Chapter 3
Touga looked at the child in his arms offended and slightly curious. "Why would you ask me such a thing?" Instead of answering the small girl went back to ignoring him. "The silent treatment, I see we're back to that." Sighing he laid her on the ground and started cleaning her wounds with a piece of his sleeve.
After a few moments he was finally finished. "There now all that needs to be done is wrapping it." He ripped off more of his sleeves. When that was done he turned back to her leg.
He was shocked to find it is already wrapped and she was standing on it, not with her full weight of course. "How did you do that so fast?" he asked impressed with her speed.
Ignoring him like usual she took the cloths he tore from his sleeve and limped over to the river. She washed her blood from them and rung them out best she could. She limped back over and sat down next to him on the side with the torn sleeve. "What are you doing?"
She pulled one of her silver hairs and started to sew the cloth back on. When she was finished you could hardly tell it had been torn at all, except for the extra string hanging off.
"Thank you."
"Least I can do for your help. Thank you for tending to my wounds." She said before getting back up and limping to a nearby tree to sit down.
"Do you want me to go get your sword or can you do it?"
"What are you talking about?" she asked confused.
"Your sword. We left it back in that field."
"No we didn't. She's sitting right next to you." She pointed to the spot next to him. When he looked down at said spot he nearly had a heart attack. The sword really was right next to him.
"How did it-"
"She." The little girl interrupted and corrected him.
"How did she get here?" He asked correcting himself.
"She's been following us the whole time." The girl stated calmly like it was obvious to anyone with eyes.
"Well, both of you are starting to creep me out."
To this statement she blinked at him then started ignoring him again. 'This is at least the 3rd time she has ignored me.' Then a thought occurred to him. "What do you mean she's been following us?"
Just as Touga asked his question the sword pulsed slightly and lifted into the air. It floated over next to the child and rested itself against the same tree. Touga looked on in shock of what he saw.
'Stop gawking and build the lady a fire. It's getting late.' If the he was any lesser man he would have been scared shitless and shown it too. But he like his dignity and wanted to keep it.
In the most stable voice he could muster "Who said that?"
"Sounggie!" The child said cheerfully. "Are you feeling better now?"
'Yes, milady, but I told you not to do such a thing. I am here to protect you. Can't do that if you throw me somewhere.' A voice said as the sword pulsed irritated.
"But Sounggie, you were so tired and worn out. I didn't want you to get hurt." The child said saddened her 'friend' was upset with her.
'My well-being is of no consequence if your life is danger. Do I make myself clear, Rapunzel?' The sword pulsed angrily and the end to add emphasis.
"Yes, Sounga." Rapunzel replied in a low voice near tears. She pulled her knees to herself and scooted away from the angry sword.
Touga, who watched the scene play out, took in the information that slipped out of them during their conversation. 'So her name is Rapunzel? Interesting. Not as interesting as her sword though. She called it Sounga. Strong name meant for a hell sword.' As his thought over took him he wondered how such a young girl came to possess a hell sword and become its master.
'… Hey I'm talking to you! Are your ears working old man?' The sword 'yelled' pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Who you calling old?" he asked irritated.
'Well you seemed like you couldn't hear me even though I was yelling, your hair is white, and you have wrinkles. Must I go on?' Touga held his anger best he could and decided it was time the thing got to the point.
"I suppose you're speaking to me for a reason." There was silence. 'Don't tell me it just wanted to call me old. I don't look old. I may not be young but I'm not old yet.' He thought to himself.
'Watch the kid for a sec. If I come back and you're gone, she's hurt, or anything else of the like… I'll cut off your manhood and stuff it down your throat' the sword got up and flew off somewhere to places unknown before getting a full reaction from Touga.
'Wow… despite her rude comments she trusts me at least a little.' He thought to himself as he watched her fly off. 'Wait a second… did I just get threatened by a sword? When did life get so weird?' He looked up to the darkening sky of the late evening.
"I'm going to have some explaining to do when I get home." He said aloud to no one in particular knowing he wasn't going to make it home until the next day.
