The Last Trip to Yokohama. (Conclusion)

Ken breathed heavily and said, “My Grandmother is a tough woman and she does not run away from fights.” “So she went out and stood in front of the head of the Samurai.”

“I am the one who caused the branch to fall. I did not know that you are within the area.”

“You need to apologize to our Master,” said the Samurai almost in a beat. “I will not apologize for tending my plants,” my Grandmother retorted, as adamant as she is tough.

“Then for that you will face my Sword,” the Samurai quickly drew his sword. My Grandmother who was taken aback suddenly picked a branch nearest to her to shield  herself.

The Samurai continued to pound his way to my Grandmother, but she was smart enough to use the fallen leaves as a distraction. Still, she was no match for the Samurai. The Samurai and his Sword, as all swords go, swiftly attacked my Grandmother who tried to shield her face with her branch.             

The commotion caused people to go out of the compound, and they saw that my Grandmother was on the ground in pain. Everyone drew his sword. Three ladies suddenly rushed to my Grandmother to tend to her.

***

“We were a large clan, and we used to house one of the biggest dojos in our district,” Ken explained. The Warlord realized this when the people started to arrive from the compound. Although the Warload might be wealthier than us, he realized that it will take a vast amount of his resources if he will attack. People are clannish back then, and if you attack a member of the clan, it is expected that the entire clan will avenge for any of its members.

And the Warlord was a wise man. He will not be a Warlord if he was not. So he offered a truce in front of all the people.

The eldest child of my Grandmother stepped in front of the clan. He said loudly, “My mother is in pain. Her left hand was cut deeply with your Samurai’s Sword. We might need to remove her smallest finger to save her entire left hand.

The Warlord was deep in thought and he was listening intently. “I offer my Samurai’s smallest finger in his left arm as a repayment to what had happened to her.” My Grandmother stood up, despite in obvious pain, and said, “Offer his servitude to us and this will be forgotten.”

Everybody was in shock. Why would Grandmother want the service of a man who tried to kill her? The Warlord thought that this was a better offer so he immediately agreed.

***

The red lady approached Ken and whispered to him, “Did you know the reason why your Grandmother spared his life?”

“No,” Ken said. Nobody knew as this was never discussed, more so in succeeding generations. My father was the youngest and when I was born, my Grandmother was already dead.

“She spared him of living a life of embarrassment.” “A Samurai who loses his pinky finger could not protect his Master. The littlest finger’s grip is the tightest of the hilt,” the red lady explained.

But your Grandmother is smart. She did not just save him from a life of embarrassment. She realized that the Samurai is loyal to a fault, and she saved his life for his unfaltering loyalty. Thus, no one will ever dare challenge her to a duel without her loyal Samurai charging to her rescue.

***

Ken realized the truth in the red lady’s words. She walked towards the dock and pointed at the ship with the fiery red lights, and spoke, “I told you that I can bring you there when you told me your story.”

“I realized that I will do something more than bring you there,” she smiled. “I will save you from yourself.”

“What?” Ken asked, not knowing if he heard it right.

The red lady then kissed Ken. It was sudden and passionate and it was exploring Ken. The kiss was finding the truth in the sea of lies, and it was powerful.

“I told you I will save you from yourself,” the red lady said walking away.

“Wait….” Ken said. “Where are you going? I need to know,” Ken was rushing towards the red lady.

The red lady stopped and looked at Ken’s eyes, “There are certain things that you need not know.” She kissed Ken on his right cheek and bid him goodbye.

***

Ken is aboard the bus moving back to Ohama. The ships are so small now; they are nothing but specks of nostalgia.

The conductor is asking for the passengers’ tickets. Ken is checking where he placed his ticket. He was looking at his pockets when he found a small note, which was wrapped in a red ribbon. He hastily opened it with a heavy heart. There, in carefully handwritten script were red words that breathe fire. Ken read the words, and they mean everything and nothing at the same time.

“There are times when you can’t put the pieces back together. Even if they look intact, they will never be same as before.” It’s as if the red lady is whispering these words to him.

Tears began forming in his eyes.