BTW.. when you said it will be with 3th-6th gen, does it mean all of them? *crosses fingers*
Maybe
Oooooooooooooooooh...love and betrayal?
Could be, with a whole lot more of things that wouldn't make sense eventually. D:
Episode 01 : If luck shall have you.
The cries of seagulls echoed throughout the port nearby. By the sandy coast that ran through the harbor, a peasant leisurely strolled along while hauling a large fishing net behind her. She wore a contented smile; full of peace, fulfillment and overall happiness. Today would be a great day, she told herself. As always.
Beyond the shallow waters, there was an enormous boulder lodged into the seabed, it’s rough surface peaking from beneath the sea’s surface, wide enough to accommodate a few who wishes to rest on it.
“Saa, let’s see what we’d be able to catch today.”
The peasant, now seated crossed legged on the rock like an old man- lacking grace, demure, shyness, and everything else that made a woman appealing-, fumbled through her large pockets in search of bait.
“Baka.”
She stopped suddenly and laughed out, remembering that she used a net and that required no bait all. Brushing the lint from her gloved hands, she stood up clumsily with her tool in hand and skillfully threw it into the sea with a tight grip remaining on the corners of the web.
From where she was, she returned to her seat and waited patiently for something, or anything to drift into her fishing net. From a distance, she watches the foreign ships from the nearby port come and go. Time passed slowly, but the fisherwoman did not mind. After all, having the liberty to waste time like this was a pleasure for her.
~ ~ ~ ~
A warrior without her weapon and armor wasn’t worth anything. Earlier before, these armors were long removed to show some hint of respect within a dignified person’s home. It would be unbecoming to be venturing the halls doused in blood after all, but she felt uncomfortable like this, almost as if stripped to her bare skin and then abandoned.
She stared long and hard at her own two eyes through the mirror gifted by an ambassador of unknown lands.
Just staring, clear of thoughts and feelings. When she finally gave in and blinked, she made a small discovery.
Not until now had she noticed that it was there. A scar an inch long bore into her cheeks, an injury that hardly inflicted any pain when caused. Lifting her slender fingers, the warrior touched the wound gently only to quickly retract her arm when there was a knock to her room.
She would not be found in such a vulnerable state.
“Yoshizawa-sama. They’re waiting.”
Coughing a reply, Yoshizawa promptly straightened the hakama she wore over a kimono and slid open the doors, coming face to face with a suddenly timid steward. She looked down at the short man coldly, his existence meaning nothing to her. Putting on professional airs, she spoke politely.
“Please, lead the way.”
The quiet warrior was brought to a wide hall, surrounded by nothing with only an ankle-high table at the top center of the room.
“I am impressed!”
From behind came a sudden sarcastic remark, causing the warrior to turn around. Leaning against the doorway was a woman no older than her, dressed in a yukata with its length shortened to ease movement. The other appeared haughty, which made the warrior cringe.
“You finally got the guts to exterminate
that clan.”
“I’m offended.”
“You’re so cold…
Hitomi.” The rather scantily clad woman (what with having her thighs exposed and chest in need of more cloth to cover) narrowed her eyes at the warrior and advanced towards her in an affectionate way.
“And you’re still as shameless.” Hitomi turned around and made her way towards the table, refusing the other woman any chance of coming into physical contact with her.
“Years in that stupid house made you stoic, didn’t it?” The woman clenched her fist, offended by the rejection. Calming herself down, she quietly crossed the room and stood shoulder to shoulder beside the warrior.
“I believe that doesn’t concern you at all.”
“Do you think I care?”
“You never change.”
“Should I?”
The woman looked at Hitomi with a smirk, and the warrior herself shifted her glance to her companion with an almost unnoticeable smile. It was a friendly bicker, in the most unusual way.
“Do you know why we’re here?”
Hitomi adverted any further dwellings on the current topic and went to the point of her situation now. Her companion appeared thoughtful at first, and the given shrug made her lose hope of getting a proper answer.
“Shishou has a new assignment for you.” The woman answered straightforwardly, much to Hitomi’s surprise.
“What kind?” Again, there was no beating around the bushes.
“Who knows.”
Hitomi eyed the documents she just noticed on the table, wondering what her new task could be. Her speculations were cut short by an unneeded interruption.
“Oh, I just remembered. Ojou-sama is anxiously waiting for you to meet her.”
The woman nudged her playfully with a grin, as though knowing a secret that only they both were aware of. That may very well be however.
“And she doesn’t like a cold unfeeling
Yocchan, just so you know.”
Hitomi gave the woman a look of understanding, no other reaction present. She didn’t care the least about how the impression she gave people after all. Not anymore, at least.
~ ~ ~ ~
“K-Konkon!” The weak door made of straw was almost destroyed by the commotion displayed by the addressee, but that was the least of her concerns. She ran up to her housemate and grabbed her shoulder violently.
“Ah, Mako-chan. You brought back dinner- Eh?” The other, better known as Konno, and was holding a wok and ladle froze at the sight of her worked up friend. “What happened? You look like you’ve seen something horrible.”
“Worse! Come, follow me!” Her friend dragged her out of the house and into the small courtyard they had.
Just by the entrance was the woman’s usual fishing net, with something entangled within it. A body, it would seem. Something so startling made Konno drop her utensils immediately.
”Hol- My god. Is that a corpse?”
Her friend nodded, eyes still wide open in surprise from when she first discovered it during her fishing trip.
“Ogawa Makoto! Why did you bring home a dead body?!” Discarding the normal pleasant personality, Konno started yelling at her friend like a distressed housewife. “We can’t eat that!”
“Konkon! I may like to eat but I’m not a cannibal!” Makoto rebutted, her friend’s scolding becoming her main concern as of now.
“Then why, Mako-chan, why? What made you bring
that home?!” Konno pointed at the net, being a little overdramatic with her words.
“She’s alive.” The fisherwoman whispered cautiously into her companion’s ears, giving the lump under the web some shifty looks.
“You can’t be serious.” Konno gasped at the news, not at all convinced however. “Even the dried fishes out here looks more alive that that!”
“No, really. She’s still breathing. Check it out yourself.”
“This is ridiculous!” The more sensible of them both was ushered towards the apparently lifeless body and made to place a finger under the person’s nostrils. “Eeeww.”
“See! She’s breathing, isn’t she?!” Makoto repeated excitedly.
Much to Konno’s surprise, the body was indeed still alive as she could vaguely feel a slight rush of air brushing past her finger.
“You’re… You’re right! We have to bring her inside immediately!”
Hearing the command, Makoto quickly nodded and reached out for the corners of the net in attempt to drag the body back into the house.
“Mako-chan!
Carry her! Ca-rry!” Konno made each syllabus clear and made the motion of lifting something up and hauling it over her shoulder to get her point across.
“Oh, OH! Right.” Realizing that dragging would probably kill the person faster, Makoto quickly lifted the body along with the net and with each heavy step, she tried her best to keep her balance until she’s back inside the house. Her housemate followed closely behind.
“Hey, Konkon. Why aren’t you helping me?” She stressed her words, having a hard time speaking and doing hard labor at the same time.
“It’s your
catch. You should have the honor of carrying it.” Konno replied with a smile so genuine that it was almost scary. She then gave an encouraging pat to Makoto's empty shoulder and walked ahead, leaving her best friend behind with the load.
“Mou~!”
Topic: Nameless Nights, 04 (Read 10006 times)