Flowers don't speak but they have 'words'...

A single flower states truly much more than a single person...

The Begonia.

Shukaido no Sho ~ 秋海棠の書~

~Unripe~

Day after day, the same repetitive rocking.

Day after day, the same clip-clopping of hooves.

    "No way, this is not happening!" Throwing herself off the lightly built bay mare, the female traveller threw her anger at something in the distance, which had not yet been seen.

It had been a week since they had left the safe, familiar boundaries of the grand city of Odawara^[1] to find the whereabouts of a creature and place it, once and for all, where it should be kept.

    "How are we meant to find something we don't even know what it looks like? Please say we'll turn back now?" A typical Asian feature of hazel eyes looked towards her travelling partner, pleading, yet at the same time, threatening that she would turn and make her way back towards their hometown, even if it meant that she was to arrive home alone.

There were mysteries amongst the creature which was to be sought.

Some said it was a demon. Sharpening its steel claws with its long and dangerously sharp iron fangs, ready for any foolish human who had come too close to its hidden treasures, stolen from the living world's greatest riches.

Some said it was a spirit. Testing those who dared to take up the harsh challenges of pure bravery and true heart. To challenge their minds and souls, looking out for its perfect rival.

Some said it was something that came to seek you and not something to be sought. A form of the gods which came to save and bless the ones in need, those who had done a good enough deed to be touched by the sacred.

Some said it didn't exist at all, and that the tales were merely a bluff, created by one who wished to sit and laugh at all who believed and tried to find this creature, which was said to exist, but in fact, did not.

To the girl's dismay, the boy shook his head with his usual calm, calculated face.

    "This has to be done. Didn't you hear what Yukimura said?" Recalling the stern face of their leader, Yukimura Seiichi, the girl nodded. The boy continued as they tied their horses up for a rest.

    "This creature is bringing too much fear and worry to our people. For the country to finally come to rest, the creature has to be justified." He calmly explained. She knew this as well, but it was just plain ridiculous. Why of all people possible to take this mission did they, members of the executive council, have to take it up?

    "I heard our Lord perfectly, but may I ask, why us? Why not one of the soldiers? It wouldn't hurt to spare one or two for a while, or even a ninja? They'd be a lot faster than we would be." Sighing deeply for the god-knew-how-many-times that day, allowed herself to settle on a rock, just a little distance away from where she had tied her horse, to take a much-needed rest and a drink from her flask.

    "Its not that I don't agree, , but I do personally take some interest in finding the true source of where these rumours may be coming from," passing the day's noon meal of rice balls and pickles to the girl, Yanagi Renji took a seat upon the vacant space on a rock next to her. "It would be an honour to find out for the sake of our country, don't you agree?"

Sighing once more, seeing a peaceful, smiling face looking at her, shook her head, allowing her long, auburn hair to flow in the same, rhythmic pattern. She wryly smiled back at the small and insignificant curiosity her partner had – it was typical of him.

    "...You and your two colleagues..." She sighed hopelessly, still wearing her smile. The fact that the renowned Lord Yukimura and his two most trusted men, Sanada Genichiro and Yanagi Renji, only cared for the safety of their people and the honour of their country was...a little all the same. It was a wonder if they even had lives they enjoyed.

Yet, it was times like this she couldn't disagree. She too, loved his way of thinking, joining in whatever adventure they may come across, whatever thrill they may experience. It was things like these that she couldn't say no to – adventure was a part of her natural instincts.

~The Love of Nature~

With a new thought in mind, both mounted onto the hard, wooden saddles of their steeds once again and left base camp in around ten minutes. There was much more to be seen and discovered, after all.

The pair walked side by side, horses flank by flank, as they pointed out various things to each other. Indeed, there was much more to be seen: the grazing sure-footed serow, the hidden sapphire waterfall, the bright yellow of the mustard rape herbs in the distance fields, the wild forest green mountains, and the black sin coloured crows. Sight came with sounds: rustling of the leaves overhead, as the gentle breeze blew past, bark of the deer, thunder of water pouring off a cliff, the harmonic songs of birds.

Yanagi Renji observed the girl as she pointed out each and every new thing she decided was fascinating or was worth seeing.

She hasn't changed.

This thought somehow made him feel light. They had grown up with each other; childhood friends. Both had been the only child of reasonably high classed families and had wandered the wilderness of the residences many times together. Spending their leisure periods together, sneaking around with their mischief, sharing secrets and discovering the new. It wasn't until had matured, at the ripe age of fifteen, had their relationship been slightly pulled apart.

~Love Distress~

It was the era where girls were married off to men, usually much older than their own age, possibly men in their mid twenties, or even the possibility of a man in his late forties. Boys, on the other hand, were not usually fully matured until the later age of eighteen, when they had finished their training in combat. They were carefully taught the art of the sword, the logics of a brush, and the peacefulness of the tea ceremony.

But that was reality. It had been like that since the Sengoku period, and hadn't changed; even in this peaceful world of the Tokugawa Shogunate – the era of Edo. It was tradition – and all knew that Japan was strongly costumed to following traditions.

It was a few years since, and it was mere coincidence that the two had happened to be reintroduced to each other at an official gathering in the presence of the young lord who had taken over the seat as leader of the clan.

    "What are you smiling at?" with a slight smirk, peeked into the face of the boy.

    "Nothing much...just thinking about what would have happened if I hadn't met you again in the castle," speaking out his mind, the handsome face peeked back at the girl. There was one thing he held in his heart, one thing he had only told two of his closest friends – the reason why he was given the chance to travel with , the final time before her ceremony in a months time.

Being away from the capital of Sagami^[2] brought the blare boredom of travelling, but along with it, a price: the reality and heart of nature – the true beauty of the world. Once again fascinated by every living, every sound and every sight, wandered here and there, with Renji following right behind, to make sure they were still heading along their planned route.

    "Yanagi, what were the words we got at Odawara again?"

As if her head was still in the clouds at the sight of all the beauty around her, the face of an eighteen year old girl turned to the boy of the same age. As the question processed Yanagi's mind as he wandered through a journey of his memory, the same, familiar hazel colour gazed towards him, waiting for his answer as a child would wait eagerly for their mother to pass them a sweet treat or two.

    "A creature of a stunning physical feature, long as if it was reaching to the end of this world, searching for something, or someone, ready to give a bite of what it or they deserved."

Both minds imagined of a being more beautiful than any other they had seen, outstretching its neck waiting impatiently for what it was seeking.

    "Long...perhaps a serpent?" Imagining what features could make the graceful, yet dangerous reptile so stunningly beautiful, looked to her travel companion to see him nod.

    "I wouldn't be surprised if it were a bird; long neck, flowing feathers with a dragging long tail." Yanagi suggested. Such a bird could be a phoenix, flapping its grand flaming wings, as it cooed to the human world below it, leaving a fiery trail with the incandescent tail of its pure stunning beauty.

    "The next town can hopefully tell us something." smiled.

Looking at each other with the same spirit that had left them travelling the vast country of Japan, they nodded, in understanding of each other perfectly. Nothing more was needed to be said; they understood each other perfectly well.

----

    "The other side of the mountains; climb to the top of that highest mountain just over there and you'll see it."

Bidding farewell and a word of thanks to a local at the sacred town of Kamakura^[3], the travellers found themselves climbing a mountain much too dangerous on horseback.

It had been two weeks since leaving their hometown of the capital, and hope had been almost lost until they coincidentally came across a group of monks, overhearing their talk of a beautiful being – much more holy than perhaps their gods themselves.

    "Take my hand..."

    "Hold on...!"

Scrabbling up through rubbles, avoiding the slippery mud as much as possible and taking hold onto broken branches, they helped each other through the struggle. Only wishing that they would get back with words to their Lord in one piece – wishing, that it would be both of them to reach the peak together. More, they hoped that all this hard work was for something. Nothing more or less than some clue, or even the answer, to their quest to seek the creature.

    "Are you alright?" Encouraging the girl and lending out a hand to help, Renji pointed to show that they truly were nearing the end. "Almost there."

    "Great..." let out in mere gladness, taking the hand and wearing an exhausted smile. Whatever was to meet them, whatever the result, they had accomplished something. Just something – something too complex to place into words.

Within these two weeks were the faces of nature never seen before, the face of human instinct which challenged their mental and emotional wellbeing, and their trust in each other; had one doubted the other, neither would have come this far.

    "...Look..." finally taking the last step to the peak of their climb, a gasp slipped out of Renji's lips – lost for words in the sight that lay before him. Following the slender outstretched finger of her companion, the hazel brown eyes soon grew wide in the same mesmerised fashion.

Below the base of the mountain, whose peak they were standing on, lay the great ocean of the Pacific stretching as far as one could seek; perhaps never ending. The sun had come to set, casting a brilliant ring of gold fire amongst the far borders of sight – the horizon. The sole horizon itself seemed to glower at the travellers, inviting them to dare challenge its everlasting power of time.

A golden bird with wings, raging as its feathers danced on the ocean's surface, gradually turning to its latter colour of a ripe tangerine. A crimson slender being much like a serpent, gliding over the vast ocean borders, flaming an incandescent red.

    "...Do you think this is what we've been looking for...?" finally slipping out of the grasps of the enchantment, questioned her partner.

Neither taking their gaze off the utter most beauty, the same description they had heard in the capital encircled their minds, wondering if this really was all they were looking for. A simple horizon, yet the most exquisite in existence. Something which captured the very hearts of every of living organism everyday, yet at the same time, bewitching many with its hypnotic spells.

    "I'd guess that throughout time, and the numerous rumours, the very beauty and enchantment has been told and interpreted in many ways, leaving behind the tales and legends of fear, and stories of gods." Yanagi answered. The two looked at each other, finally able to place their gaze off nature's gift.

    "I suppose we have things to report to Yukimura then?" Looking up to the pair of eyes belonging to her taller companion, asked, tilting her head to one side questioningly. However, the answer which came back shocked the girl.

    "...Though, we have the rest of the month until we have to go back..." Renji smiled. A rare smile, which for once stated his age of a maturing, but yet, also only just the beginnings of it. A mischievous expression looked down at the shorter girl. "Fancy an adventure?"

    "...I thought we had to head home." Ignoring her natural instincts to roam the wild and seek the new, narrowing her perfect hazel eyes, reasoned; they weren't going to get a great welcome back if someone was to find out.

    "You're quite right, but is it wrong for a person to wish to spend more time with his childhood friend?"

    "It's not like we're never going to meet again." Smiling wryly, not quite understanding what her friend was on about, straightened her slightly disrupted tied back hair and took another glance at the spell of nature.

    "Why rush our horses? We can take our time," Unlike the usual calm Yanagi Renji of Kanagawa, the boy pleaded with every excuse he came up with. Since they were small, it was always him who won the argument.

    "Fine..." Rolling her eyes just the way she had in every argument they had, finally gave in.

The time they had been allocated was a month. They had spent half of it wandering to and fro, crossing paths, stopping to ask questions and finding the minor unmapped towns. Two weeks was left, and there were only a few weeks left until they were no longer allowed to be in the presence of each other alone ever again; just the two of them.

Just two weeks...is that too much to ask...?

Renji watched the girl slowly making her descent, making sure her every movement, every breath, every word was not missed and carved deep into his memory.

~Unrequited Love~

How long had it been since they had spent so much time with each other? How long since he had noticed this slight emotion he held for the girl? How long since she had been promised to a man much older than the girl herself? How long since she had cried in him arms and wailed at how this wasn't what life wasn't meant to be like?

    "Are you coming or not?"

The girl peeked up towards the boy and called him back into reality.

No matter what the answers to those questions were, there was only two weeks left, and he was going to enjoy the time to the fullest, so that in the end, he would smile and know that she will live a happy life – a life without him.

fin.
Karyu Rou
23.September.2006

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