SAMURAI

Chapter 16; Jealous

    The door to the hut was still closed. I stood in front of the door with a fresh body. I found a puddle of clean water not far from my new place. I washed my black ninja clothes and took a shower. Masashige's gift shirt mixed with blood and sweat hung from the branch. Moroshige's sword turned into a shaving dagger. 

    I shaved clean sideburns and a thick beard. My hair was hanging wet. The remaining water from washing the hair dripped down the bright haori kimono. The blue hakama trousers matched the same color strappy straw sandals. I knocked softly. No answer. I put my ear on the wooden door. Two grunts sounded subtle. My heart was filled with jealousy. Aya and Goemon slept together in one hut!

    I knocked on the door again. After the third knock, there was an answer from inside.

    "Who is it?" asked Aya's voice suspiciously.

    "Me. Genta."

    The door opened. Tomoe Aya stood up, rubbing her eyes. Her thick, dark hair was awkward. Her face was as pale as her lips. Eyes with reddish curly hair that looks very tired. Even so, Aya still looked very beautiful in my eyes. She looked at me for a long time, as if something was wrong with my appearance. Her face was sullen. 

    She returned to the hut, slamming the door. Women everywhere are the same. They don't want to look ugly after waking up. 

    “The hut is ready. We must leave immediately. I'm afraid your husband’s soldiers will chase us here, "I said through the door.

    "I'll take a shower first! "Aya shouted from inside the hut.

    "No time. "

    "I'd rather die from their stoning than not to shower!"

    Aya's appearance changed slightly. The clothes were tidier even though she still wore the same clothes. Her hair is curled back. Her face was quite clean after washing it with the remaining water that I brought yesterday. 

    "Do not enter!"

    "Why?"

    "Just don't enter!"

    She left me standing stunned outside. The sound of Goemon's snoring inside the hut was soft.

    It took a while waiting for a girl to shower and fix makeup. The girl walked quickly to the hut. The color of the hakama pants and the haori kimono was the same as mine. Hakama in blue, haori kimono in bright yellow. On the back of the haori shirt, the Hiki clan emblem in the shape of a canary was visible.

    Goddess Aphrodite walked over. Her plump body moved to wave, calling my gaze not to shift. Her thick, black hair was left loose. Her lips were full of redness. Her tapered cheeks gave off a silver light. Tomoe Aya looked back at me, then turned her gaze towards the wide sea. Her face is flushed with embarrassment. Like when I first saw her on board the Mongolian army, I was amazed so many times. And, I am sure that I will remain fascinated forever.

    "You didn't go inside, did you?"

    I silently did not answer. Keep staring at the girl standing in front of me.

    "You didn't go into the hut, did you?"

    "What?" I asked nervously.

    The sweet smell of cherry blossoms from this girl's body made my body just a lump of no man's flesh. My soul drifted following the scent of Tomoe Gozen's granddaughter's body until it disappeared in the sea breeze.

    The girl just shook her head. "Ah, never mind. Wait outside. I will prepare this young samurai first.”

    Aya opened the door, going inside. I wanted to catch up with him, but the door slammed in my path. I was stunned again.

    Not too long, my ears caught unusual sounds. I grabbed the sword and scabbard. From afar, shouts could be heard echoing.

    “Hurry up. They've found us, "I shouted from outside the hut.

    The door to the hut was wide open. Goemon's body is on Aya's shoulder.

    "Here, let me carry him."

    "Not! Let me. This samurai's body is light,” said Aya.

    Without further arguing, I pointed towards the forest. The girl understood what I meant. He ran first. I have to clean up our tracks so we don't get caught.

    Aya waited near the lake. Goemon's body was still on her shoulder. She refused again when I offered to replace the drooping body of the dandy samurai. I didn’t argue. I let the grandson of Tomoe Gozen still carry a young man even though my heart began to be filled with heat. 

    Half running, I guided Aya's movement towards our new hut. Leaping over thorns, down a small river, slashing the path. I had to walk in circles so that we didn't catch our trail. Every way we walked, I jumped up into the tree, gnawing at the bark, signaling that one day we got lost. 

    After one hour of running, Aya's body was sweating. The Kimono was wet. The hair that sticks to the neck made her looked sexier. We arrived at the new residence I made all day yesterday.

    "Hah!" she shouted relieved.

    Aya lowered Goemon who was still fast asleep. Masashige's drug is very effective. To heal wounds quickly requires adequate rest. The healing god's medicine for wounds leaves the patient lulled in a state of trance for a long time.

    The girl looked around, looked up, then was amazed. She shook her head many times to see my work. She claps. Her lips turned into a smile. I was blown away.

    "Great! I never thought a knight could build two huts in one night. " She paused for a moment. Her beautiful eyes keep turning to enjoy my work. "You built these huts alone?"

    "No," I replied simply. Kidding.

    Aya looks shocked. Her face turned stiff. Suspicion was still not gone from his heart. The girl pulled the sword from its sheath, preparing to attack me.

    I jumped back a few fathoms. 

    "Wait! Wait. I am not alone. Accompanied by that, and that. " My hand pointed to the python and three black bears moving wildly around us. 

    The four allies were shocked to see me carrying two other humans.

    "Ah, I think..." The girl sheathed her sword.

    I realized my mistake. We've only met twice, while I haven't had the chance to tell her about my life story after helping her. Maybe she still considered me part of the Ilkhanat army.

    "For the time being, we are safe here while waiting for Goemon to be healthy. I think it will take two weeks to restore his health. "

    An irritated snort flew from the legend's grandson's nose. I am happy. Never mind two weeks, I am always willing to accompany him forever.

    "Which hut is this young samurai?"

    I pointed to the biggest hut. "That."

    Tomoe Aya raised her head. Her gaze shifted to the other hut. 

    "That's the shack for you," I explained.

    "Where are you sleeping?" she asked.

    "I'll sleep with Goemon," I answered lightly.

    Aya's face turned pale. She looks displeased. "Not. I slept with that samurai. You sleep alone," replied the girl coldly.

    What the heck?!

     My ears could not believe the words I heard. I looked at her suspiciously. Coming down from the underground hole until now she had never been separated from Goemon. She didn't even want me to visit the dying man. Moreover, touching his body just to check the wound. 

    Perhaps? I shook my head. No way. But the reality that was presented could not be denied.

    Tomoe Aya preferred Goemon. The lust to kill started creeping up my veins. I stared closely at the dying young samurai. I had helped him, claimed my life for him, but he had betrayed me. That man had stolen the girl's heart that destroyed my future. Tomoe Aya was willing to sleep alone with a man she just met? Even though at this time that man was unable to do his job as a man!

    "Up to you!" I snorted angrily.

    Like a soldier losing a war, I turned around. Something's biting hard inside my chest. It hurt but didn't bleed. I exerted all my strength stomping the ground, jumping high into the nearest tree, then swinging fast without direction. I wanted to disappear from this earth.

    "Genta, wait!" Aya's scream was still faint.

    I did not care. My legs moved erratically. My hand grabbed whatever I could. I wanted to disappear quickly from the front of the girl who had destroyed the past and at the same time stole my future. 

    The reason I live in this country is to find her. I risked my life for her, abandoned the past, and gave up my future for her. However, the girl had made choice. She refused before I confessed.

    As if possessed by the spirit of a tengu, I jumped from tree to tree in no direction. My brain jammed. My life purpose stopped before it started. Kataomoi, unrequited love. I had lost both as a Warrior and as a man.

    Without a clear purpose, I continued to float between the trees. I wish I didn't run into any pirate groups. Because I would be happy to help them continue their journey to another life. The more, the better. Being rejected by love made people mad and thirsty for blood.

    Until it got dark, I walked along the beach. Seawater curled up to the ankles. Early winter, the beach sand was not hot. Seawater fell cold on my feet. I tightened my haori kimono, carrying straw sandals. Right when the sun was overhead, my body reabsorbed my soul that had wandered about in no direction. When the sun settled on the western horizon, I had found myself again. 

    The bushido echoed. I did meditation. It didn't take long, when the night insects began to be heard along with the rolling waves, I had found a path that had been lost. Running fast while cursing myself, I returned to the forest. One young girl and one injured man needed my help. They won't be able to survive long if the pirates found our hiding place.

    The two huts looked faint. The sky was clear even though it was cold. Thousands of stars illuminate our hiding place. No suspicious movements. The door to the hut was made of pieces of wood interwoven with tassels and is closed. The heat in my heart spreads back. In the hut to the right, a bigger hut, Tomoe Aya was busy with a man. I shook my head, casting away jealousy.

    While engrossed in wrestling with my thoughts, a quick movement crashed into me. She didn't use a weapon, only with bare hands. The scent of my attacking cherry blossom first reached my nose. I failed to draw out my sword, only jumped backward to avoid it.

    "Hold on. It's me, Genta! "

    Tomoe Aya stopped her movement. The face darkened. The shade of the leaves hid her expression. She turned back, jumped into the tree, holding back sobs. If I heard correctly, that girl is crying? I chased her. 

    She sat on the branch. Yes, she is crying. Tears rolled down her thin cheeks. Her right hand hides melted tears. I approached the girl. Sit on the branch in front of her. she cried harder. 

    I was embarrassed. My choice fell by letting her cry as much. After it subsided, I pushed the cloth to clean the tears and snot. She nodded gratefully.

    "Why are you crying?" I asked carefully.

    "Afraid ... alone in the middle of the forest. ..."

    If only she wasn't serious about the tone of the sentence, I would have laughed out loud. This woman could take a man's life but cried in terror alone in the forest. I pressed the sound that came out of my stomach so it didn't pass through my throat.

    “Y — you… evil”, she sobbed exasperatedly.

    I couldn't hold my heart anymore. I had to be brave enough to say it even if it hurt. "Sorry. I… just… can't stand to see you….” 

    My heart was beating hard. My sentence was not finished.

    The girl's sobs stopped at once. "What do you mean?"

    “Yeah, you and Goemon. I can't bear to see the two of you….” 

    Again, my last sentence stuck in my throat. I lowered my head. "Ah never minds. I respect your choice ..." sounded sad.

    The girl moved her seat closer. She lowered her head in the direction of my head, looking for my bowed face. I lifted my head, looked at her in despair. As our eyes met, she laughed out loud. 

    The echo of her voice was reflected by trees, leaves, and the sound of moths and insects stopped at once. Pythons snaking in a deep circle not far from where we raised their heads, their tongues sticking out. Three black bears roared. All the creatures in this forest sound happy to see this girl laughed at my bitterness.

    "Are you jealous?" A smile widened from Aya's red lips.

    I caught a happy tone behind the sentence of the question. I didn't answer. You don't need a love expert to catch male jealousy.

    The girl who destroyed my ideals touched my arm. She shook my right shoulder. Tomoe Aya laughed out loud again. 

    "Haha ... You left me alone in the forest because you were jealous of Goemon and me?"

    I lifted my head. The girl's eyes water. Not tears of fear, but tears of not being able to stop laughing.

    My molars tighten. Unlike this afternoon, this time I won't run away from reality. No matter how bitter it is. 

    "Yes! I am jealous. Satisfied?" I shouted.

    “Oh, Genta, the mighty former Templar knight… Hahaha….” Again, Aya laughed out loud. 

    After regaining control of herself, the girl continued, “Goemon is not a boy. She's a girl disguised as a boy. That's why I don't let you check her wound; don't let you sleep with her!”

     As if struck by thunder in the middle of the day I started. If only my left hand didn't hold on to the branch, my body would fall.

    "He — She ...? Goemon? "

    Aya burst out laughing again while holding her stomach. “Yes… she's a woman. Hahaha…."

    "Why?" I asked in disbelief.

    The rest of the laughter remains on Aya's face. The girl shook her head. 

    “I don't know what reason she disguised herself like that. She's still unconscious. Later, after she can tell a story, I will demand an explanation from her," she said seriously.

    Now I cannot help laughing. Of course! Her face is innocent, her skin is white, her movements are graceful. Her haori kimono shirt is loose so it can cover her breasts. The neck of the shirt raised over the neck hiding the throat without Adam's apple. The image of me carrying her body crossed again.

     How stupid I was. Goemon's butt is soft, not a man's hard butt.