Author's Notes

Hey all yeah it's past midnight so I wanted to update this before I went to sleep enjoy!

7

The food was dull, but this was better than what I used to be fed before meeting Nathan. I got the left overs of whatever my old masters used to eat. We were eating in silence and I felt I only respectful to thank him. I looked up at him and nodded my head at him.

"Thank you." I said softly and he looked mildly taken back by my words, but he nodded and grunted and then we were silent some more.

"May I ask question?" he asked and I looked up at him before nodding.

"Yes." I answered a bit too quickly and he nodded.

"Are you still…a slave to the American?" he asked with a hint of disgust in his tone. I was swallowing some of the rice I had in my mouth before slowly shaking my head.

"No. I am a free woman." I said and his eyebrows pushed together in confusion.

"Then why follow that dog?" he asked roughly motioning his head toward the door. I blinked some before looking down some and then back up.

"Because he keeps me out of chains. Anyone can see me, my skin and could easily imprison me and take away my freedom. Nathan bought me for his wife and child and when they died, he set me free. But I my family are still slaves on the plantation I was born in. If I went off on my own, my survival would be in danger. That is why I follow him, because he treats me like a human being and not like a dog. Because in my world, I am allowed to be treated as such." I explained before looking back down at the bowl rice I was eating. "It's one thing to be a white woman, but being an African slave oh you can do anything to us and we suffer in silence."

Ujio just stared at me with deep eyes as he was entranced in my story and I just shook my head.

"I was called a 'mounting horse' by my master. When I was only fifteen he broke me and I let him so I wouldn't be killed." I said shaking my head my body shaking at the thoughts of the past. "So that's why I follow the American dog, because to him, I am called Grace." Ujio just stared at me and I could see the mixed emotions in his eyes as if he was trying so hard not to care.

When we finished eating, I was told to go back to my room, and I wanted to protest, but I kept quiet and returned to my cave to sleep. But there would be no sleeping for me. Speaking the truths about my past have opened up nightmares I tried to lock away forever. I was on my back staring up at the ceiling in a black kimono and I just stared into space. I turned my head to look at my wrist and immediately I heard screaming in my head. I remember my wrists being restrained and I was screaming and crying as they laughed above me.

They ripped my clothes off and would take turns one by one. I wanted to roll on my back, but the pain from that position haunted me as well and I felt I could no longer be on the ground. I was panting hard when I sat up and just stood up unable to be alone. I needed to see Nathan and I needed to see him now. Without thought of my safety, I swung the door open and just moved down the hall looking for the door that would lead me outside. There were some lamps I could see through windows and I just followed them trying to remember if I was going in the right direction. I then found an door opening, so I quietly began to open it. I didn't want Ujio to hear me so I held my breath and took my time sliding it open and I was met with mild light and for a split second my mind told me I was free.

But when I had the door open, I saw I was not outside but in another room, but a room with more cots and blankets and weapons. I noticed how warm it was from the open windows and it smelled nicer in here, but then looking down at the blankets, I could see Ujio beneath them and he was still and breathing evenly and silently. His shoulders were bare above the covers so I had to assume he was not wearing anything. I blinked watching him roll on his side, his back facing me. I paused for a moment observing the curves of his body, the muscles rippled even in his sleep. His hair was down and flowing and even when asleep he looked so primal. I should have closed the door and left, but seeing his back, I could see scars that looked faded, but all I could think about were whips hitting smooth skin. I closed my eyes and tried to block out the sound of whips cracking against flesh.

I felt a bit drawn to the sight of him now and I didn't know why. I slowly stepped inside the room and wondered what the story was behind his scars. I stepped further inside the room, no longer caring about being quiet. If he wakes up then he wakes up and I wouldn't care. I felt he would have to do, he would have to give me comfort in my nightmares in Nathan's place. He always knew how to soothe me when I had my nightmares as I would soothe him when he had his.

I knew where Nathan was and I knew there was no way I would get to him alive. Anyone who saw me outside would think I was trying to escape and may have attacked their military leader. I didn't care right now, I needed the touch of someone who wouldn't hurt me. Nathan wouldn't, and I had to tell myself Ujio wouldn't either.

By now I was standing right beside Ujio, staring down at his face. By now my body has blocked the moon's rays from his face and I could see his eyes shutting tighter as if noticing this. He must have been use to the lights of outside because now he was starting to stir. His eyes opened and they were glazed until he looked up, and immediately I found my legs being swept up from under me and I was dragged beneath Ujio's body, a sharp blade pressing against my throat causing me to panic. He said shouted something above me, and I just stared at him unable to understand.

"What are you doing, Grace! Trying kill me!" he shouted.

"Do you see a weapon in my hand?" I asked. He growled, his body heat radiating off of mine.

"Do not be coy! What are you doing in my room?" he asked now raising the blade back as if preparing to strike me. I opened my mouth some, but his hand gripped my throat causing me to gasp sharply, but my airway was not closed. "SPEAK!" I choked out now and looked at him.

"I was going to see, Nathan! The American!" I cried out. He growled.

"Trying to escape with the insolent dog!" he asked raising the knife even higher as if not planning to wait for a response.

"No to seek comfort!" I yelled out and he paused now staring down at me as if confused. I finally realized how strong the tough samurai was. He body was heavy above mine, and I could fully see he was naked above me. My heart was pounding out of my chest and I just stared up at him as he observed my face.

"Grace… I thought you would have understood if only a little that I do not intend to hurt you." he said, his tone thick. I shook my head.

"Don't you see you already did." I said and now he looked utterly confused as if I had spoken another language.

"You brought back memories of my past at dinner time… memories that make me wish I was dead and only Nathan could make me feel better, make me feel safe- protected. I needed to see him, because he knew what to do." I said feeling tears slide down the sides of my eyes and into my hair. Ujio just stared down at me for a moment with dark eyes. I could tell he did not trust me or my words and I just shook my head. "I don't expect you to understand. How could you?" He gave a mild frown before sighing heavily and sitting up and standing up pulling me up to my feet.

"Take off kimono. I want to make sure you're not hiding any weapons." he said seriously as he moved back from me and I was utterly still and shocked, but knew not to test him since he had the knife. I began to undo the kimono to the point that I could just open it and slowly I did exposing myself to him. His eyes dropped down to my body looking it over with… fascination. But doing this was nothing new.

I dropped the kimono completely and Ujio's eyes widened as I did this.

"If you're going to do it then do it." I said lowly, and Ujio just shook his head.

"That would bring dishonor to my family's name." he said and moved to grab my kimono and wrapped it around my shoulders now and I stared up at him in shock and he just looked down at me. "That would dishonor me as a man." I didn't know what that meant, but I knew one thing, I was exhausted and I wanted to sleep but not alone. I shook my head.

"I don't want to sleep alone." I said softly and he seemed taken back by my words and he nodded looking away for a moment.

"Just tonight." he said roughly before opening his hand toward the blanket. I looked back at them before looking at me and he just grunted and motioned for me to lie down. I placed the kimono back on and slowly lied down beneath the blankets feeling nothing but nervousness. He wasn't Nathan and Nathan would never take advantage of me. He always can. He does have the power and is still my captor. I lied on my side and now he joined me and I could feel his shoulder against my back, yet his thick manly musk washed over me.

"What does he do?" I heard him ask. I lifted my head some in confusion.

"What?" I asked.

"The dog, what does he do… to make you feel…protected?" he asked. I was not expecting his question. Maybe he wanted to make small talk before falling asleep, like he liked to talk. I shrugged lightly finding no reason to lie.

"On rare occasions, we would sleep together. He would make love to me. But mostly, we held each other when we were hurting or in pain from the past. He'd rub my body gently soothing me." I said and he made a low grunt and I didn't even know how to take it so I just remained quiet on my side. I felt him shifting a bit and I knew he had faced me, because I could feel his knees and everything else grazing against my body. I said nothing though, because I didn't want to disturb him anymore than I had tonight.

But after feeling movement from him, I could feel his hand airlessly moving over my right leg and slowly he began to just lightly slide his palm up and down my leg. It was awkward, but I could feel the warmth of his hand through the fabric of my kimono and I just looked down a bit with my eyes to see if I could see anything. He definitely had warm hands and even for being so calloused and rough from killing, they had a softness to them. I…liked this touch from him. It caused a light shiver to move up my body and I ended up giving a light sigh which made him suddenly stop and move his hand muttering a low apology. However, I quickly grabbed his hand and moved it right over my leg and I parted my legs just a bit and just placed his hand between my legs. I braced myself for him to rip away and scold me for taking advantage of his kindness to not hurt me, but instead, I felt two of his fingers find their way to my entrance and enter me.

I gasped out in shock of my tightness only to have his other hand turn me around so that his lips could crash into mine.