Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, my peoples. For the life of me, I couldn't make this chapter less cheesy/corny than it is, and I've been trying since the last chapter got out. If you have an idea for it, please enlighten me!
I woke the next morning to the smell of breakfast and sunshine. That giant orb had finally broken through the cloudy horizon to reveal a land of frosty dew, the winter storm leaving everything outside tinged with crunchy ice.
The room I was sleeping in was surprisingly warm despite the cool weather. Then I noticed that someone had lit the fireplace in the middle of the night. How can a crispy old hag move so silently? I thought to myself as I stretched, removing the last traces of sleep from my body. I didn't even feel her presence.
Instead of flying pots and pans in the kitchen, Rengoku was shuffling about quietly. He face suddenly contorted with pain. "Shit," she hissed, a metal dish slipping through her fingers and clattering to the floor noisily. The woman turned in the direction of the room I was in, seeming afraid she had awoken me. When she saw me, a grin could be seen through the bandages on her face. "So you're awake, Sleeping Beauty. Now I can quit with this slow crap." I evaded a pot of rice.
I sat down at the low table lazily, one hand tucked inside my yukata to scratch an itchy rib. Scowling lightly, I hissed, "More of your nasty ass food. Great."
"If you don't want to eat it, starve. See if I give a damn." The tone of her voice was serious; she wouldn't.
"Fuck you." I said, lounging back against the wall.
Rengoku turned, batting her lashes, or at least on the one eye I could see. "You would want to."
"Bet you want some of this, you horny bitch." I deepened my voice the way that made most women swoon.
She just laughed. "Even if I did, it isn't like you'd know what to do, Cherry-chan." The (untrue) virgin jokes were really getting to me no matter how hard I tried to deny it. As she walked forward, there was a slight twitch to her hips, though it was awkward because of her injuries. "I like strong, experienced men, not clumsy little boys. Do you think you could find one for me?"
"I'll find you one and shove it up your sorry a…"
"Ah-ah-ah. Breakfast is ready so shut your face and eat." My comments didn't affect her in the least. In fact, Rengoku seemed to find it all quite amusing, like a mother listening to a young child repeating the curses it had heard.
We ate in peaceful silence for the whole meal. I stood afterwards, intending to snag the silk coat and leave in search of better competition. I was at the door where I'd last seen it when Rengoku called out, "Looking for something?" In a pile in her hands was the coat, a sturdy pair of boots and a bag with what I suspected to be food and other necessary provisions.
"What's with all this?" I asked, gesturing to her armful.
She gave me one of those dumber-than-shit looks and passed it to me. "Muramasa would never forgive me if I let you out into the cold without everything you might need." It seemed that the man had the same effect on the both of us. When I thought about it, that tiny little voice in the back of my head I ignored sounded just like the bastard.
We walked to the main door where I slipped on the coat and stuffed my feet into the boots that were just a bit too small. Then I snatched my geta and put them into the bag.
I've never been a person of many words, so I just turned to start my journey again without another sound. A small but strong hand had a hold on the back of my clothes, stopping me midstride. She looked up at me with that one eye, and I'm sure that the redness to her cheeks weren't just from her burns. "I-I just wanted to say tha…"
I cut her off, snatching her wrist and gripping it more than what would be comfortable. "You swore you'd kill the person who did that to you. Don't break that promise." Our eyes locked, bright crimson and sharp grey unwavering. I knew the feeling of having made a hard promise to keep, one that might lead to despair or death. For a moment, I saw the unquenchable thirst for blood rise within the smithy. The fire in her eyes smoldered, like a hot coal in a pile of fresh ash. Seeing that she understood I would not accept a thank you, I released her.
Once again I was stopped. This time, the look Rengoku gave me was sad instead of embarrassed. "If you pass by Muramasa on your travels, could you tell him that I'm alive? Those Mibu bastards must have told him I was killed in some 'unfortunate accident'. Tell Muramasa that I'm okay and I miss him."
"I'll tell him you're alive if I see him, but say the rest to him yourself. I'm not going to make myself sound like a pussy for you." It was strange dealing with a woman in such a distraught state. I'd never been around girls for more than a short period, just enough to fuck 'em and pass on. So I said what I would to any other warrior.
It seemed to have the effect I wanted. Rengoku's eye lit up, giving me a light punch in the arm for my words. "I'll be there by the second week of spring." She paused thoughtfully for a moment. "Ask him about your sword while you're there. Now that I'm a bit more coherent, there seems to be something weird with Tenro. Like there are two personalities in there, one on the surface and the other buried deep within it where I can't hear."
I was already half way down the path by the time she finished. Her news was intriguing. I shook it off however. I never talk to the damn thing, so it doesn't matter if it is schizo or not. The silly woman was waving her head off in goodbye but I didn't bother to acknowledge her. I felt her presence all the way through the forest until I hit the bottom of the mountain path. Somehow, though, I swear I could still see her white bandaged hand past the thicket of trees.