Even a Warrior Must Fall

Chapter III: Fire and Ice

(A/N: To get an idea of how the characters look like, kindly search the names of the featured cast on Google or any other search engine.)

Arigato minna! Happy Reading!

Hajime's POV:

         After almost two days of travelling, our group soon reached our master's home in Kyoto. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace wash over me as soon as I stepped onto it.

         I am a wanderer. It is part of my innermost being, found in the core of who I truly am. But even a wanderer must have a home to return to. And this place, for me, is my HOME.

          I wanted nothing more than to head to living quarters. There, I find the serenity and calmness that I crave. There, I can be myself with no pretensions.

          Soon after, I had reached the place I call my personal space. I felt a sense of immense relief as I saw everything was exactly just as I had left it.

          Feeling my eyes grow heavy, I soon drifted off to a peaceful sleep...

         "Hajime, Hajime... Wake up!"

         A voice roused me from my sound slumber. Out of instinct and long-time training, I swiftly got out of bed and grabbed my katana. In a flash, I had drawn it from its sheath and placed its blade on the intruder's neck.

          "Easy, Hajime. It's only me," the voice said. As it turned out, the voice belonged to be Renji's, my best friend.

          I know I swore never to trust anyone. But, hard as it may be to believe, I finally learned to do so. Renji is one of the very few people I trust with my life. He may often be annoying, but he has proven his worth over the years that we have been together.

          "Don't ever do that again, Renji. I could have seriously hurt or even killed you," I hastily said as I put down my katana.

          "Still as vigilant as ever, I see," Renji commented.

          "Just a force of habit. Anyway, why did you come to see me now?" I asked.

          "Hmm... It seems as if you haven't missed my company," he whined. "We haven't seen each other in a while," he mentioned.

          It's true. I had been assigned to go out of town and defend our master's land from potential invaders for quite some time, while he had stayed behind in our master's home to guard and protect our master.

          "Oh, that. I just dropped by to remind you of the celebration tonight."

          "I don't have any intention of coming. You know I hate parties and celebrations. I'd rather spend my time here at home."

What I just mentioned is the absolute truth. I don't particularly like to mingle with people. I'm used to being on my own and that's just how I like it. Well, maybe except when I'm with my best friend Renji.

"That won't do, Hajime. Lord Ashikaga will surely be expecting you to be there this evening. Also there'll be plenty of girls to flirt and have fun with there," Renji said, with a naughty grin on his face.

"You're such a snob. But that's what makes you even more attractive to them. Frankly speaking, I'm quite jealous of you."

"Quit it, Renji. If I have to go, then I have to go. I'm not really a bit interested in snagging someone to spend the night with, however," I said.

"I give up, Hajime. Will I meet you at the venue of the celebration or shall we meet there?" Renji asked.

"Meet me there."

"As you wish, Hajime. Ja mata ne (See you later)."

"Shikatanai (I guess it can't be helped)," I said to myself as I went on to prepare what I needed to for the party this evening.

( Meanwhile...) 

"Hurry up girls! Move faster! We can't afford to be late for the upcoming party later!" The headmistress of our geisha training house urged us to be quick with the things we needed to do as part of our preparations for the event later this evening.

"Yukina, are you almost ready?" asked

Aki, one of my fellow maikos (apprentice geishas) and also my best friend.

"Yes, I am. I only need to put on my hair ornaments," I replied.

"Is that so? Let me do that for you," she said.

"Arigato Gosaimaizu (Thank you very much)."

"Nandemonai (It's nothing)," Aki retorted with a smile. "By the way you look so stunning right now," she added.

"Really?" I mentioned as I felt a blush creep on my cheeks underneath my heavy make-up.

"Really. If I dare say so, you are the prettiest around here," she quipped.

"Please stop it, will you Aki? Others might hear us and be mad at us," I answered back.

"If you say so. But it's really true."

We were so engrossed in chatting with each other that we didn't notice time swiftly pass by.

"Oh my! It's getting to be dark soon. Let's hurry so we can make the trip to Lord Ashikaga's on time."

As we got on the carriage which would take us Lord Ashikaga's home sometime later, I couldn't help but feel a combination of slight excitement, anxiety, and nervousness, all at the same time.

Here was the chance to change my life forever. My debut as a geisha and my success as one depended on many things.

One of them was finding a man who would finance my career. In exchange, he would (in a sense), own me, literally and figuratively speaking.

The carriage which we were on, after almost an hour of travelling, soon reached the vast estate of Lord Ashikaga. I couldn't help but be astounded by size of this place. It definitely shows off the immense power and wealth of its owner.

We were lead into the main hall by several servants. My heart was pounding as I realized what I was about to do here.

I was about to perform before people who would most likely be instruments in altering the course of my life.

Who will they be? What will they be like? Only the soon – t0 – be events of this coming evening will tell...

Breathe, Yukina, breathe. A little more time and it will be show time.

( A/N: Apologies for my super late update. Been quite busy for some time in the last few weeks. I'll try to post more chapters this coming week. Thank you everyone ;-) )