favour the strong’.
Itsuki embraced her tightly, and she lay there in his arms, feeling vulnerable, but protected – something she hadn’t felt before.
«It still pains me to remember that moment of weakness…» she whispered.
«Admitting your weakness is brave. And you haven’t tried again, so that says more about you than that single night.» The man kissed her gently. «I am grateful for all the gods that have watched over you and didn’t let you take your life. They must have known you will be needed elsewhere later.»
Kara smiled faintly, and looked into Itsuki’s eyes. His gaze was warm, soft and caring, and he was genuinely happy to see her beside him. He smiled and kissed her once more.
«I am glad the gods brought you to me, Nakano. Because you are a magnificent woman!» he said with a smile.
«I just hope I am good enough for you…» Kara whispered.
Itsuki shook his head with a smirk:
«I’m afraid, it’s the other way around. I’m not sure I can be good enough for you, my deadly flower.»
A little confused, Kara giggled:
«Deadly flower? That’s an interesting way to call me.»
«You are as beautiful as a flower, and yet deadly, as the weapons in your hands, so… how else am I to call you?» Itsuki smiled back.
5
* * *
When the morning came, Kara woke up with a feeling that all that happened was a dream. But it wasn’t – Itsuki was there, next to her, lying in a tumbled bed and with a faint smile on his lips. It was so sweet to see him like this, and Kara reached out and gently touched his face, caressing his cheek.
He groaned though his sleep and opened his eyes.
«Hi.» Kara smiled at him and he pulled her closer, as if not wishing to let her go.
They could stay like that all morning, but someone knocked at the door – very faintly, but quite persistently.
Itsuki growled, burying his face in Kara’s neck.
«Who is it?» Kara decided to reply, since it was, after all, her room.
«I beg your forgiveness, Nakano. Lord Ryuu is asking for you and Master Itsuki to attend an urgent war meeting.» She heard a servant’s voice.
«Thank you.»
Itsuki sat up, looking puzzled.
«An urgent meeting…» he whispered under his breath.
«We shouldn’t keep our Lord waiting.» Kara jumped to her feet and stretched, before dressing up. Within two minutes she was ready to go, as was Itsuki.
He grabbed a couple of mochi to have a snack on their way.
«Why do I have a bad feeling about this?» he said, offering one to Kara.
Kara took a bite before answering:
«Let’s not speculate and just wait until we hear what’s it about?» she sighed. «Or… are you worried that last night might have been out of line?»
«No, I don’t think that’s the case, Nakano.» Itsuki smiled at her, and she noticed his confident glance.
«But I am surprised that he called me as well.» Kara shrugged her shoulders, trying to shake off the nervous feeling.
When they approached the hall, servants opened the doors and let them in. Lord Ryuu greeted them with a very concerned expression.
Kara and Itsuki bowed before taking places in front of Lord Ryuu – next to Ayame and a couple of other samurai and shinobi Kara had seen around the castle.
«It has come to my knowledge that one of the northern villages is to be attacked by demons in a weeks’ time.» Lord Ryuu said. «Therefore I need a group of my finest to ride out and scout the land before I arrive with the main force. Itsuki, Ayame, gather your men, take Nakano with you.»
«Yes, Lord Ryuu.» Itsuki and Ayame bowed.
Kara bowed as well, feeling tense and nervous.
«Nakano!» Lord Ryuu sounded very strict. «Keep your eyes peeled and return victorious!»
«Yes, Lord Ryuu.» She replied, bowing once more.
«Leave at once!»
Itsuki and Ayame jumped to their feet, followed by Kara. All three bowed and ran out of the hall.
«Gather your things, Nakano. We’ll see you at the stables!» Ayame said, running off into one of the corridors.
Itsuki nodded at his lover and disappeared in another corridor.
Kara ran to her room and grabbed her weapons, quickly changed into her shinobi outfit, and ran off to the stables, grabbing the remaining mochi in a piece of cloth to have something to eat on their way.
She got to the stables before others and managed to saddle Akuma before Itsuki and Ayame appeared with their bags. Itsuki threw a saddle bag to Kara and she caught it, quickly putting it on Akuma’s back – to her surprise, the stallion didn’t even flinch at this and remained calm, while she was getting him ready.
Kara rode out of the paddock a few seconds before Ayame and Itsuki – their men and women followed them, only a few moments behind. Within minutes, the whole group of thirteen shinobi were already galloping off on the road leading north.
Everyone was silent all the way while they were on the road. They stopped in the forest for the night – off the road, hidden from prying eyes, and slept without a fire.
The next day they continued their way, pushing their horses as hard as they could and stopping only when necessary. Though the shinobi were used to such long galloping, Kara wasn’t and felt a little frustrated. At first she wasn’t sure if Akuma would be able to keep up, because he was, after all cooped up in a paddock for a long time. But he showed himself as a very tough and strong horse. He even tried getting ahead all the time, and Kara had to keep him in line.
As they settled to spend the second night in the forest, Itsuki approached Kara and quietly sat down next to her.
«You’re doing well, Nakano.» He whispered. «I am glad.»
«Thank you.» She replied. Even though he couldn’t see her smile under her mask, she smiled nonetheless.
«I wanted to ask you to take the first watch tonight. Can you manage?»
«Of course!» she nodded, ready to do everything that was needed.
«Wake me up in three hours.» Itsuki leaned back against the tree Kara was sitting next to and closed his eyes.
Before Kara stood up to check on the horses, she felt him touch her hand slightly,
