A/N: This is a really SHORT chapter compared to the lengths I usually write, but I really wanted to write something sweet, given it's been a long time in the waiting. I hope you find it as sweet as I do. Thanks for still reading!

Chapter Eight

Mitsuhide stood at one of his shelves, going through scrolls as he made himself busy during the night by completing some outstanding work.

He found it very difficult to concentrate however, as two things demanded his entire attention. The first, was the horror of Aki's bleeding eyes. Any form of injury to Aki was horrifying. But bleeding eyes was unnatural, even in the supernatural realms.

All things had a cost, a price. Aki's budding immortality was paid in blood.

Mitsuhide stood in front of his shelves, holding a scroll in one hand, and with the other hand, he leaned against the wood of the shelf, his expression hard with worry and unease.

He could see the logic of Aki's and Yue Lao's suggestion. Knowing one's weakness was necessary to therefore know one's strengths. But this weakness put Aki at a dire disadvantage if she ever needed to use her Sight. She was fine as long as the Fan was on her persons. But if not, what then?

Ever since Aki came to his time, she had twenty years of hardship. Most of her experiences in her new life had been good, but the bad experiences had been severe, if rare. Each one brought her too close to being beyond Mitsuhide's reach.

The other very prominent thought on his mind, was Aki's acceptance of his proposal. Ten years ago he asked her to be his wife. Ten years later, she finally said yes.

She said yes.

His heart felt so full he thought it would burst. Mitsuhide never thought he could experience such joy, such elation. Yet it turned out he could, because the one and only woman he had ever loved, actually loved him back. It was almost difficult to believe, that such a woman, that Aki herself, held only Mitsuhide in her heart. Despite the amounts of times she had saved his life, the amount of times he had failed her, she loved him and only him.

Therefore, his heart and mind swirled with a chaotic mix of horror and fear from her ability's drawbacks, and the soaring joy of knowing she was his. Mitsuhide was still trying to come to terms with it when his keen hearing heard the breathing of someone in panic and fright.

His thoughts scattered and he turned immediately to the sound and listened. His mind sharpened with alertness.

The breathing was Aki's.

Alarmed, he put the scroll back immediately and swiftly travelled to her quarters in the dead of the night, and at her screen, he opened it, feeling his body chill as scenarios of another assassin infiltrating her room rushed through his mind.

Aki was crouched against the wall, fan in hand and the bandage which had been tied around her head and eyes, was on the tatami. Her expression was wild with irrational fear, her heart raced and her eyes glowed icy green as she squinted, trying to See, despite the redness of her eyes.

"Aki?" Mitsuhide said with concern as he stepped in. Despite his voice being soft, she jumped in fright and turned to him. She blinked hard, as if she struggled to see him.

"Mitsuhide?" Her voice wavered.

Mitsuhide closed the screen behind him. "Aki, what's wrong? What happened?" He strode over to her.

"Is – is there anyone else in my room?" Her voice shook. "I can't see clearly."

Mitsuhide took her into his arms, cradling her head against his chest. "No. There is no one. Close your eyes. But why do you think there is someone else here?"

Her thin kimono was damp with cold sweat and she shivered and he rubbed her back, using the warmth of his hands to warm her again.

"I – I didn't know if it was a nightmare or reality," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him. "It was the three ninja again. The ones who took me ten years ago. I didn't think . . . I didn't think I would be affected by the memory since coming back. But not being able to see at the moment, I panicked –"

Mitsuhide's arms tightened around her. Her vision, whether it was normal or supernatural, meant her survival in every sense. To have it put at risk, must have given birth to a subconscious terror in her mind.

"It was just a nightmare," Mitsuhide breathed. "There is no one here. No assassins, no ninja. No one will harm you while I am here."

Aki still shivered, but Mitsuhide felt her try to steady her breathing. She clung to him harder than he thought possible, as if he were her lifeline. His heart ached.

"Since you returned, I have encased the castle with barriers and wards. No one can hurt you here," he reassured her, his voice soothing.

Aki brought her staggered breaths under control. "Sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

"I am acting like a damsel in distress over a nightmare."

Mitsuhide sighed. "I wish you'd act like a damsel in distress more often."

Aki paused. "Why?"

"Because it gives me an excuse to swoop in and save you."

Aki laughed softly. "But you have swooped in and saved me. Literally."

Mitsuhide thought back to the battle which changed everything, the battle where Aki had been defeated, and later killed in combat. It was a horrific memory, one which burned and pained him every time.

For Aki, the battle was a reminder of how he came to her rescue. But for Mitsuhide, it was a reminder of how he failed the person who had needed him the most.

Mitsuhide pushed the memory away, and with great effort, he unlocked his arms from around Aki and took her shoulders. Her glow had gone from her eyes, becoming dark brown again as she tried to squint up at him. But it was pained, and she had to close her eyes again.

"Come on, Aki," he said softly, guiding her back to the futon. "Go back to sleep. There is no danger here. We don't know how your eyes will be over the next few days. But sleep is the best medicine and cure for all things."

She sat down carefully, reaching out with her hands to gather her bearings in the dark, but did not lie down. Her fingers gripped his sleeve. "How many hours until morning?" She asked. Though her voice was steady again, her fingers trembled, giving away her silent thoughts.

"You are afraid to go back to sleep?" Mitsuhide realised, his chest tightening.

Realising he had seen through her, Aki let go of his sleeve and buried her hands beneath her legs to hide the tremble. "It's fine," she said lightly, but the waver in her voice betrayed her. "It's not the first time I've had bad nightmares and waited for the sun to rise."

Mitsuhide frowned, dismayed this was what she had been doing in the past. But he also remembered how quickly he was able to make her sleep, and ease away her fear during her recovery from her dance with death. Except this time, he had an added advantage.

He lay down on her futon and pulled her down into his arms, causing her to gasp and go rigid.

"M-Mitsuhide," she stammered with shock.

"You are my betrothed," he murmured, kissing her forehead. "Technically this is normal, and will become very normal, very soon. If you cannot sleep alone, then sleep in my arms." He hugged her to him tightly. "I will protect you."

How right it felt to have her in his arms. At last, he felt like he could breathe. Everything felt right. Everything was as it should be. He was with her, where he was meant to be. And she was in his arms, where she belonged.

And she still trembled. But Mitsuhide had a feeling he knew why.

"Are you cold?" He said, pulling the quilt over them. "Or are you nervous?"

"Nervous," she squeaked.

He smiled into the top of her head. "You have fought as many battles as me, survived death and a lightning ascension trial, assassination attempts and sickness. You faced all of them head-on with strength and confidence. Yet in my arms, you tremble?"

She covered her face with her hands. "Romance and love are the only things I don't know how to behave around. I can't pretend, I can't act."

Her response melted his heart, because here, was the one time he could see her timid side, her actual innocence. And only he could see it.

Mitsuhide ran his hand down her back until he reached the slender curvature at her hips. Aki inhaled sharply, instinctively moving away from his hand, which arched her body further into him. He caught her there, holding her to him and chuckled softly while her heart raced. Her response excited him, and his desire, his lust which he had been holding back for so long, almost surged and took control of him then and there. She was the most beautiful thing in the world. She was closer to him than ever before, but he wanted to be even closer.

However, he had to hold back, reigning in his urges.

"Do not worry. I won't take you so soon," he purred. "You are not ready yet." But he did wonder how long he would be able to hold back now that she had given him her heart. Would he be able to wait until their wedding night?

"Sleep. No nightmares will find you now," he urged.

Aki lowered her hands down from her face, though her body was still rigid. "I . . . I don't know how to sleep like this," she said quietly.

Mitsuhide smiled. "Then we can talk, until you become tired and sleep again."

Aki was quiet for a long while. "Can you tell me what your ascension trial was like?" She finally asked. "I never got the chance to ask."

As soon as she asked, her heart-rate calmed a little. It was always the way; take the attention away from her, and she would relax. Therefore, Mitsuhide complied, but never let go of her.

And so he told her. He explained to her the purification rituals, all twelve of them for twelve days. He did not gloss over too much on some of the details, for they were harsh trials, as harsh as the lightning she endured, but of a different sort of harshness. She had never actually described her trial and experience to him, therefore Mitsuhide did something similar in return.

Mitsuhide explained the purpose of each ritual, and told her of how he almost failed the final test. It was only her parting gift to him – pages from her journal and a pressed bell flower – which reminded Mitsuhide of who he was, enabling him to survive and pass the trial.

He spoke of the coronation and the tributes and his subjects' oaths of servitude. And then he described the spiritual ascension of his spirit and his merging with the realm of Yomi.

As he spoke, and as she asked a fascinated question here and there, he felt her body relax more and more, melting into his form. She asked about his awareness over Yomi and vice versa, and the extent of his abilities. But there was something within her relaxed posture which emanated a sadness as her breathing became slower, drifting closer to sleep.

Mitsuhide skimmed her thoughts, and heard something which stole his heart and trapped any more words within his throat.

You are so far beyond my station . . . she thought as she fell asleep. How could I be worthy of you?

But a plea followed it.

Please . . . please don't leave me . . . her heart wished. It was her only wish. Her only request.

Mitsuhide sighed, enveloping her entirely in his arms as he held her against his body. He closed his eyes.

"I will never leave you," he whispered. "No matter where you are, I will find you. No matter where you go, I will follow. Nothing will ever take me away from you."