Together - A Senku Ishigami Love Story (Dr.Stone)

Chapter 18

Tachi hummed quietly to herself as she made her way towards the village, her hands clasped behind her back and a small smile set across her lips. Her pale eyes scanned the area ahead of her, her nostrils flaring to take in the scent of the spring rain dampened earth surrounding her. She was glad that she and Senku had finally spoken, but couldn't help but roll her eyes as she replayed the conversation in her mind. What was he thinking? How could he possibly have come to conceive that anything that had happened to her was his doing? It was impossible to believe that someone with a brain as big as his could come up with such a stupid conclusion! Senku had no control over her! Her actions were her own and no one else's! If anyone should have felt guilty it was her, and she sure as hell didn't. A whispered laugh fell through her lips before they stretched into a smirk, and eventually slid into a gentle smile. Even if he was being bonehead in worrying about her at all, it was nice that he did. It was nice that he cared.

Coming to the end of the worn pathway Tachi smiled ahead to the guard on duty, waving to him casually as she continued her approach. She stopped before Kinro, who stood alone, face carved from stone and spear dug into the earth by his foot. His dark green eyes affixed to the woman now standing before him. Her grin grew at his stoic exterior, he didn't seem displeased to see her, she had quickly come to learn that a mild scowl occupied his otherwise handsome features most of the time, and not to take the expression personally.

"That big smile of yours scare Ginro away?"

Kinro frowned slightly at her statement.

"I'm not smiling."

Tachi laughed quietly and shook her head. Her sarcasm was lost on him, it really was.

"Moving on. Since you're left guarding the bridge all alone, I'm willing to give this time up to help you out, and keep you company."

Kinro watched her stilly as she slid down against the bridge post, resting her back against the worn wood, and lulling her head back to gaze up at him. Unsurprisingly, he seemed unmoved by her selfless action.

"I don't need your help."

Tachi crossed her legs, placing her hands onto the earth beside her and readjusting her position, the damp dirt sticking to her palms.

"Yeah I know you don't. I'm not exactly going to be of any use to you if anyone did try and enter the village."

Kinro shifted his gaze across the wooden bridge to the village before running it back across the slats slowly, and turning to gaze for a few seconds along the pathway leading into the forest. Everything seemed calm and quiet, as it normally was. Tachi watched him with interest as he sat down against the other post, firmly pressing his spear into the earth to ensure it stayed in place, the struggling sunshine glinting off of the dull blade.

"Then why are you here? I didn't ask for your company."

Tachi smiled, turning her head to gaze up at the thick clouds above her, watching the thin beams of sunlight lazily as they endeavoured to breach the grey cotton.

"No one ever does."

Her quiet response caught the brunettes attention, and he turned his head to watch her carefully. Her chest rose and fell slowly as she took deep controlled breaths, her pale eyes heavy lidded, her smile small and solem. Strands of her blonde locks which had long ago escaped her tied back hair fell across her features, slightly obscuring what he could make out as a thin scar on her cheek. He had never heard her use such an amiable tone before, a tone which in turn made him want to lower his own.

"What do you mean?"

He spoke almost gently, observing as she closed her eyes for a few short moments before shifting to lock Kinro's intense gaze, her pale eyes soft and her smile softer still.