The Land of the Dead (Vash/'Guo/Rin)

[Zhen Anguo]

'Guo failed in hiding the gulp that rose in his throat, before speaking. "So it's just me, Vash... And you..." He had to suppress an awkward cough before continuing. "I-um... Vash was carrying you... But he said he wanted to scout ahead so... Well... There was no-one else to carry you and... Y-you see, well, you couldn't exactly walk on your own... S-so I'm carrying you... Y-y'know. Until you can walk."

[Rin Tezuka]

I look up at 'Guo with a curious look on my face. "You're getting really... red. Not red, but your face is red. Are you okay? Sick?" It made me chuckle lightly as I rest my head. The chuckle was forced. I just... didn't have energy. Dai was gone, and I couldn't bring Tami back... I take in a huge breath, as much as my lungs would let me, and I sigh it out, ruffling his shirt. "Let's, uh... go."

[Zhen Anguo]

"S-sick..? No! N-no... Not quite..." He frowned slightly before looking up to the sky. Maybe if he did that, he would feel a little better, although one fact soon became evident. Staring at a sky over a nation of the dead does not make him feel any better. He needed to perform his rituals soon as well, although it could wait, this was far more important. "Mr Horo left you that headband, by the way..." He muttered not looking down at Rin. "He found it next to you. Tied to the sword. I have that in a scroll that Mr Horo told me to keep a hold of..."

[Rin Tezuka]

Headband...? Oh. "The thing around my neck..." I look down at the blue-clothed material, the symbol on it unrecognized. This was a reminder of my loss... Or maybe, that I wasn't as strong as I thought. I look up at 'Guo's still slighty-flustered face. "Can I have that scroll...?"

[Zhen Anguo]

'Guo shook his head, seemingly torn at the prospect of going against Rin. "If I did that, I'd end up dropping you. Plus..." He smiled softly, looking down at her. "Not like you could carry it, huh?" He looked back up. "Anyways. The headband thingy I'm guessing belonged to what's-his-face. Looks the same as Mr Horo's, at least, it has his clan symbol on it. What's-his-face used to be Mr Horo's student, so putting two and two together, I guess he wore it when he was training."

[Rin Tezuka]

"...Tami." I say sternly. "His name is Tami, not What's-his-face." Sighing once more, I cuddle in close, ignoring the comment about not being able to carry the scroll. I wanted it. But... I guess the headband is enough. "Alright... Let's follow Blondie, then... Did you get hurt by that black-haired guy?"

[Zhen Anguo]

'Guo changed the subject abruptly, he didn't fancy talking about how he'd done nothing, frozen in fear of breaking his vows.

"Do you remember when we first met?" A stupid question considering they'd only known each other for a few weeks. All the same, 'Guo could feel himself starting to babble. "I was really happy! I'd spent so long near enough alone, I was just really really happy that I could even make a friend... I'm... Odd... So I thought people would avoid me like a bad case of dysentery... But then along came you, someone just as weird and odd as I am, with more talent than I could possibly imagine, walked into you and hit you like a tidal wave. I guess you had a similar impact on me! Although not physically... I mean-... What I'm getting at is... Um..." He seemed stalled for a moment.

"Daisy's a lucky guy..."

[Rin Tezuka]

"EH?" My most curious gaze hits 'Guo's eyes. It felt like he was trying to say something... I was never good at interpreting people's words, though. "Yeah, I guess he is... I think I'm the lucky one. He keeps me grounded when I fly away from... here. The ground. It was like... Hell, living without him for eight years. I kept painting the alley..." My voice turned instantly somber. The one thing in the world that actually hurt me was him leaving. "I'm sorry you have to carry me, 'Guo. I didn't mean to lose that fight..."

[Zhen Anguo]

"You didn't lose. You wouldn't be here of you did, he'd have killed you and you wouldn't be here..." He felt a little hurt, that his words hadn't quite sunk through... But he needed to get them out in the open, but how? He wished he had his father's calculating mind right now, or his brothers warrior spirit, either would have been a wonderful help at the moment. He felt determined to try anyway, maybe if he kept changing the subject back to it...

"Remember when you punched Shin's dad..?" He smiled softly, Hos eyes scanning the sky, occassionally looking at Vash, making sure he was still following his teacher. "I held you afterwards, like this..." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if bracing himself for something. "You cried, then... That's all I remember... How warm you were and the fact that you were crying... I-... I felt like I had to do something for you, like I had to cheer you up... I was determined to make you happy. No matter what the cost." His eyes flickered open again, still not looking at his friend, but glazed over slightly in acceptance.

That's all she was. His friend.

"That's why I'm happy you found Daisy!" He said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible, without raising his voice. If they were laying an ambush, they needed to be quiet. "He made you happy, so it's not like I could complain, is it..? Sure, he goes against everything I believe in... But he makes you happy, huh..?" A grim smile spread across his lips. "Well, that's good enough for me..."

[Rin Tezuka]

Why was his voice so somber? He said he was happy, right? Why was he sad, then? Even I could tell that smile wasn't genuine. He meant something more. But.. I couldn't figure it out. "Th... Thank you, 'Guo." I whisper, his mood spreading to me. It felt... like I wanted something I couldn't have. I didn't understand. I guess I have to be direct. Why did I have to think about being direct this time?

"What's wrong with you today, 'Guo?"

[Zhen Anguo]

"I don't know. They say that if you know you're going to die... You accept it easier, it's something that you can face head on without any fear, because what have you got to lose? Why not go jump off that clif into the lake? So what if it could kill you, you're going to die anyway..." He frowned. "I guess this is the same sort of thing, but on a smaller scale, and with less death." He sniffed, not as if he was crying, more as if it just made a point, a finalisation. "You and Daisy are happy... So why shouldn't I jump off that cliff, huh..?"

He looked down at Rin, a large, warm, genuine grin spread across his features.

"I like you, Rin."

[Rin Tezuka]

I smile in return for a real smile. This one made me happy. This talk about lake jumping didn't make sense to me, but I didn't care. I giggle lightly and nod. "I like you too, 'Guo. A lot. You're a really good friend to me."

[Zhen Anguo]

'Guo gave a small chuckle, it was clear that Rin was happy... Save for whatever was going on with this Itami, the guy who Mr Horo had trained. What friend would he be if he shattered that now?

"I'm glad I'm your friend as well..." He said. "But as your friend... Can I ask you to walk? I mean, when we ambush these guys... I want to be right in the middle of it!" He grinned, he was determined to make up for his lack of action at The Valley of The End.

[Rin Tezuka]

"Eeehhh... I can try..." And without waiting for him, I roll myself out of his arms, hitting the ground in a small cloud of dirt. I lay there for a moment before deciding that I could walk. I roll onto my shoulders and then pounce onto my feet. Instantly, I could feel how exhausted my body was, how much I wanted to rest. But 'Guo was fighting today. With a slightly-pained smile, I nod at him. "Yeah... I'm fine."

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I returned to see Rin awake and on her (very tired) feet. I cleared my throat. "The path ahead's clear; no pesky evil spirits, restless ghosts, or fiends. Our quarry's still ahead." I smiled. "And, nice to see you awake and moving around, Rin," I said. "You wore yourself out pretty thoroughly back there."