Craft

Part 2

Conbo waited patiently as father rambled on about something trivial. I kept my head bowed and placed my hands in my lap. I had tuned him out a long while ago and I am sure Conbo had done the same. Said demon's patients seems to have no end. I applauded him. 

"Kazumi-san, I have word from my Lord. He has requested something of you as a promise of loyalty. He wishes to have the land that you currently possess, and a formal gift given to him at a meeting of all four clans. He has stated that you shall be known as the fifth clan and will soon see the gains of the title." Conbo presented the scroll to him and gave him time to read it.

My father's face seemed to curl into itself in anger. He hissed a quiet word to Conbo and glared at him. I decided it wasn't my place to listen in and watched as the demon slayer unlatched the cage of the lion. She waited patiently for it to stalk out of the entrapment and circle the room. The cat like creature was enormous. It's robust body and sharp teeth gave the animal a harder edge. Where had this thing come from?

The animal looked at all of the men and women in the room feverishly and went to charge one of our servants. The demon slayer moved the young man out of the way and brought it's attention back to her. The lion glared at her, and bared its long fangs at her. The lion swiped a claw at her.

The demon slayer seemed unbothered by the display, I'm sure having a tolerance to angry beasts. She unsheathed her massive sword and brought it down to cut the animal down. The lion moved away and sprung into action as soon as it's hind paws touched the ground. The animal jumped and attacked her face with the swipe of its paw. I lifted my head and watched the claws of the beast gouge her face. Blood quickly came to the surface. It was a deep gash but she would be fine after having one of the monks look at her.

Her whole face would have come a part if she hadn't tried to sidestep the animal when she did. The woman grunted in pain as the lion came down once again. The animal licked its chaps as it sized the woman up again. She had screeched as the shock of pain rushed her body. Using her sword she shielded herself from the animal.

I could hardly see her, but I heard her muffled curses as the blood dripped into her eyes. She roughly rubbed her eyes free of the thick liquid and pulled something from her back pouch. The small pot looked generic, but she pulled the  cork out and rubbed the solution onto her bleeding face. An angry hiss came from the lion as it tried to see what she was doing. It charged her again.

She lifted her body in time and ran from behind her sword. Leaving it behind she drew a small knife and pivoted to rush the animal. My breath caught in my throat as the animal looked to where she had come to be. She embedded the knife into the animals side and jumped away. The roar of pain that followed broke my heart.

"Enough!" I had stood and shouted the harsh command. The lion was on the ground. A whimper and a low rumble left its large mouth as I went to its aid. I hardly noticed that I was moving before I came to stand ten or so feet away from the animal.

"Be calm. I'm going to help you." I don't know what made me think it could understand me, but it was worth a try.

"Ayano! Get away from it." My father yelled from his seat; Conbo had yet to move. I ignored him. I looked to the animal once again and smiled softly. The knife had been much bigger than I had thought. It was practically a small sword. The blade was still visible, so it hadn't gone all the way in. Hopefully the wound wouldn't kill it.

I looked at its face a harsh glared being sent my way. My breath seemed to escape me as our eyes made contact. The sharp gaze of the animals honey brown eyes softened as it looked at me. I lifted my hand slowly the show it I had nothing that could harm it. Slowly, I took a step towards it. Just one. It's paw flexed slightly and I had a feeling that it would strike me if I went closer.

"I promise you, I will not harm you any further." I spoke softly as the demon slayer came to stand beside me.

"My Lady, the beast doesn't understand you. It will die soon." Her voice was higher than I'd have thought. It was soft and kind as she spoke. I would have never thought she was the one to do this.

"Give me the balm you used on your face. I will close the wounds before an infection sets in." I looked to her quickly. Her face seemed to scrunch in disapproval.

"Now, slayer or you'll have hell to pay." I glared at her. The look seemed to promise her something of what I intended, and she reached for the same clay pot. She placed it in my had and I examined it. I wanted to make sure this was the one and not a poison.

Pulling a senbon needle from her hair, I cut myself until I drew blood and applied the potion to the cut. She gritted her teeth. She had given me a poison. I knew she wouldn't think I would apply it to myself. I was trying to save the animal not kill it. 

"The antidote and the real balm would be nice." I glared at her. The slayer huffed and handed me a smaller jar, and a round bowl looking jar similar to the one I handed back to her.

"The smaller one is the antidote. Apply it to you cut and drink some. Only a sip." I did as told and quickly turned away from the woman.

The lion's breath was labored and I took a heavy breath before making a step to the lion's face. I kept my distance, but I figured I should show the animal I have only the vial in my hands. The beast lifted it's head and looked at me. It eyed my hands and glared at the vial. I decided to that there was no real way to approach the animal without suspicion and I moved closer.

"Do not attack me. You'll die without this." I walked to the animals belly and looked at the knife. I was left with little choice but to yank it out as quickly as possible. Gripping the hilt tightly, I prepared to run. There was no doubt the lion would try to strike me. I stood and pulled the knife directly out; I had never moved so quickly before. 

The lion grumbled and hissed before swiping at me and trying to stand up. I threw the knife down and listened to its metal clank as the demon slayer swore under her breath. The lion, to whom of which I learned was, in fact, a male; flopped back the the floor as blood gushed from it's side. I waited a moment. 'Please be alright.' I prayed as I made my way back to its side.

After an hour of cleaning its wounds and dressing them using the balm, I had the animal moved back to its cage and placed in a different room. My father was not pleased with my display. He was unimpressed. After the lion had passed out, Conbo stood from his seat and helped the servants move him. He had yet to say a word.

"You could have been killed!" He shouted. His forehead creased with worry, an angry scowl punished his aging face. I looked at him plainly.

"If you were so worried you could have come to my aid, father." I said it quietly enough that no one could have heard, other than our guest. Though the condescending sound of my voice lent nothing to my father's ego. My father, in his rage, lifted his hand and landed a rough slap to my cheek.

A gasp of pain raised in my throat though no sound left me. It was expected. I was out of line. The lion should have died, I shouldn't have even made a noise, and I should not have said that. The disrespect was evident, and I accepted my punishment.

"Learn your place, you brat." The harsh edge of his voice was almost enough to do exactly that. The sound was clipped and held a flare of loathing. I was almost disappointed.

For appearance sake, I bowed my head and raised a hand to my face. "My apologies."