Crimson Moon ch.8

Crimson Moon ch.8

Chapter 8
Meetings

Keldorix orchestrated his son and Saiyuke to the village. It was a small town, no major industries but they did have a few small family owned businesses. They walked through the town to a steep hill on the other side, the village was overlooked by a cliff, on top was an average sized home made of brick and stone. A large picnic table rested outside the home with an umbrella that stuck up through the middle. Smoke lightly drifted from a brick chimney, high into the sky the smoke faded.

“Hey, dad… how’s mom been these past few years?” Tsurugi asked reluctantly.

“Why don’t you find out for yourself…?” The older man replied rudely, pointing to a grave yard not far past the hill, it was surrounded by gorgeous garden growing beautifully diverse flowers being attended to by a woman. “… Mom…?” he said in a huff as he started running for the graves.

“She’s the one taking care of the flowers isn’t she…?” Saiyuke asked.

“Yep… I was just messing with him… it’s been a long time since I did that.” Keldorix replied.

“It’s been a long time since I wasn’t lazy…”

“I’m going to have to break you of that laziness.”

“You can try… I’ll go pull your son from dirt…” He said plainly through his teeth.

The sword shook, wiggled and flapped as Tsurugi ran, he skidded to a stop in front of the grave and fell to his knees and he scanned each grave but didn’t see one with his mother’s name on it. Saiyuke walked at a lazy pace to catch up to his friend, he gazed up at the clouds rolling by and covering the sun. Each cloud cast a dark shadow on the ground and rolled on.

The women walked over and sat next to him, she wore a midnight blue kimono decorated with white lilies. “Why do you shed tears child?” The woman asked plainly. He didn’t respond he just stared at the graves with a confused look.

Saiyuke walked up behind him. “Quit jumping to conclusions… the old man meant the woman taking care of the flowers…”

“Wha… mom…?” He looked wide eyed next to him and gazed into the woman’s eyes.

“Yes… it’s very nice to see you Tsurugi… I’ve missed you so these past few years.” A tear streaked down her cheek.

Tsurugi stood up slowly and helped his mother up. “How’ve you been, mom?” he asked quietly.

“We’ve been doing fine; your father still won’t stop fighting, no matter what happens, those monsters still want that sword of yours, most of the time they’re looking for your father instead of you.”

“Those things never leave me alone; I’ve seen one almost everyday…”

“Yes, your father is always careful to not tell them but some catch on to it and leave, he tracks them down to make sure they don’t find you.”

Tsurugi stayed quiet and listened to the words, replayed them in his mind… could that be what the bandages are for?

“By the way dear, who’s your friend?”

“You can call me Saiyuke… Mrs. …?”

“Just call me Mira…” She said plainly.

“Not a common name…? Neither is--.” Saiyuke was cut off.

“We know… they were names of a different age, a different place…” The woman told him.

Keldorix appeared behind Saiyuke. “You called me old not too long ago…” He said calmly.

“N-no, no I didn’t.” He stuttered in response.

“Now I have an excuse for giving you overly difficult training that has no relevance what so ever to anything.” He said darkly to the hoodied boy. “Tsurugi, we start in ten minutes, be prepared to go through hell.” He turned his attention to his son, he nodded.

“I’ll make all of you lunch, how’s that sound?” Mira interjected.

“That sounds great; we can start after we eat.” Keldorix nodded to the boys.

Almost and hour later Mira called Keldorix in side to help her bring the food outside. He emerged carrying a dish on each of his forearms, muscles, one in each hand and one on his head. He went down to his knees and placed the dishes in his hands onto the table, placed the ones on his forearms down and slid the dishes from his muscles to his hands and placed those on the table, lastly he removed the one from his head.

“And last but not least, the most beautiful woman in the world, Mira.” He said with applause, his wife emerged from the house carrying a larger dish, with a steel cap covering it.

“We’ve got yakitori, chicken sukiyaki, roast teriyaki chicken, chicken nanbanyaki, plenty of rice balls to go around and ramen for everyone.” She pulled the cover from the dish, a beautiful assortment of the foods she introduced. “I’ll be out with bowls of rice for everyone and the sauces.” She left to go back inside, Keldorix followed. Mira emerged carrying a tray with five bowls of rice and distributed them; the sauce containers lay in the middle of the tray. Keldorix what out shortly after, he carried drinks for everyone, a pitcher of sake sunrise, a pot of green tea and a pitcher of plum wine. He handed glasses out to the people before taking one for himself and sitting next to his wife who had just handed out chop sticks.

“Take your pick.” Keldorix said as he poured himself a cup of tea and began pouring soy sauce on his rice before digging in. Tsurugi did the same but poured himself a glass of wine as did his mom. Saiyuke poured himself a glass of sake and drizzled duck sauce over his rice before eating. They ate random dishes with no specific pattern; they switched between each one before sampling another.

After half an hour of eating the food was gone, only scraps left. “Oh god… that was delicious…” Tsurugi mumbled through a tipsy haze, barely able to sit up straight. Mira was no better.

Saiyuke had fallen backward from his seat and was passed out on the ground.

“Well now… ready to start your training?” Keldorix asked his son.

“Not now, can’t we start in the morning?” he groaned back through hiccups.

“Of course we can, first get as drunk as your friend.”

“I can get more drunk than this…!” Saiyuke said in a drunken stupor. He had woken up and dragged himself back into his seat.

“That’s good; I’ll go get more drinks for you two.” The man walked away with a diabolical smile and returned chuckling, carrying two pitchers, one with sake the other with wine. The two left their glasses on the table and drank right from their own pitchers.