So far, this is going more smoothly than I thought it would. He really is going in without a fight, Cho thought as he looked over his shoulder suspiciously at Soujiro. He was being aggressively shoved along by his escorts despite giving them little resistance. He was expecting something out of the mechivious Teken, but Soujiro hardly looked kind he was plotting anything devious. He truly looked defeated. That is not the same kid I fought in Kyoto awhile ago. What effect did that girl have on him? "I have to say Soujiro, you went down more easily than I expected. I led these men on to think that they would have the fight of their lives on their hands. Have you really abandoned everything Shishio taught you? You practically worshiped the man. What would he say if he saw you now?"

The thought actually did disturb Soujiro and it had been one he had not wanted to reflect on the moment he took Koharu in.

Soujiro ended up stating the truth. "I still respect him as my master and mentor. While I may have let him down, he was the one to fail me first," he admitted for the first time out loud. He then raised his head towards Cho. "Don't forget. You were the first to be caught and betray Shishio long before anyone else did. You should not be questioning me my devotion to my ceased master-" Soujiro was cut off when Cho thrust the hilt of his sword across his face to silence him. The only reason Soujiro did not end up back on the ground was because his escorts kept a firm hold on his arms and shoulders. Before Soujiro could fully recover from the blow, Cho snatched him from his escorts hold and propelled him with his back into the side of the carriage.

Cho kept him pinned by clutching his throat as he sat his katana to rest over his hold on his neck. "There is an option to have you killed-"

"Then do it!" Soujiro yelled, and he meant it.

"The pay is better if you're brought in alive, but you better start paying me some respect, Seta."

Soujiro's only response was spitting into Cho's face.

Cho growled as he started to choke Soujiro in his hold and relished a moment in seeing the notable Teken suffering at his hand. "You really do have a death wish." He seemed ready to slice his blade across his neck and Soujiro could even feel the cold blade start to graze into his skin.

"Stooop!" A desperate cry sounded out.

Soujiro's death was halted and he was allowed to breathe when Cho loosened his hold, but still kept him pinned around the throat. Their attention was directed back at the entrance of the clinic. Soujiro felt his heart sinking into the pit of his stomach at the sight of Koharu suddenly standing alone before all these lethal killers. "Koharu! No!" He choked out. "Get back inside!"

Koharu only risked a step closer towards him still limping from her sprain as her tears still drenched her cheeks. Fear was seen plainly in her glistening eyes, but so was pure fury as she held Soujiro's sword in her small hand and the scabbard in the other. She held it up like she truly planned to fight them off. "Let him go!"

Cho found himself having to shove Soujiro back against the carriage when he felt him start to resist. "How on earth did that brat recover so quickly? And where the hell did that sword come from?"

The doctor had hid the sword from plain view due to the looting running rampant throughout the city. Koharu must have seen where he had hid it and frantically sought after it the moment she recovered her consciousness.

"It's mine." Soujiro spat out. "No harm comes to her, Cho." He reminded him.

"I never promised you anything. You are already proving to be more difficult than I think it's worth."

"Cho-" Soujiro started to argue angrily before Cho struck him again across his face back with his hilt. He made sure the impact would be strong enough to toss him back against the ground while Soujiro could do nothing to break his fall with his hands restrained behind him.

"Soujiro!" Koharu hollered out. She started to rush towards him until Cho directed his blade against Soujiro's throat. "Please no!" She begged.

"You can't expect to win a fight today little girl." Cho spat out the obvious.

"Soujiro can," she whispered softly. She directed her gaze to him as he weakly maneuvered back onto his knees. She never imagined she see him in such a vulnerable state with his hands shackled behind him and his face and body battered up. He was heavily bruised in the face and had blood creeping out the corner of his lips. What was the most painful for her to take in was that all will to live seemed to be fading from him.

She suddenly shook her head at him in complete, utter confusion when they met each other's eyes. "What's the matter with you?" She finally cried out bitterly to him. "Why are you allowing this? You're not even trying!"

Some of the hired men scoffed at her words. To them, they had merely rounded up a troubledsome boy that had hardly been worth their time. They could hardly imagine him being the dangerous warrior they were clearly told not to underestimate.

"Koharu...I can't," he finally willed her a response. His life was coming to an end either way. Why fight for it? He'd bring her down with him. "I have to do this."

"I know what you can do and you told me just yesterday I haven't seen what you're capable of," she risked another step towards him raising his sword out for him. "Show me!"

She coward slightly when one of the men started unsheathing his weapon towards her. She still wouldn't and couldn't dare bring herself to turn her back on Soujiro in such a way.

Cho grabbed at Soujiro's shoulder when he started to maneuver towards Koharu in some effort to protect her. He was starting to get nervous now. "Koharu, stay out of this!" He yelled. "It's over! Get back inside until everyone is gone."

"Soujiro is a good swordsman," Cho seemingly admitted as he hauled him back to his feet. "A good swordsman knows not to engage in a fight he won't win. Now," he opened the door to the carriage. "Get inside and I'll let the little brat live to see another day." He directed Soujiro.

Koharu could hardly believe it when Soujiro submitted to him and faced the inside of the carriage. It was obviously a government owned carriage and slightly modify to be able to transport Soujiro as he saw more shackles nailed to the floorboard to also restrain his ankles. It was rather lavish for transporting a criminal with its cushioned seats compared to the cagelike wagon most prisoners were thrown in to be transported. This only revealed how badly Soujiro was wanted alive by the government. He was being transported in such a way he would be protected from the winter elements and it would even save him the shame most prisoners suffered when traveling behind in an open cage for all to see and even torment. It would also keep his identity a secret from others which would only allowed the government to exploit his talents all the more for their use. He was only going to exist to them.

"Soujiro no Baka! I'm not giving up on you!" Koharu yelled. She raised Soujiro's sword prepared to fight for him

"Koharu, don't!" He shouted over his shoulder. Cho grabbed at him and tried to seize him and shove him inside. Soujiro resisted more violently.

"What's your deal with this girl, Soujiro? She's just a worthless brat!" Cho yelled as he struggled to keep Soujiro in place. He was finding out too late Koharu's true value to him.

Koharu knew full well she wouldn't last a second but she felt she had no choice. If Soujiro wasn't going to fight, she would. Even if Cho said she would be allowed to live, it didn't mean these ruthless killers would hold back their chance to kill.

He's not going to let anything happen to me, Koharu thought as she dropped the scabbard to the ground. She charged after her closest assailant and swung her blade to which the man drew his sword and thrust it against her blade. Koharu 's sword was easily tossed aside. She groaned in pain and she stumbled back as she clutched her hands against her chest from the recoil of the strike.

"No! Koharu!" Soujiro hollered but it was quickly drowned out by her bloodcurdling scream when the man raised the blade to deal the deathblow...

She never felt the blade touch her skin. She still hesitated to open her eyes she had closed and only risked opening them when she heard the man begin to choke out loud. There behind him was Soujiro in all his fierceness choking him without any restraint using the chain that bonded his hands. He kicked the man at his knee joint causing him to collapse on both knees and allowed Soujiro a better hold on him. He gripped the chains and pulled them taut around that man's throat. "No good comes from going against my wishes."

"Sou!" Koharu immediately cried out in relief.

"Same goes for you, Koharu," He glared at her indignantly. She flinched and looked away when Soujiro wrenched his hands around the man's neck. A loud pop was heard before Soujiro released the man and he collapsed on his stomach. Soujiro stepped over the man like he was just a piece of garbage off the side of the road.

Cho had been thrown on his back when Soujiro ended up planting his feet against the side of the carriage and shoved his weight back into Cho to knock him down and be able to swiftly leap to Koharu's rescue.

Cho cautiously got back to his feet. "Your hands were chained behind you."

"They were," Soujiro confirmed. In his leap to save Koharu, he was able to pull his hands through his legs right before wrapping the chains around the man's neck. Soujiro picked up his sword that had been tossed aside before taking his place back in front of Koharu. "Who's next?"

The three remaining swordsman immediately drew their weapons. They would get their fight after all, so they thought.

"You said you would go without a fight, Soujiro!"

"That was if no harm was brought upon her. You were going to let this scum kill her!"

Cho sneered. "He's gone as soft as the Battousai," he muttered out loud.

Soujiro scoffed at that notion and raised his head with a smirk as he got in a stance with his sword. "If that were the case, I wouldn't have just killed one of your men. And I'm not about to hold back anymore."

"Sou?" Koharu mewled softly as she picked up the scabbard she had dropped. She felt she was losing him somehow.

"You wanted this Koharu," he spat over his shoulder towards her. She shook her head in regret and started to open her mouth before Cho got to speak one last time.

"End this here Soujiro!"

Soujiro smiled as he started to hop on one foot, almost tauntingly. "I plan to," he said right before he leapt and seemed to disappear into thin air.

Koharu gasped in fright when she saw the second swordsman go down. She saw his blood spill first across his torso before her eyes could focus on any movement from Soujiro. She only caught him in his finishing stance before he leapt and disappeared again, already striking down the third swordsman. They never even got a chance to swing their sword at him.

This is the Teken! What have I done, she cried out inwardly. She took an earnest step forward wanting to somehow snap him out of it.

The fourth swordsman lunged from behind Soujiro to strike his open back before Soujiro thrust his blade over his shoulder to catch the blade against his. He kept his blade on guard as he turned and faced his opponent with his confident smile. "I can't be defeated. The only one who was ever stronger than me was my master Shishio," he particularly taunted this man because he had questioned Soujiro's identity as the Teken. Soujiro was about to make him regret ever calling him a boy. "I guess that makes me the strongest now," he said as he thrust the man's blade off his own and raised his blade to deal the deathblow.

Koharu ran for him. "Soujiro, no!"

A gunshot sounded off.

Soujiro's sword fell from his grasp as he stumbled forward from the impact of the bullet penetrating through his right tricep. He had to dodge to the side when his opponent attempt the swing his sword at him before Soujiro finally fell and struck the ground on his side. He heard Koharu cry out his name again and felt her fall by his side just moments later.

"Stand down," Cho ordered the remaining swordsman before he might try to finish Soujiro off. He lowered the pistol he had fired at Soujiro. "I bet you weren't expecting that," Cho said as he approached them.

"I don't understand," Koharu cried softly as she tried to confirm he was not harmed beyond hope. "Were you hit?" She couldn't even confirm if he had any fresh wounds that resulted from him being shot.

"I was shot from the back. It didn't go through," he grimaced as he sat back on his knees.

"I didn't want to have to weaken you this way," Cho stated. "Your talents are why you're wanted alive. Yamagata might be a little upset, but I could have just killed you instead. Hell, he's the one who had me trained to wield these weapons. I suppose he thought it might come down to this."

Koharu was stun to see Soujiro's smile creeping back on his face. "These swordsmen were just pawns. You planned this because you knew you couldn't actually defeat me."

The remaining swordsman glared at Cho accusingly. "Is that true?"

Cho didn't answer him. It was obvious now that Soujiro stated it out loud. The swordsmen had all fell easily to him. Cho just needed him to be distracted so he could make the shot to wound Soujiro. He didn't just wound him. Because of where he purposefully striked Soujiro, he would be unable to wield and use his sword at his full strength. "You are defeated," Cho felt the need to bring out. "And if you try to run now, I'll make sure everyone knows of your new weakness," he said as he shifted his gaze to Koharu. "She'll become as much of a target as you." Soujiro was no longer smiling now. "She's not as valuable as you are. Once she becomes a target, she will end up dead-"

Cho was silenced when Soujiro suddenly rose and spun with a kick that tossed Cho back against the ground. "I have other talents that don't require a sword... I swear, if you turn Koharu into a target and she ends up harmed because of you, I'll make the whole Meiji Government regret Himura Kenshin having spared my life." He threatened. After putting some distance between he and Cho, Soujiro walked the few steps to retrieve his sword on the ground.

With his back now to Koharu, she saw where the bullet had penentrated behind his right arm. It was a minor wound for now, but one that would inhibit Soujiro's ability to fully wield a sword until it healed. Blood was still expanding on the fabric of his sleeve which greatly started to concern her. It wouldn't remain minor for long.

Cho cocked the gun as he stood and aimed it at Soujiro now that he had his weapon back. He relaxed slightly when Soujiro passed the sword to Koharu so she could sheathed the weapon. "It isn't just me threatening her, Soujiro. The Meiji Government does whatever it takes to get what they want. You're the one running away from your crimes. If she ends up harmed, you'll have no one to blame but yourself."

Soujiro looked down at his side when Koharu risked grasping his forearm and was confirmed of her care for him. She was trembling after watching what he had done and even fearing him. She wanted to affirm she would get her Seta Soujiro back that she had first come to know. He showed a hint of regret towards her and looked back at Cho. "You're right, Cho. I am running from my crimes and I know every bit of what I deserve. I'm sure it's coming for me. But I can't surrender now...not yet."

"Because of her? That isn't how it works," Cho felt he needed to remind the young samurai. "The longer you run from this, the worse it will be for you. For both the girl and you."

Soujiro lowered his head towards Koharu just enough to whisper. "When I say to, put your arms around my neck and hold on." Koharu knew then they would be attempting an escape. Soujiro would have to carry her if they were to out run Cho to safety. Not only was she slow to begin with, but she still had a limp from spraining her ankle. Soujiro also gave her fair warning to be ready because he couldn't just grab her and run with his hands still chained in front of him.

He took his sword back from Koharu and stepped ahead of her. "I'll take my chances then," he said before he thrust his sword out so the scabbard flew off and struck the remaining swordsman to his throat. Cho fired the gun he had kept on Soujiro the whole time to which Soujiro deflected with his naked blade now. He followed through by next thrusting the blade and propelling it at Cho. Before it even struck, Soujiro was knelt down in preparation. "Now Koharu!"

Koharu threw her arms around the front of his neck so all he had to do was scoop her small frame into his forearms and leap to his feet to make their escape.

Cho barely managed to be quick enough to dodge the flying sword as it grazed his side before it impaled itself into the side of the carriage. His last hired man, however, was left incapacitated from Soujiro's attack. "There's no way he's getting away from me that easily." Cho spat out as he started in a mad dash after Soujiro. Fortunate for him, he could easily track Soujiro from his footprints left behind in the snow.

Soujiro knew he could be tracked and ran a ways on the beaten path before starting to cut across the alleyways. When he knew he bought them at least a few minutes, he knelt down to let Koharu on her feet and began fumbling with his chains to see if there might be a weak link to possibly break and free himself.

"Do you have a plan?" Koharu questioned nervously. "Sou?" She questioned him again when he didn't respond. He remained resting on one knee as he looked around their surroundings trying to spot anything he could use to pick the lock or at least shatter the chain bonding his hands. He then started feebly fighting the chains and even tried to see if he could pull his hands through at the cost of cutting and making them bleed against the metal.

"Stop it!" She berated him and clutched at his hands.

"Don't!" Soujiro snapped as he pulled his hands from her.

Koharu immediately coward and stumbled back revealing her new fear she had developed of him after watching what he had done. Soujiro saw fresh tears fill her frightened eyes and his face immediately softened for her sake. He never wanted her to be afraid of him and now he had given her every reason to be. "I'm sorry, Koharu."

She shook her head. "What you did Soujiro...that isn't what I wanted. I don't want to be made to feel guilty for making your fight, but you just weren't doing anything at all to help yourself! You were just going to let them take you. You didn't care you were going to leave me alone. I wanted you to fight...but not once, did I think you would...that you could be so..." she started to cry unable to finish the sentence.

"A monster?" He tried to finish for her as he looked away.

"Ruthless..." She cried as she tried to dry her tears.

Soujiro was surprised when she attempted to approach him again, and he was careful to not deter her in any way this time. It was one more reason he held onto her. She never wanted to give up on him even when he was ready to. When she found the courage to stand before him, she fondly stroke his bangs once with a shaky hand before completely holding them aside to see his blue eyes. "Seta Soujiro...do you like to kill?" She needed assurance he still detested it despite after what he had done.

Not only did Soujiro reveal the same forlornness he had before when she first asked the question, but he felt his own tears brim at his eyes and his shoulders dropped in angst. He shook his head in regret. "Gomen nasai, Koharu. I never wanted you to see that side of me. I have no excuse except that I felt the need to prove my strength... You're right, I didn't have to go that far to get us out of there. I just took the easy way out. I did what I've been trained to do most my life. Kill and not feel."

There was a moment of silence. Koharu eventually released his hair. "Kill and not feel," Koharu uttered. "This is my fault. You chose...not to feel because of me." She whispered in guilt.

"You're not to blame for my actions." He assured her. "It was my error alone. I haven't learned very well to control my emotions...especially when someone I care about is involved. You're the first person I ever have come to truly care about. And when someone you care about is in danger..."

"You do whatever it takes to protect them," she finished.

"Hai."

"I'm just glad you didn't stay that way. I thought I was losing you and I don't ever want to risk that again." She then clutched his hands. "Wait a minute, you apologized."

He nodded with a smile. His real smile.

"You remember what you told me about apologies? That their worth comes from doing everything in your power to not repeat the mistakes."

Soujiro was stun. Not just at her memory, but how he was getting roped into vowing he would never kill again.

Koharu's smile immediately faded when he failed to respond right away. She eventually released his hands. "You're not going to stop, are you?"

Soujiro exhaled slowly as he looked away. It was all becoming clearer to him now. "Remember that swordsman I told you about? The one that spared my life?"

"Kenshin?"

"Hai. He wasn't that different from me once. He eventually vowed to not kill long before our paths ever crossed. I thought he was weak, an idiot really for vowing such a thing. I never understood it. Even when he spared my life, I was hardly thankful. I was angry and confused by the mercy he showed me because it conflicted so much from what my master taught me."

"What's wrong with that?" Koharu cried out in her frustration with him.

He only smiled fondly towards her. "I guess nothing. The mercy Kenshin showed for me actually is what I wished someone had done for me a long time ago, but that's beside the point. I think the reason Kenshin vows not to kill is because he fears of what he'll become again. He doesn't just do it to show mercy, but does it to hang on to his own sanity...so he can be happy."

Koharu stepped closer retaking hold off his hands. "So that means you shouldn't kill anymore either."

"Perhaps," he forced a chuckle. "But that's quite the vow to make for a swordsman. Whether you like it or not, swords are meant for killing." He grimaced when he felt pain shoot down his arm and clutched at his sleeve. "As for getting out of here, Koharu, I'm not sure for once. My strength is only going to be depleting from here on out."

"Don't give up, Sou." She begged. "You'll think of something."

Just as she finished speaking, Soujiro heard the whistle of a train somewhere close by announcing it departure. His eyes widened as he raised his head. "The train to Tokyo!" He looked at Koharu. "Come on. We're going to try and catch that train."

She rested her arms back around his neck before he was able to swiftly pick her up and head towards the train station. "Isn't Avaron going to be on that train?"

"We're not involving her," Soujiro stated immediately as he planted his back against the wall to check for any sign he was being tracked. He was going to be drawing enough attention carrying a twelve year old with his hands cuffed.

"Did she take care of you?"

"She fed me-" Soujiro cut himself off with a puzzled expression. He glared at her. "Tell me you didn't have anything to do with that."

"She really stayed with you? And you let her?" Koharu asked.

"Yes. Until I yelled at her in front of everybody and stormed out of the hotel."

"Oh Sou," she rolled her eyes as she dropped her head hopelessly on his shoulder.

"Forget it, we'll have this conversation later." He said before stepping back in broad daylight and starting back into a mad dash in an effort to catch the train.

It took him less than a minute to locate the train station and he felt a sense of despair when he saw the train leaving from afar.

"We're too late!" Koharu cried out.

"No...I can catch it." Soujiro stated. "It's just going to take all my strength. You have to hold onto me, though." He turned a serious gaze to her. She nodded. As soon as he started into a run, another gunshot sounded off. Soujiro only froze a moment to acertain he hadn't been shot into again.

"He's here, Sou!" Koharu cried out as she looked over his shoulder to see Cho down the street from them. He had raised his gun towards the heavens to alert his presence and clear the road of the pedestrians wondering about their daily business so he got a clearer shot of his target. They were immediately sent into a frenzy and fought to get out of Cho's way.

"That was just a warning Soujiro! Next shot will be through your heart-" He was interrupted when his plot to corner Soujiro backfired when a frightened civilian was shoved into him by the crowd being sent into a frenzy. Cho's gun was tossed from his grip as he was shoved against the ground.

"He's down! Go!" Koharu yelled.

Soujiro took her word and continued into his run after the departing train. He reached the platform in a matter of moments and jumped onto the empty tracks to face the train ahead that was only gaining more momentum as it left the city limits. "Are you sure about this?" Koharu asked nervously.

He gazed at her with his confident smile. "You're about to see my true power Koharu. I've never done it while holding someone though. I'm not sure what it could do to you." Koharu could hear his foot tapping against the wood of the tracks.

"I trust you," she confirmed for him.

"Lean into me, close your eyes and don't let go of me."

Koharu only nodded and did as she was instructed. When he felt she would stay secured against him, he inhaled deeply and them exhaled. Just as he started to leap off his foot into the shukuchi, a gunshot was fired at them. Koharu screamed. He only lost his footing for a moment.

"You're only digging yourself a deeper hole, Soujiro. She was dead the moment you took her in!" Cho managed to yell just before Soujiro leapt back into the shukuchi and was finally out of Cho's reach for good.

Koharu only remembered screaming before gravity suddenly seemed to intensify against her and she felt the rushing cold air burn against her ears. She could hardly get a breath of air in her lungs before she started to give out in his arms. She found her last bit of strength when she remembered Soujiro couldn't actually hold onto her and that she was merely resting on his arms. She tightened her hold around his neck and clutched at the collar of his shirt in an effort to stay within his hold. She even tried to speak up but couldn't get a sound out with the low amount of air in her lungs now. She could barely have talked over the rushing wind anyway. She only held on for a few more seconds before it became too much and she blacked out.

Koharu woke up a few minutes later to the cold wind still rushing over her, but not nearly as intensely. She raised her head to see the land passing by her and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Beside her was the guardrailing of the train surrounding the platform she was on and she saw the tracks flying beneath her whilst the train chugged along. They had made it.

She slowly sat up and looked towards her feet to find Soujiro passed out upon the narrow stairway leading up to the platform she was on. He had managed to make the jump and landed against the steps but at the price of Koharu having been tossed from his arms from his inability to hold onto her and then collapsing against the steps. He had not been lying when he said it would take all his strength. "Sou?" She crawled towards him and clutched at his chain wrists. "Wake up. You could still fall."

She was relieved to see him stir at her touch. He raised his head as he smiled. "Sorry for the rough landing."

"I honestly don't remember any of it. I guess I didn't get to really see your special power, but it obviously worked." she said and then tugged at his hands again. "Come on. Get off the steps before you fall," she said more anxiously.

He nodded and grunted from his efforts just to finish the small climb up the steps. Once she felt he would be safe, she stood and tested the door leading inside and to no surprise, it was locked. "How do we know there aren't people in there to question how we got on here?"

"It's just for cargo. There were no windows that I could see. We should be okay."

"If we could get in," she grunted as she tried to pry the door open.

Soujiro got one leg beneath him before he found his last bit of strength to stand and face the door. "Stand back."

She obeyed.

He rested his weight against the guardrail on the platform before thrusting his foot against the door. It flew open on his third try. By then, Soujiro looked ready to collapse on the ground where he stood until Koharu grasped his arm. "Come on, Sou. Just a few more steps."

He nodded to her and let her hold onto him as they entered the storage compartment. Soujiro closed the door behind and let himself fall back against it. He collapsed to the ground.

"Sou," Koharu cried softly pointing at the door he rested against.

Soujiro looked over his shoulder up at the door and saw he had smeared blood all the way down the side. "Well, they're going to know for sure someone was here," he mumbled tiredly as he let his head rest back against the door. He was already falling asleep.

"I need to get you help. Avaron is here. She can be trusted, right?"

Soujiro's eyes snapped open. "No Koharu. We can't involve her." His eyes were already falling heavy on him again. "Just let me rest."

"Couldn't you die?" She asked bluntly.

Soujiro didn't respond and had closed his eyes as his head fell limp against the door.

"Soujiro!" She suddenly hollered as she shook his left shoulder. "Wake up!" She barely managed to stir him awake. He opened his hazy eyes and tried to smile for her. But Koharu would not be fooled by it. "Just stay with me and tell me how to take care for you. You're losing so much blood."

"Nothing can be done without the right supplies," he finally admitted to her.

"So you're just going to sit here and bleed to death?"

"I'm sorry, Koharu," He whispered. "You should have just let me go earlier -"

"No! I will not be made to feel guilty for that." She stood from him and looked towards the front of the train. "Avaron saved you once. There's no harm in seeing if she can surprise us again."

"No-"

"What are you going to do about it? I bet you couldn't catch me anyway in the state you're in."

He frowned because it was the truth.

Please Soujiro," she beseeched. "I'm not just going to sit here and watch you die. If I bring her here, will you let her help you?"

Soujiro clutched at his arm when he felt the pain intensify. He couldn't do much to ease the pain even if his hands weren't chained because of where the wound was. He knew he needed help if he were to live to see tomorrow. Koharu probably didn't even know either that he was falling under the risk of lead poisoning from the bullet remaining lodged within. He was being made to feel selfish for wanting to die and give up.

He finally closed his eyes and exhaled in defeat. "...Avaron's father was a doctor. That might mean nothing, but maybe-"

"She could know how to help you, " Koharu finished to which he nodded. "That settles it then. I'm going to go get her for you. You better be nice to her."

"Koharu, I need you to give her every opportunity to not have to help me."

"What! Why-"

"She'll eventually find out the truth if you don't," he held up his chained wrists. "Go ahead and tell her the truth about me and why my presence here has to remain a secret." She already knew details about me I never wanted anyone to know. What difference will this make? "She needs to understand the risks. If she is uncomfortable at all, just leave her be and come back. Can you do that for me?"

"Your life is at stake. I'm going to do whatever it takes to save you."

"Koharu-"

"Don't die, Sou." She leaned in and kissed his forehead, which surprised him. "I'll be back as soon as possible." She turned on her heel and rushed to the opposite end of the boxcar and thrust opened the door. The door was opened for a moment allowing the cold winter air to rush in before it was abruptly cut off when she shut the door behind her.

Now he was left to worry about her getting caught without a ticket and taken into custody or her falling and getting crushed by the train if she wasn't careful. And there was her fear of heights to consider. What if the train was traveling through the mountain side right now?

"...Please be careful, Koharu."