115 5.4 Kitakata Village, Fukushima, Japan 1860 (1/2)

The night passed without any incidents except for a howling or two that came from a lone wolf somewhere near the cliffs ahead of us. An occasional sight of a soul catcher demon was seen capturing a lost wandering soul that glowed an eerie greenish orb near a desolate cemetery near us, Normally the village would set up a cemetery for the final resting place of their loved ones a distance of about 10 kilometres away from the village perimeter.

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Daybreak came and everyone broke camp. I carefully stomped the fireplace, ensuring that I had properly extinguished the fire and would not set the forest accidentally on fire due to the glowing embers that were still at the base of the fireplace.

The rest of the samurai tied down their mounts to make it lighter before they reach their destination. Even though they could have continued the journey to their village last night, but the thought of not bothering the guards of the village made them camp outside.

After performing some housekeeping on their mounts and themselves as well, its time for them to continue their journey back to the village. As it was daybreak, there would be some villagers who would have been up and about, busying themselves with their daily activities.

I travelled with Hiko-sama on his pony and all 5 of the samurai made their way gingerly towards their village and soon would be making their first stop at the Mayor's Castle. ”Himura-kun, I would drop you at my house first. Do not answer the door if anyone knocks on it. Just stay indoors for the time being and wait upon my return. I will bring you to the registrar to register your name in the census of the village, do you understand?”

I nodded my head and will make myself to good use once I am at the house.

”One more thing, do not enter one of the rooms if I am not in the house, OK? It is my prayer room as well as a place for storage of my armour and some other valuable things. Be a good kid and do what you are supposed to do. At the meantime do not do things to expose yourself at all. Wait for my return, OK?”

”Yes, Hiko-sama. I understand your instructions and will not go against it. I will wait for you at your house and remain indoors while waiting for you to come back.”

Hiko-sama just nodded his head and trudged on with his pony ahead of the group, and this time he held the black flag with the big red ”X” on it and lead the way up front.

The path we were on led us to a clearing ahead and the first thing I saw was a high wooden fence surrounding the perimeter of the village. There was 2 large swinging gate made of sturdy tree trunks and was manned by a high sentry post. There were 2 armed soldiers with 2 crossbows on it. 2 armed soldiers were also visible on each side of the gate and they were armed with long pikes with a broad blade on one side and a sharpened bit on the other end. The soldiers were armed with katanas on their sides. From the looks of these soldiers, I am sure they were assigned by the garrisons from the militia.

Hiko-sama reached the main gate and the soldiers saluted him and the rest of the arriving samurais. They greeted one another and told that they need to report to the Mayor upon their arrival regards to the findings of the village that been pillaged earlier. The guards waved them inside and we made our way through the majestic gates of the village. A huge wooden sign was hung at the archway of the main entrance and it read ”Welcome to Kitakata Village” etched in bright yellow in contrast to the dark wood sign.

”This is the South entrance of this village. There's 3 more other entrances and exits and they are located on the East, West and North. This South entrance is the furthermost away from my home but it is quite close to the Mayor's Castle. I will trot now and send you home first.”

”Fellow comrades, I am going home to send this kid back and would be joining you in a while bit. Do wait for me a while and we will meet with the Mayor after this.”

After he said that, Hiko-sama galloped his pony and went straight home which was just a few minutes through the governmental district. There were quite a number of officials and important looking persons walking unhurriedly to their respective office buildings and made way for the galloping samurai as we made across the main courtyard and into the business district before entering the residential district.

It was a grand little village and it should be called a town instead. I noticed a few signboards erected in the governmental and business district, informing the layout of the office buildings as well as business buildings on its informational bulletin board. It also showed where the person was standing if he was looking at the signboard and would not be lost easily in the array of mazes that the buildings were standing from.

Right after the business district, I came across 2 temples, a public building presumably a library of some sort, a junior high school and a high school. Plus, there is a small fountain in the middle of the so-called education district, which I prefer to name it and soon would get acquainted with it. From cobblestones right to the paved road, the little village of Kitakata was very well maintained and managed and not even a single rubbish was seen strewn carelessly across the ground.

I was amazed at how the little village had organised itself in order not to confuse its visitors or even its residents. This way, it eliminates the need for any kind of concierge services where one needs to ask where his or her next destination would be.