and you’ve already proved that multiple times! So stop thinking you don’t deserve to be here! If that was the case, Lord Ryuu would have never even bothered taking you with him!»
Kara felt shaken and even a bit scared, seeing such anger in Itsuki’s eyes. He must have realised it, because he suddenly looked away and gently released her arm, stepping back. Without a single word he walked off, leaving her alone. She decided not to pursue him – he definitely needed some time by himself.
An hour later she came to the training hall and found Ayame waiting for her. Throwing Kara a couple of bokken, the woman smiled and readied her own training weapons.
Used to seeing Itsuki whenever she was training, Kara realised that without him it felt strange. But she forced herself to concentrate on her opponent and they started their deadly dance. Other people watched them from afar, noting the skills both women showed in wielding the weapons they had.
Kara and Ayame kept sparring again and again – they fought swiftly and with unimaginable speed, forcing each other to retreat and attack, but never having enough to win the fight.
After some time Ayame stepped back and bowed to her opponent.
«I think it’s enough for today, Nakano. It was a great fight.» She said, breathing heavily.
Kara bowed in return – her feelings were mutual. This time she didn’t let Ayame win a single time, and it definitely looked like a victory to her.
«See you tomorrow?» she asked.
«Get some rest.» Ayame nodded.
Kara walked off back to her room, feeling tired and happy that she managed to stay on her feet throughout the whole workout Ayame gave her. She took the long way back to her quarters – first visiting the nearest bath to wash off the filth and sweat from the hard day. And as she was returning to her room, dressed in a fresh haorihakama, she suddenly received a visit from someone she didn’t expect.
«Nakano!» Kara heard Itsuki and turned to him, surprised to see him at all after what had happened between them earlier.
«Yes, Master Itsuki?» she tried sounding calm, but deep inside she felt ashamed for doubting herself in the first place.
He walked up and offered her a small lacquered box.
«Please accept my sincerest apologies.» He said, looking at her with such sadness and guilt in his eyes, that she suddenly felt confused.
«What?» she asked, trying to guess what exactly he was apologising for.
He bowed, still holding the box.
«I was disrespectful and rude. I am sorry.» He said.
Kara took the box, opening it. Inside she found a small batch of Japanese treats mochi. She loved these even when she was living back in her home world.
«Itsuki…» she whispered, surprised that he would offer her this adorable gift as an apology. «It’s alright.»
Kara reached out and cupped his face with her palm. She wanted to feel him and his warmth – it was already unbearable that he was there all the time – so close and so unreachable…
But he surprised her again. He pulled her close and kissed her lips, making her feel a wave of shivers run down her spine.
It was a long and passionate kiss – one that people could call longed for. As if he wanted to do this for a very long time. Kara felt him pressing her against his chest, and let herself melt in the moment, yearning for more.
Finally, he grunted and picked her up, carrying into her bedroom and shutting the door behind them. Within moments they were down on the floor, embraced in an unimaginable desire. Itsuki could barely keep his calm, eager to touch Kara and feel her in his arms.
But he took his time undressing her and caressing her skin. And she allowed him to do whatever he pleased, receiving every touch and kiss with a trembling wave of lust that grew deeper and deeper in her soul.
He made her gasp for air and want more, until he let himself go and they united as one in a pulsing and overwhelming burst of desire.
It took them hours to quench their thirst for each other, before they fell to the floor – tired and happy in each other’s arms.
He caressed her – gently and attentively, touching her thigh and running his fingers higher, to where her scar was. But he didn’t pull back – instead, he touched the scar and ran over it.
«Your scar… it doesn’t make you ugly or less attractive, Nakano. It shows how bravely you fought.» He whispered and leaned in to kiss Kara again.
Itsuki had a lot of scars as well, but Kara didn’t ask – only ran her fingers over some of them, feeling the texture and getting an idea how deep a wound could have been to leave such a scar. One of the scars ran across his chest and looked like someone slashed him with a katana.
«An assassin.» Itsuki said, glancing at that scar and Kara smiled.
«Looks like he knew nothing about killing if he left you alive.» She said.
«I was faster.» The man replied with a smirk. «Though, suffered a wound, I still saved my shogun from being killed.»
«And this one?» Kara touched a dark round scar on his side. «Looks like a round spear?»
«That was a demon’s horn. About a year ago…»
Kara embraced him, feeling his back, covered in more scars.
«Claws?» she asked, caressing the lines.
«Yes, three demons surrounded me and knocked me to the ground.» Itsuki ran his fingers down her arm and gently took her wrist. «Your scars are more subtle and hidden.»
Kara looked away, understanding what scar he was referring to. But the man caressed her cheek and turned her to face him again.
«That particular scar is a sign of my weakness.» She said and her voice gave out her pain. «I covered it so that I won’t have to see it anymore.»
«What happened?»
Kara tried to keep her eyes from tearing up.
«I tried to take my own life.» She whispered. «A very long time ago.»
«Why?» Itsuki sounded hurt by what he heard.
«For many reasons. I felt… all alone in a world full of people. I felt betrayed and broken, and tired of fighting everyone and everything. And I felt so much pain, that I simply wanted it to stop…» Kara felt a lonely tear run down her cheek. «I was a coward.»
Itsuki pressed his forehead against hers and sighed.
«I am glad that you survived.» He said.
«I’m not sure what happened then… I took the sharpest knife… and I ran its blade over my skin many times.» Kara looked at the scar, hidden by the intricate tattoos. «But it didn’t… cut. It took all my strength to force it in… and the
