The Petals Falling

Chapter 2

When I wake up I’m in a light room. I’ve never seen a room like this before. What happened? The last thing I remember was the strange man….. wait! The man! Am I in his house? Am I in the palace in the Emperor’s chambers?

The rooms I’m in has deep red walls. The curtains are pulled cut but the light from the midday sky is coming through. The bed I’m on is huge with white sheets. There’s a small table to my right with intricate carvings along the edge. I run my hand along them. I’ve never seen anything like that before. It’s beautiful.

On the wall across from me is a sword. A huge Japanese sword. The kinds that the Emperor’s men used to carry. When they used to come here that is. Maybe whomever’s house this is was a part of the guard. Is this Chan’s house?

“Oh you’re awake good” I jump as the strange man from earlier comes around the corner with a cup of tea.

“I made you some tea. You seemed very scared out there. I am sorry I had to resort to violence but I could not stand what that man was saying to you. Do you even know him”? The man sits the cup down at a table to the right of me and sit down on a chair.

“Oh my you must be frightened. I am sorry. I am Sadaaki Mahiro. Pleasure to meet you” he smiles at me with perfectly white teeth. He must be a murderer. Only murderer’s could look that appealing.

“Mr. Sadaaki, where am I?” I look around at the bed I am in and pulled the covers up closer to me.

“Oh that. Umm I hope you don’t mind” his face gets red and he looks a little bit embarrassed. “Well at the market you fainted so I caught you before you could hit the ground but you weren’t waking up. Your father was worried so I promised I’d take good care and brought you back here. To my home… I know you are unmarried and so am I but I promise I was a gentleman and nothing happened. I set you down and went off the make you some tea and when I came back… well here we are” he laughs awkwardly.

I feel my face get bright red with embarrassment. “You mean I am in your bed right now?” I feel as though I will faint again.

“Technically yes but I have just moved to this village so I haven’t even slept in it at all. So therefore is could be your bed if you’d like. I am perfectly fine sleeping on the floor” he smiles and I can see a dimple appear on his right cheek. We lock gazes but I look away too quickly. This man knows nothing of me and I know nothing of him. He could still be a murderer. Just a very nice looking one.

“Thank you for being kind to me Mr. Sadaaki” I stand and bow to him. He stands also and tries to help me keep my balance. For some reason I feel dizzy.

“It was no problem but I think you should probably stay here for awhile. That man was choking you. You lost a lot of breathing time when that happened. That’s why you fainted. And why I stepped in. Oh, and you can call me Mahiro if you’d like. I know it is improper but neither is us alone in my bed” he laughs and his face beams red again.

“It is alright Sadaaki, my father raised me to respect men and treat them a certain way. I do know that man also, his name is Chan Yata. He used to be a palace guard. He harasses me every time I’m here. He does not believe women should be allowed out of the house and tries to scare me about the ways of the palace. It is simply how he is” I look up after speaking and see his jaw has snapped shut and he is clenching it tightly closed.

“I am sorry if I have upset you Sadakki…” he cuts me off by lifting my chin up so he can look at me.

“You have done nothing wrong. I am simply angry of the way he has been treating you and most likely other women who are just trying to help out their families. I have never understood some men’s thinkings. Women can do just want men can plus more. If anything I should bow at your feet” his gaze is intense against mine. “You never told me your name” he says holding my hands tightly and inching closer to me.

“S.. Su... Suki…. my name is Suki” I look down embarrassed that this unknown man has this kind of affect on me.

“Well Suki, you can lie back down if you’d like. I can give the news to your father and tell him how you are if you’d like”.

“Father…. no that is quite alright Sadaaki. You have done far too much for me. Especially for not even knowing me” I take a step back and bow again. “I should go before father starts to worry. Thank you again for your generosity”. I run out of the room before he has a moment to say anything and run back into the market to find father.