The Rise and Fall
The Rise and Fall
Hiding behind the sliding door in a darkened room, anxious to hear what the three men are discussing. “What do you mean they’re abolishing the samurai title?!?” snarled Kuro’s father, his footsteps pounding on the floor, the vibration shaking Kuro’s small frame. “We are entering a new era, Emperor Meiji stated he wanted to move forward like the Westerners and leave behind our ‘barbaric ways’.” Their shadows dance under the sliding door, from the flickering candle. “Where are the others?” Kuro’s father asked gravely. Kuro slowly slid the door open, enough for one eye to look through. Kuro could see her father’s rage building and the other two trying to mask their fearful expressions. “Susumu and Yori have chosen to join the imperial forces and leave behind their samurai status.” Before Kuro could hear or see anything, she was abruptly pulled away from the door. Kuro silently gasped, “Kuro, what are you doing?!?” It was her mother she looked like the Harionago, the woman with thorn-like hair Kuro’s grandfather used tell stories about. Her mother must’ve awakened to her father’s voice, with her hair sticking out in places. Kuro’s heart was racing; glad it wasn’t Harionago but more terrified it was her mother who caught her eavesdropping. “I’m curious,” Kuro croaked. “Well this is none of your concern, young lady.” She grabbed Kuro’s arm and pulled her out of the room. Her mother led her into the room Kuro shared with her brother. Her little brother Ichirou was already sleep in his futon. “Go to sleep, you have lessons tomorrow,” She left the room promptly and slid the door closed. Kuro just stood in the room staring at the door, straining to hear the voices. But couldn’t, the sound crickets and her little brother softly snoring could be heard. She waited a few more moments until it was clear to leave the room. Kuro carefully walked toward the door, careful not to make the wooden floors creak. “Where are you going big sister?” A familiar voice murmured. She turned around to see her brother still laying down on his futon, fully awake. His head was tilted toward Kuro, with his curious dark brown eyes transfixed on her. “It’s none of your concern,” Ichirou began to sat up. “Didn’t Mama say the same thing to you,” he countered. Kuro was baffled, “You were awake the whole time?” She whispered-yelled. He simply nodded, “I won’t tell on you, if you let me come along” Kuro was going to interject, but she knew it would be useless. “Fine, just don’t get me caught.” Ichirou got onto his feet and slowly made his way toward Kuro. “Don’t worry you can handle that yourself” Kuro stiffened at Ichirou’s comment. Wondering how her seven-year-old brother could be as cunning as a fox, she’ll never know. Kuro stretched her hand toward Ichirou for him to grab. “Come on, let’s hurry then.” Ichirou grabbed her hand and they walked out of the room. They slowly walked down the narrow hallway of shouji. They came to the living room lightened by the moonlight piercing the paper screen. A kotatsu was in the middle of the room and a tea cabinet was in the far corner of the room. They walked around the heated small table and toward the sliding door. The door was slightly open allowing some of the candlelight to spill out. They peeked through the crack in the door, they saw only their mother and father in the room conversing. Kuro figured the two men had already left. “So are you going to join them in Kagoshima?” their mother questioned. “Of course, it would be an honor to teach the traditions of bushido to other men, we’re not going to give up that easily.” he commented. “While I’m away, you take care of the house and the children and if any one suspicious or one of the imperial soldi-.” “I know use my kaiken, and get rid of them.” she smiled, pulling out a knife out of her kimono. “Remember, I am a descended from a long line of samurais.” She smirked putting the knife away. “As expected, I will take my leave
tomorrow.” He smirked and turned away from her, looking directly at the crack in the door. Kuro’s and Ichirou’s eyes widened thinking their father could see them. “Sleep now.” their father commanded but had an amused look on his face. Kuro and Ichirou didn’t have to be told twice, they immediately stumbled back and ran back to their room. Once they returned to their rooms, panting they dropped onto their futons. “Goodnight,” Ichirou uttered quickly not wanting to get into any more trouble. “Night,” Kuro muttered flatly, she couldn’t stop thinking about what her father was discussing. She turned on her side and tried to rid herself of this information with sleep. However, the only thing she thought of is what was going to happen to the samurais.
Work Cited https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsuma_Rebellion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai
Hiding behind the sliding door in a darkened room, anxious to hear what the three men are discussing. “What do you mean they’re abolishing the samurai title?!?” snarled Kuro’s father, his footsteps pounding on the floor, the vibration shaking Kuro’s small frame. “We are entering a new era, Emperor Meiji stated he wanted to move forward like the Westerners and leave behind our ‘barbaric ways’.” Their shadows dance under the sliding door, from the flickering candle. “Where are the others?” Kuro’s father asked gravely. Kuro slowly slid the door open, enough for one eye to look through. Kuro could see her father’s rage building and the other two trying to mask their fearful expressions. “Susumu and Yori have chosen to join the imperial forces and leave behind their samurai status.” Before Kuro could hear or see anything, she was abruptly pulled away from the door. Kuro silently gasped, “Kuro, what are you doing?!?” It was her mother she looked like the Harionago, the woman with thorn-like hair Kuro’s grandfather used tell stories about. Her mother must’ve awakened to her father’s voice, with her hair sticking out in places. Kuro’s heart was racing; glad it wasn’t Harionago but more terrified it was her mother who caught her eavesdropping. “I’m curious,” Kuro croaked. “Well this is none of your concern, young lady.” She grabbed Kuro’s arm and pulled her out of the room. Her mother led her into the room Kuro shared with her brother. Her little brother Ichirou was already sleep in his futon. “Go to sleep, you have lessons tomorrow,” She left the room promptly and slid the door closed. Kuro just stood in the room staring at the door, straining to hear the voices. But couldn’t, the sound crickets and her little brother softly snoring could be heard. She waited a few more moments until it was clear to leave the room. Kuro carefully walked toward the door, careful not to make the wooden floors creak. “Where are you going big sister?” A familiar voice murmured. She turned around to see her brother still laying down on his futon, fully awake. His head was tilted toward Kuro, with his curious dark brown eyes transfixed on her. “It’s none of your concern,” Ichirou began to sat up. “Didn’t Mama say the same thing to you,” he countered. Kuro was baffled, “You were awake the whole time?” She whispered-yelled. He simply nodded, “I won’t tell on you, if you let me come along” Kuro was going to interject, but she knew it would be useless. “Fine, just don’t get me caught.” Ichirou got onto his feet and slowly made his way toward Kuro. “Don’t worry you can handle that yourself” Kuro stiffened at Ichirou’s comment. Wondering how her seven-year-old brother could be as cunning as a fox, she’ll never know. Kuro stretched her hand toward Ichirou for him to grab. “Come on, let’s hurry then.” Ichirou grabbed her hand and they walked out of the room. They slowly walked down the narrow hallway of shouji. They came to the living room lightened by the moonlight piercing the paper screen. A kotatsu was in the middle of the room and a tea cabinet was in the far corner of the room. They walked around the heated small table and toward the sliding door. The door was slightly open allowing some of the candlelight to spill out. They peeked through the crack in the door, they saw only their mother and father in the room conversing. Kuro figured the two men had already left. “So are you going to join them in Kagoshima?” their mother questioned. “Of course, it would be an honor to teach the traditions of bushido to other men, we’re not going to give up that easily.” he commented. “While I’m away, you take care of the house and the children and if any one suspicious or one of the imperial soldi-.” “I know use my kaiken, and get rid of them.” she smiled, pulling out a knife out of her kimono. “Remember, I am a descended from a long line of samurais.” She smirked putting the knife away. “As expected, I will take my leave
tomorrow.” He smirked and turned away from her, looking directly at the crack in the door. Kuro’s and Ichirou’s eyes widened thinking their father could see them. “Sleep now.” their father commanded but had an amused look on his face. Kuro and Ichirou didn’t have to be told twice, they immediately stumbled back and ran back to their room. Once they returned to their rooms, panting they dropped onto their futons. “Goodnight,” Ichirou uttered quickly not wanting to get into any more trouble. “Night,” Kuro muttered flatly, she couldn’t stop thinking about what her father was discussing. She turned on her side and tried to rid herself of this information with sleep. However, the only thing she thought of is what was going to happen to the samurais.
Work Cited https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsuma_Rebellion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai
