VIII

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Arc VIII Chapter VIII

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Asami smiled happily as her mood today was excellent, which was also the case for the entire week. Every day was a good one, every day was a happy one thanks to a cute little radiant sunshine right next to her, and she had no reason to complain. As a consequence, Asami was less gloomy, less serious, and less verbally abusive than usual, much to the unspoken joy of a certain clumsy companion.

His mistress had stopped hitting him, or at least senpai was hitting him less frequently, which was obviously a positive trend. And the reason for this was that Asami had found a new victim for her special kind of affection, and it wasn't Tobi.

A new victim of her bottomless love, her cuddles, her huggles and anything else that resembled human emotions, which her little ice princess wasn't supposed to possess. Apparently, she had one and it wasn't purely made of cold stone. Tobi witnessed a friendlier Asami he had never thought to be possible and being under her aegis felt never this good. Sure, she was still tyrannical and despotic as ever. Asami was a cruel mistress indeed, ruling over common rightless peasants like him with an iron fist, but his position was improving, gradually. Tobi was understandably happy. Wasn't that wonderful?

Asami was now mumbling a simple thank you when she was commandeering his breakfast for herself. She thanked him now instead of stealing his food without a warning. This was definitely an improvement. Yesterday she even praised Tobi. Can you imagine that, Asami praising Tobi? Well, he couldn't until the impossible happened.

Her princess promoted his morning coffee from a hideous attempt on her life as well as her culinary senses to barely potable and not trying to poison her with brown coloured rinse water. Tobi smiled. He called this progress, a slow and steady progress. His cooking skills had apparently leveled up and some day he still might become as passable cook under senpai's tutelage.

And Asami was even less insulting than what was previously the norm. Instead of calling an incompetent fool and a disgrace to humanity, she just sighed now and called him Tobi and an incompetent fool. Sometimes she exhibited a smile, and it wasn't faked nor dismissive in nature. Her lips really smiled and her smile was warm, dazzling, radiant. A smile he hardly believed to still exist beneath her unforgivably cold surface, but it somehow survived and Tobi witnessed now how the thick ice around her heart was finally thawing as the dawn of spring arrived. Her world was bright again, full of colour. And Asami was happy.

Tobi relaised that this was how she had been long time ago. And what remained were only a few sparse fragments, a few broken shards of who she was once in the past.

But what surprised Tobi the most was the reason for her sudden change in personality, a girl. Yes, a single girl caused her change and Tobi couldn't fathom why. Granted, they looked similarly, they acted similarly, they spoke similarly ... Well, in retrospective, he could see why perhaps. But still, the girl effected a visible change inside Asami, mostly to the better.

Asami really dotted on the girl like he had never seen before. I fact, as if she was her long lost little sister. Asami was nice, inexplicably nice. And she was huggling her lots and lots the entire previous week. Especially, when Asami was sleeping and the unconscious part of her mind enjoyed free reign. The girl found herself with surprising frequency enveloped in one of her hugs, not to say almost daily. Resistance was futile against her affection.

Nevertheless, the girl still resisted in one way or another. It was kind of paradoxical. It really was. Most of the time, the girl refused to cooperate no matter what. Instead she was primarily preoccupied with sulking and playing little obstinate princess. And she played her role well. The girl was constantly puffing her cheeks and crossing her arms indignantly.

She still refused to give them her name. She still protested loudly, insisting stubbornly that she was taken hostage against her will and in violation of basic rights and consuetudinary practices by lawless brigands like them.

But on the hand, the girl never tried to escape despite having countless opportunities to do so. Yes, she might have pretested, but she never even made an attempt to run away. The girl obediently followed them all this time, or rather she stalked senpai like a new-born kitten her mother.

Always jumping, leaping, running behind her wherever possible. Holding her hand whenever possible. And when nobody was looking and senpai sleeping, she was even hugging her tightly. In short, both had a unique, not to say strange symbiotic relationship, oscillating between love and hate. Tobi was scratching his head. Truly curious.

They were marching across a snowy plain and it was safe to say that the scenery hasn't changed much since weeks. Snow, snow, and even more unending snow. And there was no end of it in sight. Nevertheless, Asami didn't seem to be discouraged by the ghastly weather. As usually, she marched ahead, leading a certain girl by hand who was enveloped in an overly fluffy and oversized scarf to keep her warm.

Tobi was more than just a tiny bit envious. Senpai never shared her scarf with him. He wanted it too.

The girl was tugging on Asami's sleeves, repeatedly.

Asami smiled. "Yes, what is?"

"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? And where are we even going?"

Her smile diminished and Asami reacted with a saddened expression. She seemed disappointed, and slightly hurt.

"How did I say that you should call me?"

The girl noticed noticed her mistake and sighed in annoyance. Eventually, she relented, bashful as ever.

"Are we there yet? And where are we even going, ... nee-chan?"

Asami's smile returned and she pinched her cheeks with childish glee. "See, what this so difficult, Asami junior."

The girl didn't even try to fight the pinching. It was useless. But she could complain and hope for the best. "That hurtsh, you know! And stopsh calling me by thatsh name! I don't like it!"

Asami was puzzled. "Which name? Do you mean Asami junior?"

She nodded vigorously.

Asami reinforced her smile as well as pinching attack. She giggled, amused. "Well, I could and I would. But unfortunately, a certain stubborn girl still refuses to give me her name. And this situation doesn't seem to change in the near future. So, I will call her whatever I want until the end of days, right?"

The girl sighed. This time, she conceded defeat. But only this time. "I understandsh, I understandsh."

"My name is ...", she mumbled into her scarf, barely audible and with a certain sense of defiance," ... Yu ... ki."

Asami titled her head. "What did you say? I didn't you hear hear you. You have to be louder."

Yuki grumbled slightly. "Yuki, my name is Yuki."

Asami maintained her bitter-sweet smile. "Louder."

Yuki exploded and threw a miniature temper tantrum. "I said my name is Yuki! Satisfied?" She crossed her arms and hid within her scarf, offended and grumpy.

But Asami didn't care. Her smile broadened and she patted Yuki's head. "Yuki ... Yuki ... What a lovely name. I will make sure to never forget it, Yuki-chan."

As Tobi had said before, they were a strange duo.

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It took much time, but they, finally, arrived at their destination. Mainly due to a certain additional member their group had gained. Nevertheless, they arrived.

A castle of ice and stone was rising up before them. Situated on a hill and surrounded by a seemingly lifeless city. They got through the gates and pair of grumpy distrusting easily, but aside from these friendly guard and a few shadowy figures the entire city was deader than dead. They streets were empty and daily had ceased , which wasn't surprising.

It was winter. It was cold. The sun was already setting. And nobody sane-minded wanted to challenge minus thirty degree in the open. So, it was understandable.

The castle wasn't anything spectacular and quite modest in size considering that it was the residence of the local feudal lord. But as the surrounding lands weren't famous for their prosperity and wealth, it only seemed logical. The Land of Iron was by no meas poor, but they were certainly not rich.

What worried Asami, however, was Yuki. She tried to mask it, but she was growing increasingly anxious, the closer they got to the castle. Yuki gripped her hand tighter than ever before. Her pulse was racing. And she was visibly uncomfortable.

Asami looked concerned. "Yuki-chan, is something bothering you?"

Yuki ignored her innocuous question for far too long. Instead, she stared at the ground. "Nothing, nee-chan. I just don't feel good, that is all." She was lying and it was painfully obvious. Something was wrong.

"Are you sure?"Asami furrowed a worried eyebrow.

Yuki nodded and smiled weakly. "Don't worry, nee-chan, I am good. You don't have to worry." She reassured her, but Yuki's grip on her hand nevertheless tightened.

"If you say so."

"Halt!" Asami's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a guard who pointed in his imprudence a sharp object known as a spear in her direction.

"Who are you? And what are you doing?" The guard gave her an icy, which seemed to be a common occurrence here in the cold north. And he wasn't alone. There were more soldier and their stares didn't lack the right amount of animosity.

Asami deflected them with a gentle smile. She removed the spear from her face with her. "Let's s dispense with this sort of formalities. I think you should put your spear aside before you hurt anyone. We don't want that to happen, do we?"

The guard didn't budge and fixed his weapon on her again. "You didn't answer my question. Who are you!? And what do you want!?"

Asami was displeased and played with her nails. "Anyway, your gracious lord and master requested our presence. He called for us and now we are here. So, could you please inform him that we have arrived."

His expression softened and he furrowed a confused eyebrow. "So, you are these elite shinobi he told us about?" He was doubtful.

Asami nodded. "Yes."

The guard didn't seem to be convinced. "Well, I find that hard to believe. No offense intended, but what I see are only an idiot. "He stared at Tobi. "And one little ... or rather two little girls."

"I agree."

"Nevertheless, could you allow us to pass? We have work to do. I have work to do. And I can promise you we are the real ones." Asami deployed her most charming smile and a beautiful face. And it worked.

The guardsman stiffened in embarrassment and his remaining resistance crumbled. He stuttered. "Yes, yes, of course."

He stepped aside and so did the rest of the guardsmen. They parted and made way for her. They all followed the girl's as though it was only natural. It was natural to obey her and it didn't bother them. They were trained samurai, the Land of Iron's finest. They had honed their skills, their spirits for years, but all was seemingly powerless against a little girl and her bewitching smile. And primarily her eyes.

Not only Yuki was surprised their sudden change in behaviour, but also Tobi. He stiffened. How ... did she ... do that?

Asami was delighted and rewarded her lovely puppets with a further gentle smile. "Thank you very much. I appreciate your cooperation in this matter."

Asami giggled and took Yuki's hand. "Come, Yuki-chan. We don't want to make our employer wait, right?"

Yuki nodded weakly. Her hand was still trembling, shaking in fear.

"Don't worry, you have me. Nee-chan will protect you, whatever the cost might be." Asami pressed her hand.

Yuki looked up, unsure. "Really?"

"Yes, I will." It was a yes, a definite yes.

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