Date

As we rode, I watched Kai from the corner of my eye. She was obviously worn out from dealing with the man from earlier, and I didn't blame her in the slightest. She had gone through something horrible, something that had scarred her for life, and she had to relive those traumatizing memories. And then she found out that her parents were in the custody of the man who had ordered her brother to be killed and that her mother had gone through the exact same treatment she had. "Hey, Kai?" I finally asked, breaking the silence that had been looming over us since I left my estate.

"Yes?" she replied. I could hear in her voice how sad and hurt she was, and it broke my heart.

"Are you okay?"

She slightly flinched before laughing a little. "No, Date, I'm not." I stayed silent, urging her to continue. "I thought I was over this. It's been four years! Why can't I just forget about it? Why do I still have nightmares about it?" She was shaking, barely holding back tears, and I wanted to reach out and hug her. Unfortunately I couldn't, because we were both on horseback and doing something like that would probably result in one or both of us getting a serious injury.

"It's only natural." I said. "You don't just get over something like that. It takes years, and even then you'll still have scars."

Kai sighed. "I know, but I'm sick and tired of having it control me like this. I'm sure this is exactly what he wanted to have happen. For the first six months he had me weak and scared. Every night I woke up screaming, and I nearly killed one guy who tried to kiss me."

Suddenly I remembered our kiss. If she had gone through all that, then why did she do that? "Last night, you kissed me then. And, last I checked, I'm still alive."

Her lips curved into a small smile and her cheeks flushed ruby red. "That's different. I know I'm safe with you. I know there's no way you would ever hurt me, even if Sasuke wasn't around to murder you if you did."

I paled at the thought of the ninja. "If he ever finds out about last night, I am not going to live to see another day."

Kai outright laughed at that. "What happened last night?" I turned around in shock to see Sasuke balanced perfectly just behind my saddle, standing like he was on normal ground, not a moving horse.

Then, his words sunk in. "I am so dead." I groaned, looking up at Sasuke to see his face contorting lividly.

Kai giggled. "Suke, I'll tell you what happened, but only as long as you swear that you won't hurt Date in any way, shape, or form."

I sighed in relief as Sasuke easily jumped from my horse to Kai's and sat down behind her. He then flipped her around so that she was facing him and grabbed the reins. "I promise. Now tell me what happened."

Kai nearly glowed. But, before speaking, she turned to me. "Date, I would recommend that you get a little ways ahead of us, that way Sasuke won't be able to 'accidentally' knock you off of Bontenmaru." I paled once again and did exactly as she asked, not willing to risk my life any more than I already had.

Once I was out of earshot, Kai started talking animatedly, her wild gestures nearly knocking Sasuke off of Resuriravu. I grinned and looked down at Bontenmaru. "She's like a little kid." I chuckled, and Bontenmaru chuffed in agreement. "I wish she didn't have to go through all that. But then again, if she hadn't I probably wouldn't ever have met her." I looked back at them once again and saw Sasuke giving me his signature death glare. I sped up a little and hoped to Kami that Kai would be able to convince him not to hate me.