The Hunter

Chapter Twenty-Seven

An hour's walk north brought them to the town of Kasukabe, which boasted a single izakaya, a small market for produce (which was closed on account of the approaching storm) and a rustic, two-floored inn. With no other accommodations available, the group headed for the inn and prayed that a room was still available.

The innkeeper was a petite woman with charcoal hair, lined features and dark, narrow eyes. She looked up as they entered, her sharp eyes darting from one face to the next. Rin held her breath, vividly remembering what'd happened the last time she and Kohaku had attempted to stay at a hatago.

Takanori stepped forward and the woman tipped her head back to look him in the eye.

"We'd like a room for the night," he said simply. "There is a storm coming and we won't make it home before it arrives."

The innkeeper's eyes shifted from Takanori to Ryo and then lingered overlong on Kohaku.

"Where is 'home'?"

"Dewa Province," the demon slayer jumped in. "We're returning from Edo."

Ryo shot him a sharp look that suggested he would shut his mouth if he knew what was good for him. The innkeeper noticed too and sniffed impatiently. She looked at Rin next, her gaze probing and invasive.

"I don't normally allow so many men to share a room with a lone woman." The woman smiled thinly at her, but there was no mistaking the judgement in her tone.

"Of course. I would expect nothing less from such a well run establishment," she replied sweetly with an identical thin smile. "However, these men are my brothers." She gestured to Takanori and Ryo who confirmed this with a nod.

"And him?"

The innkeeper set her sights once more on Kohaku's battered features. Ryo opened his mouth to respond, but Rin hurried to reply before he had the chance. "He's a famous demon slayer who has kindly agreed to rid our village of a terrible demon."

The innkeeper's brows rose archly and she studied Kohaku with a calculating look. The woman reminded her of Kaoru – sharp, intelligent and cold. Rin could practically see the wheels inside her head turning. It would be foolish of her to pass on the opportunity to brag about housing a famous demon slayer at her inn. Kohaku's presence would be the talk of the town for weeks to come and she would revel in the attention. What better way to improve business and perhaps attract new customers?

"It seems I do have a room available," the woman decided after a long moment. "Follow me."

The innkeeper led them to a small room at the end of the hall. It was spartan, with few decorations, but the hibachi was lit and inside it was warm and dry. Thanking the innkeeper with a bow, Rin stepped quickly over to the hibachi and chaffed her frozen hands next to the small heater. Her brothers and Kohaku followed, each one taking time to thank the innkeeper for her generosity. She informed them that she would return shortly with dinner and then closed the door behind her.

For a moment, no one moved. There wasn't enough space for privacy and not enough camaraderie to make the room feel welcoming. Kohaku lingered in the entryway looking as though he would rather stay just about anywhere else, while her brothers turned their backs to discuss the present situation in hushed tones.

Kohaku finally made up his mind to stay and slipped out of his boots. Leaving them by the door, he joined her next to the hibachi and held his hands towards its radiating warmth. She glanced up to find his eyes on her, the expression in them far off as though he were lost in some long distant memory.

"Something wrong?" she whispered so as not to draw her brothers' attention.

He came back to himself with a shake of his head and sheepishly looked away.

"It's nothing," he said, stepping back from the hibachi and her. She moved to follow him, but her brother's quickly raising voices stopped her.

"It is the only way," Takanori insisted, stubbornly shaking his head.

Ryo threw up his arms in protest. "Rin, talk to him – please! Tell him we should stay in Edo for the winter instead of trying to get back home."

Their elder brother's eyes narrowed and he expelled a long suffering sigh.

"I wouldn't recommend either," Kohaku intervened, sparing her from having to take sides. "Edo is out of the question on account of the daimyo and the road south is far too dangerous to travel in good weather. With the threat of winter storms it will be a death sentence to go that far."

"Then what do you suggest? We can't very well stay here," Ryo protested and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"My village is a three day journey if we can find some horses."

Takanori shook his head, firmly against the notion of travelling anywhere that might give Kohaku a tactical advantage. Ryo, on the other hand, seemed at least intrigued by the idea.

"Where do you expect us to find enough coin to buy horses?"

"That pouch you took from my jacket had more than enough," Kohaku remarked dryly.

Her brother's face reddened and his hands curled into fists at his sides, "You mean the money you earned from selling girls like my sister?"

Rin's brows shot up in surprise. What was Ryo talking about? Was that how Kohaku had earned the money he'd used to try and buy her back from the daimyo? Her eyes sliced over to him. He stood rigid with his arms crossed in front of his chest and his jaw clenched tight. His eyes met hers briefly and then looked away. It wasn't much, but it was enough to put her mind at ease. He'd earned the money some other way, she was certain of it.

With an impressive show of patience, Kohaku ignored her brother's accusations. "Use the money to buy horses or don't," he said with a dismissive shrug. "But the road is treacherous this time of year and the journey is ten times longer on foot."

Ryo glowered and stepped forward, looking like he was ready for a fight, but Takanori stopped him with a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Get the horses," he said, pushing the bag of coins on his brother. "And take him with you."

Ryo sighed emphatically and tucked the money into his jacket, "Fine. Let's go."

Kohaku shot her a questioning look. Could he trust Ryo not to ambush him the moment they got outside? She felt her head nod and a faint reassuring smile touched her lips. That seemed to be all the reassurance he needed. With one last lingering look, he uncrossed his arms and dutifully followed her brother out the door.

The room went quiet as she and Takanori listened to the receding footsteps of the two men in the hall. Eventually she turned her gaze on him and he wearily dragged a hand over his features.

"Come," he instructed, lowering himself to the floor. "Sit. They will not be gone long and there is much we need to discuss."

oOo

He expected a fight. He braced for it with his fists clenched tight at his sides and shoulders raised. Instead, upon exiting the inn he found Ryo leaning casually against the exterior wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest. The boy rubbed a hand through his unevenly cropped hair and nodded in the direction of the shops lining the street.

"Let's go," he said, heading down the main road.

Kohaku followed, finding himself at a loss. There were at least a thousand different scenarios he'd considered while planning his reunion with Rin, but he'd never envisioned any of them turning out like this. How could he possibly have anticipated her brothers returning from the dead? And yet here they were, two stubborn, insurmountable obstacles standing between himself and Rin. It didn't help matters any that they'd decided with a glance that he was completely unworthy of their sister.

He'd known from the beginning that this entire venture was little more than a fool's errand, but to have come this far and give up now seemed even more foolish. He would continue to fight or her to show them (and her) that he was the sort of man who might someday be worthy of her. It wasn't pride that drove him now, but the very real understanding that he could not lose her again. He would find a way, somehow he would, because moving on without her simply wasn't an option.

Just ahead of him, Ryo drew to a stop before a single-floored wooden structure and glanced speculatively at the weathered sign that indicated it was a stable.

"How much do you know about horses?" he asked without looking back.

"Enough," Kohaku answered carefully, then followed him into the heavy warmth of the stables.

The sweet smell of hay greeted him as he stepped through door and shook off the cold. Ryo was already standing before a large brown mare, his hand stroking her nose in a soothing gesture.

"How much?" he asked, shooting a hard look at him over his shoulder.

"For the horse?"

The boy shook his head. "How much did you sell my sister to the daimyo for?"

Kohaku expelled a soft sigh and leaned back against the wall. "A season's worth of rice for my village," he admitted. There didn't seem to be any point in lying about it now.

Ryo bowed his head and a shudder travelled down his spine. "Was it worth it?"

"My village will survive the winter, if that's what you're asking."

The horse gave an agitated snort and Ryo stepped back. Kohaku noticed the boy's hand open, relaxing from the white-knuckled fist it'd been before.

"Did the daimyo fulfil his side of the deal?" The question was disarmingly casual as he walked to the next stall to inspect an older black mare.

Kohaku followed at a safe distance in case Ryo should see fit to grab one of the tools off the wall and stab him with it.

"He did."

Ryo stopped and abruptly turned towards him. "Then I don't understand," he said with a withering look. "You had what you wanted. Why go back for her?"

Kohaku felt his mouth suddenly go dry and his bravado evaporated with it. He raked his fingers through his hair and averted his eyes to the horse chewing hay next to him. "I realized that I'd made a mistake."

"That's not the sort of thing you make a mistake about," the boy replied darkly.

Kohaku said nothing because Ryo was right. Only a fool could look love in the eye, hold it between his hands, and then give it away. Had he only known then what he did now, had he only possessed the courage to turn their horse around, how differently things might have turned out. He opened his mouth to explain, to apologize, but at that moment the stable master entered and he went silent.

Ryo negotiated with the man on a price for three horses while they moved from stall to stall, inspecting each beast until he'd chosen three suitable mares. The stable master eyed a fourth horse, a gelding, and asked if they didn't want it as well. Ryo looked eager but Kohaku firmly shook his head.

"That one has a lame foot. Thank you, but we'll stick with these."

Ryo lifted a brow, appearing vaguely impressed. He retrieved the bag of coins from inside his jacket and handed over the necessary amount to the stable master, who thanked them profusely for their patronage and retreated with a series of deep bows.

"Where did you get so much?" Ryo asked, inspecting what was left in the bag.

"Will you believe me if I tell you?"

He shrugged, "I might."

"I killed about two dozen demons which, as it turns out, is significantly less trouble than selling girls."

Ryo smirked and tossed the bag of coins to him. Kohaku caught it, unable to contain his look of surprise.

"You worked for it. It's yours," he explained, looking about as agreeable as Kohaku had seen him.

With their horses stabled for the night and the rest of the town closed down, there was little else to do but return to the inn. The street was already covered in a thin layer of snow. By morning everything would be buried beneath a deep layer of white. Kohaku eyed the bank of heavy grey clouds lingering overhead. Perhaps they wouldn't be leaving this town as soon as they'd hoped.

"There's something I want to know."

Ryo's words drew his attention and he nodded for him to go on.

"Of all the girls in Kyoto, why her?"

A faint, knowing smile crossed his lips. "Did you know she's a painter?"

The boy shook his head and glanced briefly at the window of their shared room. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Kohaku reached inside his jacket and withdrew a worn sheet of paper.

"This was hanging on the wall of her room at the brothel," he explained and then offered the sheet to him. The boy accepted it with a curious look while he continued onward towards the welcoming warmth of the inn.

Ryo joined him inside a few moments later. They shared a quick, uncertain glance in the entryway and then the boy pressed the painting into his hand and retreated down the hall. Kohaku watched after him and wondered if things would be different between them now. Given his run of luck as of late it didn't seem likely, but he clung to a faint glimmer of hope. Expelling a world weary sigh, he asked the gods for patience and then made his way to the inn's onsen for a much needed bath.

oOo

Rin tied her hair up in a hasty bun and then slid open the exterior door leading to the rotenburo. Before her was a stunning snowy landscape, dotted at intervals by dark, steaming pools that promised tension melting warmth. A relaxing soak sounded like just the sort of remedy she needed. Between her brothers and Kohaku and her lingering feelings over Sesshomaru, it felt as though her heart was being pulled in a hundred different directions. She needed time to herself to gain a bit of clarity without memories or feelings or stubborn brothers trying to bend her to their will.

With the crisp night air burning in her lungs, she hurried along the cool, wet stones toward the nearest pool. The wind picked up just then, scattering the sulphur scented steam that hung in the air, and her feet drew to a sudden halt. Before her Kohaku sat half-submerged in a pool, his fingers prodding delicately at his ribs. She took a hesitant step closer and her eyes went wide. From the middle of his chest to somewhere beneath the waterline his skin was a patchwork of blue and purple.

"Is that all from this morning?" she gasped, struggling to find her voice.

He glanced up sheepishly and shifted lower into the water to hide the worst of the bruising from view.

"Not all of it," he reassured her as she slipped into the pool's dark waters. "This one's from a monkey demon."

He pointed to a fresh red scar that cut across his left shoulder and she felt her stomach turn. How was it possible that he'd kept this hidden? She exhaled a shuddering breath as her fingers hovered over his skin, afraid to touch him anywhere for fear of causing more pain.

"How bad is it?"

"I'll manage." His lips pressed together in a thin white line as he shifted positions and she shook her head in disbelief.

"Why didn't you tell me? I could have given you something for the pain or made you rest!"

"Exactly."

His face was set in a grim mask as he brushed the damp hair back off his forehead.

"Your brothers have enough issues with me without adding 'burden' to the list and I can't afford to take anything that might dull my senses. I'll be fine."

"Is their opinion that important to you? I'll talk to them! I'll make them see reason-"

She rose to go and Kohaku's hand shot out, wrapping around her wrist to hold her in place.

"It's foolish, I know, but it's a matter of pride. If they accept me I want it to be on my own merits, not out of a sense of duty to you."

When he released her she reluctantly returned to the pool's warm waters.

"You're a fool," she said without any vehemence. "At least promise me you'll take it easy until you've healed a little."

He nodded and braved a smile that was only slightly marred by his still-swollen bottom lip.

"What were you doing fighting a monkey demon anyway?"

"I am a demon slayer," he replied with an amused quirk of his brow.

She frowned and drew her knees into her chest. "That's not what I meant."

"I know," he sighed. "I needed to earn money and the fastest way to do that was by killing demons."

So, that was where the money had come from. For a moment she stared unseeingly at the pool's dark waters and then he lifted his hand to rub at the back of his neck. From that angle she caught sight of the jagged red scar that was normally hidden beneath his leather cuff. It was ugly and disfiguring, an angry streak that cut down an otherwise perfectly formed arm. He'd gotten that scar by running head first into a pack of hungry wolves to protect her and now there were countless others to match it. His body was testament to what he was willing to sacrifice for her, a naked reminder that no matter the odds he'd never stopped fighting for her.

"Thank you," she said sincerely, blinking tears from her eyes as she lifted them to his. He gave a nod, offering her a melancholy smile before turning his gaze to the canopy of stars overhead.

"There's something I need to say to you and I might not have another chance…"

She tightened her arms around her knees and nodded for him to go on.

"As children, demon slayers are raised with the keen understanding that death spares no one. When a slayer heads into battle they are prepared for it to be their last. We take an oath not to leave with regret in our hearts, words left unspoken or deeds undone and for the first time in my life I have broken that oath."

Kohaku expelled a weighted sigh and dragged a weary hand over his features before continuing.

"There aren't many things that I regret in my life, Rin, but I regret you. Not meeting you, I will never regret that, but everything that happened after. Every time your life was put in danger, every time I pushed you away…"

His voice softened as shame and self-loathing coated each word. "I will regret bringing you to the daimyo for as long as I live. I've dreamt about that day every night since – reliving the moment they took you, seeing the look of fear in your eyes, hearing the echo of your voice as you called to me for help... I stood there and watched those guards drag you away and like a coward I did nothing!" He broke off with a sharp sound of disgust and raked his fingers through his hair.

His eyes met hers then and she understood with a glance why he'd gone to the lengths he had to buy her freedom. Guilt was a heavy burden, one she knew all too well. Every dream she'd had about her family since the night of the attack was fraught with thoughts of what she might've done differently. Who might she have saved if she'd been the slightest bit stronger or braver? Could she have spared Takuya? Her parents? Her niece who was too young to even have a name? She knew well just how bitter regret could taste and how easily it could destroy you.

With a gentle hand against his cheek she tried to soothe away some of his pain. "You're not a coward."

"I don't deserve your forgiveness," he maintained, his expression hard.

With her fingertips she gently traced the length of the scar on his forearm and then continued further, her hand brushing delicately over several newer scars until it found his other cheek. She spoke her next words to him with unwavering certainty.

"Yes, you do."

He wearily closed his eyes and leaned into her touch as the fight left him in a single exhale. His eyes were soft when he opened them again, the expression in them warm and familiar.

"I do have one more regret," he said apologetically as his hand stole hers away. He pressed a brief kiss to her palm and then entwined his fingers with hers. Her brow furrowed as she caught sight of the sudden apprehension in his gaze.

"What is it?"

"I never told you how I felt - how I feel - about you. I thought it would be best, maybe even easier, so I hid the truth beneath excuses like 'duty' and 'honour'. I told myself that my responsibility to my village had to come first. I even managed to deceive myself into thinking that my feelings for you weren't real. But that morning I brought you to the daimyo I knew that I'd been wrong about all of it."

"Leaving you there very nearly destroyed me," he admitted, expelling a shaky sigh as his thumb stroked across the back of her hand. "I thought I would never see you again, never hold you close and I couldn't bear it."

Her mouth opened and closed, but no words emerged. Was it possible that he felt as she did? That he'd longed for her and dreamt of her just as she had of him? In his eyes were all the answers she sought, the truth she'd been blind to until this very moment.

"Rin…"

He sounded broken and desperate, his tone pleading with her for understanding. With an incredulous shake of her head she drew close until her lips ghosted over his. His fingers curled against the underside of her jaw, his touch licking at her skin like fire, and she slid weightlessly onto his lap. Almost 100 days had passed since his lips last touched hers and she couldn't bear to wait a single moment longer.

Their first hesitant touch was like a spark that ignited them from the inside out. With a soft moan his mouth opened under hers and his hand cupped her head, pulling her against him. This was what she'd imagined doing when she saw him again, not running from soldiers, or saving him from being hanged, or playing mediator between he and her brothers, simply this – holding him close, breathing him in and remembering the taste of his lips.

This moment, this kiss, they hardly seemed real. They swept her up until the steady thrum of her heart in her ears became too loud to ignore and she pulled away to catch her breath. His hands skimmed down the length of her spine as though he couldn't bear to stop touching her.

"Come with your brothers to my village," he urged. "Stay the winter. If you want to return home once spring arrives, I'll take you."

His offer was tempting, but it wasn't only her decision anymore. Takanori had reminded her of that fact earlier in the day and the conversation hadn't ended well. Her stubborn older brother wasn't used to her arguing with him, much less pointing out that he was being a boorish idiot.

"My brother wants to part ways with you come morning."

"What do you want?"

It was so rare that anyone asked her what she wanted. In her heart it was clear. She glanced over at him and felt her heart turn in her chest. I want you. The words hovered on the precipice of her lips but she couldn't find the courage to speak them aloud.

"I'm sorry. It's not an easy question is it?"

Kohaku gave her an understanding look then brushed a loose strand of hair from her shoulder. A jolt of pleasure spread out from the spot where he'd touched until it tingled at the very tips of her toes.

"I should head in before my brothers get suspicious," she said with a reluctant glance at the door.

His head tilted forward, searching out her lips for another kiss but she held him off with a smile.

"I'm glad you come back for me," she whispered, hooking her hands around his neck. "I'll talk with my brothers. Just give me time."

His entire body seemed to exhale and he leaned back against the edge of the pool looking completely drained.

"I'll see you inside," he promised with a faint, encouraging smile.

She pressed a brief, warm kiss to his lips, then summoned every ounce of willpower she possessed to step out of the pool and scurry back inside without him.

Author's Note: I had a question in my reviews about the ages of everyone involved, so I thought I'd post them in my reply in case others were curious. When Rin met the daimyo the first time, she told him she was "in her seventeenth year," meaning she's 16. Kohaku is 19. Takanori is 22 and Ryo is 17. Their older brother Takuya would have been 24 when he died. Rin was abducted when she was 15. Just for perspective, the average age of marriage for peasant women in the period was 14-16 years old (with some regional variations).

I've been sitting on this chapter a while because it didn't feel right. I think I might have finally figured it out, but I'm filled with all kinds of conflicted feelings about my writing these days so I'm not the best judge. I'd love to get some feedback if you have a moment. As always, thank you for the continued love and support!

Cheers,

Langus