Someone to Watch Over Me
Su-In awoke to the cold pinprick of a snowflake on her cheek. D's strong, unyielding arms braced her to his chest, shielding her from the harshest winds. Suddenly, a short percussive boom reached her ears. Lifting her face, she saw a glittering shower of green and gold just above her head.
Summer was over.
Her head swam as she tucked her chin once again, closing her eyes. There was a sharp twinge in her neck, and she felt raw and weak. The black expanse of the Hunter's chest filled her view. With each step the droning of the fireworks grew softer and their lights dimmed. She drifted off as they started up the familiar path to her home.
Reaching the perimeter gate, D surveyed the property. Snow flurries had begun to cluster in the corners of the roof and in the eaves. His cyborg horse pawed at the ground, standing just outside the closed barn. Satisfied, he made his way to the dimly lit porch. He shifted Su-In in his arms as he entered the back door, immediately enveloped by the warmth of the water-heated home. To his right a tarp flapped rigidly, covering the back wall where Twin had broken through.
D made short work of finding Su-In's room, placing her upon the bed and removing her boots. He eyed her then, taking in her damp hair and wet clothes, then settled on her throat. The thin mucus that his left hand had applied to her wound held fast. It would need to be cleaned and redressed before long. He lingered for a few more moments before turning to leave.
Raging gusts pierced him as he emerged back outside, locking the door behind him. D collected his horse and led it inside the dark barn. Even its thin walls would keep out the worst of the wind and cold. Stabling his horse, he set the beast to standby mode; it wouldn't do to have it freeze in this weather. He uncoupled the bridle, saddle, and saddle bags, and removed the thick horse blanket beneath. With his saddle under his head and the horse blanket covering him, the Hunter lay down, tilting his hat down over his face.
"What's the plan here, D?" the hoarse voice grumbled.
"Rest," came the curt reply.
"Rest, eh?" The hoarse voice hummed, thinking. "I could use a little rest myself. I've had a helluva time chasing you and that girl all over town."
"Do what you like."
"Hn, well don't go getting yourself killed while I'm at it."
"I can't die."
"Ha! Would you like to see about that?"
Silence greeted the hand's remark.
"Well, just don't do anything stupid. Your body could use day or two off, you know. What with all of the impaling recently."
"We'll move as soon as the storm dies down."
"That's just peachy. I'll take any break I can get."
With the area's climate controller reverted back to Winter there was no telling how long the ill weather would persist. D allowed himself to fall asleep, his sword grasped in his right hand.
Frigid winds battered the barn, its whistling song causing the walls to quake and shiver. Gradually the sounds softened as the snowdrifts settled, encasing the barn and house in an icy blanket.
Just shy of dawn D opened his eyes. Someone was approaching the property fence on foot. He listened carefully to the familiar steps as they climbed the path up to the house proper, placing their burden on the deck just outside the back door. The footsteps paced for a moment, paused, then headed back down to the main road, closing the gate behind them. D closed his eyes once again.
The grey morning light pried through Su-In's bedroom window. She groaned, trying to stretch her cold and aching muscles. As she turned her head away from the weak sunlight she gasped, her had flying to her throat. Under her fingers she felt a cloying, tacky substance covering a very tender wound. She pulled her hand away and examined her fingertips. They were slightly oily.
She sat up and immediately felt a rush of dizziness overtake her, causing her stomach to turn and bile to rise in the back of her throat. Holding her head in her hands she steadied herself until the nausea faded. Su-In stood carefully and made slow, deliberate steps towards her dresser. Her clothes were damp and stiff with saltwater. As she removed her blouse, she stared at the deep rust colored stain that spread across the left side of it. Quickly she examined the left side of her body only to find no wound. She paused, trying to recollect last night's gruesome details.
She screamed his name, helpless, as Glen's sword pierced D's heart. His pristine form dropped to the ground in an instant. He lay there unmoving as the strength left her body. Samon's hand fisted in her hair, wrenching her head back as the memories poured in…
Su-In grit her teeth, her hands on the dresser for support.
The water had been cold and bitter, biting her wound mercilessly. D was there, and he had her by the throat, his left hand applying firm pressure as her body hung limp. They were standing chest deep and the waves broke against them. D was speaking and the Baron—no, the warrior—snarled in response. The Hunter's upper body pulled sharply to the left, hot blood spraying her face.
Her eyes snapped to the window, peering across to the closed doors of the barn just outside. Was he still here? She dressed quickly, stepping in to her sodden boots. She ran to the back door, unlocking it and throwing it open. At least a foot of snow covered the ground and both structures. D's horse was nowhere to be seen. Su-In was about to step off the back deck to wade through the snow when she stopped short. A duffle bag lay to her right, nestled against the wall.
Stooping to pick it up, Su-In balanced herself again as a wave of dizziness struck. Ignoring the second bout of nausea she stepped back in the house and closed the door. There was a damp piece of paper wedged in to the bag's zipper. It read, "For Su-In and D," in Dwight's cramped handwriting. Sighing, she set the note and bag on the kitchen's worn wooden table.
Numbly, she grabbed the zipped and pulled open the duffle bag. Inside she found several articles of men's clothes—a shirt, long johns, socks, and a thick, cable-knit sweater—all in a sun-battered black. Su-In smiled faintly, and continued to dig through the bag. She grabbed a paper wrapped parcel that turned out to be a large portion of smoked lox. Setting that aside, she lifted out a brand new first-aid kit. Inspecting the contents therein she found it to be state of the art, presumably one of the more compact options direct from the Capital.
She puzzled at this as her fingers found the final item at the bottom of the bag. A light weight cardboard box with no markings, inscribed with a small note: "For Teacher." The contents rattled as she flipped open the lid, revealing two neat rows of chalk. Su-In sat down heavily, her thumb lightly sliding along the pieces.
She stared at the chalk for several minutes, the familiar sensation of its dust on her fingertips. Her vision blurred as tears began to flow, slowly at first, then in solid streams down to her chin. She closed the box of chalk and placed it back within the duffle bag, closing the zipper. Su-In cradled her head in her hands once again, her elbows propped on the table as the hollowness swelled within her.
Her once warm and comfortable life had been ripped away from her. The fleeting Summer had passed her by, and she had barely managed to escape with her life. Now she was alone, her family gone and prospects dwindling.
The house was silent but for her weary sobs.
Author's note:
I've always had a fondness for Su-In. The stalwart, hard working woman who loses everything but perseveres regardless. Kikuchi blessed us with 2 books for her story, but she has been woefully underrepresented in fanfiction.
She and D had a very different relationship than, say, D and Doris or D and Lina. There was some level of attraction on Su-In's part but she certainly didn't faun over him, and there was very little romantic context. I have re-read all parts of Mysterious Journey to the North Sea dozens of times over the years, and finally found the time and motivation (thanks, quarantine) to create what I hope will be a touching side story between D and Su-In.
Please Read & Review! I look forward to your feedback :)