~Kyo's POV~

A few hours later, it began to rain heavily out of nowhere. I thought the woman had finally kicked the bucket when the door opened loudly, letting the water pour in and getting me wet. Rengoku hobbled inside, completely soaked to the bone. "Close the door, damn it." I hissed.

"Do it yourself." She said, collapsing to the floor with a moan. I did only because the wind was sending the spray right in my direction. "When is that freaking doctor going to get here? I feel like a moldy mummy in these soggy dressings."

"He's already been here." The glare Rengoku gave me from her one steely eye would have sent shivers down my spine if she didn't look like a wet cat. "The guy thinks I buried you in the garden."

She flopped onto her back, a squelching noise coming from water seeping from the bandages. "Why didn't you… never mind. I'll do it myself. I don't need him anyway." She caught sight of the bag of supplies he'd left behind. "Now get out of my room so I can get this done."

"Why should I?"

Three swords immediately assaulted me. With as much dignity as I could muster, I hurried out. "Damn woman with her damn swords and her damn attitude." I murmured, making my way to the room opposite it.

It was just a little smaller than the other, but it was cozy and well kempt. The view of the garden was the same. The heavy downpour pounded maple trees and seasonal flowers mercilessly. There was a light mist above the decorate stones as the water hit them. Steam from the hot spring disappeared behind the thick sheets of rain. Clouds blotted out the sky, engulfing blue with an endless sea of grey. Though some people might find the sight depressing, it was rather soothing to me.

I chuckled lightly at the curses coming from the other room. It took an hour before I heard the defeated cry of, "Kyo~o." Despite wanting to stare out at the rain, I couldn't resist making fun of my newest target.

Sliding open the door revealed a small body topped with a giant blob of white for a head. "What do you want?" I stifled a laugh, trying to keep my face blank.

The woman flailed her arms around which she had actually managed to bandage. "I can't seem to get the bandages on my face right for the life of me!" She tore them off, revealing her disfigured countenance. For some reason, the sight of it didn't make me feel seasick anymore. Queasy, yes. But not about to throw my guts up.

"What do you want me to do about it, woman?" This could become interesting.

Rengoku's voice was whispery now that her cheek was completely open to the elements. "I'll answer one question you have for me. And don't tell me that isn't a good deal. I can see it in your face. You want to know something specifically."

I paused. "Fine." When I made a grab for the white strips, she swiped my hand away.

"Go wash your grubby fingers first. You heard the doc. I'm susceptible to infection now. And even though I'm a Mibu, I've got to be careful about getting sick. Now shoo!"

Once I got back from scouring my hands in the sink, I sat down in front of her. The woman fidgeted awkwardly, unconsciously leaning away from me. For some reason, I could see embarrassment in her one seeing eye. "Stop looking at me like that, you fucktard." I growled. A glower replaced the strange face.

"I'm not telling you anything until after you wrap the bandages." If I had one good trait in the world, it would be that I'd never lied to anyone before. It was insulting that she thought I wouldn't help her if she gave me what I wanted.

In the end, we agreed to do both at the same time. "So," Rengoku began, "What do you want to know?"

One of her eyes was closed, but the unseeing one flicked about as if it could still gaze at me. "How do you know Muramasa? The whole story."

She hummed for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I don't know where I was born or who my parents are. My first memory is of being in a labyrinth under the castle. When I was about seven, a former Taishirou member found me. I couldn't speak or anything; having rats and skeletons as your only companions for all of your life does that to a person." Rengoku smacked my hand away. "Not so tight! Um, so from what I've been told, since I couldn't understand what was happening, she brought me to the Aka no Ou and he saw my power. I stayed under that woman's care, which wasn't much. She called me Rat-chan for god's sake! The one good thing that came out of that was that I saw her making swords in a forge."

I was getting a lot more information than I'd asked for, but I was getting impatient. She must have felt it, so she continued as I finished the last loop around her head. "One day, Muramasa came to visit and he saw me. He was the only one who had realized that my power was a strange kind of Satori. So I was pawned off onto him. He taught me how to speak, write, act, fight, and forge weaponry. Muramasa is the closest thing I have to family."

"If you like him so much, why aren't you living with the old man?" I ignored the glare she gave me at the slight insult to him.

"Well," Rengoku said, leaning back against the wall, "He told me it would be good for me to go out and explore the world. Learn some new things and such since I'd only ever really communicated with him. But I think it was something else…" Her eye went hard. "You know that Muramasa is sick, right?"

I nodded. As we had left the Mibu castle years ago, I'd heard him tell that other woman that he'd contracted the Death Disease. "I believe that he doesn't want me to be dependent on him because eventually, he'll be gone." The woman's voice caught in her throat. The subject was just as hard for me to stomach. Somehow he had slowed it down, but even Muramasa couldn't outrun the disease forever.

"Maybe he just wanted your ugly ass out of his hair." She swiped at me gently in fake agitation.

"At least now that you can change your own diapers, he could kick you out with a clear conscience!" We both went to stand. Well, I stood up, and she tried to follow but fell. "Hehe, I need to learn my own limits. I won't be able to make well on that promise to visit him until after the passes clear." The wave of sadness that she emanated was similar to what happened when I was around Muramasa. People with Satori may be able to read others thoughts and emotions, but their own became quite apparent in their aura.

I huffed. "Don't expect me to stay with you because of some damn snow. I'm going out to look for a good fight."

"When do you plan on leaving?"

"I need to get out of here before the passes close."

"One second," Rengoku stood up shakily, "I have something that might come in handy." She explained, shuffling down the hallway. I followed behind her at the same snail's pace. "This used to be Muramasa's place, so he has a bunch of old clothes here. That crap you have on won't keep you warm at all." I looked down at the thin black yukata. Even though I am a Mibu, the cold can still destroy a few limbs I'd prefer to keep.

We entered a small room that would probably be classified more as a walk in closet. With a wave of her hand, the metal hangers started moving about. "Here we go. It may not fit perfectly, but you aren't too much bigger than him." A black silk cloak floated towards me, still on its hanger. I snatched it out of the air and settled it on my shoulders.

"Not bad. Muramasa has never had good taste in clothes or women, but they'll both have to do."

"What do you mean, you prick?"

It was just too easy to get on this woman's nerves. "What do you think you old hag?"

"I'll have you know that I sewed him up that cloak myself. Jesus, I have no idea how Muramasa could stand a rude little punk like you. And is it so hard to call me Ren? Rengoku is a bit of a mouthful, I know, but the other is just one syllable. Anything is better than 'old hag'."

I shed the heavy clothing and walked towards the room I had claimed as my own. "Listening to you is tiring. I'm going to sleep."

"If you wait a couple of minutes before you leave in the morning, I'll make you some breakfast." Rengoku called from behind me. While I'd never admit it, having this horribly disfigured woman around was better than solitude.