|
Oh Kobato, The princess turned her head, legs wet to her chest and face dripping with blood and mud. And yet her eyes were far from that of a killer, even if she was upset. You have SUCH a kind heart. Now I understand why Kenshin chose to keep you unconscious. Do you wish to return to that state? She examined him quietly, seeing his display of anger towards her. It was probably the most emotion she’d gotten out of him since her arrival. She’d hit a nerve. And nerve’s were always the place to start when getting to know someone. When getting to heal someone. But did… did she want to heal him? Kobato was taken aback by her own thoughts. Since when had she ever doubted herself? Surprise echoed in her lookers as she turned back to the water, shocked. …because I can arrange that if you’d like. Suddenly that struggling buck was too familiar to be comfortable. She saw herself in him. She was stuck in a situation she herself had gotten herself caught up in. By chance, Kobato caught sight of Kenshin sneaking closer to the duet. Had he felt that Marx had threatened her too much? Was her life in danger? No wonder that buck’s eyes were rolling into the back of his head. Kobato splashed herself with water, shaking her pelt a bit before she chose to speak again. Is having a kind heart a weakness, Marx? It wasn’t that the dove wasn’t aware of the situation she was putting herself in. This varg was ready to attack. He had the right to, as well. She had questioned his loyalty to Enigma. If someone had questioned her loyalty to Vladya, she would have answered icily as well. I’ll admit, it has gotten me in many dangerous situations. And it has caused me suffering. Frustration. Abandonment. Agony. Pain. Fear. Solitude. Every emotion that ran through Kobato right now was not what would amount to kindness. It would not amount to happiness. And yet she turned her now clean face towards Marx, now mere inches from her, and smiled, just as she smiled at him the first day. He was so close to her. Too close. And yet she closed her eyes. But it is my strongest weapon.
It was true. It was her strongest weapon. It was the very weapon that had won herself a family of her own, the very one that had brought Vladya to her, the one that had steeled her against Kershov, the very one the Ice King was, dare she say, frightened of. A dagger in the midst of swords. Yet her whetstone never allowed it to dull. It was a force to be reckoned with. Basically she’d steeled herself. And she said her next words carefully, thoughtfully and declaratively. And I will never lose grip on it. She stared at him now, her smile half gone, eyes strong and willful. Right in his face. A sort of challenge, though not a physical one. Then, after moments of silence, she turned back and focused on cleansing her legs and getting the mud out of her fur in silence. If he chose to put her out, she could imagine that it wouldn’t hurt. But it would be dangerous. Especially for her already aching body which was starting to feel the bite from lack of sufficient amounts of food, being forced into a too small den to sleep and now, exhaustion from fighting her way through a bog.
Except Kobato did not choose to stay silent. Instead she began speaking again. I also have someone that I like, too. She spoke quietly, the smile gone from her face. At first glance it might appear as if she were merely focusing on getting the material out of her pelt. But he was steeling herself again, in a different way. She was armored. He thought my kindness would get me killed. And I guess it almost did. She lowered herself down into the water, letting it smooth across her stomach. Did you know that he used to be a prisoner here as well? Kobato looked up, tilting her head and smiling softly, though that shield was still there. Funny how things come full circle… I found him on the verge of death and helped him regain his health by sneaking into your territory when no one was looking. I was never found. Until the day I came right to the front doors. Her voice got quiet and for a split second, she broke eye contact with Marx. Kobato was in a different world right then. A world made up of memories. And the same wolf I had saved from the brink of death stayed by my side until I woke up. The same day I opened my eyes, we were found by Kershov…. She smiled then, looking back to Marx as she stood. It’s funny what kind of power love grants you. I thought I was going to lose him, you see. I guess that’s what gave me the strength and courage to approach your King like I did. And yet… it was saddening. To see that he was so alone despite being surrounded by those willing to give their lives for him. Ko stopped a second and then stepped back, coiling in on herself. I wonder if it is so frightening to be offered kindness. Even Vladya reacted violently….
She faded off, looking to Marx. She might have moved towards him just as she did with Kershov. She might’ve slid her chin along his shoulder blade in an embrace. But she was terrified of being rejected at this moment. She did not want to be knocked unconscious. Though dreaming seemed the best escape from this hell.
 |
|
