Disclaimer: Sorry this is late. Have stuff to do. As usual all credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. Enjoy.

ひたむきな熱情

Simple-minded Passion

Kasane x Inuchiyo

Part Two

"Katane! !"

Kasane's door slid open with a BAM!

She looked at him with a surprised expression.

"Katane, I heard you weren't feeling well! You okay!?"

He immediately went straight next to her side at the futon and sat down. Making sure that he was still in her viewpoint, he called out in a worried tone.

"Inuchiyo-san… You came all this way because you were worried? I'm sorry…"

Kasane happily smiled.

For her to smile so adorably in spite of her situation made his heart thunder against his chest.

"I'm fine. Just this month is a little bit tough…"

"?"

"Ah! No! I'm just talking to myself!"

Kasane babbled something out and hurriedly shook her head.

The way she timidly blushed made Inuchiyo's heart race even faster.

"...Huh? Katane are you injured?"

Hearing him mutter this, Kasane's eyes curiously grew wide.

"I'm not injured... why do you ask?"

As she tilted her head to the side, Inuchiyo also made a confused expression.

Though she claimed that she wasn't injured, Inuchiyo was certain that he caught the scent of blood.

However, Kasane, who was covered inside the futon, didn't show any signs of any injury so why.

This scent was definitely coming from her direction.

Though his nose was better than others, the scent of blood is easy to recognize.

Inuchiyo hated the smell of blood.

The memories that back his body drawback, further away from the origin.

Like whenever he cut his mouth from a fight, he would taste the rusted iron on his tongue. It was a familiar flavor.

And he absolutely loathed the taste.

The smell; the taste; the color; everything reminded him of the battlefield so her hated it.

However, scent of blood that drifted from Kasane was somehow different.

The faint sweetness infiltrated his mind adding on to the intensity of his heartbeat.

Being by her side made him feel that same strange sensation.

However, that sensation paled in comparison to now.

The core of his body seemed to burn.

Like he felt impatient for something.

Even though he wasn't hungry, it felt as if his mouth was longing for something.

Something felt insufficient. He wanted something.

But Inuchiyo didn't know what he wanted.

"Um, Inuchiyo-san… The door could you close it? If my stomach becomes cold, it's a bit…"

"Ah, so-sorry."

Inuchiyo made sure to close the door he left open moments before.

It seems he was in a daze when she spoke, so his reaction came a bit late.

What was this, it was strange.

Something felt out of joint.

Even though he felt this way, he couldn't understand what was different.

"But… it might be best if I get up soon. I'm sorry for making you worried."

Ruffling the back of her short haired-head, Kasane wearily smiled.

Such a thin arm.

Compared to his, it was totally different.

Kasane restlessly began to get out from the covers.

While faintly crying out in pain, she cradled her stomach.

"Katane, you alright?"

Calling out a worried voice to her, he then reached out his arm to support her.

The moment Kasane's began dependent to his, the fragrant became heavier.

As if stifling him, urging him to do something.

His throat now felt dry.

"...Inuchiyo-san?"

Snuggled against him, she gaze up at him with curious eyes,

Big chestnut-colored eyes.

As if rogue were applied on her, Kasane's cheeks and lips were red.

ーーーI want to touch her.

Such a desire arose from his heart.

His heart was already at its limit to the point where it might burst.

It might be at the point where Kasane could hear it at this range.

What came about was his instinct.

However Inuchiyo knew too little of what that meant.

For no one was there to teach it to him.

He had many brothers and for a parentless Inuchiyo, there was no one else who could teach such things to him.

Even this uncle tried to explain it for him, Inuchiyo still couldn't understand it.

Normally whenever a girl is nearby you would have some knowledge and certain feelings about them, however as Inuchiyo grew up in a male dominated family, he didn't grow up normally to know of these things.

The only woman he officially grew close to was Kasane.

And she wasn't a woman that minded the differences between both genders.

Even when he touched her like her did with the other guys, she would just give him a smile.

There was a difference when he touched her compared to the other guys.

Unlike men, Inuchiyo saw her as thin and soft as if she would easily snap.

Their strength was overwhelmly different.

Even though he could lift her up easily, she would struggle to carry him.

Her scent… was also different.

He liked Kasane's scent.

For it was different than what he smelled from the guys.

Although Nouhime also had a similar scent, but in a way the feeling was unlike hers. Maybe he only felt it was different because it's Katane?

When he embraced her the sensation of her chest also different.

Before he thought it must have been hard for woman to fight.

As their chests were unlike theirs, though Katane's wasn't as large as Nouhime, it must be an extra weight,

Still when he carried her before on his back, that sensation still showed that she was in fact a woman.

He swallowed, the gulping sound rang down in his throat.

"...Katane."

Inuchiyo heaved a painful sigh in her ear.

Feeling his breath, Kasane unconsciously stiffened.

"W-whwhwh-what's wrong, Inuchiyo-san…!?"

While stuttering she questioned him.

However he didn't look at her.

Instead he embraced the body that was smaller than his.

"I-Inuchiyo...san?"

Though she was confused, she didn't resist back.

Something felt restless in his body.

Telling him not to let her go,

what to do, Inuchiyo did not know.

However, the only thing occupying his heart was the scent of this girl.

His head reeled in circles.

His mind was fascinated by this sensation.

"Katane, smells nice…"

Dropping himself to her neck, he relished in her scent.

She raised out a small puzzled cry, but he took no note of it.

Even though he hated the scent of blood…

But the scent of blood coming from her was completely different.

Something was stirring up inside of him.

This rising passion, he couldn't handle it anymore.

He had yet to know of the male's instinct for preparing a child with a woman.

"...!"

"Sweet…"

In a soft whisper, he reached up to her lightly sweated neck and licked it.

Sweet, Sweet, Sweet

It was as if Kasane was a confectionery.

Like a candy that he wouldn't be able to stop eating.

His hand, which he used to embrace Kasane, caressed her back.

It smoothed over her slender back.

"I-inu..chiyo, san…"

He felt elated that she uttered his name.

Though it was in a tone coated in uncertainty, the delirious Inuchiyo didn't notice.

"Hiu.."

After licking her neck, he went straight for her earlobe.

Rolling it with his tongue, he moved up.

That was when he noticed his breath was becoming ragged.

It was an elation different than the one he felt at the battlefield.

Swinging his spear to defeat strong opponents.

Even though this was far from the battlefield, he would still obtain such a mysterious action.

...Still something was different.

Although he had a surge to do something like he felt in battle, but he noticed that his objective was different.

Besides this was unlike the times he had to defeat his opponents.

He wanted more, what?

...He wanted Katane.

Just what in the world was this heat?

"Wa-wai-wai-wait just a minute-! !"

Just as Inuchiyo grabbed her clothes, Kasane used all her strength and pushed Inuchiyo off of her.

As Inuchiyo was completely absorbed into her, he didn't provide any counteraction and was sent flying off into the corner of her room, hitting his head.

"I-Inuchiyo, san?"

Hearing such a sickening crash, Kasane turned pale blue as she rushed up to Inuchiyo.

Inuchiyo didn't move a single inch.

"I-inuchiyo-sanー!? Pl-please hang in there Inuchiyo-sanー!"

Grabbing hold his his clothes, she shook him left and right, however Inuchiyo didn't wake up.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Inuchiyo-san~! !"

Half-crying she earnestly apologized to him.

After that when Inuchiyo woke up to find a worried Kasane at his side after he sustained a head injury, his reaction became cheerful while Nobunaga and the others' moods became sour.

Just what was that feeling he felt with Katane…

Now without the sweet scent of blood on her, Kasane sat beside him while Inuchiyo thought to himself.

Well then, how many people were surprised by this raise your hands. I did warn you guys before. Apparently フクロウ got a request from someone to write this kind of story and she did it. (lol)

Poor Kasane. There's no painkillers there... I'm one of those people who get the most horrid cramps, so I wouldn't be able to live in that era.

Even though it's not love, Inuchiyo really is attached to Kasane so I find that really endearing in the manga. I was actually a big fan of him before I came to Sengoku Strays, in fact I think he's one of the very first Sengoku warlords I learned in my childhood. I know, big surprise huh? Him and his wife, Matsu, are pretty interesting to learn about.

Anyway, I'll be leaving for now. Dunno when I'll be back, but it will be soon. So until then, I hope everyone is studying hard before the break. Let's meet again soon!