บท 35: A Friend

"Do you ever look at the reflections across the water and see all the different things your mind can imagine?"

Came the question from Gengyo's left, after they'd been sitting in a peaceful quiet at the lakeside for a few minutes.

"Hmm? I'm not quite sure what you mean – show me if you like."

"Okay. Look over there, you see how the willow tree reflects off the water?"

"I do."

"As the water ripples, the shape changes, and your mind sees all sorts of different things."

"Hmm..."

He focused his gaze on the spot she had mentioned, staring intently at the branches of the tree that were swaying across the water.

He did so for a little while, and was about to tell her that he could not see anything, but finally some part of his brain offered a different interpretation, and the swirling mass of branches created a larger shape. The small parting within the branches looked to be a huge open mouth, and the branches around it formed the shape of a giant head.

"A whale."

"A whale..? Ohh, I see it too. I've only ever seen them in books, but they're said to be really big."

"Indeed. What did you see?"

"A man dying. Do you see how the branches stick out? It looks like someone on their back, reaching toward the sky."

"Hoh… I see it. A rather grim interpretation though."

The squawking of a pair of angry swans interrupted their conversation. It appeared there might be a fight, but neither of them wished to be the first to engage.

'Swans are one of the most beautiful creatures in the wild, but in the end, they're subject to rage just like the rest of us.'

It ended with one swan flying a little ways away, and landing gracefully on the clear surface of the pond. It held its head high, and moved regally as though nothing had happened at all.

"Hey, Miura-kun?"

"Mhm?"

"Did you really kill those men?"

He responded unhesitantly.

"I did."

"I see…"

She broke off into silence.

"There is something more you want to say, is there not?"

She nodded, but struggled to find the words.

"There is something… different about you now."

"Hoh, you're quite the perceptive one. I do feel a little changed."

"Is it not weird, to have that on your mind, that you have taken a life?"

"It is. But it would have ended the same, for the war with the Oda is all but guaranteed."

"No… It's different – I think – to kill on the battlefield, and to kill outside of your home."

"I would imagine you're right, though I've never been on a battlefield."

"But there's something… I don't know, perhaps 'sharper', about you now."

"Sharper, eh? Do you mean you're intimidated by me?"

He turned and made her bear the full weight of his gaze.

She met it unflinchingly, and shook her head.

"No, not of you. You're a good person, Miura-kun."

"Hoh… I wouldn't go as far as to say that, but I appreciate your kind evaluation."

"You know, I was watching today."

"What were you watching?"

"When that scumbag Toda came in, and was insulting father. It was strange seeing you stand next to him."

"I imagine it was. It's not every day that a peasant is allowed to stand alongside a samurai."

"No, that's the weird part. You didn't look out of place, even though you were dressed as you were."

"Did I not? Perhaps that's only in your eyes, because you know me. I imagine the other observers could not bear to see me so close to the master."

"Maybe…"

The conversation went cold once more, and Gengyo reclined further back on the woollen blanket that Akiko had laid out, complimenting the full moon for its brightness.

It felt strange to see the ducks asleep. Though he supposed that he'd seen it before. Still, he wondered about their sleeping schedule, for they seemed to never sit still throughout the day, whereas a cat would happily lie about for a long time.

A sleeping duckling drifted a little away from its family, edged on by the lake's current. It was a comical sight to see it open its eyes and swim madly to re-join its kin.

"Hey, Miura-kun."

"Hmm?"

"I think, I don't want to die."

He turned his head at the odd statement, evaluating the mouth that had uttered them, and the lips that sat slightly ajar revealing a top row of pearly white teeth.

"I imagine not. I don't particularly wish to die either."

"Mm… But, in the end, we'll most likely die in a few days' time. I wonder if I'll be able to deal with that."

"That's a bit pessimistic. We have a very good chance of winning – the odds are not stacked too highly against us. You need to stay strong, Niwa-san. I think you'll find that your father has an important role for you in the battles to come."

"My father? What? How do you know that? There's no way."

"Just a hunch. Anyway, I imagined you'd be feeling a little happier upon being freed from such a marriage. I have to say, your future husband wasn't exactly a charmer."

She giggled at his blatant understatement.

"That's for sure… And I am happy. I just feel a little sad when I think about how it might all end soon."

"I wouldn't worry about it too much. Your father will do his best for the sake of victory. He's got Jikouji and Ishiyama to help him out too, so I reckon he'll be fine."

"I hope so… I forgot that you'd met Jikouji. He's such a sweet old man – he's like having a grandpa."

"Haha…"

He laughed grimly, thinking sweet was not exactly the word he would use, especially after he ran a finger along the hefty bruise that stained his forehead.

"Will this continue, Miura-kun?"

"What do you mean by this?"

"Our time by the lakeside, together."

"Would you like it to?"

She pouted. That was not the response that she had wanted to hear.

"Are we friends?"

"Friends with the lady Niwa? I would never presume to be so lucky. But if that is an offer, my lady, then I would bid that you call me by my given name, Tadakata, and we might solidify such a friendship."

"There you go again, teasing me… but…"

She blushed lightly, causing Gengyo to feel a certain amount of nostalgia, recalling how fiercely she had blushed when they had first met.

"Tadakata-kun… you have to call me Akiko too."

"Sure, Akiko-chan."

She looked a little upset at how easily he was able to call her by her first name, and she wondered whether to even bother to correct his teasing.

'But he'll keep calling me that in future if I don't tell him to stop…'

She reasoned, dreading such a thought.

"Not –chan!"

"Fine. Akiko-kun."

She sighed, figuring it was the best she could put up with. And it was not as though it was inappropriate anymore, for even though she was the daughter of a samurai, she very much felt – especially in recent times – that they were equals.

"Well then, Akiko-kun, how about this, in response to your earlier question, why don't we postpone out next meeting until after we have won the battle? You see, I'm not too fond of that pessimistic attitude of yours, and even if I have to take on the whole army myself, I'll make sure to prove you wrong."

She giggled, but was a little saddened by his response. Though she knew it was not done out of ill will, rather done out of the hope that there would indeed be a future for them.

Still, she could not help but think that this would be their last time together, should they lose the battle in a few days' time.

"You're thinking something miserable again, aren't you?"

"No…"

She was evidently lying, and they both smiled, knowing full well that he was right.

"It is a pleasant location, though. Very pleasant indeed."

"That's true. It's a shame you had to come and spoil it when you did – now all the birds are flying away."

She joked lightly.

"And yet the swan still remains."

They both knew full well which swan he was referring to.

He got to his feet and moved toward the water, lightly dipping a finger in, feeling the cool sensation against his skin. He ventured in the whole palm, and pushed it through the liquid, feeling the way in which the water resisted.

It was extremely pleasant to focus all of one's mind on such a peaceful task, as he tried his best to remember the sensation before he lost it for the next few days.

He did not realize how attached he had become to such a place, and the significance it had started to bear for him.

"You're such a child, Tadakata-kun."

Akiko commented lightly, seeing him splashing in the water.

He afforded her a carefree smile, motioning for her to do the same.

She stood up, moving to his side, watching his motion in the water, before attempting to mimic it on her own.

Instantly she understood why he had such a satisfied smile on his face. The coolness of the water was an anchor that kept her in the moment, and allowed her to fully enjoy everything about it.

A mallard picked up his green head, and stared at them condescendingly, as he went about all his duck activities.

"We're even being looked down on by birds now."

Gengyo commented.

"At least he didn't say anything out loud."

A quack a split second lately immediately invalided her statement, and the two burst out into a fit of laughter, thoroughly frightening the old duck.

They took their time to enjoy themselves at the lake, both realizing that it could be their last, and then they began the slow walk through the forest, back toward the mansion.

After warming her foot up a little, Akiko was walking much better now, so their stroll was peaceful.

"The smell of the forest after a hot day is so pleasant. I wish I could wear it as a perfume."

"It is indeed. Though I think you might have all manner of insects chasing after to you if you were covered in the scent of the forest."

"Haha, that might be a way of defeating Toda!"

"I'll make sure to mention it to the master, haha."

"I do like the scent the forest has after rain too. It smells so fresh and peaceful."

"I would hasten to agree with you. I rarely hear people commenting on it, so for a while I thought it was only me who could smell it."

Such was the idle conversation they shared, and before long the mansions gates loomed into view.

They slowed down to a pace that was all but a crawl, as neither wanted to leave here, and face the future.

Akiko's words grew few, and she grew tenser than she had before.

Gengyo thought he knew the reason for such behaviour, and refrained from commenting.

That was, until, just as he was about to enter the gate, he felt a pulling on his arm that made him stop.

A split second later a small pair of arms found themselves around his back, and a pretty little face was pressed into his chest, her eyes closed tight.

He was caught off guard by such action, but a moment later, he smiled, and returned her embrace, understanding how she felt.

"Please… Tadakata-kun… stay safe. You promised we would go back to the lake together, so you have to okay?"

"Mhm, I understand."

A few droplets of tears squeezed themselves from her closed eyes as she freed herself from his cradle, and hurried through the gates of the mansion before he could respond.

He watched her silhouette fade, and smiled lightly, clenching his fist.

'We'll win. I'll make sure of it.'