"You are small, Seriza. You must be able to utilize your size to gain the upper hand against a bigger, strong opponent." Jerome gripped Riza's shoulder. The young child stared down at the cave filled with sleeping bears. Fear was powerful. She clutched the knife tightly to ease her shaking.
"If you make it home with a bear paw, you will have your own room. You will be treated like part of the family. If." He pushed her down into the cave.
The small 5 year old child rolled down the steep entrance. Her arm bleeding and her body throbbing with pain. She whimpered softly and let a cry slip through her lips.
One bear growled. Her entire body froze. She slapped her hand over her mouth, tears spilling from her big blue eyes.
She stood slowly. Her eyes wide with terror. Her grip on the knife as tight as possible. Her knuckles white.
The bear that growled slowly raised its head. The young child locked eyes with the animal and the bear stood and roared.
Riza slowly opened her eyes. Bankotsu lay asleep next to her. Her cheeks heated up as she noticed how close he was.
He pulled her body closer and nuzzles his face against her throat.
Riza closed her eyes and allowed herself the pleasure of him holding her. She was never really close to anyone. The men she had shared her bed with were lousy and she would disappear soon after but not him.
She truly enjoyed being with him. She loved his laugh, his dark humor, his toughness and his gentleness. The feel of him was even better. He was warm, his body hard but his skin soft.
He ran his hand down her side slowly. Memorizing the way her body curved. Her skin was like satin. It felt so soft under his rough hands.
She slid her hand up and down his chest.
She smiled softly. They were naked under his blanket. She had spent the night with him, she told herself that she would only sleep with him once but she just couldn't resist another passionate night of wild lovemaking.
She moved slightly and felt a slight ache between her legs. Never had a man made her ache the way he did.
Desire flooded through her. She could feel the heat pooling at the apex of her thighs. She reached lower to feel his manhood. He was semi hard when she stroaked him. She curled her fingers around his length and messaged him until he was fully erect.
She slowly pushed him down to his back and straddled him.
He groaned as she sheathed him inside of her.
Bankotsu slid his hands up her thighs, gripping her hips tightly as she began to ride him.
Riza threw her head back and moaned softly, rolling her body into his.
Bankotsu let her ride him for a bit longer before he pulled her down and flipped them so he was on top.
"Good morning." She breathed out with a sly smile.
"Good morning to you too." He leaned down to kiss her deeply as he plunged himself into her.
He cupped her face and stared at her. Her cheek was slightly purple and her lip was cut and slightly bruised.
"The Fox did good healing you." He stroaked his thumb over her lips.
"I've had worse." She pulled him down and locked her lips with his.
He lifted her hips and surged forward. He began pounding into her, hard and fast. He stared at the connection of his dark curls surrounding his manhood and her silky pale blonde curls. He pushed into her as deep as he could go as he watched his curls and hers intertwine.
He looked up at her. She was so beautiful. Everything about her. He felt such strong emotions towards her. Strongest he had ever felt.
He finally figured out what was wrong with him.
He was falling in love with her. Last night had confirmed what he had been feeling since the first time they crossed blades.
She looked at him. Her eyes so big. So blue.
"Big brotheeeer!!" Jakotsu slid the door wide open with a big smile.
Both he and Riza stared at him with wide eyes, their bodies still connected.
Jakotsu opened his eyes and stared at the couple.
Three seconds passed before realization hit him.
"Oh my!!"
Bankotsu quickly ran and grabbed him pulling him into the room.
Riza grabbed her chemise and slipped it over her head. Bankotsu held his pants to his groin to hide his erection.
"I knew it! You tried to tell me you weren't seeing her but you are!" Jakotsu pointed with a victorious grin.
Bankotsu ties the fabric of his hakamas together to secure his pants around his hips.
He plopped down next to Riza on his futon.
Her face bright red.
"So, Miss forgeiner, aren't the men of this country wonderful treats?" Jakotsu purred.
Bankotsu sent him a glare.
Riza's face deepened in color.
"You know, I should get going! Katsu will be looking for me to discuss the job at hand!" Riza laughed uncomfortably and stood up quickly to bolt out.
Bankotsu grabbed her hand, halting her.
"See you later." He gave her hand a squeeze. She smiled at the two men and left.
Bankotsu turns his attention to Jakotsu who laid comfortably on his bed.
"What do you want? I was almost there!" He growled annoyed.
"I was just coming to kill some time as we wait for those armies to get close. I see you and Riza have been spending some time together." He raised a brow.
Bankotsu leaned back against the wall next to his best friend. He inhaled and let out a long breath.
"I don't know. Seems our encounters are more like fate." He said.
"You like her? She's a pretty girl, really pretty."
"That's my problem. I do like her. Like if I had to chose from cutting off my right hand or saving her life I wouldn't hesitate slicing this hand off. I can't think when she around, I can't think when she's away. My heart starts pounding like fucking crazy when I see her. My hands get sweaty and clammy and my stomach flips around. This shit pisses me off." He growled.
"Ah, infatuation is a wonderful thing. To be honest, I've been thinking of her a lot recently. From her violent nature to her crude humor. She reminds me of you. She's like your counterpart or something." Jakotsu laughed.
Bankotsu smiled.
"Yeah. I agree. The two of us are the same."
Katsu cupped Riza's face with both hands.
"I hope you can forgive my temper tantrum yesterday." He kissed her forehead.
Riza gripped onto her blades tightly. Her anger and hatred for this man bubbled in the pit of her stomach.
"What's our job?" She asked abruptly.
"We will battle an army. Our men will be arriving soon. We will be fighting alongside the band of Seven." He bit out.
Riza inhaled sharply. Excitement shot through her.
To fight side by side with Bankotsu would be such an intimate moment for the two.
Katsu growled lowly as he watched the excitement rise on her face before quickly hiding it.
"Riza! Katsu!" Yashimaru called out.
Yashimaru was Katsu's muscle, third in command until Katsu brought home Riza. He and Riza fought for the title, and she had won.
Yashimaru wanted to perform seppuku for the shame of losing to a small woman but Riza stopped him. She was angry that he would just throw his life away for one little defeat and told him that real men learn from their failures while pussy men would wallow in that shame.
After that the two had a mutual respect for each other, but his loyalty was with Katsu.
Yashimaru was a big man. His height was over 6 feet, he had arm muscles bigger than her head and deep set dark eyes that could pierce through the soul.
The man seems so terrifying and powerful but he was just a big softy.
"Yashimaru!" Riza smiled and waved happily.
"Riza, good to see you! You're not drunk are you?" He asked with a smirk.
"Not yet." She pointed with a smile.
Katsu and Yashimaru left to go find Ichigo and the rest of the group. Riza was instructed to return to her room and wait for Katsu to collect her.
"Fuck that." She mumbled and headed to search for Mamoru.
'Mamo! Where are you? I know you're close.' She said in her mental path with him.
'I'm being attacked by your friends!' He said angrily.
She was able to pin his location and headed to save Mamo from the band of Seven.
"Stop that! My ears are sensitive!" Mamo yelled as Jakotsu pulled on his fox ears.
Riza watched with a smile on her face. Mamo acted like he hated them but she knew he didn't. That he was rather fond of them.
"For the record, Seriza, he came to us looking for you." Bankotsu whispered behind her.
"I figured." She whispered back, a smile flirted her lips at the sound of him saying her name. Her real name.
She glanced back at Bankotsu, he was in his armor with Banryu resting on his shoulder.
"You look nice. Bet that armor's tough." She said.
"Oh thanks. Thought I'd try to impress you with my snappy clothes."
Riza let out a laugh.
"You're out of here. Doesn't it slow you down?" She asked tapping her knuckle against his armor covered chest.
"A little. But not by much. Can't be stealthy with it so I give you that. You on the other hand, doesn't it hurt more if you get hit?" He asked pulling at her bodysuit.
"I suppose but it keeps me light and flexible." She tilted her head up and leaned her body against his.
"You are pretty flexible, huh?" He flirted.
Riza laughed and saw Katsu walk by. He was in conversation with another bandit and was completely unaware that she was close and in close quarters with Bankotsu.
"So I heard we will be fight together." She stated taking a step back and turning to walk to the rest of the group.
"Yeah. That leader of yours wasn't too thrilled so I thought that was pretty funny." He chuckled.
Riza giggled.
"Yeah he's a jackass, but he pays me good."
"He's definitely a jackass. He's on my kill list."
"He's on mine as well. Seems we will have to fight to see who will deliver the final blow. Maybe we can play a game of chess to determine who will kill him."
"Strip chess?"
Riza glanced back at him with a raised brow.
"You're a sex fiend." She turned to continue walking.
Bankotsu watched how her bottom moved with the sway of her hips.
"Yes I am." He licking his lips.
"Pervert!" Mamo screamed and pointed at Bankotsu.
"You're staring at her butt! You're an animal!" He accused.
"Yes I am." He said smacking Riza's ass.
She punched his arm playfully.
"You're a jackass too." She confirmed.
He sat down next to Ginkotsu and grinned up at her. She blushed at his boyish charm.
"Riza, Katsu's coming." Mamo warmed as his ears went down.
Riza was sitting with Bankotsu resting his head on her shoulder. They had been waiting for nearly three hours. Both Bankotsu and Riza decided to spend the three hours drinking. Though they happily shared with the rest of the group, the couple quickly out drank them.
Renkotsu felt slight concern. Bankotsu was more reckless, more violent when he drank before battle but what worried him was Riza. It was obvious the two had some connection with each other. They could nearly complete each other's sentences, which after multiple drinks, were doing.
All the members of the band of Seven were beginning to enjoy Riza's presence. The few woman they had brought into the group were scared off immediately but not her. She was a killer. Just like them. Just like Bankotsu.
The red headed man walked up to their group.
"Riza, get up. Let's go. Now." He demanded.
Riza giggled and wrapped her arms around Bankotsu.
"And if I don't want to?" She cooed.
Bankotsu rested his hand on Banryu. He slowly gripped the handle, ready to strike if he attacked.
"Riza, I said NOW!" He reaches to grab her but quickly stepped back. Bankotsu's blade, dangerously close to his throat.
"There are some women you can bark your orders to and grab all you want, but there are some women you can't. Why? Cause they have a man like me to protect her. Not that she needs protection, Riza here can handle herself but I thought, why the fuck not? I don't even like this guy." He stood keeping his blade against Katsu's neck.
"Riza belongs to me." He growled.
"I don't belong to anyone." She growled pushing herself between the two males.
Just as the tension was about to break a horn sounded.
The enemy had arrived.
Bankotsu and Riza glanced at each other and smiled mischievously.
"We'll see you on the battlefield." Riza smiled and waved, following Katsu as he begins yelling and chewing her out for indulging herself instead of planning the counter attack in her room as she was supposed to.
"You test my kindness far too often!" Katsu growled.
"You test my patience far too often!" Riza argued.
Katsu took a step forward, his hand twitching, he was getting ready to strike her once again.
"You disrespectful, forgein whore!" He lifted his hand to punch her but was halted as a small blade touched his jugular.
"You will not blind side me like you did last night. I am not some princess you can bark your orders to and expect them to be followed! I am my own woman and I will not let some brute male treat me as like a fragile beaten puppy! Lay your hand on me again and I will ensure that you no longer have hands!" She threatened, her blue eyes blazing with anger.
"Maybe if you were all over me like you were with that fucking brat, I wouldn't have put my hands on you!" He yelled, pulling her arms down to her side.
"Do you hear yourself?! You sound like a delusional fool! This is the man who is supposed to be our leader? A man who is intimidated and jealous of a younger man? Ha! You are horse shit, Katsu! It fills you up and overflows with nothing but shit!!" She screamed.
Katsu backhanded the young assassin. She fell to the ground and peered up at him through her long bangs.
Her eyes as cold as ice.
"You will die, Katsu. And I will be there to watch it happen and I will do nothing." Venom seeped into each word she spat.
Her eyes could never lie. Katsu was instantly lost in her ocean blue eyes and could see the inevitable.
Riza has no interest in him. No love for him. Only hatred.
He will outdone by Bankotsu. Overthrown by his own men in an attempt to spare their own lives.
No. Katsu will not be taken over by some brat who wasn't even out of his teens. Katsu had been a harden warrior for nearly all his life. Now at the age of 27, he was in his prime, but felt as if his role in the world was being stolen from him.
Riza had become a favorite in his group. She was smart, sexy and had earned the title of master assassin. If Katsu loses control Riza, his control of his gang will deteriorate.
Riza stood to her feet and tilted her chin up in a show that she will not be pushed down by Katsu. She is a dominant woman and would not be bullied by this brute.
"You may be angry with me, causing you to have this little rebellious outburst but you will show me respect. I will not have one of my commanders belittling me with a man I now consider my enemy." He gripped her arms tightly.
"Understood?" His voice hard.
"Understood." She repeated. Her voice soft yet filled with venom.
He released her and walked past her.
"Gear up, men! We will attack from above! We will utilize these cliffs to our advantage! Now let us fight!" Katsu riled up the group.
He pulled two big men to the side.
"Shin, Jin, I need you both to take out Riza. She is going to desert us and join our enemies. She's a tough one, so the both of you will have to do. Attack her when she least expects, when the battle is heaviest. Can I trust you two to complete this task?" He asked.
"Yes, my lord." Shin answered.
"She's as good as dead." Jin chuckled.
"Good." Katsu smiled wickedly.