Chapter 11: Sakura in the Shadows (4)

Mission Success

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Soul Fragmentation at 5%

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Due to Soul Fragmentation being at 5%, System features are now available.

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System features [Hearts Library] and [Prediction] is now Active.

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Due to corrupted Data [Hearts Library] is being Reset.

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Recalibrating

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Mission: Escape from Sakamoto Jimbe

Rachel spat out water and felt herself shivering from being wet. Her eyes holding Tear in them as she moved Ise hand with her mind. Indicating that Ina Ise consciousness is gone and that she is now the owner of this body.

Her Kimono was heavy due to being soaked in water. She saw the flash of red on her left hand before noticing that a hand was clamped down on her shoulder like an iron vise. While another hand was on her Kimono, it was a very warm and familiar hand.

Rachel warmed at her thoughts 'why was this so familiar'

Rachel looked down at her rescuer, his arm around her waist and his heart racing against her shoulder blades. Chest heaving with shallow gasps like her own.

"I see, after I fell. He must of dove in the water and climbed back up with his strength.' Rachel thought half-coconscious with her nerves in enough shock, bringing her to a near faint. 'Carrying me princess style, huh?'

Rachel held up her dazed head and looked into the fine features of the dark-skinned foreigner. His hair was dark and his eyes where the color of mulberry leaves. He smelled like cassia….Rachel couldn't help but smile 'Kevin also smelled like Cassia'

"Are you hurt?" he asked his voice husky and soft just like a whisper.

'Goodness, he even sounds like him to.' Rachel thought making her somber to her current situation. "No, I am alright" Rachel said before suggesting to tell him, to let her down.

"It was my pleasure" His sudden smile made Rachel lose a bit of her focus as she flushed and then turned away after he let her down.

"Thank the Moon, Thank the Moon that you were alright" Jimbe said with a concerned smile that was easily seen through by both Rachel and the boy. Jimbe put his arms around Rachel making her stiffen.

Jimbe's awkward embrace was over.

"Ise are you well, Are you alright"

"I'm am very well" Rachel said with Ise's voice and smile as if nothing ever happened in the first place.

"I owe you a debt which I can never repay, honored guest. I do not know your name, but please, you must allow me to thank you properly" Jimbe said to the her rescuer, holding out his hand.

Rachel stared into the boy's eyes for a moment 'Sure enough he must have seen it'. The boys eyes where cold as he spoke with a hint of disgust in his voice.

"Your daughter has already thanked me. I require nothing more"

Jimbe rocked back slightly and dropped his hand to his side. It flexed convulsively, the knuckles turning red , yellow-white, red, over and over again.

Rachel closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself.

A high-pitched shriek was heard grabbing her attention as she saw the azure bird glide down and land on her rescuers extended forearm.

"A falcon" Rachel couldn't help but whisper looking at this bird of prey's beautiful color that was foreign to her modern world. When her rescuer turned back to her, she smiled and mouthed 'thank you' one last time.

"You should take your daughter below decks. I think she is not well."

"Yes, of course. But first-"

Her rescuer turned abruptly and walked away without listening to Jimbes protest. Jimbe could only watch as he swore softly and viciously.

Some Time Later…..

Ise's mother had scolded Rachel for rushing out like she did but then afterword they where calmly sitting down. Not long after the women began to dose off, sleepily.

As quietly as possible, Rachel shifted her kimono and began to stand before she could get any further Ise's mother stirred.

"Where are you Going?"

"I was going to step out to let you have some rest in peace" Rachel said. "Are you feeling better."

"No, Its alright though, Ise. I was once told the more illness the mother suffers, the better the baby will grow."

"…" Rachel was lost in though. Ise's mother looked at her daughter it seemed to have made her conclusion about what her daughter was thinking.

"When you have a baby of your own, you will realize that a mother is willing to put up with anything for a healthy child. Anything at all. It is that what we are made for, to carry children. A woman cannot be happy doing anything else."

Rachel looked at Ise's mother her eyes where deep in thought as she looked at this woman. Who glowed with happiness at Jimbe's affection but shied away from Ise's father when things got rough?

"You know I loved your father, don't you?"

Rachel looked back up at Ise mother and felt strange.

"You are old enough to hear of such things now, Ise, and I might not have another chance before you leave us. Let me speak this once, and then we will not talk about it again. Agreed? You will not tell this to Jimbe either"

"Very well" Rachel said.

"I came from a good family, though not a wealthy one- and I was beautiful, as 'beautiful' as you are. I had many suitors. Jimbe was one of them, my parents wished me to marry him at the time. But I was only looking at Keijo, he wasn't like anyone my suiters including Jimbe. He did not try to impress me or brag to his friends about me. HE wrote me poetry and talked to me. He seemed to truly see me, to love me. And I loved him in return.

After months of begging my family caved in and allowed me to marry him. We married and we had you, we were so happy….

But the labor was so difficult, and I bled so much that afterword the midwife told your father that to have another child may kill me. It was wicked of her and it was not her business to interfere.

Your father listened and I had agreed with him. But as I grew older and stronger, I began to realize what a terrible thing we had agreed to. It was not natural the way we lived. I longed for babies, I longed to feel close to your father, as I once had. We argued about it again and again, and then he began to hide from me in his papers

All he would say is that you were enough for him. He couldn't understand that---" She finally cut herself off, paused and then finished. "That one child was not a proper family."

"….." Rachel was still silent, but she felt a very strong intent to hurt this woman before he. But, keeping it in as she was still talking

"---Jimbe gave me another chance, he waited for me, he never married, he never looked at another woman. And I needed him, he was there. He has forgiven me for choosing his friend for him for all these years ago, and now I can have the children I always wanted. I am so happy, Ise."

'Only because his arrogance couldn't stand the idea of not obtaining you'

Ise's mother wasn't looking at Rachel, but she might have been frozen out of fear if she did.