The Guardian Fox

Eight

It has been a year since I arrived here. Everyone was excited, wanting to celebrate my anniversary by holding a feast. I wasn't really enthusiastic about it, but I decided to let them do what they wanted to on the condition that they have to go for a few sorties and not mess up the citadel's operations as they prepare their surprises.

After breakfast, I went with Shishiou's team for a sortie, a long time since I last went with them. The tantous were discussing the party excitedly while on their horses, oblivious of their environment. Sending my horse nearer to them, I gave them a chop on their heads, giving them a small scolding.

"Leave the discussions later after we are done!"

"Y-Yes.." All of them held their heads and begun to look around for any ambushes.

"Aruji! There!"

The lion pointed to a specific direction where it resembled a person lying on the ground. I got down from my horse and carried her, careful not to aggravate her injury.

"Are you alright!" I asked, inspecting her wounds. There was a long gash, with blood flowing profusely. She doesn't have much time left, I thought while tearing a piece of my sleeve and pressing it against the wound.

"A-A saniwa...? G-Get away f-from here... E-Enemies- No, my swords...!"

Corrupted swords soon appeared from the woods, resembling what the sage has told me. Were they her swords previously?

"Everyone!"

They grasped the situation quickly and started to slay them, leaving a purple liquid on their blades as they were exterminated. The woman cried as she saw her swords being cut down before coughing out blood. It was a sign that she was going to leave.

"S-Saniwa-san... My swords... They became corrupted... And started to kill each other... I-I managed to get away from them...P-Please.. report this t-to the government..." Tightly gripping on my top, her hand then went limp and landed on the ground. Shaking her body, her pupils were fully dilated. Placing the body down, I murmured a short prayer before walking back to my horse. It seemed to have sensed it as well, nudging my face as I calmed him down.

"Nushi-sama...? That woman..."

"She's gone... Let's head back to the citadel." I said as I was about to get onto the horseback, but my legs gave way, kneeling to the ground as I was drowned in my own thoughts.

Will this situation happen to me too?

"Nushi-sama!" He hurriedly got down and carried me up to his horse. Sensing my fears, he took my hand and squuezed it gently to make me realise that he was by my side. Burying my head into his neck, I tried to stop thinking about what happened earlier.

~~

"Swords started to became corrupted and killing each other?"

"Yes. It seems that it was done through external influences, Sir."

"We will investigate further, thank you, Kiyomura-san. You are dismissed.

The conversation ended as I put down the phone. The thought of my own swords becoming corrupted and killing each other sent shivers down my spine. I never wanted to lose them, let alone being corrupted. A knock was then heard.

"Nushi-sama?"

"Come in."

He entered and sat opposite, facing me across the table. Gazing at the steaming cup of tea, he broke the silence first.

"About that woman earlier..."

"Her swords were corrupted and they started to kill each other. She was barely able to escape, but she died in the end. The Government is investigating currently."

The fox then frowned, not even wanting to imagine what happened afterward. Another knock was soon heard. It was rare to hear knocks from my door other than Kogistune at this time.

Sliding the door open, it was Namazuo. Before I could speak, I felt something was out.

It isn't him.

"What is it, Namazuo?"

"Die!"

"Namazuo-" Just I was about to touch him, I felt a sharp pain on my abdomen. Looking down, it was his blade, deeply plunged into me, leaving the fox extremely shocked. The wakizashi then smiled in a sadistic way before pulling the sword out and dropping it from his bloodstained hand. Blood dripped onto the mat, staining it with crimson red dots as I collapsed to the ground, unable to support myself anymore. Even with my hands placed above the wound, it kept bleeding like an open tap.

"Haru!!"

Glancing, I saw Mitsutada holding Namazuo and knocking him out using his scabbard while the fox hurriedly rushed to my side. Supporting me, I felt my back lying against his hands. Dark crimson liquid radiated outwards, resembling a crane like what the troll always said. My top was soaked with blood as well.

At that moment, all I could hear was his muffled shouts along with Yagen as he replaced my hands with numerous gauze in his grip, trying to reduce the bleeding. My face began to lose its colour.

Will I live or die? Probably only the envoys from Hell or hungry demons know.

Feeling unconscious, my eyelids felt like they were going to close as time passed. My vision went blurrer as I remember him pressing the half blood-soaked gauze against the bleeding area after removing the reddened gauze; his eyes still filled with shock and anxiety. I could feel my body getting colder as time went, unable to maintain my body temperature anymore. Even my breathing became more shallow than ever.

"Stay with me! Just stay with me!"

"She's not doing good! Ichi-nii! Call the Government now! We're sending her there immediately!" Yagen shouted to his brother who ran off at lightning speed before turning his attention to me again. Everyone hurriedly rushed to the room, with shocked expressions hanging on their faces. Iwatooshi had to block the tantou's sight along with Ichigo and the other swords. It was just too much for them. Hasebe soon entered and told Kogitsune to stand aside as he kept me closely monitored while Yagen was busy stuffing my wound with lots of gauze.

The last scene I saw was the fox crying out my name as the tantou did whatever he could to save me before my eyes closed.