A Love Beyond Time

Chapter 7-Dark emotions and passions

"For the 200,000th time-I am perfectly fine. I'm a Celestial Being, an injury inflicted by a human can't kill me. So quit treating me like a hapless patient."

Seimei glared at the two humans before him-they had been tending to him since he regained consciousness a while ago. No, he thought, babying is a more appropriate word for what they are doing now. Asking if he's all right, helping him sit up, bringing him water. Even feeding him said water with a spoon. Feeding him?! What did they think he was? A damned infant?!

Although the truth was that he felt as though someone had dropped a mountain on his chest, he would cut off his limbs before admitting it.

Sagiri placed the bowl of water down and gave the Fox a look that could be described as stern in a motherly way--or was it motherly in a stern way?--and sighed.

"Gabimaru's punch might not have killed you. But it had definitely injured you severely. Your breathing is still ragged and unsteady. So, just let us take care of you, all right?"

"You let him land a strike on you intentionally, didn't you?"

Shion spoke, his voice low and steady. His question bounced off the walls of Seimei's cave, creating a slight echo. The immortal stared intently at the silver-haired samurai before chuckling.

"Leave it to the perceptive aura reader to see through my little tricks. Yes, I did. I planned to only evade his attacks before I intentionally let him land a successful blow to vent his dark emotions and feel better. Maybe regaining his sanity when he realized what he had. I just didn't expect him to aim at my heart."

"You never intended to fight back?" Sagiri asked incredulously.

"Why should I? Gabimaru's not my foe; he's one of us. Besides, I knew he would lose his cool and lash at me. After all, I was the one who triggered him with the information about the elixir being nothing but an elaborate tale, so I should be strong enough to withstand the outcome. Also, I could empathize with his feelings and the burning desire to destroy everything."

Shion shook his head at Seimei's disregard for his own safety. "You are fortunate that you're still alive."

"Well, only another immortal or weapons from the Celestial Kingdom can inflict genuine damage or kill me," Seimei looked imploringly at both Asaemons before continuing.

"Now that we have established that I am perfectly fine, could I have some personal space and time now? Please, mama and papa?"

Sagiri blinked at the Fox, biting her lips to keep the giggles bubbling in her from escaping. On the other hand, Shion rolled his eyes--figuratively, of course, although he definitely would have done that in reality if he could.

"Seriously? Mama and Papa? How old are you?" The blind man asked.

"Old enough to have you stop babying me. Now, just go. Go pester someone else."

Sagiri suddenly remembered that Mei had been missing from breakfast earlier. "Where's Mei? Had something happened to her?"

Seimei's playful expression grew solemn as he met her pensive gaze. "She's not doing well. She's undergoing the early stage of arborification. Her left forearm had turned into a tree branch in the middle of the night, and she was running a temperature. We are trying to see how we could heal her."

Sagiri paled at the news. She had grown extremely fond and protective of the little girl, her true form notwithstanding. Clasping Seimei's hands, she entreated.

"Please heal her. I know you can do it. Regardless of what she is, she's a dear friend of ours."

"I know. And I promise you, we will do our best to help her. Harumi will bring you to see her."