An Assassin's Respite

Recovery

Kazuna was resting in his room in the mansion when Ria walked into the room with a bowl of water and a wet rag. She sets the bowl and cloth on the nightstand next to his bed and removes the rag that was already on his head. She drains some of the water from the fresh rag before placing it over his head. He had been fighting a fever for a couple of days now and hadn't shown any signs of improvement. Honestly, the situation was starting to worry her. She drops her face to mere inches from Kazuna's and pauses for a moment before kissing him on the cheek.

"Please, get better quick," She says under her breath as she takes the used rag and bowl of water out of the room.

As she walks out of the room, she runs into Kazuna's mom. 

"Oh, Ms. Katsuchi, are you here to see Kazuna?" Ria asks.

"Yes, although it seems I have nothing to worry about with you watching over him," She replies.

"Even so, I think it's good for you to visit him," Ria states.

"You think so?" She asks.

Ria nods.

"Kazuna may not say so, but he really wants to make up with you. He's just a bit too serious for his own good, always trying to make up for something instead of leaving the past behind him," Ria explains.

"That sure does sound like him, but I think I'll honor his decision to think things through and keep my distance," She says.

"I see," Ria says with a somewhat sad expression.

While they were talking, one of the clan members had returned from a mission and was walking their way. 

"Oh, if it isn't little, Ria," He says.

"What do you want, Jack?" She asks.

Jack was a tall man with shaggy blonde hair and a lanky body.

"Nothing, just wanted to know what someone like you was doing here?" He asks.

"I'm a member of this clan like everyone else. What's so weird about me being here?" She asks.

"Nothing, I just heard that you were sent to get Kazuna and weren't allowed to come back until you brought that traitor back," He says.

Ria grits her teeth.

"Don't talk about Kachi like that," She growls.

"Sorry, forgot that you had a thing for the guy. Well, it's not like we expected much from a failure like you anyway," He says with a shrug. 

Ria goes to respond, but the sound of someone moving behind her stops her.

"Don't... talk to Rimi like that," Kazuna breaths.

"Kazuna?! What are you doing up? You still have a fever. You should be lying in bed," She exclaims.

"I've rested enough," He says.

But it was hard to sound convincing when you were using the wall as leverage to stay standing. As they spoke, he was steadily falling.

"You clearly haven't rested enough," Ria says as she forces him back into bed.

"Well, I'll be damned. She really brought him back," Jack exclaims.

Ria ignores him and places the wet cloth back over Kazuna's forehead.

"Looks like he's in pretty bad shape, what happened?" Jack presses.

"Nothing that concerns you," Ria snaps.

"No need to get testy. Just curious," Jack replies.

"He already did what he needed, so there's no need for your curiosity," Ria barks.

"I see, who would've thought it would take that much of a toll on him," Jack notes.

"If your little brain can see that, then you should leave so he can get some rest," Ria responds.

"Fine, fine, but just know this. I don't have a problem with the guy, but a lot of people in the clan do. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if things got a bit heated at some point soon once people start to realize that he's here," Jack says as some parting words as he walks away.

Ria glares at the open door for a moment before getting up and closing the door. At some point, Ms. Katsuchi had left, probably due to Kazuna waking up. Ria sits next to Kazuna's bed. He had already fallen back asleep, proving that he hadn't had enough rest.

"You always try too hard and more than you need to," She says under her breath.

She places a hand over his and puts her other hand over her heart.

"I promise Kachi; I won't let anyone get near you. As long as I'm here, I won't let anyone lay so much as a finger on you," She vows to herself.

A few hours later, she wakes up with her head resting on the side of his bed.

"I guess I fell asleep at some point," She says as she stretches.

She moves the rag over Kazuna's forehead and places her hand there in its stead to test if his fever went down any.

"Not as hot as earlier," She notes. 

She heads to the kitchen and changes the water from the bowl that was beside Kazuna's bed. When Ria returns to the room, she finds Kazuna staring out the window.

"What are you doing up again? I thought I told you to get some rest," Ria says.

"Sorry, I can't seem to go back to sleep," Kazuna responds.

He turns to look at her, and her heart drops. He had a look in his eyes that oozed pain. It wasn't anything physical; it was all mental. 

"Don't worry about what Jack said. Sure, there may be some that don't have the best feeling towards you, but I'll always be on your side," Ria says.

Kazuna smiles.

"Thanks, but that's what worries me," He says.

"What do you mean?" She asks.

Kazuna looks back out the window, unsure if he should share the visions he was victim to during the sealing process. He turns back to her and can see the worry painted on her face. 

"When I was tightening the seal, my mind was flooded with visions the entire time," He finally says.

"What kind of visions," Ria asks.

"Visions of me failing over and over and over and over and over again. Instances where I run and let them win. Where I die without a fight. Where everyone I know is killed in front of me, powerless to do anything. Where all of you are enslaved and tortured. But the reason for all those circumstances are the same; you all refuse to join him and choose to believe in me. Why do you all insist on believing in me? When have I proven to be reliable? Why won't you all just abandon me in favor of living a better life?" Kazuna explains.

He goes to say more, but Ria silences him with a hug. For some reason, the embrace with Ria at that moment was the best feeling hug he ever had felt. He wraps his arms around her and holds her tight. 

"Those visions, you must have been so afraid that they were real and that I would disappear, but there's nothing to worry about. I’m still here, and I will always be here," She says as tears begin to stream down her face.

"Are you sure? If I fail..." He goes to say, but she interrupts him.

"If you fail, then I'll fight until I die. It'll take more than you failing or me facing death for me ever to lose faith in you. I know that you want me to abandon you if things get bad, but I will never abandon you just like you would never abandon me," She says.

"Is it really okay for me to keep you close?" He asks.

"Even if you tried to push me away, I would force myself back to you. And I'm sure the same can be said for everyone else," She replies.

"Honestly, you all are a bunch of idiots," He says with a smile.

"If it means I can be by your side, I'll gladly be an i***t," Ria says.

"But, back to our current situation, it would probably be a good idea to leave as soon as possible," Kazuna says.

"You may be right about that, but you're still recovering," Ria points out.

"I've gotten enough rest to where I can sit on a plane," Kazuna responds.

"If you say so," Ria forfeits.

Since they were at their mansion, they hadn't brought anything but the clothes on their backs and the weapons they usually carried, so they didn't need to grab anything. They changed into the clothes they wore when they arrived and left their clothes on their beds. Kazuna grabbed his swords and started to leave with Ria, but things weren't going to be that easy. As they were approaching the front door, members of the clan blocked their path.

"Where do you think you're going?" The one in front asks.

"Back to Japan, Micheal," Kazuna replies.

"So you're abandoning us once again," Micheal says.

"I'm just not ready to be the head of the clan. Besides, my mom isn't doing a bad job," He replies.

"That may be the case, but at the end of the day, not having our head ruins our credibility. We aren't feared like we used to be when your grandfather ran the clan," Micheal explains.

"That's not enough to change my mind about leaving my mom in charge for now," Kazuna states.

"Did you think we would just let you walk out of here?" Micheal asks.

"And do you think you have what it takes to stop me?" Kazuna retorts.

"In the state that you're in, yes," Micheal answers.

"Tch," Kazuna scoffs.

"Did you think we wouldn't know you were back? The whole mansion was shaking while you were doing the sealing ritual. I'd say at this moment in time; even I could take you," Micheal states.

"That's why you were never considered an elite in the clan. The first rule of an assassin, never take a fight you can't win," Kazuna says.

With that statement, Kazuna draws Kirin.

"Flash," He says as a blinding light encompasses the room.

Ria had closed and covered her eyes. She had been with Kazuna long enough to know that he was up to something. The pair ran past their fellow clanmates and run to the car that was in front of the house. Thankfully there were still some people in the clan that were on Kazuna's side. They kept their guards up until they made it on the plane at the airport before they felt they were in the clear. Once they sat in their seats, Kazuna instantly fell asleep.