**Heads up! Woot! Two chapters today... Kind of... I rushed through this a bit... Again if you guys find mistakes feel free to correct them in the review section. I do try and do that. :P Also if the two chapters seem to run together... well that's because it was kind of written to be one chapter but didn't think you guys wanted to read a 4900 word document. :D I hope you all still enjoy the story! If not, leave a review saying why not. I do read and listen to all my reviews so yes, your opinion matters!**
The woman returned as promised. Hanna had come in, her clothes were still dry. Kojūrō quirked a brow. Hanna chuckled in response to his expression and set the large, wooden tray next to his lord. Masamune's eye caught how dry she was. He didn't miss the pink hue dotting her cheeks either which forced his interest.
"Why do you look so smug and dry?" His voice seemed rather deep as if he was cranky about something. Hanna thought about it and came to the conclusion he was just one of those fellows who were rather grumpy all the time. This forced her to smile more and the gentleman to raise a crooked eyebrow in response. Date couldn't help but chuckle. Samantha apparently knew how to handle him, it wouldn't be a surprise that her friend did too.
"I apologize but I have a soaking wet samurai in red to care for. Make sure you eat it all. Sam is going to give you some medicine later to help with the shoulder and it'll make you feel ill if you take it on an empty stomach. If you have difficulties eating due to the recent surgery, please feel free to order Sam-chan to help you." A Cheshire grin formed on the woman's lips, only adding to her larking tone. She appeared to be the cat that ate the canary before walking out with a sly step.
Masamune was left a little dumbfounded. He didn't understand women at all. That woman's grin was unsettling, he thought. His mind wrapped around some sort of trap but he doubted the food was poisoned. The man figured, he could safely assume Hanna wouldn't do anything to harm him or Samantha. He rested back as his loyal retainer adjusted the tray over his lap. Miso and the smell of warm porridge wafted under his senses. It was a welcoming aroma. His dark vision fell upon the tiny wooden bowls of soup as the lids were lifted.
"My lord, do you wish for me to assist you?" Kojūrō asked with his chin lowered slightly. The warrior shook his head with a slight smirk forming on his lips. "I'll have Short Stack help. I want you to go and get some rest." The One Eyed Dragon kept his voice low as he spoke. He didn't want that woman hearing, he thought with almost a leering expression.
"Um…", Miu spoke up after stepping out from the back room. "She's uh… Well, ready…" The normally shy woman had a pink hue dotting her cheeks as her long raven hair framed her soft cheek bones. With her eyes casted to the floor she didn't see the retainer get up and quietly step towards her. "If you'll excuse me my lord, I'll escort Ms. Suzuki to the lady's sleep quarters." Kojūrō's warm, thick voice nearly knocked the younger female over. Her copper eyes met his, once she realized where he was standing, and she felt her head grow light.
Miu quickly bowed to the lord's retainer and thanked him. Her eyes were shut exceptionally tight and her voice cracked so much all she could do was give a squeak. It took everything Kojūrō had to keep from laughing as she nearly fell over standing up to quickly. A thick, large hand cupped her elbow to keep her upright. When she covered her face with her sleeve, he had to admit she appeared rather lovely on this rainy day. Amongst seeing only men, she was a bit like a breath of fresh air. An idea struck him and a deep chuckle rumbled from his chest.
"My lord. I have a meeting with one of our commanders. If you don't mind I'll take my rest afterwards." Kojūrō's voice hid something from Miu. The hidden message that his daimyo caught with his sharp instincts. "Yeah, just don't get to cocky and do something you'll regret." The man nodded with a tender smile. "This meeting is long overdue", the retainer assured as he guided the woman he held the arm of, outside where he offered his coat before shutting the shoji.
The One Eyed Dragon leaned back one more, allowing the aromas fill his nostrils. In the silence of the room, the man remembered there was one other still lingering. "Hey kid, you still here?" His voice was gruff and held an unpleasant edge. Something Youji recognized when his birth father wanted to be left alone with one of the female servants. The boy stepped from the shadow of the corner. His own silence nagged the wounded man on the futon.
"Yeah, I'm still here." His voice held no emotion as he spoke. "Troublesome brat…", Date's voice trailed off. It was clear he wanted his time with Samantha but the kid didn't seem to understand that or did he, the One Eyed Dragon questioned quietly. The wounded man missed the smirk on the boy's lips as the famous samurai shifted in his bed.
"I get it", Youji taunted. "You want some time to be alone with my sister", the youngster continued with a spark of mischievousness. The young boy folded his hands behind his head as he turned towards the exit. "Just don't be a perverted old man. It's disgusting to see men in power force themselves onto women." The lad shifted his gaze over his shoulder to see how the lord took it. The cold stare burned between his shoulder blades. "I'm not an old man, you disrespecting brat", Date hissed under his breath.
"You are to me", Youji pointed out before continuing on his way. The room was silent once more. Other than the rain drops hitting the roof, there wasn't a noise to be heard. Date took it all in as he closed his eye. Even the aroma from the food was settling. He felt the prickle of ever nerve unwind and release. Even his left shoulder was feeling much better despite the numbing sensation still remaining. Short Stack was back and that allowed him to breath.
His ear twitched to the sound of a sock sliding across the wooden floor boards of the home. A smile created itself across his lips as he continued to enjoy the idea she was back. "You're as noisy as a horse stepping on dead leaves", he teased. "I'm sorry", she rebutted with attitude. His eye opened with a wide grin reaching from ear to ear. Everything was right again.
While the man sat, deep in his thoughts Samantha had grabbed a pillow and made her way to him. She sat on her knees, upon the soft pillow, soaking in his features. Heat touched her cheeks. Her eyes took in every detailed line of his bare chest. Why…, did he have to be so good looking, she wondered desperately to herself. He had the perfect body to be a model in any magazine she could think of.
Truth be told, Samantha actually found him more than just attractive. She wasn't blind to the fact her heart raced every time he was near or how comfortable she was at his side, for the most part. Yeah, he was an asshole for teasing her all the time, she continued to think. The man was demanding, grumpy, and a warlord which made things worse. If he was as pleasant as Yuki-kun, then he'd be perfect but that still didn't stop the fact she was drawn to him
Deep into her thoughts she didn't make a sound or even move. The female's dark green eyes didn't even travel. It was if she was gazing at the tray of food over his lap. Her eyes glistened in the pale light, adding to her soft qualities. She didn't feel comfortable, rather out of place. Like some kind of ironic joke being played. The young woman couldn't blame anyone other than herself. After all she's the one that did it to herself, to get Date to behave. A tender sigh, left her lips as she quietly prayed for nothing else to happen.
Masamune's gaze shifted when he realized how close Sam was to him. The man's body froze when he saw her up close. His breath was held and his heart, he swore, stopped. At his side was a noble woman. A beautiful one with perfect skin and piercing mysterious eyes. Her hair was braided and brought up into a shape of a bun with a large blue hair comb to hold it in place. Two plum blossoms made of silk, or so he assumed, dyed in the color of the ocean and the other of an emerald. Both pinned to the top of bun. Long locks of copper hair fell on each side of her delicate face, framing it. It was an eye catching style that left little locks of hair to taunt a man to insanity.
The warrior's gaze soaked in her facial features. Orange hues from the hearth in the center of the room, danced upon her flesh as to tease his hidden desires. He wanted to be the one touching her cheeks and allowing her swan neck to be caressed by his fingers. The fire was growing dimmer but he could still make out how much of a change she made in such of a short time she was away. The One Eyed Dragon licked his drying lips. His mouth was parched with cravings. The man couldn't move. It felt like a woman from a childhood fairy tale was next to him at that very moment.
Masamune shifted to help reign in his carnal desires before he tossed the tray to pull her to him. His fingers twitched as he desperately wanted to smother her body with his own. The man noticed Sam remaining quiet as he looked her over. The shimmer of the fabric caught his eye. Sapphire blue fabric with gold and silver dragons embroidered onto a sea of blue, was highlighted by emerald green fabric underneath covering up most of her white nagajuban. The woman's obi was two toned into dark blue and green. The part that amazed him was the large bow she had tied in the back. It was no wonder she needed help getting ready. The samurai had never seen anything like it.
Masamune was speechless. There was a moment of silence as he turned his head not to stare at her any longer. He was afraid if he did, the man wouldn't be able to hold out. Date already felt his lower half growing stiff and became appreciative of the tray covering up his secret. He let out a deep sigh. The man closed his eye and concentrated on lowering his heart rate. The male realized how human he was and needed to calm himself.
Sam felt every nerve grow raw with every moment passing in his silence. She wanted him to look at her and say something. The whole situation felt awkward. The woman couldn't figure out what he was thinking and that annoyed her. He always seemed to get quiet right before he pulls something and those thoughts made her a little edgy. Right now she felt a little vulnerable and didn't like it one bit.
Rolling her eyes, Sam pinched the bridge of her nose with her good hand. She managed to wrap her right hand again with Yukimura's head dress while Miu assisted her. The woman had to use her hand during the surgical treatment but now that she could rest it, the female wanted it cared for. The tight wrapping made her knuckles feel better by distributing the pressure. The red sash caught a certain man's eye, though. It brought him too many questions slowly unfolding in his mind. One question burned hotter than any other, proving his feelings for her weren't something whimsical but rather serious.
Masamune let a snarl escape, breaking the silence. "What is it", the woman asked while finding a reason to move. She couldn't sit still too long. It wasn't in her nature. Samantha started stirring the cooling food. "Where did you get that", his chin gestured towards the red sash. "Yuki-kun gave it to me to wrap my knuckles", she mindlessly answered. It was clear Short Stack was absent minded of his emotions, Date thought.
It made him wonder if she had any feelings for him at all. A foul taste developed in his mouth, to think she didn't. The realization hit him and reality was cruel, he continued to think. Despite the gnawing sensation in his stomach, Masamune suddenly didn't feel like eating. He could feel his mood slowly slipping into a dark place of his mind and it scared him. It was a hidden monster the man didn't care for anyone to see. He just had to hold out until he knew the full truth.