Chapter 14: Sakura in the Shadows (7)

Eight months Later...

Rachel used Ise's ability which she calls 'Shadow-Weaving', it became sort appropriate to call it that since it mostly manipulates darkness.

She down downgraded Ise's beautiful appearance and was able to successfully blend in as a servant, Being a helper to the nursemaid of the pair of twins.

Ise's mother didn't recover from the shock she received for the next months to come it was only recently that she recovered and focused her attention on her boys.

Jimbe had nearly completely fallen apart. Not only did he lose an eye but and arm as well. He was more violent and unruly then before neither the servants nor mother where safe, and it seemed in the end not even his own children.

"Heathens! We're to have heathens" the nursemaid said to the cooks. Rachel said nothing as she followed the nursemaid in silence to the household, she was mute.

"What are these Heathens?"

"Black-skinned ones, with faces like demons. I've just scene them, O swear to the moon, twitch those eyes"

"They're Foreigners!"

"Foreign Visitors"

"They really have Black-skin? Well, where are they from and why are they here?"

The Cooks and a few maidservants squealed, much to the nursemaid annoyance

"Some nasty foreign place. They are here because the master invited them" The nursemaid said, "Their home is knee-deep in gold and the moon prince is friendly with them."

Rachel was bored with their conversation, so she zones out and thought about her systems. She wondered if there was a way to get it to responded to her.

Some time Later…..

Rachel sat in a tree laxed as she ate a few apples that she brought with her. It had a good view of the household.

With a click, the sliding door of the veranda moved back. Jimbe stepped out wearing a gray hakama. Him wearing these plain cloths cupped with his one eye made him look strong, honest and capable.

"Tsk" Rachel mouthed

More people began streaming through the door onto the veranda. High-ranking men dressed in rich cloths and colors. After them came the foreigners, they were so like the men from the ship that day that it gave Rachel pause before a person's appearance came to her mind.

'I wonder if he is here to'

Many stared at the foreigners whose behavior was so different, they swung their arms as they walked, shrugged their shoulders, waggled their eyebrow when they talked. Smiles flashed across their faces like the moon striking through ragged clouds on a windy night. They seemed like giants, standing there next to Jimbe. Making Rachel smile inside.

They wore leather breeches and loose tunics that were bound at the waist with lengths of embroidered cloth. They also sported an astonishing Amount of gold Collars at their necks, the Metal formed into fine strands and braided.

If Rachel didn't know any better, she would have mistaken them for an Indian tribe in the beginning but sadly they where not despite the similar dispositions. These people the air about them is different from her worlds Indian, but, she couldn't quite but her finger on the biggest difference. Maybe its because in this world they have more power. Plus, Not one of them carried a bow, wore a glove, or displayed any other sign of an archer.

Jimbe bowed deeply to his foreign guest and they bowed back just as deeply, but it looked like they found the ritual amusing more then respecting.

Rachel smiled even more 'I'm liking these people more and more'

It was because Jimbe didn't share their amusement. Something nettled him. He motioned his friend and the servants to silence, strange that he had not ordered them away.

In Ise memories Jimbe and Keijo once stood together at the grounds in her now desolate home. Laughing because neither of them could beat the other. They had the same teacher, had practiced together all their lives and their skill and technique were 'equal'

Which was not true, Jimbe knew without a doubt that the only thing he could beat Keijo with was status and wealth. It sad thought, it was possible that Ise's father had realized his friend jealously early on. Because he once said that Jimbe had enough 'ambition' for both of them.

It was true though, Jimbe was made of greed, desire, and covetousness. What he wanted he must have, no matter what or low he sunk to gain it. There was no place for goodness, anywhere that he was.

Its sad that Ise's mother couldn't see that.

Either way Rachel knew the purpose of this event today he wanted to win against the foreigners. Prove that he was still something despite losing his eye. A pity that his arm recovered enough to be useable. Rachel leaned back when he began his boring speech that applied fairness and a boast of his own ego.

"For a master of Ky-Ujutsu, there is only one target. The one within our own spirit. Some have called me a master of this art-"

'See boasted his own ego'

"But, I will leave it to you honored guest, to judge."

The dark-skinned men nodded respectfully as Jimbe held out his hand. An archer's glove that covered all but one of his finger, a servant came with a bamboo bow taller than then himself.

Rachel noted the smirks of the foreigners it seems they where also making fun of Jimbe in their minds. Its true thought the man was Ise's mother's height. Both of which were shorter than Ise herself, that's why it was so easy to take down in the first place. The man might as well be Napoleon.

A servant strung his bow for him.

'A Man who cannot string his own bow is not fit to shoot' Rachel quoted Ise's father and closed her eyes. She was a tad bit sleepy so she will wait to the fun parts starts.

Jimbe had three arrows in his Obi. Now her reached back with his free hand and carefully pulled one out. It was longer than the full reach of his arm. Still, holding the bow above his head nocked the arrow to the strong. He slowly drew the string taut, bringing the bow down in the same measured movement so that the arrow lay next to his eye. He Sighted and released.

The arrow hitting dead Center. Followed by his second and then finally he closed his eyes and without seeing shoot his three-arrow hitting the target once again dead center.

The foreign visitor clapped noisily but that was enough for Jimbe's ego to be boasted. You have to admit that he did well for someone who had his arm seriously injured like that. It wasn't supposed to be used again. Rachel only found out yesterday that Jimbe was able to use his arm again. Strange as it was but you can say the miracles do happen even to unpleasant people.

Jimbe's friend also stepped forward to congratulate him. Turning his head to the foreigners, with his nose turned up with pride.

"Do you see now, Ogaki? Do you understand this is an art?"

'Ogaki? That's a native American name' Rachel thought her eyes still closed

"Oh, yes" Said the foreign man named Ogaki, he stepped forward and reached out. Expecting this Jimbe allowed this person to clasp his forearm.

"The I have changed your mind?"

Ogaki released Jimbe's arm and made an odd gesture, lifting both hands and laughing, The painted scars on his face were in straight lines, like cat whiskers move similar to when it yawns or snarls.

The servants made a few minor noises.