Samurai 7 Fan Fiction ❯ Tell Me You Love Me ❯ Rising Tides ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Tell Me You Love Me 3
Rising Tides
Kureha tried to be quiet as she went into the kitchen getting breakfast prepared. Sakura and her mother both moved around on silent feet with little effort, yet it was difficult for Kureha to keep from knocking over bowls and food. “I'll take fresh towels in for the samurai and wake them.” She said giving up on silence. Since she was making enough noise to wake them anyway, she may as well do the actual waking. Kureha opened the door to her brother's room carrying towels and linen fresh from the drying line. She took a step beyond the threshold and the sound of metal clearing leather was loud in the silence. Cloth fell in haphazard piles as Kureha backed away. She looked down to see her light robes cut through exposing her long legs to the early morning sunlight. She fell to her bottom trying to escape the blade. “I apologize.” Kyuzo muttered re-sheathing his blade. Kureha looked further into the room to see Rikichi staring at her exposed skin his face heated. Kureha blushed mortified before becoming momentarily blinded by yards of heavy red canvas. Kureha accepted the garment to cover her legs before she hurried to her room. “You should know better!” Kureha began to sob as Mistress Akane reprimanded her for waking the sleeping samurai. “ You are lucky that he did not chop your legs off or worse. Being exposed in front of men... I would not blame them if they lost control of themselves and ravished you. Your own brother could not fault them.” “I'm sorry!” Kureha turned to leave the house her face blazing in mortification. She stumbled down the beach collapsing in a heap her skirts wrapped around her knees. As Kureha sat she allowed the waves to lap at her bare feet. The water was so beautiful she felt the sounds of the waves reverberate in her very soul. Kureha got to her feet. She remembered being a child, her parents were entertainers and they had trained their children to entertain as well. Gorobei was a great dancer, he had worked so hard to teach her. Cloth fluttered as Kureha raised her hands feeling the salt spray from the sea she danced. Lifting her legs to the music that lived in her soul she twirled, spinning in ever widening circles she leaped her heart beating faster as she remembered her mother and father performing before sold out crowds. Kureha lost track of time, she could not tell if the sheen on her skin was from the spray of the sea or her own sweat. Little did she know, that the moisture was from her own eyes. Finishing a dazzling set of seven pirouettes she collapsed on the sand wiping her face on her sleeve. “How can you ever think that you are clumsy.” Kureha looked up to see Rikichi standing near a tree. “That was wonderful. I have seen Gorobei doing some fantastic moves when fighting, but I see now that grace is a family trait.” “Oh...” Kureha attempted to stand but found her foot on her sleeve toppling over. “I should return to breakfast.” Rikichi moved to aid her only to fall prey to the shifting sands and her precarious stance. “I'm contagious,” Kureha sniffled as they finally made it to their feet. Rikichi laughed shaking his head, “You are beautiful.” Kureha felt her face heat as she walked ahead of him. “I think you are beautiful.” Rikichi reiterated as she hurried away to the safety of her chaperons. The sun escaped a cloud causing a shadow covering of a nearby tree to shift. Rikichi narrowed his eyes peering into the semi-darkness of the early morning only to turn away having seen nothing. Kyuzo walked on silent feet to the house. He entered in time to find Kureha in the hallway. “Kyuzo-Donno,” Kureha dipped into a bow. “A moment, please.” Kyuzo waited as she disappeared into what he figured was her bedroom. Kureha emerged carrying his heavy coat. “Thank you for allowing me to use it.” Kureha whispered unable to get more audible sound to leave her throat. The sense of danger was strong upon the samurai and she was unsure how to behave around the silent man that looked at her as a wolf surveyed a delicious hare before he made a meal of it. Kyuzo could tell his stares were unnerving the young woman, but he could not contain his himself. He had left in search of peace from Rikichi's constant speaking of her and he had beheld a truly magnificent sight. Surrounded by sand, sea and sun she had danced. Her body had undulated more so than the waves and Kyuzo had stood unnoticed and transfixed. Just as he had begun to advance and speak to her Rikichi arrived. Kyuzo froze, leaving only when the two were gone. “I regret that it was necessary.” Kyuzo muttered shrugging into the garment. Saying no more he went to sit for breakfast. “He is not so terrifying.” Rikichi said coming to stand beside her. “I don't think he is terrifying.” Kureha said feeling the breath leave her as her heartbeat sped up. Leaving Rikichi she went in for the morning meal. Terrifying, oh no... Kyuzo was exhilarating.
>*<

“Sakura,” Kureha whispered as they lay in bed, “You should have seen how fast his blade was released. He could have killed me in an instant. Or at the very least maimed me. Look,” Kureha held over her ruined light morning dress. “What are doing with that?” Sakura grouched rolling away from her friend. “It should have been trashed.” Kureha knew that the other girl was right, but she could not force herself to part with it. “You are lucky you were not harmed Ku-Chan, try to be more careful.” Sakura waited, but Kureha said no more. Sakura turned over to see that the other girl was sound asleep clutching her clothing to her bosom. Sakura pried the garment free looking at the cut. Kureha was indeed lucky that he was so skilled. As soon as Kyuzo had seen who his attacker was he had halted his movement. Had Kureha continued forward, she was likely to have harmed herself. “Never thought I would be glad that you are clumsy.” Sakura whispered pulling the blankets around her friend.
>*<
Rikichi entered the room drying his hair a smile on his face. “Such a lovely young woman. I think I will speak to Gorobei when he returns.” Rikichi was not surprised that Kyuzo had not responded. “Since I lost my wife... I had given up hope, but... I think I could be happy again.” Kyuzo was tired of hearing Rikichi speak. Rather than sever his head from his body, Kyuzo decided to leave and make his bed elsewhere. He did not need much space, he usually just leaned against a wall and dozed. Kyuzo climbed to the roof of the house. He felt a chill in the night air, but looked up to see millions of stars shining down twinkling. Leaning against the chimney of the large one level home Kyuzo's eyes drifted shut to the sound of the waves crashing over the shore. He awakened several hours later to hear soft singing. He looked around surprised that the sun had not disturbed him so bright did it shine down. He looked over the edge of the house to see Kureha hanging large white strips of wet linen. “When the dawn breaks, in the forest, all the little ones begin to sing, there is a smile on every face as the world begins to dream.” Kureha sang out as she dug into her basket. “Let the bells ring out this morning, let the chimes sound in every heart. There's a...” Kureha paused looking up feeling a chill wrack her frame. Her eyes rose stilling her breath as she saw the figure on her roof glancing down at her. “Kyuzo-Donno,” though the words were whispered he read his name from her lips and licked his own. With a strength of will he had forgotten he possessed Kyuzo turned away and left the roof. He bounced onto his feet on the other side of the house. He headed into a secluded clearing to bathe before heading in to breakfast. Her heart tripping in her chest, Kureha stumbled into the kitchen. She paused when she heard Sakura speaking to her mother. “But Okasan,” Sakura whined. “Do I really have to marry Wan? I like the blond samurai much better.” “Baka!” Kureha cringed when she saw Sakura tapped with a wooden spoon. “That man is a wanderer. You mark my words he will be leaving as soon as Goro-Kun returns.” “But what about his companion, he is nice and not too bad on the eyes.” Sakura smiled as she thought of the Samurai's travel companion. “And he says he is a rice farmer.” “What do you have against Chief Li's son?” Akane asked as she sat beside her daughter. Sakura heaved a heavy sigh her eyes wandering out to the waves that could be seen beyond the window of the kitchen. Since her own father was gone and her brother serving in the village defense cadre, they were similar to Kureha in missing male relatives. “Sometimes I do not think he likes me. He stares at me as if he does not know me.” “He does not.” Akane smiled at her daughters insecurities. She could remember a time in her own life when she had felt the same. “We grew up together.” Sakura argued, “we have known each other all our lives.” “Yes,” Akane agreed. “He has known you as a friend, a pest and now he must get to know you as a wife and a lover. It will take some time.” “I think I would rather marry a stranger.” Sakura grouched when she saw Kureha standing in the entryway her hands red from the stinging heat of the boiled linen and bracing early morning wind. “But even marriage to Wan is better than no marriage at all.” Kureha felt the sting of the words like a slap in the face. Her eyes widened as tears gathered behind their deep depths. She was hastily wiping them away when Kyuzo and Rikichi entered the kitchen smelling of homespun soap, sunshine and... Danger. Kureha's pulse quickened at the thought as she stood near Kyuzo. Rikichi smiled as he sat near Kureha at the family table. Silent as usual Kyuzo sat with his own meal. He wondered what had made the beautiful dancer weep. Though the evidence had been dispersed with, he could see the slight red of her nose, cheeks and eyes. Those same large, dark eyes were glassy as she finished quickly excusing herself to clean the mess of the morning activities. Rikichi stood to help her chattering about his home village and how Gorobei had saved them. Kyuzo got to his feet leaving the house to sit by the sea. He could not explain the calm he felt at the sound of the waves crashing upon the shores. Rikichi paused in his speaking as he saw that Kureha was focused elsewhere. He followed her line of vision to see Kyuzo sitting on the beach. He sighed as he recognized the look in her eyes as that of a young woman on the verge of love. He could speak up, tell her he liked her, but to what avail? Would Gorobei see him in light of Kyuzo? Rikichi felt like a fool, here they had only been here one day and he was competing for the affections of a girl he barely knew with a samurai who had shown no interest in her at all. Or had he? Rikichi frowned as the thought struck him. It was hard to tell with Kyuzo. One barely saw his face and when he bothered to speak, well, you just could not tell with him. Was it truly an accident that Kyuzo had practically undressed her this morning or had he wanted to see her unclothed? Had he been asleep, or plotting? Rikichi's eyes narrowed. Bowing to Kureha, Rikichi left the kitchen to go speak with the errant samurai. Rikichi would not lie and say that he did not fear Kyuzo, but there were some words that needed to be said. Squaring his shoulders he approached the bright figure on the beach. “Donno,” even though he did not move or speak Rikichi knew he had Kyuzo's attention. Kyuzo had been tracking his movements since he had left the house. “You almost injured our host this morning.” Rikichi waited. Kyuzo pulled a piece of long grass growing in the sand near the felled log he sat upon. Kyuzo stuck the grass into his mouth. Rikichi stared as the grass began to move while Kyuzo worked his teeth. What more did Rikichi want from him? He had apologized hadn't he? “She is very young, and innocent. You should be careful not to endanger her good name and besmirch her claim to honor.” “This is a speech that you should perhaps hear yourself.” Kyuzo startled Rikichi with his intense gaze. “It was not I who allowed my eyes to stray under her dishevelment.” Rikichi stood with his mouth hanging open as Kyuzo got to his feet. “Tides coming,” Kyuzo tossed over his shoulder leaving Rikichi alone on the beach.
Author's notes: Another Chapter done in record time. I love this computer. I get so much work done. As soon as The White Lion becomes available I need you all to buy it so that I can continue to afford this thing. It will be out next month. I will post a link on every available page. Ja Chi