In the tent, held in my arms, Chizuru was fixing the top with open worried eyes.
« Hajime ? » she asked « why are they arguing ? »
« Do not trouble yourself with it. » I answered.
« They're in Kofu already, right ? » she asked again and I cursed her for being so perceptive and smart.
« Ha. » I answered. There was no point in lying.
« Please don't spare me, Hajime. » she said « tell me. »
« Kofu castle has been overrun already. Their forces are at least a thousand men. Probably more. »
« Then... Our forces can't win, can they ? » she asked in a whisper.
« It's unlikely. Attacking a castle of this fortitude would require triple the forces of our opponents. And to assure victory, then we would need ten times as many. »
« Ten thousand... » she muttered.
« and that is assuming both sides are armed equally. With the SatCho advanced weaponry, we need even more men to oppose them. »
« Then... Are we retreating ? » she asked.
I sighed. Even Chizuru was capable of seeing that our situation was worse than ever, and Kondou-san was lost in his warlord fantasy.
« Kondou-san decided that we will attack as planned. » I answered.
« That's insane ! » she yelled and I put my palm on her mouth to muffle her.
« There is no need to alert more warriors. » I scolded softly.
We stayed a moment in each other's arms, holding tight until she got away from my embrace to get her kodachi.
« What are you doing ? » I asked.
Without answering me, she unsheathed the blade and slid it across her palm. Her face twitched because of the sharp pain but she kept her composure and extended the palm in my direction. In her gaze full of will, I saw a reflection of my surprised expression but unlike I expected, my hair and eyes were still of my normal color even when the delicious scent of her blood caught my nose.
« Drink it. » she ordered.
« Chizuru, I... » I objected, gulping my saliva with difficulty.
« If tomorrow goes wrong, I will regret it for the rest of my life if I know that I could have made you stronger but I didn't. Drink it. »
I looked at her opened hand, covered in crimson liquid and my tongue suddenly felt uncomfortable in my mouth. I wanted to extend it and lick carefully, like a cat liking milk. At least, I didn't want to devour her like last time, that was an improvement. Could it be possible that she was right ? If I drank blood without waiting for the bloodlust episodes, could I be more effective in controlling my envies ?
« Hajime... Please do it. » she pleaded.
The cut on her palm wasn't deep and I could already see it healing. She took her kodachi again, annoyed, and slid it once more, provoking another flow inside her open hand. She was careful to not let it drip on the tent floor and put her hand even closer, the iron scent catching my nose.
« Just... » I stuttered with difficulty « Just... Please, close your eyes... Don't... Don't look at me... »
She did as I said, a kind smile on her face and I grabbed her palm carefully, cupping it with both my hands. I approached my face and extended my tongue, licking the blood flowing from her cut. The coppery taste was strong and exquisite but I didn't want it desperately like last time. I was in control. I wondered if it had something to do with its taste. It was slightly different from that time. I could recognize her taste, it was the main flavor but it was... Altered... Gaining a bit of confidence, I allowed my lips to suck on the wound and I felt her shiver.
« Am I hurting you ? » I asked softly, taking my lips away to look at her face.
Her eyes were still closed and she was still smiling when she shook her head to deny. I brought my lips back on her cut and sucked gently, letting my tongue wander on her palm to lick every last drop when the wound closed itself. My lips quitted her wound to kiss each one of her fingers and they trailed to her wrist, forearm, shoulder and neck before they claimed her earlobe.
« I suppose that means I can open my eyes now. » she said mockingly.
« Ha. » I whispered in her ear, my hands letting go of her palm to comb in her hair.
« Was that enough ? » she asked me.
« How should I know ? » I said, detaching myself from her to look in her eyes « did it hurt ? »
« Not really. » she said with a wide smile « I knew it ! If you don't wait for the pain, then you can keep full control. Maybe the other Rasetsu should take the medicine more often and not wait for a bloodlust episode... »
« Was I a part of some kind of experiment ? » I frowned.
« No. » she chuckled « how do you feel ? Is it better ? »
« I have no way to know for sure since it's nighttime already and I always feel better during these hours » I answered after thinking intensely « but I am not craving for more. »
« Great » she commented « See, it's not that terrible ! I'm healed already and you are better. »
« I suppose... » I muttered, not convinced.
She came closer and her hands wandered on my uniform. I didn't have my coat and my boots on but it seemed like she was still finding it attractive. Her lips claimed mine and I let her. Even when I... nourished myself, the Rasetsu in me didn't have any troublesome thoughts. It was my turn now to do an experiment.
« Hajime... » she whispered in a voice filled with lust and desire « I want you. »
« You really have strange fetishes. » I answered while she was unbuttoning my waistcoat « If pouring your blood arouses you. »
« Shut up. » she sighed angrily before kissing me once more, this time with more urge.
I replied instantly, making my mouth work on hers as my fingers were combing in her hair again. I was careful with my every move, as if I was taking her virginity again but I was so afraid that I may hurt her that I couldn't help myself. My fingers left her hair to draw her neckline until they got to her chin, lifting it a bit to deepen my kiss. I wanted her so badly but I had to restrain myself. Control was my own number one priority. She parted from the kiss with a smile, unbuttoning the last button and plunging her chestnut gaze in mine, reassuring and warm.
« Is it okay ? » she asked, getting rid of my waistcoat and neck cloth.
I nodded. In the end, it didn't feel like when I took her virginity but more like when I lost mine, back at the Shieikan. It was with a woman paid for me by the other boys when they discovered I was still a virgin. I remembered how considerate the prostitute was, probably briefed by the others about my shyness and inexperience. Back then, I didn't know where to put my hands, my lips, and she guided me with a lot of compassion just like my wife was now trying to reassure me. I never thought I'd feel this way again.
« Would it reassure you if I tell you that if your hair turns white, I'll scream before you could harm me ? »
« Not really... » I muttered, imagining my shame if a captain were to barge in the tent to find a butt-naked Rasetsu.
I pulled on the ties of her hakama, her obi, her kimono, revealing her pale silky skin that I couldn't wait to have against me. She unbuttoned my shirt and my trousers, even my underwear, and sighed when she realized how long it took. She was already naked for minutes before I ended up completely unbuttoned which made me chuckle a little.
« You were right... » she muttered angrily « this uniform is awful. »
« Told you. » I smiled, getting rid of my trousers and underwear while she was brushing my shirt off my shoulders.
She pushed me on the futon and came atop me, showering my face and neck with kisses while her hands were caressing my chest. My breath became sharper under her touch.
« Still okay ? » she asked.
« H...Ha... » I managed to answer and she surprised me by grabbing my manhood with one of her hands « Chi... Chizuru ! »
« Shhh... » she whispered in my ear before licking my earlobe and all my shell, biting a little.
Her hand began stroking my manhood, up and down, slowly, on all the length of it. My sharp breaths turned into panting and one or two groans escaped my lips.
« And now ? » she asked again, kissing my jawline.
« It's... fine... » I answered.
« Only fine ? » she faked a pout, intensifying her mouvements with more amplitude.
« I meant the... control » I painted « You are... more than fine... obviously... »
« Then I guess it's perfectly safe » she smiled, victorious.
And with these words, she slid my manhood inside her which made me gasp, not expecting her to sheath me this soon. My hands came naturally on her hips to accompany her movements and mine lifted themselves too. It was slow at first and the memory of Mika crossed my mind but I threw that thought away as soon as it popped in my head. Chizuru wasn't at all moving in the same way, it was less... wavy... more rough... Yet, it was amazing. Her pace increased, encouraged by mine. I was unable to let her control everything and she didn't mind. She bent over to lie on my chest and kissed me, still moving her hips at the same time I was moving mine. Her arms draped my neck and I was swallowing each of her moans. We couldn't forget that we were in a military camp. It wouldn't be respectful to the other warriors if we were to make them realize that we were having a good time while they were far from any female presence.
« Still fine ? » she asked in my ear, playfully.
I didn't answer, savoring all the sensations I was getting from our embrace and she chuckled, slowly righting herself to look at my face with a grin. I had no doubt my face was a reflection of awe and abandon.
« Don't force me to erase that condescending smug smile off your face. » I threatened, not enjoying being mocked.
« I'm scared... » she replied, faking terror « help me, please, the mad Rasetsu is gonna attack me... »
Anxious, I stopped moving and brought a strand of my bangs in front of my eyes to check the color of my hair but it was raven-like. I frowned to mark my disapproval of this pleasantry.
« That wasn't amusing. » I said, totally off the mood now.
« Sorry » she chuckled « I couldn't resist. »
« Is that so... » I muttered.
That deserved to make her quit her stupid smile. My hips started moving again as my mouth claimed her lips once more, knowing that I would have to muffle her moans. One of my hands left her hips to venture near the junction of our bodies where her most sensitive spot was. Her groans intensified, muffled by my lips. She wanted to escape my grip to breathe better but my second hand came pushing on the back of her head, trapping her. I kept swallowing each of her cries of pleasure until I felt her body stiffen and her silent orgasm. Her entire body became numb on me as I released her and continued thrusting a few seconds to join her state of ecstasy. Thanks to her bad joke, I was able to last longer than expected and make her orgasm first.
She stayed laying on me and I didn't mind, nesting my nose in her hair and circling her naked body with my arms. I couldn't help but inspect her skin, at least what I could see without disturbing her. It was immaculate, free from any bruises or wounds. I kept control. I sighed in relief, holding her even tighter. She saved me... With her blood but saved me nonetheless. Maybe I should listen to her more often. She indeed was stubborn but she was right to be most of the time.
« Chizuru... » I started but I noticed she was already asleep.
I heard a small snore and smiled. I didn't dare to move and just stayed still, letting her rest on my chest. Tomorrow... Tomorrow we could all die. She deserved a bit of peace before the hellfire. To my surprise, and even if it was nighttime, I felt the tiredness take me as well.