Chapter 4

All my life, living alone, surviving the wildnerness and avoiding the cruelty of man. What were the odds that I would end up meeting these men. I dedicated myself that would avoid anyone who see's me, because of my red hair. It was the only thing that has kept separated from people. Like the bandits who killed my parents and tried to sell me, and the ones who treat me like an outcast. But these guys, they were different. They could've killed when I was stealing their supplies, but instead here I am riding on the back of a horse holding on to Toru, taking me to their fortress. All of the samurai were on their horses with one of them pulling the carts. They all seem to not mind me being with them all except one person; Taeko, he still did not the idea of bringing me along for the ride. I know 'cause he was giving me that hateful look in his eyes. It didn't matter to cause I'm used to this resentment. When people who look at me like that I always run away, so why am I not running right now?

"You doing okay back there Seika?" Toru asked, steering his horse down the trail. "Yeah" I answered clinging tight onto his gi. "We're only a few miles aways, when we get there I'll speak with our master and see what I can to help you, but you have to do exactly what I say understand?" Toru said. "Yes, sir" I answered.

The road was a long journey, while we've been traveling I fell asleep on Toru's back, feeling the warmth and comfort, it almost felt like embracing my father again. Then one of the samurai on their horse's walked up to Toru and spoke "She seems comfortable." "She's beginning to trust us, which means we're off to a good start." Toru said. "Do you think she'll trust us enough to tell us what happened to her family?" "I do not know, only time will tell." "Judging by the scarrs on her skin, I can tell she's been through alot, no child should ever endure something like that." he said. "That you are right, my friend." "Let's just hope the master would listen and maybe he could help this girl." "Tanaka, did you forget what kind of man, Master Hanzo is?" Toru asked. "Of course not, and I believe in his cause and what we're doing." Tanaka replied. "Then we should never any doubts."

Three hours have passed and we've finally made it to our destination, the horses stopped, and I woke up and to find the biggest castle fortress before me. "What do you think?" Toru asked, as if he expected me to wake up. I couldn't take my eyes off on the size of this place, I was so astonished I didn't have the choice for words. Toru laughed knew that I would be impressed. The gates opened as we crossed the bridge over the moat. Once we were inside I took in everything that was surrounding me. There were samurai warriors training in the court yard, archers shooting at targets, servants carrying fresh cooked meals on trays, and there was even a horse stable. Toru dismounted himself from his stead and put me down "I'm going to help my friends unload our stuff and put the horses away, so you just stay put, and don't go any where." he said, as he pulled the reins of his horse and walked away. But I however didn't listen, I was so curious I wanted to see more of this place, so I wondered off. I've watched the samurai spar in the martial arts it was so tense it was as if they were actually in a real fight, then I accidently bumped into one of the onna-bughiesha; they may have looked liked fancy dressed ladies but I knew right away that they were more than meets the eye judging by the spears they were weilding. I was afraid at first, but when they looked at me they smiled, adored on how cute I was and admired the color of my hair. I was flattered but I was also very shy. I slipped past them and walked through the great hall, and when I turned I found big garden with a couple of cherry blossom trees planted in the greenest emerald grass I've ever seen, some stones and a shrine, and a big pond filled with coy fish with a red bridge over it. I took my first step and felt on how soft this thick green grass was, it reminded me of the grass on the mountains at my place once called home. I danced and spinned under the falling petals of the cherry blossoms, and made a graceful landing on my back. I opened my eyes looking straight up at the bright blue sky with the clouds floating by, remembering the time when my father and I were always out lying on the grass looking up in the sky like this. Figuring out what they look like, judging by their shape and size.

Then that memory struck me right in the heart, making me start to cry, wishing that my parents were here. I wiped my tears away, stood up and went over to the pond. I crouched down and leaned in to take a closer look and saw the coy fish in different colors: gold, orange, black, and white. I poked my finger in the water it scared them they scattered swimming away. As the water calms from my disturbence I saw my own reflection, a little girl covered in dirt, with scrapes and cuts, and then I notice someone else's reflection. I turned and saw a man with a rough rugged brown beard, with his hair tied in a bun and golden brown eyes, and wearing a red kimono with golden beetles patterned in a stitching over his brown gi. "Do you like it?" he smiled. I was silent all confused wondering how I should respond or act. "What's wrong, no choice for words?" He chuckled. He sat infront of the pond and looked at the coy in the pond and said "You know when I was a boy, my father always takes me fishing, I've had the hardest time catching one and always end up sleeping holding my fishing pole. But when I felt a big tug it slapped me wide awake and I hold on as best as I could hoping I catched a big one, but it slipped right out of my hands." He continued. "That when I decided to use my archery skills instead." I walked over and sat right next to him, growing a little bit more curious. He leaned back and looked up in the sky. " And then there was a time my mother would always tell me stories before bed, legends about how the world began, how day and night were created, and even about the gods." Then I started to get really interested hearing his life story. But then his smile disappeared and looked back to the ground. "But if only . . .". he then turned silent. "But if only what?" I spoke. He turned his head, cocked his eyebrow and smiled. "So you can talk?" I turned away with my face turning red. "Hey come on, don't be like that, I thought this was going good." I turned back to him with my face still red with embarrassment "It's not that! It's just. . . I don't know!" I crossed my arms and pouted. He laughed, humored by the expression on my face.

"Seika!" I turned saw Toru stepped into the garden walking towards me, but then he stopped, and looked surprised all of a sudden when he noticed the man next to me. He crouched down and bowed his head "Lord Hanzo!" he continued. "Forgive me, I brought this girl into our home and thought we could talked hopeing. . ." The man in the red kimono stood up and raised his hand; silenceing him. " Let me guess, this girl's an orphan you've found on your travels correct?" I looked at him with my eyes wide open, how did he know that right away? We've just met and had a small conversation, and he'd just figured it out!? Toru raised his head and looked upon his master. "How did you know about that?" I asked. He kneeled and looked at me "Isn't it obvious?". I looked at my tatterd clothes, messed up hair, covered in dirt, he was right. "Master, I know this is sudden, and she maybe young but if we give her some training and lessons, she might become a formidable ally." Toru said. Hanzo walked over to Toru and told him to rise, "Toru, you don't need to say anything else, but you're right about one thing" he turned and looked at me "she may be what this clan needs, I can tell." "But first, take her to get cleaned up."