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Tears of Blood
By : SultrySundina
Category: +. to F > Blade of the Immortal
Views: 1863 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Please read disclaimer in each chapter.
Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
Tears of Blood (My Story Arc: Finale to Blade of the Immortal):

Disclaimer and Rights: This story is not-for-profit fan fiction. The characters and universe of Blade of the Immortal/Mugen no Junin are copyright by Hiroaki Samura and do not belong to me. I will in no way receive any kind of funds or monies for this story, nor will any monies or funds come into my hands in consequence of this story. Please do not sell or print for sale. Do not archive without my written permission. Permission is granted to print for personal use, and to distribute this document in electronic form, without charge, without alteration, and with this disclaimer and my name attached.

Chapter 12: A Beautiful Tragedy

Rin didn't know how long she had been in the bath, but she lifted her fingers up to her face to examine them. They were wrinkled now, resembling that of an old woman's. She stared at them for a long time; slowly moving each finger simultaneously then separately. She watched how each one moved, how the wrinkles slowly faded as her hand dried. She thought about how Manji would never know what it would be like to grow old and she felt a sudden pang of terror and sadness sweep over her as she had just come to a realization. She would grow old and he would not. She would die and he would not, not by age anyhow. She couldn't stop the tears that now flowed from her eyes. She felt so alone in that moment, so afraid.

Rin shook her head. NO, she would not allow herself to think like that. She began to think about earlier, before she and Manji were interrupted. She felt her heart flutter. Was what happened really real? Did she imagine it? No, she knew it was real. It had to be! All of this was real, but she felt like she was caught somewhere between a nightmare and a fantasy. What did this all mean? What did it mean for her? For him? Still no matter how she tried Rin couldn't shake the sadness and heart ache she felt. Her heart was in turmoil and she didn't know what she was going to do about it.

Rin's thoughts were cut off when she heard her name being called.

"'Ey Rin, you in there?" It was Manji.

"Excuse me sir you can't go in there! Please use the other side...Sir!"

Rin could hear the protests of the bath attendant as Manji was pushing past her. She sighed and ducked beneath the water and made sure her towel was wrapped tightly around her body and got out of the water, her back to where she knew Manji was standing. "Manji-san I will be right out. Please do not come in." She knew she wouldn't be able to look at him right now. The turmoil inside her was too great and she would need to try to hide it from him, she couldn't face him just yet.

"Whatever, hurry the hell up woman." Manji replied as he turned around and left the bathhouse. He only caught a glimpse of Rin; wet in the towel, back to him and that was enough for him to think now was not the time for the kinds of thoughts he was thinking, no matter how much he wanted to finish his earlier activities. They needed to figure out what the hell happened and why. All he knew was that Habaki was somehow involved and he didn't like it. He didn't like it one bit. Why were they after Rin? What did they want with her?

When Rin had dressed in the yūkata the maid had left for her she took her time going back upstairs to Washi's room, giving herself a chance to compose herself and hide how her thoughts were truly disturbing her. She opened the shoji to the room but Manji was not in there. She looked down the hall to see the shadows of him, Washi and the innkeeper standing just inside her and Manji's room. She knew it was them as she could hear their voices. She was going to go over and talk as well but still didn't want to face Manji, not yet, so she simply stepped into his room and closed the shoji. She saw that her shoulder bag was lying propped against the wall, beside her sword. It had been cleaned. How long had she been in the bath?

Down the hall Manji and Washi were listening to the innkeeper complain about the damages the two had caused with their 'fight'.

"Who is going to pay for this mess?"

"I will pay ma'am. It is the least I can do." Washi replied.

"And where is the floor?"

"The punk got me good across the shoulder lady. There'd be no way to get all the blood out." Manji replied with a fake smirk on his face. He didn't like this idea, but they didn't really have a choice. He didn't want to endanger Rin anymore, and the last thing they needed was this old hag knowing that the real cause was more gruesome. Rin needed rest and then they would have to get the hell outta this place.

Washi bowed before the innkeeper, "Gomenasai. Please allow me to pay for the repairs." He handed the woman a very large bag of coin.

The innkeeper knew better, that the two were lying, but when she opened the bag and saw all the money inside she cared less and simply walked away, coin in tow. It wouldn't take too long to fix the room. All the supplies were in the stables outside. This seemed to be a normal affair. Someone was always causing trouble at her inn it seemed lately.

When she was out of earshot, and sight, Manji began to speak, "Hey brat, don't let it go to y'er head. There's no way you'd best me with a sword."

"Do not be so sure samurai-san." Washi replied, smirking.

"Listen brat, I don't care if you are some old friend of Rin's. I'm gonna say this once more and once more only. Don't. Ever. Touch. Her." With that warning, Manji walked away back to the room. He was exhausted from the days activities and lugging those damn bodies to the River behind the Inn was a pain. Thankfully the river hadn't frozen over yet and no one noticed him. As much as he hated to admit it, the brat and his mother proved useful. He still didn't like him though, not one bit. Especially with how he saw him look at Rin. She was HIS and no one else's, and he was going to make goddamn good and sure the brat knew it. An evil smirk came to his face when he realized Washi and his mother would be in the next room beside Rin and himself. It was going to be a fun night, he mused, putting his earlier thoughts of warning to the side.

When Manji entered the room Rin could feel his eye on her. She was combing out her hair slowly, so as not to touch the back of her head too much. Manji noticed her wince as she tugged a little too roughly on her hair with the comb. He sighed with a small frown on the corner of his mouth. Just his luck. He'd probably end up hurting her even more if he tried anything he wanted to. Damn female just had to go and get herself hurt.

This room was much larger than the one he and Rin had occupied. It had two rooms; the outer dining room and the inner sleeping quarters, separated by a wooden fusuma. He sat down against the opposite side of the room across from Rin, leaving the fusuma open. He didn't once take his eye off her.

Rin finished combing her hair and a knock came at the shoji. She stood up but Manji was up before her and already over at the shoji, his hand already perched on the hilt of one of his shido.

"What do you want?" Manji asked as he opened the shoji to see Suzume and Washi standing before him, Washi was scowling when he saw Manji's hand on his shido, but stopped when he realized Manji wasn't going to be caught off guard by anything, that he was going to protect Rin no matter what.

"Washi-chan and I wish to dine with Rin-chan and yourself tonight, if you would allow us the pleasure of her company?" Suzume's words were sweet but full of intent.

"Whatever." Manji replied as he walked back into the room, putting his hand back down to his side.

"Wonderful. The maid will be by soon with the food for the four of us." Suzume was cheerful.

Manji grunted and sat back down against the wall he was previously at.

"Suzume-chan, Washi-chan arigatou for your kindness and help." Rin bowed in front of the two. As she did her yūkata fell open slightly revealing some of her collarbone and a small peak at her cleavage. Washi's eyes drew wide as he noticed this and he swallowed hard.

"Rin-chan you're very welcome child." Suzume moved her hand to Rin's face and cupped her chin, "Now the maid will be here any minute with the food, why don't we all sit down to eat."

"Please forgive me but I am not very hungry right now Suzume-chan. I simply wish to go to sleep. I am very tired." Rin could not look Suzume or Washi in the eyes as she spoke.

Suzume knew the girl had much on her mind, "Very well dear. We will come in the morning to check on you alright?" Suzume's words were that of sadness, but her eyes were full of understanding.

"Hai, arigatou." Rin was thankful Suzume did not try to protest.

Suzume grasped her sons arm, he was going to protest but saw the look in his mother's eyes and simply followed her. They walked silently out of the room. Suzume knew that no matter how she tried, how her son tried, Rin would never fully open up to either of them. Not like she would him, the man who kept constant watch over the young woman. The man who would kill for her; would die for her. Suzume knew that Rin would only end up heart broken with that man at her side, but perhaps she already knew this. Perhaps, Suzume thought, that Rin was all too aware of this fact now: Of no matter how she tried, they would be separated by death; either by the sword, or the passing of time. It was inevitable. Suzume sighed, what a beautiful tragedy, but then again love always was.
- 12
- 13
- 14
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Tears of Blood	By : SultrySundina Category: +. to F > Blade of the Immortal Views: 1863 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Please read disclaimer in each chapter.

Tears of Blood