Blade Song

Chapter 25-Muted Expressions

I was sweaty, exhausted, and couldn't have been happier. With the battle won and my song over, we rushed back to see how Mitsuo was doing. He was almost lying down now, barely propped up by his own arm. He looked very pale, despite the fact that he hadn't lost a lot of blood. Fuyuko crouched over him, gazing at his leg while she chewed her fingernails.

"How is he?" Takahiko asked.

She shook her head. "Not good. See this?" She gently touched the skin of his calf where she'd torn away his pants to expose the wound. "This was no simple stabbing. There was obviously something on that dagger."

As I peered closer, I could see she wasn't wrong. A dark ring surrounded the bloody wound on the back of his leg, branching out into black, vein like tendrils that covered most of his calf.

"I'll be fine," he said with a weak smile. "Help me up so we can get back into the house."

Takahiko did as he requested, kneeling next to him so Mitsuo could wrap his arm around the bird demon's neck, allowing himself to be hoisted up with a loud groan. They walked back to the house with Mitsuo limping and putting most of his weight on Takahiko. Fuyuko and I weren't far behind.

When we entered the house, everyone had shifted around to one corner. A few of the men stood in front of the group, weaponless, but clearly ready to put up a fight. Jin stood front and center.

"Thank God you're all alright," he said. "Well, mostly alright. Is he going to be ok?"

"It's fine." Mitsuo waved him off. His breath was getting heavier.

"Let's get him to another room," Takahiko said, continuing on with Mitsuo into the only two rooms in the house that still had a door.

Fuyuko quickly grabbed a futon and hurried into the room herself. I started after them, but Jin stopped me.

"You could have woken me up, you know?" He folded his arms.

I smiled and patted his shoulder. "Someone had to hold down the fort. You did a good job. It's probably better if you all get settled again, though. I think it's safe now."

He nodded at me as I left to go join the others in the room, sliding the door shut behind me. They'd managed to get the futon down and Mitsuo on top of it. Fuyuko had removed the entire lower section of his pants. The black tendrils had started wrapping their way around the front of his leg as well. Mitsuo tensed suddenly and sucked air through his teeth, letting it out slowly as his body relaxed.

"It's hurting him," Fuyuko said. "This isn't good. He needs a doctor. Now."

Takahiko nodded and turned to leave the room. Just as he did, the door slammed open, a panting Kiyoshi on the other side. His eyes locked on his brother and he rushed to kneel next to him.

"What happened?" The fox ran his fingers over Mitsuo's leg, lifting it up gently to get a look at the underside.

Mitsuo let out a large gasp and tensed as a result. The fox put the leg down slowly.

"A large group of men fancied our friends here," Fuyuko said.

"Raiders," Kiyoshi growled.

"Just outside of town?" Fuyuko asked. "Would they be so bold?"

"They probably learned I was away," Kiyoshi said. "We are well known here, and this is the largest group we've had in a while."

"Do you think that's the last of them?" Takahiko asked.

"It will be. I will make sure of it. Paradise Bay may be full of scum, but it still has laws. We will be compensated." The fox pushed some hair out of Mitsuo's face and smiled at him. "You will be alright, brother." He stood and went back to the door. "Never mind that now. I need to go fetch a doctor right away. Look after him."