[Stories] Love Story - In the Rain (Part 2)

Part 2:

Saori wasn't used to waking up alone. She missed the feeling of Ichirou's strong arms wrapped around her waist, holding her close to his chest. She missed waking up beside him, and kissing him hello in the morning as the sun slowly rose and shone orange light upon their faces. Most of all she missed being close to him; hearing his voice gently arouse her from sleep. She loved how he would whisper in her ear how he loved her and never wanted to let her go.

As the room attendant drew the large curtains, that canvassed her room window, the sun beamed on Saori's face rudely awakening her from her thoughts of Ichirou. She sat up, as if in a daze, tired and feeling alone. The young maid was dressed in an old brown worn dress that draped her like a coat, and her shoes looked as though they were too big for her feet. Her clothes were tattered and torn, but still wearable. The usual attire you would see on a maid. They never wore good clothes while working: What was the point? They would only get dirty and torn while working in the inn anyways.

"Top, o' the morn' to ya miss." The young attendant spoke to her softly, "This time to be rousing' now. The master has asked everyone to be downstairs for breakfast in but ten minutes. Y'er wash bowl and cloth are on y'er dressing' table."

"Thank you miss." Saori replied drowsily.

Saori watched as the young attendant scurried out of the room on to do more chores, she assumed. She arose from her bed, still tired, and trudged over to the dressing stand on the other side of the room. She splashed the cold water on her face and wiped it with the coarse cloth laid out for her. The harsh feeling of the cloth and the cold water fully awoke her and as she dressed.  She was now fully ready to greet the day. She stepped out of the room lightly, and walked down the stairs to the dining room.

"Good morning my dear." Master Yuwi spoke happily, "I am so very glad to see you this morning before I head out on my way again. I would like you to meet my new apprentice. His name is Kaji. Saori smiled when she saw Kaji, and giggled a little to herself.

"We've met Yuwi." She replied.

"Is that so? Don't tell me it was you he ran into outside of town?" Yuwi asked with a smile on his lips.

"It was more like I ran into him." She chuckled.

With that everyone laughed heartily as Saori took her seat at the table. The three started to discuss the topics of the ongoing wars amongst feuding nations, the morale of Rtarien townsfolk as they prepared for battle, and the overall feeling of angst that war was inevitable for these people. The young maid that awoke Saori was now serving the three their meal. It was boiled eggs, pork tenders, and freshly baked bread. It smelled delicious and made Saori realize just how hungry she truly was. As they ate the conversation continued about the feuding nations and how everyone expected to see a war soon, since much unrest was brewing in both nations. Then, when Yuwi asked Kaji what he thought of the possible oncoming war, Kaji was unresponsive. Yuwi began to probe him about the subject and Kaji started to seem uneasy about it.

"Kaji, what is wrong? Has Master Yuwi offended you with his incessant questions?" Saori said jokingly.

"No, it is not that miss. It is just that war of any kind, brings death, and that is not a subject I enjoy discussing over a meal." Kaji replied.  "When I was young my parents were killed by a team of raiders, I was playing hide and seek with my older brother when it happened.

"Do you mind me asking what happened Kaji?" Saori questioned.

Kaji hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

"At the time, my brother and I were playing hide and seek. He was searching for me in the woods behind the house," Kaji spoke with sadness in his voice, "but I was simply in the hidden alcove above the kitchen. Then my mother called out the kitchen window that faced the woods that dinner was ready, and just as I was about to jump down from the alcove a bunch of men dressed in red and blue cloaks crashed through the doors of my home, plundered my house, destroying everything and then screamed at my parents, asking where their offspring were. I did not know at the time that they were looking for my brother and I, because I did not know what that word meant. I was scared, so I just stayed hidden in the alcove. I watched as the beat my mother and called her insubordinate for not knowing where her offspring were and hit her across her face. My father yelled at them, raising his fist to hit the one who had struck my mother, but before he could one of the men hit him over the head with a club and he fell to the floor, he didn't move. Then they drug my mother to the bedroom, and all the time I could hear her blood curdling screams, but I did nothing. I was frozen with fear. Suddenly her screams stopped and then the raiders left as quickly as they had come. I leaped down from the alcove when I thought I was safe and went to my father first. He was still bleeding when I got to him but not breathing, he had died. I ran to my parent's bedroom to see my mother's lifeless body lying bloody on the bed, her gown disheveled. At that moment my brother returned to see me clutching my mother's body, crying uncontrollably. That night we buried our parents and burned our house. My brother probed me about what I saw, and kept asking me why I did nothing to stop it. He vowed that night that those who killed our parents would drown in their own blood when he found them. After a few months of travelling the countryside he did find them, and he did kill them. He found out they were searching for he and I to kill us, and my parents, because their clan were raiding town after town killing magical families. They were destroying all those who would potentially oppose them later on. They were searching for my brother and me and to this day I still wonder if there was nothing I could have done to stop it. If I had just…"

At that moment Kaji trailed off and excused himself from the table and went upstairs. Saori followed him to comfort him and as she entered his room she saw him sitting on his bed, his head in his hands, breathing deeply, but not speaking a word.

"Kaji, I am so sorry. I never meant to stir up those kinds of feelings and pain in you. Please forgive me."

"It is not your fault miss. Talk of feuds and war brings back those memories. My parents were killed because of a feud between nations, because one nation felt threatened by the magical power of the other and innocent people lost their lives. I hate war, I hate feuds, and most of all I hate the catastrophic events and actions they cause."

"I understand Kaji that you have suffered greatly because of that monstrous clan, and for that I am sorry. Please, as a friend I am here to listen, and if you ever need anyone to talk to I will always be here for you. That's what friends are for right?"

"Thank you miss, I appreciate it."

"Please, just call me Saori. Miss, just makes me sound old and formal." She laughed.

Kaji laughed, "Alright. Saori." He smiled when he spoke her name. He looked into her eyes and felt a wash of relief flow over him, as if he had finally found someone he could trust, someone he could confide in.