A Fateful Encounter I

Yatsuho woke up his body very much in pain, every injury he sustained never happened but the pain was there after all. He struggled to sit up, his muscles cramped at every movement of his but he was no doubt healthy, the previous sickness had melted away during his sleep and his face had regained its earlier luster.

As he got up, he eyed the rays of golden light licking his feet that peered through the cracks in the window. Being alone made him strangely calm and reflective. "Maybe I was too harsh," he thought to himself. Yes, I do agree." Enketsu's voice was no longer silent; it echoed once again in Yatsuho's head.

A faint smile emerged on Yatsuho's face. He got up with much struggle and eyed himself trying to get an idea of what was his current situation. He wore a white fundoshi only and his body was up for full display, the idea of being naked in front of someone else embarrassed him, even if it was Granny Masako.

He scanned the room for something to wear and through the corner of his eye he saw a blue yakuta much too similar to the one he had worn before the only difference was that there were four sleeves instead of two and it fit him much better, as if someone had made It just for him. While picking up the obi a note dropped on the ground, "If you wake up and wish to go out but I am not there please help yourself to the clothes, I will be in the fields. There are some onigiri near the clothes feel free to help yourself to them." - Masako. The note felt to be written by a child, the hiragana characters lacked the sophistication expected of Masako's tone. It seemed to Yatsuho that Granny Masako lacked any formal education.

Unwrapping the bamboo sheaths Yatsuho grabbed an onigiri and took a bite. The humble filling of umeboshi left a sour taste in his mouth and he devoured it hungrily, grabbing the last one he started to leave the house.

As Yatsuho stepped onto the unpaved path, the villagers paused in their work, their eyes cautiously drifting to him. The weight of their stares was heavy, though it wasn't fear that made them hesitate—it was awe. He caught glimpses of whispered conversations and small bows, but no one dared to approach him.

Until the boy.

The same child who had woken him during the festival night came barreling toward him, his small feet kicking up dust. He crashed into Yatsuho's leg and wrapped his arms around it, his face buried against Yatsuho's knee.

"You saved her!" the boy sobbed, his voice trembling. "Mama says you saved her!"

Yatsuho froze for a moment, then knelt at the boy's height, his four arms moving hesitantly before resting one hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'm glad she's safe," he said softly.

The boy looked up, his tear-streaked face breaking into a wide, toothy grin. "You're a hero!"

Yatsuho's lips twitched into a faint smile. Before he could respond, an elderly man approached with slow, deliberate steps, his back slightly hunched. The man's face was weathered with years of labor under the sun, and his eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"Young man," the elder said, bowing deeply, his hands trembling. "You are just like your father, just like him you are a hero who came to save us when we most needed you, we will never forget this. Thank you…thank you very much"

Yatsuho shifted uncomfortably under the elder's gaze. He didn't feel like a savior, but the weight of their gratitude pressed against him. "I… only did what I could."

"That is enough," the elder replied, straightening with visible effort. "You may think of yourself as inhumane, but to us, you are a blessing."

The boy tugged at Yatsuho's sleeve, his innocent grin unshaken. "Will you stay? Mama made rice balls for you!"

Yatsuho smiled faintly and ruffled the boy's hair with one hand while the others adjusted the obi at his waist. "I can't stay," he said, his voice steady. "But thank you."

As Yatsuho stood and began to walk away, the boy's voice rang out behind him. "Come back soon, hero!"

The elder, his voice quieter but no less sincere, added, "You will always have a place here."

Their interactions comforted him, made him smile and feel wanted, and made it seem as if he was wanted, that he could be loved, but the past…never forgets. It never lets open wounds heal, never lets the burning embers fade.

It comes back bearing its calcified finger to strangle those who try to forget and drag the ones who escape down to hell with it. Surely enough it came back for Yatsuho in the form of guilt. "Do I deserve this, when I am the one who survived?" Yatsuho felt his back grow heavy, it burned now the apparition—was back. It strangled Yatsuho with its charred fingers and cried out a curse for him, Yatsuho's palms started to sweat profusely but this time he was not alone.

"Is that all it takes to shatter you? Guilt? … Pathetic." Enketsu spoke trying to sound snarky but its voice was tinged with concern. However, Yatsuho failed to notice it, but he still regained composure.

"No…no, I'm fine" or so he said but Enketsu knew Yatsuho was not someone who handled stress well, still it chose to stay quiet and continue observing for now.

With much difficulty, Yatsuho peeled himself from the crowd to continue toward the edge of the village where rice paddies were being prepared to be sown.

Yatsuho's steps carried him to the rice paddies, the soft earth cool beneath his sandals. Ahead, Masako stood among the neat rows of waterlogged fields She moved with an almost meditative grace, her hands delicately placing each seedling into the soil.

For a moment, Yatsuho paused, watching her. There was something grounding in her presence, something that made the heavy thoughts swirling in his mind settle.

As he approached the crunch of gravel underfoot alerted her to his presence. She turned, wiping her hands on a cloth tucked into her sash, and her lined face softened with a warm smile.

"You're up," she said, her tone as gentle as the breeze that rustled the rice plants. "How are you feeling, Yatsuho?"

"Better. Much better, thanks to you," he replied, bowing deeply. "I don't know how to repay your kindness."

Masako waved a hand dismissively, chuckling softly. "Kindness is never something to be repaid. It's something to be carried forward. And besides, you've done more for us than you realize."

Yatsuho hesitated, unsure how to respond. The memory of the villagers' gratitude still lingered, but so did the gnawing guilt in his chest. He lowered his gaze, letting the silence hang between them for a moment.

"I wanted to thank you… and to say goodbye," he finally said, his voice steady but quiet.

Masako's smile faltered, but only briefly. She nodded, her hands folding over the cloth in her lap. "I suspected as much. You look to be struggling and it is not my place to stop you, but remember you will always be welcome here."

"I do," Yatsuho admitted. "But… I'll never forget this place. Or you."

Her face softened further, her eyes glinting with unshed emotion. "You'll always have a place here, Yatsuho. Remember that. No matter what the world throws at you, there's a home waiting for you."

Yatsuho's throat tightened, but he managed a nod. "Thank you, Granny Masako. Truly."

As he turned to leave, Masako's voice stopped him mid-step. "There's something I need to tell you before you go."

He turned back, his brows furrowing slightly. "What is it?"

"A few days ago, someone came looking for you," she said, her expression more serious now. "A high-ranking officer from the Imperial Army."

The words landed heavily, and Yatsuho's body tensed. "The Imperial Army?"

"Yes. They left a message for you." Masako reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small scroll, its edges stamped with the emperor's seal. "They said you're to report to Kotsu District by the first of Nisan. If you don't… you'll be declared a first-class criminal."

Yatsuho took the scroll, his hands trembling slightly as he unfurled it. The weight of the Imperial Decree seemed to radiate from the parchment itself, the words a stark reminder of the emperor's reach.

Imperial Decree is the highest form of order in the entire Orienten empire, issued by the emperor Jiaolong himself, as such it did not make sense to Yatsuho why he was being called, furthermore on such short notice. It was not hard to get to Kotsu in fifteen days, he could get there quite leisurely but it still would be impossible for a normal human, the gravity of the situation and the reason for the summoning was still not clear to him but he did have an inking of a suspicion.

"Why would they summon me?" he murmured, more to himself than to Masako.

"I don't know," she admitted, her tone apologetic. "But it seemed urgent. Whatever it is, tread carefully, Yatsuho."

He nodded, rolling the scroll tightly. "I will. Thank you for telling me."

Masako gave a faint smile, though the concern in her eyes remained. "Take care of yourself. And remember—you're stronger than whatever awaits you."

Her words lingered in his mind as he walked away, the rice paddies fading into the distance. The path ahead was uncertain, but Masako's unwavering belief in him gave him a small measure of strength.

"I smell a trap." Enketsu gave its concern voice.

"I do as well but there is nothing we can do to oppose him. Unless we want to be hunted across the globe."

In the empire no one can defy the emperor and Yatsuho knew better than that. There was no way the emperor did not have trained individuals like the Sikh warrior so he had no choice but to follow the order.

Thus, he started his journey to Kotsu in hand with some rations from Masako. Now only time will tell whether the thread of his fate is to be cut short or woven into the wider workings of the world.