Senjo III

The man was about Takeshi's height, but with more physical build, result of a farmers physical labors. He had soft curled hair that lay against his head, it was getting heavy and straighter in parts. His eyes appeared hazel, but had many flecks of green in them. His face was an elegant long shape with handsome distinctions. He did not appear in physical facial features--to be a farmer.

Both of them stared at one another. No actions, only eye contact. Takeshi felt him observing Faye on the bed. He then brought his full attention back to the man that stood next to her, protectively.

"May I ask who and why I have unexpected guests?" he requested kindly. Takeshi's lacking of brutal force or verbal thoughts allowed him to assume that he was pure innocent until he spoke his word choice.

"We are here because she needs healing, rest and food." Takeshi stated plainly.

"And you do not?" the farmer asked as he gestured to Takeshi's wounds and total being.

"I'm unconcerned with myself. They are nothing to worry." he said, realizing he had forgotten them and was only focusing on caring for her. Why do I when I have no reason to? He thought perplexed.

"You defend her needs as if she is a goddess that only deserves everything." he stated smiling thinly at Takeshi. "Is she your wife, Mistress, lover?" he asked casually.

"Neither nor." Takeshi replied.

"Ah, sibling?" the farmer suggested as a brow crooked.

"Don't you see the resemblance?" Takeshi replied annoyed at the personal jest the farmer had made.

"I'm sorry, it just came to me and I had to take it." he admitted to his male intruder. "Might I ask what happened to the lady?"

"You can ask all you wish, sir, but it doesn't mean I will answer." Takeshi retorted closet knit with his response.

"Ah, so you know how to handle verbal exchange." he said grinning, now he was amused.

Takeshi frowned slightly. "I suppose I do." he murmured half to himself. "What is that suppose to tell you?"

"Well, you seem educated, in many things, and this be it one of them." the man shrugged. "Nothing more." he told him. "Please, tend to your woman. I'll not bother you, if you need something let me know." he said finally.

"Thank you." Takeshi said firmly appreciative. "What healing salves can you make me?"

"A basic one for common wounds, are hers infected?" the man asked Takeshi.

"No, fresh..." Takeshi muttered.

"Ah, then it will do her fine." he said as he got up and plucked a jar from a shelf. "Here, I've made some up for the week." He grinned a little. "I tend to be clumsy while working." he admitted with a sheepish smile.

"Don't we all." Takeshi muttered to himself.

The man he had encountered was too an elfin, he must be in an elfin city's boundaries--or a kingdom, at least she passed for an elfin. Takeshi set back to his task as he took the cloth from her body and dumped it on the floor. "Uhm, I do apologize for the destroied dress she used...I'd rather not explain." he admitted.

His new acquaintance brushed away the desire to not go into detail as if he did not care. "Just make sure she will be alright. I'd rather not have a death occur, especially to a beauty." he said smirking.

'If he even so much as looks at her with that kind of look, ugh!' Takeshi mentally smacked himself. 'You're being protective again...drop it or allow yourself to admit she's damn attractive and worth defending, Takeshi!' He sighed as he wiped clean the dry blood along her smooth pale skin. Her breathing winced when he began applying the salve to her wounds. She had a total of four, three on her right leg calf and thigh, another on her back. Takeshi allowed the man to help him tie bandages around the wound with fresh large leaves between the salve and the bandage wraps, to keep the salve fresh and clean. "Thanks." Takeshi said as he rolled her onto her back and propped her head up. The man quickly fetched a thin blanket to cover her with.

"Shall we allow her to rest?" he asked Takeshi casually. "After all, it is something you requested of me for her, correct?"

Takeshi nodded. "Yes." he said as he looked back at her before he allowed his distance from her to increase.

The man smiled. "Don't worry, I promise that we'll stay with in ear shot."

"She has a faint voice, its soft...not too far." Takeshi said blushing a little. He nodded.

They both settled down on a long bench next to the house. The door was left open so Faye could be heard when she woke up.

"May I have your name, so that I may address you properly?" the farmer asked Takeshi respectfully.

"Will I get your real name in exchange?" Takeshi hissed in return.

The farmer eyed Takeshi briefly. "What leads you to assume I would provide a false name?" he asked curious.

Takeshi frowned. "Quit treating me as if I'm stupid." he growled. "I won't break word of you."

"And who do you assume that i could be more than appearance suggests?" the farmer asked amused.

"I very well know that farmers stay miles away from Buta territory, and demon. You're about half or more than two and a half miles from the forest. I can only leave to assumption that you are here because you figure only fools tread this close to demon territory." Takeshi explained coolly. He shot the farmer a glare.

“Alright.” He sighed. “What is your illegal practice?” mine is a mix, mercenary for hire—to personal assassin.” He said grinning.

“Close enough?” Takeshi snorted.

“You too huh.” He murmured. “Tell me how it is you came to my land.” He asked Takeshi.

“The Buta persued us, we ran.” The farmer had a slightly bewildered expression. “Through the forest. I chose to take the forest. No one would think I would have survived. Then I ran into her. She was talking to the Buta like a naïve child.” Takeshi shook his head and sighed.

“She had conversation with those things?” he said surprised.

“Yea, weird huh?” The farmer nodded. “And we made our way h ere after the forest. We found your home—she needed clothing and we both needed food. I had left her in your home so that I could check for the Buta and demons I knew were coming.” Takeshi shrugged. “She told me that when she saw the demon, the Buta, she basically paniced, and—she said that memories came back.” Takeshi shrugged. “And so we got into a fight with the dead Buta and demons past your fence line.” He sighed after telling the exhausting story.

“I see.” He murmured.” What is she?”

“Like I know, when I saved her—or I guess when I plucked her f rom the conversation with the Buta, she was naked, like the nymphs.” Takeshi said as he looked at the farmer.

“A nymph?” he said perplexed. “She stayed at human size too long? Doesn’t she know better?” he asked confused.

Takeshi shrugged again. “When we made it out, she was like a naïve child that hadn’t seen


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