Cherry Blossoms and Fangs - Part One



The female samurai sat with her back to the front door of the tea house. Although she seemed to be focused on her cup of Dragonwell, her senses were in overdrive. Her werewolf companion hunched over his bowl of soup, his ragged breathing a sign that he was still healing from that fight. She smiled to herself - I told him I could take care of myself, she thought. She raised the cup to her lips….only to lower it slowly. The werewolf looked up at her, his pointed ears now twitching. Before she could turn her head, a man flew into the tea house and landed in a crumpled heap. The tea house fell quiet, as all eyes focused on the person on the floor, then on the female samurai as she slowly stood up and walked toward the figure. She crouched down and lightly touched the figure's neck. Barely a pulse. She then pulled down the figure's collar and gasped at what she saw. She felt warm wind against her neck and suddenly, her companion gently removed her hand from the figure's neck as he inspected the tattoo.

"Was this supposed to be a warning?" he growled at her. Seeing a man bearing a mark that resembled a black fish was never a good sign. She didn't reply but only stood up and made her way to the counter and the scared tea house owner who stood behind it.

"He's alive," she said in a low tone, "but just barely. He'll need tea and some meat buns. On me." The owner nodded nervously as she turned to face her companion as he gently lifted the man up in his taut arms. He carried him to their table and set him down, causing the unconscious man to lightly moan. The owner soon came out with a tray of tea and buns and set the tray on their table. The patrons continued to watch in terse silence. The female samurai sat down next to the man and gently raised his head. Suddenly, his eyes flew wide open as he jerked himself out of her grasp.

"W-where am I?" he stuttered as he looked around in shock. His eyes widened even more as he took in the sight of the samurai and a grey haired werewolf seated next to him. He nervously swallowed.

"You need to eat and drink," she said in a serious tone as she pushed the bowl of tea toward him, "and then you need to talk, Undying One."

 

To be continued. 

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