Just Like Romeo and Juliet
By Gator e_lwood@yahoo.com
Just Like Romeo and Juliet
Well, almost...
I just got to thinking one day how did
Chichiri...er...Houjun and Kouran meet? So I decided to make it up myself for
all of those who were wondering the same thing. ~Gator
**************************************************************
Houjun and Hikou were heading to the river to fish again.
It was their favorite past time ever since they were kids, but they were now
almost seventeen about to start lives of their own. That's when Houjun saw her,
not for the first time, but it was the first time that he really took notice of
her. He knew that her name was Kouran. He stopped and watched as she walked
along with a basket under one arm, probably to go get some fresh food from the
little village market. He sighed she was very beaugtiful, her eyes, her smile,
the way she carried herself...he got snapped out of his thoughts.....
"EARTH to HOUJUN!" Hikou was waving a hand
in front of his face.
Houjun smiled at his friend, "Hey, I'm alright I
just got...umm...a little side tracked that's all."
Hikou looked off in the direction that his friend had
been staring just in time to see Kouran disappear around a building. He smiled
knowingly.
Houjun catching his friend's look out of the corner of
his eye blushed, "Hey come on! let's go get those fish! Race ya!"
Hikou shook his head as he watched Houjun take off
towards the river but not to be beaten he ran after him.
***************************************************************
Kouran walked towards the village's market so that she
could get some fresh bread for supper. But she couldn't help but think about
the boy she had seen staring at her so intently. He had such a penetrating
gaze. "Oof!" she ran into someone. Looking up she noticed that it was
a boy her age but not the one she had hoped. ducking her head, "I'm
sorry."
The boy, whose name was Otokoyu, smiled at her,
"That's okay," backing her up against a building he pushed her chin
up with his hand, "But I know how you could make it up to me."
Kouran smacked his hand away and glared at him,
"What makes you think that I would want to hang out with the likes of
you!" she could tell that he had the temperament of a trouble maker.
Otokoyu was angered by this but before he could answer
he was called by his father to hurry his ass up. Kouran sighed in relief as she
watched the troublemaker disappear behind another house. She picked up her
basket that she had dropped and continued on her way.
***************************************************************
Houjun reached the river first, "Ha! beat
ya!"
Hikou came puffing up, "Hey I'm not as athletic
okay?" shakes his head at Houjun, "Anyway lets see who can catch the
most fish today."
Houjun smiled, "You're on!"
They both dropped their lines in the water and waited
each hoping to catch more fish than the other. After a long wait Hikou finally
got a bite and pulled in a nice sized brook trout. He smiled at Houjun's face,
"Ha! One nothing."
Houjun got a determined look on his face, if it was
one thing that he wasn't as good at as Hikou it was catching a lot of fish. He
had the patience but the fish just never seemed to like his bait. But today he
was going to catch the most fish, or at least that's what he hoped. Of course
he hoped that every time they went fishing.
*****************************************************************
Kouran got what she needed at the market and started
on her way back home.
She hope that she would run into that boy that she saw
looking at her earlier. He looked nice enough and just the way he held himself,
so confident. She smiled to herself. But to her disappointment she reached home
without seeing the boy again. She didn't know his name although he looked very
familiar. Of course she didn't know many people in the village at all, what
with her staying home most of the time to help her sick mother with the younger
ones. She sighed and continued cleaning some raw vegetables so that they all
could enjoy a meal.
*****************************************************************
Houjun looked at the sun, "Shit! I'm late for
supper! My parents are going to skin me alive!" pulling his line out of
the water he threw the bait in and disappointedly started back towards his
home.
Hikou laughed after his friend, for he hadn't caught
anything today, "Well, I guess that makes me the winner today!" he
called after Houjun. But he too picked up his pole and then his fish and headed
back towards home where his parents would be waiting for him.
Houjun reached his home and went in. His parents were
scowling at him. He gave a half smile, "Uh...sorry."
His father leveled a look at his almost grown son,
"You need to learn how to be a bit more responsible when it comes to being
on time. You're almost ready to start a life of you own," his look
softened, "We just want the best for you."
Houjun nodded somewhat ashamed, "I know," he
took his seat at the table as did his parents and the meal began.
****************************************************************
The next day Houjun went with his father like he did
every morning to go work in the fields. As the sun got warmer Houjun sweated
more. He hated this work! He was not going to be a farmer that was for sure. He
didn't know what he was going to do but he knew that he definitively was not
going to work and slave like his father and end up with nothing. Although he
knew that one day he would get married and start a family of his own. He smiled
to himself as he thought about Kouran. His father came up to him,
"Alright, it is mid day you can leave now."
Houjun happily dropped what he had been doing and
trotted off. His father was very kind that was for sure. He never made him stay
in the field past midday. Houjun knew that he was lucky for most boys his age
would spend the whole day in the field.
He walked along the road and decided to take a stroll
in the woods. As the leaves crunched under his footsteps he reveled in the
smells and sounds of the forest. He loved nature, especially when it was like
this. All peaceful. He sighed and leaned against a tree to watch some squirrels
squabble over a hickory nut.
****************************************************************
Kouran saw her father off as she did every morning,
for her mother needed her rest. "Good bye, papa." she smiled at him.
"Good bye, daughter." he sighed and went out
the door, like he did ever since she could remember he would be up and go to
his shop before the sun had risen. She admired her father for that, for she
knew that the only reason he got up and went at all was for his family.
Kouran started to make breakfast for her mother and
the little ones for she knew that they would soon be up. First she went and
gathered the eggs from the few chicken that had they and boiled them in water.
A little face peeped out from behind the curtained
doorway. Kouran looked up and laughed, "Shitara, don't scare me like
that!" she got up and pulled her younger sister into a hug.
Shitara giggled, "You shouldn't have been scared.
I do that every morning!"
Kouran laughed, "I know but I never know when
you're going to pop up," she smiled down at her sister, "Now go get
the others. Breakfast is almost ready," Shitara ran off and did as told.
Soon they were all out and sitting at the table
waiting for Kouran to bring them their food. Kouran served them and then made a
plate for her mother.
Walking into her parent's room she walked softly over
to the bed, "Mother?"
Weakly her mother answered, "Just leave it on the
stand. I'll eat it later."
Kouran did as asked and turned to walk out. She wasn't
happy about this, her mother rarely ate anything and would not listen to
Kouran. She sat down with the little ones and ate herself.
After they had finished eating Kouran pushed the kids
outside to play so that she could get some work done. By the time that she got
everything cleaned up it was already noon and time for the younger kids to have
a snack to hold them over 'til dinner. After that Kouran went out to weed the
small vegetable garden that she kept for their fresh veggies. She worked at
pulling the weeds. As she did so her mind wandered back to the boy who had
looked at her with that penetrating gaze. She sure would like to know who he
was. She started having little fantasies to herself about maybe he was an
imperial guard or a gallant hero....
*****************************************************************
Houjun laughed as the smaller squirrel ran off happily
with the big nut. He continued walking letting his feet take him where they
would. Coming out of the woods he looked up to see where he was and noticed
Kouran kneeled in the dirt of a vegetable garden pulling weeds. He smiled to
himself and walked up to her, "Would you like some help?"
Startled at the sudden voice. Kouran jumped back and
looked to see whom it was that was speaking to her. Her eyes widened, it was
the boy with those eyes! She blushed a bit self consciously under his gaze,
"Um...sure."
Houjun smiled at her, "Alright then," he got
down in the dirt and started pulling weeds. "Oh no! not that one!"
Houjun dropped the plant that he was holding and look at her startled,
"What!?"
Laughing Kouran answered, "That's a plant!"
she laughed harder when he blushed in embarrassment.
Houjun looked at the plant in his hand and carefully
put it back, *sweatdrop* "Oops! I guess I don't know my plants like I
thought I did." He laughed a bit.
She chuckled as they started on weeding again,
"So..." she didn't really know what to say to him.
"So...." he answered back also not knowing
what to say so they worked in silence. Finally done Houjun stood up to go.
"Hey, you can't go yet."
Bewildered Houjun looked down at Kouran,
"Why?"
Kouran smiled up at him, "I don't even know your
name!"
Houjun got a little red, "Oh! the name is
Houjun!" he extended a hand and helped her up, "And you're
Kouran." he laughed at her shocked face.
"H-ho-how..." she stammered. Smiling at her
he said, "I know just about everyone in the village," he turned and
walked back towards the woods and waved at her, "See ya!" he
disappeared into the trees.
Kouran looked after him and smiled happily, he's so
Kawaii! She got pulled out of her reverie when she noticed the height of the
sun. OH! she had to go to town yet and get some more bread. She grabbed her
basket and hurried off.
Houjun walked on through the woods he was on his way
to Hikou's father's carpenter shop hoping that Hikou would be about ready to
leave. Coming out of the woods and onto the road Houjun continued the short
walk to the main part of the village. He was lost in thought as he often was and
wasn't watching where he was going.
****************************************************************
Kouran walked along the road and entered the village
thinking about Houjun and the way he had looked when he pulled the plant
instead of a weed. She giggled to herself. Then "Oof!" she ran into
someone again and almost lost her footing but the person reached out and
grabbed her. Looking up she found herself staring right into Houjun's face. She
blushed, "I-i'm sorry."
He blushed too and shook his head, "No I should
have been watching where I was going," he laughed a bit.
Kouran liked the way his strong arms felt around her
and was disappointed when he let go.
He turned, "Well, I guess I'll see ya later only
I hope that we meet with out running into each other next time," he
chuckled as he lost himself in the crowd.
Kouran watched Houjun go. The corners of her mouth
tugged down a bit. She wouldn't mind seeing him again. She continued threading
her way to the bread stand and bought what she needed for that night and slowly
walked back towards home.
****************************************************************
Houjun finally got to the carpentry shop, although
it's more like a little shack than a true shop. He entered to see Hikou sawing
twigs off a small tree. Sneeking up behind his friend he went super deformed
and slapped him on the back, "HEY! HIKOU! HOW'S IT GOING!?"
Super defromed Hikou whirled around to see his friend
laughing at him, "Hey!
What's the big idea!?"
Houjun stopped laughing long enough to shrug.
Hikou wasn't smiling, "Thanks for the
compassion."
Houjun finally quit laughing and went back to his
normal size, "I just thought I would come by and see what my old buddy was
up to that's all," he had a bored look and studied his finger nails like
he was cool.
Hikou, now at his normal size, shook his head at his
friend, "I'm almost done, lemme finish sawing off the twigs," got a
sly look, "But I don't know. I mean why would I want to hang out with a
guy who almost killed me prematurely."
Houjun looked up from studying his nails and studied
his friend.
Hikou smiled more slyly, "I don't know if I can
continue after a blast to the ticker like that." sighs, "But..."
Houjun offered, "I'll finish."
Hikou handed the saw over to Houjun and lounged
against a table watching his friend do his work. He laughed to himself, Houjun
was so easy to fool sometimes but that's how he always got back at his friend.
Houjun sweating sawed off the last twig and turned to
his friend, "Okay, let's go."
Hikou held up his hand and shook his head, "Nope,
not until I examine what you did. I have to make sure it was done right."
he walked over to the small tree that looked more like a pole now and examined
the work that his friend had done, "Damn!" he thought he did a really
good job. He nodded at Houjun, "Okay we can go." Houjun smiled as
Hikou grabbed his fishing pole and they walked off towards Houjun's house to
pick up his pole and the bait. Houjun and Hikou walked along talking about this
and that and doing much teasing.
Finally they reached Houjun's house. Houju got his
pole and bucket of bait. Turning around he smiled, "I'll race ya from here
to the river!"
Hikou groaned but accepted the challenge. They ran
along the road side by side for a while but the Houjun pulled ahead. Turned
around and ran backwards he called, "Hey come on, Hikou, you're not that
old and out of shape are you?"
Hikou got a more determined look on his face. He was
going to beat Houjun one of these days. Then he noticed as Houjun was running
backwards that he was headed straight for someone ahead of him. He was going to
call out to his friend but it was already to late.
Houjun saw Hikou about to say something and was about
to turn around when *WHAM!* He ran into someone and fell to the ground, the
bucket of worms and dirt landing on his head. Someone started laughing at him.
He reached up and pulled the bucket off his head to see who it was and wished
that he hadn't.
HE turned a very BRIGHT red as he looked at none other
than Kouran.
Kouran couldn't help but laugh at Houjun's state as he
sat there on the ground. She picked up her basket that she had dropped when
being ran over, luckily the bread hadn't fallen out. She got up still laughing,
"OH! Houjun you're so funny!"
Hikou came puffing up and laughed as well at Houjun.
Houjun sat there wishing that he could crawl into a
hole and die! He was very embarrassed and didn't want to face either of these
people, especially Kouran. Finally he stammered, with face still burning,
"I-im sorry."
Kouran stopped laughing and looked at him, "Isn't
that what I said earlier?"
Hikou looked in between Houjun and Kouran and thought,
"Hmmmm..something is up here."
Houjun nodded as he picked himself up off the ground
and started picking worms out of his hair and dropping them back into what dirt
was left in the bucket. After a couple moments of silence Houjun smiled,
"Didn't I say that next time we meet we better not run into each other?"
at her nod he chuckled and picked up his fishing pole and bucket, "Well,
we best be off. There's fish to catch" oops he forgot something, turning
to Hikou, "Hikou, this is Kouran. Kouran this is my best friend
Hikou."
Kouran smiled at Hikou but was looking at Houjun.
Hikou made a quick how do and started following his friend towards the river.
Houjun walked backwards and waved, "Well, run into ya later," turned
back around and laughed.
Kouran shook her head at the boy who was stealing her
hear away and she barely knew him! But there was something unique and special
about him. What. She couldn't put her finger on it but there was
something......
Once they reached the river Houjun and Hikou sat there
silent for a while with their lines in the water waiting for a bite. Finally
Hikou couldn’t take it any longer, “What is up with you and that girl!?”
Houjun looked at his friend surprised, “Oh Kouran?”
Hikou nodded.
Houjun looked off and didn’t say anything for while. Finally he faced Hikou
aand said smiling sheepishly, “I just helped her weed her vegetable garden
today that’s all.”
Hikou noddeed and smiled, “Yeah right.”
Houjun looked at his friend shocked, “What you don’t’ believe me!?”
All Hikou could do was laugh. Houjun blushed at this. Hikou laughed harder and
and gasped, “S-seee I-I told y-you soooo.”
Houjun turned back to his fishing deciding to ignore Hikou and his childish
implications.
Hikou finally quit laughing, “Seriously though, You do like her admit it.”
Houjun shook his head slowly not daring to look at his childhood friend for
fear of blushing again and heavens knows he had had enough of that for one day.
*****************************************************************
Kouran finished her walk home with a huge smile on her face. She couldn’t help
it not after what had just happened. Reaching her house she went to the garden
and picked a small basket full of ripe peas calling over a Shitara and Inoku
she told them to shell the peas or no supper that night, but she did this of
course with a smile on her face. Shitara and Inoku looked at each other
wondering what their older sister was so happy about. Shrugging they went to
work on shelling the peas. Inoku, was third oldest child and the first born
son, he ended up eating most of his peas which his older sister, Shitata,
scolded him for. He just smiled in return.
*****************************************************************
Houjun got up, “I better get home before I get scolded again for not being responsible,”
he rolled his eyes and walked off with fishing pole in hand.
Hikou just nodded and stayed where he was. He was rather mystified about the
way that his friend was acting. He knew that Houjun liked this girl Kouran but
why wouldn’t Houjun admit it. He shook his head determined not to worry about
it. Houjun would be Houjn and he always had been good at hiding his true
feelings. Hikou sighed and waited for the fish.
*****************************************************************
Houjun walked home his head down he wasn’t feeling to good about lying to his
friend Hilou but he couldn’t bare the teasing he knew that would come if he
told his long time friend about how he really felt. Walking in the door he sat
down at the table to wait for dinner. His mother looked at him curiously but
didn’t say anything figuring that if her son wanted to talk he would. Finally
his father came in from the fields. He looked questioningly at mother upon
seeing his son act so down but all she did was shrug. Dinner was served and the
meal began without anyone so much as speaking a word.
Later that night Houjun went out for a walk in the woods. The moon was very
bright that night so he walked farther than he normally would have. He kicked a
stone that was in the road and just walked wherever his feet took him. Finally
he reached the river’s edge there he stared into the water wondering what
Kouran was doing. He smiled to himself and thought, “Why should I feel blue? I
mean she seems to like me alright and it doesn’t hurt Hikou to not know how I
feel about her.” Turning he started the walk back home feeling in a much better
mood, of course nature seemed to have that effect on him.
*****************************************************************
Kouran stood outside the door of her house and looked up at the moon waiting
for the first star to appear so that she could make a wish. While she was
waiting she looked at the bright and beautiful moon wondering if Houjun was
doing the same thing, for she had noticed that day when they had, had their
“run-ins” that he smelled very much like the woods, thus she ascertained that
he spent much time with nature and would probably find the beauty in a night
such as this. She sighed then looking at the sky she saw the first star appear
and thus made her wish……
*****************************************************************
Houjun was out working in his father’s field under the heat of the morning sun.
He looked up from what he was doing and glanced towards the forest. He wished
that he was already in its cool depths watching the wildlife, climbing the
trees, and looking for edible plants. His thoughts suddenly turned to what
happened a couple days ago while he was helping Kouran weed the garden. He
smiled to himself. What a fool he must have looked like! His father came and
patted him, “Son, things don’t get done by you standing there.”
Houjun nodded, “Yes, father. I’m sorry.” He started chopping at the weeds but
his mind stayed on Kouran like it had for almost every waking moment these last
couple of days. He wondered what she was up to for he had not seen her or “run
in” to her. He chuckled again, thinking about him running her over. Then a
thought crept into his mind, “I never really did apologize right for running
into her like that. Maybe I should….” His smile brightened as he continued with
his work.
*****************************************************************
Kouran swept her hand across her brow and looked up at the sun. Boy it was hot
for being so early in the day. She sighed and leaned on the doorway holding the
broomstick. She thought about all that needed to be accomplished that day and
sighed. She never head anytime for herself what with her mother still being
sick and getting worse.
Finally finishing the work inside the house she walked out to the garden with
some baskets to pluck what vegetables were ripe, there weren’t many seeing as
the growing season had barely started, but luckily she had planted as soon as
possible and her plants were already producing. She looked up at the sun again,
it was quite high in the sky now almost ready to start its decent. She smiled
as she though about Houjun coming to help her weed the garden. It had been
about this time……She shook her head and went back to sorting through the plants
looking for those that she could take.
*****************************************************************
Houjun took a deep breath as he entered the woods and got out of the hot sun.
“Aaaah,” he thought, “This is the place to be.” He smiled happily heading
towards Kouran’s house to properly apologize, but stopped to pick some flowers
on the way. “Although,” he admitted to himself, “it’s just an excuse to see
her.” He continued walking and reached the edge that went into Kouran’s yard.
He stopped short when he saw her working in the garden. He studied her for a
few moments and then walked towards her.
******************************************************************
Kouran looked up when a shadow fell across her.
Squinting into the sun she recognized Houjun’s hair. She gasped in surprise and
giggled, “And to what do I owe this visit?”
B
Kouran blushed and smiled she didn’t know what to say but she took the flowers
from Houjun’s hand. Finally she found her voice, “I accept your token good
sir,” she giggled.
Houjun got up and bowed, “I am most honored good madam,” he smiled up at her
and burst out laughing.
Kouran couldn’t help herself and laughed too, “Oh, sir you are too kind.” This
made them laugh harder. Until finally they were almost crying.
Houjun rubbed a finger across Kouran’s cheek where a tear had squeezed out,
softly he said, “There’s no need to cry especially when you’re happy.”
*****************************************************************
Shitara and Inoku hearing all the laughing and then suddenly silence decided to
go investigate what was going on. They knew that the sound had to be coming
from somewhere behind the house so peeking around the corner they saw a young
man standing rather close to their sister with his hand touching her cheek.
They looked at each other and grinned devilishly and nodded at each other the
same thought going through both their heads.
*****************************************************************
Houjun and Kouran both jumped away from each other when Shitara and Inoku came
running from the side of the house singing, “Kouran and Rooster Tail sitting in
a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love….” they trailed off when they received a
very angered look from Kouran. Deciding that they had better high tail it out
of there they ran off laughing and started their singing again.
Kouran turned to apologize to Houjun but saw his retreating form go back into
the woods. She sighed still blushing from the embarrassment of it all, “GRRR!
Those stupid siblings!” She looked at the bouquet of flowers that Houjun had
given her and decided to go put them in some water before they wilted anymore.
She would deal with Shitara and Inoku later.
*****************************************************************
Houjun ran off into the woods retreating to the familiar sounds and smells of
the forest. His face was burning from embarrassment of being seen. He scolded
himself for even doing what he did. HE should not have touched Kouran. He
kicked a tree in his frustration. But cried out in pain when he hurt it
instead. Super deformed he hopped around on one foot and cursed himself.
Finally realizing what a baka he was being he let go of his foot and limped
back the way he had come. Reaching the edge of the forest he climbed a tree and
sat on branch deciding to see what Kouran would do to her siblings for this.
*****************************************************************
Kouran put the vase of flowers on the table in the middle. She stood back and
smiled. They certainly helped cheer up the room and they helped cheer her up
too. She smiled to herself and smelled the sweet fragrance of the flowers. Her
mind wandered back to a little earlier when Houjun had touched her. She put her
hand to her cheek and sighed contentedly. But her smile disappeared when she
remembered what had happened next. Why did her siblings have to ruin everything
for her!? Her mind went back to Houjun as she wondered what would’ve happened
next.
Walking outside she found her little sister and brother snickering at
something. Coming up to them she looked at them with a look that could kill, “I
want you two to come with me,” she turned and started walking back towards the
house.
Shitara and Inoku knowing that they had better listen followed her with their
heads hanging now sorry for what they had did but they still thought that it
was funny. Reaching the garden Kouran made them finish what she had started.
She stood there to supervise and make sure that no food fights broke out. She
was still angry with them and was now thinking of other things for punishment.
After they were done they looked up at their older sister carefully to see what
her mood was. Eeeek! She was still mad. They gulped and waited for their next
form of punishment.
Kouran leveled a look at them, “You may now go and gather more wood and then
take it in and put if by the fire. I want a good sized pile too.” They scurried
off to do as told.
*****************************************************************
The still super deformed Houjun watched curiously from the tree as Kouran
punished her sister and brother. He chuckled a bit at the way they acted around
her knwoing that she was ticked. He froze when they entered the woods below him
and watched them start to gather some branches that had fallen. The kids went
deeper into the woods and Houjun turned his attention back to Kouran who was
still standing at the edge of the garden. “She looks so lonely,” he thought.
Dropping out of the tree he went back to his normal height and strode out of
the woods towards Kouran.
He smiled at her shocked look.
“H-Houjun what are you doing back here?”
He smiled at her, “Would you like to go fishing?” at her nod his smiled
brightened, “Well, then I’ll be right back.”
Houjun ran off to go get his fishing pole. Coming back he grabbed her hand and
cried happily, “Well, come on! The fish are waiting for us!”
Kouran had to almost run to keep up with him for he was practically running
himself.
Upon reaching the river Houjun stopped short and smacked himself in the
forehead with the palm of his hand, “I forgot Hikou has the bait,” he shrugged,
“Oh well, guess I’ll just have to dig up worms as we need them.”
Kouran just smiled not knowing what to say to this strange yet interesting
young man that she had grown to like so quickly.
Houjun kneeled on the ground and using a small stick he found started digging
for worms.
***************************************************
Finally finding a worm Houjun held it up to Kouran
and smiled triumphantly. “Ew! That thing is gross!”
Houjun laughed, “Fine then I’ll put it on for you,” Taking the hook he baited
it and put the line in the water. Handing the pole to Kouran he told her what
to do if she felt a fish bite. She had an uncertain look on her face but she
sat there with pole in hand.
Houjun lay in the grass looking up at the sky. Suddenly he sat up and smacked
himself in the forhead with the palm of his hand, "Shit! I forgot about
Hikou!"
Kouran looked at him surprised.
"You stay here I'll be right back. If I don't go get Hikou he'll get
ticked." Houjun got to his feet and ran off to get his friend.
Kouran looked after him a bit disappointed that he was going to get his friend
and that they wouldn't be alone. She sat staring into the water day dreaming.
*****************************************************************
Houjun ran hard and fast. If it wasn't for the fact that he and Hikou went
fishing everyday that the weather was decent he wouldn't have even bothered to
go get him. For he would rather just spend time with his new aquaintance.
Finally he reached the shabby little carpenter shop and of course there was
Hikou waiting. Houjun smiled as he took deep breaths of air.
"Where have you been? You're never late."
Houjun just shrugged and puffed, "Well, I'm here now so lets go."
Hikou looked at his friend curiously wondering what he was hiding this time but
he just shrugged and grabbed up his fishing pole and handed the bait bucket to
Houjun.
Houjun peered inside the bucket, "We're going to have to dig up more worms
soon."
Hikou laughed, "Well, if someone wouldn't have dumped the bucket on their
head we wouldn't have to." he received a punch in the arm from Houjun for
his remark. "Hey! that was cheap!"
Houjun shook his head, "No, what you said was cheap."
They continued walking in silence. Then Houjun remembered that Kouran was
sitting down at the river, "Come on! We gotta hurry!"
"Why?" asked Hikou puzzled.
Houjun wouldn't look at his friend for fear of giving away what was inside,
"Because Kouran is fishing and it's her first time."
"Then why is she down there alone?"
Houjun said slowly, "Because I happened to invite her...."
Hikou just nodded at this and picked up his pace a bit.
*****************************************************************
Kouran got jerked out of her day dreams when something pulled on the line. She
froze trying to remember what Houjun had told her. Then she gave a quick jerk
upwards with the pole. The fish must have been hooked because something sure
was pulling on the line. She tried keeping the tip up but it must be a big one!
She was so into trying not to lose the fish that she didn't hear the guys come
up.
Houjun looked ahead towared the river at Kouran fighting with the pole and was
surprised that she had caught a fish so quickly. Leaving Hikou he ran to help
her.
Coming up behind her he put his arms around her and held onto the pole to help
pull the fish in.
Startled at someone suddenly touching her Kouran yelped and let go of the pole.
The sudden release of the pressure that she had been fighting made her loose
her balance. Trying not to fall she grabbed onto whoever it was that was behind
her, but she only made things worse, for they too lost their balance.
Hikou reached the river just in time to for a front row seat to see Kouran and
Houjun *SPLASH* into the river. He started laughing when they both stood up
dripping wet.
Kouran looked over at who she had pulled in with her blushed fericely.
"I-I'm sorry Houjun but you startled me."
Houjun blushed back, "That's okay I shouldn't have come up so
suddenly," he then glared at Hikou, "Won't you just shut up!?"
Hikou jsut laughed harder. This gave Houjun an idea. reaching from the water
Houjun grabbed Hikou's ankle and yanked it out from unerneath him thus dragging
him into the water as well.
Surfacing Hikou was mad at his friend for this, they glared at eachother. Hikou
then got a gleam in his eye. Lunging he dunked his friend.
Houjun swallowed water as he went under. Finally resurfacing he got his frined
back by going under water and pulling his feet out from underneath him, thus
started a war of splash and dunk.
Kouran tried to climb out of the river so as not to get in the middle of the
war but was pulled back in by Houjun. And so whether she liked it or not she
was a part of it as well, for no one was going to get her like that!
*****************************************************
Shitara
and Inoku finally had gathered enough wood. They hoped that their sister would
be happy. They looked around trying o find her and make sure that it was what
she wanted so they didn't get in more trouble but they couldn't find her
anywhere.
Father came home and had expected to find supper ready but what he found was an
empty house. He yelled out Shitara and Inoku's names. They came running,
"Where is you sister?" All they could do was shake their heads,
"We came back from gathering wood and she wasn't here."
He wasn't very happy at hearing this, "Do you know where she might have
gone?"
Shitara thought a minute, "Well, she isn't in town coz her basket is here
so she might've went down to the river. I know she likes to go there
sometimes."
Their father nodded and stalked off in the direction of the river.
*****************************************************************
Houjun , Hikou, and Kouran were still having their splashing and cunking fight
when Kouran's father came walking up. Kouran suddenly stopped in mid splash.
She got a bit of a fearful look on her face, "Hi, father." He wasn't
looking at her he was glaring at the two young boys, "what have you done
to my daughter?"
Houjun and Hikou looked at each other. Then looking up at the big man Houjun
said with bravado, "Nothing, Sir. We were just having fun."
Kouran's father bit out, "She's a young lady and the woman of the house as
of right now. She doesn't have time for games. Come on Kouran lets go!"
Houjun climbed out of the river so that he could help Kouran up the bank. She
thanked him and started following her father, sad that the fun was over.
Turning back her father growled, "I don't want to see either of you two
near my daughter again."
Houjun got a stricken look on his face but looked down quickly so that no one
would see it, "Never see her again!" he thought, "That's
impossible."
*****************************************************************
Kouran quietly followed her father horrified at what he had said. She had
really started to like Houjun but now that was to be shattered just because she
had wanted to have some fun? Her wet clothes seemed to make the wieght of what
her father had said even worse. She was young, she should be seeing young men
but no all her father saw her as was a maid!
*****************************************************************
Houjun stood on the river bank and watched Kouran walk away. He turned away not
wanting to see her leave, it left too much of a void. He liked her alot, he
would admit that to himself but no one else. Hie sighed.
Hikou climbed out of the river just as soaked as his friend, "Hey, it'll
be laright, Houjun."
Houjun sighed again, "I know but...."
Hikou smiled a bit, "But you like her."
Houjun looked at his friend shocked, "Nani?"
He just nodded smiling, "Yup, I knew it. My buddy has the hots for a
girl."
Blushing Houjun punched Hikou in the shoulder, "Do not!"
Hikou laughed, "Awww...he's blushing!"
This made Houjun get even redder and ticked him off a bit. He tackled Hikou and
back in the river they went for another round of splash and dunk.
*****************************************************************
Upon reaching home father shooed Shitara and Inoku out so that he could talk
with his eldest daughter. He sat down weary from his day, "Kouran, you
need to think about your siter and brother. Not some guys. You have
responsibilities here."
Kouran glared at her father, "I'm sick of being the Mom around here! I
should be out meeting guys and being courted! I'm almost the age to get married
father!"
"Don't you talk to me like that young lady! Your mother can't help that
she's sick!"
"Well, if she would concentrate on getting better maybe I could feel more
sympathy!"
"She's tryin gher hardest!"
"Do you call not eating your meals trying your harders!?" Kouran
crossed her arms across her chest daring her father to challenge that one.
He couldn't say anything on that but he wasn't going to admit that she was
right, "Well, what the hell were you doing with those two boys!?"
Kouran shrugged, "Just having fun. I never get to have anytime for myself!
I'm too busy taking care of things! It's ALWAYS clean the house, weed the garden,
gather the wood--"
"That's enough sas young lady! That's no excuse to go fooling around. How
am I supposed to marry you off if you're seen fooling like that!?"
"And just what are you implying?"
"You damn well what I'm implying!"
Kouran shrunk back shocked at what her father was accusing her of, "You
know I would never do that!"
Her father glared at her, "I'm not so sure." he siad lowly.
Kouran burst into to tears, "Houjun is just someone I met. He helped me
weed the garden the other day that's all!"
"So you were repaying him--"
Kouran cut her father off and managed to say through her tears, "He's just
a friend! That's all!" turning she ran out of the house and disappeared
into the woods.
*****************************************************************
Houjun and Hikou layed on the river bank looking at the sky and chewing on
blades of grass, their differences finally resolved by the water fihgt.
Houjun's bang hung in his eyes, weighted down by the water. Brushing them to
the side he sat up, "I never thought that courting a girl would go like
this."
Hikou looked at his friends back and mockingly, "So you admit it. You like
her?" then realizing it was no time for joking he said seriously,
"Things never seem to go as we have planned. Suzaku just isn't that kind I
guess."
Houjun nodded and looked at the river thinking about hte water fight with
Kouran this afternoon. This made him feel even worse, "I'm the reason that
she got into trouble. If I wouldn't have pulled her away from her
chores..."
Hikou shook his head at Houjun's back, "You always blame yourself for
everything. Lighten up. She didn't have to come along if she hadn't want to.
And it was her choice to participate in the water war. Not yours."
Houjun nodded slowly, "You may be right old friend but I'm the one who
pulled her back in the river."
Hikou was getting ticked at Houjun, for anytime anything went wrong he seemed
to blame himself.
Houjun continued, "She may have mad ethe choice but it is I who--" he
was cut off by Hikou's irritated voice, "Knock it off, Houjun." he
growled, "It's not your fault. People are free to make their own choices.
Just like you."
Houjun started to protest, "but..." Hikou got up and grabbed his
fishing pole and the bucket, "When you stop feeling sorry for yourself let
me know will ya?" He turned and stalked off. He was os sick of trying to
cheer that guy up when something went wrong!
*****************************************************************
Houjun watched Hikou's retreating form and then looked back at the river. All
he could think of was that he wouldn't be able to really see Kouran again, this
made him depressed. Sure there were alot of other girls in the village but he
was interested in only one. The one he wasn't allowed to see. He sighed feeling
depressed. Looking at the sun he felt even worse. He was late for supper agian
which would earn him another scolding an who knew what else. Getting to his
feet he trudged home.
Houjun decided to take a shortcut through the woods. As he walked through them he heard someone crying. Curious he folloed the sound. Looking from behind a tree he was surprised to see that it was Kourn, sitting on the ground huggung her knees, and crying.
*****************************************************************
Kouran looked up sensing that someone was there, “Who’s there?” she choked.
Houjun stepped out from behind a tree. He walked quietly over and sat down by her.
“Nani?”
Houjun looked at her and shrugged, “I was heading home and heard someone crying so I came to check it out,” he paused a moment and studied her wet face, “Why so sad?”
She took a shuddery breath, “My father and I had a fight.”
Houjun didn’t really know what to say so he put his arm around her shoulders, pulled her close to him.
Kouran was a bit surprised when Houjun pulled her to him but she liked it. She felt so warm and safe with his arm around her. A smile even tugged at her mouth.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She shook her head, “I’ll be alright,” she didn’t want to offend Houjun by what her father had implied. Looking up him her yes met his. They held each other’s gaze for a moment but then looked quickly away blushing.
Kouran studied a fern a few feet away. She smiled to herself and thought, “OH! Houjun!” They sat there silent for a while.
Then letting Kouran go Houjun got up, “I better go. I’m in enough trouble already.”
Kouran nodded and gave a fake laugh, “So am I.”
Houjun offered his arm and pulled her to her feet. They stood there a minute gazing at each other’s sad face.
“C ya around!” Houjun said with a smile on his face, but his voice was sad.
Kouran nodded, “C ya.”
The broke apart each going there separate ways knowing they had lied to each other.
*****************************************************************
When Houjun got home he didn’t even look at his parents. He just went to his room and crawled in bed. All he could think about as he lay there waiting for sleep to come was Kouran.
*****************************************************************
Houjun’s parents looked at each other questioningly.
“He’s been acting strange lately,” mother said.
Father nodded, “Hai, I’ve noticed that too. I keep having to remind him to work in the field.”
Mother looked a bit worried, “He’s always been so happy. He hardly ever gets down.”
“Hai, it troubles me to see him act his way. I’ll have to have a talk with him,” Father said matter of factly.
*****************************************************************
When Kouran entered the house her father was waiting for her. She tried to go off to bed but she got stopped by her father’s stern voice, “You were gone long enough. You better have no been with that boy.”
Kouran cringed and turned to face her father, “you can be assured I wasn’t,” she lied.
He looked at her doubtfully, “I’m not so sure,” he sighed, “Go to bed I’ll finish dealing with you in the morning.”
Kouran nodded and went quietly off to bed trying not to wake her brother and sister as she cried herself to sleep,
*****************************************************************
Then next morning Houjun and his father were walking to the field. His father couldn’t take the silence stopping he turned and looked at his on, “What is troubling you, son?”
Houjun stopped and looked at his father surprised at the sudden question,” Nothing, father.”
His father looked at him closely, “There’s something that is bothering you. Tell me what is it?”
Houjun sighed and studied the ground, “Hai, there is,” he finally adimitted.
His father waited for more but when Houjun said nothing he asked again, “What is it?”
Houjun shrugged, “It’s nothing, father, really,” he continued studying the ground
Father wasn’t too happy with the answers he was getting but decided to let I slide for now, “Well, then what ever it is don’t let it interfere with you work.”
Houjun nodded, “Hai, father.”
They continued on in silence.
*****************************************************************
Kouran woke up and went out to the kitchen to fix her father’s breakfast. As she worked over the small stove she heard her father come in and set down at the table. Finally the food prepared she set it in front of him and sat down in front of the small fireplace.
Father finished his food and pushed back the plate. He looked at the wild flowers that were in a chipped vase on the table. “Where did these flowers come from?”
Kouran turned and looked at him, “Houjun gave them to me.”
Her father’s face darkened, “That good for nothing better not be trying to court you.”
Kouran stood up, “He’s not good for nothing! He happens to be very kind and gentlemanly!”
This didn’t help matters any, “So not only are you fooling around but you’re also be courted by him!? And with out my knowledge. A real gentleman would tell the lady’s father about his intentions!”
“You got it all wrong!” she cried.
Her father shook his head, “No, I’m pretty sure that I have it right.,” he called Shitara and Inoku into the room who had woke up with the raised voice, “Shitara, Inoku, one of you is to accompany your sister when ever she leaves the house to make sure that she doesn’t mingle with that boy.”
Kouran turned away from them not wanting them to see how hurt she was by all the accusations that weren’t true. Her and Houjun were just friends that’s all!
TO BE CONTINUED....