Cherry Blossom and Fangs - END


 

The oozing creature hunched itself up like a hissing cat, then slithered at a rapid pace toward the two. The samurai raised up her katana, ready to end this battle, only to be pushed to the side by the werewolf. She fell to the floor and watched as the werewolf grabbed the Undying One with both clawed hands and dug into the thick flesh. The creature screamed as it tried to bite the werewolf, yet his clawed grip limited its movements. Horrific smelling pus flew everywhere as the werewolf dug deeper into the Undying One. The samurai calmly got up and walked toward the two, then slid the point of her katana into the base of the creature's head. More pus streamed out of the wound, causing the werewolf to release the foul body.

"Why did you push me away, Samuel?" she asked her companion as they watched the creature slowly die. 

"Why do you still forget that I'm your companion?" The two looked at each other as a wordless conversation flew between them. True, she had spent so much time on her own that having a companion felt foreign to her. She understood why her sensei told her to follow the werewolf - it was time. Her sensei could only teach her so much. The Undying One shriveled to a messy blot on the floor, then disappeared altogether along with the putrid smell. The samurai heard slight movement and looked up to find that the patrons were slowly returning to their tables, unable to forget what they had just witnessed. They would need something far stronger than tea to calm them down. 

"I thought we had killed the last of them back in France," the werewolf growled as they too resumed their seating. "Or at least, I thought you killed them all." He set his golden gaze on his companion and calmly waited for an answer. The samurai focused her sight on the teacup before her with no answer for him. 

"Mistress Samurai," said the owner of the tea house as he timidly approached them, "I can not thank you enough for killing that beast and saving us!" She raised her gaze to him and found him bowing before her. She raised her cup in a somewhat salute, then took a long sip of the now cold tea. The owner returned to his bar and resumed serving other patrons. Sounds of conversation and some laughter returned to the tea house. Samuel watched her with a careful eye - seeing that creature unnerved her. 

"I haven't forgotten," she suddenly replied to Samuel as she fully faced him. "I know why Sensei told me to go with you."

"Then," Samuel replied as he placed a now human hand on top of hers, "let me be what you need." She stared at the tanned hand and then smiled. "Besides," he added as he pulled away, "we've got two days before we need to reach that town by Silver River." The samurai nodded in reply - their real task had not even begun. 


END



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