SAMURAI

CHAPTER 22: Live for Love

    Love is a dangerous mental illness, Plato said. But in my opinion, love is the healing of a suffering soul. Before I met Aya, my soul was exposed to various painful feelings. My days were filled with turmoil. My nights were full of disgust and helplessness in facing frightening dreams. 

    My soul was molt like a cedar tree shed its leaves in spring, ironically, when in the same season the cherry blossoms were fully flare. Aya's love made my soul rise from adversity.

    Still, according to Plato, love was divided in many ways; Eros, Philia, Agape. My love for Tomoe Aya was a combination of Eros and Agape. It was Eros who tickled my emotions, threw away the logic of my common sense, as well as enveloping me in agape love that was spiritual. 

    The difference and the barrier between me and my love was nothing more than a collection of walls that I can remove. Our logic died when Eros reached its culmination point. 

    Our love was bound by unconditional love. I and Aya would continue to love regardless if one day our bodies separated. In her heart, there was my love, and in my heart, there is a room that is always locked. In that room, I could never let Aya's love reside.

    Contemplating our love, made Hakata, the busiest port in Japan, slowly approach. The sky was clear even though it was cold. Megumi was in somewhere. That girl hasn't appeared since the last dinner. Maybe she locked herself in tears over her face. 

    Returning to her luxurious home means returning to a boring life. Full of rules, orders, prohibitions, and all kinds of stuff about the norms of noble girl's life. Her beautiful home was a sickening golden cage. Forests, beaches, nature were more beautiful. The adventure was real life. In that way, you can find many kinds of people without masks, without insulation, without barriers.

    Aya and I stood on the deck looking at the lively harbor of Hakata. Ships lined anchor, waiting their turn to lean. Porters drenched in sweat, loading and unloading goods. Horses and donkeys competed for loads in the saddle. Security officers dominated by old samurai stared at the immigrants. Their eyes were like eagles, watching every suspicious move. The air of war came first before the real army attacked.

    Aya was wearing a thick white kimono with a cherry blossom pattern. She wanted to turn back the time with the Sakura motif in winter. Her jet-black long hair was flowing violently by the sea breeze. Her face was pale white, but still beautiful even without makeup.

    We were grieving. Temporary farewell in front of us. Our fingers rested on the wooden walls of the ship, didn't want to lose.

    Low-flying seagulls screeched loudly. We looked at each other. No need for a sentence to explain all the flavors. The Shoni-clan flagged ship in the form of four black cubes drove without waiting for their turn to be inspected. The captain of the ship sounded a whistle driving away from the blocking ship. 

    When the anchor hit the bottom of a sandy beach, the slap was tethered, that time our fingers were separated. Aya's tears were floating. If I don't give her strength, her tears will fall and cause suspicion of other samurai.

    I whispered before separating. "Wipe away your tears and be happy. We have sworn in the name of love. As long as there is love in our hearts, the pain and misery wound we can bear together."

    Aya nodded slowly. Her eyes sparkled a little, giving the highest-level smile I had ever seen.

    Elite troops swiftly pave the way. Thirty-armed spear soldiers ran ahead, then split into two. Fifteen warriors stood tall with spears in their right- and left-hand sides. Megumi climbed the deck from the basement. All samurai dropped their bodies. Aya pulled my hand to sit salute.

    She was no longer a dandy samurai.

    The purple kimono dress with the golden Kiku flower that the girl was wearing matched her plump body. Her hair is left loose. A white floral fan adorns her hand. Megumi's face was white with powder. Her lips are thin red and flushed. The mole below the lip was covered in makeup polish. However, the lips pursed, not the slightest smile. 

    Adachi's royal turn was graceful. When passing us, her head bowed thin like a noble's daughter. 

    She passed up the bridge.

    On the wooden bridge, the soldiers fell, bending to their knees, bowing their heads and their gaze. A booth carried by four burly bodyguards awaited opposite. As Megumi approached the palanquin, four stretchers propped themselves up, opened the curtains, and invited the princess to ride. The samurai escorted Megumi until they disappear at the corner of the road.

     Life changed quickly in the real world. Two days ago, that girl was still screaming spoiled when we teased her. Now, between us towering a caste-shaped wall.

    The life insulation is now approaching us. After Megumi sank into real life, another stretcher waited. No less luxurious with Megumi's palanquin. My lover took a deep breath many times. 

    "That's for me," she said softly.

    I gasped. Four guides prepare to open the curtains. Behind the stretcher, thirty guardian samurai lined up divided into two sides. The Shiraishi Clan flag was waiting. Behind the palanquin, a handsome samurai sat calmly on a horse. His face looked happy to welcome Aya, but blushed when he found me also walking beside her.

    Shiraishi Michiyasu got off his horse, approached me and Aya who were walking together. The look in his eyes sparkled burning as he looked at me. He covered it with a smile. That young and handsome samurai leaned toward me.

    "Thank you for the second time. I owe you a big debt."

    I looked down to respond with respectful gestures.

    Still, in the same attitude, he continued, "Thank you for saving my future wife!"

    The sentence was like a bolt of lightning in the scorching heat. If only the screams of dozens of seagulls did not disguise, my sigh would be heard. This is the wall. This is the barrier to our love. 

    I glanced at Aya. The girl bowed. Her eyes floated tears. 

    We were hurt.

    I pressed my voice so it wouldn't sound tremble. "You are welcome. Fortunately, Mr. Shoni's ship saved us, "I retorted huskily.

    I tried to suppress the turmoil. My heart was pounding loudly. The freezing winter even made my body heat up. My hands and feet trembled unable to bear the weight.

    "We're going home," Michiyasu ordered without caring about me anymore. 

    Aya nodded slowly.

    The samurai turned around, walking upright in triumph. Three bodyguards behind him approached Aya, escorting the girl as a prisoner. My lover's steps looked heavy. Her face was pale, staring at me for help. Her eyelids trembled violently. The curved eyelashes I blinked, trying to hold back the tears. 

    I wanted to pull the sword, cut down those three samurai guards Aya, as well as eliminate all the barriers to our love. However, my hands were stiff. The logic of my common sense was still stuck though slowly evaporating. Acting recklessly did not produce perfection. In the world of love, we have each other. But in the real-life, she was someone’s future wife.

    Aya walked slowly, looked briefly at me, bowed her head, then passed to the stretcher. Michiyasu looked at the scene in front of him from the horse. Our eyes met. He grinned triumphantly. 

    Michiyasu gave the order to the guide. Stretcher move forward. Thirty samurai of his followers walked upright behind. The stretcher curtain was still open. Before the curtain closed, Tomoe Aya's face popped up in tears. Her eyes glazed over. Pale lips moved slowly to form a sentence, pointing right at my heart. 

    She whispered, "I love you."

    A strong wind blew. I tighten my haori kimono. The colors of the hakama and kimono haori pants I wear match the colors of the sky and sea; sad in blue. I am stunned. My whole soul studded. I shocked my head hard. It took hundreds of breaths to pull my floating soul. 

    I'm sure Aya still loves me. Now, Not the right time for moping. I would rise as a knight. For the sake of deprived happiness, I am willing to take lives. I would break the barrier. 

    I tightened my will. I made a determined decision. I would run away my love. Tonight.

  A scream echoed. Four horses galloped closer. The rider came down from the saddle. Goro smiled broadly. Saburo, Jiro, Taro followed behind.

    "Genta! Here you are. "

    Their faces beamed to find me alone. My hands waved, my smile expanded. In my next struggle, I need an ally. For now, they are my only friends to lean on. Two samurai, two ninjas, one former knight. When united, the strength was enough to defeat a thousand enemies.

    "Great. You managed to save the two girls, "said Goro.

    They bent down. I bowed down respectfully.

    "Not me. The two girls are too strong for Jinbo's men."

    Goro laughed freely. "Of course. One is the granddaughter of the legend, the other is the General's daughter. The pirates hit the stone. Haha."

    "What are your next plans?"

    I shrugged my shoulders. "I have no idea."

    "Mr. Adachi Yasumori and Mr. Shoni Kagesuke invite you to a party tomorrow night. You must attend. They want to talk to you. "

    "About the planned invasion of the Ilkhanat army?"

    "Might also. Come over. Enjoy delicious cuisine, beautiful dancers, and the best sake."

    Goro's proposal was greeted by the laughter of Jiro and Taro, except for Saburo. Goro's adopted brother returned to his original nature: Quiet and never laughed. I pretended to think. Of course, that's not an invitation. For someone who is not yet clear about the status of the caste, the ruler's order is not an invitation or a request. It is more accurately said an order. Rejecting means being ready to take your head off the body.

    "With one condition," I pleaded.

    Goro glared. He tried to suppress the annoyance with a smile of friendliness.

    "What?"

    My gaze turned to Saburo. "He has to smile a lot."

    Saburo gasped, then chuckled followed by Goro, Jiro, and Taro. The quiet samurai approached me, bowing once more.

    "I am not good at talking. But, I assure you, I am a friend you can count on.”

    I shook his shoulder. "Thank you. I will count on you, my friend. "

    I appointed two other people. "They also have to laugh a lot too."

    Jiro and Taro were similar to Master Masashige and Teacher Moroshige. The appearance of two sides of a coin. Both physical appearance and nature. But I'm sure they can be relied upon. Friends who won't backstab.

    "Honestly, I envy you. You're very lucky, "said Jiro, Masashige student.

    "Why are you jealous?" I asked.

    His body was as high as my body, more muscular. Sideburns meet his lips and chin. Scars cut across his forehead. His voice was low, hoarse. Long hair left untouched. Like Saburo he also doesn't smile.

    "My teacher gave me clothes and a black bag along with the equipment. Many times I asked him a long time ago. He didn't give it. "

    Taro hit my waist softly. He looked annoyed. "That's right! I whined a whole week to get the sword. From childhood, I was treated like his own child. You who were only together for a few months were given the sword. Humph! Unfair."

    Goro and I laughed. Saburo even opened his mouth to see his neat front teeth. In contrast to Taro's short and thick appearance, Moroshige's pupils were exactly like his teacher.

    "Why are you mad at me? Ask Masashige and Moroshige yourself."

    "Um ... that's the problem. We are afraid, "said Taro. 

    His expression was funny when he imagined the punishment his teacher would give.

    The two ninja rulers are not easy to debate. They will not hesitate to punish their students harshly. 

    "Never mind. If you both want your teacher's gift, I'm willing to let it go for our friendship," I said lightly.

    I'm sure they won't dare to accept it. Masashige and Moroshige were not sure that I would easily give away their valuables.

    Taro snorted in annoyance. Jiro grunted. "Cheesy! You already knew. Teachers will not believe us. He will punish us," Taro replied.

    Goro tapped Jiro and Taro's shoulders. He calmed the Koga and Iga ninjas with sentences that are hard to miss.

    "Today all of you must want to be my guest. My sister cooked a delicious lunch for us. Tonight, we spend it with sake until we get drunk. "

    Saburo looked enthusiastic. Her face which is usually flat and cold looks changed. His mouth closed, but his eyes sparkled.

    "Is your house far from here?" I asked.

    Goro shook his head. "As a promotion, I can buy a fairly large house. Not too fancy, but very enough for both of us. "

    The story from Bokku Shigen about the bitter life of Goro-Takezaki Suenaga recalls. Samurai depart from the bottom until climbing the ladder of success quickly. Not many people who are born into families are concerned about coping with such a life. Goro is one of them. Lucky, I knew him.

    "But I don't have a horse."

    "I'll piggyback you. My horse is the strongest among the other horses, "said Goro.

    He pointed to a snorting dark horse. Smoke billowed from his nostrils. The color is jet black. The mane on his head stuck out. The four legs are long, sturdy with bones and veins that make up the body looking very strong.

    "Nice horse," I said sincerely.

    "His name is Kuroma. From the word, Kuroi-Omawari. Blackguard. I found it in the Akasaka forest. Wild, out of control. I managed to tame it with difficulty. He has accompanied me on many assignments and helped my life many times. "

    Goro stroked his horse's head. Kuroma neighs spoiled. He invited the employer and his guest to ride his back.  A good horse. There is no doubt burdened when loading two heavy bodies at once.

    Four horses walked slowly into the city of Hakata.