Tarou still didn't completely trust her, but his guard had slacked a little at least. He wasn't constantly eyeing her any longer. Even, occasionally, she was left alone with the children. Or, at least, she seemed to be. It was always possible, even likely, that Tarou was watching her.
Nabiki often wished that she spoke Chinese as the martial artist and the children often spoke in that language around her. She was starting to pick up a little, but it was still slow going. Just like with the chores, she was slowly learning what she needed to know. Mostly because little effort had been spent to teach her the proper way to handle things. She was expected to figure out on her own, and clean up any mess she made.
She heard the children training around the other side of the cabin and was comforted by that. At least she knew they were safely out of her sister's hands. She glanced that direction and smiled.
The crackling wood behind her alerted the city girl to something's presence, and the hairs stood up along her neck as she realized that Tarou rarely made so much noise even in monster form. The feel of hot breath on the back of her neck intensified the situation.
She turned slowly about to see the bear's face examining hers closely. She froze, feeling an embarrassing wetness as her bladder released. The heavy snuffling that followed did nothing to calm her down.
And then the children came around the corner, starting a lap of the cabin. The huge bear lifted itself up on its hind legs in response to the sudden motion, and glared in the direction of Aoshi and Kitsune.
Nabiki risked a glance over her shoulder and saw the children staring wide-eyed at the creature as it started to walk past her. This last fact sent a charge through Nabiki and she quickly took her feet backing away several feet.
"Hey!" she shouted. "Hey you! Over here! Leave them alone! Look over here! Lots more meat on me!" She picked up a large branch of wood and chucked it at the bear's head, hitting it.
The bear whirled to face her and opened its huge mouth wide, unleashing a tremendous roar before starting to drop to all four feet, pointed toward Nabiki. Nabiki had no doubt as to what that meant and stumbled backward, almost tripping over an exposed tree root.
The small delay gave the bear plenty of time to reach her and swipe out with one huge paw. Fortunately, as the clawed paw smashed into Nabiki's shoulder and face, the same near-fall that slowed her down also took her partially out of the line of attack and she was struck merely a glancing blow.
Nabiki wasn't aware of specific injuries as the impact sent her tumbling away and a second clawed swipe burned across her stomach. She heard the children screaming in the background, but all else was fading into a dull roar in her head.
She was only barely cognizant of the bear rearing up over her, in preparation of finishing the job. And then came the second roar as Tarou's monster form swooped down and slammed into the bear. The bear tried to recover its feet to face this new challenger, but Tarou was quicker, and the animal was easily dispatched.
To Nabiki's mind there was a muted conversation, Tarou must have gotten some hot water, and then she was being lifted up and carried, somewhere. Then all was darkness.
****
When next Nabiki awoke she was lying in a bed. In Tarou's bed to be precise. One of her arms was held fast, something was wrapped around her face and her stomach felt constricted somehow. There was a sort of aching sensation everywhere, but she was still too groggy to figure out where it was.
She tried to sit up, but was immediately pressed back down, gently but firmly. Turning her head and squinting brought Tarou, sitting in the nearby shadows, to her attention.
"You're going to need to rest for a few days," Tarou said. "Lucky it only grazed you both times."
"It doesn't feel like a graze," Nabiki protested, wincing as she moved her jaw.
"That was a bear, Tendo," Tarou said. "A full blow would probably have killed you."
"Where were you?" Nabiki asked, wincing again.
"Stop talking Tendo," Tarou said. "I was on the other side of the cabin when the kids screamed. And I came running."
"You thought I was..." Nabiki grimaced again.
"It nearly broke your jaw, stop talking," Tarou insisted angrily. "And yeah, I thought it was you. But I guess I oh you an apology."
"Accepted," Nabiki said smuggly, before lying back again.
Tarou snorted and shook his head.
****
Much later, Nabiki was looking her reflection over in the water of the nearby pond. Most of the injuries were gone, but some of the marks of healing remained. Most noticeably the line of claw marks along her neck, cheek and shoulder.
She pondered only briefly before deciding that it was worth it, even if the scars never completely faded away. The children were safe because of her. And there was another benefit. Apparently the act had earned her Tarou's trust.
More than just assigning her tasks, he was actually taking the time to make sure she did things correctly. He was teaching her, during those times when the children were involved in some chore or game that didn't need his total supervision.
She dipped the bucket into the water and stood up, walking back to the cabin, somewhat satisfied with herself.
****
Some more months later, Tarou lay awake in his bed, arms wrapped around the sleeping woman sharing it. He traced a line down her face, brushing the bangs out of her eyes. Her hair was getting long, she'd have to bind it up with something, or cut it.
Tarou laughed quietly at the development and considered his woman, that's what Nabiki was to him now. She been improving by leaps and bounds since he'd taken an active part in teaching her how to live in the country.
And she'd added a little more, by teaching the children a few of the more abstract understandings, such as mathematics and a better understanding of their own native language.
By the standards of her class she was probably ruined, clanless, scarred (if slightly, Tarou knew herbs that worked wonders) and bedding a gaijin, but she was smart, resilient and determined. And beautiful.
A great honking noise broke the tender moment briefly.
And she snored like a wounded wolf.
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(Posted Mon, 28 Jul 2003 07:21)
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