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Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice. –Robert Frost

Chapter 1: The Gift

Kisara Yukidurama splashed some cool water on her face as she leaned on her bathroom sink. She looked into the mirror and glared at her reflection. Large, green eyes greeted her along with the unpleasant expression. Today was the day that she had been ignoring mentally for over a month. Rallying herself, she splashed her face once more with water. Normally a happy and cheerful person, today she felt sullen and moody. This was a fact that her close friend Yuri, did not fail to notice.

"Kisa-chan, are you quite alright?" Yuri's anxious voice asked through the bathroom door.

"Yes, yes, I'm almost done". She replied as she was jarred from her inner broodings.

"Well good, need to get you dressed and ready soon, Lord Matsuoka will be here any minute!"

Kirasa's green eyes narrowed in distaste at her reflection. Lord Matsuoka could wait ten years, let alone ten more minutes as far as she was concerned. However, Yuri was right. Kisara's new husband, her duty to the clan, and to the Shimogakure, the Village Hidden in the Frost, couldn't wait.

Kisara took one last cursory glance at her reflection which continued to glare back at her. Some help you are going to be, she thought aggressively at herself. She grasped the side of the shoji panel and slid it open to reveal her friend's face. Yuri had a kind, and care-free look about her that allowed Kisara to think all the more fondly of her. Yuri was only two years older that Kisara's own age of eighteen, though already she had fine laugh-lines around her eyes and mouth.

Kisara walked stiffly over to her dresser pulling out a light green kimono and matching obi with vigor and distaste. Even though the fabric was beautiful, Kisara always felt the need to itch her skin whenever she wore silk, almost as if it didn't belong on her body. She allowed Yuri to assist her with stepping into the outfit before quickly brushing her hair and placing it into a secure bun. Usually, Kisara preferred to wear her long silver hair in a lose braid but today was a special occasion, as Yuri lightly reminded her and ignored her grumblings.

Special occasion indeed, Kisara snorted along with the thought. Kisara was second in-line after her brother for the position of head of the Yukidurama clan, and it was all the more reason that she should be training in the Shinobi arts, not preparing for her betrothal. However, as evidenced by the splendid kimono that her brother had ordered for the occasion, the clan as a whole had other needs for her other than to be the 'backup' clan head.

After Yuri had executed the complex knot of the obi with practiced ease, Kisara hurried out of her quarters, down one of the long hallways, and into the main entrance hall of the Big House. Yuri padded along almost silently behind her thanks to her soft tabi socks. The Big House, as the rest of the village called it, housed Kisara, her brother Kira, and other prominent members of the Yukidurama clan such as Yuri. The other clans and villagers lived in the surrounding houses which bordered the Big House in an artful, and defensive, pattern.

As she walked quickly into the main entrance hall, she caught sight of her older brother, Kira, and quickly stepped into the shadows before he saw her. He was smiling his best "head-of-the-clan" smile and shaking hands with the head of the Matsuoka clan. Kira, like his sister, also had the trademark silver hair of the Yukidurama clan. Most of the members did including Yuri, it was said that to an outsider, a group of Yukidurama looked like snowflakes fluttering across the frozen landscape. Kisara had been told that their mother and father, who had been second cousins, also had the tell-tale silver hair, though Kisara didn't remember it.

Kisara and Kira's mother, Kanna, died in childbirth along with their younger brother. Their father, Kumo, had died of illness two years later. Since then, her brother had been groomed for the position of clan-head. Until Kira had reached his eighteenth birthday and taken over the position of clan head, the clan had been led by several regents. Kira had turned eighteen four winters ago, and since then had devoted himself to restoring the Yukidurama and Shimogakure.

Kisara took a few minutes to admire her brother. Before he took his position four years earlier, they had been inseparable. But of course, that had changed once Kira had been landed with all of his responsibilities. And as busy as he was as clan-head, he became even busier when he was chosen as the Yukikage, an incredible honor for one as young as he. Yes, Kisara was extremely proud of her brother, but she had to admit that she missed him greatly. She fondly remembered their daily training sessions, as it was Kira who had first shown her how to throw a kuni, and it was Kira who had first shown her how to activate the Yukidurama blood-line-limit of ice jutsu.

Kira was still smiling at the Matsuoka clan head, no-doubt exchanging pleasantries and formalities as they awaited her arrival. As Kisara stood in the shadows, she took several deep breaths in order to rouse herself from her thoughts. In her head she knew all of the reasons she had to—no, that she must, do this, but her heart was beating wildly inside of her chest, the blood was screaming at her to run from this place. Even though she knew mentally what it would mean for her clan if she went through with her "duty", she couldn't help feeling like a trapped and caged wolf, darting back and forth between the bars, hoping to take a chunk out of one of her captors.

Yuri, who was behind Kisara, and used to her childhood best-friend's musings, gave her a gentle push. "Come on, it won't be that bad." She admonished.

Kisara, shook herself almost like the wolf she had been imagining. Enough now, she thought, this is it. Kisara steadied herself, and stepped out into the main hallway of the house.

"Kisa-chan it's about time!" cried her brother, as he turned to greet her with a genuine smile. "It's rude to let Lord Matsuoka wait for his future bride".

Kisara bristled as the title that Kira brandied about so lightly, then composed herself before addressing the Lord. "Please forgive my rudeness, Lord Matsuoka." She said stiffly before bowing to the much older man.

"No need for apologies or formalities my dear, we are family now!" Lord Matsuoka cried, before giving her a quick sweep with heavily-lidded eyes. He bowed in response to her greeting, and straightened to his full height.

This was the first time that Kisara had seen Lord Matsuoka this close and she took the opportunity to drink in what she saw. He was a large, balding man of fifty-five with a wide, flat face and small brown eyes. He was about a foot taller than Kisara, and though his belly held the tell-tale signs of age, his arms could not hide the ropes of heavy muscle. Indeed, the Lord was a true specimen of the Land of Lightening. His skin boasted the darker hue of his people, a dark brown which was in stark contrast to his lighter hair. Kisara had first thought that it was strange for a man who was so dark of complexion to have white hair, but she found that it wasn't completely unappealing.

Surprisingly, the Lord had never been married before, despite his large fortune, but it was suspected that he had at least three illegitimate children with the maids of his household. After seeing him, she knew that this was only what it appeared to be-a marriage of convenience and political gain. There would be no love in this match, though she hoped there would at least be fondness….eventually.

"Well now, isn't this a happy day?" Kira said, smiling again. "Why don't we all take some time to get to know one another? Kisa-chan, you simple must give the Lord a tour of the house!"

"Oh, alright." Kisara cringed at how unenthusiastic she sounded even to her own ears. Sighing heavily again, Kisara led the little group as the two men lapsed back into their shallow conversation. Yuri, as amiable as always, followed along in their wake.

Itachi Uchiha let out a low grunt as he threw his newly packed mission bag over one shoulder. After taking a moment to scan around his room in case he had forgotten something, he walked out into the hallway of the Akatuski's latest hideout. This hideout was the best one so far because it actually had a library where Itachi chose to spend most of his time when he wasn't on a mission. The hideout was in a large building in Hidden Rain as Leader was currently working to make himself the Kage of the territory.

As he moved out into one of the larger "living" areas, he came face-to-face with Kisame and Deidara. The blonde Shinobi was fiddling with some of his explosive clay with his tongue between his teeth, eyes squinting in concentration while the Mist-nin was taking a quick snooze at the table with both feet propped up onto another chair. Presumably he was getting some last-minute rest before their mission. Itachi observed the scene a bit more then moved on.

Deidara looked up from what he was doing long enough to address the ex-Leaf nin. "Hey! Where do you think you are going, yeah? We have a meeting with Leader later".

Itachi slowed just enough to turn and respond, "Yes, I am aware. But as you have obviously forgotten, Kisame and I are exempt from this and several future meetings because of our latest assignment…Deidara-san." He added as an afterthought.

Deidara looked affronted for a moment then said, "Of course, you too always get the 'special' assignments, yeah." He muttered, looking for a moment like a pouting child. But of course, Itachi reminded himself, Deidara was only in his early teens.

Itachi simply continued to walk forward as if Deidara had not addressed him.

"Hey yo-" Started Deidara before he caught Kisame grinning at him. Deidara gulped after looking at the rows of shark teeth.

"Don't be so quick to pick fights, blondie. If you do, Itachi's Sharingan isn't the only thing that you would have to worry about." Kisame grinned once more showing the significantly alarming array of pointed teeth before following after Itachi

"I wasn't picking a fight, yeah". Deidara huffed lightly and turned back to his clay molding.

After a nauseating morning of more pleasantries and formalities with her brother, and Lord Matsuoka, who had absolutely insisted that she call him Hajime-kun, Kisara needed a break. She politely excused herself from their business dealings, and headed back to her rooms. Yuri, as always, followed her.

Once in her room, she hastily shed her kimono without waiting for any assistance as it was almost unbearable itchy. She politely handed the bundle to Yuri, and donned her much preferred, and as far as she was concerned, more appropriate, attire for someone of her station. She dragged on fitted grey pants and a blue-grey shirt with three-quarter-length sleeves. She attached her weapons pouch to her left thigh and her sword holder across her left shoulder. She let down her silver hair from the punishing bun, scratched her scalp in bliss, and tied her hair into a high ponytail. Lastly, she tied the blue hita-aki to her forehead, its silver surface adorned with the symbol of the Frost Village. Once she was clothed, she immediately left her room in search of some peace of mind. Something familiar amidst the impending uncertainty of her future.

"Have fun." Yuri chuckled after her, choosing instead not to follow in favor of raiding the kitchen for some lunch.

The Yukidurama clan was, one upon a time, the founding clan of Shimogakure, Village Hidden in the Frost. The mighty Yukidurama settled the Hidden Village and thus strengthened the struggling Land of Snow. They established fortified borders against Kumogakure, Village Hidden in the Clouds, and made peaceful overtures towards their other neighbor, Yagakure, Village of Hot Water.

For several decades, Shimogakure flourished with the Yukidurama clan's leadership and protection. The Yukidurama established a formidable police force, one to even rival that of the Uchiha of Konahagakure, Village Hidden in the Leaves. However, much of that changed when Kisara's father Kumo, passed away. Kisara had only been three and her brother seven, when they were orphaned. Eleven years of regents and faulty leadership had almost ruined the prestigious Yukidurama clan, along with Shimogakure itself.

As the years passed, and the conclusion of the Third Great Shinobi War, something had to be done. Kira, who took his position four years previously, had immediately began doing his part to strengthen and re-build the clan, and the country. Once he was honored with the title of Yukikage over a year ago, it was clear that part of his master plan involved Lord Matsuoka.

The Lord was the head of the Matsuoka clan, a prosperous clan of traders and businessmen hailing from the Land of Lightening. Since the Frost Village had been struggling, the Cloud ninja had been slowly pushing into the borderland, taking jobs that should rightfully belong to Frost ninja, Kira had been searching for someone to help build and establish an alliance. Then, six months ago, the Lord had presented himself to Kira, not so much as a business ally, but as an ally in blood and marriage. Six months ago was when the marriage negotiations for Kisara's hand, had begun.

As Kisara's thoughts ran around her strange reality, she didn't notice that she had arrived at her destination. Startled, she took a quick look around, and finding it empty, she entered the training room. This was her favorite training room in the Big House because this was where she and Kira had always trained together before he became saddled with duty. Even though she and Kira had not trained in this room for several winters, it was always left empty in case they wanted to use it. Kisara grinned at the knowledge that no one would bother her here for at least several hours, and by then she would need to be present at the formal dinner that her brother had arranged in honor of Lord Matsuoka.

For the next three hours, Kisara lost herself in the ebb and flow of Kenjutsu. As always, she used a dull practice blade, one of many that Kira had given her for their practice. Her brother had been trained in the Yukidurama style, blending Kenjutsu, ninjutsu, and taijutsu together. Kisara had been trained in these arts as well, at first learning them with the other young members of the Clan, before graduating from the academy, and then being specifically trained by Kira. Kira was of course the strongest Yukidurama, and now the strongest Frost-nin as he held the Yukikage title. However, Kisara liked to think that she held some skill.

As she went through the basic movements, slowly warming herself up into the more complex moves and combinations of the style, her mind began to clear, and she became more relaxed. Even though Kira had not been there to train her, Kisara had often sparred with other members of the clan. She had passed the Chunin exams three years ago, and had been working toward the title of Jounin when her engagement negotiations had started.

Six months ago, she had dropped all pretense of becoming a ninja who served the Frost village. It wasn't that she was hopeless as a shinobi or anything (actually she was quite skilled), it was more that now the Clan was counting on her profession including more domestic attributes such as childrearing and running a formal household. Kisara wrinkled her face for what seemed the tenth time that day. Children. She knew that her duties as a wife included them, and that it was what the alliance was counting on.

As rumor had it that Lord Matsuoka had children through his maids, though none of them legitimate. He needed a legitimate legal heir to take over his trade and shipping business. That was where Kisara came in. She would be expected to provide the Lord with plenty of legitimate children who could keep the business in the family. Once the business was in the family, the Frost Village could make successful overtures to the Land of Lightening, thereby successfully saving the entire country from financial, and political, collapse.

Kisara, breathing hard, shook herself, spraying her thoughts and sweat on the wooden floor. She paused in both her physical exertion and her mental musings. To her left hung massive tapestries boasting complex, and noble, calligraphy. Each banner listed specific motivational phrasings regarding the "spirit of the warrior" and the "duty of the shinobi". Kisara considered herself a shinobi, she had the hita-aki of the Village collecting sweat to prove it, however, it seemed that the duties of a shinobi in her case meant far more than she had ever expected. Gritting her teeth, she returned to the task at hand.

Itachi hated running. When he was running, even with the Sharingan activated, he could never truly take in all the aspects of his surroundings because of the speed by which he traveled. This particular mission was no different except for the fact that instead of running through the forest, he and Kisame were running into the wind, across the frozen tundra of Frost country.

"Fuck this is cold!" Kisame complained loudly. "Why can't we ever get assigned the warm missions, or the missions with sandy beaches?"

Itachi, though privately agreeing, declined to respond. As with most of their conversations, this one was no different in that it was mostly one-sided. Kisame, not one to be put-off, continued to complain and remark of the sparsity of the landscape for the next hour.

Finally, the two partners stopped to rest, gather water, and take a survey of their position. They had left Hidden Rain one week earlier with the mission they had been assigned. As far as Itachi suspected, Leader had his reasons for assigning the two of them to this mission besides the objectives that had been outlined.

Itachi knew the mission had two main objectives: funding and strategy. Not caring much for the first objective, his focus was mostly on the second. However, his thoughts were again interrupted by Kisame.

"Say, do you know exactly what we are doing here? You know I love water as much as the next Mist-nin, but snow, not so much."

"This mission is very simple Kisame; we are to perform our duties as guards, while gathering enough information and then returning to base".

"Yeah, yeah, we have to keep tabs on the Tailed Beasts, but what the hell is worth protecting out here?" Was Kisame's measured reply. Itachi, again declined to answer. Eventually, the two continued their journey north. By Itachi's calculations, they would reach their target in the next three days, and personally, he hoped their destination would provide both shelter from the elements, and reprieve from Kisame's continuous talking. Sighing lightly, Itachi squared his shoulders and faced the howling wind once more.

Kisara had finished her training with just enough time to bathe and dress before dinner. She soaked in the tub, a brooding look in her eye. She popped several bubbles that lay on the surface of the bathwater and closed her eyes. A shift knock at the door was all that announced Yuri's presence as she came right in without waiting for an answer.

"Well…what do you think?" She asked, her golden eyes glinting as she took a seat on a small bench against the far wall. Kisara noticed that Yuri was already dressed in a pale yellow kimono in preparation for the dinner.

Kisara shifted in the water and turned to face Yuri. "Yuri, what do you think of Lord Matsuoka?"

Yuri frowned, "I just asked you that you know." But she obliged, knowing about Kisara's habits. She disliked discussing her own feelings. "I think that though he's rather…more seasoned than you...he appears to be very kind."

Kisara wrinkled her nose. It was typical "Yuri" answer, one calculated from a lifetime surrounded by the politics of the clans. Kisara snorted in a very un-lady-like way and turned back around so her shoulders faced Yuri once more.

Yuri, smiled at this behavior, and offered another opinion. "Perhaps you would prefer a young man? Perhaps one who could at least out-run you without having a heart attack?"

Kisara grinned, she knew no one could out-run her unless they were a ninja.

Yuri continued, "Perhaps this young man would also be kind, but contain secrets that you could draw out of him?" At this point, Yuri had abandoned the bench and had creeped up to Kisara's shoulder, face almost level with the wall of the tub.

Kisara, always one to throw her dignity to the wind, took one look at Yuri's large golden eyes and her grin turned into howls of laughter. Secrets in a village the size of Shimogakure were hard to come by. Kisara knew all of the men around her age as she had grown up with them. She knew which ones dared the other to swim in the frozen river that bordered the left side of the Village, and which ones chickened out instead. She knew which were crushing on which kunoichi, and which kunoichi where crushing back or playing hard to get. Overall, their village had been peaceful since the end of the last Great Shinobi War. But business had been hard to come by as well. Peace always made it harder to make money, especially for a village to which no one wanted to travel.

After Kisara had finished washing her hair, Yuri helped her get dressed in an even more elaborate kimono than the one from the morning. For this, Kisara was eternally grateful as she was absolutely hopeless with traditional clothing. This kimono was white as the snow that always frosted the ground, even in high summer. Near the bottom of the garment and the edges of the sleeves were bright green flowers and petals caught in a breeze. These highlights were echoed in the under-robes of the kimono, and thankfully, not made of silk but of a thick cotton to keep out the chill of the evening air.

Kisara smiled, as busy as her brother could be, he did get her pretty things to wear now and then. Yuri tied the kimono with a white obi and arranged her hair. This time her hair was left down, slightly curled thanks to Yuri's handiwork. Kisara caught sight of herself in the mirror and had to admit that she looked lovely. Silver hair arranged around a heart-shaped face. Large, green eyes and a full mouth accenting her smooth, white skin. Too bad she went to all this work for a man who was old enough to be her father.

"Well Yuri, you can take a last look at Kisara Yukidurama, in a few short months I will be known as Lady Matsuoka". Kisara put one hand out to Yuri, inflecting the last part of her sentence with a regal air. Yuri, always one to play along, caught Kisara's hand and bowed deeply over it, and placing a chaste kiss on the rough and calloused hand.

"My dear Lady Matsuoka, don't you look ravishing in that new kimono. Though I must say, your hands, how very modern of you."

"Well my dear Yuri, all of those calluses have their purpose, the better to sew my children's clothes with!" Both of the women erupted once again into giggles at their own charade and cleverness.

"Oh Lady Kisara, look at the time, we simply must not keep the Lord waiting!" And with that, both women finished the last touches and walked with a more positive outlook than before into the awaiting banquet.

After the third course of the meal, Kisara was feeling sleepy and slightly uncomfortable. The food had been lavish and prepared beautifully by their cook, but the obi which cinched her waist were feeling very tight. Luckily there was only one course left: dessert. Kisara felt that she could manage a few bites of chocolate cake without too much difficulty.

Before the meal began, Kira had opened the banquet with much pomp and circumstance. He had invited all of the other prominent clan heads from the village, as well as the village elders. Though Kira was the clan head, and the Yukikage, he still had to answer to the elders, and the elders could still vote to overturn any decision that Kira made.

Kira had been working for the past six months both with the elders and with Lord Matsuoka on the betrothal. As the Lord hailed from Hidden Cloud itself, the marriage would not only strengthen relations with their neighboring country, it would also provide the village with more ties for jobs and with them, much-needed revenue. As a result, Kira was in good favor with the council having succeeded in this particular venture.

Kisara knew what a triumph this was for her brother, and what it would mean as far as his security as Yukikage. Many other clan heads were resentful, even distrustful, of having one so young as her brother lead the village. However, Kira had proven himself over the last four years as the clan head, and over the last year as the Yukikage.

Once Kira had completed his speech, introducing all of the clan heads, elders, as well as several members of their own clan, including Yuri, to Lord Matsuoka, he had invited them to dine. Kisara was seated on her brother's right, while Lord Matsuoka was seated on his left in the place of honor.

Seated on Kisara's right was a member of the council, Hatori-sama. She had held polite conversation with Hatori-sama during many other meeting and dinners, and found that she had quite liked the man, and as a result, this dinner was no different. She had enjoyed the conversation and the food, and was now looking forward to turning into bed, when Lord Matsuoka stood up and raised his glass.

"Dear and revered residents of Shimegakure, I want to thank you for your hospitality." He intoned in a voice that Kisara supposed was meant to sound noble, instead it sounded odd, as though he was tightening the back of his throat and forcing his voice through his nose. "I wish to extend my special thanks to Lord Yukikage, Kira Yukidurama, and his lovely sister, and my bride-to-be, the Lady Kisara."

At the mention of both of their names and titles, Kira and Kisara inclined their heads in Lord Matsuoka's direction. Kisara relaxed back onto into her seat on the silk embroidered cushion. She tried her best to listen to the rest of the Lord's throaty speech, but she was soon distracted with a stirring in the back of the room. The dining room where the feast had taken place was a large rectangle about one hundred feet long, and fifty feet wide. Kisara, along with most of the guests, was seated on the far end of the table, her back to the large windows that faced the eastern sky. Her gaze faced forward, towards the west, and the main entrance to the dining room. The large shoji screen doors were decorated with a winter scene, featuring warrior samurai facing down a snow demon, or yuki-youki.

Normally during dinner, these works of art were closed, all the better to show-case their magnificence and impress whoever was part of the visiting party. Indeed, they had been closed for the majority of the festivities. However, as Lord Matsuoka spoke, these screens were drawn apart, and two figures entered the room. Frowning slightly, Kisara leaned forward so as to take in their appearance.

Hatori-sama nudged Kisara gently in the arm. She turned to him, so distracted by the two strangers that she had tuned almost everything else out. She looked questioningly at the elder and he gave her a pointed look to her left, and slightly inclined his head in her brother's direction, silver beard wagging.

Frowning once more for the day, she turned slowly to face her brother who was looking at her in such a way that reminded her of when she was a child. Many times in the past, Kisara had been drawn inside her own head, ignoring and missing many details that occurred in the world around her. As she had learned, it was both a gift and a nasty habit. If Kisara was faced with a problem, no matter the difficulty, she would be able to figure it out by retreating into her own private world. On the other hand, she would often tune-out key, larger details, and as her brother constantly reminded her, it was not a useful trait in a Shinobi. A Shinobi needed to be constantly aware of his surroundings, while also being able to problem-solve under pressure.

"Kisara-chan". Kira hissed in such a way that made Kisara think he had perhaps been saying her name several times before he got her attention.

"What?" she whispered back out of the corner of her mouth.

"Lord Matsuoka has asked you to stand by him." He whispered back, inclining his head several times, each time with greater urgency, towards Lord Matsuoka.

Startled, Kisara turned red, high in her cheekbones, and turned to face her betrothed. "Yes, my Lord?" She asked, as she inclined her head slightly once more.

Lord Matsuoka chuckled low in his throat, a sound that for some reason made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. "My dear, I have a present for you, as my new bride, and in honor of our official engagement". He gestured towards where his gaze had been trained only moments before.

The two figures that had entered the dining room had stopped a few yards from the table, a respectful distance as guests of the household. Kisara took a look at the taller of the two men, and had to suppress a reaction. This man was at least seven feet tall and, Kisara was sure it couldn't be the light in the room, had skin that was light blue, color of thick glacial ice. The man met Kisara's gaze, and grinned. This time, Kisara couldn't resist a small step back, the man's teeth were filed to points, which resembled teeth of a creature she had only see in a drawing, a fish called a shark.

After the initial shock that the first man's appearance had caused left her, she met his gaze and inclined her head in greeting. The man grinned further and bowed, deeply, in response. Lord Matsuoka, seeing their non-verbal greeting, introduced the blue-skinned man as Hatsuharu-san. After receiving this information, she turned to the other man.

This man at least looked normal. He met Kisara's gaze as dispassionately as he might a particularly boring book. Kisara noted that though this man was handsome, he also looked like he had a katana shoved up his backside. He stood, just under six feet in height, still at least five inches taller than Kisara, with his shoulders straight, feet apart, and head level. He had jet-black hair and even darker eyes. He wore his hair long, tied back in a low ponytail. This was not something that was strange to Kisara as most Yukidurama clan members, regardless of gender, wore their trademark silver hair to their shoulders, or even to their waist.

As she had to the first man, Hatsuharu, Kisara inclined her head to the second. He, very stiffly, inclined his head in return, higher she noted, than the first man had done. Lord Matsuoka introduced the second man as Yahiko-san.

Kisara realized that though both men appeared relaxed, but they exuded an air of tension, as though ready to spring into action at any moment. She narrowed her eyes briefly as her realization grew to confirm that both men were Shinobi, though they lacked any confirmation of this in their attire. She also noted a lack of noticeable affiliation to any Hidden Villages. Perhaps these men were simply mercenaries, not ninja. Even so, why would they be here, now?

After the introductions were completed, Kisara turned back to Lord Matsuoka. "My Lord, you mentioned a gift, but I am afraid I am confused to your meaning." She stated as she took a small step past her brother, in his direction.

The Lord smiled. "You are correct, I did mention a gift. The gift I present to you on the day of our engagement is the gift of protection. These men, Hatsuharu-san and Yahiko-san, will be your bodyguards from now until the day of our wedding".