Black Sea

Chapter 11

Standing in front of the full length mirror in the bathroom, I ran my hand over my face to assure myself that I was indeed able to feel my own touch. The person staring back at me from the mirror is definitely not me.

This person is over six feet in height, maybe six foot three and very muscular and I am neither. Sandy blonde hair and deep green eyes and as I breathe in deeply his chest swells to the size of a barrel.

I flexed and so did he, in fact every move I made he copied in the mirror. Like everything else in this crazy dream I am having this is totally nuts, but hey if my psychotic dream wants me to be a physically fit god who am I to argue.

I put a towel around my waist and stepped back into the bedroom. I walk over to the closet and open the door; it is filled with grey suits and white shirts and ties of various colors some with stripes some without.

I could not get past the feeling I was intruding in some other man's space and he would soon return and show me what for, but then maybe I am now that man; I'll have to let that sink in a bit.

Just then I heard a tap on the door and just then I uttered the words quite automatically, "you may enter Charles." That was unexpected and I had not thought beforehand to say that but....

"Your supper sir," he said rolling the tray over beside the bureau. "Shall I get you a robe sir?"

He pulled a robe from a hanger inside the bathroom and helped me into it. I tied it up and stood awkwardly not certain what I should do. Charles pulled the chair out from the bureau and stood beside it waiting.

I sat down and eyed the food, for a second I had forgotten how famished I was even though I had only recently eaten an imaginary meal. I finished the breakfast in record time and sat back swilling coffee and smoking the cigar Charles had placed on the tray.

What kind of thing is this I wonder, who am I? The same cynical being I was before I suppose but who am I really? Who is this person I have become and what am I supposed to be doing here?

I noticed, sitting displayed on the dresser by the bed a Katana. I walked over to it and lifted it up above my head and bowed and then without thought unsheathed it, the sword ringing as I did so. I held it in my and felt the balance of the finely crafted weapon.

I know how to use this, but how? I have never learned the use of his weapon but yet I feel as if I have somehow the ability to wield it with purpose. I sliced at the air with the weapon and just then there was Charles tapping at the door.

He entered and cast an eye at me and at the sword. "Wouldn't you prefer to practice outdoors sir; in the garden." He then pointed at a kimono hanging alone in the closet, I hadn't noticed it before when I went through the closet

I changed into the kimono and made my way down the stairs and toward a glassed in room overlooking the yard behind the home. The garden area contained a walkway lined with Japanese statues and was populated by cherry blossoms Somei-yoshino to be exact and in full bloom.

Wait, how could I know that, I've never even seen a cherry blossom; the mystery deepens. I made my way outside and slipped on a pair of Zori that were beside the door and then walked down the pathway, The breeze was cool and blossoms flittered about as they fell like fine snowflakes at my feet.

Behind me and unbeknownst to me Charles stood watching me from behind the glass. A man approached him from the shadows and then stood beside Charles. The two were silent for a moment before speaking

"Does he know who he is?" said the man.

"No sir I do not believe he does," Charles said.

"He will," the man said his face twitching.