Chapter 5: Crystal Flow

Overstuffed with as much koi as I could keep down, I laid atop my futon not unlike a beached whale. My vision already started to blacken from the corners of my eyes. Sleep's luring embrace was cooler than a woman's, but lasted longer and didn't bring back bitter memories. I wanted to lose myself in it, but unfortunately couldn't.

Call it a bad habit, but I had lived and traveled alone for most of my adult life. Sleeping atop a futon was odd enough; sleeping in the same room with another person...that was something I had just never gotten used to.

I could have my arms wrapped around a cute geisha's bosom, and still not be able to dream peacefully.

It was childish now, but I never slept until I knew I was the last one awake. No chance of being attacked or mugged or having my blankets stolen—old orphan habits died hard. And judging from the uneasy breathing coming from Masami, sleep wasn't going to come anytime soon. I'd wait her out if I had to, but it turned out I didn't need to wait for very long.

The futon beside me started to rustle, ever so quietly. It was a slow and drawn-out rustling that just didn't sound right to me. Sure enough, Masami got up and out while trying to make as little noise as possible. If that wasn't suspicious enough, I felt her gaze against my closed eyes as I faked a deep slumber. She even checked my breathing pattern! Thorough little brat.

After she was successfully fooled, the shugenja started to gather her scrolls and other belongings from the living room. I had to make a choice. Did I confront her now, or did I tail her and see what sort of secrets my pint-sized partner had gotten herself into?

I was more than a little curious as to what Masami had deemed necessary to hide from me. What didn't she want me to know about? Why keep it from your bodyguard? Did she not trust me enough? Those thoughts would keep me awake and out of sleep's clutches. I arose from my futon quietly and peered into the living room.

Masami diligently packed away her scrolls and ink into her knapsack, along with a change of clothes. This appeared like it was going to be more than a nightly jog.

I was mentally prepared to stalk a minor throughout the city in the middle of the night—when did I become such a creep?!

*knock* *knock*

Loud knocks from the front door sharpened up the nerves that my full stomach and respite had dulled. It was late for visitors, and judging by the number of shadows behind that screen door...we didn't have enough tea ceremony cushions for everyone.

This all smelled of trouble and stale fish, but I was only certain of the latter. Even still, I was Masami's bodyguard and couldn't allow her to get herself into a potentially dangerous situation. I stepped out of the bedroom and was about to make for my katana when the door slid open.

The leader of this group had his head shaved at the front and the rest held back into a topknot. In other words, a full-fledged samurai. And like all samurai, he had a retinue of retainers. Five men stood at his back, wielding the polearm weapons called 'sasumata'—typically nonlethal weapons the police used to capture suspected criminals. These weapons had weird assortments of barbs at the tip, which made them great for grabbing onto kimonos. Didn't work half-bad on bare skin either, just hurt a whole lot more.

Another figure emerged, squeezing between several of the retainers that towered over her. It was a little girl in a peach-colored kimono with a white obi wrapped around her waist. Her eyes were red and blood-shot, with tears streaming down like raging rivers. Worst of all, she held out her tiny little hand and pointed at me in a very accusatory fashion.

"Otosan! He did it! He killed Gill-sama!"

The man with the bad haircut placed his hands on his sword, ready to draw it at a moment's notice. This lovely living room was getting far too crowded, and I found myself caught between a prison sentence and a half-eaten piece of fish. I had to say something.

"You're going to need to specify—I've killed lots of people....."