Hidoko

Sunday, June 14, 199810:06:29 PM

Journey1

They had set the woman down on the couch and left her there. Soujirou had ran off, leaving a tired and crying Ayame on the grass. But he did not feel sorry for the poor girl; he just kept on walking and smiling. His heart had been cold since the day he fell off the cliff.

He carried on, and stopped at a bustling town. Everyone was laughing and talking, and the whole town was in a buzz. There were many stalls, some of which selling jewellry, some selling clothes, some selling collection items, and others selling food.

He came along and saw a stall of special interest. It was a stall selling potions and elixers, many of which he did not recognise.

"Would you like any potions, sir?" A young manly voice invaded into his ears and a cute youth popped into view.

"You own this stall?"

"No, my father does. I have a wide knowledge of this wide selection here. Perhaps you would like some potion of Sahi? Or Gunaii?"

"What are they for?"

"Potion of Sahi refreshes you and helps your wounds to heal quickly. Potion of Gunaii cleanses contaminated water."

"No thanks." Soujirou looked around a bit. "That looks beautiful," He pointed to a solitary blue liquid, in a regular corked bottle.

The youth squinted at it. "Nobody has asked me before, and nobody told me. Wait here, I'll go and ask my father."

The youth popped back in less than a while. "He doesn't know, and he says that since the purpose is unknown you can have it cheap, for five bucks."

"Make it three," Soujirou smiled promisingly.

"Well…" The youth hesitated. "Four,"

"Three."

"Fine, whatever. It's not my money anyway."

Soujirou paid for it, and left the stall. He checked his inventory, and saw that he lacked nothng, but he wanted to get some equipments which he may need. So he set off looking, and found none. He got to a bridge at the edge of the town, and decided to stay under it for that night, but it was not even noon yet, so he explored the area a bit.

At the market square where people bid for things, he caught a glimspe of a familiar face among the crowds. It was an old mate whom he fought beside when he was in the gang. He tried to hide his face, but the latter saw him anyway.

"Yo, Seta!"

"Hi!" Soujirou turned around. "I think I'm leaving…"

"Don't worry, I'm not in the gang anymore!" The man yelled, but he still felt uneasy.

So, they went into a tarvern and sat down. Machi ordered some dishes and sake for themselves, and they chatted. Soujirou learnt that the day he left, his group was captured, and only Machi escaped alive. Soon Machi learnt that the police did a raid on the gang headquarters, and everyone was captured. Everything of his past no longer existed, and he learnt that all the leaders were killed. Which meant that the man who did him wrong many years ago was dead.

They laughed and talked together, and Machi invited him to stay at his home for a few days. Soujirou agreed to his offer happily, and they ate. They hadn't met for a long time, and they were good friends once again.

Machi's home wasn't exactly big, but it made a comfy home and it was enough for both of them.

"Why hadn't you gotten yourself a wife?" Soujirou asked.

"Nah… None of them appeals to me, not even the most beautiful ones in this town. I doubt I'll get married in ten years time. What about you?"

"I'm only sixteen now, you know. But I don't think I'll get one, too…"

"Hmm… Why?"

"Maybe it's because I can't like any of them unless their normal friends."

"I see…" Machi nodded thoughtfully. Soujirou had told him of what happened to him, and he respected the fact that Soujirou told him at all.

Soujirou said nothing else, and they played chess for a while, before going to sleep.

Author's notes…