I stood outside in the crisp air as night fell to pitch black. Silence was surrounding me and felt no presence around mine.
Wakana already retired to bed before I decided to stand out here after dinner.
Goemon left to the nearby village to get some things done. And when he says that, I'm thinking brothel.
I also got a letter back from Hanzo about my post. I will be back in the spring, but it will be a while until I go back on missions. Maybe until next spring.
"Meow!" I hear a tiny call from Akane from inside before smiling and taking in the scene one last time.
Turning to the house, I walk inside and find the kitten sitting in front of the door, patiently waiting for me to come back inside. Picking her up, I give her a rub under her chin and let her attempt to bite me. Smiling at the growing kitten, I put her down on the ground again and walk down the hallway towards our room and silently open the door. Looking down at the futon in the center of the room, I find Wakana lying on her side facing me, sleeping restfully.
It was kind of now natural for me to smile everytime I see Wakana. She really changed me from that bullshit self that I was just a few months ago. It was Goemon's idea in the beginning and I owe him a lot since that day he brought her in. From strangers to spouses.
I quickly take off my kimono and leave on my pants on as walk over to the futon. Sliding under the cover and moving my body close to Wakana, I wrapped my arm around her waist and place my lips on her forehead. Kissing her lightly, I close my eyes and allow sleep to come over me.
~ Push Me Away ~
I woke up with a sudden uneasy feeling in me. I look around me to find that it was still late in the night or just very early in the morning and notice that Wakana wasn't in the futon with me. Her side of the cover was folded over, meaning she must have left the room to go to the bathroom. But I just couldn't shake off this uneasy feeling.
Straining my hearing, I attempt to hear any movement anywhere in the home, but I couldn't hear any footsteps for some odd reason.
Finally deciding to get up from the futon, I was still slightly sluggish from just waking up but I needed to go check on her.
Sliding open the door, I walk out of the room and into the silent hallway in caution. Looking towards the living room, I sensed nothing in particular. Turning towards the bathroom, I walk down the dark hallway until I saw that the door was slid open and had a dim light inside the room. Raising an eyebrow, I continue to walk towards the room until I look around the corner and find Wakana's body lying near the doorway with a lantern next to her.
"Wakana!" Quickly going down to her side, I grab her shoulders and shook her. But she doesn't respond.
Lying my fingers on her neck, I felt a very slow pulse and a shallow breathing come from her. Taking a look at her face, I surprisingly find a trickle of blood stream down her jawline. Moving some of her hair away from her face, I find a small gash where something or someone hit her with a dull edge.
Suddenly, I felt a second presence behind me.
"Did you really think I would leave without a fight?" Riezie says to me as I felt his sword at the nape of my neck.
Frowning at the little brats voice, I let out a sigh and close my eyes for a moment.
"Did you not get my warning?"
Swiftly turning, I swing my leg at his feet and knock them over. He quickly falls to the floor before I stood up and kicked him in the face. Then noticing, his left arm was bandaged entirely and he wore a different, more raggedy kimono than last time. But, his stupid face was still the same, with an add on of blood.
"When do you give up, you spoiled brat?" I ask him as I slowly walk up to him.
He doesn't answer me, but instead grabbed my ankle and swept me off my feet. I fell on my back by the time he was half way up and getting a grip of his sword. Slashing down at the floor, I swiftly move out of the way and go up in a defensive position.
"You just don't understand, do you?" He growls.
I could only stare at him with a grim expression before he tries slashing at me with a sloppy slew.
"This whore was mine first, and I am taking back what is mine!" Riezie continues to slash at me with his sword until I went too far and got corned at the end of the hall.
My inner conscious was beginning to panic, while my outer core looked too neutral to care.
"And like I promised, I'm gonna take her back. This time, killing you." The brat suddenly swung his sword from above and full force, giving me only a millisecond to position myself and catch the blade in my palms.
"Tch!" A sudden wave of pain runs through my arm and I felt my blood run down my arm.
"You won't be able to hold it for long. Just let it go and the pain will be gone." Riezie directs me with a smirk, but I don't listen to him as I attempt to grip his sword with my damp hands.
I was down to my knees and his blade was inches from my face. My heart ran as my adrenaline ran through me and sweat ran down my body. I felt the blade about to slip my grip until Riezie jolted forward and suddenly all his strength vanished.
Quickly getting a grip of the blade, I throw it down and kick him back away from me. And to my surprise, I find Goemon standing at the end of the hall with some of his kunai knives in one hand and the other extended out in front of him. Meeting his eyes, I saw a look of annoyance as he stared down at the body.
I don't hesitate to get up and make my way to Wakana; who was still laying on the floor in the bathroom. Sitting her up in my embrace, I gently shook her and called out her name until she was finally able to open her eyes. Looking up to me, I felt my eyes began to tear in guilt.
"Ko...taro…" Her speech was slurred and she wasn't able to look up at me without a glassy look in her eyes.
"You're alive." I whisper before the tears fell.
Leaning down, I make both our foreheads touch; making it easier for Wakana to see that I was beginning to cry.
"What's wrong?" I couldn't answer her question as a lump was stuck in my throat.