A Perfect life is only a Dream (Part 2)

The sun rose over the horizon, blanketing the land in warm sunshine. A small ray of light made its way into the room of a moderately sized genkan. Located on the eastern side of the village; the genkan was kempt, potted plants lining the front porch; the woodworking was finely detailed with different jointing techniques for a strong and sturdy build.

Within the room, the sun shone down on the face of a sleeping girl; about the age of fourteen, her features were smooth and soft; a cheerfully eager feeling to her.

Her long hair lay scattered about the futon; a shiny black, with patterns of violet resembling claw marks. Two black dots sat on the edges of her eyes, south-west and south-east.

Her body stretched out across the floor; refined and slightly curved. However, her arms and legs displayed many tiny scratches and scraps, her feet and hands calloused from constant activity.

She wore a small white yukata; the girl snored loudly, her voice almost shaking the room itself. Silently into the room from the window flew a red dragonfly; it circled around her, finally landing on her nose. It waited for a few moments before turning around; it flapped its wings to take off, hovering above her nose before… /Yoink!/

The dragonfly was swiftly snatched out of the air; the girl opened her eyes, like green summer leaves covered in morning dew they glistened.

"Gotcha!" She said with a grin from ear to ear.

She raised her legs up, jumping to her feet. She stretched: arms behind head, legs up and bent, back down and twisted; like she had done it all before.

Grabbing the windowsill, she lifted herself up onto the roof, climbing her way to the top, perching herself on the chimney.

She shouted, "Good morning sun!" like it was the greatest thing in the world.

She took in a deep breath, smelling the autumn air, "Haaah! Smells like another adventure!" she grinned.

Down on the ground a woman yelled up to her, "Senshi Yōkina-yūki! Get down from the roof!" she barked. "Such behavior is not suited for a lady!"

Senshi looked down from the roof; "Sorry Ma," she jumped off, landing with a cloud of dust. "Just wanted to get a head start on the morin'."

Coughing, Mother waved away the dust; the woman was in her late thirties; hair black with purple tips. She was a foot taller than Senshi; her body was petite and skinny. Her eyes were a blackish brown, with a hint of gray.

She wore a light blue kimono with pink patterns of sakura petals; her hair was bunned up with a gold hairpin shaped like a rose. Two silver earrings hung from her ears, shaped like koi fish.

She dusted herself off, regaining her composure; "How many times must I tell you? You are to address me as "Mother."

Senshi slapped her on the back, "Whatever ya say Ma!" as if they were friends.

She crossed her arms. "Hmf, perhaps you can put that energy to use, helping your father…"

"I gotcha~" She kissed her mother's cheek, waving goodbye as she grabbed her clothes to change.

"Hmf, that girl is more trouble than she's worth." She turned to tend to the plants. "She spends too much time with that Uchirōku brat."

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After she had changed into her everyday wear, which included: a finely woven scarlet kimono, with gold linings and patterns of jade banzai. With a Sakura pink obi robe tied around her waist.

She began to make her way through the village. Walking along the roads, passing the many food stands and the local hot springs; she soon arrived at the magistrate of the village.

She hopped up on the steps, knocking on the door. "Hello? Anyone home?" She called, playfully.

A middle-aged man opened the door, his hair was light brown, and he wore circular glasses with a distinguished looking kimono coat. "Hm? How can I help you?" He asked politely, yet his face gave away a feeling of tired annoyance.

"Hiya," She waved.

The man looked at her confused, "Hello…" he replied.

"I've come to see my Pa- I mean, the Shoya*." She said eagerly. (Village Chief)*

The man adjusted his glasses, "Do you have an appointment?" he asked.

She looked down at the steps, twisting her foot; "Ummm… Yes, he's, my Papa!" she said, placing her hands on her hips.

The man stared at her for a moment, then closed the door.

"Wah-!? Hey!" She pounded on the door, "Open up! It's me! Senshi Yōkina-yūki!"

The door opened once again, only this time by a much taller and older man.

His features were solid and stern; in his mid-forties; but he was healthy for his age. His hair was slicked back and jet black, eyes a bluish brown. He was freshly shaven, wearing a political official's kimono, which was brown with black sleeves and a green turtle pattern.

"Ah, why if it isn't little Miss sunshine…" He said with a warm smile. "Come to give your Papa a hug?"

"Yep, yep!" She hugged him, squeezing with all her might. "Woah there, hug any harder and you'll crush me!"

She grinned, looking up at him. "Ehehe~"

"So, whatcha up to this morning kiddo?" He asked, bending down to meet her gaze.

"Ma said to come and help you." She said brushing herself off. "So, ere' I am!"

"Ha ha, she did, did she?" He laughed and ruffled her hair. "Well, I've got just the job for you."

"Whoopee~" She cheered, eagerly.

"Then come on in," he said, opening the door.

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The magistrate was large; about five times the size of her home; many rooms and corridors could be found every which way she looked. The wood was a dark brown, with polished stone floors; found on the top of the doorway were different kanji, labeling each of the rooms: "Agriculture", "Commerce", "Urban Development", "Health and Human Services", and finally, "Criminality".

He led her into a decently sized room, which had many cabinets with the same labels she had seen before. In the middle of the room lay a table, on it: an ink brush with a cup of water and about a few hundred different scrolls.

She gulped, questioning what she had expected.

He lay his hand on her shoulder; "I'll need you to go through and sort these scrolls for me." then walking over to the table he picked one up.

"See this? Each scroll has a different mark, place the scroll in the cabinet with the same mark so they can be taken to their proper departments."

He walked up to her, squatting down; "This is a big job, think you're up for it?" he asked with a smile.

She puffed up her chest; "Mhm! You can leave it to me Papa; I'll get it done lickity-split!"

He chuckled, patting her on the back; "Heheh, I know you can; cause you're my baby girl."

He turned around, leaving her alone to work.

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A few hours had gone by and she had made a sizable dent in the pile; yet she was tired, and hungry for some onigiri*. "Haah… Almost done Senshi, just a couple… hundred, to go…" She sighed. (Rice balls)*

Picking up another scroll she stared at it.

a few moments went by; she looked around. /I guess it couldn't hurt to peek…/ She thought to herself as she removed the seal.

Inside, the scroll contained documentation of the new trade routes coming into and from Kotoamatsu; they had been established by the newly appointed Shogun: "Judaketsu Tokugawa".

Apparently, she was only five years older than Senshi herself; such a high position for someone so young…

She quickly resealed the scroll, storing it away.

She looked through a couple more: "Crop production has increased this year", "Trade with China has been fruitful", "Illegal slave organizations still running since their abolishment in fifteen-ninety.".

She pulled another from the pile, it read: "Shogun Taberu Futaba seeks to solve the missing persons cases in Ebisu."

She scrunched her nose, an odd prickly feeling on the back of her neck.

"Haah…" She put the scroll away but knocked over another. This one was different; it had a mark she hadn't seen before on the others: "Criminality".

This one seemed to be calling out to her, welcoming her to partake in its secrets.

She slowly peeled away the seal, taking a look inside.

It listed the most recent cases of criminal activity in the region: Theft, Property damage, Assault, Burglary, and even Murder.

There was a paragraph that read: "Taioshī Sumashī moved to maximum security prison in Sarutahiko, after yearly execution fails yet again."

She gulped, Sarutahiko wasn't too far from here; about fifty miles. And what did they mean "yearly execution"?

She was so caught up in reading she loosened her grip, dropping the lower half of the scroll. She reached down but noticed a case of charges titled "Uchirōku".

She stared at the words aghast; "T-Tamari...?" picking up the scroll; she quivered with anxiety, she was afraid to look.

Slowly she read the charges: "Theft", "Burglary", "Robbery", "Property damage", "Assault", "Resisting arrest"; as she read her worries grew, was this really the Tamari she knew?

Something seemed to lead her down to the bottom of the scrolls, some silent calling.

Her skin crawled, growing cold as she finished the final charge, in red ink: "Murder".

She dropped the scroll, stumbling back; "Agh…" her head throbbed with pain, "Tamari.. He- no he couldn't…" a voice calling out to her.

"But he did, and you were there..."

She cried out in pain, "Gah!" shaking the table and spilling the water.

The clear liquid poured out over the table, ruining the remaining scrolls, bleaching them of their contents.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps; but before she could act, her father came through the door. "Senshi, are you okay? I heard a-"

"Ah!" she called out with surprise, noticing the mess. "No! No! No! I didn't, I…"

She tried her best to recover what was left, but they were beyond salvation at that point.

"N-no… I-" She searched for the one scroll, but it was gone. Like it had vanished.

"...Wha-?"

Her father looked at the rorschach like scrolls, then to the opened ones which lay upon the floor.

He calmly put his hand on her shoulder; and with a voice like a calm storm spoke; "Senshi, I think it would be best if you go home…"

She turned to him, trying to explain; "Papa- I'm sorry, I-"

He waved her away, "No, it's my fault." he said with a sigh. "You're not mature enough for this kind of work." He turned away, closing the cabinets.

"But Pa-"

He never made eye contact, his voice cold and overbearing. "I'll see you at dinner tonight."

Tears began to well up in her eyes; "Ngh…" she turned away, running out of the Magistrate.