"Why me again!? Surely I'm not the only scout here my lord!"

"Sorry Den, but everyone else is need helping expand our territory. Your the only one available that has experience with the forrest and how to deal with those weak samurai."

Den was conversing with Sigurd, the leader of his clan. He was strong, smart and had the attributes of a great leader. Den held him in high regards and took everything he said with utmost importance.

"Besides I heard you've survived an encounter with a shinobi. So knowing you can hold your own against those demons, you seem more than qualified to do this."

Den was the talk of his tribe as of late. It was very rare for a Viking to survive the attack of a shinobi during sundown. Knowing he came out unscathed garnered a lot of attention as well.

"Besides it's not like your scouting like last time. You'll only be a mile from the camp. You can scream and we will be able to hear you."

Sigurd seemed extremely desperate as he came up with any excuse for Den to go.

"Alright, I guess one more time couldn't hurt. Besides the wilderness sure does appeal to me." He finally agreed.

"Just what I expected from my top warrior. I'll pack you some supplies just in case a winter storm appears overnight."

"Overnight? Why are you sending me out at nighttime? Isn't that when samurai are more likely to appear?" Den barraged his leader with questions.

"Due to some minor troubles I can't disclose yet, it's hard to scout during the daytime. It would be beneficial for you to leave at sundown for now."

Den was confident in his leader and his own abilities as a Beserker. He fears nobody. No mere man or demon can stand in his way.

"Understood, I need to go prepare. Leave my bag near the entrance."

"Safe travels Den, may the gods bless you."

Den quickly nodded as he began to make his way to his tent. He quickly found his twin axes and began to sharpen them. He knew the land he was entering would be filled with samurai. But there was one in particular he was trying to meet.

"Ito...I hope I find you."

He quickly slashed his axe straight through a decent sized tree.

"So I can finish what we started."

After sundown

Den was walking through the beautiful snow covered terrain. The sight was certainly something to marvel at. The way how the ice decorated the bushes, the bare beauty of the trees and the icy layer over the lake.

He took a quick break near the lake to replenish on food and decided to marvel more on the beauty of nature.

"Beutiful.."

"I know you are~"

Den quickly took his axes and swung around at the whisper behind but it slashed nonthing but air.

The whisper was able to backflip just before the strike connected. That whisper also had those alluring green eyes, the only thing that's not covered. Den knew exactly who this was.

"Ito right?"

"Oh so you did understand what I wrote, I knew you would.~" The shinobi known as Ito began to spin around flashing her kusarigamas.

"Ito is my name but you already have a nickname for me right my little boar?" She asked with a teaseing voice.

"No but I have something else for you."

"You already giving me gifts!? Your so thoughtful Den. So what is it?" Ito was very excited to receive something.

Den quickly charged at her.

"I brought you an early grave demon!" He said as he unleashed a wild barrage of axe swings.

Ito responded by simply dodging them. Each cut, swing or chop simply hit air but what was unsual to Den is that she wasn't fighting back.

He also took note of her dodging. It wasn't stagnant dodge or evasion. She moved with such grace and allure. It was hard not be impressed. And the most unusual part was that she seemed happy.

He still continued to swing while engaging in conversation.

"Why aren't you fighting back!?"

"We are not fighting, we are dancing silly.~"

Den was confused. He paused his assault to catch his breath. He looked up to see that she can still go on for an hour or two.

"What are you talking about! I'm pretty sure dancing doesn't involve trying to kill your partner."

"Well fighting and dancing are the same concept. You use movements and react to what's coming your way. It's an art that I enjoy, especially yours~. Your style is so wild and free. So are we going to continue or do you want me to lead?"

Den would be lying if he said he wasn't interested in what she said. She had a point in regards too how they are similar. He never really looked at it that way. Maybe h-

"Times up.~" Ito began to use her kusarigamas to slash at Den.

"Hey! What are you doing?! I thought you said we were dancing!" Den yelled as he continued to dodge and weave through her attacks.

"We are and you are doing an amazing job.~" Ito said as her assault was getting faster.

Den tried his best to fight back but couldn't focus. All of his attention was going towards the way she moved, and soft, angelic voice and those emerald eyes.

Maybe if he wasn't so distracted he would've seen the kick to the chest that knocked flat on his back.

"You just love staring at me don't you.~"

Den was not having this. He had two goals in mind, to scout the land and to deal with this shinobi permanently.

"Enough of this! Your just another obstacle in my way demon!"

"Is that my nickname? Well I don't mind it. It's got a bit of mischief to it.~"

He bounced right back up with both weapons in hand. He took his familiar battle stance. His animalistic instincts were taking over.

Ito took notice of his seriousness and decided to match his intensity. She was ready to use everything thing she learned and put it on full display.

Then they both charged at each other. The metal clashing and feet moving were the only sounds that echoed through the forest. But what felt like a fight to death looked like a beautiful dance between two people. The movements of the women was composed and gentle. Her grace could be compared to that of a gentle wind. The man however lacked the composure and grace. His movements free and wild following no tempo. It carried an unpredictable beauty to it.

As the fight went on, Den finally saw an opening in the dancers moves. He took full advantage as he glided his axes along her scythes and quickly pinned her to the ground.

"Caught you!"

He has finally claimed victory as her mask flew off.

"Alright any last word before I send you back from whence you came demon?" He asked.

"Aww you haven't gotten your prize yet.~" Ito responded with a smirk on your face.

"The only prize I want from you is your head!" He swung his axe above his head, but it never came down.

Before he dealt the final blow, Ito quickly captured his lips with his own. They stayed there staring into each other's eye, completely in tune with one anonther's kiss. He couldn't do anything else but gaze into her beutiful green eyes. He noticed her lips tasted of sweet berries and a sleepy aroma. He then found himself facing in to unconscious.

The only thing he saw before he passed out was the beutiful night sky and a puff of smoke.

Later in the morning

Den was returning back to his people. He was able to scout ahead and took care of any dangers that lied ahead of them. Even so, he couldn't shake his thoughts off of Ito and realizing what happened.

"As soon I was about to strike the final blow she kissed me and I passed out. She must of had some sedative on her lips! Damn it I was so close!"

Even with all of these thoughts buzzing though his head, one image always appeared. Their shared dance under the moonlight. He couldn't deny saying he didn't have fun.

"All's clear from here Sigurd."

"Excellent, thank you for your help Den. Also are you gonna need a new pelt later? You have some more markings. I guess those samurai must be getting better if they are damaging your clothing like that.

Den quickly looked at his pelt to find more markings that actually translate to something. He stood there for a few seconds and quickly made his exit.

"Den, where are you going? I haven't rep-"

"Don't worry, scouting for my people is payment enough."

Den went out to his tent and patiently wait for another. He hopes to see that mischievous shinobi once again as her markings kept ringing through his ear.

"I win.~"

He was always up for the challenge. He could take on anyone big or small, man or women, demon or human. He would always succeed, never fail.

And he assured himself that he was gonna blow away Ito the next time they see each other.

He knew he was going to see her again, and he also knew that he will be the victor next time.

Wow I actually updated this so I might as well finish it. See ya in the next one my guys.