered. Tears now run freely down her face, but she didn't even try to stop them.