Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ My Naga Knight ❯ Chapter 29

Jin's chair fell over as he backed up away from the bar. “You don't remember who I am…do you?” He was both offended and angry by the mere fact Thane wouldn't remember the very demon that he hurt those many years ago.

 

“I told you that you looked familiar, but I don't remember who you are if I should. For that, I am sorry.” Thane removed himself as well from the bar. He could tell that the redhead was looking rather furious, and it was all, possibly, towards him.

 

With so many people looking at him, Jin knew that it wasn't the time or place to do anything. Snorting out his frustration angrily, he left the bar with a mighty slam of the door. Walking up the cold, stone stairs, Jin found his way to the market square where Neda was. Grabbing her tightly by the wrist, he pulled her from the booth. “Did you tell him to come down there?” He asked angrily through his teeth.

 

Neda was confused and her heart nearly stopped at seeing Jin so angry. “I-what are you talking about!” She exclaimed in worry for herself.

 

“Did you tell Thane to come down to the bar you sent me to!” Jin asked again almost louder this time. When he realized the fear in Neda's expression, he released her wrist and backed away from her. “Sorry, I just happened to see him at the bar, and when I found out who he was I about…” He couldn't bring himself to even tell Neda what he was about to do. “Let's just pack up and go home. I am done here.”

 

Watching Jin head off to the drawbridge by himself, Neda's eyes glistened with tears waiting to fall from the fear that overran her. “Jin…what is wrong with you…?”

 

 

 

 

When night came over Eytheria, Jin remained outside in the rocking chair Lily used to sit within awaiting his return. Silver's death replaying in his mind over and over again haunted him endlessly after meeting face to face with Thane. All he could do was stare down at the floorboards, his fingers twitching almost uncontrollably over the desire to get back at the knight.

 

“He is still out there?” Lily asked with worry, knowing she had never seen Jin act with such hatred before.

 

“Yes,” answered Neda, as she walked over towards the blind woman to place her hand upon the Lily's shoulder. “I don't know what got into him. I know Thane said he was going to be taking a break somewhere, but I didn't know it would be at the same bar I sent Jin to.” Remembering the cold, angry look in Jin's eyes gave Neda chills. “I would talk to him, but I am too scared to speak with him right now.”

 

“Neda, why don't you finish dinner for me tonight?” Lily asked, her eyes gazing right past the young girl. “I will go out and speak with him.” Wiping her hands on her apron, she removed it from herself to hand over to Neda.” Gripping the doorknob, she opened the front door to step outside where Jin was sitting in discontent. “Jin, you really scared Neda today with how furious you were over running into Thane.”

 

Jin growled at the mere mention of the man's name. His fingers gripping tightly onto the end of the armrest of the rocking chair, he closed his eyes not wishing to look at Lily. “I am sorry,” he said bitterly.

 

Her brow furrowing into concern, Lily placed her hand upon Jin's shoulder. “Jin, what is the matter with you? I have never heard you this furious before.”

 

“I just want that bastard to pay for what he did to Silver.” Jin took a deep breath and let it out slowly with a low, throaty growl to follow.

 

Lily frowned, disapproving of his actions. “You desire revenge, don't you?” When she didn't hear Jin answer, she herself began to get a bit frustrated with him. “Answer me, Jin!”

 

“Yes,” responded Jin simply and coldly.

 

“Will you stop thinking of yourself for a moment and listen to what you're saying!” Lily demanded, as she pounded her fists gently on the empty space on the armrest she was given. “You want to kill Thane, someone who is married, and leave that woman without a husband as you were left without a mate! My father used to tell me this old saying of his: an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” Moving her hands, she rested them on Jin's face to feel if he was even listening to her. “You want to kill someone all because of what they did to you.”

 

“If he wanted me to suffer all these years, he should suffer too,” Jin grumbled, not changing his furious expression.

 

Lily looked away as she was getting angry herself that Jin didn't understand what she was trying to tell him. “Listen to yourself! Your voice is full of hate and revenge! You're so bloodthirsty for him that you can't even think right!” She kept her hands positioned on Jin's face still. “Jin, what if what you remember isn't right! What if Silver wasn't killed by his arrow!”

 

“She wasn't killed by his arrow!” Jin yelled, grabbing Lily's wrists to remove her hands from where they were. “She was killed by another man's arrow, but Thane was there and ordered them to kill her! He might as well killed her himself!” Bringing his hands to his face, he sighed heavily at the pain he could feel inside of him once more. “She was the love of my life, and that damn monster killed her.”

 

“Jin, listen to me,” begged Lily, “you cannot expect Neda to forgive and forget the past dealing with the death of her loved ones, if you cannot do the same.” She moved her hand to his fiery red hair to run her fingers carefully through it. “You have to be more forgiving when it comes to the actions of humans and demons alike.”

 

“I hate when you're right,” grumbled Jin quietly. “But it is still so hard to forgive him for what all happened. What do you suggest I do?” He turned to look at the blind woman.

 

Lily shrugged slightly. “Get to know him just like Neda is unknowingly doing to her supposed killer of her parents. You never know what is actually in people's hearts and minds until you get to know them better.” Opening her other hand for the former demon to take, she smiled. “Now, I think we should get back inside and work on dinner.”

 

Jin nodded, taking Lily's hand to pull himself out of the rocking chair. “I am sorry,” he apologized finally. “Silver was just someone I wanted after being starved so long without having love. I thought for sure I had found someone to be with again after so long.” Jin closed his eyes having to think about his passed loved one. “It was a horrible pain when I had to watch her die.”

 

“Jin, I think everyone around here knows your pain.” Lily could only be reminded of her cheating husband, which also hurt her heart. “By the way, that young man, Norris, dropped by earlier. I told him you would be staying here for the most part,” explained Lily, as she found the doorknob to the front door. “He said that was fine, but he would miss you. He also left this for you.” She pulled out a folded piece of paper from her dress pocket with her other free hand to give to him before opening the door. “It is a letter. If you need help reading it, I can help with that.”

 

Taking the letter, Jin looked at the white parchment before smiling at the blind woman as they entered the building together. “Thank you, Lily.” Seeing the still obvious pain in Neda's eyes given his attitude earlier, Jin bit his lower lip. “Sorry about what I did before, Neda. I didn't mean to do that.”

 

Neda shook her head while wiping her hands on the apron she was wearing. “Jin, I know Thane tends to annoy people, but you need to watch yourself. He does come around here with my sister sometimes.” She nervous reached over to rub his left arm in hopes it would calm him down further.

 

“I am sorry. It won't happen again. I promise.” Jin made his way over to one of the open chairs at the table. “If you ever want to bring Thane over here, that is fine. I wouldn't mind getting to know him better.” He tapped his hands a bit nervously on the top of the table when Neda and Lily both worked on setting the table.

 

“So what is it that Thane did to you?” Neda boldly asked, as she put the corn and bread down at their right places. With everything in place, she moved closer to the handmade table, curious to hear what Jin had to say. “I do know that you said you were involved in that war.”

 

Jin looked away from Neda, wishing he didn't have to think of so many lies. “It is not something I like to talk about, Neda. The death of Silver was hard for me, and I plan on trying to forget about it in due time.” He took the glass of milk to drink a bit of it in hopes of swallowing the nervous lump in his throat.

 

Neda withdrew the question, as she worked on cutting into the chicken meat. She felt there was a lot that Jin was telling her, and it was irritating for one that was curious.

 

When dinner was finished, Neda made it back to her bedroom to change into her pajamas. Jin was walking up the stairs to check on her while she was parading around in her bedroom. He could easily hear the boards creaking underneath her bare feet when she walked around, and he had to admit it was bothering him a bit. “Neda, are you there?” Jin asked, knocking on the door.

 

Neda sat on the edge of her bed with her long, flowing white gown resting at her ankles. “You can come in,” she beckoned.

 

Jin opened the door to let himself inside of the large room Neda now lived in alone. “What are you doing up here? I can hear the ground making noise right underneath your feet from where I am down the stairs.”

 

She always thought the way he said things was rather funny. Neda wasn't aware that Jin avoided a majority of human words he didn't know how to say properly. “Sorry,” she apologized, as she watched him make his way over to where she was. “It sometimes takes me awhile to get to sleep. It just depends on what is running through my mind.”

 

The former wind demon pointed to the pillow on the bed. “It would help if you rested your head on that first.” Watching as she finally moved under the covers towards her pillow, he sat on the bedside. “Finally,” he chuckled. “Now, get some sleep and don't move anymore. I can easily hear you.”

 

“Sorry,” Neda apologized with a smirk. “I didn't think your hearing was that good. I also didn't expect someone to be that light of a sleeper.”

 

“Well, I wasn't sleeping,” Jin said honestly. “I am just not used to sleeping around others like this, I guess.” He was a bit hesitant to say anything regarding humans. “And without Touya here, I am a bit nervous for him.” He didn't elaborate on it, as he pushed himself up from the bed with a slight grunt. “And I am sorry you don't remember me being here, Neda, but when you were younger and asleep, I would actually sneak in here with Lily's help to feed you when you weren't eating.”

 

“I must have been fast asleep,” Neda said, lying down on the mattress. “I don't remember anything like that when I was younger.”

 

“You were fast asleep,” Jin pointed out, as he headed for the door. “Just get some sleep. I know I need it if I am going to continue to keep up with you when the sun rises. Goodnight,” he called from the door before shutting it behind him.

 

“Goodnight,” Neda mostly said to her bedroom, as Jin was too quick to get downstairs. Lying down in her bed facing the wall where her window was, she couldn't help but still have a bunch of questions running through her head involving Jin's disappearance when she was younger. The majority of unanswered questions swarmed her head and kept her away for a few hours, before she finally fell asleep.

 

 

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As summer eventually fell onto fall to hint the coming winter, Jin worked hard on the farm with Neda's help. It took many weeks, but he eventually got into the swing of how the farm was to operate. He would even get up sometimes before Neda just to work on feeding the horses and working on their stalls to clean it up before she got outside. Even though the two of them were trying their best to get chores done, Jin couldn't help but play around a bit with Neda by splashing her with water, even if it was quite cold. Having her chase him playfully was something he always found funny and enjoyable; especially since she never took it personally.

 

Lily would hear the two always laughing and joking around when they entered the house. She couldn't help but smile at the two having a fun time together. “Enjoying yourselves?” She asked one morning, continuing to stir the soup she was working on.

 

“I was, until Jin decided he found nearly dropping an entire bucket of water on me was funny!” Neda tried to act serious about the situation through her damp hair, but she couldn't help but find it a little funny even if she was cold. “Now no thanks to him, I am sure I'll get a sick some time soon.”

 

“Don't whine,” Jin joked, as he took off his heavy shirt to put on Neda's body. He had a smaller, thin undershirt, so he wasn't too worried about getting cold. “There. You should warm up in no time.”

 

Neda looked up at Jin with a smirk full of gratitude. “You are the only person I know of who would throw cold water on someone during winter seasons.”

 

“Sit down, you two,” Lily insisted with a shake of her head. “Breakfast is about ready.” When she heard the chairs move across the ground, she knew they were seating themselves when turning around with the hot bacon, eggs, and soup. Sitting the plates down in the center, she managed to find her own seat thanks to Jin helping her. “By the way, Thane said he was going to come up here with Blythe a little later in the day.” She turned her head slightly in the direction she felt Jin was. “I hope that isn't a problem.”

 

Jin had managed to hide himself and keep away from Thane for the most part. He still knew Lily's advice was the best thing he could do for himself if he ever expected the same out of Neda. “It is fine with me,” said Jin, as he reached for an egg to eat. “I guess I can apologize for the way I acted last summer.”

 

“It is a start,” said Lily with a slight bow of her head. “Seeing as you've been good at being scarce, he doesn't know you actually live here.”

 

“I was good at what?” Jin couldn't help but not recognize the word Lily just said to him.

 

“Scarce is a word for being invisible, Jin,” explained Neda, as she cut up her food before eating it. When he gave her a funny look, she dropped her fists gently on the table. “What? I am allowed to know how to read without an education! Blythe teaches me from time to time.”

 

“So that's why you know so many words. I know Lily reads too with that fancy thing her father created.” Jin couldn't help but notice the lesser educated never really said many words he couldn't understand. A majority of Eytheria, he noticed, wasn't really into reading all that much.

 

“Braille, my dear,” elaborated Lily with her mouth slightly full. “My father wanted me to have a way to not be completely shut off to the world, so he introduced me to it.”

 

Once Jin was finished, he removed himself from the table and took his plate with him to wash off in the sink. He felt bad leaving chores for Lily to do, as she was much older than last he remembered. “If you don't mind, Lily, I am going to use your room to change my clothes. These still smell like the barn.”

 

Lily could tell there was some sadness in his voice, but she didn't talk about it feeling it was personal if Jin hadn't said anything. “Sure, dear. Go ahead.” When she heard Jin walk up the stairs and shut the door, she turned her head slightly towards Neda. “If he's not down soon, check on him for me, will you?”

 

Neda eventually finished herself and went to change as well. She was finishing with her jewelry when stepping outside to look at her parents' old bedroom. The door was shut, and she could see someone walking around on the other side from the bottom crack. Neda knocked on the door. “Jin, are you in there?” At first there was nothing before she heard his voice.

 

“Come in,” he called from the opposite side. When the door opened, Jin looked up from where he was sitting on the end of the bed. He noticed the long blue dress with a few white designs at the bottom. Trailing his eyes up he saw that the top rested mostly on her upper arms. It was the fanciest thing he had ever seen on a human woman. “You look nice,” he complimented. When he saw the red necklace around her neck, Jin recognized his scales immediately. “That's a nice necklace. Where did you get that?”

 

“I made it myself,” said Neda, as she brought her hand up to touch the red, dried scales, which still shimmered. Flattening the underneath of her dress to sit down next to the redhead, she smiled. “I found these things around the farm, and I just bought the string to put them on.”

 

“I know where that comes from,” he said, pointing to the scales around her neck. “As a matter of fact, I know who they came from.” Jin watched as Neda looked at him with interest. “But I won't tell you.” He was met with a playful punch to his shoulder, causing him to lightly laugh at her actions. “At least not now.”

 

“You're such a jerk,” she teased before realizing he hadn't changed his clothes from earlier. “I know something is on your mind.” When Jin didn't say anything right away, she regretted having to continue. “It is about your wife, isn't it?”

 

“Don't ever talk to Thane about this but, I feel that night when the war broke out, he could have saved her,” Jin explained vaguely, as he turned to look at Neda. “I really think he could have saved her from being killed.” He lowered his head a bit, blowing his wild bangs out of his face with a heavy sigh. “Getting over the death of a loved one is never easy.”

 

Neda moved her hands over Jin's shoulders to try and relax him with her fingertips digging gently into his shirt. “Hey, I know how you feel. It is hard.” She rested her chin upon his closest shoulder. “It will get easier in due time. I promise you.” Resting her head near his neck, she thought back on her own parents. “I still have a hard time thinking about snake demons, considering what they did to my parents.”

 

“I understand,” whispered Jin, as he turned to look into Neda's green eyes. “Maybe we'll both come to terms with what happened and forgive those around us.” Kissing her on the forehead, he waved for her to get off of the bed. “I guess I better get ready. I was just inwardly getting myself ready.”

 

Watching the Jin walk over to the closet where Lily let him keep some of his clothes he bought, she stepped to the door but didn't leave just then. “You know, you're living here for some time now, and I don't know anything about you. How about once Thane and Blythe are done visiting, we head to Eytheria Castle Town? You know, just to talk and stuff.”

 

Jin turned his head slightly with a raise of his brow and a rather teasing smirk upon his features. “I believe that is what you call a…date, yes?” Seeing Neda coming towards him in attempts to punch him again, he moved away just in time to grab her wrists. “Alright, alright! I was just teasing, you silly girl.”

 

“I know that, but every word that comes out of your mouth deserves to be followed by my fists,” Neda returned jokingly. Clearing her throat, she stepped away from Jin to head back towards the door. Giving him one last look, she waved goodbye for the time being before stepping outside to head down the steps where Lily was reading. “He is getting ready now. He should be down here soon.”

 

Lily raised her head with a smile. “You sound like you're relieved he's here now.” She smiled at Neda pretending that wasn't true. “I am being serious. You were annoyed with him at first, and now, you spend every waking hour with him now.”

 

Neda fidgeted a bit, as she sat in the chair not too far from the sofa Lily was on. “Lily, when you met Jin, what did you first think about him?”

 

“When I first met him, he was a very sweet and charming guy,” said Lily. She could still hear Jin messing around above them, so she wasn't afraid to speak her mind at that moment. “He said all the right things to make me feel better about myself when my husband left me years ago. While he comes from an exotic place and has different views on marriage and love, I still think anybody he takes under his wing he'd love unconditionally.”

 

“Did you ever do anything with him?” Neda asked straightforwardly. She shuffled her boots slightly against the boards beneath her.

 

Lily found the question rather audacious and only blushed at the thought of ever trying to do anything with Jin. “Quite curious you are today.” Pausing in her book, she put it down on the coffee table she knew that was in front of her. “Back when I first met Jin, I would have given anything to be with him but there were a few…differences between us that couldn't allow it to be.”

 

Neda found herself confused. “What differences?”

 

“Well, let's just say that a fish cannot marry a bird unless the Goddess gives it wings.” Lily didn't feel like revealing Jin's secret anytime soon to Neda. She knew it would be too much for her. Hearing the door close upstairs, Lily turned her head slightly to where she could hear Jin coming to meet the two of them. “It is good of you to join us, Jin.”

 

Jin was wearing a long-sleeved, cotton shirt that was white in color with green sleeve and rim embroidery. His green, baggy pants were tucked into his brown boots. “Well, how do I look, Neda?”

 

Neda smiled a rather sarcastic smile at Jin. “Well, you do look like a human being,” she stated the obvious. The young girl wasn't about to say that Jin looked good. A part of her couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed if she ever complimented on his appearance.

 

“Thank you,” Jin commented back just as equally sarcastic. “If you could see me, I would ask what you honestly think, Lily.” He made his way over to the sofa to sit down to join the blind woman.

 

Lily couldn't help but giggle at the two playfully fighting with one another once more. “I am sure you look handsome, Jin.” Hearing the knock at the front door, Lily's cloudy eyes widened slightly at the sound before realizing who it was. “Well, looks like Thane and Blythe are here. Are you ready for this, Jin?”

 

“Better now than never.” Jin pushed himself up to his feet with a nervous clear of his throat. He stood near the chair where Neda was sitting, still not trusting himself with being any closer to Thane.

 

The door opening, Blythe greeted Lily quickly with a hug while Thane stood behind her eyeing Jin instantly. He remembered the crazy redhead from the bar, and now he was feeling a bit nervous himself about entering the room until Lily gestured him on inside. “So, you must be the man that Neda was talking about for so long. I didn't realize,” said Thane, causing a bit of silence between everyone for a moment.

 

Jin tried to be rid of his angry expression when looking at the knight. “Yes, I am sorry for that time we met. I was just tired after a long day and all.”

 

Thane still found it hard to look Jin right into the eyes. Each time he attempted to look for very long, he was always reminded of the nightmare he would have about that night. “Don't worry about it,” Thane insisted, with a wave of his hand before extended it to Jin. “We all have days like that.”

 

Accepting it, Jin expressed a nervous smile. “My name is Jin, by the way. I don't think I got that out sooner before I got all upset.”

 

Thane waited for a last name, but when he wasn't given one, he didn't pressure Jin into revealing it to him. “This is Blythe, my wife.” He watched the two exchange a handshake. Seeing Lily give him some subtle hints, Thane rolled his eyes and thumbed over his shoulder to the dinning room table. “Care to have a drink?”

 

“As long as it isn't anything strong like what I had back at that bar that one time.” Jin had to admit his stomach wasn't meant for strong drinks like beers or wines.

 

“Well, seeing as we're on a farm, I don't think we have to worry about that around here.” Thane pulled out a jar of milk for them both to drink. “I am sure this will do just fine for now.”

 

Sensing that the two men were going to want a moment alone, Lily looked over her shoulder where she knew the girls were. “Ladies, why don't we head upstairs to talk things over and catch up?” She waved her hand over her shoulder to move in the direction of the stairs with her cane helping her find the way.

 

Jin watched as Neda headed after Blythe and Lily out of the corner of his eye before realizing she was staring at him in return. He looked at her while Thane poured the milk for both of them to drink. Before she left up the stairs, he spared her a gentle smile to reassure her he wouldn't do anything brash while she was gone.

 

Thane caught his actions before Neda headed after her sister and Lily. “Oh, so how have things with Neda been? She seems to be coming out of her shell a bit more,” he admitted, taking a sip of the cow milk. “I have to admit, I have never come into this house without her sparing a sarcastic remark at me.”

 

Jin tapped his fingers upon the glass in front of him. “Everything has been alright. She didn't like me at all when I first came here, but Neda has gotten better.” Thinking about how well she was doing, Jin couldn't help but smile to himself. It wasn't even that far within his transformation, and already Neda was feeling a bit better with him being there.

 

The knight caught the smile, and he couldn't help but smirk a bit. “Ah, so you have a thing for her then?” He witnessed as Jin nearly choked on his next intake of milk. “No need to be embarrassed. Besides, maybe with a man in her life, she won't act so crazy.”

 

“You-you misunderstand,” Jin coughed, trying to catch his breath. Having Silver come to mind, he didn't think of the bitterness he felt towards Thane, rather, the sadness he felt over her death. “As much as I would love to have someone like that in my life, my heart is hurt right now. A few years ago, I had someone I loved, and she died at the hands of others.”

 

“That's terrible,” Thane said sympathetically, as he bowed his head. “I am sorry for your loss. However, sometimes we need to give love to someone else in order to forget the pains of the past.” He gazed into Jin's blue eyes quickly, seeing as the redhead wasn't looking at him directly. “And just because you begin to love someone else, I know your heart won't ever replace the lover you first knew.”

 

Jin found truth in Thane's words, even though he didn't want to believe the knight could be truthful about anything. “I am sure when the time is right, I will act on it. Right now, I am in no rush.” He looked up the stairs where he could hear the muffled voices of the women. “I am just trying to put things right as they should be.”