Lullabies
My submission for Samurai of Hyuga week, the theme for Peaceful. Staring Akami, Toshie and Masami set in book 1 while they’re travling to Jinjinto.
Akami never considered herself a sympathetic person, but even she didn’t like seeing Masami tossing and turning in her sleep her tiny frame wracked with coughing. It’s still several days journey until they reach their destination of Jijinto, and the young shugenja`s cold seemed to be getting worse. She didn’t like that there was little she could do to help in this situation, and the normal stoic ronin`s brow briefly creased in worry and frustration. Even her elusive kunoich companion, Toshie, seemed better able to handle the situation brewing herbal remedies to help sooth Masami`s coughing. While Akami`s medical knowledge was limited to resting broken fingers, and bandaging or even stitching up cuts.
It was madding, protecting Masami from pickpockets, kidnappers, and even the occasional pervert was one thing, but what help could she be against an illness? Toshie broke Akami`s self deprecating thoughts to let her know she’s going to collect more water from the nearby well.  Akami briefly nods her head in wordless acknowledgment before returning to watching Masami. They younger girl started another coughing fit, and Akami heads closer to Masami`s futon. She hesitates briefly arm outstretched, not sure if her awkward attempts at soothing the girl would work, before finally brushing Masami`s hair out of her face. She starts to hum an old familiar tune while combing Masami`s hair with shaking fingers.
It’s been so long since Akami sang aloud, and there’s brief bittersweet memory of herself, younger and less damaged, singing this same lullaby to Junko, to help ward off the nightmares that haunted the both of them. Gradually Masami`s coughing subsides and she seems to be settling back to sleep. Akami attempts to get up, but a small hand grabs the sleeve of her kimono. Masami`s face twists up in discomfort when Akami stopped singing and combing her hair. She sighs briefly in resignation before giving in and soothing the young shugenja again.
Toshie watches the peaceful scene, still unnoticed and a curious smile on her face. It seems Emperor Satsuma was right about the ronin having more potential then they realized. Even hearing Akami singing with her own ears Toshie could scarcely believe this impulsively violent ronin could have such a sweet and soothing voice. It takes longer than Akami would care to admit when she realise Toshie was in the same room as her. Her eyes briefly widen in surprise before asking, “how long have you been listening?”
Toshie as polite as ever gives a brief bow of apology, “forgive me for eavesdropping Akami-san, I did not expect to hear something so moving.” Akami looks away from Toshie, her long hair shielding her embarrassed blushing from an inquisitive pair of striking green eyes. “Just don’t say anything about it to Masami when she wakes up, is that funky smelling medicine ready yet?” The two of them go back to their previous attempts at nursing the younger companion back to health, an unusually quiet and domestic moment, in their chaotic time together.
