Chapter Two
Just Go To Sleep
After a day of travelling with his new companion, Hikuchi resolved that Kosuke had to be the single most interesting person who had ever breathed. He had the most interesting stories and it seemed he was always thinking. Kosuke was strong too. When Hikuchi had lost all feeling in his legs from walking, Kosuke carried him on his back.
For some reason, Hikuchi felt compelled to share things with Kosuke, things he did not share with others. He told Kosuke of the many woes of being a street urchin: sleeping on the streets, always being hungry, having to steal from people in order to survive. And Kosuke always listened intently, as if he had never heard anything more interesting. But Kosuke had his questions too.
"So how is it really that you ended up falling through the roof of the daimyo?" He asked early on the second day of travel.
Hikuchi thought hard before answering. The story was so involved. Where was he supposed to begin?
"There is a puppet house in the city. It's famous, because the puppeteers there are some of the best. They put on the most interesting stories too, and everyone comes to see them. The other day, while a play was being performed a samurai confronted a ronin because he didn't like the way the ronin looked, and the ronin ended up killing five warriors. This got one of the samurai, Motsuba, angry and against Lord Nakamura's wishes he went to confront the ronin. They found him dead the next morning, and they brought his body through the city. I was so curious; I needed to know what was going to happen to the poor ronin. I felt sorry for him you know… Anyway, I was trying to hear what they were saying when I fell through the roof and I guess you already know what happens next."
Kosuke was very silent. He came to a halt, and Hikuchi looked up at him worried.
"Muranaka- senpai? What's the matter?"
Kosuke smiled, but it was a sad smile. It did not suit his normally happy face, and in fact, it made Hikuchi himself very sad.
"I killed those people Hikuchi," he said heavily, as if it pained him to say the words. Hikuchi's eyes widened.
"You must be very skilled Muranaka- senpai," said Hikuchi in awe. "That's what all the men were saying… that you were stronger than any of them."
"They spoke the truth," Kosuke said. Hikuchi noticed the way Kosuke said this, he spoke as if it were a curse to be so strong. Kosuke turned to face Hikuchi and gazed at him with sad eyes. "I do not enjoy killing people Hikuchi- kun and you never should either. Those men dishonored my father's name by calling me a ronin, and they paid the price. But never think that just killing a man will solve your problems so easily."
Hikuchi nodded, still in awe of Kosuke. Seeing his small companion's mouth agape, Kosuke smiled a real smile and continued walking down the path. Hikuchi followed after him, walking quickly in order to keep up.
"Muranaka- senpai! Could you teach me something? You seem to know so much…"
Kosuke thought for a while. Hikuchi watched him intently, eager to learn whatever he could.
"What is the sound of one hand clapping?" he said finally. Hikuchi thought for a moment, but he was confused. This was not the sort of lesson he was expecting.
"I don't understand. That's impossible."
"You will someday Hikuchi- kun. You will someday." And with that, Kosuke pulled his kasa hat up onto his head and was silent. Hikuchi bit his lip and walked along side his new friend, his mind filled with notions of single hands clapping.
That night the pair decided to rest at a teahouse they came upon while passing through Kyoto. There were a few geisha entertaining there that night, but Kosuke did not seem to be interested. Hikuchi of course was fascinated. Their clothing was so bright, their makeup stunning. And of course there was the smell of food…
Looking at his hungry little companion, Kosuke nearly laughed. His mouth formed a perfect "o" and he was obviously awestruck.
"Are you hungry, Hikuchi- kun?" he inquired. The boy nodded vigorously. "All right then, I suppose we can eat before we retire."
Kosuke went to talk with the mistress of the teahouse about a room and two meals, and he left Hikuchi to stare in amazement at all that was going on around him. The colors, the sounds and the smells were nearly enough to overload his brain. Hikuchi would have been content to sit at that spot for the entire night, just to watch the geisha serve men tea. But he felt a tug at his clothes.
"Come, Hikuchi- kun. This way," said Kosuke, gesturing. Hikuchi followed the samurai, who was following the mistress, into a room where a low table was set up. There were already two geisha sitting at the table with a teapot and some cups. The bowed their heads, and Kosuke returned the favor. Hikuchi was caught off his guard and almost forgot to bow, but then did so quickly. This sort of formality was not something the street urchin was used to.
They removed their shoes and sat on cushions. Kosuke sat next to the older geisha, Hikuchi next to an apprentice who could be no older than 15. She looked up at him and smiled, then poured him a cup of tea.
"Allow me to introduce ourselves," said the older geisha. "I am Murakami Yoshino. This is my little sister Yoshe. We are honored to be entertaining you tonight." Kosuke inclined his head to acknowledge them.
"Thank you. I am Muranaka Kosuke and this is my… uh… little brother, Hikuchi." Kosuke then engaged himself in conversation with the older geisha.
"Your elder brother is very pretty. I didn't know men could be so pretty," Yoshe said, turning to Hikuchi. Hikuchi nodded.
"But don't let that fool you! Oniisan is one of the strongest bushi warriors there is!" Hikuchi said enthusiastically. Yoshe giggled.
"You're a funny boy," she said. Hikuchi pouted.
"I'm twelve. I'm not a boy," he said indignantly. "I'm going to be a bushi someday! Just you wait and see!"
Yoshe giggled again, covering her mouth with the sleeve of her kimono so she wouldn't appear rude. Just then is when their food arrived and Hikuchi forgot all about Yoshe's giggling. It had to be the finest meal Hikuchi had eaten in his life, far better than crusty day old rice. Half way through his meal, Hikuchi looked over and was surprised to see Yoshe had no food.
"Aren't you hungry?" he asked. "Why don't you have something to eat?" Yoshe merely smiled at him.
"Geisha never take their meals with men. We eat before hand."
This confused Hikuchi, but he didn't dwell on it. Yoshe poured him more tea and they continued to talk for the next hour, until Kosuke announced it was time that they went to bed. They were led to a room with sleeping mats laid on the floor. Hikuchi sat upon one and looked up at Kosuke.
"Thank you, oniis—I mean… Thank you Muranaka- senpai."
Kosuke smiled.
"You can call me that if you wish," he said sitting on the mat next to Hikuchi. "It might be better if it appeared we were related. People might ask fewer questions."
"Did you mean it?" Hikuchi said in a small voice. "When you said that I could become a bushi like you?"
Kosuke looked Hikuchi right in the eye.
"I meant it Hikuchi- kun. I truly did. You'd need to work hard however. Traditionally, bushi start training at age 3… you have a lot to catch up on." Kosuke mussed Hikuchi's hair. "You need to go to sleep. We have a lot of walking to do tomorrow."
"I'll work hard," Hikuchi said lying down. "I'll be the best bushi warrior anyone's ever seen!"
"Goodnight, otouto," Kosuke whispered and then laid down himself.
The next morning they set out fairly early. Hikuchi, at first, was upset that he wouldn't be able to say goodbye to Yoshe, but he later found out she didn't live at the teahouse, but at an okiya in the nearby Gion district. Even before the sun had risen, people still walked the streets of Kyoto. Street vendors were preparing their wares, monks were wandering and travelers such as themselves were setting out for the day.
"Oniisan?" Hikuchi said. Kosuke made some sort of noise indicating his little companion should continue. "When will we get to your father's house?"
"Tonight if we're lucky," Kosuke said in response. "We don't live far from Kyoto, and if we walk hard all day, we should make it by night fall."
Hikuchi was excited. He longed to make it to Kosuke's home. If he could impress Kosuke's father, Kosuke's father would be more likely to adopt him. And if he was adopted, Kosuke would be his brother. And if Kosuke was his brother, he would be trained to become a bushi. Hikuchi could hardly contain himself. He wanted to squeal he was so excited.
They walked the entire day, stopping only to eat. Kosuke said little and therefore Hikuchi did as well. Kosuke seemed to be intent on only one thing, and that was getting home.
"Where did you go?" Hikuchi asked when they had stopped for dinner.
"What do you mean?" Kosuke inquired in return.
"You had to have been somewhere if you're returning home. Where were you?"
Kosuke smiled. It seemed like Hikuchi was either hungry or full of questions all the time.
"I was in the south. My uncle lives there and… he needed my help. I was travelling for a week before I met you actually. I'm glad I did." Kosuke looked over at Hikuchi. "These past three days have gone by quickly with your company Hikuchi- kun. Having no one but your thoughts to accompany you allows you to think, but it's lonely business."
Hikuchi smiled, proud of what Kosuke had said. He was glad too, in fact. Travelling with a samurai was far superior to living on the streets and always being hungry.
"Come on," Kosuke said, getting up. "We only have a little ways to go."
The sun was setting when they entered Kosuke's village. However, something was not right. People were fleeing in the opposite direction, screaming. Hikuchi could smell smoke. The anxiety was apparent on Kosuke's face.
"What happened here?" he said to no one in particular.
An old woman came running up to them.
"Master Kosuke! Thank goodness you have arrived! An enemy clan has attacked the village! They're setting buildings on fire!"
"Where's my father?" Kosuke asked almost desperately.
"He's trying to fight them off. I think they've attacked your house."
Kosuke drew his katana and pushed past the woman.
"Stay here!" he shouted back at Hikuchi.
Kosuke took off in the direction of his house. Two of the attackers came at him, but no sooner had they drawn their swords than they were dead.
"Father!" he shouted. "Father, where are you?"
Four more attacked Kosuke, and met their deaths. Finally, he came to his house. He could see his father doing battle with two members of the opposing clan. Kosuke smiled. His father could defeat them easily. He ran towards him, ready to help him fend them off. However his father looked up, and because of this split second distraction was stabbed through the stomach.
Kosuke screamed. His father fell to the ground in what seemed like slow motion. Kosuke looked up at the men who had killed him.
"Damn you!" he screamed and in a fit of rage slew both men in a matter of seconds.
Kosuke dropped his katana. He knelt by his dying father and held him in his arms.
"Father," he said tears coming to his eyes. "Father I'm sorry. I failed you."
"No," said his father smiling. "No you did not. Kosuke, it is my time to go, and I would have gone either way. It is the will of the world. I lived a good life. I had you… The clan needs you Kosuke. My only son."
And with that Kosuke's father drew his last breath. Kosuke cried out in agony. His father, his master, was dead. Without him, it seemed Kosuke had no cause to live. A samurai without a master was a ronin, the law made that clear. Kosuke reached for his katana. If he committed seppuku, he could die with honor. Kosuke brought the sword out in front of himself and prepared to plunge it into his abdomen.
Suddenly Kosuke felt arms wrap around him and tug at him.
"No, oniisan, no!" Hikuchi cried. Kosuke dropped his katana and it clattered against the ground. Hikuchi was crying. "Don't die oniisan! Don't leave me alone!"
Kosuke turned to face his small companion. Hikuchi looked up at Kosuke, his face shining and wet.
"I told you not to follow me," Kosuke said, his voice strong, but on the verge of breaking.
Hikuchi merely buried his face in Kosuke's kimono and wept. All around them, houses were burning. People were screaming. It almost seemed as though the world were coming to an end.
