Alone

Chapter Three: Saving Her

Ayame worked day in and day out as she had done for four long years. The days passed by both quickly and slowly. Either way, this life didn’t feel like living to her, but rather just existing. It was nearly the anniversary of her family’s death. Just over two months, then the dreams would come again and she would see their deaths just as she had done every year on the same day. “Ayame, you need to look after the little mistress.” The words went nearly unheard, seeping into her thoughts.

It has been nearly six months since Chika was born. Six months since the young mistress met the handsome Naoko. Time passed quickly. Naoko had come back to the house many times since, to meet with the young mistress, under supervision of course. Their marriage was fast approaching. She must wait only a few short weeks and she will be free from this house. Ayame sighed, longing for a handsome prince to save her from her cage. But that kind of thing only happens in fairy tales and she was no princess. “Ayame!” Makino spoke sternly, her patience running thin.

“What?!” Ayame’s eyes shot open, a look of shock masking her sorrow.

“You need to go look after her.” She said in a huff.

“Her?” She looked up wearily.

“Chika,” Makino said in a harsh tone.

“At this time of night?” She asked, looking up at Makino, to see her nodding her head. Ayame sighed as she lifted herself sleepily out of bed. “Makino, why did you come to get me?” she yawned. “You could have looked after her yourself.” She rubbed her eyes, trying to wake herself up.

“I offered to look after her, but the mistress insists that you do it.” Without another word, Ayame had gotten out of bed, wandered down the darkened hallway, slid the mistress’ door open and went in. She began to wonder all the while why the mistress had summoned her to take care of Chika when the other servants were far more capable.

She felt a chill go up and down her spine when she walked in. She had an odd feeling that something was amiss. She dismissed it, and continued on to Chika's bedside, which was along the far wall of the mistress' room. Picking up Chika, and rocking her back and forth until her crying slowed to just a whimpering. She smiled down at Chika only to notice she had a cut across her small hand. She could see the drops of blood slowly making their way down her fingers onto the floor. “Oh, how did you cut yourself, Chika?” She whispered, mostly asking the question to herself rather than to Chika, knowing she would not answer back.

Suddenly, the cold metal of a knife lay against her throat and a deep voice spoke roughly in a whisper, clearly trying not to wake the mistress and master who were somehow sleeping through this intrusion. “Give me the child and I won’t hurt you.”

“What do you want with her? She's just a babe.” Ayame tried to keep her voice calm, but she could hear her panic rising with every passing moment.

“Give me the child!” As he spoke she could feel his other hand clasped around her arm and his grip began tightening. Pain surged up her arm. She wanted to scream and cry, but she had to be strong to protect Chika.

“Let go of me!” She had to save Chika, but tears began to stream gently down her cheeks. “Please,” she whimpered, but wished she hadn't let the word pass through her lips. She glanced over at the master and mistress' bed, something was wrong. Had he done something to them?

“Then hand over the child and I'll let you go, unharmed.” He pressed the blade slightly more, drawing a small amount of blood.

“No!” the word slipped from her lips before she could think.

“Well then, I guess I'll take you as well as the child.” In the blink of an eye, she found herself off the ground, gripping Chika tightly for fear of dropping her, over the man’s shoulder, swiftly moving out the door and away from her master's house. Still, she tightened her grip around Chika, praying someone would save them, wanting to scream, but her voice wouldn’t leave her throat.

Her courage finally found its way to her voice, forcing words out of her, “Stop! Please just stop! Let us go!” Her last words were all but a whisper in the wind.

“Oh, I do hate it when pretty ladies beg, but I'm under orders to take the child without any interference.” She heard the mocking laughter after his words had disappeared into the rustling leaves. Anger filled her from deep within her heart. She began swinging her legs, kicking the man in the head. His arm released her and she went crashing to the ground. As she hit the hard, unforgiving forest floor she released Chika. Ayame frantically reached for her, but the man took hold of her quickly, standing back to his full height looming over her, Chika resting in his strong arms. She leaped to her feet and grabbed his arm, only to have him fling her against a tree. She could hear the cracking of her bones as she hit. Landing on the ground, she fought to keep her eyes open but lost the battle. The darkness closed in around her, with only a faint cry in the distance echoing in her ears, to remind her she had lost Chika as well.

The fiery face of the murderer came crashing into her mind, forcing her to wake up from the world of dreams. Opening her eyes, she was able to erase his silhouette from her mind. She looked around to find she was back in her master's home with Makino sitting at her side. Her eyes glazed over with a heartbroken expression. “What's wrong, Makino?”

“I have bad news.” She paused as though Ayame was able to read her thoughts. She didn't continue to speak until Ayame gave her a questioning look. “Chika has been kidn*pped and the master has a high price to pay to bring her home alive..... and.....and.” Makino couldn’t seem to control her tears any longer.

“Please tell me what happened!” Fear wrapped its claws around her fragile heart.

“The master has been given two options. He can either pay a large sum of money for her or... make a trade.” She continued crying, making it hard for Ayame to hear, but she caught the gist of it.

“Trade? What do you mean?” Worried Ayame.

“A person for a person..... and...... and,” Her hands flew to cover her face, and all Ayame could hear were her sobs and her muffled voice.

“So if the master can't pay, then he has to trade someone to get the little mistress back?” She felt as though she already knew the truly dreadful news before Makino said anything more.

“I'm sorry,” she whispered.

“Why are you sorry?” Ayame asked, puzzled. “You haven't done anything wrong. It's my fault that I couldn't protect her.”

“You're still just a child. I should be the one to leave, not you. I am older and, therefore, I have fewer years left to live out my life. Why has he chosen to take you over all the other servants? I only wish I could change this horrible outcome.” The tears started gliding down her face once more.

Ayame was too shocked to have any emotions emerge from her sealed heart. She didn't want to cry, but at the same time, she desired nothing more. What could she have done? If this is her master’s wish, she cannot refuse the order. She had taken on the job of a servant. It was a lifestyle she had chosen. It was the only way for her to survive. Now she began to dread her decision of four years ago. There was nothing for her to do now other than to have regrets, though she would not allow herself to have them. No self-pity, no regrets.

The next few days went by in a blur. She packed her nightgown, the blue kimono that she had worn on the day she had come to this house, and a small blanket. The clock chimed. The time had come to leave the place she thought could have been her new home, but instead a cage. They had to meet the man who had taken Chika, although she didn't understand why she was chosen for the trade, “A life for a life”, is what the master said over and over. How can this be fair? She didn’t choose to give up her life for Chika. Shouldn’t that be the reason the trade works? If you love your child enough, you would give your own life. Is it not easier to give up someone else’s life that will never affect you?

Whatever the answer to this question, the master was doing what he thought was best, and all Ayame could do was respect his wishes. “Ayame, I'm sorry to put you through this, however, this is the only way.” As Ayame listened to his voice she could hear the anguish, but it seemed to be only skin deep. As if to him it was just a dream, not reality.

“It's alright. I'm just happy I'm able to bring Chika back to your family. Besides, it's not like I haven't lost my home before.” As she spoke she plastered on a smile to make the master's heart more at ease. “Maybe if they let me go and I find my way back you'll let me stay in your house again?”

“Yes, of course. Especially since you're giving up more for us than most would.” His voice was still distressed, but some of the grief had left. With those words, she started to wonder if he had only chosen her after asking all the other servants. In the ransom letter left behind, on Chika’s floor, for him to find, were instructions that Ayame had to be the one to be exchanged for Chika.

The master hitched two horses to the old wooden wagon, and climbing up onto the front, took hold of the reins. Ayame took a seat in the back with the few belongings she had. “It’s time. I’m sure they’ll treat you well.” With those words, the rest of the trip through Osaka to Wakayama remained silent with only the wind making a sound.

In Wakayama, they stopped for the night. They wandered into an inn not too far from the Philippine Sea. By mid-morning, they were to meet a man along the shore just outside of Wakayama. Ayame felt as though her heart was going to break from the feeling of losing her replacement family again. It hurt too much to think she was never going to be able to go back. The home may not have been as happy as her own was, but it was a home nonetheless. The mistress may have mistreated her, and the younger mistress may not have been all too kind, but the master was nice and Chika lit up daily with her smiles. Now it was all gone.

* * *

Ayame woke the next morning, only to remember where she was and why. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her thoughts and belongings. She walked into the hallway only to see her master, leaning against his door, waiting for her to come out. He moved away from the wall and started to walk towards the inn's front door. She slowly followed with fear clawing its way at her heart. They went out the door and walked toward the buggy and horses. He leapt into the front of the wagon and she into the rear, leaning against the back of the wagon and closing her eyes.

Before she knew it, she had dozed off. “Please, leave them alone. They're the only family I have!” she screamed as she watched the man put his sword through her family one by one. She heard their screams, but no matter how fast she ran, she couldn't make it to them in time. Fire blazed all around as he stood straight, his sword stained red and a demonic smile across his lips. She looked into his eyes, trying to find some humanity in him, but instead, it was as if the flames of Hell resided in his gaze. She tried to scream as he started for her, but no sound would come. She tried to run, but her feet wouldn’t move. He came closer and closer to her until he loomed over her. He had a devilish smile, bloodthirsty eyes and a terrifying voice.

“Ayame, wake up.” She opened her eyes to see her master staring down at her with his hands on her shoulders. She looked around and found they had reached the shore. She wiped the sweat from her brow. She could still hear the screams ringing in her ears and feel the fiery eyes on her.

“I'm sorry, master.” She stood up and gathered her things, stepping down from the wagon as she pulled her bag over her shoulder. She glanced around, trying to see through the morning fog. As it cleared she caught glimpses of a man standing not too far from where her master had stopped the wagon. He stood holding onto a small bundle. His face was dark, yet held a mournful expression.

“I brought you the replacement. In return I want my daughter back!” the master said in a shaking voice which was full of hope that his precious daughter would be returned to him, as well as the rage that someone would do such a thing as kidnap an infant.

“So, you are the master of the house?” The man smiled cunningly.

“Yes, and I've done as you've asked. Now return Chika to me!” my master demanded.

“What a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl. I am very sorry, but you seem to have misunderstood what will happen here. My apology for your misunderstanding, but it is what it is.” The man’s face seemed almost remorseful, yet Ayame had the feeling this man was extremely dangerous, conniving as a fox.

“You’re lying!” His voice showed worry and yet he had knowledge of what was to come, for he persisted, “That doesn't matter. I've done it this way.” The master's face reddened.

“Good sir, I would hate to do this, but it's what must be done to repay the debt of…” he lowered his voice to above a whisper, continuing, “a traitor.” He then quickly placed Chika in Ayame's arms, pulled out his long sword and with one thrust sliced through her master's body. She was too shocked by the quick turn of events to scream or make any kind of sound. Her body wouldn’t move no matter how many times her mind pushed for it her run. “I am sorry, my dear lady, that your master would trade you for his daughter only to lose his life. There is something I will tell you though. You won’t be going back to that home again. I promise.” He winked with a broad grin spreading across his lips. In a whispered voice meant only for him to hear, “It's a shame, no matter what he had done, that this was going to be the outcome.”

“I read the letter. He did as you asked!” She finally found her voice.

“Well, I made a few adjustments to it.” He smirked.

“Then at least let me take Chika back to her home. I'll go with you once she is safe and sound. She deserves to go back to her family! She's done nothing wrong. She’s only a babe.” She tried to persuade him, but it seemed it was all in vain.

“I am very sorry for this outcome, but you and Chika must accompany me.” She knew that was the end of it. Neither Chika nor she would be going back there. How could this happen to her again? She was only just finding a place where she felt she could belong, only to have it ripped away. As her thoughts raced around her mind, she felt her feet leave the ground and the wind brush against her cheeks. The man had picked her up, placed her over his shoulder and set off down the shore at a rapid pace. Pain struck through her body as they moved. She forced her eyes to remain open, hoping to be able to figure out where they were headed. Unfortunately, since she had never been outside of Kyoto before the m******e, and had never really taken an interest in maps when her father tried to teach her, it was useless.

One landmark finally jumped out at her as they turned and began racing inland. Green land with wild deer roaming free reminded her of a conversation she once had with her father. He was telling her of many different places in Japan that he wanted to take them to but never seemed to have the time to do so. Visiting a place with an abundance of deer was one of them. She thought for a moment, trying to recall the name of the place, and finally, it hit her. Nara. She couldn’t understand why he would bring her here. Her mind still whirled from what had happened only moments ago. Without a warning, her eyes gave up and her mind went silent as she lost all consciousness. It had all been too much.