1
Corrin sobs deep within a forest beyond the Astral Realm and away from her few comrades. Mother's murder, Takumi's biting remarks, and the lingering word "traitor" uttered by both families finally conquer her resolve.
She's uncertain if her path of neutrality truly was the right choice…
Corrin sobs harder, riding the uncontrollable wave of emotions. She never expected life beyond the Northern Fortress to act so cruelly…
"My lady?" A familiar, soft voice calls from her side. She jumps at the sudden announcement and quickly lifts her face from her hands, her red, puffy eyes gazing into Kaze's concerned face.
Without hesitation, she latches onto the ninja's chest and cries into him. Immediately, he wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her closer in a comforting hug.
"I-I'm sorry, Kaze…" she hiccups, "I-I just… didn't want m-my few a-allies see me… c-cry… Especially… Especially Sakura…"
Kaze strokes Corrin's long, white hair and embraces her deeply, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Lady Azura and Princess Sakura were concerned and requested I search for you…"
Corrin clutches onto his chest ever tighter as more tears flood onto the thin fabric. "I… I made them worry anyway…"
Kaze holds her strongly, their bodies molded together as Corrin sobs loudly, her form trembling from the force of rushing emotions. The ninja whispers soothing offerings of complete loyalty to her and her cause, his arms providing stability and security she so desperately desires.
"Lady Corrin," Kaze murmurs, his eyes scanning the environment uncomfortable at such blatant exposure to potential enemies. She sniffles and raises her face upwards, ruby eyes seeking his amethyst orbs. "A storm is approaching. I advise returning to the Astral Realm posthaste."
Corrin shakes her head and bites her bottom lip in an effort to stop upcoming tears. "No… I'm not ready to return to everyone, yet… They can't see me like this… I need time to collect myself."
Kaze nods and surveys their surroundings momentarily before sliding his gloved hands to Corrin's elbows and helping her stand with him. His fingers clutch her arm gently a moment longer, waiting until he's positive she's stable without assistance, and then releases her. "As you command, my lady. I know of a place we may take shelter from the storm." He then turns his back to her and crouches low to the ground. "Please, climb onto my back - the storm is imminent and walking is not advisable."
Corrin flushes and presses her hand against her chest in an insecure manner, yet Kaze remains immobile and patient. She exhales deeply, shakes her head free from her own thoughts, and carefully eases herself onto his back. He winds his arms under legs, swiftly lifting her up, earning a loud shriek and a firm grip around his neck from the dragon princess. Kaze laughs audibly and she huffs beside his ear in pure embarrassment at her unladylike yell, but that quickly fades when he bolts into an immediate run.
Kaze expertly maneuvers around trees, the foliage and trunks blending together in a mass of earthy colors. Corrin pulls herself closer to his warm body, mesmerized at his speed and endurance. She's always know her ninja to be the fastest in her makeshift army - many times she's witnessed his ability to dodge arrows and other projectile weapons flawlessly - but she never realized just how quickly the world passed by him.
Like the wind, she muses.
He ducks below a low hanging branch and Corrin buries her face into his neck, breathing in his soothing scent of wilderness and man. He spends so much time outside, observing and protecting her, he's picked up the scent of the outside world and blends in seamlessly to nature. It's a soothing aspect…
Kaze slows to a mild walk, his chest rising and falling rapidly from the distance crossed in such a short time, and heads to the porch of an abandoned temple. He eases Corrin off his back as thunder booms from above and the lightest of rain sprinkles their faces. He encompasses her hand in his, leading her up the broken, creaking stairs, and slides open the tattered door.
Corrin grimaces at the dark and dreary room, noting the cobwebs decorating the high corners and dust layered on the floor like a thin sheet of snow. The wind billows behind them and overhanging branches creak tiredly above their shelter, earning a nervous laugh from the princess. "It's… a little scary in here." Corrin remarks sheepishly.
"This coming from a woman who transforms into a menacing dragon?"
Corrin playfully smacks his shoulder earning an amused chuckle that buckles her knees and awaken butterflies. She wiggles her hand free from his and steps forward into the temple, her bare feet collecting dust and leaving her trail. "Y-Yeah… I guess I'm the scariest thing in here, huh?"
Kaze smiles to himself, eases the drafty door shut, and ushers to his mistress' side. "Perhaps." He catches her elbow before she trips and he pulls her closer to him. "Stay close to me," he whispers, "my senses are better than yours. Allow me to guide you through this darkness."
Heat floods Corrin's cheeks as she winds her arms around his bicep as he navigates through the ever darkening rooms. He lifts a tattered room curtain and Corrin ducks beneath it, Kaze quickly following; he suddenly stops.
"This appears as the driest and, perhaps, safest area." He pushes against a wall, earning a disgruntled groan from the aged wood, but it otherwise remains intact. "Use caution, my lady. I cannot be certain that rot has not already set in."
Corrin kneels onto the ground, wipes an area clean of dust, and then plops herself down, her back pressed against the wall. She exhales deeply and smacks her hands before her, ridding them of the filth. Kaze swipes his foot carefully beside, removing the particles, before settling himself beside her, their shoulders barely touching.
Oh, how she wishes he'd move closer. Wrap his arm around her and pull her against him. Kiss her neck, cheek, and to her lips. She'd claim him. Trail her lingering kisses to his exposed chest and all the way down…
Corrin blushes darkly and mentally slaps herself away from such a fantasy. She exhales deeply and bites her lower lip nervously, suddenly very, very hot. It's been weeks since she realized her feelings towards her unwavering, expressionless retainer, and each passing day her desire to act upon her impulse grows.
She listens to the loud hum of the pummeling rain and allows the lull overtake her - until an ice cold stream of pent up water escapes from a broken knook in the ceiling. Corrin screeches and leaps away, knocking into Kaze who latches onto her and laughs, pulling her away from the happening puddle.
"Just my luck…" Corrin grumbles as Kaze settles her on his other side and pats her wet hair.
"Are you alright?" She smiles at the hidden humor in his voice.
"Yes. Thank you. Sorry… For, y'know, tackling you."
Kaze murmurs his understanding and proceeds to lean against the complaining wall once more. Corrin joins him and sighs at the silence that encompasses them. Is it awkward? To her, definitely. She fumbles with her fingers nervously, and flicks at water droplets on her armor.
He must think I'm pathetic, Corrin frowns. First he finds me crying in the middle of nowhere, unguarded and oblivious, like a giant child. Then I refuse to go home when a huge storm is coming and he ends up having to carry me because I'd slow him down. We're in the middle of a war and I'm freaking out and crying and thinking such impure thoughts about him!
Corrin's stomach growls suddenly and Kaze laughs once more. Oh, how she adores that sound. Blushing, and smiling, she curls her knees against her chest in an effort to smother the ruckus of her tummy. She tilts her head away from her retainer, but notes the sound of him shuffling through one of his many hidden pockets; she only looks back to him when he taps her shoulder.
"Here. This is a nutritional bar us ninja always carry on hand. It… Is not very appetizing, but it is filling and shall provide substantial nourishment."
Corrin gratefully accepts the food and quickly tears open the package. Before she bites down on the firm bar, she turns her attention towards her retainer, imagining those violet eyes of his gazing back.
"Do you have one for yourself, Kaze?"
"No, that is my last one." He then places his hand atop her head and smooths back her hair. "However, my lady ought not concern herself with a simple ninja as I. My body is well trained and can maintain exerting energy for another day or so before I require something to eat."
Corrin clicks her tongue in response and bites off a small portion of the nutritional bar. She coughs slightly, grimacing at the dry, woody taste, and quickly crunches the hard substance before swallowing, feeling it travel slowly to her stomach. Kaze suddenly chuckles loudly at her side and trails his gloved hand from atop her head onto her shoulder.
"Definitely nothing like the fine dining from the palace, huh?" She practically hears his grin but pays more attention to the tingling sensation under her skin from the pressure of his touch. "If only I had the luxury to see your face upon the first bite," he stifles his laughter and Corrin playfully smacks his arm.
"Such a cruel retainer I acquired." Corrin smirks when Kaze silences at her statement. "Hmm… And as my retainer, you are required to follow any command I give, correct?" She already knows the answer -given her experience with Jakob and Gunter - but she needs to hear the obedience from his own lips.
"Well…" Kaze starts slowly. "To an extent, my lady. Should you ever request I abandon you or anything detrimental to your well-being, I will not comply. But… You already know this…"
Corrin smiles and internally screams at such a confession of devotion and protection that it takes a moment for her to collect her voice. "Yes, I do. Now," she breaks off a chunk of the nutritional bar and shifts her body until she faces her loyal ninja, "open your mouth and say 'aah.'"
Kaze recoils ever so slightly and she feels his gaze driving into her. "But, Lady Corrin, you should -"
"Are you disobeying your mistress?"
Kaze heaves a loud, annoyed sigh, but opens his mouth as Corrin requested with a low "aah." She giggles and gently places the chunk between his lips, smiling at the satisfying sound of Kaze's crunching. She breaks off another piece to eat for herself before giving Kaze a second, both laughing silently at the ridiculousness and awkwardness of such a request, yet they continue until one small hunk remains.
Corrin steels her courage and inhales deeply. "Now, Kaze," her voice falters from nerves forcing Corrin to clear her throat. "I want you to close your eyes and to not open them until I saw otherwise."
"As you wish…"
Corrin swallows roughly and fumbles with the chunk of food between her fingers. "A-Are they closed?" Dammit! Why is she so timid and shy around him?!
"Yes," he chuckles.
"Hey, you know it's dark in here and I don't have ninja eyes, so I can't see!" Corrin prays he believes in her failed attempt to sounding normal. She forces her courage to it's surfaces and places the chunk of food between her own lips and tentatively leans forward.
Corrin extends one arm outward, her fingers finding his face and gingerly caressing his cheek with just the tips. Her heart races, her eyes shut, and she tilts herself closer and closer, anticipating the moment she finally claims his lips…
She can't believe she's doing this! What if he pushes her away and avoids her forever? What if he desires another woman? What if he's gay? What if -."
Her lips touch his in a light, tender kiss and her train of thought completely derails. Kaze stiffens, yet makes no movement to pull her away, instead he leans into it! Corrin trembles and keeps their lips together a moment longer before using her tongue to push the food into Kaze's mouth. She quickly leans away and Kaze coughs slightly at the sudden intrusion of something that is not a tongue.
"Lady Corrin," a familiar voice beckons right after her huge moment, "Are you in here?"
"J-Jakob?" Corrin gasps, quickly shuffling to her feet and bolting through the curtain, momentarily forgetting the darkness inhibits her ability to see, until she runs straight into a wobbling wall.
Strong arms wrap around her, pulling her away from her collision and she meets the dark purple stare of Jakob. He hugs her closer and breathes rapidly undoubtedly from running. "Oh, my lady, I was dreadfully worried about you! Princess Sakura informed me you were missing for almost the entire day, so I dutifully left in search of you!"
"I'm so sorry, Jakob, I had no idea… But, how did you find me?"
"Simple. After we made our way through this town, I took the liberty to investigate the abandoned paths within these woods ensuring no enemies may lurk. I remembered this old temple and assumed you may use it as refuge during the storm."
"Wow. I'm impressed. Nice work, Jakob." Corrin wiggles herself free of his embrace and backs away into a firm chest.
"Oh? Kaze, were you in search of Lady Corrin as well?"
"Yes." He sounds annoyed. "But I found her and brought her here before the storm arrived." She steps away from Kaze and casts her ruby eyes onto the ground. "It appears the rain last a short while, however."
"Hmm... " Jakob's eyes narrow into an icy glare that Kaze calmly maintains with his arms folded across his chest. "How irksome. Come, my lady, you must be completely famished. We shall keep this escapade between us, lest ill rumors brew."