The meeting was sat through with an almost unbearable tension. Tomioka was actually talking, seemingly taunting them by the sudden change.
The master was greatly amused. They all were a bit upset that he hadn't at least given them a heads up about this issue.
The meeting went relatively fast and the master asked Tomioka to stay back for a final goodbye. The joy had left his voice at that part.
They both knew it. The master would not be fit enough to travel when Tomioka would be hospitalized. This was truly the last time they would ever speak again.
Tomioka tor once let someone grab onto him to give him a gentle hug. The Ubuyashiki family gave the man the first and final hug he would ever get from them.
Tomioka took the back exit as he knew the others were waiting around the front. Sanemi was waiting. He blinked as the man just casually began to drag him away.
"Sanemi?" He asked in confusion. He glanced back at Tomioka.
"You're not staying by yourself at the water estate. The master is giving me the month off to spend with you..." He mumbled the last bit but it made Tomioka smile slightly. He let Sanemi grip his hand and began to walk alongside him.
Sanemi let him into the now familiar wind estate and they spent the next couple of hours talking about their pasts.
Tomioka fell asleep with his head of Sanemi's shoulder while star gazing late at night. Sanemi let a tear fall as he gazed at Tomioka.
"Goodnight my akemi."
Meanwhile, an extremely worried Rengoku boarded a crowed train to await his mission with the kamaboko squad.
Tomioka yawned lightly that morning before wincing. He had been put in a bed so his body wouldn't hurt but his chest felt like it was going to explode.
He bit into his sleeve to stop himself from yelling. He stumbled to the bathroom and threw up massive amounts of blood, hearing footsteps running to his door.
"SHIT! TOMIOKA!" Sanemi pulled his hair away from his face as he wheezed. Blood spattered across the floor. Dark, rippling red pooled beneath him as more blood came from the depths of his throat.
His body slumped against Sanemi's as he heaved, trying to regain lost air.
He squeezed his eyes shut as the agonizing pain dulled into a harsh ache. He took deep, slow breaths as Sanemi wiped the blood off of his throat with a damp rag.
"Are you okay? That was a lot of blood." Sanemi asked quietly. Tomioka nodded.
A crow flee in from the window, landing a few feet away after soaring through the open bathroom door.
It's head had lowered. "Kyojuro Rengoku has fallen in battle." It spoke softly. They paled.
The meeting had only been the day before.
"W-who killed him?" Tomioka asked softly.
"Uppermoon three was reported to have fled the area at the rising sun." Tomioka lowered his head.
"I see." Sanemi stayed quiet but Tomioka raised his head and looked out the window to the growing thunderclouds.
'I'll see you soon Rengoku.'
YOU ARE READING
The Silent Signs
Fiksi PenggemarHe never told them. Giyuu was always so silent, so quiet. He never wanted to burden the others. But had they known about his illness, he would have made them worry. If only he had told them. If only he had told him.
