ghikiJ: This is another long chapter, one that explores the more controversial part of being a LLer. Pairings. Pairings are difficult, especially in a series that's really allxall. Nevertheless, this is the chapter in which we begin showing some romance. Enjoy!

Athyra: Finally some define ships in this story... or are they? Here's the last chapter of Act I!

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Act I Trials Start

Chapter 3 - Moments of Serenity

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Ayase Eli considered herself to be a cool andcollected individual who could handle stress well. After all, she led the largest battalion of horsemen in Kaguya and had authority over most of the infantry. She was also a trusted councilor at court, valued for her insights and strong military and civil knowledge. Furthermore, she was the youngest general in Kaguyan history with so many accomplishments under her belt. Yet, she felt nothing like someone of her esteemed rank and position. Instead, she felt more like a child, sitting there with her eyes downcast trying her best not to look at her medic in the eye.

Eye contact was a big no-no. No one looked at Nishikino Maki in the eye when she was treating injuries because that was like looking at a ferocious panther, and Eli did not want to get any more injured than she already was.

"How did this happen?" The physician spoke in a low, bored drawl that sounded more like a beast's growling. It was obvious that Maki was incensed that her friend had gotten hurt like this. The way she tugged on the suture sewed by the field medic was rougher than usual, so much so that Eli could see Honoka sweating nervously from her periphery.

The blonde warrior chuckled to inhibit a grimace. The wound was still raw, after all. "The tip of the blade sliced my shoulder open. I can't remember exactly since it was in the heat of battle. I'm just glad that I could still somewhat move my arm even now. I believe I still have sensation on my fingertips."

"I'm not talking about how you got the cut," Maki's violet eyes narrowed before pouring a solution on the wound without warning, making Eli hiss in pain. Forget unhappy, the doctor was livid. The crimson-haired young woman was never this cruel to her patients unless she was irritated. "I'm talking about this mess. Your shoulder looks like it was sewn together by a butcher."

The general wiped the few tears of pain from her eyes and chuckled uneasily, "I suppose my field medic panicked a little."

"A little?" The physician fished a very thin blade from an alcohol container and began slicing at the suture. "I will have to redo the whole procedure if you want to keep your full range of motion once it heals." She applied more numbing salve when Eli winced in pain and said, "You are lucky that it did not sever more than your skin and some of the underlying muscles. Such an injury could have left you with a useless left arm for life."

"I understand…" The general just resigned to her fate and endured the agonizing process all over again. Her rank and position required her to be as fit as possible, so if she wanted to ride horses as well as she did before the injury, she would have to tolerate the needles. Eli wished that she could have some sake to numb the sensation though, but since Maki was already removing the thread and slicing off bits of dead tissue, it was obvious that she would not get any at all for this.

"Um… Maki-chan…?" Honoka nervously stammered, "I think Eli-chan is in a lot of pain…."

"I know."

"Then…"

"No."

"I-it's okay, Honoka," Eli smiled in spite of the sweat beading on her forehead, "I think I should stay sober for this." She glanced at the closed door of the infirmary, fearing the worst. The ginger-haired commander quickly picked up at her glance and straightened up even more. They did not send a messenger to the captain of the royal guard in order to hide their location while Eli was being treated, but such delay tactics would only work for so long. Honoka knew that too and was thus looking at the door every other heartbeat, hoping that the marching heavy footfalls of their mutual friend would never be heard.

"Stop doing that," Maki stated as she stitched, annoyed at the fidgeting gingerhead. "You're distracting me."

"Ehe, gomen, Maki-chan." The usually sunny commander rubbed the nape of her neck sheepishly.

"What are you still doing here anyway? I'll take care of Eli. Wouldn't Umi be looking for you at the welcoming party?"

Both Honoka and Eli stiffened at the mention of the name because that was the very person they were hiding from at that moment. The blue-eyed commander laughed pitifully while the blonde did her best not to comment at all. "You're right, Maki-chan, but I wanted to make sure Eli-chan will be okay."

"Well, she will be." The crimson-haired medic said plainly as she continued to sew the gaping wound with expert hands, "She will survive me at least."

"M-Maki… I am truly appreciating your humor today."

"It's the only humor you'll have from me, that's for sure."

The general could only twitch a smile over her trepidation.

"I-in that c-case," Honoka stood up bravely, ready to sacrifice her life for her superior officer, "I'll go ahead and get changed. I'll just tell Umi-chan that—"

Just as the ginger was about to turn around and reach for the door's handle, it swung open in a flurry, slamming against the frame like a guillotine blade to someone's neck.

"Tell me what, Honoka…?"

Sonoha Umi's dark ceremonial kimono and long raven hair only made her aura that much more ominous. Her normally placid amber eyes were alight so brightly with anger that Eli immediately regretted listening to Honoka and not sending that messenger. The captain must have been waiting for them to show up at the banquet, a very important gathering that Eli was never ever late for. They both should have known that her absence was easily noted.

"Ah… u-um… I-uh…was going to go tell you t-that w-we're here at M-Maki-chan's…?" Honoka was nearly in tears. The White Knight of Kaguya was fearless in battle to be sure, but once faced with her childhood friend she devolved into the Kousaka Honoka of Homura Sweetshop, that young carefree girl who made manjus before her unbelievable talent with the katana was discovered.

"I see…" Umi's voice was abysmally low, a sign that Eli knew to be that of severe anger. "A servant could have carried that message."

"I-I know but… since it concerns Eli-chan, I thought I should b-bring the message to you m-myself!"

Piercing amber eyes made their way towards the second pair of blues in the room. They met only briefly before Umi looked at the injury Maki was still working on. The raven-haired beauty's fine eyebrows knotted at the bloody sight, making the atmosphere in the room so heavy that Eli found it a little difficult to breathe.

"Honoka…" Umi said without taking her eyes away from the offending wound, "Go present yourself to Kotori-hime and prepare for the party. The princess has been worried about you and the Antareans have been waiting to meet you."

"Knowing the foreigners…" Maki quipped, her mouth downturned in a mild scowl. "You'll get along with them well enough."

Honoka tilted her head, appreciative of the physician's input in the tension-filled room. "You've met them, Maki-chan?"

The medic bobbed her head once, "Earlier… very briefly. I must say that you and the princess have… hmm… similar wavelengths." She finished her suturing with a practiced snip of the thread and a gentle application of another healing salve. She then discarded the equipment she had used and placed them all in a vat of alcohol to be washed later. "In any case…" the crimson-haired physician began unrolling clean bandages after she had washed away all the red from her hands, "You know the usual, Eli. No poking and prodding. Keep the wound from getting wet for a while and I'll give you some herbal medicine to take for the next couple of weeks. Have the bandage changed once in the morning and once in the evening. I will remove the suture in two weeks."

The blonde nodded, "Understood."

"Maki," Umi stepped forward and outstretched her hand towards the roll of bandages, "I will do it. I am certain you have other matters to attend to."

"My mother's associates took care of the injured soldiers who returned today, but I do have somewhere to be and someone to speak to, before I join the banquet." The physician walked around her seated patient and handed the bandages to the raven-haired woman. "Her name was Konoe-san, wasn't it?"

"Yes," Eli responded, doing her best not to meet Umi in the eye just yet, "She is new though, so take it easy on her."

"Hnff," Maki scowled, "New or not, lives still rests on a medic's ability to do her job properly, especially when a very important person is at stake. What if you bled to death or a fever set in because the wound was not treated as it should be?"

The general watched as the proud physician walked out of the infirmary in purposeful strides. Konoe Kanata finished her medical training under the tutelage of the Nishikino's associates, so the family's heiress must have taken the girl's poor handiwork personally. Eli already felt bad about the young field medic. Unless she was mistaken, Maki would have Konoe either be returned to training, or simply stripped of her right to practice. The Panther of Kaguya was indeed a force to reckoned with once provoked.

"Hehe… I… will go now too." Honoka announced when she sensed the heavy tension return. And the blonde could scarcely blame her, especially after what Maki had enumerated before she left. "I've made Kotori-chan wait long enough! I'll visit you tomorrow morning Eli-chan! Bye bye!"

The commander retreated with such tactical efficiency that almost made Eli proud.

A few breaths passed before she or Umi said anything.

"General." Umi spoke first, searching for explanations she felt she had the right to know.

"Captain." Eli replied with a weak smile. In turn, she found it difficult to begin. A fiasco like what had happened that day was not exactly a tale that anyone found easy to tell.

"It is not like you to be so careless," the dark-haired woman stated pointedly, "I have heard what had happened from one of your subordinates. To be flanked by Todou Erena… I find it hard to believe."

Eli averted her eyes, "It was a carefully laid out plan. They were determined not to lose Otobe." The general recalled the skirmish. She and Honoka had rendezvoused that morning to ambush the Mikadon force that was garrisoned in the farming village. Since Otobe was so close to the border, it was an access point to the enemy's supply lines, making it a prime location to stage an offensive. A victory there meant that the invaders who were still pillaging the countryside would not have the resources they needed to continue harassing the local populace. Reclaiming the river also meant reclaiming their trading routes with the countries downstream.

"It was too great of a temptation to pass up," the blonde woman admitted as Umi slipped off the kimono from her shoulders so she could begin bandaging the wound, shivering slightly when the latter's metal gauntlet kissed her exposed skin. "Honoka's doves brought news from the north that Kira Tsubasa and Todou Erena were far away, trying to chip through the defenses placed in the northern villages, so we took the risk. Otobe took all morning to breach, far too long to my liking. Next thing I knew, Kira's forces were already fighting Honoka's vanguard."

"And Todou found you." Umi finished for her, expression still as placid as a still lake even though Eli could feel great whirlpools churning beneath the surface. "You are an idiot for facing that woman head on."

"You wound my pride, my lady."

The captain's eyes glared at hers harshly, "Better a wounded pride than this! I know Erena. I have fought her countless times, and this wound is but a mere warning. If her blade had gotten this close to your neck, it only meant that she could have taken your throat with a flick of a wrist!"

Eli's eyebrows furrowed, "I would appreciate it if you do not belittle my abilities, captain. I was able to unhorse her after she made me fall, and she did not walk away from our duel unscathed. You are making it sound like I could not fight with my naginata."

She watched Umi's fist clench and feared that the other woman would strike her or some unfortunate furniture. The captain had been known to hit Honoka on occasion, especially when her point could no longer by conveyed by calm words.

"General," the amber-eyed royal guard breathed in deeply, "I am not belittling anything. You just do not understand. What she had done to you… it is a message for me."

"A message?"

Umi's white knuckles struck the adjacent wooden stool, the armor around her arm clanged so loudly that the blonde woman knew that the blow hurt the raven-haired woman more than it damaged the inanimate object. The rivalry between the captain and Todou Erena had been long drawn and well-known in Kaguya, very similar to Honoka's relationship with her nemesis Kira Tsubasa. But while Eli could sympathize at her companion's reaction to her injury, she still disliked how Umi could so easily dismiss her efforts due a simple flesh wound. After all, a little cut like this was a small price to pay for Otobe, which they managed to recapture.

"Do not engage with her again."

The command had Eli blinking, "Last time I checked, I still outrank you."

Umi glared at her again, "I am under the assumption that I can tell you to take care of yourself."

Sapphire blue eyes softened at the implication, "Ah, so that was a request?"

Her companion's brow furrowed even further, "Ayase Eli…"

"How terrifying," the general began giggling, "I think the only other person who calls me by full name was my grandmother." Truly, she would never understand why Umi acted so much older than she really was, even when they were younger. Eli's grandmother once called the other woman 'little grandma'.

Umi's face contorted in irritation once more, which only made the blonde laugh lightly.

"Be still. You are being a child," the dark-haired woman chided as she continued wrapping white bandages around Eli's torso with practiced ease and poise.

The general could not help but watch. Umi had dedicated her life to achieving perfection, whether it was in kendo, archery, traditional dance, and even linen wrapping, it seemed. Her movements were graceful and precise, always only enough to do the task at hand without wasting a motion. While Maki definitely showed the expertise of a person with medical training, Umi made nursing look like a work of art. Ever so gently, she would press the wrapping with light fingertips over Eli's ribs as the captain's other hand wandered around her back to pull the roll around and repeat the process. With her so close, the blonde woman could feel their breaths mingling in the small space between them, where the scent of incense and Umi's faint perfume lingered. It made Eli feel lightheaded, enraptured by the feeling that she was finally home indeed, within the walls of her beloved city and in the company of a person she cherished.

How long had she been away?

When was the last time we saw each other?

The general kept her eyes on Umi's focused amber gaze and expression of utter concentration, lingering on the other's pale lips that scowled with worry. Subconsciously, she etched the other woman's features in her mind, as she always did whenever she was simply observing her. She made sure to memorize every moment and every touch because, whenever they were apart, only those thoughts kept the loneliness away. She was tempted to ask if Umi did the same so many times, but Eli could never find the right moment. Perhaps it was just her wishful thinking and maybe that it was only her who did it.

How embarrassing would it be if that was the case?

Umi muttered something under her breath as she enveloped Eli within the curtain of her kimono's sleeves, reaching over the latter's shoulder to wrap the wound one last time and to create a sling where the injured limb could rest.

"I apologize, but what was that?" The blonde murmured next to the other woman's ear as she fought the temptation to press her lips against the warm skin. The captain froze in place, perhaps suddenly aware of how lacking their personal space was. Eli could almost feel her nervously swallow, a lesser known habit of Umi's whenever she was anxious.

"Nothing," the captain shook her head. "I only said I was done."

"So you are," Eli turned so she could feel soft raven locks against her lips. She smiled, "Thank you."

Umi cleared her throat as she pulled herself away, "We must get going. Our presence is required in the welcome feast."

"Yours especially," the blonde smiled as she cupped her captain's cheek with her good hand to stroke away the scowl and knots of anger with her thumb.

"Yes…" The captain sighed and closed her eyes to calm her nerves. After all, tonight was a night of celebration, even if there was a war.

"Well, then…"

Eli was uncertain who leaned in first, but after feeling soft yet slightly chapped lips again her own, she decided that she didn't quite care. Perhaps it had been her because Umi noticeably stiffened at the touch for the briefest of moments before she melded into it, mouth opening once the blonde moistened her lips with an adventurous tongue. Whatever sentence either party wanted to say was smothered by a series of searing kisses, each one lasting longer and deeper than the last as if making up for lost time. Neither knew when Umi had fallen to her knees, clinging onto the pile of cloth around the blonde's waist where the top-half of her kimono were discarded in favor of medical attention, or when Eli had lost her hair-tie, making locks of gold cascade over her bare shoulders. All they knew were each other; Umi's graceful fingers running through blonde hair and Eli's lone hand gripping the nape of her partner's neck, making sure their moment lasted just a little while longer.

Breathless, the general buried her nose on the top of Umi's head, filling her lungs with the comforting scent of a loved one. In turn, the captain rested her forehead on Eli's collarbone to listen to the latter's racing heartbeats and to feel her warmth. Somehow they were once again tangled around each other with a bare arm around one's shoulder while armored limbs were securely around the other's waist, fingers still clenched around discarded clothing.

"I am still mad at you for being so careless," Umi muttered defiantly so near Eli's neck before she pulled away.

The comment inevitably made laughter bubble from the older woman's throat.

"Yet you still kissed back," Eli pointed out as their foreheads touched, blonde locks in stark contrast with raven black.

Umi immediately turned away. A spray of heated red colored her cheeks. "You did not give me much in terms of options."

The blonde smiled, "How else would I know if you've missed me at all?"

"I thought that was to be expected." The captain stood up and bashfully fixed her hair, suddenly self-conscious. "We have not been in the capital at the same time for over a month now."

Eli hummed, "That long?"

"I-I suppose."

"Harasho…" She mused as she pulled her kimono's top over her shoulders once more, "It seems like I have a lot of catching up to do."

"You do," Umi nodded in agreement, "Same goes for me."

A mischievous smile spread over Eli's lips, "Then let's welcome the guests so we can retire as early as possible."

She couldn't help but giggle at the tinge of red on the tip of Umi's ears that betrayed the captain's thoughts. Truly, even this Oni could be endearing sometimes. The blonde followed her companion's example and stood up, shrugging her clothing snug around her body.

"How can you even think of—nevermind, forget it," The raven-haired captain shook her head to clear her thoughts, but the statement only fueled the blonde's relentless mirth.

Fondly, Eli rested her chin on Umi's shoulder as she hugged the shorter woman from behind. "Help me dress, ne? It'll take a long time to put on ceremonial armor with only one hand."

The captain pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation, "Sometimes I really do wonder if I miss you or not."

The general giggled blithely, "We both know that you do, my gloomy lover."

Umi's deep sigh and reassuring grip on her hand were all the responses that Eli needed. There was no need for meaningful glances or unnecessary words.

Touch was enough.

The ninja's dark attire blended seamlessly into the night, clothing its wearer with perfect camouflage against the castle's stone walls. Loud chattering could be heard from the banquet hall, where the concentration of light was too bright for the twin-tailed woman. As much as she relished sunlight, she was uncomfortable with torches and oil lamps due to her great night vision. In further contrast to how she felt during daytime, she preferred being alone and undisturbed, perhaps due to her occupation and the fact that most of the blood-spilling took place in solitary darkness.

Huffing, Nico quickly swerved down the hallway to avoid a crowd of people and headed towards the inner parts of the central castle. She paused by the kitchen, attracted by the delicious aroma of cooked meat. She expertly sneaked in, snatched a plate of grilled beef and slipped out before anyone could notice.

Well of course not - there were only a handful of people who could ever detect the great ninja's presence, and mere cooks were definitely not on that list.

After a few more turns and hops, the deft figure reached one of the most secretive areas of the royal compound - the temple's terrace.

Fenced by bamboo stalks engraved with intricate designs and decorated with talismans, the garden of lilies permitted entry to only a few individuals. It was truly an ethereal scene, for the expanse of the field was filled with pure white flowers and star-like fireflies, as if the image of the night sky was imprinted onto the mortal lands below. Combined with the fragrance of the flowers and the soothing aroma of incense, the garden was truly fitting place for Kaguya's spiritual royal advisor and high priestess.

Smiling wryly, Nico stepped into the sacred ground in defiance and pride. It was rather blasphemous for someone like her to even be near such a place, and her instinct urged her to turn tail as well. In spite of how wrong it felt for her to be here, the austere yet peaceful atmosphere within the garden relieved some of the tension off of her body. Her already light steps became inaudible as she strolled down the granite stone pathway, spread intermittently throughout the grass. It did not take long for her to locate her friend, but when she spotted the figure lying amidst the green and white, she tried not to growl in exasperation.

"Nicocchi~ come, lie down beside me and enjoy the spiritual air~"

Toujo Nozomi did not seem surprised at the ninja's arrival, and she was able to recognize the latter's presence without opening her eyes. She simply patted the space beside her while speaking in her signature sleepy drawl.

"This is why you get sick, idiot."

The beautiful priestess was wearing her usual silken kimono, her unbound byzantium hair fanning out behind her instead of being tied in its usual braid. Some lily petals have been blown on the gleaming canvas, implying that the woman had been lying there for some time that the breeze had carried them over her.

Really, what was she thinking, being out in the open even though she had a fever?

Nico glared at Nozomi's flushed cheeks but lingered a little at her long eyelashes and rosy lips before flopping down beside her.

"Come on, get up, I got some medicine from Maki-chan."

"Hmm~? Maki-chan? How is she?" The miko did not move, still inhaling and exhaling peacefully as if she could absorb the enigmatic aura within the unearthly garden.

"Stubborn as usual, just like you."

"Eeh? When am I ever stubborn, Nicocchi?"

The fuming ninja rolled her eyes. "Like now? Seriously, you have a fever already yet you come out here and lie down on the grass even though it's almost fall-"

"Meat! I smell meat!" The miko sat up abruptly, her emerald eyes glimmering in child-like excitement as she tried to peek behind the girl.

The twin-tailed woman huffed but she was used to being interrupted and ignored. "Yes yes, I grabbed some from the kitchen on my way here."

"You're the best, Nicocchi~"Giggling, Nozomi draped over the smaller figure and nuzzled sluggishly, while the latter rubbed her back.

"Of course I am. Now, eat, so you can take your medications later."

Akin to a parent taking care of a sick child, Nico patiently fed the grilled meat to the drowsy miko and even barked at the latter to chew slowly. It was difficult to stay annoyed at her friend for long, not with Nozomi's criminal expression of sheer bliss.

"Hmm? Wha issit?"

The ninja averted her gaze from the miko's puffy cheeks and found herself smiling. "How are you feeling?"

"Well," Nozomi licked her lips happily as if to savor the last of the delicious meat. "I can die without regret now~"

"Don't joke about stuff like that," Nico growled as she wiped away the sauce around her friend's mouth with a handkerchief. It was hard to superimpose this sloppy, lethargic woman with the highly-revered priestess that the rest of the population knew her to be.

"Hai hai~" Emerald eyes softened as the shorter woman felt her forehead. "Really, I'm feeling much better than I did earlier, Nicocchi."

The ninja was not pleased at how hot Nozomi's skin felt, but admittedly it was better than this morning. "Even though it's new moon? Even with the guests?"

"Especially because we have our valued guests from Antares. The princess is a true Hoshizora," the miko brushed her long tresses over her shoulder before extending her hand towards the sky, like she was receiving the stars' blessing. "Can't you feel it, Nicocchi? The miasma is relatively thin tonight."

As the high priestess, Nozomi was central point for the mikos throughout Kaguya to erect a barrier to keep out the chimimouryou and mononoke from their lands. While the infestation, so to speak, was not as bad as the neighboring Antares, vengeful spirits and demons still preyed upon those with negative emotions and harassed physically weaker humans. During the black moon, or when God closed His eyes for a day, was when these creatures thrive and when mikos were at their weakest. As such, Nozomi's already frail body could not fend off everyday illness, not even the simple flu.

"Is that so?" Nico recalled the vibrant soul she glimpsed at Maki's apothecary earlier and made a note to watch the Hoshizora princess more closely.

"Yup~ so you don't have to fret over me so much, ne?"

"I wasn't fretting, Maki-chan was the one worrying herself silly," the ninja grumbled half-heartedly as Nozomi obediently took her medicine with a canteen of water. It was a good idea to grab that plate of grilled meat, otherwise the miko would have thrown a fuss over the bitter powder.

"I will definitely drop by next week," Nozomi yawned sleepily and rested her head on Nico's lap. "She is still only nineteen, yet she has to take on the burdens of a full-fledged physician. She makes me worry, like Elicchi…"

The black-haired woman remained silent as the miko burrowed her face against her stomach, her voice becoming muffled but the ninja could hear her clearly.

"Elicchi and Honoka-chan are back, aren't they? And Elicchi is hurt."

"Yeah, a shoulder wound." Nico said evenly as she stroked Nozomi's hair. "But it's nothing serious, as they are still able to attend the banquet, or so I've heard."

"That's good. Umi-chan must be displeased."

The two laughed quietly, both imagining the oni-like expression on the captain's face. Indeed, even the world's best ninja admitted that Sonoda Umi was terrifying when she was in that mode.

"And you, Nicocchi? You're not going to the banquet?"

"Meh, I'm alright not going. I'm fine here. You know that I don't like being around people during new moon."

Nozomi shifted and looked up into her vivid ruby eyes. Brows furrowing, she reached up and gently held Nico's necklace, which must have slipped up from underneath the folds of her scarf. The crimson gem, dotted with charcoal slits, glinted forebodingly under the miko's touch. The ninja bristled and clenched her fists to fight down the instinctive urge to lash out.

The emerald-eyed woman pulled away her hand apologetically but gave her companion a playful smile. "So I am truly blessed to be granted your presence, ne?"

"Hnff, you should indeed be grateful to have Nico-sama's company."

Laughing serenely, she shifted and lied down on the grass again, in the same pose as when Nico first saw her within the lily garden. "Come, Nicocchi."

This time, the ninja did not resist as she sprawled beside the priestess. It was useless to persuade the stubborn woman otherwise, so she might as well stay and keep an eye on her. Of course, when it got too chilly later on, Nico will get her inside somehow.

"The war will keep escalating," Nozomi said softly.

Nico grunted.

"More and more people will die"

She grunted again.

"You will have to kill more people from Mikado."

Exhaling agitatedly, she closed her eyes in resignation. The sensation of slick, hot blood staining her hands could never be washed away, but there was one instance of temporary reprieve.

Soft but warm hands enveloped her own as the fragrance of lilies and incense filled her nostrils. She felt Nozomi snuggle against her chest and murmur in that tranquil voice of hers.

"Arigatou na… for staying here with me."

Rather than replying, Nico instinctively wrapped her arm around the miko's shoulder and tucked the latter's head under her chin.

"Your heartbeat is peaceful to listen to, Nicocchi~"

"Don't you dare washi washi me."

"Yan~ you thought I was going to do that? Heheh, maybe at other times, but not now~"

Smiling at Nozomi's muffled and sleepy tone, the ninja draped her scarf over her companion and breathed deeply in sync with the precious person within her arms.