Red string of Fate chapter 10
As the guard walks through Jin's room, he looks around speculatively. Looking at the smallest detail. He walks over to the window and looks around outside. Just as he was about to turn around and leave to investigate another part of the building, he notices something on the sill of the window.
"Hmm?" He picks it up and examines it. It's a piece of red cloth ripped off of a kimono. He gasps and pulls out the picture.
"Guards! This way! She's this way! I found a piece of red kimono, and it matches the one in the photo!" All the guards storm into the room and follow the leader out of the window and through the forest.
"I want you to tell me why they are after you." I lift my head to see Jin staring intently at me. I stare for a moment, not saying anything. "Tell me." My eyes begin to water.
"I-I...I can't..."
"Why can't you." Jin grabs my chin roughly and makes me stare at him.
"I just can't."
"TELL ME." He yells at me, grabbing my chin harder. He pulls his face close to mine, our lips almost meeting.
"I CAN'T! YOU'LL TAKE ME BACK!" I yank my face out of his grip and stand up quickly. He looks up at me, he's angry. He sighs and stands back up as well and looks me in the eye.
"If you don't tell me, I can't help you." He turns around so his back is facing me. "I won't take you back. Just tell me."
"I...I..."
"Hey! this way! They're over here!" I snap my head to the right of me and see the guards making their way over to Jin and I.
"Oh no!" I begin to cry. Jin grabs my hand and makes a run for it, dragging me behind as he glides through the forest.
"Halt!"
Jin looks back as he runs and smirks. He cuts right very sharply and we find ourselves in an open section of the woods. He guides me to the opposite edge of the clearing and tells me to stay put. He turns around and pulls his katana out of it's sheath. The guards pile into the clearing and draw their swords as well.
"Stop! Give us the girl, and you can leave here unharmed." The leader says.
"Hmph." Jin adjusts his glasses and sets his sights on the guards. I sit there in fear, cowering against a tree, just watching Jin stand there, not even a little bit worried about the opposing threats.
"Jada, come with us. Tomonoshin is waiting patiently for you." The leader puts his hand out, beckoning me to grab it and leave with him. Even from 40 feet away, he still puts fear into me. I shake my head no really fast, and brace my back against the tree even more. I'm terrified, I don't want to go back...
"She won't be going anywhere." Jin states boldly as he dashes towards the guards. One guard prepares to dodge the attack, but were too slow. Jin cuts down one on the spot and turns to face another.
"Pathetic." And with that, Jin starts warring with another, swinging his sword rapidly, and blocking each attack. He slides his sword through the guard and stands straight. He turns slightly to the leader as he pulls his sword out of the guard. The remaining guard is the leader. He starts shaking and drops his sword. He looks at it on the ground then quickly looking up at Jin, fear struck in his eyes.
"M-Monster!" He yells as he runs away. Jin stands there, his back facing me. I look around and I can't believe my eyes. Jin has defeated another outnumbered fight without a scratch, he truly is amazing. He turns around slightly to look at me and he smiles. I smile back meakly, with fear still coursing throughout my body. Jin takes out a white cloth and slides his sword through it to clean it. I start to stand up when another body emerges from the woods.
"You were right. Truly pathetic." The stranger says. Jin and I immedietly look up at the unexpected stranger, and I back up to the tree once more and crouch. The stranger has long brown hair, in a ponytail, and clothes similiar to Jin's, just different colors and patterns.
"And you are?" Jin says blankly, finishing up the cleaning of his sword.
"My name is Kai. I was ordered to follow those guards and finish out the job in case they didn't succeed. It looks like that was a smart decision on behalf of Tomonoshin and the Magistrate." His mouth twists into a maddened smile. "Who do I have the pleasure of murdering this evening?" He chuckles darkly.
"Jin." Jin runs over to him and begins attacking. Kai blocks his first three attacks and goes in for one of his own. He slashes horizontally at Jin, and Jin jumps backwards barely missing the blade. Jin counterattacks with a jump and swings his sword down. Again, his move was blocked.
"What...?" Jin whispers silently. They keep warring, swirling around the opened area of the woods. All you can hear is swords clanging together, creating a dark song, and the sound of footsteps. I watch, mortified wanting to help, but knowing I'd only get in the way.
"Jin...!" Please be careful! I gasp as another close call almost gets Jin.
"I have to admit, this is probably the longest battle I've had!" Kai says, his smirk widening into an evil grin.
"Same here, you're not bad!" Jin says still fighting Kai. They continue their dance when finally a blow has landed...on Jin.
"No!" I stand up and put my hand out in front of me. "Jin!" I start to run forward but Jin stops me. He's kneeling on the ground with his back facing me, he turns his head so he can see me.
"No! Stay back. Run away from here, don't stop!" He grabs his chest and starts wincing. I put my hand to my mouth, and the tears start flowing once again. I can't believe what I'm seeing, and my face is permanently stuck in a horrified expression. "Go! Get out of here!" I walk backwards slowly, one foot behind the other, still looking at Jin with tears streaming down my face. I turn around and start running away from the two samurai.
"Oh no you don't, come back here!" Kai starts chasing after me, but Jin grabs his robings and stops him.
"You have business with me, not her." Jin stands weakily, and holds his sword up in the direction of Kai. Kai smiles and turns around again to finish the fight.
I run, and I don't stop. I keep going, as far away as I can get. I don't want to go back to Tomonoshin, but I don't want to leave Jin! I stop in my tracks and rethink my decision. Jin might need my help...what do I do? I need to help him, he's injured! I begin to turn around and remember Jin's words. I stand there awkwardly trying to make my decision and decide to keep running. Coward! It was Jin who gave me the instructions. He won't be pleased if I disobeyed him, but...he's dying...I keep going, farther and farther away from Jin. The tears haven't showed any sign of stopping their flow. I want to die! Jin is dying because of me! I should just turn myself in! I close my eyes and squeeze out remaing tears. I look up and keep going until I can't run anymore. I start to slow down and slowly come to a walk, then to a complete stop. I place my hand on a tree and collapse at it's base. I begin crying even harder and harder until I can't breath anymore. I start choking. It's my asthma again, and I don't have my medicine. I look around and begin crawling on the ground looking for a mushroom my father pointed out to me one day on one of our travels. 'This mushroom here is called a "Reishi Mushroom" and it's used to help with small asthma attacks, like the ones you suffer from Jada. If you are ever in a bind, try to find some.' I can hear his words in my head now. I know it's around here, I've seen it growing around the abandoned building...but where is it?! I continue my antics until I come across a small Reishi Mushroom growing beside a mossy rock. Perfect! I pick it and begin to chew on it. It tastes horrible, but I continue to eat it. I can feel my breathing ease and I start to relax. After a few moments, I can breath and I sigh of relief. I lean back onto my heels and lean against a tree. I sit there, just staring ahead of me, thinking of what I should do next. I hear a rustle behind me and I go to turn my head to see what it is, but before I can see, someone's hand is covering my mouth and they pull me up quickly so I am standing. I go to scream, but my scream is muffled.
"Shh."