Don't leave me alone

Hi there. The chapter 2. Hope you enjoy. ^^

Misao sighed.

"I don't understand why I'm here."

"You're the one who came here." Misuzu recalled her.

The two women were gone very early after that Misao changed of mind. Misuzu wasn't happy nor annoyed. When she was young, she would have loved very much to be accompanied by the legendary swordswoman Misao Kusakabe. But after the events of the Red Night…after having fought her, Misuzu wasn't so much excited anymore. Even if Misao changed of mind and attacked her, she could defend herself. But Misao didn't seem planning to attack her. She was grieving the Black Knights's deaths and attacking Misuzu wasn't her priority.

"I wonder how they will react when we will come back." Misuzu sighed.

"I don't know. I hope they won't stone us to death. I heard once one person had this punishment after having dared to come back to the clan." Misao took a pensive look.

"I don't think so. I'm the Kusakabe Head's daughter. Although my father and I didn't have a good relationship when I was young, I hope he won't give order to kill us." Misuzu thought to her father and wondered how he was since she was gone. She didn't really want to see him again but she had to. "I see houses." She noticed when she saw the village appearing before them and Misao nodded.

"It really changed…"

Obviously, when the two women arrived, it didn't last a long time before villagers noticed their return. People were shocked to see the return of two exiled. Furthermore, Misao Kusakabe's return who had been exiled 67 years ago. But the villagers burnt with anger and some of them spat out on them when they passed before them. Others pointed them by the finger and others muttered things like:

"I didn't expect it!"

"Misuzu Kusakabe came back! Go to warn the Head of the clan!"

"Who is the other woman? But…She looks like…"

"Misao Kusakabe! The legendary warrior! But how is she alive? And why did she come here?"

"How this Misuzu could come back after all she did to our Head!"

"These two…"

Misuzu called one of villagers. "Where can I find my father?"

"…" The villager took a distant look but answered her. "To his house."

"Thanks." Misuzu was about to go but she saw that Misao didn't follow her. "What are you doing? Come."

"…"

Others villagers were come and had taken their weapons out of rage. "You two aren't welcome! Go away!"Misao brutally took her weapons and faced them.

"Misao! Come back!"

"Didn't you notice who I am?" Misao spat out on them. "You shouldn't attack me."

"How arrogant! Attack her!"

Without saying anything, Misao hit on on the head with her Onikiri which knocked him out. She attacked brutally one of them who took her by behind. Misuzu, seeing what's happened, sighed. She hesitated to leave but after some hesitations, she ended up by taking Raikiri out and joining to the fight. She didn't know why she did it as Misao could defeat them all by herself. However, she felt that she was a bit forced to help her as she was exiled too. And according to the Kusakabe's rules, she mustn't let a warrior fighting alone against many others. So she came and attacked one who engaged her in a fight. Seeing him as a threat, Misuzu pared all of his hit and pronounced a spell:

"Raikiri Nagamitsu…"

And suddenly, a lightning bolt appeared and sent her enemy away. Misao defeated more easily her attackers and hit two of them at the same time with Onikiri and Kumokiri. The villagers who were scared watched the battle involving the two exiled girls against all their comrades. Suddenly there is a silence and everyone stopped in the fight. Misao and Misuzu noticed it and looked around.

"What's happening?"

"…"

Misuzu understood why. Her father who was the Head, arrived. He watched the scene silently. Misuzu recognized him. He didn't change really and she could see her amputated arm while the others held one weapon. He looked at Misuzu and smiled to her.

"Welcome back, Misuzu…"

Sat down before the public, Misuzu and Misao waited for the decision of the Head. He faced them but he seemed looking away. He sighed.

"Come now. What a day! See two exiled…And not only which ones. Misao Kusakabe…The legendary Swordswoman…I always thought you as died. You never returned for…67years…"

"…"

"I suppose it's thanks to your dark magic…Am I wrong?"

Misao didn't answer. The head turned toward Misuzu. "What about you? You were exiled and yet, you dared to return to our Clan. What are your reasons?"

Misuzu tried to speak but everyone cut her off. "I said. They deserve to be expulsed!"

"What a shame…Hurting its own father!"

"Misao Kusakabe…How could she survive? And how can she be so young?"

"We shouldn't have forsaken the death. Before, we stoned to death exiled."

The Head sighed and demanded the silence to the others. "So…"

"Nice to see you again, Father." Misuzu sighed. "I just wanted…to bring the Five Kusakabe Swords back to you."

"You should have known that you wouldn't be welcomed…" Her father said with a slight smile.

"I know."

The Head noticed. "You are the one who won them. They are in your possession. Keeping them is you own right."

Misuzu looked up at him. "Yes but I felt that I must have bring them back. I'm…not sure if it was safe to keep them after…"

She glanced at Misao, who stayed quiet. "It's my own decision."

Her Father stared up at her, a bit surprised yet contemptuous toward her. Although she wasn't really her daughter anymore, if he had been herself, he would have kept them until his death. Finally he turned back toward Misao.

"Did you come here for the same reasons?"

Misao looked surprised." What for?"

"If you brought Onikiri and Kumokiri, the Seven Kusakabe Treasures would be reunited again."

She shook her head. "No."

Unlike Misuzu, Misao didn't notice what was wrong or right anymore. And right now, she viewed her two swords as her partners. Her children, the only ones left to her. It was the last thing she wanted to see taken away from herself.

"Yes. It would be useless. You already infected them by your dark magic. So. What did you come here? After 67years…"

"…Well. I didn't think you all remembered me again."

She sighed.

"I don't know by myself. I had been with…another Clan during many years…And now they are gone…I suppose I search for a house of heavenly peace."

"It's a poor defense." The head noticed. "Why did you think you would be welcomed to your return?"

"I don't care." Misao only said these three words. "Do everything you want."

The Head nodded. "At least, you could met one of your admirers… Misuzu Kusakabe. Your dream came true. I wondered how you two met each other."

"…" Misuzu and Misao looked at each other. Misuzu finally said. "A fight."

"I see. How interesting…"

One of people cried out. "We can't let them return! Dear Souichi-sama, they fought a lot of our villagers."

"So, what? Aren't they supposed to defend themselves? I think if these two could easily fight at least ten villagers, the village would be safe. Am I wrong?"

"…"

"So. It's my decision. I will let them return. Misuzu, Misao Kusakabe, I can say it by myself…welcome back."

This decision made everyone claiming in protestation but Misuzu and Misao looked amazed. Souichi sighed. "Then, follow me."

Souichi leads them to a house which was nearly isolated to the village. He nodded. "I constructed it for you Misuzu…If one day or another, you would be interested to come back here. Maybe I shouldn't have to do it. But just…a simple thought."

"…It's…amazing." She said.

"I'm afraid you two would be forced to share." Souichi turned back toward Misao. "If I expected you to return…Of course I think I would have constructed one for you too. But as it isn't the case…"

Misuzu didn't seem really happy. "Sharing? Will we live together?" Misao looked her with a contemptuous look. "Don't worry…I don't think I will stay here for a long time. You'll be alone soon."

"Well. I will leave you. I have…a reunion to preside."

"Father…" Misuzu began but Souichi glanced at her with an uncaring look. "My name is Souichi-Sama. Now you're a villager of Kusakabe clan. I don't want you as my daughter anymore."

"…" Misuzu looked down. She expected it but despite the past events, she still viewed him as her father somehow or other. It hurt her very much. Souichi nodded and left, letting the two Swordswomen alone.

"So…" Misao said. "Let's go."