Blades and Flowers

Chapter 5
Breakfast in the Courtyard

‘What a way to start the day,’ Kaoru mumbled.

Putting an apron on around her body to hide from prying eyes she got started on her Master’s breakfast.

Meanwhile Taishen is alerting the Battousai that enemies were approaching his mansion’s walls.

‘Do you know what they want?’ Battousai asked.
‘Our messenger said they wanted to challenge the legendary Manslayer,’ answered Taishen.
‘Is that all, nothing more?’
‘No sir that is all I got out of him before he fell dead.’

Taishen watched his Master rise to his feet tying the knot on his kimono tighter.

‘I guess I shall greet our guests. And Taishen, do keep everyone who is dear to me away from this meaningless scuffle.’
‘Hai!’

The Battousai waited in his courtyard.

Kaoru finished wrapping her body and got to cooking breakfast for her Master. She was mad at herself for letting him get to her the way he did. She thought it stupid she fell for his little boy tricks, and seducing her no less.

‘The gall of him I mean he’s a grown man for Buddha sake!’

She turned to make sure there was no one peeking in or listening behind the walls, a bit frightened of what her punishment might be for talking about him behind his back.

‘Probably go ears like a dog anyways….jerk.’

Finally getting everything done, she placed his food on the huge serving tray. Balancing it as best she could the apron came undone as she walked down the hallway. The tray wobbled as she tried to grab the ribbons to hide her backside and an antique teapot fell to the ground.

‘Crap in a hakama!’

Carefully placing the tray down not to spill anything else, she cursed herself thinking of what he’d do to her if the teapot was an heirloom or worse brand new. She picked up the pieces as heard the pitter patter of feet coming toward her.

‘Hey!’

She yelled as they ran ignoring her making sure they missed her, the porcelain and the food along the way, no one stopping to even see if she was alright.. She sat blinking wondering what was wrong then she got angry shouting at the top of her lungs.

‘Thanks a lot! Ya ingrates!’

Trying to tie a bow a little tighter this time and pushing the shards over the steps and under the house. Proceeding to the dining hall and finding it empty she almost dropped the tray in anger and frustration.

‘Miss?’

Kaoru almost threw the tray over her head when Taishen tapped her shoulder.

‘What’re you crazy?! You almost….’

When she saw it was Taishen her face grew red with embarrassment. He was her only friend, if that’s the word for it; and she didn’t want to lose that. She bowed apologetically over and over as Taishen tried to explain the current situation.

‘My apologies Miss, but what are you doing here?’
‘What do your think I’m doing here? I’m giving Master his breakfast of course!’
‘I see Miss, but I must ask you to come with me right now and forget about…’
‘Ohh ho ho no. You don’t know what I went through last night…’

Taishen raised a curious eyebrow as Kaoru almost informed him of very embarrassing moments then she stopped herself realizing what she was about to say. As if reading her mind, although he already knew as he stood outside the bathhouse watching over his Master. Her face was a bit red as she looked away from him.

‘Uh hem, even so Miss, I must implore you to come with me.’
‘No! I’m not getting in trouble again listening to someone else like yesterday! Where is he? Huh? He put you up to this didn’t he?!’
‘He, Miss?’
‘Master? Where is Master?!’

She was so frustrated. She knew Taishen was his second, to what she didn’t know nor did she care, but she wasn’t going to be blamed for not getting his food to him on time.

‘Miss, please.’
‘Where?’
‘He’s in the courtyard, but…’
‘But nothing! He’s getting his breakfast! How dare he give me the runaround like that, I don’t care who or what he is, his actions are crude and ridiculous!’

Taishen wasn’t sure if his Master wanted his Gensou among those he wanted protected but she was determined not to come with him. After the trickery played on her by Master, she wasn’t about taking anymore stupid chances following the advice of others. Little did she know, her hard-headedness wasn’t going to be rewarded with praise. Kaoru, still rambling to herself walked to the doors intent on giving her Master his food.

Earlier while she hurried preparing his meal, The Battousai made his first strike against his enemy in the courtyard. As the teapot shattered, a third soldier had fallen by his blade. While arguing with Taishen she didn’t know that her Master was preparing for his final strike to lay upon the cause of his morning being so rudely interrupted. The Battousai’s morning was about to get worse.

As Kaoru slid the door open with her foot battling the tray and her apron while still yelling at Taishen, she did not hear the fatal words ’Dragon’s Edge Strike’ echo through the yard and his enemies ears as he lunged forward blade extended from his hand. His eyes glowing a bright golden amber as they targeted his sworn enemy his sword inches from his vital point. The glint of silver and bright blue eyes intervened between them, as she screamed only the katana visible to her. The food went flying into the air landing on The Battousai’s head as she ducked down to her knees covering her head in fear as the laughter came behind her.

‘So sorry Battousai, had I known of this girl’s sneak attack on you I would’ve held back a few more days.’

Kaoru jumped when she felt her hand being grabbed. Afraid it was her Master she dropped back down to her knees in fear.

‘Oh no need for that young lady. Let me kiss the hand of the woman who defeated the Manslayer.’

Confused of what just happened, she stood as the man kissed her hand and bowed giving her respect and kudos. He gave her another kiss on her other hand then proceeded to leave.

‘My men who knew a hot bowl of hot steaming pork buns and oolong tea could slow down the most notorious man in Japan!’

Mounting his horse giving his farewells to Kaoru and a fuming Battousai they all left leaving Kaoru alone with a rice covered Battousai, the heat of the tea no match to the fumes coming off of shoulders. Kaoru wished he hadn’t left because he was the only thing that could save her. She bit her lip and the proverbial bullet turning around to face him.
*It couldn’t be that bad could it? I mean it was kinda funny.

When she raised her eyes to face him her heart stopped at the sight of him. The hot scarring food clumped into his hair packing the opening of his kimono. That wasn’t what made Kaoru’s heart stop cold, rather it was the end of his blade so close to her eye she was afraid blinking would cause her eyelid to be sliced in half. Tears began to well up in her eyes from focusing on the blade so hard.

‘Mas…’

To quick to react his movements fast as lightening her word cut short. She gasped for air as she realized his hand was tight around her neck his palm crushing against her larynx.

‘One reason why I shouldn’t take you right now?’

His voice was cold, empty not a care for her as her life was slowly slipping between his fingers. They returned that icy blue surprised they weren’t the infamous gold.

‘Why Gensou? Why shouldn’t my sword send you to a quick death?

His eyes met hers, her tears fell between the creases of his fingers.

‘My patience runs thin Gensou.’
‘Too….e..e…sy…’
‘Your existence relies on your will to keep it! Speak up!’

He pulled her so close to him she could still smell the flowers from the night before in his hair and on his skin. Her mind raced as she stammered the words again.

‘Too e…sy…’
‘Again!!’

Kaoru knew she was near death’s door so why di she fell this unusual tingle coursing through her body. The danger of his hands around her neck, one jerk and it would snap. His voice demanding answers to why should exist in his world, she felt hot and flustered. Her face grew hot and no doubt bright red from what she was feeling right now.

‘Do my actions amuse you Gensou?’
‘N..’
‘Does humiliating my house and honor amuse you?’
‘N..’
‘One reason…NOW!!’

His grip tightened with every word that spewed from his mouth and Kaoru couldn’t take anymore. She instinctively kneed him in the balls but his grip never loosened.
‘Now you dare strike the devil?’

His hand released her, his palm engraved deeply in her white skin. He watched her gasp and cough for air as he sheathed his sword stepping over her wheezing body.

‘*Cough..To…gasp…easy…’

He stopped with his back to her.

‘Again Gensou.’
‘*Cough, To..easy..’
‘Again Gensou!’

Kaoru realized her mistake and quickly corrected herself.

‘To easy….Master.’
‘Why?’

Kaoru stood up and walked to him.

‘I am unworthy. My blood would only taint your sword.’

He stepped past her bumping her out of his path.

‘Jerk,’ she mumbled barely audible to even her ears.

She felt a breeze rush past her, but she saw the Battousai entering his home, but sheathing his sword. She put her hand to her chest finding the apron gone. Looking down at her feet she saw it split in to.

‘Too easy indeed Gensou, but not worthy of my blade, we shall see in time.’

The doors shut as he left her alone, her body shaking from her ordeal.

‘And that’s twice you called me a jerk today. I’d watch that tongue or I’ll find it a cozy place for my leisure.’

Her hair became undone as the air almost pushed her off her feet. Taishen stood there as he handed her his kimono to cover herself.

‘You shall listen next time?’
‘Yes…yes Taishen.’
‘Come now Miss. It shall be a long day.’