"How does it look, doc?" Goemon asks Renn as he cleans the open wound on my stomach as I laid on a futon in my room.
"His wound was barely healed when he attacked him. The stitches would have been safe to take out in a few days but when he got kicked in the side, he was able to rip out the stitches and open the wound." Renn pulls out a needle and string before beginning the stitching process again. "The boy's attack wasn't that hard, not even leaving the slightest bruise; but he was somehow able to hit the right spot to be able to cause Kotaro some pain." I let out a grunt as I felt my skin form together again by the string.
"I was also distracted. He lowered my guard when I should have just blown his head off." I sigh in disappointment before grunting in pain and tightly grip Wakana's hand.
She looks down at me in concern before looking back up at the two men in front of her.
"That was real bravery, what you did out there." Goemon tells her in a quiet voice.
"I didn't do much."
"You did a lot for someone in your position. Scared to go out and face that kid who raped you many times, yet you still picked up that gun and aimed. The aim wasn't that great but it showed him that you have free will and that you will stand up for yourself." Wakana looks down at the ground before looking back at me.
"He's right. And you saved my life. We wouldn't have known what Reizei would have done if he really was serious about going far enough to taking my life," I grunt in pain again before continuing. "But I know one thing I do know; he isn't gonna get near you anymore."
A smile appears on Wakana's lips once again. "Thank you, Kotaro." I was about to reply until Renn pulls the string again, tightening the stitches on my wound.
"Damnit." I grit my teeth in pain.
"Will Kotaro still be able to go back to his post in the spring, even with this injury?" I look up at Goemon in surprise before the doctor interrupts me quickly.
"Yes. The internal damage has fully healed, but this is still nothing to a Fuuma." Renn looks at me with a small grin before going back to the stitching. "This wound will heal in a matter of days. There will be a scar; just the way you like them, and these stitches won't be needed anymore."
"Thanks Renn." I say as I continue to stare at Goemon.
~ Push Me Away ~
Rennoshin left after a little bit. Wakana also left my room to make some miso soup for us for dinner before Goemon left back to Iga tonight, which really isn't that far if on horseback.
Goemon sat on the futon in my room in silence as he stares into space. I take a glance at him from over my shoulder as I changed my kimono on one side of the room and sighed. I need to know.
"How did you know?" I ask simply as I tied my belt on my pants.
"That you are coming back in the spring?" Goemon doesn't say anything until he looks up at me with a frank expression. "I kept pushing Hanzo to tell me about the post. I would have thought that you would consider going back to a full-time career as a ninja and always being gone."
"Why are you so worried about me going back to being a ninja?" I ask him. "I have been a ninja my whole life, why worry now?"
"Who's gonna be here with Wakana?" He asks me bluntly, making me look away from him.
"I will be here to protect her." Answering quietly, I let out a sigh and finish tying my sash before turning around and looking back at my friend. "I will protect her with my life."
Goemon stood up and walked up to me before placing a hand on my shoulder. "That means I have to be here to protect you."
"Goemon, you don't,"
"And I want to. As a friend."
We smile at each other for moment before I thought of something funny.
"Was I just friendzoned?"
Goemon takes his hand off of my shoulder and takes a step back. "No homo. I like girls."
"Haha. I know." I laugh before I make my way towards the door.
"Kotaro!" I hear Wakana call out my name before looking back at Goemon in curiosity.
Walking out into the hallway, Goemon follows behind before we reach the front of the home and see Wakana standing at the entrance with that brats mentor next to her. I look at him in surprise before my eyes narrow and I quickly stand in front of Wakana in defence.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I ask roughly.
"Kotaro, he's just here to,"
"Apologize." He says to me before taking a deep bow. "I apologize for the troubles my Master has caused during our visit. He disobeyed orders from his father to not engage in violence for this visit. And Miss Wakana did have a choice. There was no order to bring her back." I watched him cautiously, trying to find any little flinch of lying from the man; but found nothing but the truth.
"Why didn't you stop that brat when he was about to kill Kotaro?" Goemon asks sternly.
"Like I said; my Master is quite violent. He gets his way by beating and killing men." He looks straight at me before continuing. "Your wife is lucky to be alive."
Both Wakana and I blush red as Goemon stood chuckling, but I quickly change my expression and glare at him.
"Was that a threat?"
"No. That was a compliment." And with that; he left.