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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
- 5
- 6
- 7
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 5: Sparrow's Song

Tada Suzume and her son, Tada Washi, were travellers from the south. They were looking for someone; someone who had been an old friend's only surviving heir. They were looking for the young girl that had captured the heart of Washi many years earlier. They were looking for Asano Rin.

As they entered the large inn the snow covering their feature slowly began to melt. The innkeeper's hand covered her mouth as she was shocked to realize these two had been walking in the storm. "Oh my, how did you ever survive out there? This is the worst storm I have ever witnessed!"

Suzume looked up from underneath her sugegasa and peered at the short old woman in front of her. "We have been travelling a long time now, and are very weary. Do you have any available rooms?"

"Hai, I have two left." The innkeeper smiled.

"I would like to take them both; one for myself and the other for my son here." Suzume open handed gestured to Washi. Just then she noticed a woman off to her right, slowly walking towards them her head down, then turned into a room off to her right as well. Suzume's eyes shot open and she caught a glimpse of the girl's hair, raven in colour and done in two hanging braids with rings at the ends. Asano Rin! Finally at last she had found Rin!

The innkeeper took Suzume and Washi to their rooms. Suzume looked at her son and took a hold of his hand as she put her belongings in her room. "Washi, she is here! Rin is here! I must go speak with her now. I saw her. Please wait in my room. I will return."

Washi looked at his mother with awe, "Hai."

Suzume quickly went down the stairs to the main floor and into the room she had seen Rin slip into. There she was, staring at a painting, a look of sadness enveloping her face. She looked as though she wanted to cry. "Asano Rin: Rin-chan!" Suzume smiled a large bright and beautiful smile. It had been three years since she had seen Rin. A light filled her heart.

Rin had been staring that the same painted scroll she had been the day previous. Rin looked at it and although she wanted to cry, she wouldn't let herself. She wouldn't cry over him anymore. She was so tired of crying. She wanted him to see her as a woman, not a child anymore. Why was this all so hard, why did she even care what he thought of her? Suddenly Rin heard a woman say her name behind and she turned around to see a tall, slender woman smiling a bright, vivid smile at her. She was dressed in a green silk kimono ornately decorated with purple and pink flowers and a large golden coy on her left side. Her hair was done up in a very tight upknot. She was so elegant. Rin recognized the beautiful face almost immediately as soon as her eyes fell upon her. "Suzume-chan!" Rin felt light hearted and warm. It was really Suzume-chan.

"Oh Rin-chan I have been searching everywhere for you since I heard of your parents. I'm sorry Rin-chan." Suzume hung her head as if in shame, "I'm sorry I couldn't have found you sooner."

"What do you mean Suzume-chan?" Rin didn't know what to make of the woman's words.

Suzume quickly scooted over to Rin and hugged her tightly. "Please Rin-chan come to my room and we shall talk. Washi-chan is here as well. He has missed you so."

Rin remembered the boy whom used to torment her one moment, then bring her flowers the next as children, and a warm smile graced her lips. Just before her parents' death Washi had to return home to help his mother tend the farm as she was expecting very soon and the work had been too strenuous for her to be able to do it alone. He was sixteen when he left, three years older than she. The last time she saw him was two months before her birthday, before her parents' deaths. His father left as well. They were both members of the Mutenichi-ryūbefore they had to leave and tend to matters at home. "I have missed Washi as well." Rin smiled.

Rin followed Suzume up to her room. The instant Suzume opened the shōji Rin saw a man, tall with long dark hair pulled back standing beside the window on the other side of the room, the left side of his face facing the window, the right into the room. Even under his kimono Rin could see he was muscular, and handsome; very handsome. She immediately knew it was Washi, and wanted to run over to him and embrace him but she stood there, behind Suzume and stayed silent.

"We have a guest Washi-chan." Suzume's voice was low and sweet.

Washi turned his head abruptly and stared at Rin, wide eyed, "Rin-chan? Is it really you Rin-chan?" His words pleading.

Rin looked at him with a smile and replied lightly, "Hai Washi-san." Rin tried to sound polite, but was blushing at his endearment. "It has been a long time."

He walked over to Rin and stood above her. She looked up at him and smiled beneath her blush, he was so handsome and tall now. He was smiling down at her. "Too long." He responded, "I have missed you Rin-chan."

The shōji was still open as the two women had not yet entered the room. Rin looked at Washi and saw a look of surprise rise in his face as his gaze fell to behind Rin. That was when Rin realized that Manji was standing behind her. She turned around, his eye was narrowed and his lips were straight. "Manji-san what are you doing here?"

"Heard ya babbling out here and thought to come make sure you weren't about to get y'er scrawny neck into anymore trouble, and I get out here to see this brat ogling you." Manji scowled at the man now.

Washi didn't move. He was not intimidated by Manji and simply stared back at Manji, expressionless, in silence.

Rin blushed further at Manji's words, but was taken by surprised when he grabbed her arm to lead her back to their room. "Manji-san release my arm!" Rin was glaring at Manji now.

Manji immediately released her arm remembering what she had said to him earlier; to never touch her again. "Come on woman, we need to talk." Manji's voice was stern.

"Sir I know not your relationship with Rin-chan but I think you should leave." Washi's hand was now on the hilt of his sword.

Manji grunted, "Yeah and who's gonna make me, you?" He put his hand to his shido and beckoned Washi to come forward.

Rin stood in front of Manji with pleading eyes. "Please Manji-san, Washi-san and I are friends. I've known him since childhood." Rin was grasping the hand he had on his shido with her own now, looking up at him.

Manji grunted again and removed his hand from his hilt slowly, when he looked down he noted that Rin had grasped his hand, "Fine whatever woman, but where you go, so do I."

"Arigatou." Rin said with relief in her voice as Manji's anger ebbed and she realized she was grasping his hand in her own and flinched and quickly jerked her hand away from his.

"Rin-chan who is this man?" Washi questioned as he beckoned everyone to enter the room.

Rin turned around to face Washi again. "This is Manji. He is my yōjimbō." she replied. She followed Washi and Suzume into the room.

Suzume closed the shōji behind them and remembered to her past few months in Edo. She knew who Manji was. She had seen him in Edo, had heard the tales of the immortal experiments. "Rin-chan, I can understand why you have him as your bodyguard. I have heard the tales of your parents' murder, of your vow to avenge them, and even of your faithful yōjimbō here from Sori-sensai in Edo."

"Figures that bastard would open his trap." Manji uttered under his breath.

Manji's words were quiet but Suzume still heard him and she shot a quick glance in Manji's direction, then looked at Rin with sadness and what seemed like regret in her eyes before speaking, "Rin-chan if you don't mind, please tell myself and Washi-chan everything that happened; everything."

The hours passed quickly as Rin told the two of her parents' deaths and from that event how Rin trained for two years in order to avenge them. Then how she had come across Manji by means of the nun and how he was now her yōjimbō. Her story was full of sadness and danger, but Suzume noted that every time Rin brought up an event where Manji's life seemed in danger the girl was deeply disturbed by something, but it wasn't the man's immortality, it seemed as though it were more the fact that he could die that bothered Rin: The fact that although immortal, he was not invulnerable. Suzume saw something in Rin's eyes, her expressions, her words she recognized all too well and peered over at the man now sitting in the corner of the room; his eye open, his expression shielded as Rin spoke. "He really has no clue what she would do for him does he?" Suzume thought to herself, "Poor girl, she has no clue either about him." Suzume knew well why Manji guarded himself, she could see through his shield and a frown grew on her lips, she realized then that her son would most likely leave this inn more disappointed than he had ever been.

When Rin's account of the events of the past almost three years was finished Suzume looked up from her cup of tea she was holding and sighed. "Rin-chan I am sorry for everything. I wish we could have come sooner."

"That is what I don't understand Suzume-chan. Why are you here?" Rin was puzzled as to why her childhood friend and his mother would come looking for her.

"Rin-chan," Washi interjected, "We wanted to find out if you were safe. We heard that you had survived. I wanted to find out if you were safe." Washi's gaze bashfully fell to the floor.

A low huff was heard from Manji's direction but Rin blushed at Washi's words, at their implication. "Arigatou Washi-san."

Rin stood up to stretch her legs and realized it was well into the night now and was now struck with a tinge of fear. Soon, too soon she would have to go back to her room, to THEIR room, and sleep with HIM there. She was still upset with Manji, but also fearful. Her fingers went to her lips, and she shot a quick glance in Manji's direction, hoping no one was noticing her actions. She quickly looked to the window and she fought to hold back tears as she remembered how he kissed her that morning, how he held her so close and made her feel so perfectly safe. Rin's actions however did not go unnoticed to Suzume and she spoke up, "Rin-chan is everything alright?"

Rin raised her hands and hurriedly shook them in reply, "Hai, Hai. I just, I have just missed you both and it has been a tiring day. I should go to bed now." With that Rin glanced again quickly at Manji, only this time he was staring at her, a look of remorse in his eyes, almost fear as well. Rin fought to hold back the single tear that stung the outer corner of her eye. She faked a very deceptive yawn to be able to rub her eyes in a tired manner.

"Rin-chan that is understandable. We will talk more tomorrow seeing this storm is not about to let up. Will you please indulge me one pleasure, however, for old time's sake?" Suzume's voice was soft and her eyes were twinkling.

"What do you wish Suzume-chan?"

"Will you let me to sing before we all retire to bed? I do so miss singing to everyone from my days as an entertainer and your family always encouraged it." Suzume's half smile reflected her reminiscence as she reached for her shamisen.

"Of course Suzume-chan, it would be a pleasure to hear your lovely voice again." Rin took a seat next to Manji near the window.

"Please forgive me if it is not a happy tale, but it is the only song I can remember at the moment." Suzume began to strum the delicate strings of the shamisen, the sounds of the chords hung melodiously in the air. The music was soft and low, her voice sweetly paired to the sound. The words were enchanting, and reverberated in everyone's ears. It was a tale of love, and war; of sadness.

Dancing on the moon;

Dreams of rain and gloom.

Songs of verses filled with fear

A heart of a maiden sheds a tear.

Sweeping waters breathe away the pain.

Flooding rivers wash away bodies slain.

Love is lost in the mourning storms.

A cold heart that no longer warms

The breath of death descended

And swept away the empty handed.

Blades line the fields.

Grass is stained with its bloodied shields.

Lovers torn apart by hate;

Perhaps even by fate.

Saying goodbye to his charming face

The maiden gives into the water's cold embrace.

Suzume finished strumming the shamisen and an air of sadness hung forebodingly among the four people in the room. When the song finished another tear that Rin was trying to hold back gently fell from her eye. Manji looked down at her to see her staring up into the window, the tear gleaming in the dim light as it slowly rolled down her cheek. Without thinking he lightly reached up and wiped it away for her. As soon as he did he flinched away from her and put his arms back inside his kōsōde for a moment, then he put them through the arm holes and stood up.

"Good song woman." He strode to the shōji, opened it and walked out.

Rin was still sitting at the window, not wanting to move; not wanting to even breathe. Suzume looked at her; she had noticed Manji wipe the tear from Rin's face before he pulled away from her and left the room. Suzume sighed, "Washi-chan will you please leave Rin-chan and I alone now. I wish to speak with her alone."

Washi looked at his mother puzzled, but obeyed. "Good night Rin-chan, mother." He walked out of the open shōji, as Manji hadn't closed it when he left, and closed it behind himself.

Suzume took in a long deep breath and looked over at Rin who now looked as puzzled as Washi had when he retired. "Rin-chan may I speak with you as woman to woman; as a friend?"

"Of course." Rin's inquisitiveness peaked.

"Rin-chan your bodyguard is a very quiet man. It seems as though he's in constant struggle within himself, ne?"

Rin nodded in agreement. "Manji is complicated. I don't even understand him most of the time." A frown now encased Rin's features.

"Then I will not drag this out. Rin-chan do you love him?"

"Haahh! Well, I...I..." Rin was flabbergasted, and blushing. She didn't know what to say to such an openly implying question.

"By your reactions alone I can see it dear. It's in your voice, your graces to him, your glances when you hope no one is watching, but Rin-chan someone is always watching; always." Suzume's words were pressing deep into Rin, making her shudder.

"Suzume-chan it makes no matter how I feel. He does not reciprocate my feelings; that I am sure of. I am his obligation. A duty he took on to rid himself of his curse." Rin's words sounded harsh and were tinted with anger and regret.

"Rin-chan do not be so sure of what you yourself could not possibly know for sure, even if he has said so. A man's heart is a guarded thing: Most times cold and harsh, but even the most frozen ice blocks melts when it comes in contact with the heat of an untamed flame." Suzume hoped her words were sinking in, "Rin-chan my son fancies your company. He always had, but he could never hold your heart to that man. Even I can see this. I have known you far longer than either of those men. I know how truly strong and wilful you are my dear. Do not lose that part of yourself on your hunt for revenge, or you will lose the only thing that really keeps your soul untainted by hate. Innocence is never something we can keep. There are far too many things in this world that can steal it from us; every one of us."

"Suzume-chan I...I haven't...with him...I am still..."

"That is not what I mean child. I mean that I do not wish you to be consumed by hatred or anger like so many others before you. I beg you; find salvation in the arms of a family, not in war."

"I do not understand what you are asking me Suzume-chan."

"I am asking you to consider my son, who loves you and would care for you deeply, as a prospect for a husband. For you to stop your quest for revenge, leave the side of that confused man and settle down and have a family. Let yourself feel happiness in the arms of my son. You will not have lasting happiness in the arms of a warrior."

Rin couldn't breathe. She couldn't even fathom not being with Manji anymore; no matter how angry or upset she was at him, she did not want to be without him, but she did not want to be confused anymore either. She didn't want to hurt as much as she had today. Perhaps Suzume was right; she was after all, only trying to look out for Rin's best interest. Trying to do what was right for a young kenshi, a young woman. She did not want to leave Manji, but was Suzume right? Was she fated to be alone if she stayed with Manji? Rin realized she didn't want to be alone her whole life. She didn't want to always feel like this, like even though he was there with her, he really wasn't with her and never would be. "I will consider your proposal Suzume-chan."

"Arigatou Rin-chan that is all I ask."

Rin rose from where she was seated and walked over to the shōji, opened it, and stepped out. She walked only a few steps to the next room, THEIR room. She opened the shōji to see Manji staring out the window. He didn't look at her when she entered, but almost seemed to purposely ignore her presence. Rin assumed he didn't really want to speak with her before when he grabbed her arm. What would he have to say to her anyway? His actions were words enough. Rin looked back at Suzume's room and sighed. Her decision might be easier than she had thought. Rin stepped into the room and closed the shōji behind her.

That night no words were spoken, and neither Rin nor Manji slept. They laid in silence. The air around them filled with dread and the silence spoke something to them both; that soon a decision would have to be made, and it would change them both forever.
- 5
- 6
- 7
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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