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On the day Sekigahara's battle began and came to an end, I had no idea how it was going, and I was going to spend the night in an abandoned temple in a land covered by one gentle-minded miscellaneous soldier named Hayashi Kwon Wai.
The Kwon Dai is now lying quietly in a room in the temple as a wreck.
Throughout the night, his only sister's bruises protected him in the same room.
I heard later from their grandfather, the forest builder, that the condition was temperamental and that he was spending time beside them without showing one tear.
And when she lost her beloved family due to the hardship caused by the Tai Chi Dynasty, and publicly stated, "I don't like what I want," and I was found to be the son of Tai Chi, I didn't have a face to match her.
In the end, after standing around with the Fukushima Ordinary Mixed Soldier who had raided the land and issued a ruling against the Ordinary, its general, I greeted the next morning without exchanging a word with the bruises.
On this day, I am supposed to leave for Osaka as a regular Fukushima soldier after providing the tomb of Kwon Dai near the temple.
It's a beautiful day with no clouds.
Under the blue sky, the greenery of the herbs grown on one side looks beautiful.
I went outside the temple and slowly spit it out as I filled my stomach with fresh morning air.
My eyelids are heavy because I didn't sleep much excitement.
But it was really comforting to see such a refreshing air awakening my young body that I didn't think a fierce battle had been waged in Sekihara the day before.
In the meantime, I can speak from behind.
"Oh, for His Highness's sake, much sooner."
Its squeamish voice must belong to the forest builder's grandfather.
I looked back at the voice.
There, as I expected, stood the grandfather of the zodiac, with a gleaming look on his face, alone.
"Oh, Lord Zao. Forget that weird tribute and" Your Highness ". Fujiyoshi, as always."
"Kakaka. That's not how it works. Your Royal Highness is Your Highness."
That's how the zodiac laughs off, but that attitude isn't humbling, and it's no different from my attitude to yesterday. I felt a little relieved and laughed bitterly.
And the Zao turned to me with a serious face so as to change the subject.
I'm nervous about not having a heart, too, and I put my arms down that I was stretching.
"Now that I'm in the afterlife, that child's mother, father, brother... and Kwon Wei must be relieved"
I guess by "that kid" he refers to "bruises" regardless.
I nodded silently.
Then all of a sudden, the owner thanked him deeply.
And he panicked at me for being thanked by the elderly, and the possessor,
"All this, too, thanks to Your Highness. Thank you... on behalf of the village."
And I said thank you.
"Please don't, Lord Zao. That was all I wanted to do was keep my word with Kwon Wai. If you want to thank me, tell Kwon Wai."
embarrassed and turned away. That's what I say, the Zao owner,
"Kakaka. I do have to thank the Kwon Guards as well. He was a grandson."
And I laughed at my loving grandson.
Watching such a zodiac float the loose look and voice Kwon Wai during that time when he met my brain.
And the promise I made at the end of the period...
"Oh... he was a really great man..."
I leaked to the sentiment.
A little silence that ensued seemed to me to be a silence dedicated to Kwon Wai by the Zao and me.
The whimpering voices of the birds delighted at the arrival of the morning gave sobriety to their sinking hearts, and Kwon Wei seemed to be calling out, "Please don't get dark. Oh," he cried extra.
After a while, as I was wiping my tears, the Zao's voice slowed down a little and seemed a little hard to say.
"Asking Your Highness to be so good is selfish..."
"Hmm? What? Let me know. If that's what you can do, let's do anything."
I also set my voice back and stared at the Zao's face.
"It's about bruising..."
It's still about her… and I guess the zodiac also realized that she's obviously avoiding it.
"Hmmm..."
I returned a slightly unexpected response.
"Surely he must still resent His Highness's father, Lord Hideyoshi Tai"
"I guess so... because I lost my beloved family..."
"But I don't think you resent His Highness. Rather..."
"Rather?"
"No… what I would say more than that would be too old bone paranoia. So why don't you give her a call? I don't mind if I say something..."
"Uhm... let's think about it..."
All I could do was cloud my response.
With a gentle smile on its face, the Zao changed the subject without pressing it any further.
"Thank you. I'm happy… then it's time to get ready for the morning break. Please come back with us as we guide you."
I was going to decide to be ready, I was also going to swear to my heart that I wouldn't get lost anymore.
But thank you, girl, the way you deal with women, it's not that easy.
Contrary to the refreshing autumn sky, I followed the back of the zoo owner with a feeling of cloudy skies.
◇ ◇
After that, things went pale.
By regular soldiers, the tomb of a whispering but fine Kwon Guard is laid.
While I was freshly graved, I didn't see any bruises, was it because it was a task by a man?
He then called a monk from the nearest temple from here to give him a reading.
By then the bruises are back, standing trying to get away from me.
During that reading, I saw a slight bruise.
Is she talking to the Kwon Guard in her heart as she joins hands...
With his eyes strongly pressed, he looked a little bigger with his mouth tied to a single letter than yesterday.
As soon as I finish the reading that lasted a while, I get ready to leave.
Regularity itself seems to leave here immediately to find each warlord who fled and to look around the surrounding villages.
"Bye, Your Highness. Go ahead, master. Dr. Left Guard, I'll be there any minute."
And salute me and bid me farewell.
In order to protect me, he ordered the soldiers to guard me through the night and thus help me discipline myself to the provision of the Kwon Guard.
I wanted to reward him for one thing.
"Mm-hmm. Dr. Left Guard, I'm counting on you. And I'll just give you one more piece of advice."
"Ha! Did this Dr. Left Guard, once again, work disrespect?
I could see the blood losing from my regular face, and I rushed on.
"Not so! Thank you for your work, and if you complain, your late father will yell at you.
It's not... it's... it's a bit of a rain leak, and Dr. Left Guard doesn't care. "
"Ha... ha...? Well, did that happen...?
Regularity with obviously suspicious faces.
It's going to be a pain in the ass if someone finds out something, so I'll keep my voice down and deceive the place.
"At all, your Lord is dull! In this case, the Lord would have lost a soldier named Mogi. Maybe we'll have to take care of the soldiers who worked the wolves in the future.
Until I described it as a 'rain leak'!
"If you want to fulfill your ambitions, don't worry about some soldier slipping out! 'How can you not absorb my intentions!
"Ha! We sincerely apologize for your loss of your thoughts, Dr. Left Guard! On getting..."
"Enough! Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go!
"Ha!"
Totally hard to tell if it's easy to handle or not...
But if it's true, repairing the "real" rain leak will change him (about the confiscation of territory by the Shogun).
I advised you to pity that...
If only you could honestly keep it to the "thank you" level.
I tried to go back to the temple to prepare myself for my departure while I was there, saying that I deserved it, but I sweated where I didn't need it.
... and it was then...
A corner of my sight... in a field of medicinal herbs, isn't the bruise inviting me?
The face looks nagging and the rashes look bad.
I was confused, but I rode her invitation and walked up to the field.
First of all, what a voice to speak to...
"I wouldn't have seen a son like this if I wanted to! You liar!" What if he curses me...
Worried about that, my heart is about to burst so fast that I'm beating it.
With every step I took, I could see how nervous I was about to pop up hardened my expression.
And stand before her.
I never looked at her face, I looked at her feet.
That leg of the dashi belongs to the girl. So thin, small.
An awkward silence flowed between them for a while.
It was the bruiser who opened his mouth first.
"You know... Tochichichi... no... Denka..."
Bruises that are trying to keep me from saying something.
When I heard the words, I solidified my resolve.
As soon as I was upright, I bowed my head deeply.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry I lied to you and hid that I was the son of your Lord's loathsome Taiko!
Me standing up for the obvious and apologizing.
As always, I can only see the toes of my feet, but I can tell without seeing how confused the bruises are.
I went on.
"I don't care how much you hate me! But not all of the samurai are enemies of the Lord. Will you forgive me for what I've done?
Otherwise it is difficult for the Lord to live in peace after this! Please, you're right!
Yes... I have to do more than ask Kwon Dae to "ask for my sister" and do something to help her live in peace in the future.
By the rice you send each year, you won't have trouble feeding.
But even if she doesn't like samurai and samurai as much as she does, she could be in danger.
That's how I bowed my head to her.
It should be noted that if I hadn't had this opportunity, I would have asked the Zao owner for a message.
"Denka..."
"Good luck."
"Well... Tochichichi... keep your head up"
I followed her quiet words and decided to look up.
For from that tone I could not feel anger, and I felt a pleading feeling.
And when I looked at her face, her cheeks were stained from nervousness or bright red.
"Tochichi... the bruises don't hate you anymore.
Instead, he also put up the tomb where he was. Thank you. "
"Right... good"
I relieved myself.
This should also reduce her chances of getting caught up in unwanted troubles.
I have nothing to remember about this, I can leave this place behind, I think so, I tried to leave her.
That's what bruises called it.
"Tochichi, wait! This... will you take it?
What the bruises offered in front of me was a bouquet of flowers.
They all wear beautiful purple flowers.
I was distracted by the beauty and tried to take it unconstitutionally.
"Danger!"
and bruises control it.
I stopped that hand without even knowing what it meant.
"These flowers have a lot to offer. So be careful."
"Oh... thanks"
With all these different flowers blooming, I wonder why she wanted to send me some extraordinary flowers. But these flowers are beautiful. Just watching, I felt my heart washed.
Probably because she was picking these flowers while she was in Kwon Dae's grave.
Oh... I wonder why I was scared...
She must still not have hated me when she found out who I was.
Blame yourself for being shallow, guessing at the feelings of others at will.
I received the flower carefully this time with such self-blame.
Bruises that look at it and smile happily.
She had a fine voice and went on.
"This flower is named" Tsubaki ". Names with Bruises"
"Were you..."
It was a surprise to me that I had no knowledge of flowers.
Looking at me like that, she continued.
"This is to protect the flowers. My mother taught me."
"Really... if I stab you, it's gonna hurt."
"Yeah... that's why I decided that bruises would also be 'stuffy'"
"Hmm..."
"My mother raised me and Tochichichi protected me, and I will protect this field."
I open my eyes to that word.
Did she also make up her mind to see that figure of Kwon Wai and to protect what she was meant to protect?
Or is it like "hereditary" passed down to this forest family...
I can't help but feel surprised and respected for its strong readiness and eyes.
She continued.
"Bruises protected and raised me, will you come and see this field again?
That's what you say and you peek into my face, bruises.
The big black eyes on her red cheeks, the green carpet that spreads behind her, and the blue sky, it's like watching a single painting, holding my heart tight and not letting go.
Still, I don't think it's good for her to take the time to respond.
"Oh... it's a promise"
And I replied briefly.
The bruise, which turns from a nervous face to a smile full of spills, said only a little louder.
"Tochichi gave me all sorts of things to bruise. This field, your tomb, and rice... thanks!
"I don't thank you for that. Your brother risked his life to give me something much bigger. Instead, it's up to me to thank you. Thanks."
With their heads peeled down at each other, on their raised faces, they both spill a natural grin.
Two people laughing at each other for a while.
Such a soft autumn sunshine and a refreshing breeze engulfed us to celebrate and made us forget time.
But... time is cruel.
From the temple, I heard a talented man calling me.
The time has come to announce your departure.
Bruises said in a shadowy tone.
"Goodbye."
To that word, as the exhilaration has so far plummeted, as it cools down, the stinging irritation behind my nose makes my face glow.
"Yeah... goodbye"
"But... we'll see each other again..."
"Oh... I promised."
"Master..."
"Bruises too... na"
This is too much, not too much, but I can't face her.
When I rushed back, I took another step toward the temple… one more step.
... and that was then.
I thought I heard a rush from behind.
A small hand came around my back to my waist.
At the same time a soft feel envelops the entire back.
It was... bruises hugging me on my back.
Wordless thoughts come through my back painfully.
The emotions pouring in there completely stopped my moving legs.
I'm going to have to live alone "anxiety"...
"Sorrow" for losing my beloved family...
But at the same time as those cold emotions, warm emotions pour in.
"Appreciation" for protecting an important field...
"Hope" for growing the herbs my mother protected from now on...
And...
I can't help but "love"...
A vortex of intense emotions, as if there was a mixture of cold and warm air that gave rise to one big tornado, disturbs my mind through my back.
I want to protect you... all the time...
Extremely simple and private emotions.
But my reason and sense of purpose didn't allow me to stay there.
"Sorry..."
That one word was enough.
Between the two, as if they were one glass sculpture, that one word with a small hole made a little crack, and finally separated the two.
The rubbing sound of the herbal leaves swayed by the autumn breeze represented the feeling of the bruises that remained on the spot, and the sound of one large bird dancing high in the sky on that autumn breeze seemed to represent the feeling of excellence with which he stepped out.
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Future generations...
Historical facts will change, and one herbal field will retain its name.
"Bruised Garden".
This herbal field, protected by one woman over her lifetime, is a green carpet, no different from that of that time, healing visitors.
The flowers of "Tsubaki" blooming in that corner are said to have delighted and planted the reunion by Lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his woman.
And the couple who picked the flowers will be able to live together for the rest of their lives...
That is another story.