An Imperfect Science | Ikemen Sengoku

Chapter 56

Ness took a step forward, then warm droplets splattered across her cheek and nose as Mitsuhide pulled her back from the doorway in one quick motion. It was a familiar sensation. Blood. That's blood. Oh my god, is that Ieyasu's blood?

「Ie-」

A hand that was ice-cold, even by his usual standards, covered her mouth before she uttered more than a syllable. Warm breath, the pace too rapid to be healthy, ghosted across her earlobe.

「Wait, Ness.」

His quiet warning was followed by the sound of several thuds and more than a few groans, none of which sounded like Ieyasu. Then, as if by some silent signal, Mitsuhide lowered his hand and gently nudged her forward. The light in the courtyard was a hazy, orange, evening glow. She squinted against it, blinded, and saw the scene before her in flashes of colour and shadow.

Four dark shapes thrown across the gravel at unnatural angles. At least three of what could only be severed limbs, a thought she'd never wanted to have, and knew for certain she was going to have again. Red lines, glittering like thousands of rubies in the burnishing glow of the setting sun, scattered across walls and stones. In the centre of the carnage, Ieyasu's golden figure scattered more blood from the edge of his gleaming sword with a casual flick of his wrist, his posture relaxed. She watched the scarlet droplets arch through the air, glistening in the fiery rays of the evening sun, and she forgot to breathe.

There was total silence.

It was one thing to know that Ieyasu was well-regarded in a swordfight, as she did. It was another to witness the aftermath of what he could do, silently, in the space of a minute. Terrifying. Just as terrifying as Mitsuhide. And I didn't even see him doing anything. A hand clasped her shoulder gently and she jumped, then gasped for breath. The kitsune let out a knowing sigh and leaned down to murmur in her ear.

"Just remember that he's still Ieyasu, little mouse. And he does not want you to see this face."

But it's a face I asked him to show me. I asked, so I can't look away. It was the enormity of that thought that froze her in place. I asked him to do this. I asked him to unleash death. This is...

「Ness.」

She lifted her eyes from the safe patch of unbloodied grey gravel that they rested upon when Ieyasu called her name softly. When did you get here? He looked wary. More ruby droplets were sprayed across his face and through his hair. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Say something. Ieyasu's eyes softened, then he reached forward and carefully wiped the side of her face with his sleeve, his attention so gentle.

「You will witness much worse than this, if we continue,」said Ieyasu, 「Tell us now if you are too weak to endure it.」

His words were typically harsh, but... You're giving me an out, aren't you? Mitsuhide's long fingers squeezed her shoulder, reassuringly, as if to offer her the same thing. Ness blinked, slowly, then reached up to the doctor's face and drew the embroidered edge of her haori across his bloodied cheek. She knew that, beneath his clothing, his body contained a painful patchwork of cuts and bruises. She knew that Mitsuhide shouldn't even be able to stand. If you can endure so much, if both of you can... She lifted her hand and brushed a few bloody strands of hair back from Ieyasu's forehead.

「I can endure anything,」she said quietly, 「You both already know that.」

Mitsuhide sighed, his warm breath drifting over the top of her head, 「Just because you can endure it, doesn't mean you should. This will give you more nightmares, mouse.」