Koharu was already up and pacing anxiously before the open window when Soujiro finally returned. She had kept his blanket around her so she stayed warm while keeping a watch out for him. She had expected he would return the same way he left. She whirled around when she instead heard the door slide open and close behind him. She was prepared to yell at him for worrying her until she clearly saw the turn of his health for the worst. She still tried to sound upset, but her voice came out soft and full with concern. "Sou, what happened?"
"I just needed some air." He uttered softly so not to agitate his throat or chest and cough in front of her. His eyes fell upon his open bed as he immediately was drawn to it. There was a loud clank when his fingers let loose of the umbrella and sword that dropped beside him as he walked towards his bed. He then dropped like a rock over his bed and closed his eyes. He only opened them slightly when he felt Koharu lift and set his legs fully on the futon seeing how he failed to fall completely vertically over the bed. Koharu then took off the blanket she had and carefully threw it just under his shoulders. By the time she looked upon his face again, he had already closed his eyes. "Sou?" She questioned anxiously, even though she knew he wouldn't answer. She sat beside him as it dawned on her what was happening to him. She could have cried then and there, but she bit back the tears.
He wouldn't want me crying.
For awhile, she sat with him until he would fall asleep. Even though he had a blanket, he shuddered every so often and released a series of coughs, each sounding more painful than the last. It was when she knew for sure he had fallen asleep she could will herself to return to her bed, but both would get no satisfying rest that night.
Soujiro awoke the next morning on his side clutching at his chest as he coughed and even gagged in his sleep before his eyes opened. His vision was hazy at first, but he caught sight of a certain object laying beside him. His vision hadn't even cleared before he knew it was the sword Avaron was lending to him. Koharu had undoubtedly found it and unwrapped it completely from the parcel before placing it where the young samurai would want it. His eyes were already closed as he reached his hand out to rest on the sword and inched it slightly closer to him. It was already becoming like a security blanket. He felt better knowing it was near him.
You know me too well already, Koharu. His eyes opened again, slightly more alert. Where is she? It's too quiet in here, he realized.
He sat up on his side and felt the dull ache in his head double over. He ignored the pain as he looked around the room. "Kohar-" He immediately broke into a series of coughs and coughed into his enclosed fist. He stopped when his eyes focused on the blood speckled on his pillow from where he had been coughing into all night. He then looked at his hand and saw the blood specks on his knuckles. Even as as he had spoke, he could taste the blood on his breath. He felt a shortness of breath and nauseous at the sight and clutched his blood stained hand at the pillow and turned it over. "Koharu!" He raised his voice in angst despite the discomfort in his throat and chest.
He heard her small rushed footsteps before the door to their room was slid aside. " I'm here!" She had a bucket hanging off her arm and carried a bowl, cup and towels. Her first instinct when she got up was to supply Soujiro with as much water as possible and had busied herself in collecting the needed things to care for him.
She didn't wait for him to respond to rush back at his side and set the bucket down near him followed by scooping the cup with as much water as it could hold and passed it to him. "Drink it, now. It doesn't take a doctor to know you need to stay hydrated."
"You can't be going off by yourself, especially without telling me," he said. He still graciously accepted and gulped down his drink thirstily. When he lowered the drink, Koharu had narrowed her gaze and crossed her arms.
"I get that you're older, but you did the same thing to me last night. I couldn't imagine what could be happening to you, or if you even would return because you were caught. You obviously didn't just go out for a stroll." She gestured at the sword and then the broken umbrella still on the floor where he dropped it. "At least you weren't alone.…"
"I know how to defend myself and unfortunately, Koharu, I can imagine what happens to you. With each passing day, it becomes more dangerous for you to leave my side-" He had to stop to clutch his chest to suppress another wave of coughs. He needed to cough, but he didn't want to alarm the girl he was already coughing blood.
Koharu leaned forward to take the cup from him and refilled it. "I don't want to fight Sou. But I'm the only one who can care for you. If it makes you feel any better, all this stuff was given to me. The owners even went outside to collect the water for me and are willing to send out for a doctor too."
Soujiro shook his head as he accepted his second refill of water from her. "There's not much they can do."
"I don't understand," she suddenly cried softly. "For most of the night you were so happy and cheerful. I thought nothing would come of it anymore." She hugged at her arms.
"As did I." He kept to a low tone as he drank down his second cup. He had no complications until he finished his drink and choked in an effort to not cough in front of her. He felt the cup slip through his grasp as he clutched his chest again before his eyes caught sight of the hand towels Koharu brought up. He clutched a towel and turned away before coughing painfully into the towel. By the time he finished, the world around him had blurred and his head was spinning. He fell back against his bed with his eyes closed and labored breathing as he hid the towel under his blanket.
"Sou. Sou!" She only got his attention when she clutched his hand and held it up. "If there's nothing a doctor can do then the rest is up to you," she cried out. "If anyone can pull through, it's you. I know you can." Somehow, it came out she was begging him to.
Finally, he smiled the first time that day at her, but that was all he could muster up for her before he closed his eyes as his head turned away. He wasn't asleep. He couldn't when she saw how he struggled to breathe.
While it would mostly be up to him to pull through, Koharu did what she could to care for him and make him comfortable. She started by pouring some of the water from the bucket into the bowl and dampening his face with a towel before resting the towel across his forehead. As the day wore on, she couldn't stand to watch him struggle to breathe anymore and convinced him at some point to position his bed and pillow against the wall so he could lay upright. Only then did his breathing improve somewhat.
Koharu hardly left his side and made sure his face stayed cool with water and fed him water. The greatest challenge was not only keeping him hydrated, but fed as well. Soujiro had no appetite to eat. All he wanted to do was sleep, which proved to be difficult when his drained energy was spent trying to get a full breath into his lungs. He thought he might suffocate if he tried to eat. At some points throughout the day, Soujiro proved to be more alert and even talkative, but he mostly remained incoherent.
As evening came around, Koharu became determined to get a full meal in his stomach, especially when he became more coherent. She had left and returned with miso soup thinking it would be the easiest for him to swallow and digest.
"I'm sure glad Avaron is taking care of us. It's hard enough to see you like this. It would have been awful if you didn't get to have a roof over your head and food expensed at your needs."
He smiled and nodded in agreement. "You're right. I'm fortunate and thankful to have all this." He tried to take a few sips of the miso soup and then grimaced as he sat the bowl aside before he might choke again. "…. Even though I'm having trouble taking advantage of it."
She frowned when he seemed to set the bowl aside in defeat and slumped down in his bed. She got up and took his bowl in hand before sitting right beside him and holding the bowl back up to him. "You're not finished."
He lifted his head and shook it at her. "I'm tired now."
When he attempted to close his eyes, Koharu clutched at the scalp of his hair to keep his head raised. She didn't do it in anyway so it would hurt him, but aggressive enough to let him know she was serious. "That isn't living, Sou. You will be on the road to defeat if you can't even get down one meal. Finish it. You promised me you would do everything in your power to keep living. I'm not letting you rest until you eat it all."
He opened his eyes to be met with those determined, caring eyes of her's before he nodded in defeat. "All right, Koharu. You're right." He mustard the strength to sit back up. Koharu was already touching the bowl to his lips before he got the chance to grasp it. He was going to be fed one way or another. When he finally took hold of it on his own, she remained by his side and arms slightly raised whenever he threatened to set the bowl back down. She frowned even when he pulled the bowl away from his lips to breathe and he would be met with her stern gaze that dared him to not give up. He would either have to choke down the meal or she would make him choke it down. She only came to be more compassionate when he drank down most of the soup. When he finally sat the bowl aside, she pulled his blanket more snug against him and dampened his face with water with the towel. Her more motherly instincts seem to kick in when she continued fondly to stroke his wet hair from his face to help lull him into a more peaceful sleep. She smiled fondly. " Remember, Sou. I'm not going to make it easy on you." She stroked his bangs back to kiss his forehead. After sitting with him awhile longer and she was content he was at his most comfortable was when she could finally allow herself to retire to her own bed.
The next morning, she woke up and repeated the previous morning actions, except she felt it best to tell Soujiro she was leaving to get him more water and food. He could barely get his eyes opened that morning to even acknowledge her. He eventually nodded to her and he mumbled out something about her to be careful.
Koharu then had trudged down the steps and asked if she could have the bucket refilled and breakfast made. While the workers busied themselves to fulfill her requests, Koharu couldn't help but look over her shoulder and gaze at the scene before her. Soujiro seemed to overworry about her going off on her own and she couldn't imagine why. The inn was especially picked for them because it was more private than most. It was a small business meant to only house a few guests so the workers, probably all related in someway, could better serve their guests. Avaron hadn't just picked it out of the blue. Koharu felt safe as long as she remained inside.
Even now, there was only a couple in the seating area behind her having tea together. She could even hear their conversation as they sipped their tea.
"This talk of a winter storm has everyone on edge. Some people aren't even opening their shops today. I'm sure the market won't stay open for long either."
"We shouldn't have to worry about anything while staying here. I'm sure the inn is well prepared and stocked up on food. Besides, you can't believe everything you hear. It's probably all just talk."
"You're probably right. Either way, we won't have to worry staying here. Thank goodness."
Koharu was getting bored just listening. No one was standing out as suspicious.
Except for me, she thought and looked straight ahead. If someone is here looking for Sou, I can't appear that I'm onto them. I have to blend in. She then peeked over her shoulder again. Still, if its Broomhead, would he just walk causally in through the front door to inspect the area? Or.…She then thought in dread. If he's anything like Sou, he might try to assassinate him. He'll come through the window! "Sou, oh no!" She started to turn on her heel to go check on him.
"Miss?"
She paused with a perturbed expression and looked over her shoulder to see the worker had returned with the bucket of water. Did he just call me, Miss? It must be the kimono.
"Oh yes." She nervously laughed and snatched the bucket. She started to run off before she realized her mistake. She faced the worker while still working to separate the distance between them. "Gomen." She did a half hearted bow and then turned as she rushed down the hall and up the steps trying not to spill the water. "Arigato!'
She came upon the room and sat the bucket down before thrusting the door aside. "Sou?"
The window was still shut and she found Soujiro nearly exactly as she left him. He shifted his head slightly when he heard her troubled voice and his hand flinched towards the sword. "What's wrong?"
She picked up the bucket and brought it in. "Nothing. I just felt the need to hurry back." She shut the door behind her before approaching him and set the bucket down beside him. Her eyes fell upon his hand that lay in defeat next to the sword when he tried reaching for it. She felt guilty that she had ended up worrying him instead. Still, it had caused him to wake up a bit and be more alert. She preferred seeing him like that than lying so still and lifeless.
Soujiro had started to close his eyes again until he felt Koharu place the sword within his grasp. He clutched to weapon more securely as he gazed back at her. "I've gotten you paranoid," he chuckled softly.
"Do you think someone might come through the window to get you?" She said as she wrenched a towel in the bowl of water before setting it back across his forehead.
"Not without me noticing long before they try. Besides, it isn't Chou's style. As you have seen, he likes making quite the grand entrance instead." He shifted in his discomfort before trying to sit up to better face her. "We can't expect just to have trouble from him though. By now, all the police have probably been alerted that I'm present here in Tokyo and the worst thing about it, is they know you're with me. I don't want you going off on your own because I'm afraid it's you they will go after first." He was also afraid that she was the one who might be assassinated. If the Meiji would dare to go far as doing such a thing, her death would appear to be accidental. They might even try to frame Soujiro for it. He was already being accused of kidnapping her. If Chou had mentioned anything of Soujiro becoming weaker since Shishio's downfall, killing Koharu would be a good way to revive the Tenken completely. No, it wouldn't even be the Tenken anymore, let alone the person he was now. He would become permanently numb and be set back down a path to where he refused to feel again. There would be no saving him. He felt remorse for what he did to his own family, but he didn't love them. Koharu had been the first person to love him for who he truly was. He didn't want to think about the grief it would give him if he failed to protect her. He kept those concerns to himself, however, especially seeing how worried Koharu already was. "I appreciate what you've been doing for me, just don't wander too far or too long from my side."
"Just keep this within reach," she said as she then positioned his arm so the sword partially laid on his torso. "Then we'll both be safe."
"You have more faith in me than I do myself."
Koharu grinned. "Nah, I believe you're still as confident as ever in your abilities. Especially now that you have this sword."
He had started to smile before he was suddenly interrupted by a series of coughs. He turned away causing the sword to slide off him and strike the floor with a loud clank as he coughed into his towel he kept hidden under his blanket. When he fell back and turned his hazy gaze back towards Koharu, he saw her staring intently at his face as she grasped at her own chest. She was finding it hard to breathe just by watching.
"Sou, is that - are you coughing blood?" She raised her voice in her worry.
Soujiro played confused until he slowly brought his fingertips to the corner of how mouth. When he pulled it away, he saw the speck of blood now on his fingertip. He exhaled as he closed his eyes and nodded.
"How long?" She knew now he had been trying to hide it from her.
"Since yesterday." When he could will himself to open his eyes, he saw that Koharu looked ready to burst into tears. "Hey, it doesn't mean anything." He tried to convince her. "It's just a symptom."
"Don't try to treat it as nothing!" She suddenly yelled. "You've been scared all this time of it and now it's happening -"
She stopped when he let his hand drop over her wrist. "What happened to that faith and confidence you were just trying to convince me of?"
That's right. I have to be strong. Stay strong for him because he is still scared. She held his hand up to clutch in her own. "Nothing Sou. I believe you can overcome anything. It doesn't make it any easier to watch you suffer though." A tear had managed to make its way down her cheek as she spoke. She thought it might upset him more, but he only smiled at the sight. She could rarely understand him. Tears were a sign of weakness, weren't they?
Perhaps it was because no one had never cried for him before, let alone, say aloud they hated to see him suffer. It was no different than seeing Avaron's reaction whenever he mentioned he would be leaving. Someone he would miss would miss him just as much. He liked to see proof of it.
"I'm going to go see if your meal is ready." She stood from him. She then narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists at him. "You better eat every last bite, Sou, got it?"
"I'll try, Koharu."
She growled.
He laughed softly. "I'll do my best."
"That's better," she said promptly before marching off towards the door and then closing it behind her.
When Koharu did return with both meals, she found herself having to hold onto her breath watching him eat. Somehow, it was torture for both of them. Each time he swallowed, it looked like he might choke and when he did manage to swallow, his mouth fell open to try and get a lungful of air back in. Koharu found that she could barely eat so she could watch him carefully eat his meal in case she needed to act quickly in his behalf for whatever reason.
Finally, it was Koharu who couldn't take it anymore. "Okay, that's enough." She carefully grabbed at his bowl and pulled it away. "At least breathe for a bit."
She nearly regretted being the one to stop him from eating. He immediately slumped back down in his pillow and his head turned away as he tried to steady his breathing. She knew then that he had no energy left to finish his meal anymore. He was almost asleep once he managed to steady his breathing.
Koharu then decided to take his unfinished meal and placed it in her own unfinished bowl and return the dishes back downstairs. She didn't know what more she could be doing. She couldn't bring herself to eat after watching him. She had thought she had set him on the right path to feeling better by making him eat his whole meal the previous night. Instead, she found out he was coughing blood and that even she couldn't bear to watch him eat while he choked at the same time. It wasn't progress at all, but the opposite.
I wish I could remember where the clinic is. Surely Dr. Gensai or that pretty doctor can do more for him than I can. Sou says nothing can be done, but still.…I feel so useless. She barely made it to the steps when she slumped against the wall with glistening eyes. "I'm going to lose him, am I?" She whispered. She fell to her knees facing the steps.
If I have it Koharu, my chances of living are slim and I'm putting you two at risk. She remembered him saying.
"Oh, Sou." Her voice trembled as she gave way to tears. She quickly tried to dry them with her sleeve. I want to be strong, but it's becoming too hard. I just want to cry. This isn't a second chance at all.
She straightened herself when she saw a worker starting to makes her way up the steps. Koharu dried her tears one last time as she stood to her feet while holding onto their dishes still. She knew she couldn't fully hide the fact she had been crying.
"Are you crying, miss?" She asked kindly when she reached the top.
"It's fine. I'm just overwhelmed. Excuse me." She started her way downstairs.
"You know you can just leave those dishes out by your door and someone will collect them."
I guess that is safer for Sou and me to do that. But as much as its hard to leave his side, it's equally as hard as to remain by his side and watch him struggle to live.
Maybe that's why she preferred taking the dishes down. Just now, she had been able to cry the tears she had been holding in. She needed a moment to cry alone so she could find the will to put back on a brave and hopeful face for Soujiro. If not, she would breakdown in front of him. She mentioned to him once she grieved for her father and brother in her own way, but even now, the grief was nothing to what she was currently feeling.
I can't imagine what grief I'll feel if he... if he... actually.…
"If your brother is still not feeling well, our offer still stands to send out for a doctor." The worker added. "You just let us know." She said before continuing on in her task.
Koharu had only heard the last bit while she had been drowning in her worries over Soujiro. Her eyes then widened when she realized what the woman had reminded her. "Yes -" Koharu started in before she realized she was already alone. Instead of chasing her down, Koharu faced forward and rushed down the steps with the dishes.
I don't care if Sou says there's nothing the doctors can do. I'll regret it if I don't do everything within my power to help him by reaching out to them.
She would take the family up on their offer to go fetch a doctor for Soujiro, namely Dr. Gensai or Megumi. She knew they would help first and worry about money later. Soujiro would make up for it, one way or another, that she didn't doubt either.
She took her last step off the steps and hurried down the hall leading off to the front room. She paused a moment once she entered the front room trying to spot a familiar face who had also directly offered to send for a doctor. They would act the most responsive to her urgent needs. She spotted the young man who had been the one kind enough to refill her bucket for her to take for Soujiro to drink at will. He was taking a order from one of the guests seated at the table. Just as he was turning away to deliver the order, Koharu started to rush to cut him off. Time was of the essence after all.
Koharu then halted where she was when the shoji door was suddenly thrust aside to reveal three men wearing the same uniform. Koharu tried to make nothing of it until she saw the swords they all wore at their sides. She hesitated a step back. The moment they entered, she got a bad feeling.
"Can I help you, officers?" The young man asked nervously.
Officers? I never saw officers like that around in Gifu. Not even the policemen sent to the Ochies wore attire like they are in, let alone a sword. They can only be here for one reason!
One of the officers handed the young worker a piece of paper. "We're here to search the establishment for reasons that are classified. Search the place!" He ordered the two officers.
Koharu thought her heart might have stopped. How did they find us so quickly? She hesitated another step back. She knew she needed to get to Soujiro, but she couldn't draw attention to herself.
"Now, wait a minute -" The young man started before the leading officer thrust a kick into his stomach. Koharu had to cover hey mouth to keep from screaming. The young man was thrust into a table and he with the table toppled over as the officer drew his sword.
"That's the only warning you get, kid. We have orders to follow and can kill anyone that gets in our way. Search the place, now!" He ordered the other two. His gaze immediately narrowed over to Koharu, who had slowly been inching away from the scene back towards the hall. She still had her mouth covered to hold in her screams. Without Soujiro by her side, she didn't know how to be brave.
"Where are you off to, little girl? No one is allowed to leave the room until we conclude our business here."
"I just.…" she whimpered, trying not to panic. She was wishing now she had taken Soujiro's warning more seriously. She regretted leaving his side at all. She had thought they would be safe as long as they remained inside. "I just….I just.…"
Koharu's eyes grew big and she backed away when the officer approached her with the sword drawn. Soujiro mentioned them targeting her first, but she felt sure this man had an intent to kill. Whether the sword was meant for her or Soujiro, she knew she just had to get back to him.
She finally willed herself to turn on her heel and sprinted down the hall. "Sou! Run!" She cried out as urgently as she could for him to hear. "Run!"
"That must be the girl! Stop her!"
She looked over her shoulder to see one of the officers already tailing her, and his sword was drawn and ready to strike. She barely had made it up the steps before she tripped on her kimono in her rush and fell flat against the steps and dropped the bowls she still carried. Immediately after she fell, she felt the rush of the blade fly over her head and strike the wall above her. In that moment, she hated her kimono even though it had practically saved her life in that moment.
She didn't pay any heed to how close her life ended and reached for one of the bowls to throw at her assailant. "Kuso kurae, aho!" She yelled as she thrust and slammed her bowl square into the man's face and drenched it with left over broth and noodles.
"You little brat!" He yelled as he thrust the noodles off his face.
She wasted no time and scrambled to get the distance between them. She barely leapt to her feet when the angered officer managed to lunge his arm out and take hold of one of her ankles. She screamed and was dragged back down the steps when she found the second bowl. She twisted to her back to toss the second bowl at him but was already faced with the end of the sword.
She screamed trying to yank her ankle free of the man's grip. "Soujiro!"
He raised his sword over her so that she felt the shadow of it touch her face. "We have our orders!"
Orders or not, Koharu could tell this man was looking to kill. There was evil in his eyes alone she had never seen in Soujiro's . This officer and the others seemed worse than the thugs that first accompany Chou to capture Soujiro. These officers were allowed and abused their authoritative position to kill openly in the name of the Meiji government, particularly now.
"Koharu!" She heard his voice. He turned the corner to see the death blow being dealt against Koharu. His face immediately twisted into one of wrath as he got his feet moving to get to her before the officer's blade would.
There was a sudden clash of metal when her assailant started to deal the death blow. Koharu opened her eyes and saw two blades over her, Soujiro's blade hovering just over her face and resisting the assailant's blade. She looked up beside her to see him actually sitting beside her on the steps. He had practically ran down the steps and fell under the blade to block it from striking her. His hand had grabbed onto the step behind him to stop him from sliding any further from down the steps as his other hand used his sword to block the officer's death blow. The moment the swords clashed, however, he had to release the step behind him and place his hand against the blade to keep resisting the attack, especially with his weakened arm.
Koharu then knew exactly what to. She still held the second bowl of soup and grunted with effort as she threw it through the tangled blades to strike the officer again.
"Gah!" The man roared as he went to wipe the noodles and broth from his face.
Soujiro immediately felt the weight against his sword lighten and quickly placed his foot against the side of the step he was on for leverage and pushed off the step. He grunted out loud as he managed to stand and thrust the blade off his own and hurl the man back down the steps just as the other two officers showed up. The officer falling crashed right in to the other two, one of them being nearly impaled with the fallen sword.
Soujiro collapsed on his side next to Koharu on the steps and rested the tip of the sword down on one of the steps as he held the hilt for support. He quickly tried to recover. "Get to our room. I'll take care of these guys."
Koharu only stared at him at first. It never ceased to amaze her how quickly Soujiro could fly into action, particularly now in his state. She also stared with concern because she didn't want him to keep pushing his luck. He was already winded.
"Go, Koharu!" He pressured her more urgently.
Koharu got behind him, but still hesitated to obey. She never wanted to turn her back on him like this.
He looked over his shoulder towards her. "I can handle them. They'll have to fight me one on one because of the stairs. I just need you to do as your told."
Koharu finally nodded. "Yes, Sou." She said and continued up the stairs to their room.
"We were told he shouldn't be able to wield a sword."
The man Soujiro had knocked down sneered at seeing only a frail and clearly ill boy before him. "It's only going to take one of us to finish this kid off." He raised his sword back up to fight.
Soujiro laughed mockingly as he rested his sword on his shoulder. He closed his eyes with a small shrug. "I only told her that so she wouldn't worry as much." He then opened his eyes as he stood. "In less than ten seconds, I'll have the three of you writhing on the floor at the same time, then I'll be making my escape." He said as he got in a stance with the sword. He then leapt off the steps raising his sword overhead to first strike the officer in the middle and brought the blade down against his skull. The sound of metal striking bone was heard assuring Soujiro the man would eventually wake up with a concussion. He should still live, however. Once Soujiro landed over the incapacitated man, he swung the blade to his left to strike the second man's legs and followed the attack by thrusting the hilt upwards to strike the torso of the third officer and then kicked him against the wall. The wall cracked behind the man before he collapsed motionless against the ground.
Soujiro smirked when his gaze met that of the officer still left conscious from him merely striking at his legs. That was not by accident.
Soujiro lowered his sword at the man's throat. "Having a sharp sword is not just for making an easy kill. It's a kindness really. Those who have been killed by my hand either don't feel it long, or they're killed without ever knowing it was upon them. As an assassin, I'll admit, I mostly performed the latter so my targets didn't have to suffer long by my hand. I never actually relished seeing people suffer." He grinned innocently. Then his expression darkened as he pressed the blade into the officer's throat. "You, on the other hand, I couldn't care less about showing such kindness to." The officer closed his eyes thinking Soujiro was going to run the blade though. Instead, Soujiro gripped the blunt sword with both hands and thrust it down on the officer's left thigh. Flesh and bone was heard tearing and cracking under the man's leg as Soujiro shoved the blade through.
The officer craned his head back with a blood curdling scream and sat up to lunge at Soujiro in some effort to stop him from pushing the blade through. The moment he sat up to fight Soujiro off, Soujiro thrust a front kick to his face to slam him back down against the floor. He followed through with his torture by pinning the man down with his foot to his chest and wrenched the sword in further into his leg. The officer tried moving around in a feeble attempt to escape and twisted in every direction only allowing the sword to bite deeper within his flesh. "Listen carefully." Soujiro started so to get his attention after torturing him a bit. "If you or any of you government dogs target her again, I'll expose the Meiji for everything that it is. Shishio could crumble them to dust by exposing the secrets they tried to bury by killing him. So can I. I was his soldier of chaos for a reason." He cackled as he wrenched the blade to make the man scream again. He then stepped on the man's leg to tear and wrench the blade back out causing the man to holler in pain for the last time. He knelt down next to the quivering man to use his coat to wipe the blood off the sword. "I did all the dirty work for him. Your employers must be aware of that. But maybe you should remind them for me?" He stood and turned away as he returned the sword to the sheath. He headed back up the steps. " You're welcome to come after me, but me alone. Stay away from her."
Soujiro was forced to ignore the small crowd that had gathered at the end of the hall. They had been there since he intervened in Koharu's behalf. They were clearly in shock at what Soujiro had done, but strangely, they hadn't turned completely away in fear for their lives. He was sure they didn't know what to do. These policemen already had a reputation for being ruthless bullies and would kill over the smallest crime, even if it was a child. Some in the crowd probably secretly praised Soujiro for what he did. They just couldn't be sure about Soujiro anymore. He clearly was on the wrong side of the law and it was in their best interest to not involve themselves.
Soujiro knew it was time to leave.
As soon as he turned out of view on the top of the steps, he fell against the wall to catch his breath and clutched at his injured arm. Everything he had said to the last officer was more of a bluff than anything. Soujiro didn't know as much as he claimed. He never asked Shishio such questions about the Meiji. Not only was it because he followed orders without question, but it was because his whole life revolved around being survivor of the fittest. It had been reason enough for him to kill without question.
That may come to haunt me later, he realized while thinking back on the threat he just made. He had threatened to crumble them just by speaking of what Shishio alone took to his grave. It would definitely turn the attention fully on him. If that information was that valuable, they would want to silence him. Targeting Koharu, to them at least, now meant risking sensitive information being released in the open. So they would have to target him alone. The question now was if they would still want him brought in alive, or would he end up suffering like his master once did. Shooting Shishio had not been enough, but he was burnt on top of that.
Maybe I didn't think this through.…
He lowered his sleeve to see, or rather feel the state of his arm since the actual lesion resided behind his arm. The moment he touched the wound, he felt it seeping through and down his skin. He dropped his head against the wall. "It's never going to heal if I keep reopening it." He sighed and stood straight keeping his arm and shoulder exposed. He wasn't wanting to ruin his new clothes already.
As soon as Soujiro slid the door aside to their room, he was nearly whacked in the face with a certain parasol before he managed to catch it against his hand. He sighed. "So much for that faith, Koharu."
Koharu raised her glistening eyes as the tears brimmed and started streaming down her face. She shook her head dropping her hold on the parasol as she embraced him which caused him to drop it. "I knew you'd stop it if it was really you. Thank you for saving me again, Sou. I should have taken your warning more seriously. I'm so sorry."
"There you go apologizing again." He dropped his hands on her shoulders to make her look at him. "It's obvious we can't stay here. We need to leave right away." He then knelt down to her height. "First, do we have any clean towels left?"
She nodded having to dry her tears all over again and fetched a clean towel kept near his bed.
"Good. I need you to try and tie it around my arm. I seem to have opened the wound again."
She obey and began tying the towel to his arm the best she could. Her hands still trembled from her near death experience. "How did they find us?"
"They knew I'd be injured and unable to leave Tokyo right away. They probably have policemen searching the whole city and likely inns I'd been staying in. I'm sure this wasn't the first place those three had checked out." Once Koharu finished tying up the wound, he grabbed the wrap Avaron gifted him with and wrapped it around his shoulders before approaching the window. He carefully opened it to make sure the street was still empty.
"Where will we go?"
"Our first priority is getting out of here." He knelt down and looked over his shoulder towards her. "Come on. Now."
She nodded putting her brave face back on before approaching him. She rested her arms securely around his neck as he took hold of her legs at his sides and swiftly made the jump through the window.
His landing was not as smooth.
Koharu yelped when Soujiro stumbled forward into the snow and fell on his side as he started into another series of painful coughs. By the time she looked over his shoulder, she saw the blood now tainting the snow near Soujiro's mouth. When he stopped coughing, she felt his body become too complacent laying against the snow and he closed his eyes.
After a moment, he chuckled weakly. "It's amazing what the body can do when it's feels threatened. I almost forgot I was sick while fighting those officers. The moment I heard you scream, I was ready to act. Now it's as if my body knows the danger has passed." He could barely find the will to move again and fighting did take its toll on him.
"See? I was right. The sword does empower you. " Koharu tried to keep to a lighthearted tone.
Soujiro shook his head as he sat up. "No. Attacking people I care about does." He looked over his shoulder towards her with a smile. "No one messes with my little sister and gets away it." He affectionately nudged his arm into her.
There was probably no better way for a brother to express his love for a sister than saying and proving those words true to her. Koharu had never imagined such words being able to leave his mouth. He really has changed, she thought as she smiled affectionately back at him
Her smile didn't last when he turned away to cough again and clutched at his wrap as he shivered. Koharu's eyes then took note of the few snowflakes starting to fall around them.
The snowstorm! Sou won't last if he is out in it….
Soujiro was taking a moment to contemplate and go over all his options. Since leaving Avaron and then Megumi and Sanosuke, he had long been trying to think of what he should do if this very thing happened with the police. None of the options he had were desirable, but one did stand out above the others. Koharu could be under the best protection even now.
Before he could mention anything out loud, he felt her lift his arm and bring it around her shoulders. She then wrapped her other arm around his side to urge him back on his feet. "Come on. I'm sure it isn't much longer before more of those guys show up." With her help, Soujiro got his feet beneath him and was able to stand with her support. They were soon on the move again. "I heard talk of a storm happening tonight. We need to get you somewhere warm," she said with resolve.
She's trying just as hard to save me as I am her, he amused. She was even trying to lead him as if he was fully counting on her.
Even when they came upon the main road, she let him rest against the wall while she peered around the corner to look both ways. She turned to face him. "We should stay off the busy roads, right? We can keep cutting across the allies. We're bound to find somewhere to hide. Maybe some place that's abandoned and you'll be able to stay warm," she said hopefully.
He nodded to her. "Maybe. It's a start."
"All right," she said determinedly. She turned to face the busy road and grabbed at his hand to lead him through. "Let's go."