Author's Note:

Since people apparently like this, I'll continue (I was sort of up in the air about it and then figured, what the heck). So here it is! I hope it's okay--writing KuroTomo is something I'm still pretty new to, but I'll try!

--cy.

P. S. For all those who care: Taro, the Nagashima family, and Fubai are all things created by me. For the purposes of this story there will inevitably be more of them, but I just wanted to clear that up in case awesome Tsubasa purists (who rock for knowing all that they do) are curious or confused. I tend to be fuzzy on some cultural aspects of Nihon, so if there's anything that seems weird, (sorry!) let me know.


"Ah, and this must be...the hired help?"

It was said without malice, completely and utterly innocent. But the speaker had that arrogant, son-of-a-bitch smile plastered all of his face. Kurogane scowled and did his best to look like something akin to a lord of darkness, murderous instincts restrained by a hair-thin thread.

Instead, he came off as brooding and sulky hired help. He scowled more.

Tomoyo cleared her throat.

"This is Kurogane, one of the ninjas of my guard, Lord Taro. I considered meeting him a good idea before we begin our trade negotiations."

Trade negociations, my ass. Kurogane refrained from speaking, but it was an effort.

The word was out: Princess Tomoyo, miko of Nihon, was entertaining suitors. It seemed like every hyped-up lord or prince from anywhere within traveling distance had come to try for her hand. Nihon's wealth and prosperity aside-- her dowry would be great, no question-- many saw another advantage at marrying a princess who could see the future. The ability to subvert enemies, grow crops that would succeed, prevent tradegy; all these were definite draws for royals.

Kurogane was hating every moment of it. Yeah, sure, he'd done as Tomoyo had requested the first time, but now these jerks were just getting on his nerves.

"I thought we'd already met your captain of the guard?"

"Ah, yes. That was Souma." Tomoyo gestured politely, emphasizing with her movements that the ninja they were going to meet now was something very different from Souma. "This is Kurogane."

The lordling glanced down at him, as though trying to discern the difference. "So?"

"What Tomoyo-hime is saying is that I'll be sitting in on these negotiations." Kurogane stated, bluntly. He knew Tomoyo would be taking the diplomatic path to breaking the news to their visitor, but he was a believer in just saying things straight out. All this beating around the bush made him sick. He grinned. Probably why he'd never make a good diplomat. That, and his tendency to kill people. As a rule, those just tended to cut short any ambitions for ambassador.

But, what the hell. He liked his job. He liked his job a lot.

He grinned more.

The lord (Taro? Kurogane recalled hazily--there'd been a lot of them lately) shifted, his face scrunching up like someone had put some stinky, sticky paste like nabe under it. Nabe, Kurogane mused delightedly. That would be perfect for smothering along the little lord's bedspread.

He'd see to that later.

"Really, my dear princess, I thought that we would be meeting in more civilized conditions, not under lock and key all the time..." His voice trailed off, as though this were the most logical thing in the world.

Tomoyo sighed. "That would have been the case, but after the incident of three weeks ago, I refuse to speak with anyone on official business without a guard any more."

The lord nodded stoically. One of the reasons why it was common knowledge that the princess was seeing suitors was the attempt on her life that had been made three weeks ago, when an assassin disguised as a prince had tried to slit the princess' throat. Tomoyo was under the impression that it was sheer luck that anyone had heard her cry for help--Kurogane knew it was because he had been listening at the keyhole the entire time.

"I see. Very well. He seems quite adept at hiding in the shadows, so I suppose he'll do." He smiled a smug smile at Kurogane. Kurogane did his best not to give him something not to smile about.

Tomoyo bowed, and left Kurogane to show the new arrival to his quarters.

Kurogane gawked at her. What was he? Some sort of ninja roomservice?

He was about to demand that she show the bastard his damned rooms herself, but then bit his tongue. It wouldn't be befitting for him to embarass his master in front of some lowlife. Jaw set in a firm, thin, unhappy line, he silently led the way up a flight of stairs and down a long, decorated hall to a high bronze door.

"There. You need anything, send one of your messengers and someone will help you out."

Taro examined the room with an admiring eye. Damn well he better be admiring. This was one of Shirasaki's best suites, one reserved for visiting royalty and extremely valued diplomats.

"Very well, servant. Let your mistress know that I will also be bringing my own guard with me as well, for my own protection, understandably."

Kurogane gritted his teeth. "What did you just call me?"

The lord cocked his head. "Oh, I apologize. Obviously I had a slip of the tongue. Run back to your owner, dog."

"You're going to regret that."

The lord shrugged. "Really? Is a servant really threatening me? Don't you realize," he smiled condescendingly, "that when I marry your princess you become mine to command as well?"

Kurogane snorted. "That's a big if, not when."

"Oh, with the Nagashima House, it's always when." Taro replied.

"Prick."

"Savage."

Somehow, Kurogane removed himself from the suite without managing to start a war between Nihon and Fubai. This he considered to be a feat of amazing social skill. Hell, maybe he had a shot at diplomat after all.

He found Tomoyo in her quarters, working at her desk, reviewing the trade agreements with Fubai, the lord's country. Her attendants flocked around the room, chattrering amongst themselves.

"Did you see his cloak?"

"Ooh, yes! Green and gold are Fubai's colors, which makes sense, given their forests."

"His smile..."

"The insignia of the bird and tree--"

"He's so regal."

Kurogane shut the down with a whack.

"You know, he's a real bastard."

The chatter erupted into whispers.

Tomoyo sighed, crisply flicked through some of the pages, glancing over a few crucial paragraphs here and there, composed.

"He wanted me to tell you that he's going to bring his own guard."

She waved it off, focused on a certain section. When she spoke, she sounded distracted, like there was something weighing heavily on her mind that she wouldn't let interfere with her work.

"Very well. That seems reasonable."

"Tomoyo."

Fighting in close quarters, in full light--not his thing. If Kurogane was going to take someone out, it would be in the dark, in a wide space with plenty of hiding places, and they wouldn't see him until it was too late. Stuck in a room for ages on end, while they talked trade: boring. Trying to defend his princess and suppress attackers who could see his every move: not the sort of challenge he would want Tomoyo involved in. Especially if they spread out.

A lady smacked him on the back of his head with ribbon.

"Address the princess as her title demands."

Kurogane narrowed his eyes at her. She backed away.

Putting down the papers, Tomoyo sat up. "Is there anyone who would not do that when told that a guard from the opposite camp would be posted? He is a lord of the Nagashima, and they're naturally suspicious. They've got lumber and stone reserves well guarded, and it's known how well-versed they are in palace customs. I find it perfectly acceptable."

Kurogane tched.

"He's certainly not acting like he's a good guest."

Tomoyo arched an eyebrow, a smile playing along her lips. "And can you say that you've been any more hospitable?"

Kurogane couldn't honestly say that he had.

"First the attack, now guards," she murmured. "It seems like being a guest really doesn't mean much of anything to people now."

"Look, Tomoyo-hime, don't get worriedf about it. This Taro guy is just a jerk."

With that, she stood rapidly.

"That's just what I mean! I don't want you treating him so disrespectfully! I don't like having to be accompanied by guards when I should be able to converse with my honored guests in peace! I don't want to break our most valued traditions!" She met Kurogane's eyes dead-on and light lavender clashed against crimson. "I want to improve relations, not make things worse. And it seems you're a major force in the opposite direction."

"I don't want to be treated like dirt. He thinks he can walk all over us." Kurogane spat. The only person he ever really opened up to about anything was Tomoyo. Thankfully, her maids had had the sense of mind to have emptied the room by then. He always absently wondered how they managed to pull that off. It was like they hadn't been there in the first place. Maybe they were given something similar to ninja training before stepping into their duties.

Tomoyo shrugged. "I understand. Kurogane, you are free for tomorrow. I shall instruct Souma to accompany me. Meanwhile, I must see to the wards."

His hands clenched into fists.

"You can't do that!"

She smiled. "And what is there to say that I can't? The only thing that will happen with you present is fighting. I am the princess, and I have made this decision. We can at least make a stab at being hospitable, even if the times are against us."

Yeah, a stab. A stab was what it would be, alright. Right to the--

He cut himself off and excused himself to guard the rooftops. One good thing that came of having more royals staying at the place was that the assassination attacks had skyrocketed. Kurogane had a lot of work to do.

And on a night like tonight, he was looking forward to every slash of it.