Alrighty! It's been a very long time since I did anything for this story. Rest assured that it's not gone. In fact, I plan on finishing it in time - as part of my remaster project for the Promise series of fanfiction stories.

I've made a lot of tweaks and improvements with this chapter, including giving Mozu a much more accurate country girl accent. I'd love to hear what you guys think. Spread this story around too if you'd like. Mozu needs move love.

Bathed in Sunlight

It'd been just two days and this Sirus fella was already up on his feet helpin' out with jobs 'round the farm. Talk about strong too. The coulda heaved a whole stack 'a hay over his shoulder without breakin' a sweat. Mozu felt her 'lil ol heart flutter too. Way he stood there in with an open jacket 'n no shirt - made her hot under the collar.

Momma better not be watchin', she hoped her dammdest. She sees me battin' an eye at these city folk and I'll be in trouble.

Even if that were the case, she couldn't help but keep a close eye - followed him to a quiet spot across the fields when he was done with his work. The blond caught his breath in the shade, wipin' the sweat from his forehead.

"I must admit," Sirus exhaled - resting his weight against the body of a big 'ol tree. "This is quite a thorough workout. I've not broken a sweat like this since my training at the castle."

Trainin' at the castle?

Mozu couldn't help but wonder. She sat down with him - legs folded like a proper lady, "Ya can't go flashin' your legs around the highborn lot," momma would always tell her. "They don' like that kinda thing hon."

Okay Mozu. Remember your manners.

Young lady or not, sittin' right on next to a strappin' young man made it hard to keep her cool. These dark green eyes 'o his - those muscles - 'n his smooth charmin' face.. Mozu fanned with her hand. Keep it together now, girl.

"Say Mister Sirus?" She asked - turnin' to hide her burnin' hot cheeks. Sure she coulda explained it away with the sun - but woulda guy like him this bought it? "You dun said you were a royal guard Am I right? What was that like? I'd sure love to know."

Sirus flexed his arms - lookin' to the deep blue sky with a sad smile. Dang, Mozu cursed. Did she say somethin' wrong?

"Between you and I, Miss Mozu? I was the bodyguard to Princess Safina of Nestra. The kingdom recently came under attack from troops of Nohr."

Sirus planted his fist into the dirt, tense as all heck. "I failed in my duty to protect her ladyship. We were seperated when a stray shot from a catapult rocked the castle, collapsing the stairway beams. By the time I travelled around the outer yard to meet with her... she was cornered."

That was a dark look Sirus had there, if Mozu'd ever seen one.

"I'm sorry, sir," she bowed her head outta respect, "If you don't wanna say anymore than you don't hafta."

"No, it's alright," Sirus climbed upright, restin' his back against the bark of tree, foldin' his arms. "It is probably for the best that I open up about what happened. That is of course," he offered his hand to Mozu. Was this one of them there noble gestrues? "If you're willing to listen."

"'Course I'll listen to what ya wanna say," Mozu took his hand - his warmth bringin' a flutter. "I was that one who asked."

"My thanks, Miss Mozu." Mozu flinched as Mister Sirus linked their fingers - a small comfort 'o sorts. "You have been exceedingly kind to me since my arrival here. I am in your debt."

A noble in 'm debt, the farm girl glowed at the thought. "It's nothin' at all. You speak your mind. I'ma good listener."

"Well then," Sirus stared off into the clouds. "As I was saying. By the time reached Lady Safina again... she'd been circled by Nohrian guards. A band of exceedingly big bastards. Covered in scars and scrawled with tattoos. At the head of this group was a man by name of Hans. He towered above the rest of them..."

A upper-class lass pinned up by a buncha soldiers? Oh boy. Mozu shivered - she'd seen this kinda thing before too - heard the stories that went with it. "You don't have to say anymore if you don't wanna, Sirus. The same thing happened to ol man Doran's daughter the last time the ruffians rolled through these parts. Tore the clothes from her 'n dragged her into the barn. She weren't the same after that."

"No, I can't turn away," Sirus insisted, all stony 'n serious, "Recalling what I saw that night is the only way I'll come to terms with it."

"Then in that case..." Mozu showed her support with a harder squeeze 'o the highborn's hand, "I'ma listenin'."

"I rushed to her aid, Mozu - but one of Hans' subordinates destroyed the wallside pillars, blocking my path. I had to watch, unable to do anything as that bastard held her to the ground and... and-"

A deep, painful breath were the best he could do.

"When it was all over Hans dragged the princess by her wrist across floor, dress tarnished and tattered. He tossed her against the stone with a sickening laugh and struck her in the side of the head with her axe. Her scream... it tore me apart. And after that... she was gone. I swore at that moment, with the gods watching over me... that I'd seek revenge. That was my plan... until I was injured."

You poor man you, Mozu gave a deep 'ol sigh, holdin' back her feelin's from overflowin'. It cut her deep just knowin'. She didn't wanna think about how much this hurt for Sirus. It was prolly for the best she moved this talk 'a there's forward.

"And that's how ya ended up here, was it?"

"As I told you," Sirus pushed on ahead, "I was injured on the road after escaping Nohr's patrols. I spent half a day stumbling blindly - almost bled out too, until you found me. My only hope is that they haven't picked up the trail."

"I'ma sure they haven't, Sirus," Mozu thought on just how tucked away her 'lil village was. Sure she didn't know the big ol world too far beyond here - but she was pretty darn well-versed when it came to this here valley and the surroundin' farmin' communities. "We've got our backs to a small forest here... and there's a big 'ol valley to the front of us. If they were lookin' they woulda found ya by now."

"A small comfort if nothing else. I shall take your word for it. Now then." Sirus let Mozu's hand go, "About time I get back to work."

Tthere's no way Sirus weren't forcin' the smile he had there. And there was no way Mozu was gonna let him walk off like this whole talk'a there's hadn't happened. I've never known a man so strong before. He's hurtin' inside and he don't wanna burden me with his pain. I can feel it in ma bones.

"Hold on for a sec there, Sirus." Mozu moved for him, talkin' ahold so he couldna got away even if he wanted. "Before ya do... I want ya to know," the young lass took him by the arm. She were as much taken by the way he was as she was sad about it. "You've always got a place here with me and momma... You're a good man and ya don't deserve what happened to ya."

Now or never, Mozu. He's a proper gentleman and he's been good to ya since he got here.

"I'ma just a simple girl Sirus. Don't go tellin' Momma I said this... but you're a strappin' young man. If ya need me at all, then I'm here for ya."

Mozu stretched up on her tippytoes to bridge their gap in height. She cut him off before he could say a word'a thanks - slidin' her fingers around his cheeks, caressin' his soft skin like the married couples did at the villages' summer festival. "Never done this before but... first time for everything. Here goes."

She stole his breath - Locked his lips with hers - moved in to have a taste 'a him all to herself.

Mozu didn't want it to end - her heart was poundin' harder than it'd ever done pounded before. And her skin was tinglin' from the heat.

He's... Dangit he's kissin' me back. Ma whole body's red hot... I'm sweatin' all over again.

This weren't no romantic kiss like outta the fairytales that the village elder used to tell when she was little.

Oh Lord no, Mozu beamed. This is a man's kiss... a real kiss.

Mozu dang nearly fell on her behind when Sirus let her go. He gifted her with a gentle touch upon the cheek - so nice it made her whole body spark like some kinda magic spell.

"My thanks, Miss Mozu. For the first time in days I'm not drowning in my regret. And it's all because of your tenderness. I'll not forget it."

A light peck of his lips against her forehead 'n the royal guard was on his way - slippin' outta his fancy velvet coat 'n headin' off into the afternoon sunlight. He flashed Mozu a smile. Made her legs wobble.

"I'll finish up in the fields and meet you tonight for dinner with your mother, Miss Mozu. Please don't exhaust yourself."

Oh darn, Mozu gapsed, fixated on the Nestran fella's back as he went on his way. Momma always used to say the nobles were so uptight about their feelin's. I think she's wrong about this one.

She was happy about that, too. Darn right she was.

To be continued...

There you have it. Another chapter comes to a close. Mozu has always come across (at least in my eyes) as a small-town girl with a big heart. Did you enjoy the chapter? Do you like the chemistry I have going on between her and Sirus? Feel free to leave some feedback. Let me know what you'd like to see in future!

As always, keep on supporting Fire Emblem. And I'll see you in the next chapter!