Restarting my novel from scratch-- here's my first chapter,
everyone...thoughts?
--M.
----
Title: Aizu Monogatari (Tales of Aizu)
Author: Shimazu Masayoshi
E-mail:
patriot014@...
Source: Original
Main character(s): Tokugawa Hirotada and Matsumae Yuki.
Archived on the website: NO
General Rating: G...just in Aizu Castle.
Warning/Disclaimer: Mine. All mine. HAHAHAHAA
Aizu Castle
April, Heisei 17 (2005)
The white walls of Aizu Castle rose majestically over the
ferroconcrete city skyline, lost in their own age-old mystery. A wind
blew from the northeast, and all was peaceful, with the air awash in
the scent of spring. In the cemeteries, the ghosts of the men and
women of old Aizu kept watch over the spirit of the new Aizu. In the
fields where life once lay dying, the tall grass was truly "all that
remained of warriors' dreams."
Pausing on the bridge over the castle moat, Tokugawa Hirotada gazed
quietly at the sloping eaves of the tower. The fishlike talismans on
the very top of the highest roof seemed to stretch skyward in a quiet
prayer for peaceful rest.
"TragicÂ…" he murmured. "Tragic indeed."
Hiro felt an urge to stay there, to contemplate the deep sadness of
the castle tower, to let its mystery seep into his soul, but he had a
job to do. Tugging smartly at his haori overcoat, he resumed his brisk
stride across the bridge, soon passing through the gate and into the
inner circle. Directly below the slope of the tower's stone base sat a
shallow pit, with several men and women in dusty clothing digging and
brushing away at the rich brown soil. One of them caught his eye, and
he waved.
"Hi, Yuki!"
A short, energetic woman in the deepest part of the pit waved back,
brushing her long bangs away from her eyes.
"Hi! Be with you in a minute!" Exchanging a short word with the
supervisor, she picked up her cloth shoulderbag and clambered out of
the pit to join him. Exchanging a quiet kiss, they left the inner
circle of the castle, hand in hand.
****