The Simple Life… or NOT!!!

Are you alright?
I find myself in a small room. There seems to be some talk outside but they are drowned by his continuous scuffles and questions. Ignoring his inquiry, I try to stand upright but it is more like a chore and no sooner than I started, I found myself right back on the damn futon.
Don’t move.
Well well.. Isn’t that perceptive? Stupid man and his stupid questions. I turn and lie to my side. Behind me I hear a chuckle.
You’ll be fine soon… Maybe tomorrow we can start practicing…
Turning abruptly I scowl back at him… What the hell is he talking about? He answers with a soft grin and tosses me a pillow as if not understanding my inquiry. Stupid man… I guess I actually have to spell things out for him. “I’m not interested…” I finally say. He chuckles again and shrugs.
See you tomorrow.
He leaves and the room is once again quiet… But outside I hear their voices.
“Kondou Isami! When will you stop bringing more mouths to feed?”
Gomenasai.. Haha ue. He won’t be a bother. He’s a good man.”
“You never met him before in your life. For all we know he could be a crook… or a murderer.
Gomenasai… I have to go and teach in the dojo… I’ll be back soon.”
Their voices… I am unwelcome. Tomorrow I must leave this place… Closing my eyes I finally drifted off to sleep. Tumultuous nightmares accompany the voices outside.

Inouhe-san!!! Yappari! I knew you’d be here.
Blinking a few times, my eyes finally rest on her face. It will take some getting used to.. This new name… Noticing the blocks of wood I was supposed to be chopping. I move past her and take up the Axe. It is rather hot but that is perfect for the woods to dry.
*CHOP* *CHOP* *CHOP*
Did I say anything wrong? Why were you looking so spaced out?
Choosing to ignore her, I continue to chop the wood. I like hearing it crack and splinter. But she keeps asking and I find it quite annoying. Maybe it was a mistake to have helped this woman. “Betsuni…” I reply not bothering to look up. I raise the axe again, it vaguely reminds me of striking down an enemy. A stance that reminded me of the Shieikan.
*Kyah!*
*CLAPS* *CLAPS*
What the??? I look back and there she was clapping as if she’d never seen a man practice his kata. I guess it does look quite funny if done with an axe. Making one last swing I bury it to the ground and walk back towards the shack.
Inouhe-san! Guess what I made today?”
I look back her eyes are little arcs disappearing from her face because of all the smiling. How can anyone continuously smile like that? Especially with the living circumstances we found ourselves in. “Hai??”
We’re not having potatoes today nor turnips!”
Rolling my eyes I go on ahead leaving her behind… But she follows incessantly and cuts me off as I go to the stove.
We’re having zaru-soba! Perfect for a hot day… I managed to get a deal from some passing merchants earlier so we should have enough soba even through winter.
“You wouldn’t expect me to eat that all the time would you?” I ask matter of factly.
Eh.. Of course not Inohue-san… Don’t be silly… There’s a thousand and one ways to make soba! Plus it’s healthy and it’s cheap!
She places a bowl of gray noddles in front of me. Then hands a small cup of tsuyu with wasabi. Motioning her to sit down we start to eat. The noodles are firm and has a very bland taste. If not for the tsuyu, I don’t think I’d finish the meal. Now we were supposed to live on this through winter? I think not. Better go back to chopping wood and barter it for some fish.