Monday, September 5, 2005

Running To Stand Still: The hidden ones
*episode 12*

The party is underway and Miroku and his friends are seated with honor at the headwoman’s table. Also with them are several of the village elders, Yamaneko, and Kouu, Kaze, and Kousetsu. When ask if they are still under guard, the headwoman responds, “Nay, Yamaneko is foremost among our warriors, thus she is honored. As for yon three, they sit with the father for they bear the right of the first night. T’was they, after all, who brought ye to us.” Miroku says, “First let me say that I am flattered by your faith in my virility; second, should Yamaneko herself not be first, she having led them.” The head woman says, “Aye, but Yamaneko is not of our flesh. True she shall be allowed to bear thy children that they may be of the flesh; but she may not do so until all those of the flesh have had a chance to attempt it.” Yamaneko stands and bows, “Excuse me,” she says with no trace of emotion, “I have patrol in the morning. I wish to sleep.” As she walks away, the head woman calls, “Child, ye have always known it to be thus.” Yamaneko does not acknowledge her. Several minutes later, Miroku steps outside on the pretext of needing to relive himself. However, he heads directly to the training dojo. Inside, he sees Yamaneko unleashing the furry of hell on a training dummy with a spear. Breaking her silent rage, Miroku says, “I figured I’d find you here. I knew when I saw you watching Ko. You were watching as she learned, just as you did, to fight instead of crying.” “Go away.” Yamaneko says with calmness she cannot feel. Miroku says, “I do not wish to leave, here is wear I choose to be.” Allowing rage to crack her stone face, she strikes out at him. Finding her to be a much easier opponent when pain has dulled her senses, Miroku grabs the weapon, yanks it from her hands, and tosses it aside. In the same motion, he grabs her and pulls her to him. She is so overwhelmed by shock, that she can do nothing as the monk forcefully pulls her faces to his and gently presses his lips to hers. As he begins to draw her to the ground, she regains her composer and says, “Stop! You don’t know what will happen.” Settling for kneeling in front of one another, Miroku says, “If I do this, and we’re caught, my friends and I, and you for that matter, would have to make a speedy get away and never return. I know this and I don’t care.” Puzzled, she asks, “But why?” He says, “Because you, like the child Ko, deserve to be first; for once in your life.” He once again draws her face to his and this time she returns the kiss in full. Miroku puts his hands on her shoulders to lower her gently to her back, but she raises her palm to his chest. She pushes him back, gently, but with enough force to tell him that the answer is no. Sitting back, she says, “Thank you, truly, but I am of this village. If I did this I could no longer be of the village; and I am not ready for that. But know, that I was first, and will cherish that always. And know that I will await my turn, now with anticipation.”
Comments (5)