“Excuse me! Hello?”
Stunned, he realized he’d collided with an incredibly beautiful girl. One with dark brown eyes that were filled with intelligence and humor. Her black hair was in a geiko shimada similar to a samurai’s chonmage... except the top of her head wasn’t shaved.
She also smelled like cherries and almonds.
When she smiled, two deep dimples flashed in her cheeks. “Are you all right?”
Ryuichi could barely think to answer. “Um... yes.”
“Then may I please have my arm back?”
It was only then he realized he’d grabbed the girl’s dark blue kimono when he’d stumbled and was still holding on to her.
“I’m so sorry!” His cheeks burned. Embarrassed, he quickly let go and stepped away.
“It’s fine.” Moving back, she straightened her kimono sleeves and the small suji kabuto that she carried. From the number of stripes on that helmet, Ryuichi knew she was from a rich samurai family. A grown man having it would be impressive.
The fact that it was made for someone their age...
Ryuichi swallowed in fear of what he’d just done. Accident or not.
Bowing, he prayed he hadn’t offended her by touching her.
Most of all, he prayed she wasn’t from one of the more respected samurai families. She could have him whipped for his clumsiness. “Forgive me, my lady.”
She bowed to him. “Nothing to forgive, my lord. I should have been more careful and looking where I was going too.” She flashed that impish smile again. “I’m Hattori Takara.”
Of course she was.Of all the people to run into!
Ryuichi groaned inwardly at his ever-rotten luck. She wasn’t just connected...
She was the daughter of one of the most prominent samurai families, renowned for their fighting prowess. And for their intolerance of those who broke tradition and protocol.
The leader of their clan, who was probably a close relative of hers, was called a demon by everyone.
Feared by all.
And he’d just run her over. By all the stars above, he’d be lucky if they didn’t disembowel him for the affront.
“Takara!”
She turned as one of the elder lords called for her.
Grateful for the distraction, Ryuichi wasted no time running for the stable and removing himself from her sight.
Maybe she’d forget he’d been there.
Everyone else thought he was invisible. Hopefully, she would too.
As fast as he could, he skittered around the door and pressed himself back into the shadows so that he could watch Takara.
“Boy?” She glanced about for him.
“Takara! Come here now!”
Grimacing, she glanced about one more time before she headed toward the man calling for her.
Ryuichi’s heart pounded as he watched her go. In his mind, he imagined for a moment that he was Hitoshi, or one of the other boys at the party. One who had a family name to give her that would equal her own, so that they could be friends. He would love to learn swordsmanship from a member of their clan. To have the honor of riding beside a Hattori. Surely, it must be glorious...
