With the help of the very professional words and grasp of Jakob, Sakura had been convinced that, yes, we were still dressed and no, we weren't in the middle of something out of wedlock. With her back, the two of them were looking at our injuries. Unfortunately, both me and Oboro were nowhere near fighting capacity yet.
"T-this is serious, Kamui! I hereby order you to stay here and not move!" said the stern Sakura. The little thump of her festal in her palm sold her anger. For a second, her tired glare was almost intimidating.
"You don't scare me, pinky!" I yell, with Oboro hooting next to me. The glare changes from anger, to confusion to anger again. Before she could stammer anything out, a swift hand clipped me around the ear. The nerve of it!
"Clearly, our commander needs some bed rest." Oh, that was a fierce glare. With a firm grasp, I was pushed onto my bed and a blanket whipped over me and tucked in with the tightness of Odin's clothes.
"I think it would be wise for you to give my liege her privacy." The glare had changed focus, whipping over to Oboro. Her attempt at replicating the glare back was more of a leery grin, followed by a wink at me. My, how romantic!
"Save me, oh brave prince!" Save me from this blanketed prison!
"Lady Sakura, may I forgo bedside manner for a minute?" With the pink blob nodding, my butler dutifully grabbed Oboro and dragged her protesting from the room.
"Sister, please, we really need you to heal faster. Your leg's regenerating well, but you keep this up and you'll never walk again!" Sakura was still trying to look stern, but it was an impossible look for her. Maybe I should cheer her up! I know, I'll pat her head!
"S-stop that!" she said, swatting my hand away. Her face had turned red.
How cute! I think I'll keep going!
"LISTEN TO ME DAMN IT!" she yelled, covering her mouth once she realised she had sworn. "If you're so bent on ruining all my work, then don't drag Oboro into it with you!" Wow. I actually felt myself recoiling. The silence in the room was deafening. And sobering.
"I-I'm shorry Sakura" Well, not that sobering. But still, I felt terrible. Sakura never stopped working to keep us healthy and here I was, running ahead singlemindedly whatever I wanted. Doing the opposite of what Gunter and Jakob had asked of me. Screwing up as usual. Oh damn it, I feel the tears coming on!
"O-oh sister" stammered the miko, startled by the sobbing dragon that had buried her face into her chest. Gingerly, she patted my head. "Maybe you s-should avoid the alcohol… You always run into problems when you drink." Great, I'm already being lectured on this like an old lady.
"Shure… I'm shorry…"
"Y-yes, I know" Sakura desperately looked around for someone to save her from this situation. "J-just make s-sure it doesn't happen again." Thankfully, Jakob had returned to save her from my blubbering grasp.
"Milady, I will take it from here. Please, go get yourself some rest." With some gentle coaxing, my deathgrip was coaxed open, releasing my prey.
"T-thank you, Jakob… Kamui, please, focus on recovery" she said, leaving quickly. I was alone with my butler, who had produced a handkerchief.
"I shall save the lecture for once you've sobered up a little. Here." I blew my nose on his hanky. Damn it! And my leg really hurts too.
"Hey Jakob…" I drawl, as he tucks me back under the blanket. "Guess who got herself a date." His stony face broke for a second into a small smile.
"Congratulations. Now, get some rest." After a few seconds, the ceiling stops spinning and I fall asleep.
"Rise and shine, milady." A slight jostling stirred me from my slumber. Urgh, my throat is dry and my entire body aches. I certainly didn't miss this. Jakob had a tray containing my breakfast. "I figured that it'd be best if you stayed within your quarters today and focused on recovery."
Of course. The hammer was striking hard and it's wielder, a man second only to Gunther. Still, breakfast in bed was nothing to turn your nose up at. If only it was Oboro bringing it to me.
"So, you remember what we talked about yesterday" he said, setting the tray down on my lap. Trapped beneath food, my one weakness. What a diabolical man. "About how you'd try to keep your head above your personal feelings for the good of the army?"
"God damn it let me eat before you start this." I already have the sausages and eggs in my mouth. Damn butlers trying to lecture me this early in the morning.
"Not that you are able to focus on anything when you're eating" I think he said. It's hard to say, this bacon is heavenly. "Now that you've finished… What in the hell are you thinking you're doing by that when you're injured? When you're both injured?!" he barked.
"Getting myself a date?" Jakob opened his mouth as to say something, but closed it for a quick smile.
"Once again, commendable effort. But, are you still taking steps to ensure that you will be fine in the battlefield?"
"I… should be." Hard to say what can happen in the heat of battle. A torn shirt, a misplaced hand… Just like those books me and Flora used to read. "I mean, since I met her, I can talk to her and even touch her without freaking out."
"Is that with or without the liquid courage?" I don't think he intended to be judgemental, but by damn did that make me feel like an alcoholic. "And on that note, I believe your escapades last night were not widely discovered. At the very least, Gunther is in the dark still." Oh thank god. He's meant to be reviewing military strategy with me and the last I need is a lecture on my morals.
"I'll make sure I can perform on the day. Did Azura find out?"
"Of course, who do you think I am?" said the blue haired intruder. Oh, sod off. "So, a date?"
"How on earth did you even find that out?"
"Camilla told me" she says, sitting on the foot of my bed. How did SHE find out? "But, I also heard you got to third base, you saucy devil."
"I… I-I WHAT?!" N-no way could I do that… I-I mean, what is that even? Is that with clothes on? I saw her bellybutton earlier! Is that it? "I-I stayed fully clothed!"
"My, what a pure soul. Was it even first base?" Her face had cracked a smile for the one time it does a day.
"N-no?" First base is h-holding hands, right? Oh god, I think we have held hands. Her distant yellow eyes pierce deep into mine.
"Liar. You should be celebrating your successes, Kamui."
"If it's quite alright, Princess Azura, could you stop… interrogating milady? She needs her rest" said Jakob, in his 'leave-before-I-cut-you' tone. Oh, what I'd do without my guardian angel here. Azura, wise and cruel, removed herself from my bed and walked to the door.
"I found a book about Notre Sagesse. We'll start planning tonight." Somehow I doubt that she happened about that by chance, but I wave as she leaves.
"The earlier you recover, the earlier you can have that date, you know." A lecturing, guardian angel, at that. But, the prospect of that date is alluring…
After a long strategy lecture, a medical courtesy of Sakura and an eternal boring silence, a hand knocks on my door. Before I can even invite them in, the wiry mass of blue hair carrying a guidebook swiftly flies through the door.
"So, where are we at?" she said, walking straight up to my small stove to heat a pot of water.
"I don't know, I thought you were the expert on my relationships?" A rare laugh comes from the woman making a pot of tea.
"Well, it seems my sources aren't as reliable as our little Juliet herself. So, let me confirm the situation. One- You're able to be in close proximity to Oboro, we'll need to test this sober. Two- You got her to agree to a date. Three- She's actually a bit shy around you too. Anything I'm missing?"
"No… Your source was pretty accurate. How the hell did Camilla know?"
"Big sisters are a force of nature, truly. She's quite the… firm hand." I almost feel sorry for her. Almost.
"At least Sakura and Camilla are getting along." Another sister fell to Camilla's talons. Would explain that five mile stare Sakura had when she was checking my leg earlier. "You did forget one thing. She still has feelings for Takumi. But she's interested in me too." I don't know what feels worse, the jealousy I feel for my little brother or the hatred for myself because I'm hating him for this. Urgh, this is ridiculous.
Pouring out some cups of tea, Azura sits on a chair next to my bed. "The unaware third wheel. Why don't you try and settle the matter with him. He probably doesn't realise he's stringing her along. It'd help settle her mind too."
"Easy for you to say, you're not the one who'll have to talk to him." I think I'd die from the embarrassment. "And if he doesn't want to help me?" Knowing little brother, he'd take any chance of an upper hand on me and run with it.
"You employ Orochi. She was practically a second mother to us all, I'm sure she'll get him in line. You might, ah, not like her terms."
Especially not after what Reina did to her. Would Kagero have any leverage on her? Urgh, this intrigue business is too much hard work. Give me a big stick to be diplomatic with and I'll get results ten times better than this.
"I'm surprised the hag hasn't been to visit me yet. No, I've got a better idea. I challenge Takumi to a duel fo-"
"No" interrupted Azura. "I think Sakura will literally tie you down if you try something physical before you're signed off by her."
"AND… you've hurt my feelings" leered a voice from the door. Oh no. Not like this. Orochi slowly walked towards me, like a snake slithering to a hapless mouse. "How are you going to make it up to me?"
Witch, you don't have feelings outside of sadism. And now I can't escape either. Azura continues to sip her tea without even reacting to the intruder.
"But, I'm a kind woman." Pfft. "I'll come with you to talk to Takumi, I know what makes him tick. I'll even make it so you're the only one your princess looks at." This sounds rehearsed. Azura's still drinking that sodding tea. Well, there's no out of this trap.
"What's your terms."
"When the time comes, let me take care of it." Oh no you don't. I want this on paper.
"Like hell, tell me what 'the time' is." Her smile widens. Azura remains neutral, as ever.
"You know what couples do, right? You've been cooped up in a tower all your life, you'll need some guidance."
"No way are you being in the room when that day comes." I'm even going to put nails on my rafters to ninja-proof them. Orochi cackles.
"Oh, my work will be before then. I'll take you somewhere a person like you can be… outfitted." A cold chill runs down my spine. I've never even seen this place, yet I feel danger. Dammit, I've got no choice.
"You've got a deal. But here's my terms. You're only here to help me if I need it. If I can do this without you, then I don't have to come to that creepy shop with you." Besides, how s-scary could Takumi be?
"Deal." The diviner grabbed and shook my hand, acting like this was some kind of legitimate deal.
"He's here" said a voice from outside said. Ah yes, the other half of Orochi's spy ring. Kagero. Don't tell me they had planned this already. Finally putting that damn cup down, Azura stands up.
"I'm sorry Kamui, but Jakob asked us to 'remove all your hangups' before we go to Notre Sagesse." HE WHAT?! Are all of you in on this? Do they all see me as some impotent child? As my anger bubbled over into shaking, I felt a warm hand pat my shoulder.
"Moment of truth, tiger. Give him hell!" grinned Orochi, giving a reassuring wink. Almost blindsiding my rage, I see a familiar pineapple poke its way through my open door after knocking.
"Kamui? Orochi told me that you had wanted to… see… me…" he said, slowing down when he saw the grinning mage next to me. Looks like I'm not the only one off guard here.