Sitting across from me, groaning in relaxation as he stretched out on my sofa, was Hinata. What the hell am I supposed to do with him? I guess I could use him to get to know Oboro better.
"Nice pad you've got here, Captain" he said. He had placed his feet up on my teatable. The monster. I'd have to get Jakob to clean that later. "Sakura said you were pining to see me real hard, anyway. Did you want to spar or something?"
Sparring! Of course! It was something all the old books on valour and honour spoke of in their flowery prose. 'The true face of warriors is only found in combat, and only the truest of bonds form from sparring'.
Of course, I had only sparred with Xander and Gunther before this. And all I learned about them from that is both of them hit like a meteor. Still, maybe Oboro has something I could learn from a friendly bout.
"That's a great idea" I muse to myself. A big grin widened on Hinata's face. I said that out loud, didn't I?
"Alright, let's see what kind of swordsmanship they teach you over in Nohr!" he said, almost cheering. Jumping up from my sofa, he bolted out of the door towards the weapons store. Damn it all! Now I was going to be sore during the march all day and I won't be any closer to Oboro!
I guess I should follow him, at any rate. Getting beaten up in the arena wont result in my room getting trashed.
Hinata was standing about three meters in front of me, a wooden katana raised in a combat stance. He'd remembered to get me a Nohrian-styled broadsword at least, with a similar size to Yato.
"Come at me any time, Captain!" he cheerfully said. The man had no openings, naturally, but I was used to that. Thankfully, he wasn't riding a horse either, which I was used to by this point. There was no way I could overpower him, he was built like a tree. I'm not a twig like Azura, but I'm not exactly well built.
Maybe I could outspeed him and get him in the stomach? Nah, he's ready to strike the second I move. I need to take a third option and do something he's never seen before. Here I come!
I give out the biggest battle cry I can muster as I hold the sword up to defend from his downward strike. I get ready to tackle him, but that wooden katana breaks through my defence immediately, whacking me in the face and knocking me down to the ground. Hinata begins to laugh. Bastard.
"Nice try! I've trained to break right through anything in my way!" he said, offering a hand to me. Was he even holding back, despite the fact it's just a friendly spar? Now back on my feet, he gives me some space again.
I need to get in close enough and fast enough to beat that first strike. But I'm not strong enough to block it, so I need to avoid it. He's a seasoned swordsman, compared to me. He's experienced far more combat than me too. Likely, he already knows most Nohrian stances and styles. So what he's really looking for is what a noble fights like, what the best of the best is.
That's it! There's one thing I have he's never seen before. Something only I can do. I get into a sprinters stance and tense up. Hinata begins to laugh. "Never seen anything like that before! Is this a new Nohrian dueling stance or something?"
Laugh it up, monkey. Using the Dragon Fang, my legs quickly transform into those of a dragons, propelling me forwards. "Hyah!" yelled Hinata as I moved in.
Everything after that was a blank. All I remember was waking up laying on my back, Hinata also spread out on his back. Apparently, he went in for a headbutt and ended up knocking us both out.
"Are you two finished?" asked Jakob. "The march begins in twenty minutes"
Must have been out cold for a while then. I drag myself up and wipe my forehead. Looks like I got out of this unscathed.
"You're crazy, Captain!" laughed Hinata, quickly jumping up. "We should do this again later!"
Oh heavens no. Hopefully Oboro wasn't as hardheaded as this, my delicate skull couldn't take it. Still, I guess those old books had a point. I'd certainly learnt that Hinata didn't hold back ever. It was worth a try going for a round with her. Maybe tomorrow, I think my head's going to be ringing all day.
"If you needed a sparring partner, you only need ask, milady' said Jakob, after Hinata had rushed off.
"Thank you for the offer, Jakob, but I don't plan on doing this more than once" I said, as he lightly tapped my head with a stave, clearing the headache.
"I overheard Sakura earlier, by the way. I presume she's mistaken?" he said. Oh thank god, he's not making assumptions. "You might want to talk to her sooner than later, before someone else gets the wrong end of the stick. Hinata it seems thinks you genuinely wanted a spar, but who knows what Oboro would have thought?"
What.
She asked Hinata out on my behalf in front of her?!
This is a joke right. He's joking, right?!
Of course it isn't, Jakob doesn't joke. Oh damn it all, Sakura, don't make me remove your tongue!
"Are you ok, milady? You've turned awfully pale. You aren't feeling concussed, are you?" he said, looking at my eyes closely.
"Can'ttalknow!" I sputter out, running off. Despite Jakob's protests, I keep up my sprint. Think! Where does Sakura hide in the mornings? Let's try the Wand stores!
I burst through the door, seeing the red haired shrine maiden blessing a festal. I catch my breath as she claps her hands together.
"How did your meeting go with Hinata, sister?" she said with a large smile. I can't be angry at her. Being angry at Sakura is like stomping on a butterfly.
"Sakura, I appreciate your efforts, I really do. But please, I really didn't mean it that way." Her face began to drop as soon as I said that. Damn it.
"O-oh. I'm so sorry! I just overheard you and Azura talking about having boy troubles and I just put two and two together!" she said, gripping the festal tight. Her eyes began to moisten. Now I just feel terrible. This girl could be dangerous if she wasn't so kind. I pull her into a hug before the tears come.
"Thank you for your concern. But I'm really just interested in getting to know them two better" It's not a lie, mostly. Aside from getting beaten, trying to outwit Hinata was actually fun. "But, uh, just for my peace of mind, you didn't insinuate anything to him when you asked him to meet me?"
Sakura's eyes began to demist. "No… I just told him that you wanted to meet Hinata as soon as possible and that it can't possibly wait." She gave small sniff. "Oboro chuckled when I said that though."
Well, at least she didn't outright say I was in love with Hinata.
Wait a second.
Oboro was there?
Oboro chuckled at the implication of me meeting Hinata privately in the morning?
No. No no no no no NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
"Sister… You're hurting me…" gasped Sakura. I snap out of my despair for a second to see that I had gripped her in a tight bear hug.
"Oh my gosh… I'm so sorry!" I immediately let go of her, stepping back. She dropped down and gasped. "Are you hurt?"
"N-no… Kamui, are you alright? You've been acting funny this whole time"
Now she definitely thinks something's up. Stupid stupid stupid! I can try to lure her away for a second at least.
"It's just nerves of war" I say. She slowly nods. It wasn't technically a lie. I am exhausted and terrified from constantly looking over our shoulders for Hoshidans, Nohrians and Vallites, but it's not the reason now. "I'm sorry for taking it out on you. Just, could you not spread anything about me and Hinata meeting earlier?"
Heaven knows I don't need someone like Gunther think I'm off having illicit affairs.
"Of course. But sister, tell me the truth when you're feeling better, ok?" she said, walking away.
She knew, of course that meant. But hopefully, she had also taken the hint to not interfere. This was something I was going to have to do myself. Maybe I should go grab the bull by her metaphorical horns right now.
…
Strange. I could face down both Xander and Ryoma, but in the face of this, I'm paralyzed. Why was going to talk to one person so terrifying? It didn't help she already thought I was loose.
"Kamui… Gunther sent me to retrieve you" said a voice from behind. Kaze had done his usual act of appearing silently at any time. "You are to take lead of the march"
I nod and leave with the ninja. I had plenty of time to come up with a strategy. One that would never fail.
"You seem distracted, milady" said Jakob. He was marching alongside me at the front of our formation, helping scout for potential ambushes. "I presume you managed to talk to your sister to try and clear up the misunderstanding?"
"I think we're clear now. I think I hurt her a bit more than she let on though."
"She's tougher than you give her credit for. Maybe you should talk to her later." Jakob was always around to give good advice. Maybe he knew the way to a womans heart?
Of course he didn't. If he did, Flora might smile once in a while.
I do hope she and Felicia are safe. I'm scared for what Garon will do to those that were once allied with me.
"You are distracted. What is on your mind, Kamui?"
"Just thinking of Felicia and Flora. Do you think they're alright?"
"They are wily women. Even a screw-up like Felicia is crafty enough to make it. Just trust in them. Oh, excuse me. It's time for me to change my position" said my butler, bowing before he fell back.
Who was it that was relieving him next? Mozu was first, then it was Rinkah, then it was him and then…
"Thanks for waiting up for me" said a girls voice. Wait a minute. I recognise that voice. I slowly turn to face my new partner and see the perfect visage of Oboro.
I hope she didn't notice my jaw drop.