Wandering Eternal: Brothers of War

Remembering Part 2

They both keep looking and shopping around getting some food and other stuff for traveling. Zee walks to a stand that has all sorts cloth and leather bags. He picks out a dark leather courier bag and a black denim backpack that is bigger and sturdier than the one from the cabin. He also buys four water skins and asks the merchant where the freshest water could be found. The merchant points over to the middle of the village where a fountain is, pouring out into an aqueduct. While looking over Zee notices a sign with a picture of clothes hanging outside of a building. He turns around to get Ezma but does not see her. Then he turns all the way around looking for her all around the market. Unable to spot her immediately, he drops everything and frantically runs around the market looking for her until he finally notices her at a candy stand. He walks back over to the pile of bags he dropped and picks them up walking over to the candy stand. He notices she looks wide eyed and her mouth is watering.

“Hey Zee, look...” She points to the variety of colored candies and chocolates. Zee motions to the vendor to let her have one piece of candy that she chooses. Separately he chooses few more handing him five gold pieces, “can I have that one?” She points at a rainbow colored swirl lollipop. The vendor hands it to her and she starts l*****g it all over enthusiastically. Zee picks out an assortment of different candies and the vendor wraps them individually and then wraps them all in a cloth tying it off with a pink ribbon.

“I found a store with some nice clothes for girls closer to the center of the village. And there’s some fresh water to fill up these skins so we have clean fresh water for tomorrow,” Zee points towards the fountain. She nods still l*****g the lollipop and grabs onto Zee’s arm. They walk over to the clothes store and walk inside. Ezma looks at all of the dresses, skirts, shirts, and pants. Zee looks around the store noticing they have men’s clothes on the far side and undergarments near the back. A short attractive middle aged woman in a white skirt and blue shirt walks up to them.

“Is there anything I can help you with?” She asks in a quiet shy voice.

“She’s wearing my shirt as you can see and needs clothes for herself along with some undergarments too please,” Zee says and then leans in to whisper to her, “if you wouldn’t mind taking her and let her pick out what she wants, or show her stuff you think she would like. I’m going to go over here and get something for myself, do not take your eyes off her please...” he pauses for a moment, “price is no problem,” he stands back up and walks over to the coat hangers and hangs his bags on them. Then he watches as the woman walks Ezma around showing her some stuff and Ezma points things out. The woman holds each item of clothing on her arm for Ezma to try on later. He smiles hoping that she is in good hands and walks over to the men’s side picking out a couple of white shirts and black pants. Then a couple of black shirts and a silk blue coat. He looks around for anything else and notices a coat hanging up in the back that is half white and black with some blue letters on the left side of the chest. He walks over and takes it off the hanger holding it up his chest to see if it would fit him and luckily it is a perfect fit.

“You would not believe that my father made that for a young man almost seventy years ago that passed through this village who looked just like you but had short hair,” he hears a voice from behind him. He turns around and notices a beautiful older woman behind him, “oh! You have his face, you must be his son or grandson, although the scar looks exactly the same,” she points over to the young lady and Ezma, “my daughter there with your...sister?” He nods to her.

“Shu Ling?” He says with a questionable tone.

She raises an eyebrow, “Yes, how did you know?” Zee stands there for a moment in silence having a flashback of being in this store before. He was passing through and helped the village out with a bandit raid. He remembers the woman in front of him being young and still just as beautiful offering for her father to make him a custom coat for helping the village out. “You, no, it can’t be,” she looks at him staring at his eyes, “yes! It is you!” He puts his hand on her mouth.

“Please don’t stir attention,” he whispers, “I’m just now regaining some of my memory and your name popped in my mind when I saw your face. Your father made this when I ran that team of bandits out of town right?” He whispers to her.

“Yes,” She whispers with tears in her eyes, “I thought you were going to stay here by the way you talked to me, oh, you had such a way with words you made a woman weak in her knees,” she blushes putting a hand on his cheek, “I waited so long for you but I found another man and married, then gave birth to a beautiful daughter,” she looks over at her.

“I had a lapse in memory when I entered the store and saw her thinking she was you,” he looks around to make sure nobody is looking, “I’m sorry I never returned but I can’t remember anything past the last few days. I’m not sure what happened to me,” he reaches in his coin purse and hands her twenty gold pieces, “here please keep this quiet.”

“I don’t need money for that, I was in love with you then. I can keep a secret, but I do want to know about the girl,” he puts the coins in her apron pocket while she is distracted.

“She rescued me from drowning in a river so I owe her my life, but for some reason I’m drawn to her like an older brother. I’m not sure how to explain it,” she smiles softly at his reply.

“Well take care of her, she is quite beautiful and seems very innocent. I also see pain in her eyes that she doesn’t remember too well, I hope she doesn’t regain that memory or relive it,” she pats him on the arm then walks over to Ezma and her daughter. Zee walks into the dressing room and tries on all of his clothes. Seeing that they all fit rather well he changes into one of the pants and shirts and puts the new coat on that was made for him. He looks into the mirror and smiles at how beautifully crafted it is. He walks out and over to his bags and puts the old clothes into the old bag. He takes the old bag and gives it to Shu Ling.

“We found these at an old fishing cabin up river, I want you to have them and do with them what you wish,” he looks over at Ezma, “but I would like to keep that shirt she’s wearing when she changes out of it,” he walks over to the bench outside of the dressing room and sits to wait on Ezma. After a few moments of waiting, he asks Shu Ling if he could smoke inside and she nods smiling. Zee takes out his pipe, fills it with tobacco, and feels around for his matches. He stands up feeling all of his pockets and realizes he lost them at some point. Disappointed, he sits back down, his pipe hanging from his lip with a melancholy look on his face.

“Here, it was my fathers. His life was saved the day you were here so long ago, yet he died ten years ago still telling your story to the young ones,” Shu Ling whispers handing him a flint striking lighter in a black casing that has a yin yang painted on it. Zee takes it bowing to her in thanks and opens the lighter and lights it in one finger flick. He lights his pipe and puffs happily grinning ear to ear.

“Make sure to tell your father I said thank you when you do your prayers tonight. I am grateful, but how does it work? Does it need fuel or wick?” He asks puffing slowly.

“It uses fuel that you refill it by pulling it out of the case and soaking the wick on the bottom,” she pulls the lighter out of the casing and shows him, “you can get fuel at Pinpin’s around the corner. He sells a lot of western things,” she points in the direction of the store. They both turn around and watch Ezma walk into the dressing room,” may I sit with you and watch her?” She asks politely, “my daughter, Shu Lan, is very good at styling the younger women of today’s fashion,”

Zee nods his head and waits patiently as Shu Lan walks in behind Ezma hanging clothes on the wall. A few moments pass and Ezma walks out in a short pink dress with red flowers and twirls for Zee and Shu.

“What do you think? Huh? Pretty right? She even gave me undergarments to wear, see?” she says pulling her dress up. Zee immediately puts his hand on his forehead crestfallen by her behavior.

“Shoo shoo! Put your dress down!” Shu Ling says getting up and making her put her dress down, “ladies should never show theirselves to men like that, not even in public or to other women! Be ashamed!”

“What?! I was just showing Zee that she gave me stuff to wear so I could cover up and not be exposed anymore...” she says innocently.

Shu Ling shakes her head, “that doesn’t mean that he wants to see it nor should you show it anyways. You should show more respect for yourself and leave the guys with something to think about instead of showing them everything at first. Ladies should be modest and composed,” she strictly scorns Ezma. She shows her the way to walk and sit with a dress on so not to expose herself.

“Do I have to be this way? It seems like so much work when I could just do things normally. I like being carefree,” Ezma says turning back to the dressing room.

“It’s best for you to learn these ways and respect them so when you get older you will be thankful for these lessons,” Zee says motioning for her to try on the next one. She hangs her head and walks back in. She walks out again after a moment in a black overall skirt and a white dress shoulder sleeve shirt with a blue scarf around her neck.

“Wow,” Zee says looking up at her twirling around, “now that is a good look for you. Very modern with an old twist,” he smiles puffing on his pipe. Ezma smiles blushing. They spend most of the afternoon trying on clothes and talking. After everything is done Zee packs all of his bags as they say their goodbyes. Zee takes one last look at Shu Ling noticing a sad look on her face and cannot shake the feeling he needs to say something to her. They head back to the farm where Si is waiting on them out on the front porch.

“Well it looks like you two had a good time today, glad to see you both wearing something comfortable and fitting. Now come on in we were just about to start without you!” He laughs hardily inviting them in. Ezma runs straight to the table while Zee walks to the room unloading his arms. He checks the backpack to make sure he changed the gold over noticing the apron is in there. Relieved he stands up and walks into the kitchen sitting next to Ezma.

“So good to see you cleaned up and looking more lady like, look at that you even have some chest to call your own,” Ching says poking Ezma in the chest. Ezma looks down and notices that her breasts are actually growing bigger and smiles gleefully.

“So excited over becoming a lady huh? I’m excited for this food. It smells delicious Mrs. Jeong,” Zee says politely. Ching serves the food and Ezma reaches in excitedly and Zee slaps her hand with his chopsticks.

“Hey! What was that for?” She says rubbing her hand.

“Be patient and polite, wait for all the food to be served. Then after everyone sits down you wait for them to say their blessings or start eating before diving in,” he says politely while holding his hands together waiting patiently.

“But we didn’t do this at the cabin...”

“That’s because we were both starving and needed nourishment. We are in someone’s home now and need to be respectful of their hospitality,” he interrupts her and motions for her to put her hands together.

“It’s good that she has you to teach her young man. And we are happy you are being so polite but you do not have to stand in ceremony, we are simple folk with simple beliefs. A silent blessing is well enough for us,” Ching says politely sitting down. She bows her head and everyone joins her. A moment passes and everyone but Ezma starts eating. Zee nudges her and she rises up opening her eyes to realize everyone is eating then begins to eat hastily.

“Slow down, or you will get sick,” Zee says holding her hands down with his chopsticks. Ezma struggles trying to raise her hands up with all of her strength but is unable.

“Someday you will have to teach me how you do that,” she looks over at Zee and then down at his chopsticks still holding her hands.

“Teach you what?” He says smirking.

“How you are able to hold my hands down with one hand holding chopsticks. I can barely move,” she says innocently giggling.

“It’s not exactly the strength of the body but rather the strength of the will. Mrs. Jeong do you mind?” He looks over at Ching questioningly. She nods and he moves his chopsticks over to her hands holding them down to the table. She struggles very hard to pull up but fails to move even the slightest. Then she takes a deep breath and tries again pulling her hands up slowly with both her hands and Zee’s shaking violently. They both stop after a moment and smile at each other. “See? She was able to do it, and so can you. You just have to stay focused and concentrate your will and chi,” he continues to eat.

“What is chi?” Ezma questions him in curiosity.

“Well it’s...” There’s a knock at the door interrupting him. Si stands up walking to the door and opens it slightly to see who is there.

“Ah! Fa Lang! My daughter! It’s been too long! Please come in and join us!” He excitedly opens the door wide. They all look up and see a beautiful woman standing in the door way with a scar that starts at her hairline stretching down the middle of her right eye reaching to her chin. Her left eye is a bright fluorescent green and her right eye is clouded over but still has a green sheen to it. She stands taller than Si wearing a black sleeveless kimono carrying a large travel bag on her back with an ash wood staff. She has a tanto tied onto her back and her legs are bare only wearing some thong sandals. Her hair is long and black reaching her mid back and a white lotus holding her hair behind her left ear. She looks over to the table seeing her mother, Ezma, and Zee. When her gaze reaches Zee her eyes light up and she steps through the door.

“Snow fang?” She exclaims looking at Zee approaching the table.

When Zee hears her voice saying snow fang he has another flashback. He is standing on top of a hill holding an odd looking black sword next to Fa who is holding her staff. They are surrounded on all sides by soldiers holding guns dressed in all blue. She does not have a scar on her face and both his, and her hair is shorter. She also looks much younger and is wearing a traditional Chinese dress with bare legs and thong sandals. There is a thick fog surrounding them as well as overcast.

“Are you ready white lotus?” Zee says readying his sword in a fighting stance.

“Yes snow fang,” She says readying herself. One of the soldiers fires his g*n and Zee reaches over grabbing Fa by the back of her hair. He jerks her head back as fast as he can moving faster than lightning. The bullet hits her chin grazing up her face as Zee pulls her head back saving her life. She winces in pain as the general of the army screams angrily.

“Hold your fire! Hold your fire god dammit it all! The next man who fires off a shot before I give the order will be shot by me! For gods sake they give me idiots when I ask for soldiers,” the General rides his horse over to Zee and Fa, “are you okay miss?”

“Not exactly, I don’t think I will be able to use that eye anymore,” she retorts holding her eye.

“I’m sorry for pulling your hair like that but I saw the bullet going for your head and reacted...”

“How could you see something that moves faster than the eye can see? I’m alright, I just can’t see out of my right eye,” she says looking up to the general. Zee rips part of his shirt off and wraps her head up leaving her left eye open so she can see.

“I just saw it okay, let’s not get surrounded in details we are already surrounded by soldiers,” he says picking her up and getting back into his fighting stance.

“I thought we were on the same side! What happened?” She retorts at the general.

His mind snaps back into the farm house and he looks at Fa studying her, “White Lotus?” He says standing up.

“Well yeah, that’s the flower in her ear Zee. What else do you notice? She has big boobs and is n***d from the waist down?” Ezma scoffs looking away and crossing her arms. Fa walks over to Zee and they hug each other for a while.

“It’s been years since I’ve seen you! Your hair is so long and you haven’t aged a day!” She says with tears in her eyes.

“You know this man Fa?” Si says confused.

“Yes pa! When I went to Japan we were recruited to go to the Americas to get rich because of the gold found there. But when we got there we wound up getting tossed into some civil war they were having and we were almost killed in a battle where all of our battalion were slain and we were cornered on top of a big hill. We somehow survived thanks to Snow Fang here...” she pauses for a moment and steps away from Zee, looking him up and down, “wait, where is the Snow Fang?” She asks looking worried.

Zee raises an eyebrow and looks around confused, “I thought that’s what you called me?”

“No your name is Zee ya big goof!” Ezma exclaims jealously.

“We called you Snow Fang because of your sword. None of us actually knew your real name because you never told us and none of us had the courage to ask. But the odachi you carried with you everywhere was called Snow Fang. You don’t remember?” She looks at him with disbelief.

“I had a flashback when you entered the room and called me Snow Fang, but I have lost my memory past the last few days,” he says hanging his head down low. Ashamed, he sits back down slowly.

“It is fine. I am very happy to see you’re still alive and well. Although I do miss seeing that sword of yours as well, the blade was so long and heavy that you were the only one able to wield it one handed much less two handed with ease. I always thought that the blade was painted black until you let me hold it. I was in awe of the craftsmanship, the black metal of the blade and accented on the handle and hilt, the white jade snowflake guard, and the white leather wrapping the sycamore wood handle. May I ask who this little girl is?” She says looking at Ezma smiling.

“My name is Ezma, and I’m...”

“She saved me drowning in a river a few days ago when I lost my memory. I owe her my life and she is accompanying me for as long as she wants,” he interrupts her smiling and puts his hand her shoulder. She blushes and stays quiet for a moment then looks at Fa with jealous eyes.

“What were you two, some kind of lovers?” She says contemptuously.

Fa laughs hysterically almost falling over, “no! Silly girl. I am married to a Japanese woman, Lang Mei Ling,” she smiles blushing, “I am not attracted to men like most women. I was able to find a priest north of the americas that would marry us and she’s waiting back home for me now,” she starts tearing up and both of her parents smile and hug her.

“Oh, I see,” Ezma says shamefully while her face turns beet red.

“It is ok Ezma, even Cassie Mae thought we were secret lovers before she found out I liked women, then she became more flirtatious around me. Oh how I wish she would’ve married me,” she laughs and sits down with the rest of them, “now if you want to talk about lovers tension, you would be jealous of Cassie Mae, or Cat, as we called her most of the time,” she blushes looking down.

“Why would I be jealous of her?” Ezma says picking her food apart.

“Ah, I believe I’ve said enough for now. Is there enough food left ma?” She looks over at table with hungry eyes. Ching nods and they all eat together while talking about her life and wife. Ezma sits in silence wondering about this Cat she was talking about and why she would be jealous of her. After eating and helping put away the dishes Zee walks outside and sits in one of the rocking chairs. He fills the bowl of his pipe and lights it puffing softly while rocking back and forth.

“You know there’s nothing like a smoke after eating and sitting in a rocking chair you know?” Si laughs walking over to the other rocking chair beside Zee.

“Yes I understand fully, it settles the food and makes the body happy,” he says puffing smoke out laughing with him. Si pulls out his own old wooden pipe that looks handmade and lights up as well.

“You know that girl is in complete and total love with you,” Si chuckles while rocking back and forth. Zee laughs nervously.

“Not true, she is young and naive...”

“Haha! No boy! You are naive for not noticing how much that girl adores you!” He starts laughing harder almost choking on his smoke interrupting Zee.

“I guess I must be. I just don’t notice it, I see her as the girl who saved me from the river and now I just want to keep her safe with me. She’s fun to have around and keeps the mood lively and uplifting,” he whispers quietly. They sit there for a while quietly smoking and rocking in their chairs when suddenly Ezma walks around the corner and over to Zee, “ah, we were just talking about you. How was your dinner?” Si asks smiling at her.

“It was delicious and I’m completely full and feel much better,” she pauses and looks at Si, “thank you so much for having us and letting us stay here for the night,” she bows politely.

“Think nothing of it young one, it’s my pleasure. I will be sad to see you both leave tomorrow, but I know how traveling can be,” he quietly laughs a little.

“May I sit with you please?” Ezma asks Zee looking at him innocently and almost pleading.

“Of course!” He says uncrossing his leg and stopping his rocking motion. She walks over and sits on his knee quaintly. Zee pulls her over into his lap and spins her leg around to the side and crosses them for her. Then he pulls his leg back up over crossing them and begins rocking again, “there you go, comfortable?” He asks puffing on his pipe and blowing his smoke away from her face. She blushes brightly trying not to think of anything and lays back resting her head on his crossed leg.

“Yeah I like it like this, simple and laid back. I wish everyday could be like this,” she twirls her fingers through Zee’s smoke making shapes before it dissipates. They sit there for a long time and Ezma falls asleep on his lap, and before he knows it Zee almost nods off as well.

“I can see you are finally getting tired. I know two long days with hardly any sleep can be rough even for someone your age,” Si says standing up dusting his pipe out.

“Well I slept for many days before that so I don’t know what’s worse, being tired now or being tired after waking up from that,” he laughs softly trying not to wake Ezma.

“Well according to the girl you were badly injured when she found you in the river, so your body used a lot of energy to heal itself. No wonder you are still so exhausted,” he offers to pick Ezma up for him and Zee raises his hand.

“I’ll get her, no worries. She’ll be happy to know she’s sleeping with me I know that much. I remember waking up in that cabin by the river and she was ten leagues under, asleep, curled up on on my chest with her thumb in her mouth like a baby. But she looked so content as if she felt safe with me being there although I was incapacitated,” he raises up grabbing under her legs and behind her head carrying her gently.

“One day you’ll realize she couldn’t spend a day without you. But until then you keep that girl safe, I can sense something special about her. That is, aside from her hair and eyes being completely unusual much less to say about yours,” he chuckles lightly waving him off. Zee laughs with him and walks into the house trying to be cautious so not to wake Ezma. He hears a loud whistle, a scream, and some horses whinnying coming from the village. He turns to look quickly accidentally bumping Ezma’s head on the doorway. He looks down in fright but she’s still asleep.

“Wow, she could probably sleep through a raging storm and earthquakes if she wanted,” he whispers handing her over to Si. Fa walks out of the house with her pole in hand.

“Did I hear someone scream?” She looks at both Si and Zee.

“Yes it came from the village, are you coming with me?” Zee looks at her with a worried look.

“Definitely! I would love to fight by your side again,” she smiles rearing to go.

“Please take care of Ezma and in my leather courier bag there are two guns that are loaded if you need them, I can’t shoot worth a damn so they are completely worthless to me,” Zee bounces on the balls of his feet anxiously ready to move out. Si nods to him and walks into the house shutting the door behind him.