Chapter 7: Close call
I was soaking in the bath, it was nice and hot. I pulled my hair over my shoulder, my back facing where the door to the bath was. Showing my scars that ran down my body and hiding any and all parts of my front part due to the view anyone would have if they did walk in. I was leaning a bit over thinking about how much my life has changed. In the 5 years of becoming a wanderer I had learned a bit learned to let go of some things and hold on to other things. I was so deep in my thoughts that I failed to notice when someone had walked into the bathhouse to return my bandages and had peeked into the room I was in watching me. I didn't hear their gasp as they saw all the scars I had on my back and arms. But I did hear them when they spoke to me. "Himura kun once your done please come to the study room that we passed." I froze when I heard his voice. Yet I gave him a reply, "okay will do" it was weak at best but I knew he heard me as I heard his footsteps go toward the door and back into the hallway
With the door closed and once again I was alone I let out a shaky breath. "That was to close" I said to myself rather quietly. I got out and dried myself off my hair seemed to be more easy to dry and was even softer then before. My demon ears twitched as I listened while walking to get changed. Once re dressed and re bandaged looking once again like a boy, I walked out into the hallway and made my way to the study that me and Sannan san had passed. I knocked on the door more for manners then anything, "I am coming in" I say and open the sliding door and enter. I can Sannan san at a desk working on something he looks over his shoulder at me as I walk in.
A small smile graces his lips as he speaks to me. "Ahh good your here Himura kun how was the bath?" he asked so calmly yet it still sent a slight shiver up my spine. "It was fine" I say as his eyes study mine. "Please take a seat next to me so we can begin work" I take a seat to his left. I look at what he is working on. There is a book with writing in it more so his hand writing looks more like a cash book. He moves that to the top left and pulls out another book. He flips through it until he gets the page he wants. "Himura kun how are you feeling? I ask because I found a bandage when I was washing your clothes and was wondering if maybe your hurt? If something is wrong with your healing abilities." I looked to my right my response coming out as calm as I could make it but it seemed lacking somehow. "No I am not hurt I always carry bandages on me in case Towa chan ever got hurt" I said hoping he would buy it. I couldn't read him even as he said the words I see.
"The dojo that you was living in with the child Towa chan was it? Would you allow us to use it as a medical base for our sick and injured? Seeing as it was not far just two buildings away." I nodded "sure Sannan san you can use it as a medical base if you want." His smile seemed to grow winder as he thanked me then seemed to get right down to business. "This is a log that we keep based on the furies here and the water of life mix. We record any changes and any side affects no matter how small or how big." I nodded as he told me what it was we would be doing. Today we would be clearing a few of the files away into the records room and then we would go into Kyoto to get some items for this place, mostly a few bits of medicine and some tea as well as food. While out I was told that Sannan san and I will eat out his treat. Although this sounded good I just felt more on edge even though I was agreeing with him I just couldn't shake off that he wanted something from me.
We both got up and I followed Sannan san out of this part of the compound. We walked next to each other. I had noticed that he would steal a quick glance every now and then at me. I also noticed that his hand was always resting on his sword as if daring me to make a wrong move. Once we hit the streets I noticed that it seemed to be more lively then the last time I was out. I followed Sannan san as we got everything on a list that he must have made while I was in the bath. Once everything was bought we started to walk looking for somewhere to eat. I let Sannan san chose mostly as I didn't know where to go.
He chose a nice quite café like place that served quite a bit in food items. He had a soba noodle salad while I had oyakodon (chicken and egg bowl) We ate at first in quite chewing our food and eating like anyone else in this place. It was not long before his voice broke my thoughts. "I saw that you have so many scars Himura kun do they still hurt you?" I swallowed the food in my mouth before I said anything. Looking up at him as he sat across from me I said. "Sometimes but not as bad as when I first got them" he hummed at my response. I watched him take a bite of his meal as I did the same. The food was good and not for the first time did I think back on my blood stained past. If Hiro kun had lived would he have been eating this type of food with Kisa chan? Would Renji san be joking around and eating with me and laughing about the old days? I missed them all but I stayed away for my own reasons.
I must have looked lost in thought or worried maybe even troubled. Because before I knew Sannan san's voice broke through my train of thought. "Something wrong?" I shook my head and gave a small smile. "No nothing is wrong I was just lost in thought sorry if I worried you" He didn't look like he believed me not that I can blame him. "You sure? You look so sad" I told him I was sure the next thing he said sent my blood to ice. "Your name I heard a story about a boy or man with the same name, but they called him by another name and that was Battosai the manslayer. Please correct me if I am wrong but are you that person?" My eyes widen in their own shock how had this man known who I was. Did everyone know? Or just him. Why was he asking though? "Your face tells me everything so you really are him. And yet someone did that to you, don't worry Himura kun" his voice silky smooth as he spoke watching me with curious eyes.
I didn't know what he meant that to me. Did he mean my scars that was all over my body from my chest arms and legs? Or did him being turned into something not human? He seemed to even now trying to figure me out. Yet for all it was worth would he be able to help me if I asked? I doubt it he is human after all. I had found out while being turned into a half demon that I was able to pick up scents much like how Towa chan knew I was a half demon from my smell and still knew I was me. On top of that I found I could hear much better and see much more shaper then before. My ears twitched something that Sannan san didn't miss as his eyes travelled up to my hidden wolf ears.
His eyes fixed on them as he watched them move every now and then. I didn't know how to really control them yet as I was still new to being a half demon. For a moment I wondered if Inuyasha dono could control his ears when they moved or if this was something out of our meaning half demon's control. Soon both me and Sannan san had ate our meal. We got up and left Sannan san paid and we walked out back into the sun. For some reason it seemed to be brighter then it had. I blinked and shielded my eyes only for Sannan san to ask if I was alright and if the sun was hurting me or causing me some discomfort. I just said the sun seemed to be more brighter then before but it was okay. He blinked and nodded as we made our way back to headquarters.
Even on the walk back to base I took note that Sannan san's hand rested on his sword ready to draw it at a moment's notice. I also caught him a few times looking at my wolf ears even though they was well blended in it seemed like he saw them as if he knew they was there. Yet for walk back he didn't say anything more. The rest of the day he had me feed the other furies, and give them water. Some light cleaning and passing him items for him to make the water of life better. The whole time however I could slowly hear the heart beats of those who was in the compound. My throat felt dry and it felt like a burn. My sense of smell seemed to increase but why? I looked over to Sannan san who was mixing something with the water of life. My eyes looked at his neck almost on their own. I frown at this as I looked away. Sannan san and even Hijikata kun had said something about bloodlust could this be that?