A Beautiful new Katana
"Oh man." Sekhmet said as he ran down the street, his purple shirt flew with the movements. "I've got to get the groceries. Me and my big mouth. I had to say I've learned my spices as much as I know poisons." As he turned the corner, the Warlord was unable to stop himself in time from a collision. Both people crashed to the ground. Sekhmet's eyes widened and a look of embarrassment came to his face. "I'm so sorry. It's my fault. I should have looked first." He started to gather the boxes that fell on the ground.
"It's OK. I'm not having a good day either." The woman knelt to pick up her boxes too.
"Here you go." Sekhmet handed her the boxes he had. As he did so, their eyes locked gazes. The Warlord was shocked. Her eyes were clear blue and her hair was a light purple with long curls hanging in front of her ears. Wow she is so beautiful. Of all the people I had to bump into. She must think I'm an idiot!
"Thank-you." She held the boxes in her arms next to her chest. Then she looked at Sekhmet and bowed in respect. "Sayonara." She walked away with the Warlord walking in the opposite direction.
Then Sekhmet stopped in his tracks. Sekhmet you are an idiot! You bump into a woman like that and just walk away without doing anything?! He looked back and was glad to still see her light purple hair in the distance. Not planning to waste any more time he ran up to her and walked in step at her side. "Hello again."
"Do you always run everywhere you go or just for me?"
He looked down toward the concrete sidewalk regretful. "I'm sorry. I just.. I just feel that I need to somehow make up for what I did." His eyes met her face again. "Can I buy you a drink or something?"
She looked into his eyes again. "I'd like that." A smile crossed her slender face.
"Great! Oh I'm Akiha Sekhmet." He started to stretch out his arm for a handshake before he placed it back by his side realizing she had no free hand.
"Konnichiwa Sekhmet. I am Katana Onishiwa."
"Katana? A lovely family name. As for Onishiwa, it's a more beautiful name than mine for such a beautiful lady."
"I don't think so. People always make fun of me because of my name."
He looked confused. "They do? Oh!" His eyes widened in recognition. "The oni part."
"Yes. I have got teases like in English like 'Oni, she needs a whacking with a katana.'"
"How awful. People tease me all the time too. It's so annoying when people are so superficial."
"Agreed."
"Ah. Here's a nice cafe." Sekhmet opened the door. "After you of course."
"Thank-you!" She walked inside and they took a seat at the counter. Onishiwa placed her packages on the floor."
"Would you like to order anything now," the waiter asked.
"Sure I'll have a coffee."
"I'll have a cup of tea." Onishiwa said politely.
Soon the drinks arrived and were placed before them. "Anything else?" He asked. Sekhmet looked at Onishiwa.
"Nothing else for the moment." She answered. "Is that all right with you?"
"That's fine." He smiled back. Both of them sipped their hot drinks slowly. Come on Sekhmet stop being the fool! Once this is over, that's it! "So are you originally from this area?"
"Yes I've lived in Toyama all my life. In fact I'm running a store that my parents gave to me."
"Really?!"
"Yes. Have you ever heard of 'Tokyo Treasures'?"
"I've been there a few times. It's a nice little store."
She smiled. "Well I try." Onishiwa shrugged.
Sekhmet sipped at his coffee again. He tried to think of something else to talk about.
"Well hello there beautiful." A man sat on the right of Onishiwa. "Can I do something for you?"
"No thanks." She said seriously yet politely.
"Oh come on sweet stuff." The man looked down. "Ooo packages. I wonder what you have in there."
Onishiwa's eyes opened wide. Her right hand covered her mouth, trying to hide a gasp.
"Why don't you just leave her alone." The Warlord said sternly.
"Oh and what do we have here? An alien man child or something?"
Sekhmet stood up and walked to stand next to the man. "And what do we have here? Why I do believe it's a jerk!"
"Hey watch it bug-eyed green haired freak!"
Sekhmet quickly smelled the potent alcohol around the man. "I think you should learn how to be more respectful."
The other man stood. "Oh really?"
"At least I don't act like a jerk to women and anyone else in sight."
"I suppose you plan to teach me a 'lesson' then?"
"If you persist in your actions. You are disturbing everyone in this place so why don't you just leave."
"The only disturbing thing I see here is you!" The man pushed forcefully at Sekhmet. As he swung his arm for a punch, Sekhmet dodged quickly and grabbed his arm. The Warlord then tossed him on the floor. "Why you!" The man charged at Sekhmet again. Once again it was dodged. This time Sekhmet got a hard grip on him. He pulled him across the room and kicked him out the door.
The man lied there for a moment before standing up and finally walking away in a swaying line. Sekhmet turned around to see everyone at the place looking at him. I'm so used to fighting without an audience. Just as he started to regret his actions, everyone started clapping. His eyes opened wide. "What," he barely whispered. His reaction quickly changed when he saw Onishiwa smiling at him, blue eyes sparkling. He returned the smile as he sat next to her. She placed her hand on top of his lovingly. Somehow between looking at each other in gratitude they finished their drinks. Sekhmet helped with the packages as he walked with the bill to the cashier. When they did, the employee tore it up.
"It's on the house. I've been trying to get rid of that guy for weeks!" The manager chuckled. Once again Onishiwa smiled at Sekhmet as they walked out.
"Mind if I walk you to wherever you're going?"
"My home and I'd love it if you would escort me."
Sekhmet smiled in response as they walked down the streets with the sun setting. Everything seemed perfect. The weather was a nice cool temperature and a few stars were already coming out. The smell of the restaurants and the busy town faded away to the fresh air of nature.
"Here we are." Onishiwa walked up the steps. "Could you take these for a moment?"
"Sure!" He took her packages as she opened the door with her key.
"Thanks." She stepped in and put them on the table by the door. "You know Sekhmet if you are looking for a job just come down to my store. I could use the help."
"I'll do that." With that they said good-bye and she shut the door. Sekhmet sighed to himself. "What a day." He whispered as he looked around. Suddenly his eyes opened wide. "The groceries!" His arm flew up and the purple shirt sleeve pulled back to reveal his watch. "Damn. I hope I still have enough time to make a little something." He rushed to the nearest store, but this time was a bit more careful to look were he was going.
The chimes rang soft and sweetly in the nice spring air. A woman came out pulled the curtains aside from a room in the side that led to the back of the store. She was wearing a blue kimono that matched her eyes. "Welcome to Tokyo Treasures. Is there anything I can...," she started her natural welcome but was interrupted as she saw who walked in. "Sekhmet!"
"Still need a hand around here?"
"I sure could." She smiled. "Come over here and I'll show you what to do." He followed her back into the room she came from. "I got all these shipments early today. They need to be stocked on the shelves. I had some help earlier but her shift is over now."
"No problem." He looked carefully through the boxes. The merchandise was indeed high quality. There were dishes, jewelry, magazines, and other things from several places around the world. He carefully lifted a box of dishes first.
"I'll show you where those go." She led him to the isle. "As you can see they're pretty popular. I almost thought I'd sell out of all of them before this shipment came in. I guess I do that a lot, worry. My parents never did that to my knowledge. They always seemed so calm and loved this place so." Onishiwa sighed deeply as Sekhmet set down the box on the floor. He carefully took out and unwrapped each piece and put it on the shelf. He didn't bother to ask at the time about her parents due to how saddened she seemed to remember them. The Warlord could guess what situation she was probably in. "Oh dear let me get the price tags to put on those. Be back in a sec." She disappeared to the back room again and came out a couple of minutes later. "I hope you're a fast learner Sekhmet." She giggled. The man returned a smile, his ears loving the sound of her laughter.
The day progressed much the same. Sekhmet stocked the shelves and even later marked the prices himself just as Onishiwa had told and taught him. Customers came in and out of the shop. All the time Onishiwa seemed quite happy to help them out. Soon a man came in and she walked to Sekhmet as he was placing extra boxes high up in the shelves. "Well my shift is over. I'm going to get something to eat and rest back home. Don't worry I explained to Takashi that you're a new employee. If you have any questions, just ask him. I punched you in so just have Takashi punch you out when you leave."
"Punch me out?"
"Yes. Your time card so I can pay you for the time you worked here. We'll talk about getting you a uniform next time. Oh and when will that be anyway?"
"How about tomorrow at the same time?"
"Uh. How about earlier. Say 7AM before we open. It'll be easier that way."
"Sure. I can do that." He smiled although he hated having to get up so early.
"I'll see you then Akiha Sekhmet." She returned the smile as she left. He watched her leave and then returned to his task.
"I can't believe how long it's been. It doesn't seem that long. 3 months since you started."
"And I already know everything backwards and forwards and sideways!" They both laughed as they sat at a small table in the cool back room. Onishiwa was eating a cold grinder that she just bought for her break. "Onishiwa..."
"Hmm?" She said between bites as she grabbed her drink.
"I don't want to impose or hurt you so stop me before I do but... I was wondering... what did happen to your parents?
She sighed deeply as her fingers brushed aside one of her light purple curls. "Well one day I had to go out of town. There was a big meeting and my parents couldn't attend, so they sent me instead. The day I left was that same strange day that castle appeared over Toyama. I was so worried the whole time. They wouldn't let me go back to find out what happened to my parents, the authorities I mean."
Sekhmet merely nodded as a sick feeling started to come over him. He watched her seemingly sinking into her chair and her face lowering from his view. Before he could say something to stop her, she continued.
"When it was finally over, or so we thought, I came back here. Everyone seemed so out of it. They didn't remember what happened, but I did. Everyone thought I was crazy. So I kept it to myself." She shuttered a breath as tears began to form. "Then it happened again. Whatever it was attacked again. I tried to warn people, but they thought I was kidding around. I fled with my parents, but a chain flew and they were captured by this armored soldier. Somehow it never saw me hiding, but I never saw my parents again. The only thing I have left are our family swords of our Samurai ancestors. The weapons I've always admired and tried to teach myself to use after that first attack." Tears stung Onishiwa's face as they rolled down her cheeks and her shoulders shook as she sobbed.
Sekhmet walked over to kneel by her chair. "Onishiwa. I'm so sorry." He said as he took her soft small hands in his.
"It's not your fault."
The Warlord felt sheer pain flooding him at that response. He sighed deeply as he felt himself grow more sick and perhaps turning white. The truth couldn't be hidden anymore, not now. "Onishiwa. I am at fault for that. I..." He lowered the gaze of his small black eyes from her. "I used to lead part of that dark army. I had different goals back then. I was lost. If I had been stronger and less blind I could have helped to stop all of this earlier." He paused as he stood and turned away from her. "It's my fault. I'm sorry Onishiwa. I..." His hands untied the knot in back of his neck as he removed the uniform he was wearing and placed it down. "I won't bother you any more Katana Onishiwa-San." Sekhmet left the room and the store, slowly and sadly walking back home.
The cool summer breeze brushed against his face and his short green hair. It was nearing dusk, and the man was walking across town. He just walked with no particular reason in mind. It had been over a month since he left that day from Tokyo Treasures. Sekhmet sighed to himself, his hands in his front blue jeans pockets. He didn't know what to do, he just knew he had to get out and do something. His head was hanging low, black eyes watching his feet and the sidewalk ahead. Before he knew what he was doing, he found that he stood across the street from Tokyo Treasures. He looked to the left, past the cars and people to look at it. It didn't seem like over a month to him It didn't seem like anything changed. The man knew better and started cursing fate and irony. Not only was he there, but he was wearing the same purple shirt as the first time he literally bumped into Onishiwa. What am I doing? The Warlord lowered his head again as he started to walk away, barely taking note of the sunset occurring in the horizon he was facing. Just then he noticed someone standing before him, refusing to move. Sekhmet looked up and immediately wished he hadn't. Before him stood Onishiwa, looking at him. Sekhmet's mouth opened, hoping his vocal cords would find something to say, but his voice failed him. "Onishiwa," he finally got out. "I'm sorry. I'll leave now."
"No don't," she replied softly as she laid her right hand on his chest. "You were wrong Sekhmet. You lied to me."
"I know I should have told you earlier.."
"No. Not that." She shook her head as the sunset played on her light purple hair.
"What then?"
"You lied to me Akiha Sekhmet," the woman said again. "You said you were a part of what attacked here that day." She put a finger to his lips as she saw him trying to reply. "You are not that person Sekhmet. You may have been once, but you are no longer that person. Can't you see that? By saying what you did then and there. By you leaving in respect and trying not to hurt me more. You showed me that you are indeed not that person. You are the same man that I met that day over 4 months ago. You are the same man that..." Tears came to Onishiwa's clear blue eyes as they locked with Sekhmet's black eyes. Her voice lowered to a sweet whisper. To Sekhmet it sounded as sweet as a cool breeze on a sweltering day. "You are the same man that I fell in love with."
The woman wrapped her arms behind his neck. He reached out around her body and held her there next to him. "Onishiwa." That was the only word he was able to whisper back in reply as they reached for a loving kiss. It proved to be the sweetest thing he ever felt in his life. After it, Onishiwa rested her head and long purple hair on his chest as Sekhmet held her.
"Would you escort me home oh Samurai?"
"Of course," he whispered in her ear. They walked together, arm in arm down the path of the sidewalk.