The moments we stood like this felt like forever, I fell more in love with her without
meaning to.
"Saki?" I said.
"Yes Manchu." She replied looking up at me.
"We should stop this before it becomes something more than we are willing to endure." I said
with a pause as I swallowed hard trying to stop my heart from racing.
"I mean we could never really be together not really, not now, not in a world where we must
fight to survive like this. Also…" I tried to continue but she stopped me by placing her finger
over my mouth.
She moved her hand to my face as she rubbed her forgiving fingers on my cheeks I had to
hold back what I felt for her. Then she kissed my lips softly, she wasn't holding anything back
not one feeling she had for me. I could feel the love she had for me in her kiss. I had to push her
back before the feeling could get any stronger. Her eyes looked through me like I was an open
book. Like she knew that I was already feeling the connection we had. It confused me because, I
never thought I would love someone as much as I loved this woman standing in front of me. Was
it something the sword had given me? A passion for the person my master longed to see for a
very long time? Was it possible to gain emotions from the master of the sword before? All I
knew for now was this couldn't happen, it could never work out. If she ever found out that I
killed her father, I would never see the love in her eyes, ever again. I must stay quiet about how I
feel and not give her anything to regret later. I looked away from her to only be pulled back in to
an embrace. I found myself lost in my feelings, I pulled her arms from me and started to walk
back towards the pub on my own.
When entering the pub, I saw that Light had gotten the ox new clothes and was washing the
blood from her body. He was doing his best to wrap her injuries and make sure they wouldn't get
infected. Light looked up and noticed me.
"Hey Junjie!" he smiled.
"How is she holding up?" I asked.
"She is holding up well actually. She was probably worn out more from the beating Saki
gave her than the damage you caused." He laughed.
"That's good to hear, we should leave her here and move on to the next zodiac on the list." I
replied.
"She is with you now we should at least wait till she wakes. At least to tell her what our plans
are." Light disagreed with me.
"Fine, I suppose you are right about that." I sighed heavily and sat down at the bar.
I looked up at the bartender and saw he was looking at the door, there Saki stood staring at
me, or so I thought. She walked right past me and sat at the end of the bar. It looked like her and
the bartender had something to talk about. Both looks on their faces were serious I watched in
curiosity as the bartender left and walked towards the end of the bar to speak to her.
As they talked, I decided to make my way to the table light sat at to see how he was doing. He
seemed kind of nervous when I had asked him to take Fang into the pub earlier. I sat next to light
and waited only a moment before he started to talk.
"You noticed, didn't you?" he sighed.
"Noticed what Light?" I questioned.
"That I was nervous earlier." He gave out a heavy sigh then continued. "That was the first time I
have ever held a naked woman in my arms. I wasn't sure how to react, I knew she needed help
and needed new clothing but I am still a man. I hope this doesn't make our friendship any
different." He said as his golden eyes shot up at me.
"What!?!? No that wouldn't change anything." I looked at the table fang was sprawled across.
"I would have killed her you know that right?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yes, I know that…" he said heavy heartedly. "Nonetheless, we need to be that way in times of
war. Because if we aren't, we could fall to someone's blade just as easily. So, don't worry about
that so much. The zodiac just gets stronger from here." He replied with a laugh.
I found myself look back to light and the smile on his face, I realized in that moment Light
wasn't going anywhere, he was with me for the long haul. I felt more at peace and smiled back at
light.
"You know, Junjie, you should smile more, don't let the tough times get you down." He said as
he jumped up. "Fang is awake at least speak to her." He said.
I looked over and sure enough she was sitting up. Holding her head where I had cut her. She
sluggishly got off the table and sat in a chair next to it. She looked up to me with a cold frosty
look in her eyes. Her eyes were like the color of grass covered in the frost of the winter
mornings. Her skin was white as snow, but I could feel the heat come off her..
"So, you are the new leader of the seven?" she said.
"Yes, I am, my name is Manchu Junjie…" I replied.
"Pure, Handsome…" She said.
"What?!?!" I said confused for a moment.
"Your name doesn't suit you Manchu. You may be Handsome but you are no longer pure." She
said as she looked over to light whom was sitting to her left.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I said in a frustrated tone.
"You are telling me you haven't noticed?" she replied coldly.
"Noticed, what are you talking about?" I was starting to get mad.
"Your eye, don't you feel the heat in your eye when you get ready to fight? When you are
ready to kill someone? The rage that fills your body when your wielding that weapon?" she
replied sharply as her look cut through me.
I never thought about it before, that was my first time wielding the sword in a fight. I did
remember how it felt when I became the master of the dragon sword though. It was painful like
my body was being devoured by the sword and the rage and feelings of the sword itself. Maybe
that's why I feel so strangely, maybe you can take into yourself what the sword desires. Maybe
not only what you desire, but what every master desires before you. If that's so, no matter what I
thought when I picked it up, my pure side would still have been corrupted no matter what. So,
who am I? Am I a man whom is in love with Saki, or am I Just a man being taken over by a
sword?
"You finally realized you are evil to a point…I am astonished that you haven't been as
corrupted as all the other leaders though. One of your eyes-only change, normally both eyes turn
red but only yours turns green how intriguing." She said with confusion.
"So, what's that mean exactly?" I interrogated.
"You may have more control over yourself than other leaders have." She answered.
"So, Junjie may be a special case then?" Light asked with enthusiasm.
"You could say that." She responded, "I'm sure you three plan on doing this alone?" She
asked.
"Three?" light asked with confusion.
"Yes, Manchu, The Cat boy, and Saki" she replied, "You are in love with her right Manchu?"
She inquired.
I didn't know how to answer or maybe I just didn't want to. Fang noticed my hesitation and
the most likely confused look on my face when she had asked that question. She started to laugh
loudly which caught the attention of Saki. When Fang noticed, she stopped laughing and turned
back to being serious.
"You two are fated by the stars that's why you both have fallen for each other so quickly. I have
never seen her look at anyone that way. When a man wants her she normally just walks away
and pretends they don't exist. So, take love when you have it, even if you feel like you don't
deserve it. It's already yours, you must choose what to do with it in the long run. Lose it or keep
it. It's your choice at the end of the day." She said. "Your next, closest, target is the Tiger, he
lives in a large town. a week walk from here, four days if you take a horse. It's a town called
Toma. He is as vicious as an animal, he'll not stop till you are dead. Just forewarning you." she
laughed.
Light and I both looked at each other, we couldn't see how this was funny but we knew we
had to keep moving forward. This meant if we died we would have to do it fighting, there was no
way out once we started. We must finish this. I was only on the second of the zodiac and I had to
fight one of the strongest next, which made me realize he must be one of the seven I must face
head on.
"So, I guess we will be heading out then thank you fang." Light said
"How will I keep in contact with you once we leave? What if I need your assistance?" I asked
quickly
"Once I have joined you my weapon will notify me when you need help Manchu. I don't see
that you will need my assistance though." She said as she stood up
"Why is that?" I asked
"Because, you have Saki." She replied as she took her leave from the pub
Saki stood up and made her way towards Light and myself. She was smiling, I could feel my
heart skip a beat. Her smile was soft and sweet and warmed me from inside. When she got to us
she stood next to Light. Light was a little confused as to why she was standing next to him. I
could see him getting a little uneasy as he looked at me. Like I would cut him down if he even
looked at her, which made me laugh a bit.
"What's so funny Junjie." Light said forcefully
"Nothing everything is well. Shall we go than I think we have everyone." I said as I
couldn't help but smile
"Yes, let's go" said Saki in her sweet yet settle voice
We made our way out of the pub and through town, we had stopped at the market place in
town to buy some food and other needed items such as blankets, a flint and cloth, and other
necessities we needed to camp at night and stay warm. The villagers were so pleased with us
defeating the Ox that they pretty much just gave us everything we wanted. It was nice to see
what we had accomplished for one village and how happy the townspeople where to not have to
worry any more.
When we were done at the market we made our way to the road to start our journey together
for the first time I felt like everything was going to be okay. I still had the pain in my heart of
what would happen if Saki had ever found out I was the one who killed her father. For now, I
would push that aside and keep a hold of love till I found a reason not to.
We made our way into the forest to find a camp for the night. When we finally found a place, we
were all so hungry we made a fire and made a fish stew. As we all sat around the campfire and
ate our meal before bed we made light talk of our route in the morning and how we would keep it
at a week to get there trying not to stray off task too much as Light put it.
I had woken up around midnight that night to find Saki sitting up staring at the moon. Next
thing I knew I was next to her looking at her soft skin and beautiful hair glowing in the
moonlight. Her eyes sparkled like firefly's when she looked at me.
"You know Manchu your eyes are beautiful. They remind me of the ocean when it is calm and
untainted." She said as she smiled at me
"Do they now?" I smiled back
"Yes, you are always in so much pain but your eyes do not falter from your pain. They are
untouched by the world." She said as she wrapped her arms around her knees and placed her
head in-between them
"You really think so?" I replied
"Yes, Manchu, I do." She said as everything fell silent
"Um… So, what are you doing up so late?" I asked as she raised her head to look at me
"I couldn't stop thinking." She replied
"Is there anything I can help you with?" I asked she smiled softly at me
"Actually, I was wondering what it's like to be with someone… you know like sexually…" she
blushed. " I mean like how that feels, you know like when it's real." She said shyly
"Um… I don't know. I guess it feel amazing like you were the only two people on earth and
nothing could ever stop you from being near each other even when you have to be far apart." I
answered as I looked at the moon
"One day I want something like that something real and not meaningless." She said shyly
"Me too." I replied
I couldn't look at her because I knew I may not be able to hold myself back and not knowing
what was to come or even if these feelings I had where mine I knew I wouldn't be able to stop
myself if I touched her skin or kissed her soft lips again. I could feel the tension build between
us, but I couldn't take her not now even if I wanted to.
"Do you think sex is meant to be deep and meaningful?" she asked without hesitation
"I do, it is connecting on a higher level building up on emotions and connecting us on a whole
different level. Its different than being physical or even being emotional. I believe people who
truly love each other should be that committed to each other." I said without thinking
"Us?" she said surprised
"I… I mean other people… you know like people who want to be together forever… not like
people who just met." I found myself trying to find ways around it.
"Oh, yeah I guess you're right." She said sadly
She sluggishly got up and kissed my forehead and found a spot far away from where I was
sleeping to lay down for the night. I found myself tossing and turning most of the night as I
thought about our conversation with her that night. My mind was lost in a black hole of thoughts
I couldn't escape not even if I wanted too.
The next morning I awoke to Saki gone, I panicked as I throw my body forward like I was
almost giving myself whiplash. I looked back and forth frantically trying to find her. I stood up
quickly and looked for Light he was gone as well. What was going on and why would both of
them be gone. I thought to myself a little jealous because she could have been mine it I wasn't so
proud. I shook my head hard to erase the images of them together out of my mind. I packed my
bag with my bedding and swung it over my shoulder. I will track them I thought to myself, but I
didn't have to go too far a mile into the forest I had found both of them. They were facing each
other sitting in the middle of a circle. The circle was made up of quartz crystal and branches they
both sat with their legs crossed and hands comfortably placed on their knees. The sun shining
through the trees reradiated off of the crystals making Light and Saki glow.
When I reached the spot where they sat motionless, Light opened his eyes and looked towards
me. I was still hidden by the trees. I could vaguely see Light but I saw his eyes sharpen and he
was staring in my deration with a smile on his face. I saw him lean forward in to Saki I saw their
lips touch at least that's what I thought I saw it made me want to hurry over to them to see what
was really going on. I tripped over a branch while trying to get to them and ended up falling into
Saki's lap.
I could feel the smooth fabric of her kimono on my face, today she was wearing one that was
much thinner, not so heavy, which made since it wasn't as cold as it was last light. I didn't want
to turn around and look at her face. I ended up moving sluggishly around till my back touched
the rough ground. When I looked up at her with my head still in her lap, the first thing I saw was
a bright light, the next thing I saw… oh god I felt so bad. Saki was holding up the front of her
kimono her boobs where in my face she was trying to keep her kimono together without it
coming completely open. She struggled to hold herself in her kimono. I quickly went to move
and ended up making her lose what she was holding next thing you know she was completely
undressed sitting in front of me. I quickly moved my body in front of her so she had some kind
of cover.
I looked up to catch Light's eyes they were beaming like he may have had too much catnip for
one day. His nose started to bleed heavily.
"Junjie, you don't have to hide her I already know what she looks like." He said as he started to
laugh wildly
He must have seen the look I gave him because he was no longer laughing he was more like a
wounded kitten now. I sighed heavily glimpsing back at Saki to see if she was fully dressed yet,
by the time I looked like she had just finished tying her kimono back together. Saki looked at
me with her beautiful eyes, and said.
"I'm sorry you missed it I can get my clothing back on pretty quickly. Maybe sometime in
private I could show you." She said as she slowly got up and walked to the edge of the lake. I could feel my face start to burn. She couldn't be serious, I mean come on she is way too
good for me. She could do so much better than the likes of me. I mean I am better than the cat
boy I kept thinking to myself as a smile came across my face.
"You know she's way out of your league right." Light said as he leaned up against a tree.
"What do you mean?" I laughed it off like I didn't already know that
"Junjie, seriously, she is a woman you should never touch someone you will play like a toy.
She has more goals and responsibilities than you have ever had. If you toy with a woman like
that with how unattached you are to your emotions it could end very bad Junjie." Light warned
"I mean, it's not like I could ever love her anyways so why not have some fun." I laughed but
light didn't find the humor in it.
"Junjie, you will see in time that you will mess up with something that could be perfect but when
you have the chance to make it right you will choose to walk the other way out of fear, and lose
everything." Light smiled "on a brighter note, I have never seen her naked and would prefer not
to, so don't worry about me I am not after her." He laughed
"Not funny Light." I laughed trying to erase his warning from my mind