I OWN NOTHING BUT THE STORY LINE AND THE CHARACTERS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW FROM THE ANIME/MANGA!

Chapter Ten

Akina

Natsumi was nervous. More nervous than she had felt in years, even after all the stuff she had gone through in the last year. It felt...strange to be wearing this kimono again after so long. She hadn't worn it since her grandfather died. After that, she felt that no one deserved to see her wear it again.

The food would be in the side room to Date and Kojuro's rooms, connecting the Lord and his Retainer. Natsumi's Room was two rooms down the way. They had kept Date's position and name hidden, despite the city being under his name. He didn't want attention.

Natsumi took a breath and repeatedly told herself to stay calm. All she had to do was stay calm and the night would soon be over. Soon she would be back in her own room. Soon she would leave Oshu Province and leave Date...

Right?

She joined Kojuro and Date and sat in silence as food was brought in. Her silence was broken, however, when she learned that Date had been the one that cooked.

"Are you serious? You know how to cook?"

"Is it really that shocking?" Date looked at her as the food was set before them.

"Actually, yes," She admitted. "To think that you can actually use a knife off the battlefield too. I never would have guessed. It seems you're not a total waste after all."

"My Lord learned to make his own food after several poisoning attempts on him," Kojuro decided to reveal. He'd rather make his own food then have someone die because of an assassination attempt."

Natsumi avoided her eyes, memories flashing through her head. She understood that. How many people had she seen die because of poisoning attempts on her brother? It wasn't a pleasant thing to think about. Even if her brother didn't feel guilty about it, she always had.

Date took note of her silence and decided to change the subject. "For tonight, let's drop everything. The title of Lord, of Savior, of Wounded. and of Retainer. For tonight, let's all just be friends."

Natsumi smiled. "Then allow me." She took the Sake from Kojuro's hands and filled Date's cup herself before doing the same for Kojuro and herself.

Date smiled and lifted his cup. "To friends."

Both of them repeated him and all three tossed back the sake before Natsumi refilled them.

The trio carried on with food and drink, enjoying themselves immensely. Date found himself pleased. Natsumi clearly was enjoying herself, much more than he had been expecting her to. She could hold her alcohol, yes, but he was better. It had somehow turned into a drinking match between the two of them until Kojuro finally wrestled the nearly empty bottle from her hands; it was their fifth bottle so far. He didn't need things getting too out of control. After all, she was still wounded and being too drunk could, and most likely would, result in her reopening them again or even making more on her skin.

But even without more Sake to drink, Natsumi opened up more than either of the man had expected and spoke on her past a bit.

"Keiko hates being treated like a frail woman; always has. She would always attack those that did so. Mostly verbally but there were always those moments where everything turned physical. Why, she got so mad with Aki that she punched him in the face! Never had I ever seen him so shocked; nor have I ever seen him with such desire in his eyes. He kissed her there in front of us all. They were married last fall. It was such a beautiful day."

"This Aki...he's a family friend?" Kojuro asked.

"One of my brother's retainers," Natsumi nodded. "I call him Aki for short. He scared me at first but I grew used to him." Date watched the smile on her face. This was what he wanted. This was the woman he had been trying to find. Happy and full of laughter. It had been hidden so far away for so long. "Hide scared me too when I was younger, he's such a big guy, but I soon realized that's he's really just a big sweetheart, really. He always looked out for me and got me out of trouble, even if he got in trouble himself. He and Mitsu were always…always…helping me. I'm just sorry that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye." Kojuro gave Date a look but the other man had his eye solely on the crying woman before him; he gave a sigh.

"Everything was fine until father died, and then mother followed after. It was then that my brother began to change. The ideas he received, how ruthless and blood thirsty he had become...and I chose to ignore it all. Now I wonder what would have happened had I stood up to him instead. How many people have died because I refused to pay attention?"

What started out cheerfully and playful changed drastically. Tears were now pouring from her eyes as she stared at the floor beneath her. Date watched her in silence, a pain in his chest.

This is what he wanted. He wanted to break her, to have her open up to him, but seeing her like this...he didn't like it at all.

He set his cup down.

"You shouldn't blame yourself for your brother's actions."

"But I could have stopped him; or at least tried. Instead I ran like a coward. A coward! Keiko went back and God only knows what happened to Akina! That's why I need to leave. If my brother were to find me with you he'd kill you. All of you; everyone! I...I couldn't bear it."

"The only place you're going right now is to bed," Date told her. "You need to sleep."

"But I should leave! I'm putting you all in danger the longer I stay with you! I would never be able to live with myself if you died because of me, Masamune."

Date froze. This was the first time Natsumi had called him by his first name. He couldn't lie…it had a pleasant ring to it, hearing it from her lips. He wanted to hear it again; hear it in different tones. He wanted to hear her moan it.

"Azai…Nagamasa's death I could get over, but if you…if you were to die because of me, I…I'd never forgive myself," She repeated, tears flowing faster. "I wouldn't ever…"

Date moved across the floor and carefully gathered the woman into his arms. She buried her face into his shoulder. He gave a soft smile and held her as Kojuro softly shut the door behind him as he left.

"It's all right," He whispered to her. "No one said I was dying now, did they?"

"But my brother-"

He smiled at her muffled words. "Don't worry. No one knows you're here and even if they did they couldn't best me."

"You don't understand! My brother will stop at nothing. He wants to rule the entire land! He-"

"You know, I think I liked the other you better," He cut her off. "The strong you."

"I am not strong," Came her reply. "I'm nothing but a coward."

"A coward wouldn't be where you are right now," Date told her. "A coward would have died in that field from all their wounds. A coward wouldn't have run to a field to save people they didn't know from bandits. A coward wouldn't stroll around my home and give out orders like they owned the place. A coward wouldn't have left their room wounded like this. You're not a coward, Natsumi. I wouldn't-"

He caught his voice and pinched his lips together. He wanted to say it but he knew that it would be a foolish idea so instead he said it to himself.

~I wouldn't have feelings for you if you were a coward.~

"Then what am I?" She had pulled back from him with a pleading look, searching for an answer. "What am I, if not a coward? I've left so many to die. My sister…Akina…all of her family. I…I don't even want to think about what happened to them…or to Keiko…all of them could be dead because of me!"

"You were scared. It's not a sin to be scared," He hushed her. "Everyone gets scared. I've been scared, Kojuro's been scared. Even your brother, I'm sure."

"But I-"

He grabbed her shoulders firmly. "I understand how you feel but acting like this will get you nowhere. You made a choice and left. You're still alive. Many times I've led my men into battle and then felt the guilt of their deaths on my head. I've dealt with it and though I'll never forgive myself for all the deaths, I refuse to give in and keep moving forward. That's what you need to do now, tiger. If you feel regret for leaving them behind then don't sob over it. Stand tall and live for all of them. Don't crumble and keep living. No more sorrow, no more tears; at least not where I can see them. It'll make me want to wipe them away, understand?"

Natsumi continued to stare at him, he could only stare into her green eyes. They were like a raging storm as she tried to take in his words. He wasn't sure how long they sat there like that but relief flooded his body as the storm seemed to break and her eyes began to shine. He thought she was going to start crying again but she gave a smile instead as she reached forward and hugged him. He froze at the feel of the woman's arms on his back but he relaxed himself and hugged her back.

"Feel better?"

"Yes. I…I apologize," Her voice no longer trembled. "I apologize for acting like that. I did not consider your own feelings, what you, yourself, have done. To listen to me whimper over something like that…it's embarrassing."

"Then I just need to get you drunk again for your true feelings to come out. Next time I want something more embarrassing than just tears and fear, understand?" His grin widened as she laughed against his shoulder.

"I understand," She pulled back to look at his face again, her hands lingering on his back. "I don't know how to ever repay you, Masamune."

His name again…from her lips, it sounded musical.

"You can start by promising not to cry anymore," He told her. "Can you do that?"

She chuckled again. "I'll try."

Natsumi denied needing sleep but allowed Date to lead her to a futon. He kept a firm grip on her right hand as his left arm was around her shoulders, his warmth spreading across her back. He was originally going to take her down the hall to her own room but he deemed it easier just to let her stay in his room and let her use his bedding. He doubted he'd be getting any sleep anytime soon, anyway.

He decided to continue to drink, listening to Natsumi's breaths as she fell asleep. Her words…she had confirmed all that he and Kojuro had believed. He knew their suspicions of who this woman was had now been confirmed. He should take care of her right now, either kill her or take her hostage, but he found himself unable to do either. He couldn't seem himself harming a single hair on her head; he didn't want to.

Keeping her around was dangerous, very dangerous, but when the thought of her leaving reached him he felt a pain in his chest that hurt him more than any wound that he had received on the battlefield; even worse than him losing his eye. He had been trying his hardest to ignore his thoughts on this trip to the Capital but he had to accept them now.

He was in love.

It was hard to believe it at first but every time he tried to deny it, Natsumi's smile appeared in his mind and filled him with warmth. It was…a strange feeling, but one he liked. To think that the One-Eyed Dragon had fallen in love; and with HIS sister, of all things.

The door opened, dragging his attention to it.

"I was wondering when you would-what the hell?!"

Kojuro entered the room, well, stumbled might be a better description of it, dragging a body behind him.

"Kojuro?"

"I'm all right," The other man replied, dropping the body inside the room and closing the door. "Just winded. She gave quite the fight."

"She?" Date took a better look at the body that Kojuro had brought in. It was apparent that the dup had quite the fight break out between them; both were bleeding and covered in dirt.

The woman appeared to be in her late twenties with long silver hair pinned tightly to her head. Dressed head to foot in black and soft shoes, it was apparent that she was a ninja from how she was dressed. Kojuro dropped a pair of short swords and a few small bags off to the side, as well as a mask fashioned to look like a fox.

"An assassin?" Date raised a brow.

"I believe so," Kojuro sat down and took his shirt and jacket off. Date could already see the bruises and welts forming. He had the impression that one of his ribs had been broken, at least. "And a strong one."

Date frowned. "Who do you think sent her? Takeda, maybe? Or even Kenshin?"

"She wasn't sent after you, My Lord,"

Date's eyes widened. "What?"

"The woman was lurking outside of her room," He glanced at the sleeping woman a little way away. Her words came back to him.

"You need not fear, Kojuro. I have no intentions of harming anyone here at Yonezawa. If you do not believe me then feel free to keep a heavier eye on me. I merely wish to disappear when I'm allowed to leave. Besides...the longer I stay here the worse danger you and your people will be put in."

"Because of the soldiers you killed?" Katakura asked.

"Yes. Their lord...I know he will not stay his search for me...not after killing all that I have to get away. I'm surprised that I have not been found yet but I suppose I have Keiko to thank for that. She has, obviously, sent him in the opposite direction but I do not know how long that will last. The faster I leave the better it will be for you."

"For him to send an assassin after her…he'll know we have her now."

"Good," Date retorted. "Let him come."

Kojuro blinked. "My Lord, this woman-"

"She became my responsibility when e saved her. What kind of man would I be if I were to run and leave her to face death?"

Kojuro opened his mouth to reply back but gave a sigh as he tried to hide a smile. "As you wish."

"Enough about that," Date decided to change the subject. "You look like you had a hell of a time."

"I did. She's surprisingly strong for having such a small body. Add that to her speed and her use of the darkness to cover her, it's clear that she's very skilled."

"Hmm."

"I believe this was all a trap," Kojuro continued, cleaning himself up. "I believe we were lured here to the city. They used her…belongings to lure her out of hiding. If we stay here any longer then we may be in danger."

Date frowned, thinking hard. "It would be foolish to move out right now. They have the darkness and with Natsumi in the state she's in…it would be better to let her sleep and sober up before we move. We don't know if there's others out there. For now, we'll just have to keep watch." He looked at his friend again. "You rest up; I'll keep watch for now."

"Are you sure?"

"With the beating you just took, there's not much else you'll be able to do. I'll have to train you harder so a woman doesn't beat you again, Katakura."

The older man chuckled. "Of course, My Lord."

Natsumi awoke to sunlight of her face hours later. Though she had drunk a lot, she remembered everything that had happened the night before, everything that had been said. She felt her face grow red from how she had cried at Date, how she had hugged him. It was embarrassing to remember.

"We have something for you," Date told her. "Last night, Kojuro apprehended an assassin outside your room." He watched as the color drained from her face. "We wanted to ask if she was one of your brother's."

Natsumi looked at the other man. "Are you all right?"

Kojuro gave her a stiff smile. "My pride is more wounded than anything else."

The bag was removed from the woman's head, revealing the silver hair and a pair of sharp, blue eyes that glared around the room; until they landed on Natsumi's face.

The face then changed into a look of relief. "Natsu."

"Akina?" Natsumi's eyes went wide, her voice full of shock and disbelief. "Is it..."

Kojuro and Date both shared a look. Akina. That name was the name that Natsumi had cried for forgiveness from. Akina was someone that she had been worried about leaving behind when she left.

"I've been looking for you everywhere," The woman hung her head in relief, her body relaxing against the ropes that bound her. "I finally found you…I'm so relieved that you're safe."

Kojuro didn't say a word before releasing the ropes that tied her. In an instant, Akina had shot forward and embraced the younger woman before her tightly. Natsumi hugged her back, trying not to cry again; she failed.

Date wanted nothing more than to just watch what happened next but he forced himself to turn and leave. Kojuro gave his lord an appraising look and smile before closing the door and following after the other man.

"Don't cry," Akina cooed at the other woman. "It's alright now."

"Coming from the one that's crying herself," Natsumi pulled back and looked into her friend's face. "How did you find me?"

"Keiko," Akina told her. "She told me that you were down south with a dragon. I am embarrassed that I didn't now know what she was talking about until I found you in the city yesterday. To think that you had been with Date Masamune all this time; I feel like a fool."

Natsumi fought more tears. "I'm so sorry, Akina. What they must have done to you..."

"I would have been more upset if you had stayed," Akina closed her eyes. "I know that, by not telling me you were leaving, you were protecting my family. If I had left with you, your brother most likely would have killed them all. I would rather endure a month's worth of torture than have my entire clan's blood on my hands."

"Where are they now?"

"Relocated and safe," Akina smiled. "They were ready to move on the moment I was released from custody. They had wasted no time. I've always told you that the Kuma Clan would rather follow you than your brother. They followed your mother, not your father. Some traditions just stick."

"What happens now? Where will you all go?"

"I'm not sure, but I do know that my place is beside you; it always has been since your birth. Never again will I let you out of my sight."

"Akina, I can't allow that," Natsumi shook her head. "You should take this chance and start a new life. Go make another village for your family. You don't need to take care of me anymore. I am not some noble child any longer. I am an outcast; a traitor."

"We both are," Akina told her. "You left and I followed. You're not just some prize to protect. You're the most important person in the world to me and I will protect you until I die. Not because I was told to. Not because that's my mission. Because I want to. I feared you had died. Thinking that, I didn't even feel the torture I was forced to endure. All I could think about was failing you. When Keiko told me that you were still alive…it was like someone lit a candle in the darkest void. I won't ever leave your side again."

Natsumi closed her eyes and let the older woman hold her. Her first memories all involved Akina. Assigned to be her guard since birth, the ninja had been with her through everything. To have her here with her again, it was truly a blessing.

"Keiko was vague on the details of what happened the night you fled the castle," Akina spoke after a few minutes of silence. "What all happened? How did you find yourself in the hands of the One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu? How bad were you hurt?"

Natsumi gave a sigh and pulled back from the woman before beginning to relay the story to her friend.

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