Only dressed in a towel with her hair wet, Kagura jolted when Kamui barged into their suite.
-Man, you scared me!
-Oh? You're actually capable of feeling any fear? I had no idea my sister was a weakling~ I'm shocked!
Crossing her arms nonchalantly, she rolled her eyes.
-What? He inquired. Are you still upset about that dress?
-I'm not, she retorted. After all, I bought it for you and you did say you like it… she stated.
Sighing heavily she added to her speech:
-Aaaaah ah~! Too bad you're just one of these jealous big brothers~ she trolled proudly.
Slowly walking to her, he gently brushed one of her vermillion locks behind her ear.
-I may agree to let you wear it, in the end…
She blinked.
-Huh? But you—
-It's really a shame, he interrupted, that I can't get to see you being so beautiful unless we're all alone…
She melted.
-After all, it is a traditional attire which allows Yato women like you to fight freely…
She smirked proudly.
-And, it's pretty much the same than mine… he stated.
-Hopefully, you do wear pants under yours~ she sneered.
He grinned.
-Precisely. That's why… here are yours~ he cheered cheerfully as he put a pile of clothes into her hands.
Puzzled, Kagura eyed it. It was a pair of buttoned shorts, a pair of black high-thigh socks, and her usual cloak.
"What a joke" she thought.
Gazing at him from the corner of her eyes, she couldn't refrain a little smile from sprouting on her lips. That was so like him...
Softly, he lifted her chin to force her facing him correctly.
-You're such an idiot, she chuckled.
-What a way, he whispered as he put a light kiss on her lips, to say that you love me…
She dropped the clothes to the floor and answered to his call by clinging to his neck.
-Do you love me? She asked innocently.
-More than anything, he replied.
She smiled and kissed him.
His fingers slipped from her chin down to her throat, stroking her neck and landing on her breast where the knot keeping her towel closed was trapped.
He pulled away.
-Do you love me? He inquired, with an eyebrow raised.
She chuckled.
-More than anything~ she chimed.
Kamui untied the knot to let the spongy fabric fall and reveal her naked body.
He smirked and rejoiced at what waited for him before to resume their kiss while she slowly helped him to undress.
-Next (late) morning-
*tic toc*
Abuto eyed the minutes flowing on the clock.
"I'll be back in no time, he said…"
More than two hours already and still no sign of his stupid Captain... What the hell was that idiot doing?!
"It won't be long, he said…"
Grumbling to himself, the Yato feared his bad presentiment happened to be true...
"Tch! That stupid troublemaker! I knew it was a bad idea!"
Getting crazy, he thanked the girl for sleeping so late. At least, he didn't have to explain the reason why her brother was missing...
He could already picture the redhead harassing him with her "Nee~ where's Kamui?" and her "I'm sure you know!" or even her "If you don't tell me, I'll kill you~ "
"I'm too old to worry about some suicidal kids!" complained Abuto mentally.
Sighing heavily, he wrote a quick note and slipped it under the door of the sibling's room.
"Shit..."
Kagura woke up.
Yawning because of their –once again- long night, her eyes widened at the obviously missing body on which her arm should have been laying.
"Kamui's already up?"
Sure, that was unusual!
These two were both heavy sleepers and, to be honest, spending so much time with lovemaking was quite tiring despite their youth and endurance. When they were on missions or traveling into space, they couldn't have that much 'free time'. Being in Yoshiwara was more or less the same as being on vacations, so of course, they would enjoy it to the fullest!
The mattress wasn't even a bit lukewarm, just... cold and way too empty for her taste. Where could have he gone? And why didn't he wake her in the first place?! He knew she hated to be alone in a bed!
Her eyebrows furrowed. Being left all alone... it was her greatest fear.
Upset, she got up and donned her new dress without missing the shorts and socks her brother had given to her. She acknowledged that -thanks to her big bro'- her new attire was still rather stylish without being too revealing either. Satisfied, she smiled at her new style when she suddenly remembered that she was still mad at Kamui for leaving without her!
-Hmpf! I'm not happy for all that! She scolded alone.
Getting closer to the door, she eyed a piece of paper on the carpet. Curious, she took it and read the words inside.
-What?! We're leaving today?! Seriously, he could have told me earlier!
One more reason to be mad.
She pouted a bit before gathering all the things they had bought as well as their own belongings.
-Nee~ where's Kamui?
Abuto gulped at the sound of the girl's voice. Slowly turning his head to her, he quickly averted his eyes, afraid to meet her piercing cerulean orbs.
*cough*
-…said he had a small thing to take care of before leaving…
Kagura's eyebrows knit dubiously.
-Really? What thing? Why didn't he tell me anything about it? And why did he left so early?
-I-I-I don't know! He stuttered. Stop harassing me like that, jeez!
-Huh? …um, ooookay…?
What was wrong with that hairy old man?
Just when Kagura was thinking that his behavior was rather suspicious, a subordinate rushed in.
-Abuto-sama! This is bad! We lost communication with the Captain as well as his position!
The Yato's eyes became wide as saucers, in part because of the news he had just heard, but mostly because of the incredible shitty timing causing the girl to learn about his lie and the real situation...
Her pissed glare didn't help in soothing his worries.
-Oi, she growled. What shit is that?
Abuto sighed. He knew his stupid Captain would kill him if he ever permitted his sister to leave the ship, yet that very same little sister seemed more than ready to kill him at the moment, so...
Wasn't the saying like "A fault confessed is half redressed"?
He might as well try to explain the situation and actually succeed in convincing her to keep calm and stay here with him...
-Well, I'm not supposed to tell you this, but…
-But? Spit it out, already.
-We got orders from the Admiral to meet with the Kihetai, an earthling organization known to be terrorists. Actually, this meeting is an excuse to completely erase them in order to strengthen our bonds with the Bakufu. Despite knowing how fishy it is, the Captain said he would go alone since there's only one small ship and that he didn't want anyone disturbing his pleasure to fight against a samurai… He ordered me to keep you here while waiting for him to return, but… it's been almost three hours already and we kinda lost him…
-…what… did you just say…? She hissed. You fucking lied to me and lost my brother…?
-Look, I know how you feel, but—
-NO, you don't! She shouted. He's not only my brother, he's…
What was Kamui to Kagura? Her only family? Her only home? The only one she loved? The only one who kept her alive?
-He's EVERYTHING I have!
-So you are for him! Reassured Abuto. That's why he wants to keep you here and safe!
Kagura tried her best to contain her rage, her fists shaking as she was boiling inside.
-He may be reckless but I've faith in him, confessed Abuto. Don't you too…?
-Move, she ordered.
He sighed. Luck wasn't with him today...
-I won't.
Her jaw clenched and teeth gritted.
-I said 'move'… or I'll kill you…
-If I let you pass, he will kill me and if I don't, then you will kill me, stated Abuto with a wry smile. I'd rather die because of a pissed off but beautiful woman like you than because of a cheerful but stupid guy like him!
He laughed nervously.
-I'm doomed, either way!
Kagura's knuckles cracked.
-You two always had such a blind trust toward each other… WHY DIDN'T HE TELL ME?! She snapped.
-Erm… perhaps because we're both his subordinate and that he only loves you and not me? Sweated the old man.
-WHY GOING ALONE WHEN HE HAS A FULL SQUADRON AT HIS ORDERS TO DO THE JOB?!
-Ah, that…
He slowly shook his head.
-We're talking about that man here, after all, you know…
Scratching his young beard awkwardly, he added:
-By the way… aren't you just like him…? Rushing into the crowd whatever's waiting ahead?
-I'll never leave him alone and go by myself like this
-Hmm… really…?
-Abuto. Move.
-Sorry young lady… but a Vice Captain has to obey his Captain's orders, so you shou—
Abuto used his umbrella just in time to block her circular kick. He felt both proud and happy to see how much the little girl had grown into a fierce fighter! However... he couldn't stop that bitter and tingling feeling in his chest.
Why did it have to end up like this? He, who hated to face people of his own kind, was now standing against another Yato. Not only it was a woman -and a very dangerous one on top of that- but she also happened to be a kid -at least in his eyes- that he only wished to see growing even more...
Sadly for him, it wasn't just a sparing fight, it was a death fight. And Abuto knew very well that the young lady wouldn't hesitate to kill him, even for a second. Sometimes he wished the Yato that he was wouldn't be so kindhearted...
Lost in his thoughts, he took her direct punch right in his stomach, immediately followed by a striking uppercut. She was quick and skilled, but at least he was older and his body much sturdy. He easily regained his balance and jumped to avoid her low kick.
Why were these two brats always so stubborn by the way?! He didn't remember being like this at their age, dammit!
The veteran grabbed her arm to knee-kick her sternum, thinking that the resulting lack of air will slow her down a bit. Because her body was so much lighter than his, Abuto easily dragged the girl to him.
Kagura couldn't shake off his strong grip from her arm but swiftly managed to dodge the blow.
It annoyed him the way she was always moving and jumping in all directions as if she was some kind of fish slipping away from his hands.
A fish? More like a mermaid, actually! Appealing her preys with her beauty before to kill them all like a merciless shark.
Abuto's eyes slightly widened when her small hands cupped his face. A real mermaid...
But then again, the shark came back. Kagura took advantage of their close distance to abruptly headbutt him, grabing his face in the process.
Forget about the shark; her skull was harder than a turtle's shell! Stumbling backward because of her unexpected move -and the violence of it- the old Yato noticed the girl's hand sharp as a spear coming right for his heart.
"That's it" he thought.
Recognizing that trademark stance of her, he knew his end was near. Abuto was more than aware that the young lady wouldn't stop nor spare his life...
Somewhat resigned, the old man slowly closed his eyes and waited for the pain to come.
Why was this world so twisted?
Why did she have to suffer so much in her life?
Why was she trying to kill this old, smelly and way too hairy old man?
Why was her powerful iron-like hand shaking at his sad little smile?
Kagura couldn't understand, but the pain in her chest without a doubt was here, and more than she would have liked it.
Knowing she would never see him again, knowing she would take another life away, knowing she wouldn't hear his grumpy voice anymore, knowing she would now be the one and only Vice Captain, knowing oh too well the bitter aftertaste in her mouth, she unconsciously diverted her own blow.
Abuto's eyes grew wide. Sure, it hurt like hell, but at least, the pain told him that he was still alive.
How so? And why was she looking at him like that?
-Serves you right…! She launched before to let the puzzled man alone.
The veteran's life had in the end been spared, but that miracle didn't go free...
It still cost him his left arm.
-How lucky I'm right handed, right? He joked aloud, still dumbfounded.
Poor Abuto...
This time, he didn't lose his arm because of Housen like in the Manga, but because of Kagura who still was 'gentle' with him since she could have killed him instead! lol
Well, not like a Yato could die for so little, right? XD
Ha Ha~ I wish I was born as a Yato too!
By the way, it's a bit late but: Merry Christmas!