Part Four
The redheaded child walked a little way ahead of them, taking in the country-side with wide-eyed curiosity and wonder. As the boy stopped for a sniff of a sweet wild flower only then to be attracted to a butterfly, chasing it as it fluttered away, Rukawa huffed, "It's as if he's never been outside a house before."
"That's what I'm worried about," Sendoh told him before his serious expression faded into an amused smile when the butterfly eluded the boy's grasp by flying higher than the boy's ability to reach.
"What are we going to do? Bring him along while we fight?"
"Of course not," Sendoh sighed, disappointed that his brother thought less of him, "We're going to drop him off at the chief's house before we set off to do what we should do. The chief should be able to find out where Hanamichi comes from or put him in a safe place until Hanamichi's guardian comes to look for him. I mean, look at him; his clothes, his skin and that spear he's holding... He is not a mere boy from the country-side."
Rukawa nodded as he watched Hanamichi glaring at the yellow butterly fluttering above him. Suddenly the redhead hunched down a little on his heels before he sprang up in the air, much to the surprise of the two young warriors behind him. Rukawa and Sendoh were not susprised because the boy jumped up to catch a common butterfly but the fact that the height of the jump was twice the height of Sendoh and that was a feat considering the size of the boy! Scooping the butterly from the air, the redhead fell back down to the ground with the grace of a cat before he began walking, taking peeks from his cupped hand of the captured winged insect.
"Did.. did.. you see what I see?" Sendoh whispered.
Rukawa nodded dumbly.
"Who is this kid?" murmured Sendoh.
~~~~
When they finally reached the sign of settlement they did not stop until they found a town where they could rest their feet in an inn in the middle of the small suburb. The redhead, finally releasing his winged pet back to wild-life, found other things to his interest. The boy jumped from one stall to the next at awe at what he found there. In puzzlement Sendoh and Rukawa realised that the boy was not interested at the objects sold but the people around him and the smell and the sounds in the air. One would say the redheaded child was interested in the crowd itself.
"Hanamichi," Sendoh called, motioning to the redheaded boy that he follow him and Rukawa to a presentable inn nearby. When the three entered, they were ushered into the place in a sunny corner where the boy could continue his sightseeing from the window beside him.
"What would you like to eat, Hanamichi?" asked Sendoh.
"Umm..." the redhead thought out loud after he turned his attention away from the lively sight outside momentarily for the benefit of his stomach. He wasn't sure that what they eat here and if he just blurted out his favourite dishes, he would blow his cover for sure.
"I dunno..." said Hanamichi, "I'll eat whatever you're ordering."
Sendoh scratched his chin with his index finger as he listed out what his two companions might want to eat.
"Get for us a bowl of quail's egg mix, fried duck feet, chicken tongue soup and fried cow tendon."
"Hai," nodded the waiter, "any fruits, sir?"
"Aa," Sendoh nodded, "Dry lychee, dates and pickled peach and pear."
"Right away, sir," bowed the waiter before he scuttled away to place the order to the cook.
When the meal arrived, Hanamichi picked up the food with caution. His scrunched up face eased when the taste flooded his tongue. The food was not so weird as he thought it was, though the food in the heavens were much better. He nevertheless enjoyed eating here with the company of his two new friends rather than eating heaven food with no one but himself and servant hovering nearby. Even when Maki joined him to eat, those occasions were rare.
He felt his appetite tenfold and soon he managed to finish most of the dishes by himself. As he was reaching for the last piece of chicken tongue, his chopsticks encountered another pair of chopsticks and he looked up to stare at the glaring eyes of Rukawa.
Hanamichi frowned, "Mine."
"Mine," Rukawa told him, pushing the redhead's chopsticks away.
In defiance, Hanamichi quickly pinched up the piece of morsel off the plate but Rukawa managed to clutch onto the same piece with his chopsticks before the redhead managed to bring it to his mouth.
Hanamichi and Rukawa's eyes met, sparkling in challange before their throats produced low growls of threats.
Sendoh sighed, "Guys, stop it."
"I saw it first," Hanamichi said lowly to Rukawa, not breaking eye-contact.
"So did I," the fox-eyed young man shot back.
"Both of you let it go," Sendoh ordered firmly, before the two reluctantly released the tongue back to the empty dish.
Looking around to make sure no one was watching the spiky-haired warrior concentrated on his index and middle finger before slashing it down on the dish. In a second the succulent meat fought after was cut in half for each of the two diners.
"There," Sendoh said, smiling, "One for each."
The redheaded bow picked one half up, sure of himself that he picked the bigger half and bit on it happily.
"That was cool," Hanamichi grinned.
"Show off," Rukawa mumbled, picking up his half, "I think you nicked the plate."
Sendoh peered at the plate. "Just a little," he said.
"I still think you're a show off," said Rukawa.
Sendoh grinned before reaching forward to ruffle Hanamichi's red hair, "Want some more?"
"Sure!" the redhead nodded enthusiastically as he reached for the fruits.
"Waiter!" Sendoh called and when the man reached them the spiky-haired young man ordered, "Get us some rabbit's meat and beef with ginger cooked with vinegar and fried deer's leg."
"And more fruits," Hanamichi mumbled under a mouthful of dried dates.
Sendoh chuckled, "Hai."
Turning back to the waiter the young man continued, "So let's have some dried apricots, pickled grapes and sweet oranges."
As the waiter walked away, Rukawa rolled his eyes, "You're spoiling him."
Sendoh smiled widely that his eyes closed to arches, "Hey, he's cute."
"Mph?"
Hanamichi, not hearing and understanding what they were talking about since he was totally engrossed in his food, blinked in puzzlement, his chopsticks sticking out from the corner of his mouth.
"Don't you think so, Kaede?" Sendoh asked, looking at the redhead as if he was an object to be admired.
Rukawa looked at the redhead child for a moment, the brown eyes filled with innocence, before he looked away with a huff, "Maybe."
~~~~
After eating and letting their food settle comfortably in their bellies, the three set off towards the cheif's house which was situated between the town and the country-side. It was a peaceful area where the grass and trees were trimmed and the pathway clean of rubbish and fallen leaves. A servant let them in through the big gate and inside they could see brightly coloured flowers grown in the patches of green on the ground adding colour to the dull coloured but otherwise large and well-maintained house.
"Please wait here, sirs," asked the servant, leaving the guests in a meeting room to fetch his master. It was not long before a 40 year old man appeared, greeting his expected guests jovially.
"Masters Sendoh and Akira," the man bowed, before motioning the two young men to sit on the table in the middle of the room, "I am glad that you have made it." Hanamichi made to follow them and it was at that moment that the chief chose to realise his presence.
"Oh," said Sendoh, clasping the boy on the shoulder, "This is Sakuragi-kun, Otta-san, a new friend of ours."
"Oh?" the man stared at the boy in curiosity, "He has odd hair. What blood is he from?"
"Ah..." Sendoh chuckled nervously, "That Hanamichi will tell us when he is ready."
"Right," Hanamichi nodded, glaring at the chief with his lips stuck out in a petulant frown.
"Ho! Ho! Ho!"
The three men and the young boy turned around in surprise at the portly white-haired man standing at the door with a servant behind him. Sendoh and Rukawa recognised the new guest at once, "Anzai-sensei!"
"It is good to see you boys again," the white-haired man laughed, stepping aside to let the servant bearing a tray of cups and a teapot of tea in.
"How have you two been?"
"We're fine, sensei," Sendoh replied for the both of them, "We hope you are fine as well."
"Never been better," smiled the sensei, patting his stomach good-heartedly, "Otta-san's good wife has been feeding me quite well."
The chief sighed, "To well, I'm afraid. I don't think he wants to leave now."
The two friends laughed before the white-haired man walked towards the boy and patted the child's shoulder.
"And who is this strapling young lad?"
"Sakuragi Hanamichi," the redhead replied, staring up at the round man in awe. Hanamichi could feel something potent coming from this person. He could feel the aura of wisedom and strength and by the hand on his shoulder, warmth. And there was an itchy feeling of wanting to pat that flubber under the man's chin or the rounded belly so close to his hand.
Before Hanamichi could act on the tempation however, the white-haired man stepped back and regarded him thoughtfully, "Are you good with the spear, Sakuragi-kun?"
"Huh?" Hanamichi was surprised for a moment, staring again at the man before turning his eyes to his spear in his hand, "Oh... yeah... Yeah! I'm good! I am the tensai!"
"Ho! Ho! Ho!" laughed Anzai-sensei cheerfully, "Then why don't you show me what you can do. I am sure Otta-san wouldn't mind us using his back garden?"
"Of course not," nodded the chief, noting that it would leave him and the two dark-haired brothers alone to talk about the problem at hand.
"Doumo arigato," bowed the sensei, walking out with the redheaded boy at his heels, "Let us go, Sakuragi-kun."
"Hai!" the eager child replied.
When the boy and the old man disappeared after the servant closed the door behind himself and the two, the three men sat down at the low table and began to talk.
"So," Sendoh began, "What is the problem you would like us to help with, Otta-san?"
"Do you remember Minami from the school of Toyotama?" queried the chief, leaning forward.
Rukawa eyes narrowed, "Hai. We fought two years ago when we dueled for the title of best school in the palace's summer tournament."
"He was the one that gave you the black eye?" asked Sendoh, "When I was away on an errand for Akagi?"
"Hai," nodded Rukawa.
"Well," chief Otta told them grimly, "He has stolen the sacred cup of my ancestors which was told to be a gift from the gods."
"The one that could cure all sickness?" Sendoh questioned.
"Hai," replied the chief, "My great, great, great grand-uncle was a pious man who helped the weak and poor and because of his commitment the gods sent him a gift to relay their honour. When he died, the cup was kept in the family temple until five days ago when it was stolen. I sent my men out to get it back but they were all defeated. When I found out who the thief was I also went as far as to send paid warriors for the task but they were also unsuccessful. Minami and his friend Kishimoto are very strong and cunning. Only then did I remember that one person who have beaten him before was you, Rukawa. I ask of you to help bring the cup back for me. It was a gift from the gods and I don't want a curse placed on my family just because we have lost it."
"The gods are not that spiteful," remarked Sendoh.
"Neverthless," sighed the chief, "it was our family treasure to remind the future generation that there have been a time when we received gratitude from the gods."
"I understand," nodded the spiky-haired young man, "It is a treasure indeed."
"Why would he steal it?" asked Rukawa, "Does the healing power really work?"
"No," Otta shook his head in reply, "I was told that the cup stopped working when my great, great, great grand-uncle passed away."
Sendoh was deep in thought before he spoke, "We need to find out more about this cup, Otta-san. There must be a reason why Minami wanted that cup so bad. From what I heard of him, he does not seem to me the type to steal for a bag of gold. There must something that he wants."