"...I'm sorry my husband killed your wife... if I had known the angel was someone you cared for... I wouldn't have taken her like that..." Tears roll down.
His right hand moving to the back of her head, holds it to his chest for a moment longer, "Please don't cry... the threads of fate surround me heavily... had it not been you taking her for the good of this village... she would have surely met a much more horrible fate if she'd continued traveling with me... she is safe here... unlike if she was with me... unlike anyone would be if they were with me."
"...You can stay here in this village if you have no where to go... I can find you a hut and supply you with food for awhile."
Slowly releasing his fingers from the back of her head, letting them trail lightly through her hair as he pulled his hand away, he looks down into her eyes, "You're heart is large... your kindness a rare thing in these times... but I cannot allow myself to be a burden..." Finding himself at the verge of tearing up, he diverts his eyes a bit, knowing that looking into her eyes was only causing him more pain, "I will stay here... but I will tend myself... and help out around the village.. in payment for your kindness..."
She nodded lightly. "There is a vacant hut near ours you can stay in please let me make you a few meals you look like your starving."
His eyes dance slightly in the light, the bottoms shining a bit with the welling tears he finds impossible to restrain, "Tha... thank you... but..." His voice almost seeming to fail, he manages to say "thank you" once more before letting her go, finding it hard to continue holding her, the pain in his chest aching as though his heart had been ripped from his body. She stepped back to give him room the child sleeping peacefully for once. Breathing deeply, he closes his eyes and lowers his head a bit, "I... I think I could use some rest... more than food... I suddenly feel a little weak..."
She nodded lightly. "I'll lead you to your new home then."
Nodding his head slowly, he moves to gather his katana, resheathing it before stepping back to her, "After you m'lady..." She nodded as she started to walk toward the huts. Following her slowly, he watches her closely, watching how she held herself, and her posture, knowing more and more that it was indeed his wife from the way she acted. Eyes lowering a bit, he sighs silently to himself before looking up once more, following her closely to his hut.
She stopped in front of a hut near hers opening the matting to allow him in. Bowing his head slightly, he steps into the quiet, empty hut. Turning back to her, he bows again, "Thank you again..."
"Your welcome its the least I can do for you... for what my husband and I did to you..."
Lowering his head a bit, he steps to the door and places his hand on her shoulder once more, "Please... you've done nothing wrong... don't blame yourself..." Slowly stepping back and turning away from her, he looks to the bed, "You saved my life... your heart is pure and kind... your intention wasn't to hurt anyone..."
She nodded sadly. "...She can stay in your room so you are not lonely..."
Shaking his head slowly, he turns to her and forcing a smile looks to her, "I appreciate the gesture... but your daughter needs her... I will be fine here"
"...If you need anything I will help you." She petted his cheek softly. "I will bring you some supper after awhile."
"Th... thank you..." he says as he slowly draws himself away from her caress, moving towards the bed, his hands removing his armor.
She bowed to him before she left the hut walking out to her hut entering laying her child down gently.
Not bothering to undress any further since he was in an unfamiliar place, he climbs into the bed, hugging his katana to his chest, covering himself with a fur.
Her husband looked down at her. "You allowed him to enter our village!" She looked up to him before he grabbed her by her wrist. Laying on the bed, he finds himself unable to sleep, his eyes open staring at the back wall.
Tears rolled down her face. "He has no where to go..." Rolling onto his back, he stares up at the ceiling now, his gut twisting inside, as if trying to tell him something, though he could just as easily mistake it for hunger sine, as she'd pointed out, he hadn't eaten in several days.
"If he brings trouble you are the one to blame!" He spoke coldly to her.
Holding his katana close to his chest, he slowly rolls onto his side once more, closing his eyes fully finally. She nodded lightly before her husband left the hut leaving her and the child. She moved to the fire pits starting to cook mixing water, meat, and vegetables in. Finally slipping into a slumber, his body begins to relax, though his arms do not, their grip on his katana still tight. She hummed softly as she cooked the meal trying to get her mind off what her husband said. His sleep starts out comfortable, though slowly it begins to slip into the dark confines of his mind, his eyes beginning to roll slightly behind the soft flesh lids. Tossing slightly, his body rolls onto his back, arms never relinquishing their grip on the weapon. She walked in silently to wake him for his meal placing her soft porcelain hand to his face. "No, Ayame!" he yells out just as her hand touches his face, his eyes shooting open, body quickly reacting, sitting up on the bed, breathing rapid and shallow, hair wet with sweat.
"... Are you ok... I'm sorry if I did something wrong..." She looked at him sadly.
Panting softly, he looks to her, his head lowering and shaking a bit, "No, no, you didn't do anything wrong... it was a nightmare... one I've lived with for six years..."
"...I'm sorry, but why did you say my name when you were asleep?"
His head still lowered, he turns on the bed, sitting on the edge of it. Slowly, he brushes his hand through his hair, feeling the sweat, "I... my wife's name was... Ayame..."
"The one my husband took from you?"
His head nods slowly before lifting up to look at her, his right hand pushing his hair out of his face, "Yes..."
"I am sorry for what he did to you..."
Smiling a bit, he shakes his head, "You've no reason to be... your husband does what he pleases.. as his family did for years before... nothing can change his ways..."
She nodded sadly. "I am part of that family and so is my child so we carry that burden as welll..."
"You're heart is too pure to be burdened by such... your husband is his own man... there is not you can do about it..." Slowly, he lays his katana on the bed at his side, looking to the food.
"You can with me and my daughter my husband will not be home for a long time."
"He's left the village?" he asks softly, confused as to what it was she says he could do as she didn't specify it. Smiling, he stands and stretches a bit, "What kind of man leaves his wife and sick daughter alone...?" he thinks to himself as he reaches for the sky, stretching his form.
"So will you join us for dinner?"
"Of course... I would be honored to join you in your home for dinner..." he says softly, turning to face her, his head bowing in a respectful manner. She nodded lightly as she walked out of the hut toward her own.
Turning to face the bed, he gathers his weapon in his hands, slipping it's sheath beneath his belt. "Ayame... if only you knew the truth..." he says softly after he was sure she was gone, slowly following. She returned to her hut already sitting on the bed trying to get her child to eat her food. Walking in slowly, he glances to the child, eyes of blue showing an intense sadness as he looks over her, knowing she was his daughter, knowing she was his sick daughter, and there was nothing he could do, at least not that he could do and be able to ensure her safety. The child's eyes open slowly as she struggles to swallow her food. Diverting his eyes from those of the girl, he struggles to hold back the tears of a father in pain from watching his daughter suffer.
"...Your food is on the table..." She spoke silently.
Nodding softly, he moves towards the table, removing his katana and sitting it against the wall before kneeling beside the table. Bowing his head to the woman, he begins to slowly eat, watching her feed their daughter, finding his own appetite was growing smaller from the sheer pain of seeing the little girl he never knew suffer so.
"...Just one more little bit then you can lay down again..." The maiden kissed her child's forehead before the little girl swallowed what was in her mouth.
Taking a final bite of his food, he lightly places his chopsticks on the table beside his empty bowl, "I thank you for your hospitality Ayame... if there is anything I can do for you... please, let me know."
"... Eating dinner with us is thanks enough." She spoke silently her voice filled with sadness.
Bowing his head softly, he slowly stands, "Does the little girl need anything...?" he says s he makes his way slowly to the bed, looking onto his daughter with sad, loving, worried eyes.
She shook her head. "...No I need to get the feathers ready for tomorrow for them to heal the children..."
"If I may ask... why does it take an hour...?" he says slowly and softly, his body slowly kneeling down and placing his hand on the little girls cheek.
Her cheek was pale and ice cold. "...You mean the feathers..?"
Shaking his head a bit, he places his free hand on his own cheek, "I'm sorry... I meant to say why must it wait 'til tomorrow... my mind is still a bit confused... the nightmare has that effect on me..."
"...Its ok... the feathers need to be crushed into dust and will talke half the day or more..."
Lowering his head a bit, he reaches for the little girls hand and takes it in his own, giving it a gentle, caring squeeze. "If I may... I would like to offer my assistance... I will take the feathers and crush them through the night... the sooner the better... I cannot bare watching this beautiful little girl suffering"
"...After what I did to get her you would still help me...?"
His head nods as he looks up to the mother of the child, his hand still gently holding the little girl's hand. "You're doing so much for me... and you've been so very hospitable... it would be an honor to do this task... and it's for the children... I cannot bare to deny them."
She nodded sadly. "Thank you so very much... you can take the girl with you she has already eaten."
Smiling softly, he slowly releases the little girl's hand and stands, "When you awake in the morning, the feathers will be ready... I assure you this." She nodded lightly smiling at him kindly. Gently placing his velvet like hand on her cheek, he smiles kindly to her as well, "I will not fail your daughter... she will suffer no more..." That said, he slowly releases her cheek and walks towards the winged girl, gently taking her arm in his hand to lead her. The girl stood silently her wings back. Leading her by the arm, he makes his way to the door, grabbing his katana along the way, "Good night m'lady... may you rest under the ever watchful eye of Buddha, and awaken with new found strength." With that, he turns, making his way out of the hut and towards his own, the black winged girl following close beside him...