The Hunter

Chapter Twenty-Four

Morning came early the next day. The cold damp roused Rin from a deep, dreamless sleep and she lay awake a while, staring at the thin canopy of leaves overhead. The sky beyond was grey and threatened snow. She turned her head and glanced at the smoking remains of the previous night's fire as a steady stream of shivers shook her.

Wrapping her arms tightly around herself, she uttered an impatient sigh and sat up. The muscles in her legs screamed and throbbed in protest. Every part of her felt stiff and wooden, thanks to the long journey from the daimyo's garden to wherever she was now. Kohaku had been stubbornly insistent that they keep moving until they were beyond the city limits. She'd run until her legs collapsed beneath her and then refused to go any further. Kohaku had looked at her with sympathy in his eyes, and guilt too, before lifting her onto his back and carrying her the rest of the way.

They didn't speak once on the journey from Edo. The few brief words they'd exchanged in the daimyo's garden was as close to a conversation as they'd gotten and from that moment onward, not one word or question that wasn't a command had crossed his lips. She had a thousand questions for him but had been too stunned and afraid at first, and later too exhausted by the journey, to ask a single one of them. By the time Kohaku decided they were far enough from Edo, she barely had the energy to help find firewood before curling up atop a bed of last season's bamboo leaves and falling asleep.

She would ask him her questions in the morning, all of them, and force him to answer before going any further. It had seemed like a perfect plan as her brain had slipped into the blissful dark of sleep, but now that she was awake a new problem presented itself – Kohaku was nowhere to be found. She turned her head this way and that, listening for any sounds of movement in the forest beyond. The wind rustled softly through the naked bamboo, making the branches creak and crack together, but there was no hint of the demon slayer.

An unspoken worry niggled at the back of her mind. What if the Shogun's soldiers had followed them? What if Sesshomaru survived the attack and had come looking for her? It would be impossible for Kohaku to resist a fight with him. Demon slaying was in his blood - he was honour-bound to kill them or give his life trying. The image of Sesshomaru and Kohaku dueling amongst the endless stalks of bamboo had heart springing into the back of her throat.

"Kohaku?"

The woods echoed her voice back to her. It sounded timid and full of fear. Wincing against the stiffness in her legs, she slowly got to her feet and cleared her throat before calling to him again.

"Kohaku!"

There was no answer from the surrounding trees and her niggle of worry blossomed into a full blown spike of fear. Leaving the campsite behind, she pushed her way through the underbrush in search of him. Maybe he'd gone hunting for their breakfast? Or perhaps he'd gone to fish in a nearby river? She considered these options as she climbed over fallen trees and followed the sound of rushing water in the distance.

"Kohaku, you idiot, you better not be hurt," she muttered under her breath.

A sudden cry made her stop short. She froze and strained her ears, searching for the source. It could have been an animal, maybe a tanuki or a bear. She'd heard that animals sometimes made noises that sounded like a human cry. Her gut told her she was wrong. That hadn't been an animal just now…

What if it was bandits? Fear gripped her and she retreated a few paces until her back met the smooth green wood of a bamboo tree. She had no desire to meet another group of bandits in the forest alone.

What if Kohaku is in trouble?

She 'tsked' in frustration and pushed away from the tree. From her obi she retrieved the small knife she kept hidden there and gripped it tight in her hand. Kohaku had saved her life this way once before. The least she could do was make sure he was okay.

Keeping a close eye on the grey, misty shadows around her, Rin picked her way through the trees. For a while the only sound was the soft crunch of dead bamboo leaves beneath her sandals, but as she moved deeper into the woods others emerged – like the sound of flesh meeting flesh with no small amount of force.

She crawled up a small rock face that acted as a wall between her and the others, whoever they were. She could hear them clearly now – someone was fighting and someone was losing badly.

Afraid of being spotted, she crouched low, pressing her body flat against the rocks. She lifted her head just enough to peer over the top of the ridge and take in the scene below. Three men were fighting – one holding another and the third landing punches on any part that looked painful.

The largest of the three drove a solid fist into his opponent's gut. His victim doubled over with a muffled groan. The other man, who was slighter and younger than his partner, lightly tossed a heavy bag of coins in his hand. Finally, he threw the bag to the ground with a look of disgust. Gold coins flew out of the opening and scattered across the forest floor.

"How many girls did you have to sell to get that much coin? A dozen? Two?"

Grabbing his opponent by the hair, he jerked his head back until his ear was next to his mouth.

"You're gonna pay for what you did to her," he threatened evenly.

The man who was the focus of their ire collapsed to the forest floor and uttered a pitiful moan. The larger of the two men kicked a boot full of leaves into his face and spat on him.

"Got the rope?" he asked his partner.

The younger one nodded and retrieved a length of it from the satchel at his side. He proceeded to tie a noose at one end and tested it a few times before holding it out to his partner.

"Grab him. We'll use this tree over here. The crows can have fun picking out his eyeballs."

The man on the ground stirred and pulled himself to his knees. The threat of death was enough to inject movement back into his limbs. He stood shakily to his feet but was quickly brought down by the butt end of his opponent's sword slamming into his ribs.

He groaned and coughed as he was dragged toward the noose that awaited him. He struggled, but the strength he had was no match for them both. One of the men held his arms pinned to his sides, while the other wound coarse rope around them and tied the ends tight. The pair wore grim victory smiles as they slipped the noose over his head.

Rin watched the scene unfolding before her, unable to breathe or move. Her eyes told her that in the clearing stood her brothers, Takanori and Ryo, but it couldn't be them. They were dead, along with the rest of her family. She'd seen their village burn. She'd seen the bandits attack them as she was carried away. It wasn't possible they were alive and yet, there they stood.

At first she'd thought she was still dreaming. She pinched her arm hard enough to leave a bruise, but nothing changed. The rock was still solid and damp beneath her body. Her eyes were still glued to the scene in front of her. Her brothers were alive and well, and Kohaku was mere seconds from being hanged!

"Wait!"

Her brothers turned in unison to look at her, their hands going instantly to their swords. She rose shakily to her feet and picked her way down the rock face.

"Get gone! This is none of your business, girl," Takanori shouted at her. Ryo eyed the small knife in her hand and slowly drew his sword from its sheath.

"Stop right there." He spoke softly, his tone almost gentle. Her feet drew to a halt and she tucked her weapon back into her obi.

"Big brother, it's me," she pleaded, praying that he could recognize her beneath all the finery and make up. His eyes narrowed and he slowly sheathed his sword.

"What is it?" Takanori called to him impatiently.

Ryo waved him off and took a step towards her. He studied her closely, taking in the fine silks on her back, the ornate combs in her hair, and the white paint hiding her face. It wasn't until he dared look her in the eye that his own went wide with shock.

"Rin?"

He spoke her name uncertainly at first, his dark, expressive eyes revealing his doubts. When she nodded, the tentative smile that had begun to pull at his lips widened into a brilliant grin. He stepped forward, collecting her into his arms, and then swung her around with a hearty cheer.

"It's you! You're really here!"

Rin looked up into her brother's face and felt her chest grow tight. She'd had this dream before, more times than she could possibly count. This Ryo was taller than the brother in her dreams, almost a whole head taller, and he filled out his shirt better, too. But that smile – that smile of his hadn't changed at all. Ryo laughed breathlessly and gently set her down.

"Our little sister has returned to us!" he called over her shoulder to their elder brother.

Takanori's brows shot up in an uncharacteristic look of shock. "How can this be?" he demanded, his mouth hanging agape.

"It doesn't matter. She's here now and just in time. Come on," he said, taking her by the hand. "We were just about to hang the bandit scum that took you from us."

Ryo pulled her eagerly towards the tree where Takanori stood with Kohaku strung up next to him, barely conscious.

"We'll leave the body as a warning to others," her elder brother assured her, tightening his grip on the rope.

"No! Wait!"

Rin took a frantic step forward and Takanori's grip loosened on the noose. Kohaku pulled in a deep, ragged breath and her eyes softened as they took in the sight of the mottled bruises covering his face. A small stream of blood leaked from his lip from where it had split, and she felt the sudden urge to kiss him. With an embarassed shake of her head, she quickly swallowed the urge back down.

"Baka," she said so softly only he would hear, and then more loudly to her brothers, "He's not the one you're looking for."

Takanori and Ryo exchanged matching looks of surprise.

"If he's not the one who took you from us, who is he?" Ryo demanded.

"He's the one who gave me to the daimyo," she answered distractedly, not fully realizing what she was saying.

Takanori's expression darkened. "Then he's as good as dead," he vowed, tightened his grip on the rope once more.

"Rin!" Kohaku croaked her name imploringly and struggled against his binds.

"You don't have the right to speak her name," Ryo snapped.

"Don't I get a say?"

"Name your punishment and it will be done."

"Let him go," she replied evenly.

"After he sold you like a sack of rice? He doesn't deserve to live for dishonouring you like that," Ryo protested. He bared his teeth at Kohaku and curled his hands into tight fists at his sides.

"It was my choice," she insisted, stepping forward to stay her brother's hand. "And he came back for me as well. That makes three times now he's saved my life. I need to return the favour."

Pride and honour had once been very important to her brothers. She knew her words would reach them, even if they were reluctant to accept them. Takanori's brow furrowed. He looked decidedly unhappy at having his chance for revenge taken from him, but offered up no protest when she set to work cutting the rope binding Kohaku's arms. When she was finished she slipped the noose from around his neck and he fell forward, just managing to catch himself on the tree.

"Thank you," he whispered past the red ring left by the rope around his throat.

Her hand lifted instinctively to reach for him, but faltered half-way and fell limply back to her side.

"What should we do with him?"

Ryo's hostile gaze remained fixed on Kohaku. It would be a long time before either of her brothers trusted him, she realized. She only hoped they didn't try to kill him again before she was given the chance to explain what had happened in detail.

"Do you have a campsite somewhere close by?"

"We have one set up just across the stream there. We don't have enough food for four though," Takanori said with a pointed look at Kohaku.

"Then I suggest one of you go hunting."

"I guess I could go fishing…" Ryo groused while aiming a resentful look in Kohaku's direction.

"Good. While you are doing that, Takanori can help me get Kohaku to your camp. Right, Takanori?"

Their older brother grunted and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"It's settled then."

"Since when did you become so bossy?" Ryo muttered, departing in the direction of the stream with a loud 'hmph'.

Rin watched him go and felt her eyes mist up with tears. The circumstances weren't ideal, but she was willing to put up with anything if it meant seeing and holding her brothers again. For too long the gods had been punishing her for some unknown slight, but today, this morning of all mornings, they'd finally seen fit to reward her. She felt lighter than air, as though she were a weightless cloud floating about in the sky.

"Rin…"

Kohaku's rough voice brought her crashing back down to earth. He pushed away from the tree and she could sense his objections before he'd uttered a single word. Frowning, she held him at bay with a hand against his chest.

"It's because of me that you are hurt," she explained, refusing to look him in the eye. "Please, let me do this."

She felt rather than heard his sigh of resignation. Her hand lingered just a moment longer than necessary, to feel his heart beating strong and alive underneath. Relief rushed through her like a warm flood before she reluctantly pulled away.

"I can walk on my own," Kohaku insisted with a stubborn tilt of his chin. "I don't need his help." It was just as well because Takanori had already taken off ahead of them in the direction of the campsite.

"In that case, we should go," she said, offering him her best attempt at a reassuring smile.

He fell in step beside her and they walked together, a fair distance behind her brother. After his second stumble, she wrapped her arm around his to help him stay steady on his feet. When he didn't object she held him just a little bit tighter, enjoying the feeling of being close to him again. A thousand questions still burned through her mind, but there would be time for answers later. For now she had two more important things to focus her attentions on, the injured demon slayer at her side and the pair of surly brothers waiting for them up ahead.

Author's Note: Hello again everyone! Another relatively quick update for you to enjoy and two new additions to our cast of characters. What do you think of Rin's brothers? Kohaku certainly hasn't made the best first impression...poor guy.

I just wanted to extend a quick thank you to everyone who took the time to write me over the past few weeks. I've truly enjoyed reading your reviews and have done my best to reply to every single one. Nom de Plume - if you are a member here please send me a PM because your review was incredible and absolutely deserves a personal response!

With any luck, the next chapter won't be too far off! Until then, happy reading :)

Until next time,

Langus