Despite the extension of the wounds caused by the giant lizard’s bite, Kumari’s fortitude saved him. Still, it took him days to wake up, and during this whole time Sazume was forbidden from going out of the castle as a punishment for her disobedience. Yume convinced Sesshomaru to give her the obligation of personally taking care of the young noble’s injuries, but Sazume considered it unnecessary. She assumed that task regardless. She felt guilty for having knocked him over the chasm accidentally, and even more for letting him risk his own life to protect her.
Only on the fourth day, he woke up, and found Sazume asleep on the floor at his side. He waved his head slightly; maybe he still was feverish because she looked even prettier than he remembered. She opened her eyes slowly, and yelped out of happiness when she saw him awake.
“I knew you would make it! You had a high fever, but yesterday you were already looking much better.”
“You have been taking care of me?” He was surprised. “Thank you very much, my Lady.”
“Sazume. Haven’t you learned to call me by my name yet?”
“I’m sorry, Sazume-sama.”
The door was suddenly opened, and Sesshomaru walked in, followed by the rest of his family. Sazume looked down, still afraid of her father’s wrath.
“My Lord-” started Kumari, but the noble interrupted him.
“How do you feel?”
“Fine, sir. Much better, now.”
“Excellent.” Sesshomaru observed him in silence, thinking, until Yume discreetly pinched his right arm, making him speak. “I came to thank you for saving my daughter’s life.”
“My Lord? I’m sorry, but that must be a misunderstanding. I didn’t save your daughter.”
“Excuse me?”
“It was Lord Ichimaru who did it! I tried to deal personally with the lizard-demon, but I wasn’t strong enough. It defeated me, and it was your son who arrived in time and killed it before it finished me and her. In fact, he saved me!”
“But you did hold him off long enough for me and my group to arrive,” Ichimaru intervened, “had you not been there… Maybe we would have arrived too late.”
“Do you confirm it, Sazume?” Sesshomaru asked.
She raised her face, finally smiling at her father.
“Yes! Kumari was very brave.”
Sesshomaru thought for an instant, and then was pinched again by his wife, who stared innocently at him while he gazed at her, angry with her interventions.
“In my view of the events, it is quite simple.” Sesshomaru announced his verdict, “Kumari was sent at my orders to keep Sazume out of trouble, but she dragged him into it. He was there by my orders, so I can’t charge him with another debt, even though Ichimaru and his men did save him. On the other hand, if he wasn’t there, Sazume probably wouldn’t have been rescued in time by her brother. Given that, Kumari, I hereby consider you freed from your grandfather’s oath. By protecting my daughter until my son’s arrival, you repaid your family’s debt to mine.”
Flooded with emotion, Kumari rose from the bed in an instant, despite the pain, and bowed before Sesshomaru.
“Thank you, my Lord! Thank you very much!”
“I am not your Lord,” Sesshomaru corrected him, making Kumari raise his head. “You are a free noble, now. You are not my vassal anymore. Do not bow down, unless you’re trying to mock me.”
Kumari understood, and got up with great effort, not simply physical, but mental. It was hard for him to look at Sesshomaru as an equal man would. Still, he faced him firmly, and wouldn’t bow down anymore.
“Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru,” he said, formally.
“I wish you a quick recovery from your wounds, Lord Kumari,” Sesshomaru replied before walking out.
Kumari smiled. For the first time, he was a free man.
