Don't Look Back – Chapter 21

The Meaning Of Beauty

((Kentoku's POV))

I was pacing around my office, waiting for anything to happen. Reports for the past few days have been saying that Kallisto had disappeared. But I know better. She's still here, and she's waiting. Sure enough, Perun burst into my office.

"Father! She's here, and she's ready to attack!"

I sent him off to alert the rest of the bathhouse while I got into something that I could easily move around in. I chose robes. Some would say that they are more restrictive, but when one has been trained in them…

I donned on pants and an outer robe that was a light cream. The hem, sleeves and neckline of the robe had a light blue trim. With that done, I tied a sash of a deep navy blue around my waist. Gathering my long hair into a low ponytail, I grabbed my naginata and went down to the bridge of the bathhouse.

When everyone was gathered outside, the wall of water was parted to reveal Kallisto and Maeve with a few Druids. With a smirk, I realized that Kallisto had a prosthetic arm. I realized she was screaming at us like she always does, so I began to pay attention.

"If you think that you can win this battle… that thought shall be your downfall!"

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up Kallisto. Instead of shouting at us, why don't you prove your words?"

She laughed and raised her arms. A lot more soldiers than last time stood up among the ruined restaurants.

Haku looked at me out of the corner of his eye, "All right. Now we know she means business. So… how do we get ourselves out of this one?"

"Get out of it? My son, we don't get out of this easily. There's only one way. Fight."

The battle was taking place in the ruined village in front of the bathhouse. I remained just before the bridge if the Druids became stupid enough to take our fortress. I saw my sons battling together, guarding each other's backs against any oncoming attacks. I smiled to myself. They had been training together for the past few days, and were doing a marvelous job. Amaya had taken up a bow with Chihiro and were shooting from a distance behind me. They had saved me a couple of times, and they will be rewarded greatly… with more intense shooting lessons. I smiled at the thought. Amaya would complain and Chihiro would jump and accept the challenge. Yubaba was standing with them, shooting some very nasty beams of light. Druids went flying all over the place. I had seen nothing of Rin. But not that I would expect her to be out here anyway.

Suddenly, a group of about seven Druids charged me, interrupting my thoughts. I lashed out with my naginata, the three-foot blade eliminating two warriors with a single sweep. One jumped and fled back to do some easier fighting, leaving me with four to deal with. The battle had been dragging on for about an hour, and I was about to drop. Battling four people was not on my to do list at the moment. Nonetheless, someone had to take care of them.

I lashed out again and the four jumped back, and then rushed me. One kneed me in the gut, and another delivered a kick to my chest, ultimately sending me flying. I crashed onto the hard wood of the bridge, winded. I was up in seconds, and running back at them, my weapon poised. With a cry, I swung, catching one in the gut. He went flying back, leaving me with only three to face.

One rushed me, drawing his sword and cutting me across the chest. The next one flew by and gave me a gash on my left arm. With a cry, I nearly dropped my naginata. The wound was bleeding profusely, and the wound on my chest was beginning to throb. I had to use my weapon with one hand now, and was not pleased at the thought in the slightest. Then, all three Druids jumped at once.

I tried to fend them off, making sure that they didn't land another score on me. One laughed insanely. "So this is how the mighty Kentoku dies? On a bridge of a bathhouse, barely able to fight back? How pathetic."

((Rin's POV))

I successfully knocked another stupid idiot who came to close with my staff. Over the clamor of the fighting, I heard insane laughter. 'Probably just some maniac Druid thinking that's his side is winning.' I thought to myself, but that thought immediately fled when I saw Kentoku.

The three Druids he was fighting meant business and were dead set on the fact that he wouldn't come out of this alive. With a cry of shock, I saw the one of the men send Kentoku flying. He hit the bridge with a sickening thud, and didn't move. His naginata lay forgotten a few inches from his uninjured hand. With horror, I watched him struggle to stand once again. But before he could even pick up his weapon once again, the Druids once again attacked.

My blood boiled. How dare they! Can't they see he can barely fight back? With a cry of rage, and ran towards the ignorant men. Twirling my staff, I hit one in the back of the head, and clipped the other one's shoulder. The man spun around, and I delivered a solid blow to his head. He joined his friend. The last man turned to face me instead of finishing off his original target.

I was in my own little world now. Just my enemy and me. Nothing else in the world existed. He swung his blade, and I deflected it, ramming the end of my staff into his gut. He doubled over in pain, and I hit him on the back of the head. He crumpled to the ground and I rushed over to Kentoku. He managed to grab his weapon and get into a kneeling position. I dropped my staff and helped him up.

He looked at me, his blue and violet eyes slightly unfocused. "Thank you… Rin."

"Don't say anything, we have to get you inside."

"But-"

"I don't care that you don't want to go in just yet!" I cried as I forced him back toward the entrance of the bathhouse. "You can barely stand, let alone fight! You need to get some rest and some major healing. Get over it."

It's been two days since the attack, and as usual, Kallisto fled. We don't know what her motives were for attacking this time. Attacking irregularly isn't going to do anything except weaken her forces. Kentoku had been resting after Yubaba healed him to the best of her ability. Chihiro said she felt faint, and went off to bed. Haku seemed worried, so I ordered him to go up after her and get some rest himself. Perun and Amaya went off somewhere together, although I doubt it was to have some kind of victory fun. He's to worn out.

Kasumi was bustling about in the sick bay, helping wherever she could. She may have worked here for as long as I have, but I didn't trust her one bit. And the fact that she was Chihiro's maid didn't help. I couldn't say anything against her in fear that Yubaba would kick me out of this bathhouse. And during a war where you wanted to be on a side, particularly the safe side… being kicked out was a very bad thing.

I don't know why I didn't trust her… I guess that I just didn't like her go-happy demeanor. Chihiro has one most of the time, but Kasumi's just drives me to utter insanity. The way she's always-

Okay, I'm not going to do this. I'm not going to get myself all in a knot when she's completely loyal to the people she serves-

But what if she's not?

I slapped my forehead and gave myself a severe scolding. I was NOT going to think like this!

To get my mind off of thinking horrible and untrue things, I went to visit Kentoku. Since I had dragged him back to the bathhouse, Yubaba allowed me to see him. Actually, she appointed me to be his caretaker. There really isn't a difference; I still have to go up the elevator every two hours to check on him. I entered his room silently and looked at him. I knew that his wounds were severe, but I knew that he was a fast healer too. So why has it been two days, almost three since he's even moved?

I shut the sliding door behind me without a sound, and went over to his futon. It was about an inch off of the floor, and sat upon a wooden frame. I silently wondered how he actually slept in it. I guess rolling off the bed in the middle of the night and waking up with a huge headache isn't a problem for him. I kneeled down next to him, and looked hard at his face.

Oh yes, he was attractive. But like I would admit that to anyone, especially him. I reached a hand out to lightly touch his forehead. It was a little hot, so I busied myself getting a basin of water and a cloth. I got the white cloth wet and wrung it out with little noise. I dabbed his forehead a bit to cool him down when his eyes snapped open.

"Whoa!" I cried… well, rather squeaked and jumped to my feet. "I'm so sorry! Were you asleep?"

He looked up at me and chuckled at my antics. "No, I was awake."

"You could have said something! You nearly scared me to death!" I said, kneeling back down.

"I can see that." He said, but didn't say anything more when I gave him my famous shut-up-if-you-want-to-live glare. "How long have I been asleep?"

"You've been out for two days, almost three." I said, getting up and rummaging around in a basket nearby for some bandages. "Now, no doubt that your bindings need to be changed. Do you think you can sit up?"

He snorted in response, followed by sheets moving. He sighed, "No."

"You can't get up?"

He grimaced, "Not without my chest burning."

"Oh, so it's burning? Well, that's good."

He glared at me. "I fail to see how that's 'good'. Care to explain?"

"It means it's healing… and that you're not dead." I said with some sarcasm, helping him sit up.

He snorted, "I think I tell that for myself thank you very much."

I refrained from rolling my eyes. "Yup, you're just like I thought you would be."

"And how is that?"

I looked at him sternly. "I'm not here to chat with you. I'm here to make sure that you're still alive and change your bandages." With that said, I undid the bandage on his chest, and grabbed some nearby ointment. I unscrewed the lid, and the both of us wrinkled our noses at the smell.

"You really have to use that?" He asked, looking at the contents of the jar with distaste.

I nearly laughed at his face, "Yes I do. Now, this may sting so hold still."

((Kentoku's POV))

This may sting my ass! It BURNED. And I wasn't happy with some sarcastic girl coming into my room and acting like she's in charge of me, and THEN putting this… "healing ointment" on my wound! I wasn't going to go with the keep-your-emotions-inside junk I had been trained to do.

"What is that?" I cried in outrage as she began to bind my chest back.

"Oh suck it up Kentoku. I use this stuff all of the time."

That shut me up. I was fuming inside, but the flames of my anger were slowly dying. The feel of her arms moving across my chest as she rebound it was very… distracting. She wasn't beautiful like Lavanya was, but I was slowly coming to the point where I didn't care. She had a certain spark that my wife didn't. I think I sort of like it…

Then I began to feel a little guilty for being so rude a few seconds ago. I wanted to apologize, but doing outright just wasn't me. She finished wrapping the bandage around my chest and moved to undo the one on my arm. I was filled with a small amount of disappointment when I no longer felt her arms around me. I squeezed my eyes shut and demanded that I get those thoughts out of my head.

"I'm sorry, did I tie the bandage to tight?" She softly asked me. I jerked and looked into her gray eyes. ((A/N: I think they're brown, but I wanted diversity. They're gray. Get over it.))

I cleared my throat, trying to think of a reply. It wasn't that tight… "A little bit."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'll redo it." She said and began undoing the bandage around my chest.

I have no idea why I flat out lied. If it was the fact that it really was tight, or that I wanted to have her arms wrap around me again I guess I'll never know. My previous irritation melted away into a peaceful mood as she once again tied the bandage.

"Is that better?" she asked.

I inclined my head and met her gaze, "Yes, thank you… Rin is it?"

"Ah, yes." She said, startled that I remembered her name. I smiled, "I do have a memory Rin, contrary to what people think."

She blushed. I was a little shocked. I wasn't thinking that I would get that kind of reaction from her. She undid the rest of the bandage on my arm and grabbed the jar of ointment. She gave me a hesitant smile. "Sorry about this…"

I hissed as the lotion went on, but I didn't say anything. Instead of focusing on the burning, I focused on her smooth and cool hand rubbing it on my wound. When she was done, I felt disappointed. Rin bound it and gave me a smile.

"There you go, good as new. You'll have to stay in bed for a while because of you're chest, but at least you're awake. Are you up for some visitors?"

"Visitors? Why?" I asked, watching her put back the ointment and extra bandages.

She shook her head and chuckled. "You have been out for two days you know. Everyone's worried about an old guy like you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so I'm old?"

She smiled at me. "If you can let three men overpower you, then yes, you're old."

I laughed and looked at her dead in the eye. When my laughter subsided, my voice took on a serious tone. "Thank you for saving my life Rin."

"It was nothing." She murmured with a blush and left the room.

I laid my head back down on my pillow with a smile. I like that woman. Sure, Rin may not be as beautiful and attractive as Lavanya, but she was special in her own way. She had spunk and determination that my wife didn't have. I could tell from looking at her that she had a will power like no other spirit that I've met for a long time.

She's different. And that's what makes her beautiful.

A/N: I actually looked up what a futon actually was, and I was surprised. You know those couches that you fold down and make a bed? We call that a futon, so I thought that's what the only thing the word was referring to. But, a futon is actually those Japanese beds that lie directly on the floor. I might be the only one that didn't know that… but anyway.

Right, now I'll go on and talk about things that actually matter. I LOVED THIS CHAPTER! I loved writing it and I'm obbsessed with writing this.I've noticed that some genres of fan fiction are easier to write than others, and I can safely say that this is the one I've been most successful with. Hello! I've gotten TWO HUNDERED AND TWENTY NINE REVIEWS! OMG!

If I hit another big number, like 250, I'll dedicate a chapter to the 250th reviewer... or something like that.

xX44th DreamMasterXx
Priestess Kohana
annoying-little-girl
marajade963
Kataan
XxLil-AngelxX
White Dragon 69
Mushrambolover
Spirited Child
Akina1992

And a special thanks to the following people...

Dreaming Rose - I'll always take time to read reviews, no matter how long or short they be. It's really cool to see what you guys think about what I write. And who actually has something to say to me other than "loved the chapter" ((lol)) And you really need to get a profile, b/c I would much like to reply to your reviews... hmm.

Giddyupgal - ((lol)) Yes, I hope for more fluff to come. Sadly... I'm not sure if there's going to be fluff in the next chapter, mainly b/c I'm not looking at my notes as I type this. Well, I do hope that this chapter made up for the lack of fluff...

angelofblades543 - You say that you have a whole notebook of OC's? YES! Yay! Okay, I sent you a message about what I'm looking for. And when she appears, that chapter will be yours! See? There's benifits to this! ((lol))

Thank you all so much for reviewing!

-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-