I hold no claim to the characters from this kick-ass Anime. Only Ryu, Liza, and Reiko are mine!
FYI, This is a really long Chapter!
Chapter Fourteen
A Promise
A sigh of satisfaction left Reiko's mouth as the water of the Hot Springs encased her body. It felt like it had been weeks since her last bath. With all the running around that they had been doing lately, especially the events at the castle, it was nice to let her limbs stretch out in the hot water and soothe their aching.
It had been almost a week since the Baseball Game with the Americans but Mugen was still bragging about his 'awesome' pitching and laughing at Jin for being knocked out like he had been. Fuu and Ryu were the adorable duo they always were, leaving just one person.
Liza was plotting something. The blonde was acting as normal as she can, but Reiko had been around her long enough to know when her devious mind was at work.
As she found a large rock to lean against, she closed her eyes in gratification as she thought about the last few days.
Liza and Mugen both had been adamant about coming here. They claimed that it was for privacy but considering where the two of them had sex for the first time, and every time afterwards, they definitely weren't subtle, so Reiko knew that it wasn't for privacy.
She thought that, perhaps, she was overthinking things, but as Liza demanded she be the first one in the Hot Springs, and alone, she knew that she was right. Instead of arguing or trying to figure out what the blonde wanted, Reiko just went along with it. Sake and food were sitting off to the side for when she wanted it, Liza telling her to take her time.
Her tolerance for the extreme temperature was never much but she found herself too tired to move despite that. She always told herself that she was foolish, but she couldn't help it. She though that, just maybe, the water could burn it all away; all her scars.
She never wanted to return to Norika Castle, not in real life, and not in her dreams. Drinking right before bed always kept the memories back but ever since the attack she hadn't slept a wink. She…she was too afraid too.
Liza had told Mugen everything that had happened at Norika Castle; he had approached her about it not too long ago. The conversation didn't…go how she originally thought that it would.
"I'm…I'm not good at these kinds of things," Mugen rubbed the back of his neck, looking very uncomfortable. "But I had to say something."
"It's not necessary," Reiko didn't even glance up from the fire she was tending to. Everyone else was asleep, giving them privacy.
"It is to me," He told her. He then gave a sigh. "Look, I'm not going to grieve for you or apologize or give you pity. That crazy shit happened over ten years ago so it would do no good now. Besides, knowing what kind of woman you are, it would just piss you off."
Reiko gave a small smirk. At least he understood that.
"What I do want to say is…thank you."
She finally looked up at him. "Thank you?"
"Yeah. Thank you… for saving Elizabeth."
Reiko didn't know the last time she felt so happy. She may have thought poorly about Mugen when this crazy journey of theirs began, but she appreciated him now.
How could she not?
The Hot Spring was surrounded by a large wooden fence and it was the sound of the doorway opening that made her catch her breath. She froze, waiting. If it was Liza or Fuu, both wwomen would have announced their presence first thing. Had another assassin followed them here? Reiko had never fought naked before.
Oh well; first time for everything.
Staying behind the large rock, she snuck a look around it when she saw the ripples from someone entering the water. She instantly moved behind the rock again. She felt her skin growing hotter; and not from the water.
Jin had been the one to enter the Hot Spring. Reiko should have waited longer to take a glance because she ended up with a good…view before the water had risen above to his waist.
Jin's physique was thin and pale, unlike Ryu, who was tan and muscular, but Reiko had felt Jin's body before. For such a thin guy, he was strong.
And warm.
And comforting.
And-
Reiko slapped a hand over her face, trying to ignore the feelings in her stomach. They…they were unlike anything that she had ever felt before. They were pure, genuine. And she hated them. She hated feeling like this; about anyone. It made her sick about herself; disgusted.
And yet all she wanted was to feel his warmth again.
Glancing up, she took in a ragged breath. Jin had moved into clear view of her, yet to notice her, though. She took this moment to stare some more.
His shoulders were broad and smooth, she remembered from patching him up not too long ago. His black hair was released from it's tie, leaving it to cascade over his shoulders and back. His face was that blank, stoic look, as always, but his glasses were nowhere to be seen. It left his dark eyes more noticeable; more captivating.
She had two choices here. She could say something and one of them could leave or she could stare until Jin noticed her.
She really wanted to go with option two.
With a frown, Reiko crossed her arms. Something didn't make sense. Fuu and Liza would have told Jin that she was in the Hot Spring, so why-
"So, that's her plan."
She watched as Jin's head shot up and his eyes found her. She hated how adorable she found his blush to be.
"R-Reiko?" He jumped up just to remember he was naked and splashed back down up to his neck. "Forgive me! I…I was told no one was in here." He began to wander back out of her sight. "I shall leave-"
"If Elizabeth was the one to tell you that, then don't bother. She's probably locked us in together."
She heard the man give a sigh before he sauntered back to his previous spot; back into her view.
"I apologize," He told her. "But why would she-"
"Because she believes that you can heal my heart," Her voice cut him off. "She thinks that now she and Mugen are a thing, that you are the next step for me in waving off the past."
Silence passed between them before Jin spoke again.
"And can I be?"
Reiko refused to look up, instead watching as water escaped through her fingers. "I doubt anyone could dig down that far."
As things fell silent between them, Jin found himself going through his memories. Several times he had tried to crack through her defenses and open up. He made it his personal mission because he was curious but now…now he didn't believe that it was just curiosity that kept him prying.
"You lie; all you men do. The lust is clear on your face. It always is."
The anger, the pain in her voice, made his frown deepen. It was clear that had been hurt. Did it have anything to do with what he saw the night before?
There, back at Zuikou's home, he had seen something that he should not have. He had chanced by the bathing room just as Reiko had been undressing; apparently, she was not aware that she had left the door open a bit and so he got an eyeful of her back. She was a slim woman, curves that he would normally enjoy looking at and white skin that he would love to touch but there was something else there than made him freeze. He could still see them in his mind even now, plain as day. There had been burn marks all over her back, and not from just some kind of wild fire. There were stab marks and slashes as well.
This woman…she had been tortured.
"You don't trust men, do you?" Jin found the question leaving his mouth before he could stop himself.
She raised her eyes to look at him; he could see the anger in her cold, grey eyes. He also saw something else. A feeling that he couldn't describe.
"It's not just men," She finally replied. "It's everyone. The only one I can trust is Liza."
Jin stared at her. "Allow me a chance to change that."
He didn't know why he said that but there was just a feeling in his stomach that told him to do just that.
"It's a lost cause," She told him, finally standing. "So, don't bother; it'll just annoy me in the end worse than you already do."
"Wait," Jin moved forward as she began to leave. "It won't do much, but take my hat," He held it out to her. "I know you're already wet, but it can help at least a little."
Reiko glanced at him again before reaching into her kimono and dropping money on the counter before walking off into the rain again in silence. Jin gave a disheartened sigh. She was, undoubtedly, a hard egg to crack. That's what he was trying to do after all, right? He just didn't understand why that was. Then again, did he really need a reason? He was raised to respect women and to treat them right and help them when in discomfort. That's all this was, wasn't it?
No, it wasn't just curiosity anymore, and he knew that. He knew that it had transformed into something much, much more than that. He originally knew that any hope of Reiko…returning the feelings he had developed for her was a fate that could never happen but then…he began to notice changes in her. His hopes…maybe they weren't entirely lost…
The Night was quiet up on deck that evening, save for the soft chuckles coming from the stairs that led up to the wheel of the ship. Jin had found himself unable to sleep that night. Ryu and Mugen were on guard duty incase any of the crew tried to do anything but he decided to get up and take a walk. He wanted to keep things silent. That had been the plan anyway, but the soft chuckles caught his ear, making him venture closer to see who it was.
He wasn't expecting who he found.
"Are you sure its safe for you to be out here right now?"
Reiko didn't even glance at the man as he stood over her as she took another drink from the bottle in her hand. "Why does it matter? Now that they know I'm one of the infamous Terror Sisters, the pussies are too scared to come near me, let alone stand up to me." She took another drink. "What about you? You're an accomplice now, you know."
"I can take care of myself," He answered her. HE took a deep breath before taking a seat beside her. He was expecting her to move away but she just continued to sit there.
"You're not wearing your glasses," Reiko sniffed, rubbing her nose with her sleeve. "If they don't do anything, why keep them?"
"They're a Memento," He answered her. "Of my master."
"Hmm…" She closed her eyes. "Mementos only make us cling to the past. Sometimes…it's easier just to forget it all."
At her words, Jin saw all those scars on her back in his mind. It wasn't hard to understand why that woman would want to forget everything. He couldn't get those marks out of his head, no matter how hard he tried to.
"How's Liza?" He finally asked.
"Sleeping. Fuu's watching over her…" There was a tremble in her shoulders again; he was close enough to feel them. "I…I almost lost her. I don't…I don't know if I'd be able to go on living without her."
Jin stared at her in silence before glancing away again. "She's the only one that understands your pain, am I right? She…suffered what you had to, didn't she?" Her silence was the only answer that he needed. "I don't know what it is you've gone through, or why you decided to burn down Norika Castle, but you don't have to think you're alone anymore. We're all outlaws now, after all."
Jin didn't understand why he felt the need to comfort this woman this far but he felt that it was the right thing to do. He had seen a different side of her today and he found himself wanting to see just how far he had to push to bring it back out; to make it stay.
"Are there any other weaknesses that you or Liza have other than not being able to swim that we should know about?"
Reiko stared at him. "It's…a secret; not even Liza knows about it," She mumbled, glancing away again. "You have to keep it secret."
Jin nodded, excitement building in his stomach. "What is it?"
She looked back at him, face as serious as possible. "I can't see in the dark."
"Are you-" He then noticed the look on her face. "Was that…a joke?"
She took another drink. "Why would I do that?"
He frowned. There was something strange going on here. "Are you drunk?"
"Don't be stupid," She scoffed. "Drunk and drinking are two different things entirely and I will know when I'm drunken, thank you."
Jin reached out and took the bottle from her hands; she didn't struggle and just stared at the steps beneath her. Sniffing the opening, Jin frowned a bit as Sake hit him. How long had she been sitting out here drinking? She must have gone into the pantry and taken it from one of the crew.
With a silent sigh, Jin took a drink himself before handing it back to her. She gave a snort and took another drink before returning it to him again. Jin, normally, would have stopped her from drinking like this, but after today…he didn't see a problem with it.
"I'm afraid," Her voice began again after another drink. "I almost lost her today and there would have been nothing that I could have done to save her. I would have sunk with her…no, that's a lie." Her voice trembled. "I would have let her go and saved myself. Liza would have sunk to the bottom until she died while I saved myself like a coward. Why…why can't I just keep her safe? She's mine! It's my duty! It's my job to keep her safe!"
Jin was silent for a moment, thinking over her words. Something more than just Norika Castle tied these two women together. Something more emotional, painful.
"Norika fell over ten years ago, did it not? Have you not kept her safe for that long? If I guess correctly, she was but a child. Seven or so? You saved her from that burning castle. You saved her from something. I doubt you really just went on a rampage and killed over a hundred people. You've been protecting her since then. You've done a good job so far, but you can't always protect her. If you hold onto her too tightly, you could ruin everything between the two of you."
Reiko gave a snort. "You say that because you don't understand. The bond the two of us share can never be broken. Liza will always, always be my salut."
He cocked a brow. Salut? That was obviously a foreign word, but he didn't know from where. Was it foreign for child? Was Reiko Liza's mother?
No, that was foolish. Reiko was too young to be her mother, Liza didn't have any of her features, either.
"Reiko, just what happened at-"
His words came to a halt as pressure was applied to his right arm. Turning his head, he was surprised to find that Reiko had leaned up against him, using his arm as a pillow. She had fallen asleep on him. He felt his face heat up. He had slept with women before, yes, but this was Reiko we were talking about. He couldn't lie, he was attracted to her, he admitted that when they split up in the woods and he found himself only able to worry about her safety. He was happy when they were reunited but she had been just as cold as ever; until today. He had seen another side of this woman and his wish had come true. Now he just needed to find a way to keep it.
The silence was broken by a small noise from Reiko's mouth; a little hiccup. His face got redder; it was cute. It got worse as she buried her face further into his shoulder. He moved slowly and pulled her closer against him, careful of her left shoulder.
Jin gave a smile to himself as the warmth spread through the rest of his body.
One of the Terror Sisters couldn't swim. The other couldn't hold her liquor. Who'd have thought it?
Despite what she said or how she acted, Reiko had become attatched the their strange group just as much as everyone else, she just refused to say or do anything. The meaner she was to them, the harder she was trying to push them away. Jin found it to be…cute.
"Is she asleep?"
Reiko glanced at the samurai that stood off to the side. She really wasn't in the mood for this right now. "Why do you linger here? Just leave the two of us in peace."
Jin just stared at her blankly. He should have known by now that she wasn't going to give him what he wanted. He was going to have to work for it even harder than before now.
"Why did you do that?"
She closed her eyes. "Do what?"
"Put on that display," He answered her. "I admit that Liza is...quite flirtatious with everyone but I know for a fact that you...the two of you have not...embraced each other."
Not even a fire could save him from the chill that he now felt in the air around them. Was he making a mistake here?
No, he couldn't double-think himself now. He had to do this if he wanted his answers.
"How do you know we haven't?" She replied harshly. "You know nothing about us."
"I know that you haven't because of what occurred at Norika Castle," At his words he saw the anger in that woman's eyes; but she stayed silent. "Whatever happened in that castle has scarred not only you but that young woman sleeping inside. She may talk big, but the very thought of sex scares her. It scares both of you."
Reiko stared at the man for a moment. Jin saw that her eyes were still that cold grey, yes, but there was something else there right now; a flicker that he had never seen before. It was gone soon after he saw it though, just as her anger returned.
"I don't know what you think you know, four-eyes, but it would be in your best interest to stop making assumptions on what Elizabeth and I do. If you don't then you will undoubtedly find yourself with more than just the Vagabond trying to kill you this time." She turned to re-enter the room that she and Liza were sharing. "No one will be able to save you then."
"It's not me who needs the saving," Jin's words made her pause. "But you; both of you. Asking for help, no matter what kind, is not a sign of weakness."
"But isn't it?" Reiko's voice was soft. "If I cannot protect what I hold dear, am I not weak. If I can't even save Elizabeth from drowning, then what good am I? How can I expect to save her from anything else!?"
Jin felt his heart beat faster. This was the most that she had opened to him. He was getting closer and closer to what he wanted; closer to her. This broken woman before him was barely hanging onto her sanity anymore. He…he had to save her.
"You can't do everything on your own, Reiko," It was one of the few times that her name had ever left his lips and it made her turn to look at him. If it had not been a full moon that night, then he wouldn't have seen the uncertainty, the fear, in her eyes; the tears that were beginning to form. "Everyone wants to protect everything important to them, but sometimes they kill themselves in the process. You and I both know that Liza wouldn't want you to do this to yourself. If you can't trust me, then trust her."
Reiko frowned, staring off to the side. "You make it sound so easy. You don't understand anything about what we've been through."
"I know I don't," He answered her truthfully. "And I know that trying to force you to tell me isn't going to work. I can wait no matter how long it takes until you finally do."
Why was he making this promise to her? He had nothing to do with this woman outside of them being stuck together until the find the samurai that smells of sunflowers. Maybe…maybe it was because he, if even a little, he could relate to her. He was, after all, a man on the run as well.
Reiko went to reply when movement to her left caught her eye. She was Liza disappear around the corner and frowned. She had thought the other woman was asleep, apparently that was not the case. Her stomach began to unsettle itself. If Liza was trying to sneak out past her then it only mean one thing.
"Jin, gather the others and take them away as fast as you can," Reiko told the man before her. "It's not safe for us to stay here anymore."
Jin wanted to open his mouth again, ask for answers, but he thought against it. He had seen Liza sneak past them as well. He had to trust that Reiko knew what she was doing. He had to trust her before she could trust him.
"Don't be long."
Reiko was still for a moment before giving him a short nod. Taking it, the man turned and went to gather the other three members of their group and leave behind everything about his place.
"You won't know until you let someone try."
She glanced at him and he saw that same enraged look in her grey eyes. The guarded look, the fire that told him that he was getting too close to her boundaries.
"What makes you think I want someone to try?"
"It's not just words one can use to speak to others with, Reiko." She suppressed the will to look at him, instead turning to the floatable tray of food and Sake. With a sigh, she helped herself to it.
As she turned her back to him, Jin, as always, found himself looking at all her scars again. The more he stared at them, the more he wanted to touch them. He had a fantasy that he might be able to make them all disappear. Unfortunately, his previous deduction had been proven true. From what he saw on her chest, there were more scars there that mirrored her back.
He felt…infuriated. The thought of anyone leaving marks like that on a woman's skin, on HER skin, made his rage boil.
"Tell me," Reiko's voice pulled him from his thoughts and he found the loaded tray floating towards him. "After we're done helping Fuu, what do you plan on doing?"
He took a drink before pushing the tray back towards here. If she was…fine being with him like this, then he wouldn't say a word.
"More or less what you and Liza are doing right now." he admitted. "After Mugen and I have our fight, of course."
Reiko took another drink. She remembered being told about the promise of battle the two men had given each other when they first met. Honestly, she wasn't surprised.
"Now that Liza has…laid claim to Mugen, you understand that she's not just going to let that happen, right?" She glanced at him again. "And neither will I." There was a smirk on her face now. "It would be a shame if something were to happen to either of you."
Jin paused the cup at his lips for a moment. This woman…her attitude could change in a blink of an eye. One moment she was angry, a tough shell to crack, and the next she was playful, like a kitten. There was clearly a war raging in her head, it had most likely been a battle for a long time. On one side you had Reiko, calm and playful and normal, and on the other side was the elder of the Terror Sisters, untrusting and brutal and a murderer. As he continued to stare, he watched as her face was split down the middle, the left side holding her smile she had given Mugen and Ryu when they saved Liza from drowning and the right side was the look she had given him all these days ago when he had chosen to save that woman from the brothel; enraged and ready to kill.
Despite her being like this, Jin was happy. With this internal war going on, it proved that there was still a kind soul behind the monster that she had turned into. It meant that she hadn't given up. He, undoubtedly, had Liza to thank for that.
He had an idea that could either give him what he wanted or ruin what he had tried so hard to accomplish. Should…should he risk it? Was it going to be worth it?
As he stared at the woman across from him, her body hidden beneath the water, he took in the small little smile on her face as the tray floated back to her and grabbed another drink.
He decided that it was worth it.
"Back on the ship, you called Liza your…Salut." Jin watched as her face twitched a bit, her smile falling a bit. "What does that mean?"
She was silent for a moment, staring at the sake in her hand. She went to drink it before stopping herself and placing it back on the tray. Pushing it towards him again, she turned her back to him, leaning over the edge of the Hot Spring. Jin couldn't help himself now. Her side was exposed to him, revealing even more scars to him; and the side of her breasts. He felt his cheeks redden a bit, despite it barely being a glimpse, but he turned his head, so he couldn't see; a gentleman. He moved closer to her, only feet between them now, so he wouldn't be tempted to look again when facing her.
"It's French," Her voice finally sounded again. "For salvation." She propped her chin up on her arms, staring at the fence around the area. "It might sound childish, but it's true. Elizabeth was my salvation in that castle. Without her, I never would have built up the courage to save the both of us. I…she made me realize that what was happening…what was done to us…it wasn't love; it never was."
"Love?" Jin's voice was behind her. She froze, stark still, as his fingers traced the scars on her skin. If any other man had been the one to do that, to touch her, she would have killed him. But Jin…she found herself wanting him to do more; much, much more. "How is this love? Why would you even believe that?!"
"You want the answers?" Reiko whipped around fast, catching the man off guard. She had caught his left hand before he could pull it away in time, clenching it in her fist. Jin got worried for a moment but the look on her eyes were different. There was anger and hatred, yes, but they weren't directed at him. "After you learn the truth, then perhaps you will leave me be; maybe you'll finally just go away!"
"Reiko-" Jin's voice caught as she pulled his hand underwater. He fell silent until he felt her press his hand against her skin. He tried to pull back but she forced him to touch her. His fingers were dragged down her stomach until it landed on her hip. There he…he felt something strange. It was a scar, undoubtedly, but it was…different than the others. It was…more of a symbol.
"This is a brand," Reiko glared into his face, as if daring him to look away. "It's a brand from the Lord of Norika Castle, Akio Nobusani. That bastard put it on every woman that he claimed as his own; even his own daughter." He felt her squeeze his hand but he was more intent on taking in her words than to notice it.
"His daughter?"
"That's right." Her voice quivered for a moment before she fixed it, making it strong and bold as it normally was. "The Lord of Norika Castle impregnated several of his lovers over the course of his rule, but it didn't stop there. While most of his children were boys, there was two daughters; twins. He…he was a monster. He doted upon them until they were old enough…the moment they entered womanhood, he…he took them to his room and…and…' Reiko felt her tears erupt but she refused to acknowledge them. "My sister tried to kill herself after the first night. That bastard is why I refuse to trust anyone. If a monster could do that to his own children, his own flesh and blood, then what could others do?" She shoved him away and turned her back to him again, unable to hold his gaze. She couldn't face him anymore.
"I was seven when it all began. Akio was going to…deal with my sister but I begged him to forgive her. I…I took her punishments." She hung her head. "I thought that if I…I was the only one to suffer, then others would be safe. That monster's twisted fantasies and pleasures were known by everyone in that castle but no one did anything. Some were forced to help when he beat me. Most pitied me but there were a few that would…take pleasure in helping. I wanted to run, to end it all, but I knew that if I were to leave, then another would just take my place. I was told that my sister was sent to a farm but deep down I knew…I knew that she was disposed of for disobedience. I lied to myself, saying that she was free because of me. Confined to my room and the Gardens behind it until I was called upon was my life for years. As long as I was the only one to suffer, I was willing to take it all."
"And then that fateful night…I wandered out into the Gardens after nightfall. There, I found a little blonde child hiding from the guards. She told me everything, about her being brought there and how Akio scared her. I…I knew right then and there that my father was going to break his promise to me. He lasted barely a year after Elizabeth was brought to the Castle. I had reminded him of our deal and…received a beating for trying to tell him what to do. I hid Elizabeth in my room, telling her that I got permission for her to live with me. Unknown to her, I had taken her from her chambers and hid her, so she wouldn't be found. He took his anger and frustrations out on me. And then…then…"
Her voice caught again as arms wrapped around her from behind. She wanted to pull away, to ignore the feel of his touch and the chest that pressed against her back, but she found that she couldn't. He was careful with the placement of his arms and gently held her like that. She just stood there, the feel of his skin against her's rendering her silent. He just stood there, as if telling her to continue when she felt good enough to.
"Akio found out that I was hiding her. He lured me away from my chambers and his men took her from my room and to his. When I returned and found her missing, I went straight to his chambers. I lied to the guards outside his door, telling them that I was there to join. When I found him ontop of her…on top of that sweet, innocent, little child…I grabbed his desk. The first blow was enough to knock him off of Elizabeth but the second and the third hits drew blood. I…I couldn't stop myself. I kept hitting him and hitting him until I saw his brains splatter all over the floor. Instead of running or crying, Elizabeth dove right to me, burying her face into my kimono, clutching to them like her life depended on it."
"I had killed the Lord of the Castle. There was no way that the two of us could stay there any longer. Elizabeth was able to call the guard into the room and I hit him with the desk as well before using his own sword to slit his throat." She took a breath, a shudder passing down her back. "I…I still don't know how we survived. The element of surprise, most likely, as well as a panic over the fire that had been started by a dropped lantern. It…it's all a haze, really. Like a dream that I watch. I killed everyone that came into my path, whether they were trying to stop us from leaving or not."
"And it continued. Now known as murderers, we ran, killing anyone that tried to stop us. Ryu got mixed up, seeing us as just two women that were being harassed by the law near Edo. It was a shock to him to learn everything but he…he stayed with us, despite everything that I said to him or how many times I threatened to kill him. He told me that he was going to prove to me that I could trust someone other than Elizabeth or myself. He's such a stubborn bastard but…eventually, I found myself trusting him, leaving him to take care of Liza when I went off on my own. He's as stubborn and hardheaded as the rest of us. You're both quite similar," Her voice broke for a moment. "But whereas I can stand him, I can't stand you!" Her voice turned rough again. Jin clenched his eyes shut, waiting for it.
"I can't stand you! The sight, the presence; your smell. Everything about you makes me furious because you put these thoughts in my head, thoughts that I shouldn't even think about after everything that happened!" His eyes opened again when her hands clutched as his arm. He waited for her to push him away but she clung to him instead as if her life depended on it. I long to hear you voice. I like when you smile at me. I…I want you to touch me and it sickens me! After all that was done, I long for the exact treatment. It's disgusting!"
"It's not the same treatment," Jin whispered into her ear. "It would never be the same. That…what you went through was not love. This were not from love," His fingers grazed over a few of her scars. "That was anything but. Never, in a thousand years, would I do something like that to you. Even considering to give someone a chance after what you went through…it proves that you know I'm right. To go straight from what you did to seeing what some of these men do in brothels and on the streets surely diminished any hope you had, but there are men out there like Ryu and me that won't treat women like that. Mugen may be vulgar, but even he treats women with respect. You just haven't been shown it yet."
His chin came down to rest on her shoulder; he tightened his arms, savoring the feeling. "At first, I wanted nothing to do with you but as I watched you I realized that you were hiding something. I vowed to find out what that was and in time, I found myself falling for you. That night on the ship, I realized that, despite your words, there was a woman hiding in herself, afraid to come out. I already loved one side of you; I vowed that I would find the other side and love it just as much. I understand that…physical contact will be hard for you, but that's not what love is all about. I can show you so much more than that. I don't need anything from you. The only thing I want is for you to smile."
He felt something wet fall on his arm and he gave a small smile. She was crying. "Give me a chance. Make the choice you never got to."
Jin held his breath, waiting for an answer. He readied himself for whatever cruel words would come out of her mouth, now knowing that they weren't truly because of him. She needed help to let go of her past and he wanted to be the one to give it to her.
"I hate you."
Her words were low but her head hung as her grip on his arms tightened. Jin gave a smile and hugged her tighter to his body, promising to never let her go.
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