Okay, I'll explain this one a little so you don't get lost like I did while writing it (thanks Pahreza again)

First thing, this one takes place during the Sengoku Period (1467-1568), which was known for the multiple civil wars and which ended when the power was unified under the Tokugawa Shogunate. I believe Inushaya is set during this time, too.

Second thing, SAMURAI WOMEN KNOWN AS ONNA-BUGEISHA! I can't believe I learned about them today and I'm still processing how cool this is :D

Okay, I think this is enough explanation. Enjoy! :D


War's end kiss

Kagura stared at the flare going up in the night sky, wide blue eyes and slightly parted lips signalling sheer surprise. She was panting hard, white puffs leaving her mouth and lungs screaming at her to stop moving, her clothes tattered and her body covered in enemy blood. The distant sounds of metal clashing faded away and she held her breath as her lips sealed in a tight line. Not once looking away, she yanked the heavy sword from her opponent lifeless body and, as the man fell to the ground, she observed the fire explode into thousands of little bright sparks that lit up the snow covered mountains and the forest below her.

Still not quite believing it she surveyed her surroundings –dead men covered the floor of the terrace she had been fighting on during the last two hours, blood everywhere. The assault to the palace had started when the sun had disappeared behind the horizon and she hadn't stopped slaying ever since. Protecting the Shogun and his family was her mission, and she knew she couldn't fail. Now, after dark endless hours of striving to survive, everything was calm again and the sky was turning violet and orange. The morning was coming.

And that flare, probably set ablaze by Gin's group on the border of the forest, signalled that the general leading the enemy army had fallen. The final battle was over and, at last, the war had ended.

With a little cry of joy she approached the railing with bouncing steps and her hands gripped the wood, frantically looking for someone, anyone familiar, as she surveyed the lands surrounding the walls of the castle. Her eyes quickly spotted a sandy haired soldier standing alone in front of the main entrance to the palace, katana still in hand and attire even more stained than hers, if the corpses piling up around him meant something. She couldn't see his face from her actual position ten floors above him, but she could perfectly picture his expression, a smug smirk tugging at his lips.

The First Captain of the Army had been assigned to defend the front of the palace with his men, though they were nowhere to be seen. As it looked, he hadn't moved from his position during the whole night and that meant he had succeeded. Not a single soul had gotten past him and he was alive.

Part of the fear that had been accompanying her disappeared and relief flooded her. Her heart picked up its pace and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the familiar feeling; she knew it had nothing to do with the adrenaline still running through her veins and preventing her from feeling the glacial weather.

Okita Sougo alone was a force to be reckoned with, something his enemies always failed to do because he looked far too young to be a real threat. When they started to realize what was happening, it was too late; his brains and skills had already killed them. That was something Kagura had learnt the day she had been accepted into the royal family's place after the little princess and her guards had found her almost dead in the snow. The wolves infested mountains were not a safe place for a little girl, much less during winter. She had met him that day and she had quickly learnt that the samurai trainee was gonna give her more than one headache after trying to impale her on the spot, saying that she was an enemy in disguise. Now, several years and fights later, not had he only become the most promising man among the guards, but also someone she knew she could trust her life with. Though it wasn't like she needed his help, since she had been raised as an onna bugeisha herself.

Barely able to contain herself from jumping to the ground –and breaking more than a bone in the process–, she rushed to the outer stairs that surrounded the building to make her way down. She didn't pay attention to the freezing wind hitting her face and when she reached the first floor she couldn't help it anymore –she jumped the railing and landed neatly on the snow with a soft thud. He was standing about fifty meters away from her and she shouted to catch his attention.

"The fire!" He immediately turned around at the sound with his sword raised as his body adopted a defensive stance, though he relaxed when he saw it was her. "You saw it, right? It was the signal! We've won! It's over!" Her voice was happy and unusually high pitched, and her hair was a mess. She started to run towards him when she saw him smirk and open his mouth to answer, but she didn't give him time.

He stepped back as his eyes widened in surprise and his words caught in his throat when her cold hands reached for his warm red cheeks due to the exertion of the fight, sucking in a breath when her lips closed in on his. Kagura tasted the blood and the sweat without complaint and revelled in the warmth spreading inside her. He was alive, safe and sound. It wasn't that she doubted him, but this fucking bastard had probably taken down half of the enemies headed to the castle and his only injuries were a couple of cuts here and there. She had been worried for her comrades the whole time –Gin and Shinpachi had been sent to the outer boundaries of the forest with their respective squads, and she had stayed in the palace with Okita's division and some other men, though she hadn't seen him up until now, and knowing he was fine had made the remaining adrenaline in her body act. So yes, she kissed him out of happiness and relief, and because she had been suppressing it for too long now.

Kagura was waiting for him to push her away and taunt her for this till the day she died, so she had already an excuse in the tip of her tongue to shot back at him if he dared to make a joke out of this. What she wasn't expecting at all was the hand at her nape pulling her closer and the sound that left him when his lips glided along hers.

She opened her eyes then to look at him as she broke the kiss and he opened his to glare, clearly annoyed.

"What are you doing?"

"What was that sound?" She wiggled her eyebrows a little and he snorted.

"Why are you kissing me?" he retaliated smirking lopsidedly.

"Stop answering me with more questions! You're an idiot."

"You're doing the same. And you're stupid. Now shut up and continue what you've started."

"So you're actually enjoying me kissing you." Sougo gave her one of his trademark deadpan expressions and she smiled, hugging him.

"No, I don't." He put an arm around her, the other one still holding his katana as he had been taught since he was a child –one never knew when an enemy would unexpectedly appear.

"Sure, whatever you say." They stayed quiet for a while, enjoying each other's heat. Sougo had never coped well with the cold and he had been shivering when she had embraced him. "You know," she continued, "I'm glad you're alive. It means I'll get to kick your ass from now onwards too!"

"I'll be looking forward to see you even try to accomplish that, China."


I really like this one since the setting is completely unusual, and I hope you enjoyed it too! I also have some fantasy AUs for future chapters and I'm sooo excited! :DD