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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.]

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[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.

You will let us both pass!

[Is Sen's quick follow-up to Kaoru's demand, which the Nagumo clan member in front of them doesn't seem too bothered by. As far as he's concerned she can shout until she's blue in the face (or, you know, dead) and it won't really matter - because if she wastes her time shouting, she'll die, and they'll take Kaoru back. If she gives Kaoru up and returns to Yase, they'll take Kaoru back and he may not trust her anymore even if she survives.

Either way, Kaoru is still theirs. That's the reason for the smugness in his expression, and Sen notices it and is rather offended by it.]

Do you think this is funny? You must—

[She's cut off by a violent cough, though; she turns her head so that she doesn't cough on Kaoru's kimono, which is good, because a moment or two later the ground is splattered with blood. She brings a hand up to her mouth in shock and tries to muffle the coughing.

The man rolls his eyes.]

You're running out of time. Tell you what, brat - you walk to me. I'll take your arm and you'll set her down, and you and I will walk back to the compound together while she waits for her bodyguard.

[Sen shakes her head, but can't protest above her coughing. The "No" is plain to see in her eyes, though.]

[That's— a lot of blood. It's not as though she's hemorrhaging, but it's enough to cause Kaoru's heartbeat to quicken in his chest, his lips pursing out of reflex to keep himself quiet.

They don't have the time for hesitation, though. He has to set himself aside again if that's what it takes to ensure Sen's safety, even if that selfish part of him reels at the thought. What has being selfless ever done for you? Nothing - and really, there's a part of him that undeniably does this in the hopes that helping Sen out now will earn him a return favor later. But he's trying - he's trying - to be a good person.

He levels the man an even stare, still not budging from the spot.]

How will I know that someone else won't come along after and do her harm?

[Bartering is about as much as he can do here, unless he tries to make it past this man, which he's also considering. He's keeping a keen ear out toward the surrounding area, and trying his best to feel for any nearby presences.]

You'll just have to trust me, won't ya.

[There isn't anything at all reassuring about the way he says that, and he's smirking, which really doesn't help matters either. Sen certainly doesn't trust him; though she can't catch her breath enough to speak, she shakes her head again and tugs lightly on Kaoru's kimono again in a desperate attempt to get him to turn this offer down. It's just one man - surely, if they try hard enough, they can overcome a single man and find their way to safety. They're so close...

She doesn't want to give up. She wants to see Kaoru safely out of here, right here and right now. She didn't come all this way just to return to Yase without him.]

Tick-tock, tick-tock! [Calls the man, and he repositions the bow to take aim directly at Sen.] You'll either return to your rightful place or you'll both die right here. What will it be?

[Kaoru also doesn't trust him, which is a problem here, because there aren't really a whole lot of options left.]

—I'll set her down. Don't harm her.

[He squares his shoulders and avoids the attempt that Sen is making at trying to get him to turn the offer down, because he doesn't have any other choice.

That is, he doesn't have any choice but to disarm this man by pretending to go along with what he wants. Kaoru doesn't want to risk Sen being shot in a frantic escape attempt, especially since a bow and arrow would definitely have the field advantage in this situation. Instead, he'll approach, slow and careful and not giving any outward signs that he'll be trying to pull any last minute moves.

He even starts to set Sen down on the ground, but he's well prepared in the case of any sneak attacks from the distance or closer range attacks from the one visible enemy they're facing off against. It'll be a bad move on the man's part if he actually does try to get close enough to grab Kaoru's arm, because Kaoru will be making a grab for the bow first, reaching out to snap the tightened string.]

[If only she had the strength to put up more of a fight. Sen isn't sure at what point so much of her strength left her, but even something as simple as protesting or clinging even tighter to Kaoru to keep him from putting her down feels like an impossible task, and she finds that it's actually rather terrifying to feel so utterly helpless. It isn't a feeling she likes at all.

The man, on the other hand, doesn't have a single problem with this arrangement. He is confident in his plan and confident in his belief that Kaoru will go along with it and won't find back - and so, when he reaches for Kaoru's arm, he's caught by surprise when he grabs for the bow more quickly than he can react to and snaps the string. There is an instant where he stares at it dumbly, but then in the next instant he's readjusting his hold on the arrow and thrusting it downards -

Not into Kaoru's flesh, but right through Sen's hand. She lets out a sharp cry and jerks back.]

You'll pay for that! [His leg sweeps out at Kaoru for a harsh kick. Luckily for Kaoru and Sen, though, Kaoru won't be fighting alone for too long - Sen's shout has sent Kimigiku running. She'll be along shortly, if the rustling of the leaves and her footsteps are any indication.]

[When he realizes a split second too late that the man is retaliating by harming Sen further, the same twisting, curdling rage that had driven him to bashing a servant's skull against the wall over and over and over comes flooding back. He's no stranger to it; but the past day or two have been the first times that he's actually acted on it.

And act is exactly what he does. He can't risk him injuring Sen further, and he can't allow himself to become a useless asset in this fight. His movements are whipquick, dodging out of the way of the kick but still staying in close enough range to be able to reach out and touch that man. If he could just restrain him—

His hand darts out, reaching for his collar in an attempt to pull him off of his balance. If successful, he'll raise his opposite leg with the intent of ramming his knee into the man's gut with merciless strength.]

[The Nagumo clan is rather used to the Kaoru who keeps his head down for fear of another beating; they clearly aren't sure what to make of him when he actually is willing to fight back. It had taken multiple people to restrain him when he had grabbed hold of the servant to bash in his skull, but there aren't multiple people here now - there is just this one man, who is in fact caught by surprise when Kaoru dodges his kick and then pulls him off-balance in a matter of moments. He lets out an undignified yelp followed by a crushing wheeze as Kaoru's knee connects with his gut.

Sen, too, is shocked. Her eyes are wide as she watches Kaoru fight back against his would-be captor, and she isn't sure whether to be terrified or pleased or both. He's very strong, she can see that much; if he could freely harness that strength the clan really wouldn't be able to treat him the way they do. And yet... it's uncontrolled and frightening, and she tries to speak up to calm him once the man's body goes limp but finds that she simply doesn't have the words.

She doesn't need them, though; Kimigiku appears out of the trees a moment later, crossing the distance between them in the blink of an eye and scooping Sen back into her arms. She surveys the scene with a bit of disdain.]

The others are on their way here. Milady, we must leave now. [She sees the still-unhealed scrape on Sen's cheek and the arrowhead wound in her hand, and scowls. These are both wounds she'll be holding Kaoru responsible for, though she's aware Sen would tell her it wasn't his fault.] You mustn't argue. Yase cannot lose you.

[She doesn't speak a word to Kaoru - she leaps up to put some distance between them while he is preoccupied with the man who had been trying to stop him. Sen, on the other hand, lets out another cry and reaches for him, still unwilling to leave him behind but starting to understand that "You must save him" is one order that Kimigiku is actually going to disobey.

The tears she's taken such pains to leave unshed stream down her cheeks, unbidden.]

Kaoru!

[...but unless he hurries to catch up with them, Kimigiku will be carrying her away at top speed, all the way back to Yase.]