Disclaimer: I don't own Ronin Warriors though I would greatly like to.

Chapter Two

"Lady Mia." A voice called to her from the doorway to her cabin. Turning around quickly Mia let out a gasp.

"Captain! Have you ever heard of knocking?" Mia grabbed for her robe.

"Have you ever heard of using the screen?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

"I never felt the need to use one, but if you intend on barging in on me without notice like this I will start."

"Never felt the need for one, have you? Well this ship is full of holes Milady, and it full of men ichin' to get the smallest look, especially if it's given." Anubis stepped fully into Mia's cabin and shut the door behind him.

"I've never!" Mia fumed red at the idea of peeping toms.

"I think you know what I'm talking about. My quarters are right next- door and somehow you always manage to change right in front of that rather nice size hole." Anubis walked over to the inside wall and pointed the rather large hole.

Mia blushed for a second and stood in awe. Then, suddenly, she stood up straight and glared at Anubis, "Your spying on me while I dress!?"

"Only if it's given." He smiled at her.

"Ah!" Mia scoffed then stomped to the door, "Get out!" She threw the door open and crossed her arms over her chest.

Anubis walked up to her and looked down at the top of her head, "No." He whispered down into her ear.

Mia shook as the warmth of his breath sent shivers down her spine. She slowly looked up into his eyes and took a deep breath, "Please..."

Anubis shook his head slowly allowing loose tresses of red hair to fall upon Mia's face, "The North Winds could not blow me from your side." He picked Mia up and kicked the door shut with his foot, "Mia."

"Hmm?"

"Mia?"

"Mia?" Mia turned from the window.

"Sorry Kento. Mind wondering again." Mia smiled softly and handed a plate of left over pastries to Kento who dug into them gratefully.

"Mia, these cakes are absolutely delicious! Had your hand in the kitchen again have yah?" Kento smiled at Mia, but faltered at the lost look that covered her face, "I don't even think Cye ever made such a good batch of cakes." Kento looked down and placed his plate on the table. He got up and walked over and set down by Mia, "It's alright Mia."

Mia turned into Kento's waiting arms and cried, "You just cry your pretty little eyes out Milady. No ones gona stop you. It's alright." Kento just set there on the couch with Mia in his arms, rocking her back and forth, and trying to sooth her as best he could.

"I can't sleep at night Kento! I see him everywhere and in everything. When Richard was born I thought I could maybe get on with life, but I see him in our son, and I can't forget." Mia began to cry harder, if it were possible.

"I know, I know. It's hard when you lose that special someone. Nobody else in this world can fill there place, but think of it this way Milady; at least you've got Richard."

Mia nodded into his shoulder, but continued to cry.

"You know what you need?" Kento pushed her back. He pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Mia.

"What?" Mia whipped her eyes and sniffled looking up at Kento.

"You need a men around the house. I don't mean someone like me, or Cye, or even Lord Ryo. You need yourself a man that can help around the house, keep you company and watch out for you all day."

"I could never..." Mia looked down and shook her head.

"Mia I'm not asking you to replace the Cap'in, or get married, but you need someone that can be here for yah when yah call. You know good and well that we love yah like the dearest sister we ever had, and we worry 'bout you a great bit, but we can't be there for yah all the time as much as we may wish it." Kento patted her knee, "Besides, black was never your greatest color." Kento smiled.

"I hate to be so bothersome to you all, you've been so good to me and all. I just don't think I could go through it again." Mia shook her head. She looked up at Kento and smiled, "I'll get you some more tea." She stood up and walked over to the small cart that the tea set on.

"Don't bother with it love. Cye 'ill be expecting me home soon, wouldn't want to worry him." He winked at Mia and gathered up his jacket and hat, "You think on what I said, you hear?"

"I hear you." Mia smiled and hugged Kento goodbye.

Kento set at a round wooden table across from his good friend Cye who was a navigator turned grounds keeper of the Koji estate. Kento looked down at his bowl of soup than to the fire that kept their nice stone cottage warm during these cooling fall days.

"Is there something wrong Kento?" Cye looked at his friend with concern, "You haven't touched much of your food."

"Just thinkin's all." Kento turned back to his food.

"Heard the dogs got out today. Saw 'um too. Richard was playin' with 'um in the garden. He was quit a mess, Mia will have fun cleaning him up this evening." Cye smiled and blew on his soup.

"We need to do something for her. She's been so depressed lately."

"It's getting close to the anniversary..." Cye shook his head and sighed.

"It's been almost six years Cye. She just can't keep livin' like this, it's not good for her health!" Kento stood up and ran his fist hard into the table, "I can't stand it!"

"Kento calm down. We can't help her much by destroying furniture. Have some ale." Cye handed him a large jug of a liquid that somewhat resembled urine.

Kento set back down and grabbed the jug, muttering a small 'thanks'.

Cye looked at his friend and shook his head; "Ryo's got a guest coming next week to the house. Some friend of Rowen's—or something of that sort—who's just getting back from some traveling in India I believe." Cye poured himself a glass of ale and leaned back in his chair.

"Cye?" Kento looked up at Cye with an evil looking grim.

"I don't like that smile very much." Cye's voice was weary.

"I've got a plain." Kento nodded his head at his own idea.

"Oh no. This isn't going to be good. No, not good at all."