Chapter 5
"So you started as a good, regular, little boy?" Osan asked.
"I guess you could say that. Thinking back, I don't know why I became an assassin. Assassins killed my parents...but there's no turning back now. I've dug myself a hole too deep to get out of."
"Shihan never turned evil, and he used the Shousa Kyouhen style. I won't end up the same as you did. I can be like Shihan. No, I'll be better than Shihan! I'll use my skills to protect the less fortunate! I'll—"
"You say that now." Hito closed his eyes in frustration. "But what will you say when you've become one of the strongest men in Japan, huh? Will you buckle under the pressure? Decide that you can do more than you are? That's what led me to this horrific job."
"How can I know if I never try?" Osan stood up. "Please, I beg of you to train me! I don't care that I might end up an assassin anymore! As long as I can protect those in need for a short while!" He looked down at Hito, whose expression had no change.
"So you'd kill hundreds of people, just to protect a few? That's stupid."
"Hey!" Osan yelled. "You killed the remains of my family! Everyone's dead! No one could exactly call my dad and me friends, but he was my dad! Now that he's gone, I need to protect my friends. If they die, I have no one else. You know how that feels. It's not a good feeling is it? Do you realize how many families you're tearing apart by your assassinations? Your parents were killed, so now you kill other's parents? Is it some twisted revenge, or what?"
"Shut up!" Hito snapped. "You have no idea..."
"Tell me. You say you have no exact explanation for becoming an assassin. You say you buckled under pressure, that you wanted to do more than you were already. You do have a different reason though, don't you?" Osan asked. Hito rose to his feet and glared down at Osan.
"It's none of your concern what my reason is."
"Come on, tell me! If I know, I'll have a way of avoiding becoming an assassin when I get stronger! Was it anger, or were you just possessed by your skill? Did you decide that you liked killing after killing your parents assassins?"
"I told you to shut up!" Hito backslapped Osan across the face, making him fumble to keep balance. "It's none of your concern!"
"It is if you decide to take me on as your pupil."
"That will never happen. You're childish and stubborn. Learn not the pry into other's pasts. And learn that no means no!" Hito turned his back and walked away.
"Planning on finding another boss? Another master? So you're still not finished? After feeling so sorry for yourself that you became an assassin, you still search for more people to kill?"
"Sometimes others must be killed to maintain your own life." Hito grabbed his hood with his thumb and forefinger on each hand as a sudden wind picked up. He looked up to see a gray sky, realizing that it would soon rain. "Ah well..." He mumbled before continuing onward. He jumped onto a roof, making sure he got there before the rain made it difficult. Jumping quickly, trying to get as far as he could before rain fell, he saw that he was gaining on the house that he saw that girl earlier. Getting there, he swung himself down, keeping hold of the roof, and scanned the yard. She wasn't out this time. Who would be, knowing that rain would come? But what was wrong with her last time, when she was outside crying? Hito shook his head to rid himself of such thoughts. He swung back on top of the roof and started running again. Feeling a drop of water hit his hand he slowed to a walk.
"Hito Himura!" A voice called. Hito turned around to see Osan struggled to climb onto the roof he was on. "I'm not finished with you yet! You're not supposed to run away when someone's talking to you!"
"Oh, you think I was just going to stand there an be insulted by a child?" Hito asked, turning and running again.
"Stop calling me a child! And hey! Stop running!" Osan started running as well. Rain was falling gradually, and started to speed up quickly. It started pouring, and the roofs became vastly wet and slippery. Hearing a small shriek, Hito turned around. It was hard to see in the dark, but Osan wasn't there anymore. Hito jumped from the roof and landed gracefully on the ground. Looking around, he saw a body. It moved and slowly found a way to stand.
"Osan?" Hito got closer.
"Hito!" The child called weakly. He grabbed his arm and limped toward Hito. "You better not...run away this time!" Halfway to Hito, his knees buckled and he collapsed. Hito turned to run, but felt a strange feeling that made him stay. He walked to Osan and squatted next to him.
"You okay?" That was a phrase Hito hadn't said since he was six years old. Osan looked up at him, partly confused and shocked. Though pain made him wince and look away. "If you hadn't followed me, you know, you wouldn't have been hurt like this. It's your own fault."
"I know!" Osan forced himself to stand. "I guess now that I'm 'injured' I can't follow you anymore. Don't get your hopes up, Hito. I'll be back."
"I'm sure you will..." Hito whispered to himself with aggravation. Osan walked away, disappearing out of Hito's sight. He continued venturing to his unknown destination. When Hito had no boss, he wandered around until someone picked him up, needing an assassin. What he didn't understand was how they knew he was an assassin. Ridding himself of thoughts again, he continued running on the muddy road until reaching a large lake. Not seeing the lake in the dark, he stepped in the water and jumped out, realizing he would have to settle there. Looking around, squinting to see, he saw a large oak tree. Its branches spanned out wide enough to cover him from the rain. He sat at its base and crossed his sheaths across his chest. Leaning against the tree, he fell asleep.
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Being shaken by the shoulders, Hito was forced into a rude awakening. He stared blankly up at the man who woke him.
"I'm sorry sir, but seeing your swords, I just thought you might be some kind of killer..." The man looked apologetic as he turned to walk away.
"You need an assassin?" Hito asked, happy for a possible place to call home for a while. The man turned around and smiled. "So you do?"
"Thank goodness. I'm lucky to have stumbled upon you."
"Stumbled upon me? Oh, is that how you woke me up?" Hito asked, completely serious. The man chuckled and lightly hit Hito on the back.
"Oh, a funny assassin!"
"Wha?" Hito was confused. He was being funny? He shook his head. "So what's the mission? What do you need me for?"
"There's a girl..." The man looked at Hito. "This girl has lived in the same house for 13 years, and with the same man. He's not her father, but is too old to be her husband or brother. Anyway, your mission is to kidnap her and bring her back to me."
"Hm, and I thought you looked like such a nice man." Hito faintly grinned. "Sorry, I don't kidnap, it's not my thing."
"You already assassinate, what's the harm in taking on kidnapping as well?" The man almost looked ready to plead and grovel.
"How much do you pay?" Hito asked. The man smiled.
"A man of money huh? Let's just say a lot."
"How much?" Hito insisted.
"Enough to buy you half a house." Seeing Hito's expression, he realized he would accept. "My name's Coushen. It'll be nice doing business with you." He extended his hand out to Hito.
"How do you know I'll do it?" Hito asked, taking a step back. "I'm not one to kidnap."
"Come on, killing is much worse than kidnapping. Plus you're getting paid more to do this. It makes perfect sense, doesn't it?" He grinned. Hito looked at the man, then hesitantly nodded. "Alright then, it's settled. Follow me, my home isn't far." He turned and walked down the street. Hito followed close behind, looking at the man's steps. They seemed strange. Hito couldn't help but notice that Coushen was almost staggering. He knew better than to ask about it.
Arriving at the residence of Coushen, they both walked in. Hito swung off his cloak and Coushen quickly took it, laying it over a chair.
"You're that Hito guy, aren't you?" He asked. Hito sighed. Somehow everyone knew him these days. "I heard about an assassin who had long black braided hair and cold gray eyes. So it's you. You must be pretty proud of your reputation, eh?"
"I did think so. Not sure now, really." Hito reached his sleeve up to the wound he had gotten the day before to see if the bleeding had completely stopped.
"Where'd you get that cut from?" Coushen asked. Hito looked at him like it was none of his business, but decided it would do no harm.
"My last boss tried to kill me...so I tried to kill him back. He shot me, but it barely touched me. He got away before I could slay him."
"Too bad neither of you succeeded, huh? Two men trying to kill each other and they both ended up living. How likely is that? Especially when you have Hito the assassin after you." Coushen grinned again.
"W-when do you plan on me kidnapping the girl?" Hito asked, feeling uneasy by Coushen's glee.
"Whenever."
"I'll do it as soon as possible. I need to get this over with."
"You could go now."
"Not that soon. I'll wait until tonight."
"Don't you even want to know her name?"
"Not really. Doesn't matter to me." Hito stated. Coushen nodded and there was an awkward silence in the room. "Do you have any vacant rooms? Big ones?"
"You, right through this door here." Coushen pointed to a rice-paper door and Hito walked inside. It was large, as if it had been used as some kind of a dojo. Hito grabbed both of his sword hilts at the same time, and drew them quickly with extreme caution, making sure not to cut himself. He had gotten tired of all the moves he had used earlier and decided to invent one of his own. Hito swung and jabbed, thinking of any new techniques he could use.
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The night arrived, though Hito wasn't sure he wanted it to come so soon. After slaving away in the dojo, Hito was beginning to like a few moves he had practiced.
"Ready to get this over with?" Coushen asked, seeing Hito return from training. Hito nodded and he grabbed his cloak, running out the door.
"No Osan to interrupt me this time." Hito was thankful that he wouldn't have to find a way to ditch the annoying brat this time. He ran swift fully to the known address. As he got closer, the area seemed strangely familiar. He knew the whole area, but it seemed he had visited that region recently. Swinging himself up onto the roof, he ran quickly across, jumping over the gaps with ease. Arriving at the selected house, Hito stood staring for a few seconds. Of course it seemed familiar. This was the house of the girl he was earlier, and the girl was the one he was ordered to kidnap. "Alright...this'll be over soon enough." He jumped into the yard and snuck around to the nearest door. Slowly stabbing his sword through, he made a large enough hole to slide through. Now inside, he looked around.
"Who are you?!" A girl shrieked. 'Now or never.' Hito thought, quickly running forward to grab her. Seeing that he was coming at her, she yelled with all her might. Hito covered her mouth with his hand, holding a scarf under it. Turning to leave, he was stopped by the man Coushen must've been talking about.
"It's not going to be as easy as you hoped it to be." The man drew his sword. It was hard to see in the dark, but Hito quickly realized that he had swung, so he jumped back, not even seeing where the swing would've ended. 'That's right, I have her. She can be my shield.' Holding the girl in front of him, Hito began to back out. "Not going to work." The man ran forward, and with precise aim, stabbed right into Hito's upper shoulder. 'How can he see good enough to avoid the girl in this faint light?' Hito wondered. "Give her back, boy." 'His voice sounds so familiar...' Backing out of his earlier hole, and trying to ignore the pain in his shoulder, Hito was finally outside. 'Now to get her out of the yard.' The man stepped out into the moonlight and Hito began to make out his face.
"No..."
"Yes." The man smiled. "Thought it would be hard to fight with an injury? You won by fluke last time, I'm still stronger than you."
"Ishine...I'll kill you now, this time making sure you die."
"If I didn't have my little lady here, I would be dead. She's a healer, you see." Ishine followed Hito outside. "Let go of her, you won't be able to fight holding her like that. Don't worry, I won't have her back until I kill you." He took a large step forward and brought his sword back into a gatotsu. "New skill I've picked up."
"Not the only one with a new trick." Hito pushed the girl aside and drew both swords at once, bringing them both back, tips barely past his waist. Ishine charged, taking large steps to move quickly. He swung forward with great speed but Hito's new technique was flawless. He sidestepped quickly, brought his right sword up, turned his left hilt, and swung both of them at the same time, having the probability of cutting him in half. Ishine winced. His back was bleeding severely, but none was drawn from his stomach.
"Still have that reverse blade? Thought you would've gotten rid of it by now." Ishine gagged. "No matter." He lifted his sleeve to his mouth to wipe blood that had come up. "No doubt it hurt..." Ishine staggered back and struggled to lift his sword again. "I'm still better...I'll kill you..." Taking the sword in both hands, Ishine brought it up behind his head and stumbled forward, swinging the blade down with all his might. Hito blocked with one sword and stabbed forward with the other. It went through his left leg. Gasping and wincing, Ishine fell to his knees. "I'll...I'll get...better."
"Too bad you won't be alive long enough to train."
"I'll live...then kill you..." He threw up blood, then looked back up at Hito. "I can do...anything...you know..."
"Well then. Can you catch?" Hito flung one of his swords at Ishine. It hit directly at his neck, separating head from body. "I'd say he's dead." Hito turned to the girl. "It's time to go."
"You—"Her eyes were wide in shock and disbelief. "You...won fair and square." Her head dropped as she dragged her feet, walking to Hito. He was surprised by her cooperation. "I have no where else to go." She looked at Hito, but could barely see him in the dark. He looked back down, it seemed strange to see her up close.
"Come on then." He grabbed her and managed to swing both of the up onto the roof. He carried her all the way back.
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The girl seemed depressed, like she was waiting for something. Her eyes almost seemed lifeless and reflected everything they saw. Her long black hair mirrored the moonlight, making her almost glow. The two of them reached to entrance of Coushen's house.
"Why don't you put down that hood? I still don't understand how Lord Ishine could recognize you even with it on." She said looking at him. He ignored her and lightly pushed her inside.
"There she is!" Coushen stood up.
"No! Not you!" She turned around but was blocked by Hito.
"I got her for you. I'll be leaving tomorrow." Hito dragged the girl farther into the house, and left her with Coushen. He took off his cloak and swung it over a chair.
"Highly appreciate it, Hito." Coushen smiled. Hito nodded right before opening a door to his sleeping chamber. The girl's face was blank for a while, then she jumped. She almost shouted something, but Coushen interrupted her. "And I almost thought I had lost you forever." Hito stopped at the doorway, wondering what Coushen would do to her. Now that he saw her in the light, she seemed oddly familiar.
"You took me long ago, and Lord Ishine rescued me! After all those years of thinking I was safe, I'm back here again..." She looked at Hito. "I...I was waiting for someone to come and save me...someone I've known my whole life. Y- you...you can't be the same boy I knew as a kid." Hito felt his stomach churn, and he felt as if something inside of him died.
"Who are you?" Hito asked. She was familiar to him, and it suddenly became clear. The girl he had known his whole life. The girl he used to play with. His best friend...She was the girl that after trying so hard to find, ended up being ruined by a huge mistake.
"Shia." She stated. His heart flipped and his face went pale as he started at her. "You promised we'd see each other again, and I believed you. I didn't know that the next time I saw you would be 13 years later. Let alone being kidnapped and brought to the man who ruined my life."
"The man who ruined your life...The man who kidnapped you when you were 7?!" Hito asked, staring at Coushen.
"That's right...Coushen took me away and killed my whole family a year after you left." Shia said. "And I never gave up hope that you would come to my rescue."
"I tried..." Hito mumbled. "I tried so hard..." Anger built up and he threw a chair against the wall. "How could I end up working for the man who ruined my life?!" He yelled in fury.
"Your life?" Shia asked.
"So you started as a good, regular, little boy?" Osan asked.
"I guess you could say that. Thinking back, I don't know why I became an assassin. Assassins killed my parents...but there's no turning back now. I've dug myself a hole too deep to get out of."
"Shihan never turned evil, and he used the Shousa Kyouhen style. I won't end up the same as you did. I can be like Shihan. No, I'll be better than Shihan! I'll use my skills to protect the less fortunate! I'll—"
"You say that now." Hito closed his eyes in frustration. "But what will you say when you've become one of the strongest men in Japan, huh? Will you buckle under the pressure? Decide that you can do more than you are? That's what led me to this horrific job."
"How can I know if I never try?" Osan stood up. "Please, I beg of you to train me! I don't care that I might end up an assassin anymore! As long as I can protect those in need for a short while!" He looked down at Hito, whose expression had no change.
"So you'd kill hundreds of people, just to protect a few? That's stupid."
"Hey!" Osan yelled. "You killed the remains of my family! Everyone's dead! No one could exactly call my dad and me friends, but he was my dad! Now that he's gone, I need to protect my friends. If they die, I have no one else. You know how that feels. It's not a good feeling is it? Do you realize how many families you're tearing apart by your assassinations? Your parents were killed, so now you kill other's parents? Is it some twisted revenge, or what?"
"Shut up!" Hito snapped. "You have no idea..."
"Tell me. You say you have no exact explanation for becoming an assassin. You say you buckled under pressure, that you wanted to do more than you were already. You do have a different reason though, don't you?" Osan asked. Hito rose to his feet and glared down at Osan.
"It's none of your concern what my reason is."
"Come on, tell me! If I know, I'll have a way of avoiding becoming an assassin when I get stronger! Was it anger, or were you just possessed by your skill? Did you decide that you liked killing after killing your parents assassins?"
"I told you to shut up!" Hito backslapped Osan across the face, making him fumble to keep balance. "It's none of your concern!"
"It is if you decide to take me on as your pupil."
"That will never happen. You're childish and stubborn. Learn not the pry into other's pasts. And learn that no means no!" Hito turned his back and walked away.
"Planning on finding another boss? Another master? So you're still not finished? After feeling so sorry for yourself that you became an assassin, you still search for more people to kill?"
"Sometimes others must be killed to maintain your own life." Hito grabbed his hood with his thumb and forefinger on each hand as a sudden wind picked up. He looked up to see a gray sky, realizing that it would soon rain. "Ah well..." He mumbled before continuing onward. He jumped onto a roof, making sure he got there before the rain made it difficult. Jumping quickly, trying to get as far as he could before rain fell, he saw that he was gaining on the house that he saw that girl earlier. Getting there, he swung himself down, keeping hold of the roof, and scanned the yard. She wasn't out this time. Who would be, knowing that rain would come? But what was wrong with her last time, when she was outside crying? Hito shook his head to rid himself of such thoughts. He swung back on top of the roof and started running again. Feeling a drop of water hit his hand he slowed to a walk.
"Hito Himura!" A voice called. Hito turned around to see Osan struggled to climb onto the roof he was on. "I'm not finished with you yet! You're not supposed to run away when someone's talking to you!"
"Oh, you think I was just going to stand there an be insulted by a child?" Hito asked, turning and running again.
"Stop calling me a child! And hey! Stop running!" Osan started running as well. Rain was falling gradually, and started to speed up quickly. It started pouring, and the roofs became vastly wet and slippery. Hearing a small shriek, Hito turned around. It was hard to see in the dark, but Osan wasn't there anymore. Hito jumped from the roof and landed gracefully on the ground. Looking around, he saw a body. It moved and slowly found a way to stand.
"Osan?" Hito got closer.
"Hito!" The child called weakly. He grabbed his arm and limped toward Hito. "You better not...run away this time!" Halfway to Hito, his knees buckled and he collapsed. Hito turned to run, but felt a strange feeling that made him stay. He walked to Osan and squatted next to him.
"You okay?" That was a phrase Hito hadn't said since he was six years old. Osan looked up at him, partly confused and shocked. Though pain made him wince and look away. "If you hadn't followed me, you know, you wouldn't have been hurt like this. It's your own fault."
"I know!" Osan forced himself to stand. "I guess now that I'm 'injured' I can't follow you anymore. Don't get your hopes up, Hito. I'll be back."
"I'm sure you will..." Hito whispered to himself with aggravation. Osan walked away, disappearing out of Hito's sight. He continued venturing to his unknown destination. When Hito had no boss, he wandered around until someone picked him up, needing an assassin. What he didn't understand was how they knew he was an assassin. Ridding himself of thoughts again, he continued running on the muddy road until reaching a large lake. Not seeing the lake in the dark, he stepped in the water and jumped out, realizing he would have to settle there. Looking around, squinting to see, he saw a large oak tree. Its branches spanned out wide enough to cover him from the rain. He sat at its base and crossed his sheaths across his chest. Leaning against the tree, he fell asleep.
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Being shaken by the shoulders, Hito was forced into a rude awakening. He stared blankly up at the man who woke him.
"I'm sorry sir, but seeing your swords, I just thought you might be some kind of killer..." The man looked apologetic as he turned to walk away.
"You need an assassin?" Hito asked, happy for a possible place to call home for a while. The man turned around and smiled. "So you do?"
"Thank goodness. I'm lucky to have stumbled upon you."
"Stumbled upon me? Oh, is that how you woke me up?" Hito asked, completely serious. The man chuckled and lightly hit Hito on the back.
"Oh, a funny assassin!"
"Wha?" Hito was confused. He was being funny? He shook his head. "So what's the mission? What do you need me for?"
"There's a girl..." The man looked at Hito. "This girl has lived in the same house for 13 years, and with the same man. He's not her father, but is too old to be her husband or brother. Anyway, your mission is to kidnap her and bring her back to me."
"Hm, and I thought you looked like such a nice man." Hito faintly grinned. "Sorry, I don't kidnap, it's not my thing."
"You already assassinate, what's the harm in taking on kidnapping as well?" The man almost looked ready to plead and grovel.
"How much do you pay?" Hito asked. The man smiled.
"A man of money huh? Let's just say a lot."
"How much?" Hito insisted.
"Enough to buy you half a house." Seeing Hito's expression, he realized he would accept. "My name's Coushen. It'll be nice doing business with you." He extended his hand out to Hito.
"How do you know I'll do it?" Hito asked, taking a step back. "I'm not one to kidnap."
"Come on, killing is much worse than kidnapping. Plus you're getting paid more to do this. It makes perfect sense, doesn't it?" He grinned. Hito looked at the man, then hesitantly nodded. "Alright then, it's settled. Follow me, my home isn't far." He turned and walked down the street. Hito followed close behind, looking at the man's steps. They seemed strange. Hito couldn't help but notice that Coushen was almost staggering. He knew better than to ask about it.
Arriving at the residence of Coushen, they both walked in. Hito swung off his cloak and Coushen quickly took it, laying it over a chair.
"You're that Hito guy, aren't you?" He asked. Hito sighed. Somehow everyone knew him these days. "I heard about an assassin who had long black braided hair and cold gray eyes. So it's you. You must be pretty proud of your reputation, eh?"
"I did think so. Not sure now, really." Hito reached his sleeve up to the wound he had gotten the day before to see if the bleeding had completely stopped.
"Where'd you get that cut from?" Coushen asked. Hito looked at him like it was none of his business, but decided it would do no harm.
"My last boss tried to kill me...so I tried to kill him back. He shot me, but it barely touched me. He got away before I could slay him."
"Too bad neither of you succeeded, huh? Two men trying to kill each other and they both ended up living. How likely is that? Especially when you have Hito the assassin after you." Coushen grinned again.
"W-when do you plan on me kidnapping the girl?" Hito asked, feeling uneasy by Coushen's glee.
"Whenever."
"I'll do it as soon as possible. I need to get this over with."
"You could go now."
"Not that soon. I'll wait until tonight."
"Don't you even want to know her name?"
"Not really. Doesn't matter to me." Hito stated. Coushen nodded and there was an awkward silence in the room. "Do you have any vacant rooms? Big ones?"
"You, right through this door here." Coushen pointed to a rice-paper door and Hito walked inside. It was large, as if it had been used as some kind of a dojo. Hito grabbed both of his sword hilts at the same time, and drew them quickly with extreme caution, making sure not to cut himself. He had gotten tired of all the moves he had used earlier and decided to invent one of his own. Hito swung and jabbed, thinking of any new techniques he could use.
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The night arrived, though Hito wasn't sure he wanted it to come so soon. After slaving away in the dojo, Hito was beginning to like a few moves he had practiced.
"Ready to get this over with?" Coushen asked, seeing Hito return from training. Hito nodded and he grabbed his cloak, running out the door.
"No Osan to interrupt me this time." Hito was thankful that he wouldn't have to find a way to ditch the annoying brat this time. He ran swift fully to the known address. As he got closer, the area seemed strangely familiar. He knew the whole area, but it seemed he had visited that region recently. Swinging himself up onto the roof, he ran quickly across, jumping over the gaps with ease. Arriving at the selected house, Hito stood staring for a few seconds. Of course it seemed familiar. This was the house of the girl he was earlier, and the girl was the one he was ordered to kidnap. "Alright...this'll be over soon enough." He jumped into the yard and snuck around to the nearest door. Slowly stabbing his sword through, he made a large enough hole to slide through. Now inside, he looked around.
"Who are you?!" A girl shrieked. 'Now or never.' Hito thought, quickly running forward to grab her. Seeing that he was coming at her, she yelled with all her might. Hito covered her mouth with his hand, holding a scarf under it. Turning to leave, he was stopped by the man Coushen must've been talking about.
"It's not going to be as easy as you hoped it to be." The man drew his sword. It was hard to see in the dark, but Hito quickly realized that he had swung, so he jumped back, not even seeing where the swing would've ended. 'That's right, I have her. She can be my shield.' Holding the girl in front of him, Hito began to back out. "Not going to work." The man ran forward, and with precise aim, stabbed right into Hito's upper shoulder. 'How can he see good enough to avoid the girl in this faint light?' Hito wondered. "Give her back, boy." 'His voice sounds so familiar...' Backing out of his earlier hole, and trying to ignore the pain in his shoulder, Hito was finally outside. 'Now to get her out of the yard.' The man stepped out into the moonlight and Hito began to make out his face.
"No..."
"Yes." The man smiled. "Thought it would be hard to fight with an injury? You won by fluke last time, I'm still stronger than you."
"Ishine...I'll kill you now, this time making sure you die."
"If I didn't have my little lady here, I would be dead. She's a healer, you see." Ishine followed Hito outside. "Let go of her, you won't be able to fight holding her like that. Don't worry, I won't have her back until I kill you." He took a large step forward and brought his sword back into a gatotsu. "New skill I've picked up."
"Not the only one with a new trick." Hito pushed the girl aside and drew both swords at once, bringing them both back, tips barely past his waist. Ishine charged, taking large steps to move quickly. He swung forward with great speed but Hito's new technique was flawless. He sidestepped quickly, brought his right sword up, turned his left hilt, and swung both of them at the same time, having the probability of cutting him in half. Ishine winced. His back was bleeding severely, but none was drawn from his stomach.
"Still have that reverse blade? Thought you would've gotten rid of it by now." Ishine gagged. "No matter." He lifted his sleeve to his mouth to wipe blood that had come up. "No doubt it hurt..." Ishine staggered back and struggled to lift his sword again. "I'm still better...I'll kill you..." Taking the sword in both hands, Ishine brought it up behind his head and stumbled forward, swinging the blade down with all his might. Hito blocked with one sword and stabbed forward with the other. It went through his left leg. Gasping and wincing, Ishine fell to his knees. "I'll...I'll get...better."
"Too bad you won't be alive long enough to train."
"I'll live...then kill you..." He threw up blood, then looked back up at Hito. "I can do...anything...you know..."
"Well then. Can you catch?" Hito flung one of his swords at Ishine. It hit directly at his neck, separating head from body. "I'd say he's dead." Hito turned to the girl. "It's time to go."
"You—"Her eyes were wide in shock and disbelief. "You...won fair and square." Her head dropped as she dragged her feet, walking to Hito. He was surprised by her cooperation. "I have no where else to go." She looked at Hito, but could barely see him in the dark. He looked back down, it seemed strange to see her up close.
"Come on then." He grabbed her and managed to swing both of the up onto the roof. He carried her all the way back.
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The girl seemed depressed, like she was waiting for something. Her eyes almost seemed lifeless and reflected everything they saw. Her long black hair mirrored the moonlight, making her almost glow. The two of them reached to entrance of Coushen's house.
"Why don't you put down that hood? I still don't understand how Lord Ishine could recognize you even with it on." She said looking at him. He ignored her and lightly pushed her inside.
"There she is!" Coushen stood up.
"No! Not you!" She turned around but was blocked by Hito.
"I got her for you. I'll be leaving tomorrow." Hito dragged the girl farther into the house, and left her with Coushen. He took off his cloak and swung it over a chair.
"Highly appreciate it, Hito." Coushen smiled. Hito nodded right before opening a door to his sleeping chamber. The girl's face was blank for a while, then she jumped. She almost shouted something, but Coushen interrupted her. "And I almost thought I had lost you forever." Hito stopped at the doorway, wondering what Coushen would do to her. Now that he saw her in the light, she seemed oddly familiar.
"You took me long ago, and Lord Ishine rescued me! After all those years of thinking I was safe, I'm back here again..." She looked at Hito. "I...I was waiting for someone to come and save me...someone I've known my whole life. Y- you...you can't be the same boy I knew as a kid." Hito felt his stomach churn, and he felt as if something inside of him died.
"Who are you?" Hito asked. She was familiar to him, and it suddenly became clear. The girl he had known his whole life. The girl he used to play with. His best friend...She was the girl that after trying so hard to find, ended up being ruined by a huge mistake.
"Shia." She stated. His heart flipped and his face went pale as he started at her. "You promised we'd see each other again, and I believed you. I didn't know that the next time I saw you would be 13 years later. Let alone being kidnapped and brought to the man who ruined my life."
"The man who ruined your life...The man who kidnapped you when you were 7?!" Hito asked, staring at Coushen.
"That's right...Coushen took me away and killed my whole family a year after you left." Shia said. "And I never gave up hope that you would come to my rescue."
"I tried..." Hito mumbled. "I tried so hard..." Anger built up and he threw a chair against the wall. "How could I end up working for the man who ruined my life?!" He yelled in fury.
"Your life?" Shia asked.