Chương 8: Tatami no Heri
(Misaki)
My eyes opened very heavily and slowly to this bitter darkness. I was standing in a mass of dark nothingness that felt like weights pressing into my back. Looking down I realized that I was standing in the middle of a Tatami mat. It sat hovering on dark air that traveled downward endlessly. My breathing was labored as I fought to move my arms from my sides only to find that to no avail they would not move.
"What's going on?" I shouted, my voice echoing and becoming a part of the dark cold nothing. It was extremely cold here and it made the hairs on my bare arms stand on end and my heartbeat pulse violently within my chest. My left foot took a tentative step forward, my right barely following.
I did- I didn't do that! I didn't do that!
my feet were moving of their own accord! I was not doing this! Something was moving me, closer and closer to the white border of the mat. I tried to fight the advances my body unwillingly took but something abnormal was forcing me to the edge. My heartbeat was so aggressive I could hear it in my ears. Its fast rhythm made breathing nearly impossible. I finally came to a stop at the very edge of it.
The cusp of the end and the beginning.
No, no. please…this isn't right. I can't stand here! It isn't right! It isn't right!
My eyes widened and my pulse rang in my ears as something reached out of the dark. It moved slowly at first, body contorted and broken. Before I recognized that its large hand was coming for me, its huge hand made of black smoke with long talons for nails, reached for my face. The stench of decay came with it and with that my fear consumed me wholeheartedly, and I let out a blood curdling scream.
(Chi)
I stood in the quiet hallway of the princesses' quarters, glancing back and forth hourly, when I heard a meteoric scream from beyond her otherwise quiet door. My wakizashi was in my hand before the door was completely back. When I took a step to enter her rooms, I stopped short. Misaki sat up, hands splayed wide, hair wild and disheveled stuck to her face. She breathed heavily and the look in her eyes as her pupils fought to overtake the whites of her eyes, was one of sheer terror. Laying my blade on the ground I carefully got down on my knees in front of her.
"Ojo, Ojo! Are you alright?"
She said nothing as she stared at the long mat beneath her. I tried again. "Hime."
Instead of answering she shrugged away my reaching hand and shivered. Her arms sported goosebumps.
I sat back on my heels, taking in her terrified expression. My sense would not allow me to forget the guards nearby. If I comforted her, held her, I could ruin her reputation. She did not need any rumors fighting to slander her. So, against my urges I gathered my blade and pulled it to my side. In one fluid motion I got to my feet and exited her rooms, sliding the door slowly closed.
Some minutes later a guard came jogging down the hall, also alarmed. "Is the princess alright? Should I alert his majesty?"
I shook my head. "She will be fine. That is not necessary."
(Misaki)
I had not meant to shy away from his touch, but my body reacted before my mind could come to real consciousness. I mechanically and helplessly watched Chi leave the room and shut my door. I closed my eyes and took in a long breath. When I looked down at my hands they were violently shaking. I sat for a while gazing at my door knowing that Chi was standing just outside. My chest ached at the pain I saw cross his face. Over the past several days we had grown gradually closer. He remained by my side through most of my day and was a tolerant listener to my whining. I would need to make it up to him, my rudeness.
The next morning, after sitting up most of the night I had a plan prepared to be set in motion. I dressed quickly in a powdered silk Kimono with long rippling sleeves and a silver crown headpiece carved into vines, resting on top of my head. I allowed my maid to leave first before stepping out of my rooms.
Chi turned his head to greet me, his robes all black, even down to his shoes. His smirk drew a smile from me as he took a step forward.
"Ready?"
My smile turned devious. "Yes. But we are not attending classes today."
His eyebrow flew up in mock curiosity as the words left my lips.
"We aren't?"
I shook my head quickly. We would need to leave the palace as soon as possible if we were going to make it and not be stopped.
"No, we're not. We're leaving."
Sighing, but knowing that there was no way he could win this argument with me and stop me, he stepped aside for me to lead the way.
(Chi)
"Oi! Ojo! Mind telling me where you are dragging me off to?"
She climbed ever higher grabbing a hold of one of the large rocks resting on the jagged side of the mountain. She obviously had done this before. She moved with a certain sense of surety. Still, I kept my vision sharp as I watched every footstep and hand placement she made. A huff left her as she kept moving.
"Are all samurai this whiny?"
Whiny?!
"Alright, if you fall and get hurt, I will not be blamed."
She stopped and turned slowly, glancing back at me. Her grin was cunning and sly.
"If I fall and you fail to catch me, surely you will be to blame."
As if on cue with her words her left foot slipped, and I watched as she lost her balance flailing her arms around her. My arms wrapped around her frame as her weight crashed into my chest. The breath was knocked from my lungs, but I held fast, pushing her weight forward so that she was righted as quickly as possible. She turned to face me; her eyes wide. I could see the jade embers in them this way. We were rarely this close. I was not supposed to be this close to her.
"Thank you," She nodded breathlessly. Her grin turning into a wide smile.
"Of course, princess."
She reached down and took hold of my wrist.
"Now come on! Before it becomes too late and we have to return back home!"
Her mood seemed to be improving from yesterday's scare, but every few moments I would see the fear in her eyes recur. I wanted to inquire as to why but dared not to pry into a royal's business.
I still had no idea where she was currently leading me though. After another ten minutes of hiking the terrain leveled out. The fog was heavy this high up, but the air was clean and light. I followed behind Misaki as the thin path we were on broke off to a narrow trail that wrapped around the right side of the structure. Misaki brushed small leaves and branches out of her way as she maneuvered. Finally, she came to a halt and waved her hand out in front of her excitedly.
"I present, the healing hot springs of Hiroshima!"
That explained the heavy fog.
Nestled into the sides of the mountain were large round rock basins filled with clear blue almost boiling water. Steam rolled off the large pools in small tide waves. The air almost took on a fragrant taste as we stood admiring the scene.
Bonsai and Evergreen trees sat tall in the distance, leaving the immediate city of Hiroshima nearly invisible to the eye.
"it's so quiet," I murmured.
The princess walked over, eyes still holding the horizon.
"Very few people know about this place. Not even my father."
My eyes found the side of her face. "So how did you…"
She smirked. "I was a mischievous child, remember? When I
was a little girl, I would give my servants the "slip". One morning I was hungry and headed down to the kitchens in search for sweets. I overheard two maids talking about these springs and their supposed powers."
"Powers?"
"Mm. They said that these springs heal all wounds. That they can even mend broken hearts. Naturally, after many scrapes and bruises I found them. No one dares come up this high."
I crossed my arms, imagining a little girl skulking about the corners of the forever winding palace. "Not much has changed then," I teased. She combated my teasing with a shove to the arm. We stared at one another for a breath before she smiled again. I pushed her shoulder back playfully.
The silence and lack of other human beings left me feeling more human than a shield. We could carelessly banter here and not worry about being chastised.
"Sly Kitsune."
She walked slowly back towards the springs and when I turned to face her my eyes caught a glimpse of her bare shoulder as she began working to remove her Kimono. I flew back around facing the distance, my hand gripping my dagger hilt.
"Hime! what exactly are you doing?!"
Her tinkling laughter bounced off the mountains faces. "What does it look like I'm doing?"
"This is not appropriate!"
What in the many floors of hell was she doing!? I moved to step back towards the path we had walked down, keeping my back to her. Why was the air growing tense all the sudden? I needed space. I needed to get out of this immediate space.
"Stop!"
My feet did as commanded. I cursed inwardly at the dog complex this mischievous girl had put me in. My breathing came out labored and short as I waited for her next words.
"Do you think I brought you up here to simply stand guard?"
I did not dare reply to her.
"look at me…"
I surely could not do that. "Your highness..."
"Enough formalities Chi-san. Look at me. This is an order."
Slowly I turned, sweat already hanging on my brow. I tried to prepare myself for what I was forbidden to see. To my relief she was sitting in one of the springs, her hair held in a high bun with a golden hair needle keeping it all wound into place. Luckily, the reproducing steam concealed her entire body, aside from her the bare skin of her shoulders. The perspiration from the hot water dampened her stray hairs and stuck them to her face. She was utterly breathtaking.
"Get in," She nodded, as if it were nothing. As if she were not…naked.
I shook my head quickly since as usual the Kitsune was clearly out of her mind. "I can't Hime."
"Why?"
"it's inapp-"
"Oh, forget all of that for now!"
I stood my ground. I would have loved to join her but if someone were to see… and it got back to the Emperor… I would be killed on the spot. Through the steam I could see the frustration forming on her face.
"I order you Samurai!"
By the gods, she had me.
She knew that I could not disobey a direct order from her. Sighing deeply, I removed my sword, laying in on the ground. I was vividly aware of her eyes still on me.
"Close your eyes." I scolded.
She chuckled again before her eyes fluttered closed. I waved a hand wildly in front of me to be sure she was not peeking through her long lashes.
God, what was I doing? This was a bad idea. A terrible idea.
I removed my robes and got into the pool as quickly as possible. I stayed as far on the opposite side as I could and looked everywhere but at her. She took a deep breath and her shoulders relaxed.
"See, this is not so bad."
No, no. this is bad. So, so bad.
"Mm." was the only response I could muster.
We sat quietly for a while before I asked, "Are you alright?"
Her eyes snapped open and her pupils grew as she looked at me through the ever-producing steam. "I'll be fine."
Somewhere inside I did not believe her. But I still took her at her word.
"I am sorry Chi-san," she said.
"For what Ojo?"
She looked down and closed her eyes for a long moment before opening them again.
"Shutting you out and dismissing you the way I did yesterday."
Again, there was silence.
She brought me here to apologize? An apology from her was never necessary.
"It is alright princess. I take no offense. I understand not being ready to speak on certain things."
"Chi I…"
"Hai, Ojo?"
"I would like to consider you a friend you see, and not just my guard. Because of my status I have very few friends inside the palace. I already know that that is uncustomary, but I am hoping that you will accept my proposal."
She wanted to be friends? I'd never had friends besides father but for some reason I saw Misaki as someone worth knowing. What harm could there be in becoming her friend. I already watched over her each day. Most of my day was spent with her.
Looking at her, I nodded in agreement. "Tomodachi."
We sat there for a few hours more before Misaki complained of her fingers beginning to prune. She got out first, I kept my eyes closed. Once she had on two sets of robes I got out and dressed in mine; our backs turned to each other. When I turned around, she was trying to tie her Obi but was having difficulties. Without a second thought I walked over and grabbed the smooth fabric from her. I immediately realized that I had made a mistake and had no idea how to tie this. I think she picked up on my ignorance and instructed me on how to tie this. I think she picked up on my ignorance and instructed me on how to tie it back. Being this close to her was making me dizzy and I was unsure why. Clearing my throat after I'd finished, I moved back as she turned to me.
"Arigatogozaimashita."
"You're welcome."
What the hell was happening to me? Why was my heart beating so fiercely inside my chest?
As we grew closer and closer to the palace, I saw her sadness gradually return to her face. As quickly as my fear for her had been shed, it returned with a sharp snap. But she was my friend, and I would
let nothing harm her. I would lay my life down for her. Such was the way once friends with a Samurai.
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