The God of War's Love

Chapter Seven

Kenshin's Point of View

Akane was asleep in Kagenobu's arms when I returned from talking to Malcom. I felt a pang in my chest as I saw him brush her hair out of her face. I shouldn't have left her with him, dammit. I walked over to them and gently picked up Akane, making sure not to jostle her and aggravate her injury; he looked up at me and glared as I stole her from his arms. I strode back to my horse, Musou, and got on with her in my lap; her head was supported with my shoulder.

I yelled, in a hurry, "Men! Mount your horses. There are only two more miles until we arrive at the outpost, and we cannot allow the Oda to capture it."

"Yes, sir!" Came from the small troop remaining. They quickly got on, and our short end to a long journey began.

Akane started to mumble quietly, and I strained my ears to hear. She might need something... what if she's in pain? God... why do I even care?

"Kenshin... mmh," Akane whispered as she nuzzled my shoulder. Her face contorted into pain as she moved her neck. I gently stroked her cheek as my chest throbbed, and I then made my horse run even faster. I need to get her back and treat the wound properly. As the outpost came into our sight, I became increasingly impatient. I had been grasping onto her breathing and mumbling to know that she was still alive. She has to be alive. As Musou stopped the sprint, I dropped off with her in my arms and ran into, where one of the healers should be from our second platoon. I bolted inside and all of the soldiers looked in horror at Akane's sorry state.

"Lady Akane!" Came from one of the healers she had become acquainted with.

"Please, take care of her," I said as I bowed my head.

"L-lord Kenshin... Please, put her down on the mat here." I quickly brought her inside the small room and sat down to oversee the examination. "Lord Kenshin. There is another wound on her stomach. I have to disrobe her. With all due respect and professionalism, please leave the tent. You must attend to the soldiers, anyways." My skin crawled.

"Just tell me that she is alive, Kojuro. Then, I will leave."

"She is very alive, Lord Kenshin. She is simply unconscious." With my heart and mind a little clearer than it was before, I left the small room and went to the remaining soldiers.

A small intel team I possessed entered the outpost with striking information. "Lord Kenshin, the men that ambushed your troops were not sent by Nobunaga. They were sent from another man. Hongan-ji Kennyo."

"That monk? How did he get so many followers? And why is he fighting us, wouldn't he fight Nobunaga?"

"All of the men that despise Nobunaga's tyranny have joined their cause. We still do not know why we are a target."

"Find out." I said briskly as I turned to go back to Akane.

"Lord, please wait."

"What?"

"A man that I have interrogated revealed that they have set their eyes on Lady Akane."

3 hours later; Akane's Point of View

I woke up to a small sensation of someone stroking my hair. I struggled in opening my eyes, but I eventually did. In all honesty, I was expecting Kenshin or Malcom, but when I looked to my side, I came face to face with Kagenobu stroking my cheek. I opened my mouth to speak, but I could not. Why are you here? Don't you hate me?

"Thank you for doing what you did for that soldier, Akane. Just rest now." I could barely keep my eyes open; I was just barely holding on to consciousness. What a sorry doctor I am. I can't even help anyone. I'm worthless. As my sight grew blurry, a tall man whisked open the small cloth at my door. It looked dark outside. He dropped to his knees by Kagenobu as he turned and stood to leave. The blurry man grabbed my hand and stroked soothing circles into my palm.

"You'll be okay," I heard him whisper. I heard a sniffle and him wipe his eyes. I gently raised my hand, as heavy as it was, and wiped his cheek.

"Don't... cry... for me," I said with a scratchy voice. My sight gradually got darker, but the hand holding mine was warm and sure. Who was it?

Sorry that this chapter is so short. Next one will be longer.