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Nagumo clan estate.
Tosa, Japan, June of Bunkyū 1.

["I come as a messenger of the Princess of Yase. My mistress wishes for me to see the face of the child under your care with my own eyes."

Technically, it isn't a lie. She does wish to see the ward of the Nagumo clan, and she is acting as a messenger - on her own behalf, perhaps, but on the behalf of the Princess of Yase nonetheless.

Sen is well aware that after so many attempts have gone horribly awry - her messengers being turned away or being entertained within the house but never actually being allowed to see Kaoru for themselves - that this isn't going to be easy. She is prepared to be stubborn with the men who have received her, and so she does. It's a fact that the servants have orders to placate her and send her on her way, but that is something she won't allow.

She had arrived the day before, just after noon. Now it is noon again, and she still isn't gone. Currently she is kneeling on a cushion in the room for receiving visitors, and she thinks that perhaps she has finally succeeded - a servant is dispatched to go and fetch Kaoru. She would prefer a private conversation, but that same servant will most likely be instructed to monitor them as they speak.

That's fine. Now that she's here, she's sure she can figure out a way. Things have been quiet enough lately that she has a little more freedom to act on her own (and she is acting on her own - for once, Kimigiku has no idea where she's gone, though she's left instructions with a child in the village to tell her that she saw the princess going to Tosa if she hasn't returned within two weeks), and she is sure she's up to the task of bringing Yukimura Kaoru home.

She looks up when she hears the sound of a sliding door, and smiles.]

Ah... are you Kaoru-san?

[She swears to god if they've brought some random girl to try and trick her, the Nagumo clan will become very well acquainted with just how much damage Yase can do when she's been offended.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He keeps Daitsuren under his kimono of course...no it's probably like in the rafters or out in the woods or something weird KAORU'S SQUIRRELING METHODS ARE ECCENTRIC.

But back in the fun pit, Kaoru's sure looking traumatized already. He's never seen anyone die by poisoning before, and the sheer amount of pain that she seems to be in has him feeling sick to his stomach. An agonizing, slow death had seemed like a wonderful thing to him when he imagined the clan elders being the ones who wore it, but this is just horrifying. A chilling, awful experience.

There's no accusation present from her, at least, but that leaves him feeling almost worse than he would have if his fears were met. He doesn't deserve the concern he sees. Her question has him shaking his head rapidly, unable to find his voice just yet. No, he wasn't that unfortunate...

He can't seem to force the words out, but he does eventually force himself closer to her side. One hand reaches out tentatively toward her, but stops and hovers in the air between them instead.]

I— Can I... [A deep breath. His voice is thin, and it wavers.] ...I don't know how to make it- less painful.

[Impossible.

The only way to lessen the pain is to succumb to it entirely, and Sen has no intention of dying, though she's sure this clan intends to leave her for dead. Making this experience less painful, then, is utterly impossible - but she doesn't want to say that to Kaoru's face when he seems so distraught already.]

...you don't... have to.

[She'll gloss over the topic, and do her best not to allow the strain to become too noticeable - but there is only so much she can do, and it's plain to hear in her tone of voice in spite of her attempts to make it steady.]

All I must... must do is endure. [She takes a breath, and it's shakier than she would like.] Kimigiku. When she...

[She isn't able to finish the sentence because another spasm of pain shoots through her, and she has to press her lips into a thin line to keep from crying out. But the meaning can be easily inferred, perhaps - the poison had come from Yase. If she can survive long enough for Kimigiku to return her to Yase, the antidote can be administered. Of course Kimigiku won't be carrying it with her because she has no way of knowing the princess has ingested it, but this poison was always meant to drag out the death and make it long and painful, so there is a chance that there will be enough time for her to be rescued and brought home for treatment.

Her eyes lock on Kaoru's hand in the space between them and she reaches for it, her own hand trembling. If he allows her to take his hand, her grip will be light and delicate, but undeniably there; he can at least feel that she hasn't been so sapped of her strength that she is slipping beyond help already.]

[He will most certainly allow it, even though it's hesitant and his palms are clammy with anxiety. Sen talks about Kimigiku coming, and she had talked about taking him back with them to Yase, about banquets and becoming friends and living out a new and better life, but when things come down to it, Kaoru doesn't hold much hope in that. It's been a necessity while living in this compound. Hopes won't get a person anywhere, and no matter how appealing it may be to cling to optimistic beliefs, they usually only end up hurting the person who holds them.

Sen can hope for the best, but Kaoru will take it upon himself to try facing the grim reality of this situation. If Kimigiku hasn't come yet, what are the chances that she'll arrive in the nick of time? And even if she does, how quickly will they be able to make the trip back? No, the most likely scenario here is the one in which Sen dies alone, away from the friends and family of her mountain village, agonized and with only the hand responsible for her poisoning to hold.

At the very least, he can make sure that her death isn't a drawn-out spectacle. His grip on her hand tightens a little.]

Please try not to strain yourself...

[When he lets her take his hand, she does relax - it's a minute amount of relaxation, but it's relaxation nonetheless. She can't thank him enough for not leaving her to die here alone. As terrifying as it is to experience from her side, it must also be terrifying to watch.

She isn't so lost in the poison's throes that she can't think clearly enough to realize that.

There is something else she is thinking clearly enough to know she must speak of - what worries her is whether or not she has the strength to speak of it without making how much the poison is hurting any more obvious than it already is. Though he tells her not to strain herself, she shifts so that she can use her free arm to push herself up into a sitting position.]

Just— to be safe...

[Just on the off-chance that Kimigiku is too late, that she succumbs to this poison before she can return to Yase - ]

I should tell you what I know of... your sister.

[Of her whereabouts, and of who exactly Yukimura Kodo is and where he lives and what he's doing. So that even if, for some reason, the man does move away and take Chizuru with him, Kaoru will have something to go on to track them down.]

...I promised that... I would bring you to her. [But such a promise may not be able to be kept.] I must— If I can—... you must see her again, someday...

[Hearing that makes his heart leap. It's almost enough to distract him from the fact that he's holding the hand of a dying woman, and that if she doesn't conserve her energy, these may very well be her last words. Would the selfish part of himself really allow her to continue suffering just for the sake of hearing what she has to say about Chizuru?

...He'd like to think that he's still a good person. Even living like this, he'd like to believe that he hasn't gone black at heart - that there still exists something in him that's decent. But the more he thinks about it, the less he wants to stop her from continuing. He pulls his lower lip between his teeth, biting down, and tightens his grip. Not enough to be painful - just enough to help ground him a little.

He really needs it.]

...Only tell me what you can... please. But if the strain is too much...

[Sen shakes her head. "Too much" - while it's true keeping quiet and conserving her energy might be better as far as staying alive a little longer is concerned, her conscience won't allow her to do it. Not when she's already failed him as far as getting him out unscathed is concerned. He is in here suffering with her because she had given him the poison, after all; if she had held onto it until shortly before leaving, would it have been discovered? Possibly not.

But it had been, and the poison may very well keep her from keeping her promise to him, so no matter what the cost she has to do what she can to equip him to find his sister once he's out from under this clan's thumb.]

I think I said before that she is in Edo... [They're off to a great start, and by great I mean awful; her voice trails off, but only because a moment later she is coughing violently. She turns her head to hide it but Kaoru may be able to pick up on the scent of blood. That's unfortunate. Once the coughing ceases, though, she takes a moment to catch her breath before continuing.] She is being raised by a man named Yukimura Kodo... He is a distant relative of yours, I believe. [This is important to know because it'll be much easier to track down a man than a young girl - most people don't pay attention to girls and their doings.] He is also a doctor of Western medicine. The pair of them are masquerading as— [She cuts herself off, again, feeling as though she might cough, but a few seconds pass without incident and then she continues.] As humans. The doctor seems to have succeeded at convincing her she is utterly normal. However, there are some Shogunate officials who know of their heritage.

[Her grip on his hand tightens.]

...should I be unable to take you to her... Members of the Shogunate will be keeping a close watch on the doctor because of what he is. You can find him through them, and find her through him.

[The scent of blood is indeed something he picks up on (a combination of his highly delicate senses and simply being used to it) and he starts to protest her continuation before she carries on anyway. It's selfish, but he pipes down accordingly. He wants - feels like he needs - to know this. If anything can get him through these days (months - years; he's resigned), it would be having this knowledge.

His grip tightens a little in return, and the sound that comes from him resembles a choked sob. He's caught somewhere between relief at now knowing this and distress over why he's being told this information now - that creeping toxin, destroying this impossibly kind person where she lies.]

Thank you— thank you, thank you so much-- [His head bows, obscuring the way that his eyes water up and well over. She may be able to feel a few teardrops against her hand.]

I'm sorry. I can't do anything... I can't do anything at all for you, but— [He sniffs, trying his best to meet Sen's eyes. His voice is kept low for the sake of not being understood by the guards, who seem to be enjoying the spectacle that the two of them make.]

—If it becomes too much to bear, I'll send you off as kindly as I can.

[HE'S REALLY TRYING TO HELP BUT THAT IS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD WAY TO DO IT. It's not like he knows any better, though. With the absence of hope comes the harshness of having to do what's necessary.]

[If Sen weren't so focused on keeping herself from succumbing to the poison so that she can tell Kaoru what he needs to know about his sister, she would probably be more bothered by the guards' attention. In this case, however, she is so hyperfocused on what she's trying to do that she doesn't even notice them rudely watching their two prisoners like they're on some kind of soap opera, which is probably good - for the guards, anyway.

The teardrops splatter onto her hand and she actually looks a little startled. In the short time that she's known him, he has seemed delicate - but she had assumed that a large portion of that was an act he put on for the Nagumo clan's benefit. Then again, perhaps she shouldn't be so surprised - he's just been told how he can find his sister and be reunited with her once he breaks free of this place; some amount of crying is to be expected.

What isn't expected is his offer to put her out of her misery. She really doesn't know what to make of that, nor does she really want to have to put him in the situation where he finally has someone offer to be his friend but then he has to end their life. A moment or two passes before she shakes her head almost imperceptibly.]

...let us hope it does not come to that. [She doesn't have any intention of ending her life. She still hopes that she can survive this. If only Kimigiku will get here soon...

She starts to pull her hand out of his, but only because she needs it to demonstrate something - once it's free, she brings her other hand to its palm and digs her nails in with as much strength as she has. Admittedly, it isn't much, but she does manage to break the skin after some effort and blood rises to the surface. She pulls her hands apart and turns them so that he can see her palm.

There is a faint orange light, and while it's healing more slowly than usual, the cut is still healing over.]

...I'll be fine for as long as my wounds continue to heal. [She takes a breath.] What makes this poison take so long to kill is that it tears you apart from within. But for demons... we heal, over and over, as it continues to do its work. It makes dying a longer process, but it also gives us more time.

[But if her healing stops altogether, and Kimigiku is nowhere nearby, it will be physically impossible for her to return to Yase in time to be given the antidote.]

I won't ask you to take my life... that sort of thing isn't a burden you should have to bear. Please put it out of your mind.

[Rather than viewing it as a burden to bear, even though it is, Kaoru seems discomforted by the fact that she's trying to give him an out. He can't see it in the same light that she does, really; figures that it's probably a combination of her being reluctant to give up her hope, and of him being too useless for her to trust in such a dire situation.

He can't blame her for that, really. He's done nothing but commit blunder after blunder since she's arrived here, and this one's finally ended in her slow and excruciating demise. It still stings, though - that he wants to be able to offer just one thing to her in the sea of everything he's done wrong, and he can't even provide that. His eyes stay fixed on her palm well after the wound has sealed itself shut, and his hands twist anxiously in his lap, over and over and over.]

...What can I do, then? If not that...

[There has to be something. Just sitting here watching her die makes him feel so helpless in the face of everything, and he can only imagine that she feels the same.]

Promise— promise me...

[Her face contorts into a grimace and, since he's watching her palm, he'll see as her hands clench into fists and her nails dig into the skin as she tries to ground herself. She manages to keep from crying out or whimpering, at least. With the guards paying attention, she doesn't want to give them the satisfaction of knowing they've succeeded in making her suffer.

She also doesn't want them to hear what she's about to say, and for that reason it's probably a good thing that her voice is already rather weak and quiet.]

Please promise that even if I am unable to take you away from here, you won't let them keep this kind of power over you. [She glances up at his face briefly, but her eyes seem a little unfocused.] Become... become strong enough to make them regret it if they even think of mistreating you. Please...

[If the worst does happen and she does end up perishing, she wants to at least know that Kaoru isn't going to allow them to push him around forever.]

[His breath catches in his throat at that, just a little, even though he's trying to match her and not give away just how distressed he is. If she can do it, then the least he can do is try too, right? Especially when he isn't the one suffering, dying--

When her hands clench, he watches. When she whispers that to him, his gaze drifts downward to the dirt beneath his knees. Is that sort of strength possible for him? Is it...? Will he ever be able to stand on his own feet? The thought of living pinned under the thumb of the Nagumo until the day he dies is enough to make him feel like vomiting, but he just doesn't know, he doesn't know if he can avoid that fate.

But here Sen is, asking for something like that even though she's suffering so much, herself. If it's for Sen - if it's for something like this, can he do it? Can he make them regret everything they've ever done?]

I— ...I'll do my best. I'll try - very hard. I'll continue to try. I'll do whatever I need to do to keep that promise.

[It's not the steel resolve he'll eventually grow into, but it's a flicker of something similar.]

[It's not the kind of resolve he'll possess in the future, but it's enough, and Sen manages a small but sincere smile - she is truly happy to hear that he'll do his utmost to get out from under the Nagumo clan's influence. As far as she is concerned, he never should have been forced to live with them in the first place. If he escapes, that wrong will finally be righted.]

Good... Thank you.

[She can rest easy knowing that he isn't going to allow them to control him forever.

Resting easy, however, will have to come later; her expression contorts into a grimace of pain a few minutes after she speaks and she draws her hands back to herself to wrap her arms around her stomach. This time, she manages to keep from crying out loudly, but isn't able to stifle a whimper of pain. She doesn't want Kaoru to know how badly this hurts, either - she doesn't want to risk him blaming himself for this - but it is at least preferable to letting the guards know.]

Ah... I think... I think I'm going to try and get some rest now. [She glances at him briefly.] You ought to try, too...

[Before the clan members decide this is taking too long, or before Kimigiku shows up. If she comes alone, she won't be able to carry them both - since Sen would walk too slowly, Kaoru will have to be able to keep up. Sen desperately hopes that her bodyguard will think to bring at least one more person, but she can't think of any reason why she actually would, since she's had no chance to send word out to her to instruct her to do so.]

[It should probably be worrying, hearing her say something like that. In fact, Kaoru does distantly recognize that; if she's saying "I'm going to try resting", shouldn't she be kept awake? That is, if she can even manage to sleep at all. He may not be aware of the full extent of pain she's going through because of her own iron willpower, but he knows that it must be excruciating regardless.]

...I'll try.

[Is all he says, once more. It's the best that he can offer. Vague half-promises that he's not sure he'll ever have the willpower or strength to carry out, or little white lies like this. He wants to stay awake to keep an eye on Sen. If she does have her final moments in this terrible place, at least one person should be witness to it.

But he'll settle down a little distance away from her - though still within watching range - and try to settle into some semblance of a resting posture.]

[Normally, Sen would watch more carefully to ensure that Kaoru actually is resting instead of just appearing to rest... but normally, she hasn't been poisoned. Which is to say that her powers of observation are not quite up to par at the moment, and Kaoru's mimicry of rest is successful.

As for her, slumber comes much more quickly than she expects - though really, it's less slumber and more mere unconsciousness. If she focuses on the pain enough, her body is all too willing to shut down so that it can handle it without any interference on her part.

Her breathing is shallow but relatively even, and the seconds tick away into minutes, which tick into hours. One of the guard peers in once, rudely asking "Is she dead yet?" - and if Sen had been conscious, perhaps she would have played dead in an attempt to fool them and escape, if she could be assured that Kaoru would have some way of escaping as well. But there is nothing that can guarantee that and the gentle rising and falling of Sen's chest as she slumbers is enough to give away that she's still alive, so the guard slinks away, seemingly disappointed.

It's nearly half a day after that that there is a sound from outside that is, perhaps, unexpected. It's not a commotion so much as it's a gentle rustle followed by two thuds in quick succession, and then - nothing. Nothing, because Kimigiku's footsteps are feather-light, but a few moments later she is peering into their prison. She lets out a sharp cry when she spots the unconscious princess.]

My lady! [She sounds appalled at the condition in which she has found her, and it's only after she has rushed to her side and started to pull her into her arms (Sen doesn't so much as stir during this, which is probably somewhat concerning) that she turns her attention to Kaoru. There's the accusatory look he had been expecting but hadn't ever seen on Sen...] What happened here?

[There is a quiet menace in her tone of voice. Frankly put, Kimigiku is pissed.]

[It probably won't help much that Kaoru actually seems to be in some sort of offensive posturing as soon as she sticks her head into the tunnel, because he hadn't heard her footsteps, but he had heard the rustling and the thuds. Around here, any sound that's out of the ordinary is a good cause for concern, and he won't let himself or Sen die stupidly just because he hadn't been prepared for an attack of some sort.

Of course, that fades as soon as Kimigiku shows recognition, and he's immediately scrambling away from both of them somewhat reflexively. If this person recognizes Sen, then maybe she had been right. Maybe there's still a chance, however slim, that a rush rescue can be made.

But the look and tone has Kaoru panicking. That and the stress of watching over a dying person for half a day has him stumbling over his words in his haste to get them out.]

Ah— Poison - it's some sort of poison, a- a slow acting poison? [His hands fumble clumsily at his obi for a second before remembering oh, right, he doesn't have either pouch to show her in the hopes that she might recognize it.] I'm— I'm not sure how long ago she was forced to take it. It's been hours... She hasn't woken up since she fell asleep.

[That certainly doesn't help matters at all. It's only the fact that Kaoru backs off immediately and answers Kimigiku's question that spares him the treatment the guards had received - that, and the fact that being occupied with holding Sen keeps her arms from being free enough to go for the pressure points that would send Kaoru crumbling to the ground.

His answer makes a little more sense than she cares to admit, and the expression on her face is one of deep aggravation.]

I know the poison you mean. [It's okay that he doesn't have the pouch. Some of it has been missing from Yase's stores, and Sen's symptoms solve the mystery of where it ended up quite nicely.] If she is to survive, I must take her away from here immediately.

[She gets to her feet, taking Sen with her, and meets Kaoru's eyes. Immediately means she has no time to coordinate Kaoru's rescue nor can she allow for him to make a delay - but there is something almost challenging in the look on her face, as if daring him to speak up and say, "She would want you to take me with you."

Though, to be honest, Kaoru would probably do more good in the short run than harm. He would likely know that the chances of Kimigiku having gotten in this far undetected are slim; even now, other guards are approaching from the compound. He'll certainly be more familiar with their movements than she will, not that she seems altogether concerned by that.]

[There's a short sort of warring inside of Kaoru now, because saying "I prioritize your safety" one hundred times doesn't negate the fact that he had been hoping for an out despite himself. He knew it was impossible (or so it had seemed) and therefore tried to quash those hopes into nothingness, but they still existed softly and painfully beneath all of his fatalistic thinking. Sen had rekindled a spark that he thought had died a long time ago, and he suddenly feels a great terror over the idea of letting it go out again.

But "if she is to survive" strikes a different fear into his heart, and Kimigiku's look has him cowing a little, fingers knotting together in a nervous, clumsy gesture. For lack of anywhere better to look, his gaze shifts first to the floor and then to the exit, darting and anxious. At the very least, he does seem to understand that he can help with the "immediate" part of this exit plan.]

—I can show you the quickest way to exit the compound.

[Which is partially out of a genuine desire to help, and partially out of a desperate grab for help before it escapes from his grasp completely.]

[His statement is met with a sharp nod.]

Then do so.

[Kimigiku may be carefully holding on to Sen, but that doesn't seem to slow her down in the slightest - she'll follow Kaoru without hesitation because hesitation could prove fatal. However, she doesn't make conversation as he's leading her to the nearest exit. For one thing, their voices could be used to track them; for another, she already plans to leave him behind, and she doesn't want to grow attached enough to him to feel guilt for doing so.

It's probably a small blessing that Sen isn't conscious to pitch a fit that he's going to be ditched. She knows the princess can be rather stubborn (the fact that she's gone so far as to infiltrate the Nagumo compound only proves it), and she won't be able to disobey if she's given the order to take him. As long as she doesn't wake to give the order, it's just fine.

...it's only a temporary blessing. As they near the exit, the guards near them, and between the shouts and the inevitable jostling as Kimigiku begins to run, Sen stirs, flinching in pain.]

—Kimigiku? [She has the presence of mind to recognize whose arms she is in, at least, but she doesn't have the strength to turn her head, and so she can't seek out her roommate of half a day.] Kaoru! Where is—?

[She is hushed by Kimigiku clapping a hand over her mouth, eyes narrowing as the guards get closer. One of them has a bow and looses an arrow, which is narrowly dodged; it sticks in the trunk of a tree. Her bodyguard hisses in displeasure and tenses her knees as if to put on a burst of speed and leave all of them - Kaoru and Nagumo guards alike - behind, but Sen manages to bring her hand to Kimigiku's wrist and wrenches her hand away.]

Don't— [She wants to say "Don't leave him," but there isn't enough time. The guards are getting closer, some of them even speeding up and coming within grabbing reach of Kaoru, and she lets out a choked gasp.] Look out!

[Ah.

Hopeful as Kaoru might be despite himself, he's also observant - terribly observant, which will be weaponized at some point in the future but is, for now, nothing more than a hindrance when he would really rather just be able to live in some semblance of blissful oblivion. He notices the way she tenses her knees, and before that had been all too aware of her silence as they fled. They're all marks that he'd like desperately to ignore, but that his pessimistic nature won't allow him to.

She has no intention of bringing him along.

Sen, too - hearing her wake up and seeing her struggle like that... She's still asking for him even at a time like this? The grossly selfish, sick part of himself feels a horrible twist of satisfaction at that. If Sen still cares this much, he matters. One bodyguard's desire to leave him behind can't possibly trump the approval of someone who promised to be his friend.

But that part is still small, even if it's growing, and it's a voice largely drowned out by bigger concerns. For example, the guard that's close enough to touch him.

...Well. Forcing himself into Kimigiku's care at this point might just get them all killed in the end. (A very, very tiny part of himself hopes that maybe, if Sen does escape successfully and survives this ordeal, she'll still come back for him later anyway.)

It's with that in mind that he suddenly stops mid-dash and pivots on his heel, swinging his opposite leg around in a fearsome kick that packs enough strength to send the guard it connects with flying into a couple of his companions. They all go tumbling to the ground, and naturally this has the majority of their attention on him, though a small subset still focuses on Sen and Kimigiku with cries of don't let them escape! Kaoru cries out, too, forceful and hoping he doesn't sound as terrified as he feels.]

Go—!

[His wrist is grabbed soon after, but he's hoping even that small delay will be enough for Kimigiku to take advantage of.]

[Sen doesn't like this at all.

Her goal here was to get Kaoru out. Being poisoned hadn't been a part of her plan, but if she's going to make it out of here alive, she wants to save him, too. She opens her mouth to protest as he yells for them to go and his arm is grabbed, but Kimigiku does her job too quickly and grabs her around the waist to tug her back, one hand going up to cover her mouth again. Accidental or not, she doesn't know, but it keeps her from calling out to him.

She shouldn't struggle. She knows that. Kimigiku is only doing what she must to ensure her safe return to Yase - it's what's necessary - but she doesn't feel that she's able to just say "I wanted to save him, but I messed up" and go. She can't, won't, accept that.

Her hands come up to claw at Kimigiku's hand over her mouth; her bodyguard doesn't seem to be at all phased by it. She's already taking advantage of the distraction Kaoru has offered and is starting to pull her away. But her hand slips, just once - ]

Kimi—

[Kimigiku shakes her head, desperate to pull her away before she can finish her sentence.]

Save him!

[But Sen manages to get her mouth free.]

That is an order—!

[The bodyguard curses under her breath, but she doesn't have much choice other than to obey. She sets Sen down carefully and then darts forward in a flurry of motion, taking hold of the wrist of the man who has Kaoru's wrist and twisting it sharply; she's experienced in forcing people to let go, apparently, because the man lets go despite himself. A moment later she's gathered Kaoru up and is darting back to Sen's side, but only to put him down.

She fixes him with a glare.

"Show her the way out," Kimigiku says, and Sen opens her mouth to say something but is cut off. "I am holding you personally responsible for the princess' safety. I will hold off these men."

And then she turns back to keep the guards occupied.

Sen doesn't look so concerned about Kimigiku's safety - she knows she can get out of it - but she's still weak and shaky. She holds a hand out to Kaoru.]

...please... come with me. [All the way back to Yase, is what she means.] I'll run as fast as I'm able. Kimigiku will catch up with us and see us safely home...

[It may not actually turn out that way but hot damn am I tired of trying to play Kimigiku when I have no handle on her voice so she's going to be otherwise occupied for a little bit while these two try and escape! I've already thought of like three different ways to make the inevitable failure really painful.]

[WELL THAT sure all passes by in a blur of confusion, and Kaoru's left stumbling and glancing around wildly as he's gathered up and set by Sen's side. That... that sure hadn't been what he had been expecting to happen at all.

She's really going all out for him, isn't she? Sen - if this works, he's going to be in her debt for the rest of his life, and he knows it. But his selfish heart beats a little faster, feels a little less heavy, now that he's not in such dire circumstances anymore. All he has to do is make sure that they both make it out. He knows his way around the compound. He can do this.

Kimigiku gets one curt not before she flees again, and then Kaoru's attention turns toward Sen's hand and its shaking.]

—I can carry you. [Adrenaline is fueling him right now, so he knows that he'll be able to.]

So let's go! The way out— if we just keep going this way-

[His gaze drifts in the direction of the forest, which he knows personally will come to an end eventually, and with it, so will the property of the Nagumo clan. They can still be pursued even outside of the border, of course, but it would become much more difficult for them, especially since the surrounding wooded areas eventually trail into cities. Recapture would be impossible there.

He holds his arms out, reaching for Sen without waiting for the okay. They're running on low time, here. If she protests immediately, he'll let her run on her own, but otherwise he'll scoop her up bridal style and take off.]

[She'd said "I'll run as fast as I'm able," but it would be a lie to say that she isn't worried that her legs will give out. When Kaoru says that he'll carry her and reaches out for her, it's a blessed relief. She would feel guilt over making him carry her except for the fact that time is very clearly of the essence and they don't have time to argue - and so she nods and allows him to sweep her up into his arms.

This apparently isn't the first time Sen has been carried. Admittedly, usually it's Kimigiku doing the carrying, and Kaoru is actually her size so it's a little bit awkward, but she still seems to know how best to wrap her arms around him to help steady herself and lessen the burden on his arms, and she gets settled in relatively easily as they run.]

...thank you.

[Her voice is quiet, but with the way he's carrying her, it'll be easy enough for him to hear. She sounds truly grateful - like he's doing her a favor by coming along, which is a little odd considering Kimigiku had been about to leave him behind until she'd spoken up, but there you go.

There are loud sounds behind them, but many of them seem to be men crying out as Kimigiku slaps them down. Notably, there aren't any loud footsteps in pursuit, and they're able to make their way to the wooded areas near the end of the property.

Even though Kaoru is the one running, Sen is in a cold sweat. That's probably the poison's fault, but she's making a valiant effort to not complain. The sweat and the way she's still trembling are the only real outward signs, since she's flat-out refused to cry or yell.]

I'm very glad that you're coming with us...

[It's almost enough to make him stumble a little, hearing something like that. She's thanking him? For what? He's done nothing for her with the exception of making things more difficult. What would have been a simple rescue mission had almost been thrown beyond repair because of his carelessness, and now the reminder of her dire situation is all the more tangible with her in his arms like this.

It combats the feeling of selfish glee, at least, offsetting it with a deep sense of guilt.]

You— please don't thank me...

[He doesn't even feel like he can accept "I'm glad you're coming with us" in good conscience, honestly. Even though he hadn't exactly forced himself along, it feels like he's intruded - like he's continuing to cause problems just by being here.

So he'll try his best to avoid giving Sen or Kimigiku something to regret. It's difficult to run quickly and traverse the woods in a kimono, but Kaoru's had unfortunate experience with just that and knows his way around the paths well. He darts through efficiently, leaving barely a swirl of leaves in his wake.]

[She wants to say something in response to that - the desire to do so is written all over her face - but whether it's because of the pain, his insistence, or some combination of the two, she does not. Instead, she merely presses her lips together into a thin line and closes her eyes as Kaoru picks up speed. They'll have a lot to talk over once they arrive in Yase, but for now, she needs to stay still and refrain from doing anything that could break his concentration and make this task any more difficult for him than it already is.

Unfortunately, it seems like there is a member of the Nagumo clan who has taken it upon himself to make this incredibly difficult. Kaoru may have far more experience running through the woods than he ought to, but the clan has just as much experience chasing him, and though Kimigiku is keeping the others who were in direct pursuit busy, this man is standing at the wooded area's edge, ready and waiting. When Kaoru comes into view, he pulls back on a bowstring and releases the arrow.

The twang of the string makes Sen sit up with a start, and it grazes her cheek before going sailing over Kaoru's shoulder. It isn't the fact that it's hit at all that makes her furrow her brow in concern and bring a few fingers up to her cheek; it's that there is no telltale orange glow, and that the blood continues to drip long after it should have healed over.

Her stomach churns, and she channels her terror into a deep scowl as she addresses the man.]

Have you nothing better to do with your time than this? [She doesn't sound as vehement as she normally would; she's too weakened for that. And yet, there is still a certain amount of disdain in her voice.] Accept that you have lost and release Kaoru into Yase's care.

[The man just laughs. It's a cruel, mocking sound, and Sen flinches because his voice truly does grate on her nerves.]

Now that your servant has arrived, you're free to go, Princess. [He sneers.] But he stays. Maybe you can fight his way free, but if you take the time to do so, you'll perish before you can return home. [Then he turns his attention to Kaoru.] Give it up and go back to your room, brat. You aren't so valuable to Yase that they'll risk their princess's life for yours.

[Sen narrows her eyes and tightens her fists into the fabric of Kaoru's kimono.]

Quiet, you—!

[The comment makes his stomach feel like it's sinking a little, because that speaks to the fear that he had already been harboring anyway. His life is worthless, especially compared to someone like the princess of Yase herself. With an entire village to lead and so many demons who look up to her as a focal point of their culture and society, he couldn't expect anything different - never really had, despite his hope for Sen to keep her word.

He also, despite his frantic searching and rapid thinking, notices the fact that her wound doesn't start to seal over immediately. It's something that he registers as a bit of an afterthought since his concentration is mainly on the man standing before them, but it does factor into his decision nonetheless.

For now, he stands his ground, crouched and clearly ready to duck and run at a moment's notice. They're really running out of time, if that injury's delayed response is anything to go by.]

I'm not going to leave her out here and go back. Who's to say you won't kill her as soon as I put her down?

[NOT FALLIN FOR YOUR SHIT, ARROW GUY.]

You will let Sen pass.