I'm getting frustrated with all these typos I'm finding...I swear I read through the chapter 2-3 times before I post it, but...
Well, I'll try and be more careful :\
(This is embarassing, but how do you edit published stories?)

Soon, I think I'll perform a mass-uploading-of-the-chapters. ;]

In celebration of their victory over another battle with the nobuseri, and one with no casualties, the village of Kanna took the night to hold a makeshift festival. They brought out a precious quantity of rice from storage. They lit dozens of lanterns, enjoyed a rare portion of meat, and once the children were sent to sleep, they brought out sake.

Oddly enough, the ones who should be most grateful to still be alive were the most reserved. Six samurai drifted whimsically around the village, and watched Kikuchiyo nostalgically enjoy his first village festival in years with vigor.

Gorobei laughed heartily, prodding Shichiroji and Heihachi to watch Katsushiro's awkward conversation with Kirara. The two stood somewhat by themselves, seemingly wanting to continue their talk without having anything to say, in that way of teenagers they all remembered. Amused, the three samurai watched with curiosity, and secretly, hope. As Kirara turned and walked away, they all groaned in disappointment, at which Katsushiro whirled around, startled, and turned a deep shade of red, realizing he had been watched the entire time.

"Just tell her."

"Tell her what? There is nothing to tell!"

"Katsushiro-kun, you're turning red." Gorobei chuckled.

"I say he's been red for a while now." Heihachi snickered into his glove. "Been having some sake, Katsushiro?"

"No, I just...it's just unusually warm tonight...."

With a smile, Kambei watched the lighthearted scene unfold only until he caught Kyuzo turn and disappear behind a house. She had been stalking the outer edges of the village, like a wolf keeping away from a campfire. Seeing that no one was paying him mind, Kambei slipped away without being noticed.

Turning the corner, he quickly scanned the sparse trees, distinguished Kyuzo between them, and daringly followed her.

Not surprisingly, she was headed for the deepest part of the forest, where the Elder had called 'sacred' right before him. And it seemed to be Kyuzo's preferred place of dwelling. He was certain that's where she slept, and probably spent most of the free time she had.

The leader had a hard time believing she was unaware of his following her. And once they had come to the clearing Kambei suspected to be her favorite spot, the woman indeed turned around to face him.

"Why did you follow?"

"It's more interesting this way." Kambei gave her a smile, which caused her to frown suspiciously.

Without reply, the warrior woman sat under the largest tree, and crossed her arms over her chest. She seemed to expect Kambei to leave with her silence. Ignoring someone was a simple yet effective way to be rid of them, and she was merely waiting for him to grow discouraged enough to give up and head back to the village.

The sounds of the humble but heartfelt festival had faded long ago, so deep were they among the great trees, from ages before either of them were born. The gracefulness of this ancient place certainly seemed sacred, but welcoming. It was for people who needed answers, who sought internal release, or, in Kyuzo's case, sleep.

Sparing time to look around and admire the nobility of the forest, Kambei immediately returned his eyes to their original focus. It seems that Kyuzo was interested in sleeping, and she watched him warily with those ever fiery eyes. She apparently couldn't rest until he departed.

Though it was perhaps unwise, Kambei felt assured when he risked sitting by her. Letting out a tired sigh as he settled next to her, he sensed the stoic, yet violent air around her gradually lull into calm. The older man concluded that although she was irritated at his presence, she was, for the moment, excusing him.

"I didn't think you were one for festivals and parties." Kambei set his feet flat on the ground, and held out his arms, balancing his arms on his knees. "I suppose I was right."

Kyuzo did not answer, something else he could easily predict.

For some time, he sat there. Gradually, he felt her silent aggression fade from the air, subdued by the quiet night and, perhaps, her tiredness. She had not allowed herself to be excused from work once. Maybe she was even pushing herself too hard. As if overcompensating for the brief time she had spent resting directly after her injury, she had been even more active than normal.

"Are you very tired?" He asked.

Again, no answer, and he glanced over. He was mildly surprised to see a calm look on her face. That constant fierceness had to drop sometime, and it appeared he had come upon one of those rare moments.

When he let his right leg slide to rest completely on the ground, she only took mild notice, but was nearly shaken out of her tranquility when his arm came around her shoulders and eased her to lay against his chest, while the other slid its way around her waist.

Whether she was simply too tired to fight for once, or only apathetic, he wasn't sure of at the moment. But he enjoyed the peace, both that she was in, and the serenity that settled over him.

Yet he had little more doubt when she voluntarily shifted, turning onto her side and relaxing against him. No childish rush of adrenaline, or immature excitement made his heart flutter, or caused butterflies in his stomach. But there was an indefinable beauty in the moment.

"Kyuzo-dono." He half-whispered, and she lifted her face, that wonderfully serene face, and for once, gazed at him back with her sleepy eyes.

"Kiss me."

For a long moment, she stared at him in her relaxed daze. He then could feel her hands clench, and felt the weight press against his chest as she lifted herself, felt her body slide along him as she pulled herself upward.

Kambei felt nearly intoxicated with her face coming so close. Inches away, she hesitated, her eyes elsewhere. He could not wait, and leaning forward, caught her mouth with his.

It seemed ages to him, which could have only been seconds, until she began to return the kiss.

When they parted, Kambei opened his eyes to see Kyuzo's gaze averted again, looking downward. Part of him was surprised at this display of shyness, was charmed. The other part wanted to see that ever-fierce woman glare at him defiantly. He wasn't sure which he preferred right now, but it didn't ultimately matter to him.

Precisely what was going through her mind at that time, Kambei was never sure. He secured his arms around the slender body, enjoying the rare truce. However, the moment appeared to have passed, and when she moved, he compliantly released her as she pushed herself up and stood. Confused, but not entirely surprised, Kambei watched, feeling helpless as Kyuzo prepared to leave.

"Kyuzo-dono."

Her back was already to him, walking away as tall as ever. "We should not be seen."

She left him in the clearing, with her last statement ringing through his head.

Some time later, Kirara was surprised at Kyuzo's request for an empty house, apart from the other samurai. For the first time, Kyuzo slept in the village.

The following morning, Gorobei noticed their leader strangely dispirited, and watched with puzzlement. He smiled warmly when Kambei gave him a questioning look. "Lovely morning, isn't it?"

"Perhaps."

Shichiroji shook his head and prodded Heihachi awake, who was falling asleep where he sat, chuckling when the clumsy mechanic nearly fell over before righting himself and yawning widely. "Come on now, try and stay awake."

"Sleepy..." Heihachi mumbled but managed to somehow wake himself up. Shichiroji did not bother him more. He was aware Heihachi had been pushing himself far too hard.

Feeling the need to check where everyone was, Shichiroji did not dare mention Kambei's somber countenance. "Where's Kikuchiyo-dono?"

"Still asleep in the house." Kirara smiled.

"Let him sleep some more." Kambei suggested, and Shichiroji nodded.

"And Katsushiro-kun?"

"He's up, I think he just went for a walk." Heihachi mumbled, still half-asleep. "Should be back soon."

"Alright then," Shichiroji mentally went down the list, and came to the name Kambei did not feel like hearing; after all, he had been thinking it all night. "And Kyuzo-dono?"

"Uhhh....who ever knows where he is, eh?"

"Oh, Kyuzo-dono is sleeping in another house." Kirara offered.

".....Wait, he slept in the village?" Gorobei questioned, and at Kirara's nod, shrugged. "Strange guy. Maybe he had too much to drink."

"I don't think he had any." Heihachi scratched his head, racking his brain. He couldn't recall Kyuzo being in the village at all last night, much less did he remember seeing him drink.

"By the way, no one gave any alcohol to Katsushiro-kun, did they?" Shichiroji asked. "He's underage....I....think?"

"You've gotta be kidding me." Gorobei laughed. "You have no problem sending him to battle, but won't let him have a drink?"

Shichiroji shrugged, smiling.

To be perfectly honest, I'm not very interested in writing romance stories. I think this is my first genuine "romance"...but if I was going to do it, I wasn't going to give them the whole "butterflies in the stomach" and "heart fluttering" nonsense. There wouldn't be any romantic kisses in the sunset either...you know, except for the last one?

My flowery and borderline flamboyant writing comes back to bite me. That sort of imagery wasn't really so much for the sake of the "mood", it's just...er...establishing setting, or something like that. Ironic.