What's Not Said
A Blade of the Immortal Fan Fiction
by: KCC
Disclaimer:
Rights to "Blade of the Immortal" and its characters
belong to Hiroaki Samura and Dark Horse Comics Inc.
Spoiler Warnings:
This fanfic reveals events that occur after "Cry of
the White Worm Part 2: Path of Blood" (Issue 11 of the comic
book series). The story would only make sense if you've read
"Dreamsong" (Volume 3, trade paperback) or Issues 12 - 18 of
the comic book series.
Symbol Guide:
< > thoughts
_ _ emphasis
Part 3
He woke up the next morning to find eyes staring at him.
<Still the same sad eyes -- so sad, so very sad.>
"O- Ohayo, Kagehisa."
"Makie --"
"I was expecting you to share the bed last night. Had I
known I would be the cause of such discomfort, I would have --"
"Why?"
"Why, what? Kagehisa?" She tilted her head slightly,
not fully understanding what he was asking.
"Why did you want me to share your bed?"
"I thought that's what you wanted.
Earlier that night, we ... I --"
"I'm not like the others, Makie Otono-Tachibana. I
would never do anything to dishonor you." With that, he stood
and started for the door. When he passed her, he felt her grab
at his robe.
"Wait. Please. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.
It's just that ... I wanted for you to... never mind.
I'm sorry, Kagehisa." She murmured the last words and let go of
his robe.
He couldn't seem to leave. No matter how hard he
tried to command his body to leave, he was rooted there -- near
her. <What is this effect she has on me?> He knelt down so
that their eyes could meet.
"I'm not upset. The idea that you would think I would ...
It angered me. That isn't what I expected of Makie Otono-Tachibana."
She flinched at the mention of her complete name.
<The second time this morning.> She knew from experience that he
only said her full name when she did something that he felt was
disappointing. She never heard it that many times when they were
younger. <Twice today and once last night... I must seem so
pathetic to him now.> "I'm so pathetic."
"Don't say that! How dare you?!?"
She flinched as he shouted the words at her.
"Makie, Otono-Tachibana, don't you ever say --"
She did the only thing she knew would silence him. She
kissed him -- fully on the lips, and she kept him locked to her with her
arms around his neck. She could feel him first surrendering to the
kiss and then struggling to break free from it.
He broke away. "What did you do _that_ for?" He said
as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
His reaction irritated her. "Don't pretend you didn't enjoy it."
She remembered her state of undress and slowly pulled at the sleeve
of her kimono to reveal even more of her body. She saw him tense
and heard him swallow. "I know I'm good at what I do. That's probably
what your friends told you about me." She allowed the rest of her
clothes to fall from her shoulders. She was naked now.
"Come now, Kagehisa. Don't pretend you don't _want_ me." She
knew she was taunting him -- deep inside, she felt herself crumble as
she spoke the words. <Why am I doing this? Why am I hurting both
of us this way?>
"You are not a whore, Makie Otono-Tachibana. You
are a great swordswoman. You are not a whore."
"Oh, but I am. Didn't you notice the place where you
found me? Or do you want me to prove it to you?"
He reached over to touched her hair and tentatively let his
fingers glide through until he was touching her shoulders. She shivered
slightly -- feeling the electricity that passed through them at the contact
of his fingers with her skin. His hand explored the smooth skin of her
shoulders, then her arms and finally, it rested on her waist. He took
hold of her clothes and pulled it up to cover her.
"Get dressed and come outside." Then he stood up, went
to the corner and took the axe and sword before leaving the room.
Only when she was sure that he was too far away to hear her
did she let the tears fall. <What am I doing? Am I really the whore I
claim I am?>
Outside, Anotsu Kagehisa paced around the small
courtyard -- trying to walk the anger and hurt he felt. <What am I doing?>
And then he stopped pacing -- remembering what he had decided to do
years ago. <I must kill them all and Makie will help me.> With that
resolved, he started to train -- swinging the axe slowly at first and then
faster until the movements took control of him.
She saw him then -- a blur of movement, the sound of the axe
mesmerizing. <He has gotten better and has added variations to his
technique.> She was awed by the show in front of her-- his graceful
movements concealing his true strength and skill.
He felt her presence long before, but decided not to stop until
he was sure he could face her. He let out a cleansing breath -- willing his
heart to slow down. He stopped a few minutes later, resting the axe on
his shoulder. "Well?"
His voice jolted her back to reality. "What?"
"What do you think? Am I better now?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"Because you were ... are my teacher."
"I haven't held a sword in years, Kagehisa. I doubt if I am
still qualified. I am nothing more than a whore now."
"You have changed. When have you become such a
coward, Makie Otono-Tachibana?"
"Do you truly think this is cowardice? I have no choice but --"
"But I am giving you one. Take up the sword and fight with
me, Makie. I need you beside me."
<Fight whom?> "Fight? I don't think I understand what this
is all about."
"Years ago, after you left, I decided that I would purify Japan
of the pretenders."
"Pretenders?"
"The samurai schools. They are nothing more than
pretenders
who hide behind their so-called honor and technique. They know
nothing of true fighting skill. I will rid Japan of them."
"And then what?"
But he didn't hear her. He was too captivated with his
dreams to hear her. "Japan needs true swordsmen -- not samurais
with their absurd bushido and their dojo. Tonight is the purification
of the Mutenichi-Ryu."
She gasped at the mention of the school. <The
school that dismissed his grandfather?> "Oh my God." She
whispered to herself. <Had his grandfather succeeded?> She
saw the madness in his eyes. <What am I going to do?>
"Will you help me, Makie? Will you fight beside me?"
"Why are you asking this of me? Please don't."
"Why not? You are one of the best and the only one
who can defeat me. I need you."
<I need you, too. But not in that way.> "No, not like
this. This is madness. No." She backed away from
him -- wanting to get away from what seemed to her a nightmare.
<This is not the Anotsu Kagehisa that I know.> "This isn't real."
"You have no idea how _real_ this is. I have
gathered many who believe in the same thing I do and are
willing to fight to the death to achieve my dreams -- to achieve
the dreams of the Itto-Ryu."
"You don't need to do this, Kagehisa."
"I do and so do you. Their blood will redeem us. Or
have you forgotten about your mother and your own
circumstance and what brought you there in the first place?
I haven't. I am doing this for both our sakes."
"I never asked for this. I don't want this."
"Very well, you leave me with no choice." He took
hold of her arm and pulled her so she was facing him. "Makie
Otono- Tachibana, I freed you from the brothel. By pledge
of honor, you are now bound to me and the Itto-Ryu."
She jerked her hand away. "Kagehisa, don't do
this to me."
"You will take up your sword and become part
of the Itto-Ryu. You will fight beside me."
She could hear the determination in his
voice, but also -- <desperation? Is he so afraid to lose me again?>
She looked into his eyes and saw the emotions battle within him.
She felt the same battle within her. "Anotsu Kagehisa, if you
want me to stay because you love me and want me, then say so."
Her statement caught him off-guard. <Love? What is
she talking about?> He looked at her eyes and found sadness
there and -- <love?> "Do you love me, Makie?"
"You know I do. Now, I want to know if you want
me for the same reason I want you."
"Regardless of my answer, you are bound to me
and you will take up your sword."
"Very well. I will become part of the Itto-Ryu. But
know this, Kagehisa: I may be bound to the Itto-Ryu, but I am
not bound to you."
"You are. You just don't want to admit it."
<He's right.> "I want to use my pike."
"I had one made for you. It is inside the room."
She nodded -- afraid to say anything, unsure how
her voice would come out.
"We go to the Mutenichi-Ryu tonight. I trust you will
be ready for that."
She was startled when he walked towards her and
cupped her face in his hands. "You are my woman, Makie
Otono- Tachibana. I didn't need that 'pledge of honor' to bind
you to me. Our pact was made a _long_ time ago." Then he
walked away, leaving her alone in the courtyard.
"Tonight." She whispered the word into the
emptiness around her and within her. She shook her
head -- as though to erase her foolish thoughts. <How foolish
I was. I thought he came for me because he loved me.> She
felt so empty -- her heart broken moments ago by his words.