9.

You woke up for a moment just to see somebody laying you down on a futon in unfamiliar place. You heard some voices around you and rustling of the sheets. Everything was blurry, and you felt as if you were underwater. But then you fell asleep again and dreamed about your first days in Kyoto seven years ago.


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.


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You found yourself in the middle of a busy street. Everything looked new to you, but you didn't have much strength to go sightseeing. You were on the road for weeks now. On another note, you decided to never take a ship again. You adjusted your backpack and looked for an inn to stay for a night.




You sighed and smiled. Finally, you were away from that dysfunctional family and a house that never felt like a home. You decided to move to Kyoto. It was quite far away and big enough, so nobody would come search for you. Besides, your mother told you once about how pretty Kyoto is.




Your search for the inn turned out to be futile. Most of them were just tea houses, others were filled with guests. Some didn't even want to take you in, since you were too young and they took you for a prostitute. You decided to stay from public houses as far away as possible. You fumed and turned to go to the temple. You hoped that they won't refuse you a shelter. It wasn't like you didn't have money, you were capable to pay them.




The problem was, that you didn't know where the temple was, even with directions given by townsfolk you lost your way. In addition it looked like it was going to rain.




"Why is this happening to me?" you asked nobody in particular. Once again you tried to recall instructions given by passerby. With a sigh you dragged your tried feet forward. You looked up to the darkening sky and frowned. The alley you walked through was an dead end. You tightened your grip on your pack.




You heard clash of a swords and a sudden chill run by your spine. To the alley dashed two man breaking a window. You froze as they fought before your eyes. They moved quickly and swiftly. You decided it would be the best if you won't meddle in their affairs and slip out of there. Nodding to yourself you searched for the way to escape. Yet, you were sure they noticed you by now, so you were confident that you didn't want to stay and see the outcome. The only way out of the alley went just beside fighting men.




You looked for the opportunity for escape. The taller and most likely older of the two started to corner the other. Only the you noticed that the other one was a young man, probably your age, maybe year or two older. Though being overpowered he was grinning.




You saw an opening and made a run for it. In this moment the younger man pushed the attacker and you collided with him. Overloaded with your pack you fell down and the man took the opportunity and took you as the hostage.




"Now," he said in low tone. "Let me go or this girl will meet her end today."




"So what?" the other asked coldly, but still was smiling. His green eyes shone dangerously. The man let you go with and with a sharp move pushed you away. You almost crashed your head on a clay pots. With groan you messaged your arm. "So boring."




"You persistent scum..." you heard the taller man curse.




The fight was still on-going. You looked between them, the taller one gained advantage. Your plan of a quiet escape backfired. If they finished their fight you could get away from here. At least you hoped the winner would not decide to kill you or rape you. You weren't sure which one was a worse one at the moment. Your attacker stood now with his back turned to you. It was an opportunity you waited for.




You took the pot and sneaked behind him. You swung the heavy pot at his head and he fell down with scattered clay shards around him. The green-eyed young man looked at you surprised.




"Why would you do that?" he asked you as you stepped by fallen man.




"I just want to get away from here," you replied. You prayed to the gods you chose the right man that will let you go."The fight would last forever. And if you excuse me..."




He started to laugh as you stood before him. You adjusted your pack and bowed slightly. You still felt uncomfortable with somebody who had a little regard of your life.




"Who says I'll let you go?" he said. You feared he'd say something like this. While you were thinking about the excuse he just grinned. "So?"




Your eyes wandered all over the dark alley. Suddenly he raised his katana and charged.




"Wait!" you cried closing your eyes. You held your breath and waited for the hit, but it never came. You heard scream of agony behind you. You blinked few times. The sword went through your kimono sleeve and pierced the man's chest.




"Damn you..." he cursed last time before dropping dead. You stood face to face with a killer. You trembled in fear. You wondered if you were to join the men on the ground. He grinned and pulled the sword out.




"Nice job with that pot," he said and sheathed the katana. He still held smirk on his face. "Who knew girl would have guts. You must be crazy."




"Huh...?" you looked at him confused. He wasn't going to kill you?




"Favor for a favor," he concluded. You slowly nodded. "Okita Souji. If you tell anyone what you saw I'll kill you."




He turned to leave. You recovered from the shock, though you still were afraid of his rather serious threat. You felt drops of water on your face.




"Are you going to leave him there?" you called to him. His outline was barely visible. You must have lost your mind when you shouted. "Hey!"




"What? Got problem with that?"




"Well, he..." you shrugged unable to make a sentence.




"Don't you know it's rude to not tell your name back?" he ignored your previous statements. You looked at him confused. Wasn't he just leaving now?




"It's ________ _____," you bowed.




"Well,_____, see you around," he said and faded into the alley. You breathed out and with a little strength that you still had you made your way out of the alley. Further from the dead man the better. Caught up with the whole incident you haven't noticed that the night has fallen. The rain poured from the sky. You grew more afraid of being here all alone at night. You ignored the fact that this Okita guy might kill you any second he wishes.




You jumped at the sound of sliding doors. A man in his late thirties spotted you and looked suspiciously.




"What are you doing this late at night?"




"I'm lost," you answered as honestly as you could.




"Do you have any place to stay?" a woman, presumably his wife, leaned out of the doors. She wore kind and welcoming smile.




"N-no, not really," you looked at your feet.




"Poor thing, come inside, you're wet!" she ushered you inside.




She gave you towel to dry your hair. You smiled in gratitude. She made you eat some soup, though you didn't have much of an appetite after today's incident. She helped you to dress up in dry kimono.




"I'm Shimazu Makoto. With my husband we run this restaurant. You are?"




You gave her your name and bowed. When asked what happened to you, you waved the question off. You told her that you were just lost and that you came from far away and now looked for a place to stay. Girl around your age made an appearance. She yawned and looked at you blinking. She introduced herself as Kimiko.




Next morning the Shimazu family proposed you a job as a waitress in their restauration in exchange for a place to stay. You couldn't believe. They actually let you stay at their home just after meeting you night before. You agreed to the conditions and soon, along with Kimiko, you started working.




***




Another two weeks gone by till you saw the green eyed demon again. You were at the market doing shopping for the restaurant. You were determined to carry these vegetables and some fruit by yourself. You were pushed from every side till you finally dropped them while colliding with somebody. You apologized and started to collect vegetables into the basket.




"Oh, you again?" you heard somebody's voice. Your eyes met nasty grin and green eyes sparkling in amusement.




"Okita, right?" you addressed him.




"Seems you really like to fall down, huh?" he laughed at you. You twitched and sent him small glare.




"Why don't you help me? You made me fall anyway," you huffed.




"Nah, don't feel like it," he waved you off. He just watched as you collected the vegetables. "You live here, ______?"




"Since when we are on first name basis? And yes, I do."




"Since today. You looked kinda lost back then."




He watched you with a lazy grin as you decided to resume walking. He looked at the contents of your basket. He reached for peach and you slapped his hand.




"Shoo, it's not yours to take."




"Hey, for saving you back there I should get an reward."




"If I recall correctly, and I'm sure I do, you said favor for a favor."




"Touché," you smiled in triumph. You weren't sure if you wanted to debate with such dangerous man, but up until now he didn't do anything. He didn't slash you in the middle of the street, that's for sure.




You walked in a silence for a moment till question popped in your mind.




"Who are you anyway?" you asked.




"I told you before," he shrugged. You sighed and decided that it was useless. He turned into an alley. "See ya!" he disappeared as quickly as he came.




Next time you met him you thought you'd die.




~~*~~




Flashback time! First time in Kyoto was kinda eventful for Reader-chan. Just half more chapter with fashback and we're back to the present. And of course resolution~! 

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