Disclaimer: Unfortunately enough, I don't own Soul Calibur. Le sigh.
A town ahead and she, without turning to look at me, skips towards it. I walk slowly, not quite far behind her but not that near either. Leaves crunch under the iron of my heavy boots and I grunt with the weight of this… sword that I carry.
I wonder how long until all of this is over. The stench of blood staining Soul Edge is overwhelming and it makes me sick to even touch it, even though I have wielded it for the past seven years.
"We're here." She says, voice softer than the silk garb she's wearing. She turns around to give me a smile, but the smile is lost on her face as a wary frown forms and she quickly walks toward me, her steps barely audible.
"Are you okay?" she asks, worried. She must have seen the look on my face.
"I'm fine." I reply, my eyes holding hers in a steady gaze.
She gives a little sigh of relief and is about to look away but sees that I am still looking at her. It scares her a little, this stranger looking at her with utmost attention. But it's nothing bad, right? So she hesitates, her cheeks turning pink, and counters me with a searching look.
She is searching for something. Her exotic brown eyes wandering all over my face, flitting on the bottom of my lower lip and landing on the scar marring the right side of my face. There is a questioning look in her eyes but she bites her lip and stays quiet.
And I? Why do I look?
Because I want relief. Because I want to see her cheeks flush pink one last time, and her lips pressed softly together before I leave her tomorrow, before the sun breaks the spell of night, to continue my journey alone. Because I want to see a little light before I turn back to that pit of darkness and never see her again.
"You know, you kind of remind me of someone." She says, breaking the heavy silence between us.
"Really now?"
"Yes." Her face turns to a devious grin. "You have that same constipated look on your face."
We laugh, mine heavy and coarse like sand paper, and hers like the tinkling sound of bell chimes.
We start walking towards the town again, the sun low behind us and the first of starlight twinkling into view.
"But," she stops and gives me a look. Her dark eyes have never looked softer in the twilight. "You're also rather handsome."
Another burst of laughter. The leaves rustling against the cool wind. And she gives me the most radiant smile I've ever seen in my entire life.
And suddenly I feel lighter.
A/N: Hello SC fandom. You can rip me to shreds now. But hey, I also appreciate kind and encouraging reviews. Yes, indeed.