X-X-X-X
Chapter 25
X-X-X-X
I silently trained alone in front of the house. Kurogane and Fai...it's a bit unfair that they get to do something while I'm stuck here without anything to do! I know I'm a weakling, but I'm bored like this! I stifled a small sigh, spinning it around with one hand. I'm so freaking used to it know...but I'm not sure how I should feel about it. I also know I asked for this, but...can I really fight?
"...Hah, those two should be back in another three or four hours...I've done all the chores so...I'll go for a walk after wiping away my sweat..." I muttered leaning the staff against the house.
Today's quite a nice day, the sky is so blue and it's pretty cloudless. I followed along the path that Kurogane takes me on during our morning runs. I didn't bother to go off it since...well, if I get lost, I get lost and that would not be good. I don't think I want to endure Kurogane staring down at me while glaring...his version of a scolding without words needed. On another note, it wasn't much all that fun training without Kurogane around. At the very least, he'll teach me new moves or spar against me. I stopped walking and I heard something weird also...why do I feel as if something...is looking at me?
"...H-Hello...?" I asked silently.
That's when the growling occurred and I can see something in the shadows of the forest...staring at me. My breathing stilled and I silently held my hands to my chest, as I tried to figure out what the hell is staring at me. I focused on that one spot until...That's...when I saw it...some kind of...huge...tiger like creature. I slowly shifted backwards. Glancing to the side, toward the direction of the house. If I can get the head start...I could probably out run it...I hope. Kurogane was building up my stamina and strength, but not my speed...I'll have to dodge it if I can. The back of my geta hit a rock, creating a small clopping sound when the rock hit another. I looked down, but that was a mistake...since the thing lunged for me when I looked away! I scrambled to run and I just barely dodged the swipe...but it did tear into my left shoulder.
"Ah...!" I gripped my shoulder as I struggled to run. The tiger managed to swipe at me, I'm bleeding despite it not being a deep slash. "It hurts...!" I cried tightening my grip on my shoulder.
I screamed again, throwing myself to the side when the tiger came at me again. I hit my head on the ground and I struggled to get up, but froze when the tiger slowly made his way towards me, growling all the way. I tried to kick myself backwards, but it...it was already at my feet. I cried out when slammed a paw onto my leg, dragging me towards it. It moved over me, sniffing at my body then it landed upon my shoulder. It's licked my shoulder, lapping up some of the blood before licking its lips.
"I-I'm sorry...Kurogane...Fai...!"
I covered my face with my arms when...a sharp wind or something flew past me...sending the tiger flying away? I slowly turned my head in the direction the attack came from to see...Yasha? The man stared down at me blankly, but there was something in his eyes...that I didn't understand. He got off a weird mount that kind of reminded me of some kind of dinosaur and dragon. He walked towards me, kneeling down beside me, saying something that I didn't understand. Well, here goes what little I learned from Kurogane during the month we've been here.
"You saved...me...thank you..." I said slowly and carefully.
"The injury isn't too serious, but the claws and fangs are poisonous."
The man lightly touched my shoulder before frowning. He undid the top layer of his clothing and he used it to tie bind my shoulder. When the man scooped me up into his arms and I released a squeal of surprise. He put me down on his mount before getting on after me. I was absolutely confused why he was taking me, but...isn't this kidnapping?! He doesn't seem like a bad person, but...I could be wrong. I held onto my shoulder, tightening my grip on it despite the pain I was feeling. There's something odd about him too...something...not alive, it can't be...can it? He's right here after all.
"Where...are you...going?" I asked hoping I said it correctly.
"You seem unable to speak properly, but you aren't by any means unintelligent. Perhaps the language you speak is different from my own. No matter, I am taking you to my castle so that you can be treated for your injuries."
"Hm...I don't understand most of what was said..."
"Injury." He pointed at my shoulder. "Poison."
"Doku...is...poison...?" I looked down at my shoulder. "Ah...the tiger...I heard that the claws and fangs of wild animals contain a lot of bacteria...So he's taking me back with him to get treated...?"
"Little one, what is your name?"
"Huh...? My name...Lucy."
"Ruushi?"
"Hm...It means...ah...how do you say light again...ah...pika pika?"
"Hm?"
"...fire...bright, sparkly. Sun..." Ahhh...all the time to forget the words Mao sometimes slip whenever we're talking. He had a strange habit of reverting to his native tongue whenever he thinks hard about something, but I tend to ignore it since I didn't have much an interest in learning Japanese. "Same, name."
"Ah, so your name would mean light I would assume. Then the translation of your name is Hikari. Even the name is the same..."
"Hikari? I see." I looked up at him. "What is your name?"
"Yasha."
"Yasha...san?"
The man smiled, but it looked a bit sad. The rest of the ride was spent in silence...until we arrived at a castle did I begin to panic. Did I...just get saved by some kind of high ranking person? I could already feel the stares and hear the whispers of anyone who was saw us our approach and I wanted to run away...really...really badly! As if sensing my thoughts, Yasha put a hand on my good shoulder, keeping me in place. Please...! Let me run away! Yasha dismounted first before lifting me up and off. Even though he didn't have to...why is he carrying me?! This princess carry was so embarrassing!
"I-I'm okay...!" I said with a reddening face.
"Don't strain yourself. Your ankle is also injured, it's best to let me carry you to a doctor." Yasha said not even looking down at me.
I found myself tended to by middle-aged man who spoke with Yasha patiently as a young woman brought me behind a shogi screen. The woman helped me undo the top of my kimono before she began to clean it. I hissed and I heard her silently apologize before dabbing at the dried blood with a damp cloth. She went around the shogi screen for a few minutes before returning with a small bowl with a greenish liquid. She applied it to my shoulder and I shivered, it was cold...and it felt really gross and it stinks! I held my hair up with one hand as she began wrapping bandages around my shoulder and chest before helping me pull my kimono back on once again. She also handled my ankle, but she put on a different paste on it before wrapping it up.
"T-Thank you..." I said to her dropping my hair.
"Of course. Hikari-sama."
"Eh...Sama...?"
"Hikari." Yasha walked around the shogi screen and the woman bowed to him while I only stared between them in confusion. The man knelt down in front of me, taking my hands in his. "I want you to stay here, do you understand?"
"Huh...?" I don't know what he's saying, but it's around the time for Kurogane and Fai to return...I have to go back. "I have...to go home...my friends...waiting."
"Friends? You were with others, but they let you wander off so deep in the woods and you ended up injured..."
"Thank you...for everything. I have to go home."
"Very well, I shall accompany you."
"Okay?"
Yasha carried me in his arms once again and I wondered if I'm ever going to be able to walk without him doing this. He took me back to the path where he found me and I pointed in the direction we should go until we reached the temporary home I stayed in with Kurogane and Fai. I got off first, landing on my good foot to Yasha's surprise.
"Kurogane! Fai!" I limped to the door and I opened it, heading inside. I ditched my geta at the door before looking around the house, but...no one. "Aah...are they coming back a bit late today?" I questioned heading back to the living/kitchen area.
"What's wrong? Are they not here yet?" Yasha asked entering through the door.
"Not here. Wait." I said heading for the stove.
"I see, so they're not here all the time...that's why you wandered so far from home."
"Wait. Sit. Tea?"
"Yes, thank you."
Yasha pulled his shoes off and he sat down on one of the cushions. I kept most of my weight on my good foot while I prepared some tea. I prepared two cups and I set aside two extra ones for when Kurogane and Fai return. It wasn't long before they have returned...but the two were quite surprised I had a guest over. I managed to explain to Kurogane that he saved me, hence the bloodied spot on my shoulder. Kurogane stared at me for a few seconds before sighing. I suddenly felt guilty and I nervously tugged at my hair. It's really my fault so I can't blame him for being disappointed or frustrated with me. Well those thoughts went out the window...until Kurogane placed his hand on my head.
"Hurry up and go change." Kurogane said pushing me in the direction of my room.
"?"
"Change."
"Hai?"
I headed for my room and I changed into a different yukata, since...the tears would have exposed some of my chest if I didn't have bandages on. I hissed as I touched my shoulder...this hurts like a bitch! I exited the room and I stared at Kurogane and Yasha...who were glaring at one another? Fai was seated a bit away from them, watching the argument with a smile...but neither of us have any idea what the hell is going on. Yasha noticed my return and motioned me to sit and I did...next to Fai.
"This girl, she resembles someone I care for deeply. Not only in appearance, but in name. I wish to take her in as one of my own. I care little if you object. I can and will take her by force if I must." Yasha said turning his attention to Kurogane.
"I don't care if she resembles someone you know, I won't let some stranger try to take her from us." Kurogane said almost growling.
"What in the world are those two arguing about?" The two looked at me and I knew...it was about me. "Waah...what's going to happen...?"
"What is your relationship with her?"
"What does that matter?"
"You are neither her brother nor father. She wandered off on her own. She had been attacked by a beast in the forest because you weren't there to protect her."
"What exactly do you intend to do to her?"
"Ah...Kurogane just said kisama..."
"You can't protect her, not forever. I have already made plans to bring her to my castle."
"You can't force her to go with you if she doesn't want you to."
"Hm?" Yasha's staring at me, but why? "Yes?"
"Hikari, come with me." The name change seemed to surprise both men and I tilted my head to the side, wondering what he said. "I want you to come with me."
"Uh...let's see...he said...come...with him...?" I frowned slightly. I shook my head. "I want to...stay here. Friends. I stay...with them...I can't...no leave..."
"I see...so you won't leave them behind...Very well. Kurogane, was it?"
"Yeah."
"If I want Hikari to come with me, I have to take you two along. She is injured, she needs the proper treatment or she'll die. She has to come with me so that she receives the care she needs."
"Why are you so insistent on taking her?"
"There is something about her...that calls out to me. That reminds me of who I am and what will happen in the future."
"...kid."
"W-what?" Kurogane was looking at me before glancing at Yasha. I wasn't sure if I could say it...without being rude. "Ano...Yasha-san...you...died, right?"
"...!" Yasha stared at me in surprise before smiling, almost...relieved. "I thought you didn't notice, but you did."
"What does she mean by that?"
"I...hear...here..." I placed my hands on my chest, shutting my eyes. "A voice...sound...I hear...calling me..."
"...So you don't want her just because she resembles someone you know. You want her because she can understand you, someone who is dead."
"It was a month ago did I remember everything. It was the first time since then that I felt whole once again. I've been searching for the source of this anomaly." Yasha stared at me, so gently and I felt somewhat embarrassed. It was so gentle and...it was strange that such a stare was directed towards me. "That's when I found her. It is not a coincidence that I found someone who looks so similar to her. Something within her called to me, reminding me of what had occurred."
"Yasha-san...sad..." Yasha smiled, nodding his head. "What do you want...from me?"
"...I want you to..."
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Chapter 25 Ends
Was this surprising? I wouldn't expect Kurogane and Fai to just be accepted into Yasha's troops so easily especially if they were trespassing. They would have to build up a reputation first and then get recruited or something. Lucy can be possessed by spirits and feel what they feel at the time. Yasha possessed Lucy in Shura and a small portion of that soul is within her. As Yasha is not truly alive, his small portion of his soul returned to his body, but he needs to be around Lucy to continue to remain how he is as she is more of an anchor to reality for him. Also, I completely forgot to update yesterday...but I hope everyone is having a good thanksgiving! Until next time my dears! Bye-bye~!