Quest 46: And from the Ashes

"Dammit, wai- wait I-," are the sounds the last plea from my quarry cries out as I bury my sai in his chest.

I slowly withdraw the blade watching the cloud shinobi slump onto the cold stone floor staining with his life.

"Is that the guy?" Vince asks.

"Yeah, we should get back and tell Ryuzaki he has the green light, with him out of the way we don't need worry about him alerting the rest of them."

the two of us lurk our way back in the shadows of the fortress. The cloud last foothold in the land of grass is about to fall and with it gone we can resume trade through here again.

"Did you hear, the blackguards are hot on Richard's trail," Vince informs me.

"He's run out of allies and resources that stunt he pulled six months ago, ironically, he put the nail in his own coffin," I whisper back.

" Yeah I wouldn't have thought that he caused all this, doesn't fit y'know."

"It does, depending on how you think about it, leaking false info about a chemical weapon, knowing who was deployed in the area and learning how bad it would devastate our forces if Kokuo made it our western border, it was his last gamble and it failed."

"Yeah thanks to Kali,"

"Y-yeah, but still I would've like to be one to catch that son of a bitch," I growl.

I see our window leading out into the cool night sky, I lean out and see the red head and signal for him to move. He looks at me with empty green eyes and nods. He kicks the door open and his team moves in.

"Jerk," Vince hisses.

"Don't blame him, He loved Kali, he's having a rough time himself."

"I get that but how can he blame you for that."

"Because I got her killed," and that's what I told him.

"Okay enough dude I was upset about the whole reibi killing us secretly, I was but after awhile I got over it and so did everyone else."

"Everyone else?" I ask.

"Okay Charles is fucking Charles you two never seen eye to eye, to begin with, the point is we know you meant well, hell you even tried to stop us from using it."

"Still doesn't help that I kept it a secret, family doesn't do tha-

"Bullshit," Vince says giving a knowing look.

"Alright, but it didn't make What i did it right."

"I know hell Mei told us how you were willing to risk exile for us, shit I can't speak for everyone but it means a lot to me.

Sounds of fighting echo throughout the fort then, a song loudly progresses through the fortress the fighting stop almost instantly.

"Itsuki should just be finishing up by the time we get there let's move," I say.

We gather in the courtyard of the fort the moon smiling on high with stars. The cloud forces tied up in a daze on the grass.

"Alright! Another one done, time to go home a relax a little." Vince exclaims.

" Okay well, I'm going to deploy for the land of birds when we get back-"

Itsuki looks at me, eyes wide with worry, "What?"

"Man you've been going on missions nonstop that can't be healthy," Mao says.

"I'm fine this is nothing, I got- I got a lot of energy I can handle it."

"Oh- okay," I can tell he wanted to say more but didn't.

As our ninja occupy the fort we had to report to the hidden grass's leaders that the enemy is gone. Making safe to resume trade again and securing another ally for the war.

The trip is long and mostly silent, there is this awkwardness that hugs the air kept anyone from speaking. As if the bad blood between Ryuzaki and I, it contaminates the very air itself. I didn't want things to be this way, but I'm afraid if speak up it'll only make things worse. Itsuki the poor girl doesn't have clue, I can feel it. Her doubts and uncertainty creeping in she just wants answers but I can't give them.

Akiko

"What?! Again, where is he?" I nearly yell at Itsuki.

After they had just come back from a mission Tokekageroh is deploying again.

Itsuki just looks sullen, and I don't have a clue what with Ryuzaki, he just keeps getting more distant but Tokegeroh I know what he's doing and needs to stop.

Itsuki points in the direction of training grounds, then there's sometime before his next mission.

I lucked out normally I'm either just missing him or he's just missed me, there's a lot I want to talk with him about, but the most important is his behavior. The kid's a machine day in and day out on missions, with barely a moments rest.

I'm here at the grounds, trees singed in half at the trunk another new technique no doubt. I barely make him out in the shadows of the forest, I go over to him.

"Hey Akiko-senpai," he says with a smile but it's empty.

"Kid, you got a minute?"

"Well actually I was just leaving deployments in few hours, and I need to get my rest." he replies.

My mistake for asking, as tries to walk past I grab his arm firmly.

"From what I hear that'll be a change of pace for you."

"You too huh, I'm fine, large reserves remember." he replies with a stupid empty smile.

"Stop it,"

"Stop what, we've got a war to win-,"

"Seriously kid, this isn't healthy."

" What isn't healthy? I'm perfectly fine."

"No, you're not!" I say frantically, he tries to break my grip but I hold him tighter.

"Senpai your scaring me, everything's fine reall-"

"This isn't how you cope Tokegeroh!"

He pauses stares at the ground, "I do miss her you know, I grieved for awhile, but I realized she died a hero and I'm proud of that." he picks his head up and he's still wearing that stupid grin.

My arm just moves and the sharp smack reverberates in the training ground.

Tokegeroh's cheek is redder than the rest of his caramel toned face. His hood obscures eyes and his face goes blank. Then a tear travels down his face, the light of the day bouncing off giving it a sheen.

He shudders, "It's my fault she's dead- because of me."

" No, come on it isn-"

"It is!- I thought- if could- keep moving on-, it would- stop hurting so much!" he gasps out, " I didn't think- it would be this hard."

"Come here," I pull him into me wrapping arms around him. "Let it all out, I'm right here."

He buries his face into my shoulder and just cries, he burdens himself with so much, it's impossible for him to hold it all in.

Brian

I hate this, trapped like prey, by Leviathan, the clan, the war, then I lost her, Kali the one light in this inescapable fog of despair.

I slowly lifted my head off her shoulders, looking at those shining teal eyes and a small smile graces her face. An image I could get lost in, I draw closer and closer not caring about the distance between, both literal and figurative. Before I know it my lips taste hers, instinctively I pull back, but she holding me pushing deeper into it!

After whats seems like an eternity we break apart. I look at her in shock and I didn't once think she'd reciprocate these feelings I thought it was unrequited love.

"I-I" I can't find the words, my heart is doing back flips, and my breath grows short.

She chuckles, "You um gave me a lot of time to think it over. I don't think I love you, but I want to see where this goes."

I don't know what to feel anymore, anxious, or overjoyed

"I'm sorry but we can't-"

"The clan right?"

"Yeah- but how did you kn-"

"There are a lot of rumours about your clan when comes relationships incest stuff mostly, honestly I thought you and Kali were a thing until you confessed." She explains.

"We can't- there's this rule-"

She grabs my face pulling my attention to her, "Do you think I care? What do you want?"

"You,"I answer without hesitation then spike of hate flashes in. I jerk my head around looking anyone nearby.

"What's wrong?"

"I thought I felt something is someone else here?"

"You're paranoid," she pulling my head back to her.

I hope I am, does Akiko have admirer I don't know about?

"Well I wanted to spend more time with you before your next deployment but-"

"Actually I lied about that part, Lord Sora forced me to take some time off," I eagerly interrupt her.

"Really now what can we do to occupy our time?" she says coyly pulling me in for another kiss.

"I'm game for anything." I declare as we break apart.

Her smile went from coy to predatory, there was this lingering hunger behind her eyes.

She lifts a single finger tracing it down my chest "Anything?"

My breath is caught in my throat "yeah anything,"

She pulls me close, and whispers "Bring some sake, the good stuff to my place."

I'm fish out of water here.

She giggles " You better be there!" she shouts before disappearing in a swirl of leaves.

"Okay," I say blankly to no one.

Akiko

It's a been awhile since I was this excited, nightfall couldn't come any sooner. I anxiously bounce my heels waiting at the door. Is he coming? Did I push too far? Did screw this up? All these questions disappear when I hear three soft knocks on the door.

I quickly try to run fingers through my hair aside trying look to sexier.

I open the door and he's standing there still with his hood trying to hide his eyes, but the pink tinge on his cheeks are all too noticeable.

"What are you waiting for? Get in here." I command, pulling him into a kiss, he clumsily crashes his lips into mine.

I kick the door behind him close holding his lips all the while, I break away and softly kiss his neck making him shiver a little.

"Didya bring it," I ask.

He pulls out a big bulky beige bottle, with Silver vine written in black, there are brown crooked lines resembling tree branches all over it.

"Silver vine you've got good taste,"

"Eh not really, I can't get drunk remember, I had someone recommended it to me."

"You could have just taken the compliment,"

" Yeah – well," he just trails off, he so anxious it's cute." Um Akiko-sen,"

"Just call me Akiko, Honey please." I interrupt him.

"Akiko are you sure about this? I mean age wise,"

"Yeah, you're like the most mature guy I know, come on to the back I like to drink outside."

I grab a few cups, then Toke-kun and I head outside. I pop open the bottle and pour the sake, and take a sip, it's sweet and almost has a nutty flavour to it.

After a moment or so of serene silence and night ambiance I ask "so when?"

"When?" He repeats.

"Did you fall in love with me?"

he chuckles and blushes a little then he pauses his eyes are lost in thought "I guess it was around the six kage summit."

"That long ago?" I'm sure surprised that was about two or three years ago.

"My turn," he pipes up.

"Oh ok, shoot."

"What- what made decide to do this I mean I know what you said earlier I mean- ultimately."

"A friend, you know Tsugiri, and I guess you to some extent."

Oh out already, I refill my saucer.

"Me?" he parrots again.

"Yeah, you've always treated with respect like a woman."

He chuckles a little.

"I mean it you ass," I playfully shove him.

"I'm sorry, its funny to me because I never saw as anything but."

I feel my cheeks heat up and I can't tell if it's the sake or him.

"Charmer, anyway I've dated other guys civilians and shinobi alike, even that jackass Tatsuki if you can believe it. Then after your confession, I got to thinking, what if? y'know."

He nods thoughtfully looking at the sky, it's clear night the moon and all the stars are shining above. Come to think of it.

"Toke-kun?"

"Hmm," he quietly responds.

"What's with you and star gazing."

"I really don't know, I guess it inspires me, a sea of stars stretched out over the horizon, you sort get this sense of how small you are."

"That doesn't sound inspiring it sounds bleak," I reply taking another sip.

"I was getting there, but despite that, you can see just what can become the sky's the limit. I know that's contradictory but there's a weird beauty to it."

Huh, I gaze up myself to see his vision, wow some of them are moving, oh wait no I'm just buzzed. That's enough of that, want to be lucid enough for next part.

"I guess I can see what you mean, either that or I'm a little drunk."

Brian

This is... Amazing I never thought that it could lead to this, me and her together. I mean sure there's going to be problems but right now I don't care about that this moment right now its...Perfect. My eyes wander to her and blue yukata, her bright eyes standing out against the night sky. Her soft raven locks frames face it's like looking at a model, I wish I could capture this moment.

"Alright time to get started," Akiko gets up.

Her yukata is practically coming undone her chest is peeking out of it.

"Started with what?" I ask my heart leaps and my nerves dance.

"you know exactly what?"

"I- uh," she can't possibly mean...

"Wow kid, I never really took you as dense, I'll spell it out for you S-E-X."

WHAT?! I just we would just hang out I never expected to get this far, and so soon!

"Did you think that you'd just sit here watching me drink, no the sake was for me to loosen up a little." She informs pulling to my feet.

"Ak- Akiko don't you think this is a little too fast?" I ask frantically.

"No, not really, it's not we're total strangers? Now stop trying to talk me out of this and come to bed," She commands pulling by my jacket, then comes up so close that we share the same breath. "Your Senpai still has some things to teach you," She whispers huskily.

My cheeks are burning coals, my hearts is a jackhammer, and legs are wet noodles. I'm not ready for this because to my great and personal shame I'm still a virgin!

Akiko, continues pulling me into the bedroom, a single futon just big enough for is stretched out before us its still a little dark to make out the rest of the room. The kunoichi swings me around, and starts kissing my neck and removing my jacket, good lord this really happening!

"Akiko are yyou-ooh you sure you're aah, fine ohh withme?" I manage to speak out between moans.

Her velvet lips send pleasurable tingles up and down my spine.

"Yeah, let's get this off," She says after removing my shirt and wire mesh, leaving me bare.

She looks at me with an appreciative grin, she places both hands on my chest, her light dexterous fingers run up and down my chest. The sensation makes my skin shudder in the best possible way, the little soldier is starting to waking up.

"Akiko, I mean I'm still inexperienced."

"I'd be surprised if you weren't, don't worry, we'll take things nice and slow," she answers pushing me gently on the futon.

She starts removing my pants and my little soldier is ready for action!

item obtained:

N soul Rank A "Unless I grip the sword, I cannot protect you. While gripping the sword, I cannot embrace you," Bleach (adds 40attack and def while with loved one.)

An: the last few chapters are come out all at once so it may take awhile quest 47, alt route, and epilogue will all be available next time.

Also this my first shot at romance writing, let me know how I did.