Oishi smiled when he saw Kaori near the docks with some fishermen.

He waited until the conversation ended and came close while she was looking at the boats.

"Hello." He said, gently, on her back.

She turned around, surprised.

"What are you doing here?!"

"Well, I came to see you. And invite you for a warm meal on his windy day."

"I cannot go, I am busy." She averted her eyes.

"Please." He smiled at her. "I will treat you. You own me after abandoning me alone in bed."

"Keep your voice down!" she whispered with a profuse blush on her face.

"Let's go to the place you like. With the soup."

Kaori gave in. That gentle smile and those kind green eyes could be terribly persuasive.

###########

They sat on a private booth, on the most distant corner of the restaurant. The owner, a middle-aged kind woman, was very glad to see them there. It didn't take long for their meal reached the table.

Shuichirou watched Kaori eating silently for a while, she seemed very uncomfortable.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes." She answered, quietly.

"I was really happy to see you last night. I hoped you would stay more. I really missed you."

"I am sorry I left you alone." Her pink eyes were sincere. "But, I had things to attend early in the morning, so…"

"I understand." He interrupted her words, touching her hand gently. "You always work the most when winter is coming."

"I still could not find a new doctor." She said, worried. "No one wants to come to live in Muramasa since Ren became the lord. People are afraid."

"What about Ryoma? Do you have any news on him?"

She moved her head negatively.

"It is a shame. He was very good. I thought he would try to keep in touch with you at least."

"Can you blame him?" Kaori smiled, sadly. "Ren almost killed him."

"He was always jealous of Ryoma, since he was brought in to the castle. Even not being a legitimate child, he looks just like your father."

"Do you think I am a horrible person? For liking my half-brother better than my own twin?"

"Of course not." He touched her face and caressed her cheek, wanting to undo the pained look on the pink eyes.

"Sometimes I wished he was the one born with me." She closed her eyes, enjoying his touch. "He would never torture someone."

"Are you talking about the mermaid? Did you see her again?"

"I did. He is not giving her any food. The guards told me she has some powers and that Ren is not able to touch her because of it." Kaori looked at him seriously. "I will set her free, Shuichirou. I will not give up."

He chuckled and distanced himself a little from her.

"What is it?"

"I knew you would say that." Oishi smiled at her. "I will help you."

Kaori stood up and sat by his side, the pink eyes hopeful.

"Really?!"

"Just, tell me your plan."

She grabbed his kimono and pulled him close to a deep kiss, enjoying the privacy of the boot. Before Shuichirou could hug her, she stood up and looked at him, happily.

"Thank you!"

"Are you leaving already?"

"I still have work to do. I will see you later!"

He couldn't ask what she meant. Kaori left in a hurry, her heart filled with determination.

############

Ryoma opened his eyes slowly. He could sense the fluffiness of a blanket over his body and the noise of the fireplace crepitating. Three days had passed since he fell ill. His head was still spinning, but he was comfortable and his body was not shaking anymore. He tried to move, but he couldn't. looking down, he realized the young woman was holding him close and she was sleeping soundly by his side. Completely naked.

His shocked scream startled her and Ryoma's back was against the wall, his heart jumping. He tried to hide his naked body putting the blanket over his hips and looked at her with wide golden eyes.

"What…what happened?!"

The mermaid crawled in front of him, her hair covering her body and sat down, touching his face and analyzing his expression. Cupping his face, she grinned, relieved. His body temperature was finally normal.

"Ryoma, you are awake." Her voice was very gentle and sweet. "You are finally awake."

"What?!" he touched his head with both hands. "Oh, no! I'm hallucinating!" he looked at her like he was about to have a heart attack.

The mermaid took his hand and put it over her chest, looking deep inside his golden eyes.

"You are not." She showed him a small smile. "I don't know what happened too, but, after my mouth touched yours, when I was giving you the medicine, I was able to talk."

"What… what you mean our mouths touched?!" it was the only thing his brain was able to be worried at the moment. "And why are you naked?!"

"Your clothes were soaked in cold sweat and your body was freezing. I was warming you up. And, touching lips were the only way for me to give you the medicine." she was worried. "Was it wrong?"

"No, not at all." He was able to calm down to avoid making her feel bad. "Did you gave me all those?" he pointed to his shelf and the empty bottles.

"Yes!" she smiled.

"She could have killed me with so many herbs." He thought to himself, relieved it didn't happen. "Thank you so much. You must have been afraid, right?"

Her fingertips touched the side of his abdomen. There was a deep scar there. She looked at him concerned.

"Did you hurt yourself more? Is it better now?"

"Don't worry. It happened a long time ago. It doesn't hurt anymore."

She noticed a hint of sadness on his eyes and she came closer, sitting on his lap and leaning her head on his chest. Ryoma swallowed hard with the proximity of her nakedness. He froze on his spot and held his breath. He was afraid of making the wrong move and she would bite his hand off, or, something else, since he had nothing else but the blanket to protect his body.

"I'm sorry I bit you before. I was afraid."

"Don't worry about it." He said, sincerely. "But, know, since you can speak, tell me, who are you? Where are you from? What happened to you?"

He noticed her whole body stiffened.

"Someone took me away from home. For many days. I don't know why, but… I was terrified." She touched her human legs and looked at them with a sad expression. "It hurt so much."

"I'm sorry."

"Someone helped me and I ran away." She looked at him with pained eyes. "But, they hurt me again and I couldn't swim. I tried and I tried, but I couldn't."

"It's okay." He touched her beautiful face. "You don't have to tell me anymore. I'm sorry for making you remember that. No one will hurt you again. You are safe."

"Thank you for saving me." She hugged him tight.

"Likewise." His chin rested on the top of her hair and he tightened the embrace. "Do you have a name?"

"Name?" she looked at him again, curiously.

"How people call you."

"No. I was always alone, since I was little."

"You need a name." there was a deep frown on his face from the thinking. He examined her face, looking for some characteristic, but soon it was very obvious. "Your eyes and your hair."

"What about them?"

"They are like… spring flowers in bloom." His fingers touched a lock of her red hair and she smile gently. "Sakuno."

"Sakuno?"

"For your name. What do you think?"

"I like that." she returned to lean on his chest and closed her eyes, listening to his heartbeats. "I'm Sakuno."