I do not own the rights to For Honor, that being said Enjoy!

Chapter 7. Ghosts

William felt the humidity of the forest slide into his throat as he woke up, it was a weird feeling not having a dry throat when he woke up but after months spent in the mire and away from the dry and hot lands of Ash field, it was almost a blessing. He got up from the small bedding and slid on his shirt as he stepped out of the tent and into the forest, guards walked past him and nodded as they made their patrols.

The time spent in Kazan came and went and he soon found himself back on roads he didn't know in a swamp that wanted to claim him, the only reprieve seemed to be that Tadashi convinced Kastumoto to join them to the capital. William rubbed his eyes as he walked to the side of his tent and dunked his head into the large barrel of water sitting between his and another's tent. William whipped his head up and launched water into the air behind him. he shook his head and rubbed his eyes again before turning around to see Sayori, a very soaked Sayori looking at him with knives behind her mask.

"I'm glad to see the liquor turn against you, not happy to get a whip of water before dawn" William looked up at the sky and nodded as he looked at her with her new and very soaked robes.

"terribly sorry, I didn't realize you were behind me" William went to wipe a strand of water from her mask before she walked away and towards the entrance of his tent. William followed her as she grabbed the opening slit and wiped the water off of her mask. "so is there a reason your awake before the camp is?"

"I could ask you the same thing, and as groggy as you are" William looked at her with a small smirk before she looked back to the camp. "you volunteered us for hunting for something to eat in the morning last night?" William changed his expression to confused as she walked away to her own tent. William shook his head as he caught up with her as she grabbed her Yumi bow and handed one to him. "but now I'm starting to think you were bluffing trying to get in my brother's good grace, that and you were in between bottles of sake" she grabbed a bundle of arrows and headed for the outskirts of the camp. "I saw some fresh tracks a few minutes ago, a small heard of deer came close to camp a few hours ago" William nodded as he followed her to the outskirts.

They both readied an arrow ready to go after anything that seemed to appear. William looked over to Sayori as she moved in front and failing to restrain himself, he found himself looking right at her, rather than the hunt he volunteered for them. but what didn't make to much sense was how she acted with him, since the castle she seemed rather indifferent to him either not spending too much time or altogether avoiding his company, it puzzled him. William stayed in his thoughts as they walked when she held her hand up getting him to return to the world. William watched the hand in the air as she gestured for them to duck.

"twenty yards ahead, do you see it?" William peeked up and noticed the deer grazing in the waters. William nodded before he knocked an arrow and tapped her shoulder.

"I'll go left, you right and if you have the shot take it" William moved before she could say anything making her sigh heavily. William slowly went past tree after tree without breaking contact with the deer, making sure he never spooked it as he stopped when he got to a spot perfect to land a shot. William closed his eyes and readied his bow rearing the string and notched arrow to his cheek. The arrows feathers touched the stubble on his cheek as he let it go as it sailed through the air and continued until it landed with a loud thud into the tree next to Sayori who was chuckling as her shot brought the buck down a few seconds before he could. Sayori looked at the shot and took his arrow from the tree.

"you missed!" William walked up to the buck as he slung his bow around his torso.

"you took him down before my shot could land" William said with a small smile breaking through his face. Sayori handed him the arrow as he took it from her hand.

"you still missed" William shook his head and rolled his eyes as he looked at the buck.

"I don't think this would feed your brothers army" William took the arrow and tied it's feet together before he slung it over his shoulders with a loud grunt feeling the water weight on his upper body.

"this is just for us, Tadashi, Kastumoto and the officers, the other men have rations or they can hunt if they so please" William walked ahead of Sayori as with each foot the buck was showing how heavy a water soaked corpse could weigh. Sayori followed behind him as she looked around the forest, making sure nothing would follow them back as they came back soon after, William made a straight line for the center of the camp near the fire and dropped the buck next to the coals Himura was getting set up. Sayori walked past the two men who were looking at the Buck with hunger and straight into her brothers' tent.

Tadashi was up and walking around, his armor was still on its stand, but his headband seemed to never have come off. Sayori walked up to the table in the middle and looked down at the map and the figures representing different clans and warlords belonging to the knights, samurai and the Vikings, along the coast each of the little castles on the map held a Viking figurehead as in the middle of the mire. Tadashi smiled at his sister as she walked in.

"we found a good-sized buck in the forest, I was surprised to see William lift it by himself, it seemed to be a hundred pounds at least. Tadashi seemed to switch his attitude in a matter of seconds as he gripped the table and look at the closest knight figure head.

"I'm surprised you have taken a such a liking too him to bring him along, let alone let him live" Sayori looked over to his bedding and noticed a body half strewn in cloth face down still asleep.

"he saved my life; I owe him that at least"

"then cut him dry and send him away"

"I can't do that Tadashi"

"WHY NOT" Tadashi slammed his fist down making Sayori jump and the women in the bed to wake up abruptly and looked around before she made eye contact with Sayori and scowled at her. Sayori looked at Natsuki who covered herself up and sat up on the bed.

"we will discuss this later, preferably when you don't have company" Sayori began to walk out when she felt her brothers' hand on her wrist.

"you know it's more than that" Sayori looked at her brother from behind her mask as Natsuki stood up from the bed and grabbed a robe that was on the ground. "if the dog doesn't need to be here than he needs to leave, so tell me why he's here" Sayori looked over to Natsuki who moved and grabbed a piece of fruit from a bowl and took a bite.

"'as far as I know he's looking for a group of survivors from a retreat" Tadashi let her go as Sayori gave him her attention.

"why?"

"I assume they would be his allies, when we ran into each other in ash field he was following tracks when Honda and her came and interrupted him" Natsuki perked up and smiled as she waltzed over to Tadashi sliding a hand into his shirt. Tadashi took Natsuki's hand and took it out of his shirt before he walked over to the table and grabbed a scroll and held it up to let Sayori see it.

"about three weeks ago, Dio and his men came across a group of knights struggling in the swamps, they claimed they were the last of a group of survivors from a huge battle with Ivar the Bloodletter, however they said the swamps took most of them" Sayori shook her head as she walked out of the tent sighing heavily. William looked up from skinning the buck to see as Sayori huffed off and make a break for her tent but didn't stop what he was doing as he continued to skin and was about to start cutting sections of the buck. Minutes went to hours as William carefully carved and rationed off parts of the meat before he took a few moderate pieces and set them in place on a spic and set them to roast over the fire.

William smiled to himself as he smelled the venison cooking and looked over to the cover of Sayori's tent, realizing he was too focused he felt a slap on his shoulder making him turn to see Kastumoto who sat down on a mat next to him before he took a small knife and cut off a few small pieces of the meat.

"something on your mind?" William never looked up to Katsumoto as he took a knife and sank it into the meat roasting.

"no, it's nothing of major consequence" Kastumoto smirked as William took the knife out and shook his head as it seemed to be still a little undercooked.

"Look at me" William looked up as Kastumoto was laying down and leaning on his arm with a book was in his hand. "while you are still a young man and I'm older than you, it is considered rude to lie to your elder or a friend" William smirked as he looked over his shoulder.

"I'm worried for my companions" Kastumoto looked puzzled at William for a moment as William took his knife and played with the meat again. "I mean the company I had before I met Sayori in the forest, we were separated"

"how?" William took a piece of the meat and handed it to Kastumoto who took it and ate it.

"I held off a Vikings advance for them to escape"

"then how are you alive?" William smirked as he looked at the fire.

"my commander, someone who seemed a coward showed his colors and gave his life stopping the Vikings and let the others go before the Vikings took the keep while they got away" William rubbed his shoulder as the sound of footsteps behind him forced him to turn around seeing Tadashi, standing in his full armor except the helmet, as William and Kastumoto stood up giving their respect.

"I heard my sister stole your kill this morning" William looked at Tadashi as he tightened his Scabbard to his side noticing the Ivory handle of his katana sitting inside.

"just by a few moments" Tadashi smirked as he looked to his right.

"a small price to pay for food" William nodded as he was about to sit down when Tadashi cleared his throat and two solders came into view. "maybe you'd like to help with something else Wolf" William looked over to Kastumoto who nodded as he looked at Tadashi. "you would come to Kastumoto" William took a deep breath as he nodded. "Great" Tadashi smiled at them as he looked to his sisters' tent. "get your weapons and gear if you so wish and meet me in my tent" William and Kastumoto nodded and bowed before they took off as he walked over to his sisters' tent. "I'm coming in"

Sayori stood up and set the piece of charcoal down as her brother walked into the tent. Tadashi dropped his smile as he looked at the charcoal and then looked back at her.

"while I'm gone, you're in charge"

"and where are you going?" Sayori said as she went to grab her hat but stopped when Tadashi held up his hand.

"to scout, along with Kastumoto and the dog" Sayori stood silent behind her mask but he could feel her annoyance from her eyes.

"am I to stay without making my own case?"

"yes, and you will watch the camp and follow the order because I say" Sayori stayed silent as Tadashi tried to come up with some words before he closed his mouth and walked out and into his own.

William walked from his tent in full plate with his helmet in tow when he felt a hand on his arm before it swung him around behind his and Sayori's tent William's face was just inches from Sayori's as the first thing he noticed was she wasn't in her mask or her new gear but her hair was still under her straw hat. Sayori looked around before she came back to him and looked him in the eyes.

"is there a reason why you pulled me away from meeting with your brother. Sayori moved her mand over his as she shushed him quietly.

"I don't know what my brother has planned but knowing him he might try something against you so please be careful" William looked puzzled as she lowered her hand freeing his mouth.

"I noticed something about it seemed off but I appreciate the concern" Sayori nodded as they both heard footsteps and bunched closer avoiding the guard making his rounds. William looked down to Sayori as she was now centimeters away from him. "I should really get to your brother.

"he would start to worry if you aren't arriving" William moved his hands from her arms to her hips as she grabbed ahold of the sides of his chest piece right before she tasted his lips on hers. William took a deep breath in from his nose as they locked lips, Sayori felt his lips take her upper lip between his again and again before she closed her eyes and slightly moaned when a loud voice broke them apart.

"WOLF, are you coming or not?" William looked to Tadashi's tent as Sayori took a breath.

"I'll be there in a moment" William looked over to Sayori but saw she disappeared leaving him along behind the tents. William walked to Tadashi's tent as he noticed Kastumoto arrived with his gear already on as Tadashi walked out gripping his helmet before he put it on.

"so what is it we need to do in full gear?" Tadashi fastened his helmet and looked to kastumoto who was putting his own helmet on.

"scouts reported a group of solders in the swamps, they didn't have our banner, actually the shields they had carried a skull and they were all wearing black iron.

"Fallen legion" William whispered to himself as he put his helmet on and looked through the slits. "where are they?" Tadashi scoffed as he pointed to the west of camp as the three men went off.

Sayori waited for hours as she went from her tent, to the campfire to even Tadahsi's tent waiting for them to return until after the moon came out and, in a huff, Sayori walked back into Tadashi's tent and walked to the table. She looked at the figures noticing the spots the knights and Vikings held on each other's land but nothing in the mire when footsteps behind her made her spin around. Natsuki walked behind her and sat on the edge of the table and smiled at her.

(in Japanese) "my my, aren't you anxious" Sayori walked around the table not breaking eye contact with Natsuki as she got to the far side.

"I'm curious why you're not in chains back in Kazan Castle"

"and I'm surprised your not dead after what Toda did to you with his club"

"why are you here Natsuki, if I remember my mother ended the courtship between you and Tadashi"

"Exactly, YOUR mother but not Tadashi, right now he's taking me to Shimizu to catch up now that there isn't really anything stopping us" Sayori shook her head as Natsuki hopped off the table and walked closer to Sayori.

"why are you in here sparrow?"

"that's my business" Natsuki laughed as she got closer.

"I doubt that sparrow, tell me" Sayori stood silent as she looked at Natsuki. "we used to be friends once, do you remember?" Sayori nodded as she took a step back.

"once you try to kill someone over an evening meal that changes" As Sayori felt herself back up into a corner Tadashi walked into the tent and took off his helmet seeing Natsuki backing his sister into the corner.

"Natsuki, leave us for a moment" Natsuki walked off and closer to Tadashi as she grabbed his chest piece and kissed him passionately before she walked off into the camp.

"your back, that's good" Tadashi smiled as he walked over to his bedding and set his helmet on a stand and looked her.

"yes, I am"

"will you tell me why you left in the first place" Tadashi nodded as he went to a chest close by and pulled out a stack on letters.

"when I got to Kazan, Katsumoto told me that the Wolf of the West had helped in the defense and I got curious, curious enough I wrote to spies and the scholars in Koto and I did a little research and came to an interesting discovery about your friend William" Tadashi held out his hand with the letters as Sayori took them and looked them over. "tell me, do you remember the last Ghost story your mother ever told us?" Sayori nodded as she looked over a few letters.

"the legend of the warden who took revenge on a group of people who killed someone dear?" Tadashi nodded.

"it appears it was based on a report your mother received one day, and it was all true" Sayori looked at her brother slightly confused. "William is this fabled Black Wolf of Camlann" Sayori set the letters down and looked at her brother.

"than why did you take William to the swamps if he's this horrible warrior?"

"I wanted to see his sword skills and they only proved my theory his skills would even match up with the story how he learned so quickly at a young age, he would've entered into the order at the age of twelve and reached a skill level similar to the story at fifteen or sixteen, flash forward and he would be around mine or your age now" Sayori shook her head as she walked to the door. "you don't believe me?"

"no, because my mother told me it was a story in order to forgive father" Tadashi's smile dropped as he looked at her.

"what happened was horrible and I take the blame, but the welt went away and if I remember he gave you something worse a month later"

"yes but when we completed training, Mother got scared and reminded me of the story, to forgive him" Tadashi looked at her with rage as she walked out of the tent seeing William out of his armor sharpening his sword by the fire with Katsumoto. Sayori looked over to Natsuki who was looking at her then him before she walked back into the tent. Sayori walked up to William who looked up and smiled.

(English) "Hey, Katsumoto was just reading a letter his wife and Shina sent him" Sayori looked over to Katsumoto who was smiling ear to ear from the words on the letter.

"my apologies but may I steal William for a moment?" Katsumoto nodded as he continued to read the letter as Sayori held out her hand to William who took it and sheathed his sword.

"is everything alright?" Sayori nodded as she nudged her head to the outskirts of the camp and took off her hat and let her hair down.

"yes, but please walk with me William"

They walked along the camp and into the swamps in silence until they came to the spot they had killed the deer.

"can you tell me again how you got your name?" William looked at her under the moonlit sky with slight puzzlement.

"why?" Sayori shook her head as she looked at him.

"please, can you just tell me?" William took a step closer as he brought his hand to hers to his surprise as she interlocked her fingers with his.

"I received the title when I led a charge of knights on fallen legion outside of the city of Bru, after the battle I trapped a few commanders in the caves underneath the camps and fed them to wolves, but they called me the wolf because of my leadership and ferocity" Sayori nodded as she squeezed his hand before she took his other hand.

"is everything alright?" She nodded as she looked at him.

"I'm sorry, I know you must not like telling that story much. William shrugged his shoulders.

"aye, but it's just something I've said a few times and I'll have to say for a long time" Sayori looked at him for a moment before she looked at her hands.

"do you remember when you asked me about my scar?" William nodded. "how did you know what it was?" William smiled as he looked at Sayori's face.

"because you refused to show your face when we first met, and I assumed it was something you were ashamed off, either a scar or a possible birthmark and I took a chance" Sayori looked at the ground and the water pooling at his boots and her sandals.

"my father met a woman that came from Ash field, after Tadashi's mother perished in childbirth. He took her to Koto and they married trying to make an alliance that fell through when I was born" William looked at her with concern as he noticed the tears start to pool. " but she stayed with him for years until one night when something terrible happened and he gave me this" William noticed the tears falling now as she held her head up, looking at the moon. "my whole life he never really gave me the time since he was dragged into a situation he never really wanted because he hade an attraction to a foreign woman and his punishment was a half breed disgrace like me" William squeezed her hand as he wiped a tear from her face before he cupped her cheek in his palm. "when I'm around the people of the myre, as much as I feel like I belong they take that from me, but you… you somehow make me feel like I'm not something to hide" William smiled as he looked into her eyes.

"you have nothing to hide" Sayori broke the contact as she walked to a tree and leaned onto it.

"you don't understand, it's a matter of honor for my family" William walked up to her.

"they shouldn't have to judge you on who your parents are" William brought her closer and embraced her. "rather the skill and honor you can give from the actions you do" Sayori smiled as William squeezed her against him. William ran his hand across her back as she looked up at him. "is there anything else you want to get off your chest while your confessing to me?" Sayori scoffed as she pulled away and looked at him.

"I choose to shade my hair" William acted upset as he looked at her with shock.

"oh, oh my… this changes everything about you… I'll never be able to look at you the same way again" Sayori laughed under her knuckle as William looked around. "quite the beautiful spot we have here, that and secluded" Sayori nodded as she looked at him.

"I wanted to be alone when we spoke"

"do you think that's wise, seeing as how the last time we were alone something happened?" Sayori took a step closer as William smirked.

"I trust as a knight of Ash field you wouldn't do anything dishonorable, especially with the enemy" William brushed a stray hair from her face as he moved his hands to her waist.

"I would never do anything to harm a noble lady such as yourself" William smiled as she moved her hands around his shoulders. "no matter how bad I would want to" Sayori smiled as she brought him down a little as she pressed her lips to his. William reciprocated the kiss for a few momenets before they broke apart and looked at each other for a minute.

"we should get back before something notices" Sayori nodded as William had to pulled himself from her grasp and walked back to base with hands still intertwined until they were forced to break apart and go to their separate tents. William tossed around for a moment in his beddings as he looked at the ceiling and got up moving to his bag and pulled out a small white standard with a Griffon sown into the fabric and ran his hand over it feeling the ridges before he put it back and tried to get back to sleep for the night.

As always, I hope you enjoyed! feel free to leave comments or reviews its always welcomed and I'll see you next time!