Santana takes her time making her way back. She strolls slowly, breathing in the fresh evening air, admiring the beauty of the surroundings. She finds Brittany sitting on the porch outside the house she shares with the rest of the Iga-group. She is leaning against the wall while picking at a twig.
"I didn't want to tell our fathers I lost you along the way," she says matter-of-factly without looking directly at Santana. "I figured you wouldn't want that either so I assumed you'd show up sooner or later." Brittany sounds like she is talking to a stranger and it hurts.
"Yes, that's probably for the best," Santana says evenly and walks towards the door.
"Wait!" The word comes out a little sharper than Brittany intended. "Is there nothing more we should say to each other now?"
"I have said too much already." Santana looks down at the floor. She can feel Brittany's eyes on her.
Brittany gets to her feet and cautiously walks over to the slight figure belonging to Santana. Slowly she raises her arm and lets her fingertips lightly touch the tan troubled face. Santana holds her breath. Brittany's fingers feel like they're glowing hot, leaving trails on her skin.
So much of her training has been aimed at controlling her own body, to not give in to impulses and reflexes. Yet she has no way of stopping herself from cupping Brittany's face and putting her lips on Brittany's lips.
The thunder in her ears grows into a deafening roar blocking out all other sounds. The ground appears to be trembling under her feet. I'm going to die", is all she can think. As she carefully opens her eyes she finds Brittany's dark blue eyes staring at her with the most peculiar look in them. They stay like that, staring at each other for what seemed like long time. Then Brittany's face breaks up in a smile as she grabs Santana by the arm and drags her around the corner of the house, into the shadows.
Gently pushed up against the wall of the house, Santana feels Brittany's body against her own and the blonde's hot breath on her face seconds before their lips meet again. They kiss and kiss again until they are both breathless. Brittany begins to giggle. At first Santana thinks it's inappropriate.
"Oh come on. Lighten up. Don't be so serious all the time ninja," Brittany teases. Santana frowns at first before breaking into giggles too. The two of them can't seem to stop. Santana has to steady herself against the wall and Brittany leans on her.
"Santana!" Takai's voice calls out from the porch. For some reason it throws them further into their giggling fit. Santana tries to compose herself and straightens out her dress. Brittany stands up straight and clears her throat.
"Ready?" Santana whispers and looks at Brittany who nods back, stifling more giggles.
"There you are! You two look like foxes who just stole chickens out of the hen house." Takai eyes them suspiciously but with a big smile on his face.
"We thought we heard a lot of laughing. Glad to see you girls are getting along so well," Willem sounds content. "Brittany, I think it's time for us to bid our gracious hosts goodnight."
Willem thanks Takai for a pleasant evening. Brittany bows before the shinobi master and his daughter. They exchange goodnights and goodbyes.
Half an hour later Santana stretches out in the bathtub. All she can think about is kissing Brittany. The softness of her lips, the sweet taste, the heat from her body. Santana closes her eyes and runs her hands down her own body. Her hand strokes across her belly to her side, over her hip down towards her thigh. What if it was Brittany's hand? She lets her other hand travel over her chest, she feels the roundness of her breast, how soft it is. As she lets her fingers run over her nipple it stiffens and she feels how it sends a sensation to her crotch. Her hand moves to her other breast. The nipple is already hard and pointing upwards.
"Oh Brittany," she whispers.
The hand on her thigh moves back to her belly and then downwards. She gently massages the mound, her hair soft in the water. She hesitates to let her hand travel further down. Still imagining it's Brittany's hand, it feels too shameless to touch her most private parts. Especially since she feels the pulsing need there. Instead she brings her hand to her mouth, touching her lips, her tongue comes out to meet her middle finger, dancing over the tip. The pulsing sensation between her legs increases and she lets out a soft moan.
Her free hand grips a breast and begins to massage it gently. As her fingers flick over the sensitive nipple she moans again imagining Brittany palming her body. She wants to touch Brittany like this. She wants to feel her breasts, touch the curve of her hips, pull her close and press their bodies together. Santana's hips move gently in the tub, causing the water to make small waves on the surface. She imagines Brittany lying naked on top of her, kissing her and rocking their bodies together.
She has to get out of the tub. If she doesn't she knows she won't be able to resist the throbbing need between her legs. It's building up and spreading a light aching feeling to the rest of her body.
She grips the sides of the tub and with a swift movement she pulls herself up out of the bath. For good measure she fills a bowl with cold water and pours it over herself. Shivering and covered with goose bumps she wraps a light cotton robe around herself and walks back to the bedroom.
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After a night of fitful sleep, Santana is yet again welcomes the opportunity to exhaust herself physically on the training field. Yusuke has them running crouched down lap after lap. Their legs are burning with lactic acid and their backs are aching. Takai watches from the side of the field.
A young runner approaches and as he reaches the field his eyes scan the group for Takai. The boy stops in front of Takai and bows deeply before informing Takai that Lord Kawada is requesting his presence at a meeting in the afternoon.
From the field Santana sees Takai nodding and the runner bows again before setting off back to the main building, no doubt.
Takai arrives late for dinner. Santana thinks he looks slightly troubled. He notices her following him with her gaze and makes a small deflective hand gesture to indicate that he's ok. She is not to worry. He takes a seat and helps himself to food.
"I have talked to Lord Kawada. Thankfully, he is regaining his strength. He still wants the strike against Tanaka. He has ordered Tsukahara to prepare an attack in ten days from now."
The room is filled with murmurs. Most of the group seems pleased. At last they get to do what they came for. Idle waiting has created restlessness in some of the Iga-men. Takai has done his best to keep them busy with practice and preparations for the mission but there has been a lot of spare time.
Santana feels her excitement about the mission rekindle but everything is different now. Brittany has entered her life. What happens when the mission is over? They'll execute their strike on Tanaka and then what? Presumably they'll return to Iga but Brittany lives here. Brittany with the blue eyes. Brittany who makes Santana's heart beat twice as fast. Brittany who has become a drug stronger than opium to Santana.
In the following days Santana and the other shinobis train hard. They trim their equipment and cook poisons. The tension level is rising and there is less jolly banter and casual socialising. Somewhere beneath the surface they all know the task is dangerous. The likelihood of them all making it back unscathed is not as high as they pretend it to be.
Willem has gone away on business again but Tsukahara's daughter Hiroko is staying with Brittany since Takai has decided Santana needs to focus on the preparations. Brittany comes down to the practise field during the days sometimes. Santana can't help touching her. A hand on a shoulder, a light brush against an arm and then there are the lingering glances. It's like they connect with their eyes, sending messages to each other over an invisible channel. Santana tries to convey what's in her heart. Her eyes are sending Brittany vivid speeches and declarations of affection, want and well, love. And the messages she receives back warm her heart and make her light headed.
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Takai walks over to Santana. He has been in the main building conferring with Kawada, Tsukahara and the rest of the leaders. Santana can tell right away that something is wrong. The way Takai carries himself speaks loudly to hear but she is sure she doesn't want to hear what it says, what Takai has to say. His face is too calm and his gait looks tired and almost hesitant. Takai usually walks with the confidence of someone whose body has been trained and shaped into an obedient instrument.
"Santana, a word, if you please."
She walks up to him and they distance themselves for the rest of the group. He takes a deep breath.
"While we were in the meeting we received bad news. News that weight down my heart."
She's afraid. She can feel her body tense wanting him to tell her what is wrong but at the same time dreading what he is going to say.
"There was an attack on the group of traders Willem was travelling to Osaka with. Robbers."
She feels the colour drain from her face and she feels a chill running up her spine.
"There was violence and the tradesmen are no warriors. They also declined when Tsukahara offered to let two of his men accompany them." He looks straight at her.
"Santana, Willem was killed."
All she can think is 'Brittany!'.
"Father, I must see her. I must go to her. She needs me!"
Before he has finished nodding, Santana has started sprinting up towards the main building. He watches her as she rapidly puts more distance between them.
A/N: Thanks for reading! If you want to look me up on Tumblr I'm www . frognut . tumblr . com