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Under the Shadow: Chapter 2 - Scent of White Plum

by Ayashi

The sky was a soft blue when I woke. Roughly, I scrambled up and dusted my hakama with my hands. For a moment I took in the scene around me, remembering where I was. Then it was time to say goodbye.

I took off the shawl I had wrapped around my shoulder, and tenderly held it with my two hands. Tying it around the wooden cross, I sighed with a sense of relief. The shawl had provided security for me, as I fought in the bitter battles that at times seemed endless. The warmth of the shawl was, at times, the only thing that had kept me alive to this day.

It was now time to leave it behind. There did not seem to be a day when dark memories did not haunt my mind after her death, even when I had retired from being a hitokiri. The memories of white plum and bloody rain constantly haunted me and I decided that if I did not force myself to escape by rejecting the memories of what happened, I swear I would have gone mad. Yes, I would need to face these nightmares again one day, face the consequences and there would be no escape; but right there and then I allowed myself to lock away this dark chapter of my life- at least for the time being.

I took a final bow, and turned to leave.

Despite the hollow feeling in my soul, it was a fine, crisp, Spring morning. I would head east, I decided, where the name Buttosai was not notable enough to get me in to trouble.

I had left Kyoto in such a hurry I did not pack much with me. I swung the drawstring bag over my shoulder and tied the sakabato tightly in my belt. Rurouni, I told myself, was what I should tell if anyone should ask. It was safer not to mention my name, as the time was still too dangerous to do so.

By the time I hit a paved road the sun was already hanging high up in the sky, and my stomach suddenly reminded me that I hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning. Baka, I muttered to myself; I had became so used to the calls for breakfast, lunch and tea served at the inn that I forgot all about meal times when there was no one to call out that the meal was ready. However I was not prepared to interact with people so soon when all I wanted was a peace of mind…

…But then again…

As soon as I sensed the smell of food, my body followed it without any problems. My senses led me to a small farmhouse, with fields of plum trees surrounding the small estate. Plum trees. I winced.

An old lady greeted me at the door.

"Konichiwa," I bowed slightly, adding a small smile on my face.

"Why, Ohayo, young man," the old lady replied, "What can I do for you?"

It was still morning? I must have totally lost the sense of time.

"Obasan, I am a wandering swordsman…" I started.

"Ah, and I suppose a hungry one at that? " she interrupted, "Are you a solider? Well I suppose now that the war is over, I better rephrase that to ‘were you a solider’?"

Taken my surprise, I nodded uncertainly.

"You do look awfully young to be a swordsman," she continued, "So tell me, which side did you fought for?"

I hesitated. I would prefer not to answer. The old lady chuckled at my hesitation.

"Ah, I guess I shouldn’t have ask that. Oh, but the war is over, is it not?" She gestured me inside, smiling warmly, "I am glad the war’s over. May Kami-sama bless our world that it will become peaceful once more."

"Yes, may this new era be a peaceful one," I agreed.

It was warm and cozy inside the single room. A kettle was heating over the central fire pit, which provided the only source of light other than the window. The old lady gestured me to sit down nearby the fire, and kept her hands busy pouring some water from the kettle to make tea as she chatted away with me.

"Ah, but I guess it would mean you are now unemployed now that the war has ended?"
I never thought of it that way. Yes, I amused, I was unemployed- happily unemployed. Aloud I said,

"It does not worry me. I may at last have some time to enjoy some peace and quiet."

"Yes," she grinned mischievously, "maybe now you will have some time to chase after some young ladies."

There must have been a stunned look on my face, for she quickly added, "But I guess you maybe still a little too young for marriage."

There was a short awkward moment when I said nothing, and she handed me a warm cup of tea. I gazed into the cup, feeling a little lost by her words. ‘I was too young to marry’. How would this woman react, I wondered, if I tell her that not only have I once married, but was already a widower?

I became all too aware of the scent of plum trees in the room.

"Do you grow plum trees for a living?" I almost slapped myself as soon as the words left my mouth; was I trying to inflict more pain to myself!? It was a pointless question anyway, since it was obvious with all the plum trees growing on her property.
"Yes, my husband planted those before he died."

"I… I’m sorry."
"Oh, there’s nothing to apologize about," she waved her hand in a not-to-worry gesture, "He died a long while ago. Ah, but now that you mention it… He planted those and planned to earn our living by selling the harvest, but the soil here is no good for the plum trees to produce good fruits."
"Perfume…?" it was the only other thing I knew about the use of plum trees.

"Hai! How did you guess? I don’t make them of course. I just watch the plum trees grow and pick the flowers to sell to a small perfume company in Kyoto."

I avoided eye contact with the old woman. She did not notice my weariness, and generously offered me a bowl of rice and even some vegetables to go with it. I ate the food in silence as the old lady chattered on. It’s early spring, I heard her say, the plum trees are starting to flower. I listened no more. The scent of white plums that drifted across from the open window was starting to become unbearable.

I thanked her hospitality and left.