The Guardian Fox

Eleven

As the blue-haired sword set the meal tray down he stuck his ear to the paper door, listening for any audible sounds. Concluding that he heard nothing, he sighed. He thought about the past events.

Ichigo was walking to his master's room when he saw the fox stomping out from the room. The fox saw him as well and brushed past him without even looking. He heard cries from his master as well. He then rushed to her room and tried to comfort the crying person. Unfortunately, his intentions were rejected by her.

"Aruji-dono! What happened? Are you-"

"Get out!"

He was taken aback by her reaction. He had never seen his master act in such a way.

Obliging the order, he went out and closed the door, telling everyone to stay away from her room.

It has been a week since then.

"Aruji-dono... Please at least eat something... It's been a week."

No replies were heard at all.

Dejected, he went off, praying that nothing bad would happen to his master.

~~

"Kogitsunemaru, may I come in?"

"It's you? Come in, Namazuo."

The wakizashi then slid the door open, showing the fox still in his yukata. He then sat in front of the tachi.

"I heard that you and Master had a serious argument. Was it about me?"

"How.. did you know?" The fox was slightly surprised at his knowledge about the details.

"I retained my memories of the previous me."

Silence filled the atmosphere.

"I can't forgive her for killing the past you."

"I don't think she did anything wrong."

"Why would you say that! Aren't you angry that she killed you!" The fox suddenly shouted at Namazuo's reply, but soon restricted himself and apologised for his rash action.

"I apologise. Please continue."

"Have you thought about the true reason why she killed the past me?"

"She concluded that the past you can't be saved from depravity."

"That's not the reason. Killing me was also a way to save me. She didn't want me to keep on suffering. True, no matter what she did, the past me couldn't be saved from the corrupted heart. But she kept on trying, wanting to protect me and everyone. She did try." Namazuo held the scabbard of his sword tight, before continuing.

"But she had to choose who to save. Either me or everyone including herself. Which choice do you think she would choose? I get a second chance while they don't. Apart from killing me, there's no other choice. The only way was to use the ultimate command: taking away the life granted towards me. She had to bear the burden too."

The wakizashi sighed, as if he was a little tired from the explanation.

"What... burden?"

"The burden of taking away life a saniwa had granted. Taking away a life would cause great pain on the chest to remind them the pain that the object felt before being taken away life. Nightmares would happen every day to carve the pain deep into their heart and soul mentally so that they wouldn't take lives away so easily in the future. She has to bear this in exchange for the lives."

He realised the difficulty and obstacle that she had to go through.

He thought about the lies she said to cover up.

Why didn't he understand?

"She made the right choice to kill me. I'll be taking my leave then."

Standing up, he left the tachi's room.

Tears fell from his eyes, realising what he did hurt her deeply. No one but her had to bear everything alone.

Running out of his room, he went towards her room.