The Water Phoenix

Chapter 21: Back To War

His arms enveloped me tightly. I smiled. His hands accidentally brushed my neck. The cut made by my brother still there. Forgotten in all the chaos of the moment. Even thought the pain numb by now, I winced back.

If he hadn't put is hand he wouldn't have noticed. The rivulet of blood was hidden by the shadows of my neck and the shirt.The blood smudged off. I looked up at him, as pain shot through me. Natsuhito's eyes widened. The red blood on his hand sticking out like a sour thumb on his pale skin.

I gulped. Sweat rolled down in small beads on my back. Leaving a burning wake of fear behind it. Natsuhito's eyes were glinting, but not in a good way. His lips became a thin line.

"Keiko," he whispered hoarsely. "What is this?" He asked, turning his index towards me. The blood droplet quivered on his finger before sliding down the right side of it and splattering on the floor. The soft plick sounding like thunder in the oppressing silence of the tent.

I gulped. My hands slowly fell to my side. "I-I thought they had informed you." I croaked.
Feeling my stomach starting moving.

"No. They haven't informed me yet. Mind doing it for me?" He asked. His voice extremely cold.A thin, almost invisible layer of furry underneath it. "I had finished training with General Tang and he said we would have one finally match. I was waiting in the fighting ring early at night, when my brother came. He had managed to escape somehow and he placed a knife at my throat. We fought. I wanted to kill him but General Tang stopped me. Brining him away. I don't know here he is now." I said. The words digging in our minds. Tears pooling in my eyes.

He stayed eerily quite. Not saying anything. His gentle hand raised my head. His eyes inspected the cut.

I hadn't seen. It was probably a straight line, since it was made by a knife. His eyes widened. I closed my eyes in defeat as a sigh escaped my mouth in a hurt way.

As Natsuhito's hand ghosted on it, I winced back. Pulling my neck away. Natsuhito immediately pulled his hand backwards. I saw that now all his fingers were covered in blood.

I gasped. "I'm so sorry. Please- let me clean it for you~" I started ranting in a chaotic frenzy. Natsuhito stopped me. His hand gently lifted my chin up. My eyes dared to look at him. "Why are you apologising?" He mumbled. "Well...you're fingers are covered in my blood which is probably disgusting you right now." I explained in a hushed tone. Natsuhito smiled slightly. "Keiko, I come from a war. I don't know how many bodies I have seen or how much blood I have smelled. I always feel powerless when I see death. A man falling on his knees, I feel that I could've have stopped it." He said. His eyes clouding with a sheer curtain of sadness. He seemed to snap out of it as he saw me staring at him with worry.

He got up from his chair. I was still kneeling on the floor. He gently helped me up. Smoothing my crumpled clothing and leading me gently outside.

Right as we were headed for the medical tent, I messenger stumbled towards us. His forehead covered in sweat. His eyes wide and lost. His armour dirty. He stank of war.

Soldiers crowded outside their tents and stopped their activities. From the corner of my eye I saw Kiributso whispering to an other soldier in a worried way.

The poor messenger collapsed on the ground. Dust rising above him. Natsuhito stopped moving and turning to face him. He bent down on one knee and helped the solider up. "Someone bring water!" He yelled. A solider ran towards us. I grabbed the glass of water. I gently raised the messenger's head and made him drink. After the glass was empty the messenger raised his trembling and quaking left hand. A scroll tightly held in it.

"The Soliders in the land of the East have encountered an ambush while coming back. We need help!" The man slowly collapsed on the floor. A few soliders carred the man to the medical tent.

Natsuhito stood up. So did I. "Soldiers!" He yelled to his camp. Every action was immediately halted. "We are going to the last war to make this country better! To make it wha we desire. Free of the blight! Pack your bags and get ready for marching." Natsuhito yelled. The whole camp buzzed with excitement.

I felt a whole weight settle in stomach once more. He had just come back and we were meant to part ways again for who knows how long.

Natsuhito turned to me. He saw my eyes glistening. He pulled me closer. "Why are you crying?" He asked. "Well, you're leaving and you just came back. I don't want to leave you." I whispered. My voice cracking non the less.

I felt Natsuhito smile. "But, you're coming with me." He whisperd in my ear.