Blades and Flowers

Chapter 2
Feel\'s Like Monday

‘Whacha mean 12 yen!’ Kaoru’s voice raised in anger.
‘Yes my dear 12 yen. That is the total for all of your purchases and I see from your list you’re not quite done shopping,’ says an old lady.
‘But that can’t be right I’ve got…I’ve only got a few things.’

Laid out were three buckets of rice, three bags of tofu, two pounds of unagi and squid, along with a variety of fruits and vegetables. The Master had given her enough to buy out at least three carts but Kaoru’s ability to hustle was out of her league. Haggling for over an hour wasting the time she needed for the preparation alone was being eaten away.

‘Well I guess I’ll have to inform the Master of the Hiten School that his personal chef will be late with his birthday dinner tonight.’

She tried the weasel approach and use her new Master as an intimidator to see if it would work.

‘That would be a shame, it would, but using the Master’s name in such a disrespectful manner will get you…’

The old woman drew a finger slowly across her neck with a cocky grin, since she saw him standing behind Kaoru for a while.

‘It’s no disrespect I am his personal chef and I’m hired to prepare his birthday dinner tonight, now stop with your pestering and give me a fair deal on this food or I’ll be forced to tell the Master of how it was you who held up his dinner.’
‘No.’

Kaoru was about to lay into the old woman when she was pushed aside rudely.

‘Hey what’s the big idea, I outta…’
‘You outta what?’ said the Master without turning around.
‘Nothing Master, it’s just that she won’t give me a fair price for the food.’
‘Is that true, ma’am?’
‘No.’
‘You liar!’

The Master shot a hard look at Kaoru making her retreat a little, small beads of sweat forming on her brow under her bangs.

‘Ma’am are you not providing the service that your sign suggests?’ he asks folding his arms inside his kimono.
‘Why yes I am Master Battousai, it’s this little…little…girl who is giving a poor old woman a too soon death over the price off tofu and rice,’ she said fanning herself.
‘Hey you’re the one who’s trying to hustle me!’ Kaoru yelled pushing past the Master.

Although she was about the same height as the Master, Kaoru felt herself being hoisted up in the air by her collar.

‘Since you find it so compelling to be rude to this woman, the villagers and myself…,’

His voice was so steady and quite frankly too damn scary for Kaoru,

‘….you will carry every last piece of food you ordered for this party…’
‘But, that’s a lot of food…’
‘Do not interrupt me again!!!’

The Master dropped her to the ground on her butt with a hard thump, gave the old woman a bow and turned to face Kaoru.

‘As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted again. You will carry everything back yourself without the help of a cart or helping hand and you will quickly prepare the hall, the table, everyone’s costumes and clothing.’

She watched him pay the woman more than a fair price for all the trouble and food she caused and she didn’t move until she knew he was far out of her sight. She gathered all of her food and drink as best she could and hobbled her way down the street, that seemed miles long and started to the mansion.

Finally making it to the main entrance she almost dropped everything when a voice whispered in her ear.

‘By the way Gensou, don’t forget to clean the floors before you begin everything.’

Frustrated and tired, Kaoru’s temper and mouth got the best of her.

‘Listen you, I don’t care! I have enough on my plate! You do the damn floors I have to cook for this arrogant man so ask one of the other servants he’s had for years!

Little did Kaoru know that the whisper was coming from that arrogant man, only he disguised his voice and he could do was just stare at her behind all of the debris.

‘Yes Miss, I’ll alert someone immediately.’
‘Wait, wait is uh the Master inside?’
‘No Miss. He’s gone on a little errand but should be back in time to prepare for his birthday.’
‘Good, good. Just do me this one favor. If no one agrees because of him and what he’ll do will you consider doing it?’
The food was beginning to tumble and he save it to prevent Kaoru from see him.

‘Yes Miss I’ll do my best.’

He guided her with commands of direction leading her to the kitchen to drop all the food. Quickly disappearing, he made himself as scarce as possible while his Gensou prepared as much as she could. Sitting in his room a little later, knowing he was safe since she wasn’t allowed in, he put on a costume of one of his servants and began to sweep the floors with a towel. Coming around a corner he ran into her feet.

‘Sorry Miss.’
‘Oh that’s quite alright, but you missed a couple of spots.’
‘I’ll get right to it. We don’t Master being angry on such a special occasion.’
‘I’m pretty sure he makes everything he does a special occasion,’ she said sarcastically.
‘Now now Miss.’
‘I know. Still how can you tolerate someone so arrogant and egotistical?’
‘You never question the hand that feeds, clothes and shelters you, or you’ll find that palm closes and comes down hard, yes?’
‘You have a point but still.’
‘I think we should be getting back to our duties don’t you think Miss?’

Kaoru nodded and stepped past the Battousai without another word. Turning around the corner and counting her footsteps knowing she was on the other side of the mansion, he continued sweeping but leaving the spots that he missed.

‘Miss? Miss? We need you to start on the Master’s formal clothing right away. He wants it ready by the time he comes back, which will be only the next 25 minutes.’
‘Look I can’t do it get someone else! My rice is too soft, my noodles are too hard and the tofu is breaking up and I haven’t even started on the sushi or any other creature from the sea!’
‘But Miss he specifically asked you to do it.’
‘Look I’ll pay you if you get the man that’s doing the sweeping, he greatly do it just tell him I asked.’
‘I’m not at all sure that’s wise Miss.’
‘Just do it! Aaah my soba noodle are boiling over!!!!’

The servant retreats and goes to see who is the person sweeping doing her job. He will greatly be in trouble with the Master when he returns.

‘Hey you there! Stop that at once! If the Master sees you he’ll have you hanged!’
‘Oh I don’t know Taishen, I think I’m doing a pretty good job.’
‘Oh Master it is you. I humbly apologize.’

He bowed and begged his Master’s forgiveness only to make the Master crack a little smile.
‘It’s alright Taishen at least I know you wouldn’t let my little Gensou get away with any of her shenanigans.’
‘Yes sir, of course sir.’
‘Now remember, do not let her know this is me or it will be your head, understand.’

The Master’s head never rose to meet his humble servant’s gaze because he knew his words were true as did his faithful servant.

‘Yes sir.’
‘By the way Taishen how is dinner going?’
‘Terrible sir, if she hasn’t burned it, it’s going to be’
‘Thank you. Go get ready.’
‘Sir!’
‘Oh and by the way, put my attire for the evening in my room and no matter what do not remove it.’
‘Sir if I may speak freely, is she not allowed in there?’
‘Exactly.’
‘Oh. And sir she actually wanted me to ask you to prepare your clothes for her.’
‘Thank you again.’

Taishen retreated to his quarters getting ready also alerting everyone else to do the same. He couldn’t wait to see how she would go about this upcoming evening. He knew the Master was going to make her life a living hell. For several reasons:
1. She was a woman trying to accomplish Samurai status…nearly impossible.
2. She rudely came into his life with arrogance and gaul…very bad on her part.
3. She’s gullible enough to do everything he says without audible question.
4. She’s a beautiful woman whom the Master hasn’t seen in a long while.

Kaoru found herself flustered and out of breath as she scrambled to get the table set and decorations up. She almost ruined a whole course while she found flowers to place on the table to give it life. After a couple of hours fighting dinner she noticed that the servants were all gone or dressed for the party. She happened upon a couple who were observing the dining hall.

‘Hey why are you guy dressed so early?’
‘Early? The party is starting. Guests are being escorted to the courtyard for a tea ceremony.’

Nervously, Kaoru gulped and staggered back.

‘Tea ceremony! Master never mentioned anything like that!’
‘Of course not dear he expected you would already have something for the guests to do while you finished up dinner and his dressing.’
‘His dressing?’
‘Yes. You didn’t forget to get his formal attire ready did you. He detoured before he was to come home, so he should be here any minute.’

Kaoru left them running to find her ‘helper’. Everywhere she couldn’t find him and she began to panic. Soon she ran into him in front of the Master’s quarters.

‘Did Taishen ask you to do the Master’s clothes?’ she said out of breath.
‘Yes, but the Master has taken them inside before I could finish, but he did not see me doing your duty Miss.’
‘Good he didn’t see you, but you didn’t finish what?’
‘Ironing his kimono.’
‘Is it too bad?’
‘No. With all of the embroidery you shouldn’t tell.’
‘Okay. Go get ready and remember mum’s the word.’

Never raising his head to see her face he backed away with a bow and retreated away. Kaoru ran back to the kitchen which was filled with smoke and fire. She ran as fast to the well as she could retrieving water.

‘Gensou?!’
‘Yes….’
‘What are you doing why isn’t the tea ceremony ready and why isn’t the table set properly? You have my setting at the wrong end. I prefer my back to the wall not at the opening of the doors to the garden!’
‘Sorry Master but I have to get to the kitchen, there’s an emergency.’
‘More urgent than this!’

He showed her the black gaping hole inside the back of his kimono. It was a dark blue with gold stitching etched into a dragon breathing red fire. She awe stuck at such a beautiful piece of clothing at least it was beautiful.

‘Oh no he must have…’
‘Who must have what? This was a family heirloom! Gensou my father and grandfather wore this the first time they were married, and now I have nothing! Who must have what?!!’
‘I…I must have burned it when I went to check on the vegetables…I’m so sorry Master, I have nothing to offer but my apologies.’

She took a peek from under her frazzled hair as her head remained bowed. The look of contempt never left the Battousai’s face. The kimono he had on of course was his doing and also a replica.

‘Gensou, get ready for the tea ceremony, now!!’
‘Master we..I didn’t buy enough for the guests, only enough for a small gathering of five or so.’
‘You irresponsible little…’
‘Hey!! How can you blame me it’s my first day!

Kaoru didn’t see him. His movements were so fluid, so fast like a raging river, but smooth like a babbling brook. His hand was on her neck but not choking her only enough pressure to prove a point.

‘Get..it..done.’

Kaoru quickly left her feet pounding hard towards the kitchen with the empty bucket. The servants were already tending to the fire while she was being tormented more by her Master. She thanked them as they left and with all the food that was bought, cooked, burned and destroyed, she saw she only had enough food for only about ten guests and she was told there were going to be at least 100. She knew the Master wasn’t going to like this and she was going to get the brunt of everything. And she knew she had to find her ‘helper’ and chew him out for the huge mistake.

Minutes later she prepped the table as best she could dispersing as much food to everyone leaving as little on everyone’s plates except for the Master’s of course. His home, his celebration he gets the most. Rushing with the tea she set up the table and hurried since she was nowhere near dressed for it. The tea was watered down to cater to everyone outside except of course for Master’s cup. Peeking she got a nod from the Master and kudos surprisingly from the guests. She added cinnamon and other concoctions to add flavor and she was glad she did.

Wiping her brow she placed the last piece on the table as the guest arrived. She set a hundred places and yet only the Master and five people entered. The servants never came, and the Master still adorned his attire. Everyone sat and thanked Buddha for the meal and ate. She took the opportunity to escape before she summoned for a stupid degrading task.
Too late.

‘Gensou?’

Kaoru stopped making an annoyed grimace.

‘Yes Master.’
‘It seems I cannot keep my sleeves from falling into my plate. I will need assistance to eat this meager meal you have prepared.’

Kaoru gave a huff, turned and walked bowing her head to the guests.

‘Master Battousai?’
‘Yes, General Tsousan.’
‘Why has my plate been depleted of this meal. I see you have plenty and yet you disrespect your guests with such tiny portions, not fit to fill an ant.’
‘I mean you no disrespect, it is this girl whom I hired that has the disrespect.’
Kaoru shot a look to the floor as she raised pat of rice to the Master’s lips.

‘Girl!!’

The boom of the General’s voice scared her so much she dropped the rice down the front of Master’s robes. It rested on his stomach and Kaoru didn’t know what to do.

‘I see you’re not only a nitwit you’re a clutz.’

Kaoru couldn’t take it anymore.

‘Shut up shut up shut up!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t need this!!’

She slammed the sticks down sending food flying all over her Master’s face and clothes. He sat still like a statue not even following her with his eyes as she left to her quarters to retrieve her things.

‘Such indignant behavior!’

The Master put his hand up to calm his guests down and told them to enjoy whatever is on the table. The guests retreated to dinner with the Master’s apologies. Even though the general and his family felt greatly disrespected and he forced his hand even voicing his opinion about one of the servants, he didn’t want to push is luck angering a man know as fast as God. Another word and his food wouldn’t have time to reach his stomach.

About an hour later, guests pleased and gone, kitchen destroyed and dinner along with a useless kimono ruined, he set to find what belonged to him and bring it back.