The next morning Kai was out in the yard practicing with his bow, and Genrou watched him from the porch. The arrows flew expertly from the string and he found it difficult to resolve the sight with the boy who hadn't even been able to make an arrow hit the tree almost half a year earlier. Once again, he found himself watching Kai a little too closely and turned quickly before anyone saw him looking. It wasn't odd for the leader to check up on the new guy but he was worried that someone might see something else there.

Something was bothering him, though. The night before when he'd helped Kai off the ground, they'd gotten a little too close to one another and he wasn't sure how he felt about it. On one hand, it had been an honest accident caused by his strength and Kai's clumsiness, but on the other it had felt good to hold his hand. Really good.

This was concerning in many ways. Kai was one of the bandits, the newest one there and most likely the smartest one as well. But for some reason Genrou found him on his mind more and more often. The disconnect between how he felt about him as a bandit and the strange new way he felt about him as a person was more than he wanted to think about.

Ya know, the best way to deal with that is just to not be alone with him, he told himself. Just make sure Kouji's around. Easy.

"Hey, Kai, you wanna help me check the nets?"

"Huh?" One final arrow shot toward the tree and landed dead center in the target in spite of the fact that Kai was looking over his shoulder at Genrou. "Sure, Kashira. Glad to help!" He ran over to the tree to collect his arrows and dropped them into the quiver, which he slung over his back with the bow.

What the hell're ya doin'? Didn't ya just say ya weren't gonna be alone with him? As he was trying to figure out why his brain and his mouth had suddenly decided to part ways, Kai came over and grinned up at him.

"Ready when you are, sir!"

"Don't get too excited, it ain't that fun." His words didn't seem to dampen Kai's enthusiasm at all and he followed a few paces behind Genrou toward the gate. "And ya don't gotta walk behind me like you're a duckling or somethin.'"

"Sorry," Kai said, quickening his step so that they were side by side. Genrou immediately decided this had been a bad idea, a thought that was compounded by the way his eyes kept going to Kai's hand, noticing how close it was to his and remembering how it had felt in his the night before.

No way. I ain't gonna hold his hand, he thought, laying down the law to every part of his body. As if defying him, his fingers twitched in the direction of Kai's hand and he forced himself to think of something else. "Let's start with the ones over here," he said, motioning to the west to give his hand something to do.

"All right." They walked to the west of the fortress in silence that wasn't altogether uncomfortable until Kai looked up at him. "How did you end up here, Kashira?"

"I was just a stupid kid," Genrou said, relieved he had come up with something to talk about. "I ran off from home thinkin' I was gonna go to the city and, I dunno, get rich or somethin.' Some bandits beat me up and tried to take my stuff, then the old leader found me and brought me up here. I didn't come lookin' for trouble like you," he said with a smirk.

"Trouble's my favorite thing," Kai said, returning the smirk. The way his lips tugged into a half-smile and the arch of his eyebrow made Genrou's heart beat a little faster and he moved his eyes to the trees, pointing to them hurriedly.

"First net's over there. It's still in the tree, so nobody's come up this far. The traps around here are mostly to catch anyone who might be tryin' to get in the fortress. The ones that make us money are the ones on the mountain roads." Kai followed his gaze to the tree and he pointed down at the ground. "Watch out for the rope, otherwise I'm gonna be cuttin' you out of the net."

"Got it." Carefully, Kai walked around the rope and looked up at the net. It looked like a blanket made of criss-crossing rope and he turned back to Genrou. "Yeah, it's still up there. What do I do now?"

"Nothin.' We leave that one alone and go on to the next." Genrou pointed at the ground. "Watch your step."

"I know, I know."

"Just makin' sure. You're the one who's most likely to set off one of these things, ya know." The look Kai gave him made him want to laugh but he folded his arms over his chest and tried his best to act stern. "Don't gimme that. It's true and ya know it."

"You act like I can't tell where my own feet are," Kai said with a scowl, walking beside Genrou down the path.

"Sometimes I think ya don't." They descended the mountain path and Kai looked around. "There's another comin' up pretty quick," Genrou said. "Actually, I'm kinda impressed ya didn't trip any of 'em on your way up here before. Especially if ya came up this way."

"I'm not that clumsy." Genrou stopped in front of a small clearing and pointed at the tree. Kai squinted into the branches. "I don't-oh, there it is." He followed the rope down the tree and to the smaller tree it was attached to with a slip knot.

"Knot looks a little loose," Genrou said. "Can't have it comin' down before anyone trips it. Why don't ya tighten it up some?"

"Sure!" With far more excitement than the task warranted, Kai went to the tree, skillfully avoiding the rope that was across the path. Genrou wondered how he could be so graceful sometimes and completely hopeless other times. "Thanks for letting me do this, Kashira. I really am grateful to you for letting me help out."

"It's no problem. Ya know," Genrou said, looking away from him and scratching the back of his head. "Ya don't hafta call me Kashira all the time. It's kinda, y'know, formal. And I dunno if ya realized it yet but I ain't really a formal kinda guy."

"Okay," Kai said, tugging on the rope to tighten the knot. His increased strength still wasn't quite enough to test it and he braced his foot against the tree for extra leverage. "So what do you want me to call you?"

"I dunno," replied Genrou, automatically going over to help him out. "Genrou's good. You can just call me Genrou."

"Genrou, huh?" His name coming from Kai's mouth sent a shiver through his body and the boy turned to him with a smile that didn't help matters. "Okay, I will." He gave the rope another tug and Genrou reached toward him to help pull at the exact same time that Kai's hands slipped off the rope. Still holding the end of it, he fell back into Genrou's chest and sent the leader stumbling backward. He remembered the location of the trip rope just as he hit it and a large rope net fell over both of them. "Oops," Kai said, looking sheepishly up at Genrou.

"What did I tell ya?"

"But you were the one who tripped it."

"That ain't what's important!"

000

Seeing as how neither of them had brought a knife, Kai and Genrou had spent a great deal more time than was necessary untangling themselves from the net. Once they were free and had the net back in the tree, Genrou had cancelled the rest of the outing and brought Kai back to the fortress where he unceremoniously returned him to the care of Nami.

"He's all yours," Genrou said, shoving Kai toward the enormous bandit who was cleaning his sword. "Enjoy."

"Thanks," Nami grunted, he stood up and looked at Kai. "Go get your sword, we'll practice." Kai watched Genrou walk away and Nami smacked her lightly on the back of her head. "Go get your sword, brat."

"Right," Kai said, blushing. "I've been looking forward to fighting with you a little." She ran up the steps and disappeared into the fortress, leaving Nami to sigh heavily. With Kai practicing her archery and going out to check the traps with Genrou he couldn't very well go out to the road by himself, especially with the new precautions they were taking against the Mt. Kaou bandits so he'd spent the better part of the day sharpening and polishing his sword. Now that Kai had returned it looked like he was going to have to work after all. She came bursting out of the door and leapt off the porch, landing much more lightly than Nami expected her to, especially with her sword in hand.

"Your balance has gotten better," he said, his voice betraying the surprise he felt.

"Was that a compliment, Aniki?"

"Don't let it go to your head."

In response to this, Kai ran forward with her sword pointed outward like a spear. Nami waited until she was in striking distance before lazily raising his sword and blocking her. This time was different, however. She was moving much faster than she had before and Nami wondered if she would be able to fight and talk at the same time.

"I never thought I'd say this, brat, but I almost miss havin' you chattering at me as much as I miss your snoring." Nami swung his sword at Kai, who blocked it expertly with her own. It was all she did, though, and Nami shook his head. "Gotta put your back into it," he said, pushing away from Kai. She stumbled backward but didn't fall – a major improvement for her – and went back to swing her own sword at Nami.

"My snoring's nothing compared to yours," Kai said, swinging and missing by a yard. "I'm surprised you didn't keep the guys in the next room awake."

"You're the first one who complained," Nami replied. "And it's not like you even did that. Why am I just now hearing about this?"

"Because I wasn't about to piss you off when I couldn't get away from you." Kai hefted her sword up again. "You really miss me?" Their swords clashed together and Nami raised the one eyebrow that wasn't covered with a patch.

"I said 'almost.'" Kai gave him a knowing look that both annoyed and embarrassed Nami. He still couldn't believe he was the only one who knew that Kai was a woman. If the others suspected anything it was only that she was the sort of guy who enjoyed the company of other guys. They still gave her a hard time because of her stature but she didn't exactly act effeminate so they mostly left her alone. Nami had heard others talking about her in the bath but it was mostly about how they'd expected her to give up months earlier.

"You miss me," Kai said, grinning. She tried moving her sword in an upward stroke and it got away from her, missing Nami entirely and sending her wobbling off to the side. "You can admit it to me, Aniki. It won't go to my head."

"How's your little problem coming?" Now it was Nami's turn to smirk at her and he knew she knew perfectly well what he was talking about by the way she blushed and swung her sword out of control. "Watch it with that thing, will you?"

"S-sorry," Kai said. Nami sighed and lowered his sword. When the kid started apologizing he knew it was time to stop teasing her. He almost regretted what he'd said and tossed a waterskin in her direction. Kai reached up and caught it expertly in one hand. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." He watched Kai take a long drink, studying her as she did. Her mannerisms were both unflinchingly masculine and undeniably feminine and he supposed he couldn't blame the others for not seeing it. Up until he saw her with her shirt off he'd always just thought she was the runt of the litter in her family. "C'mon, let's take a break and see what there is to eat around here."

"There's some fruit in the kitchen," Kai offered, mimicking the way Nami carried his sword over his shoulder. There was something cute about it, like a kid walking after his father. Nami felt a stab of pain in his heart, which he pushed away as always. "And some dried meat," she went on, unable to see anything but the door to the fortress.

"You know you're spilling water all over yourself, right?"

"Huh?" Kai looked down to discover she had managed to turn the waterskin over somehow and it was dribbling down the side of her shirt. "Dammit!"

"Maybe you should just give me that sword before you kill yourself." He smirked. "Oh, no, that's right. Your precious Kashira gave it to you."

"Shut the hell up!" Kai slung the half-empty waterskin at Nami, who dodged it easily in spite of his size, and laughed loudly enough for the others to look at them. Kai's face was so red she could have been sunburned and she ducked her head. "Just shut up, will you?

"Not a chance."

000

"So stupid," Kai said to herself as she pushed open the door to the storage room, glancing over her shoulder in the hopes that no one was looking. The doors swung closed behind her and she immediately began rummaging through some of the ceramics that were piled in one corner. "Can't believe I did that," she muttered.

Her hands finally fell on a deep china basin with a delicate floral image on the outside and she looked at it for a moment, wondering if it was too girly. She supposed it would be in her room so no one would see it but her. It also seemed to be the only one, so she picked it up and was just about to start back to the door when something else caught her eye.

It was a small, carved box and Kai sat down her basin to go over and pick it up. She remembered what Genrou had said about not running off with any of their goods but since she only wanted to look at it she decided it wouldn't hurt. When she opened the box she found the workings of a music box and smiled. She'd had one when she was younger but had to sell it after her parents died. Tinkling but somehow rich music came from the open lid and she smiled, closing her eyes.

"Ya like that sorta thing, huh?"

Kai was so surprised she almost dropped the music box. Instead she snapped the lid shut and set it down on the table with a nervous look. "Sorry. It just kind of reminded me of something. My family," she added before she could stop herself. Genrou nodded at the box.

"So take it. It's yours."

"Really?" Kai looked down at the box and resisted the urge to hug it to her chest or throw her arms around Genrou in gratitude. "Thank you."

"It's not really something we can give away to the villagers," explained Genrou. "Stuff like that we hang onto for a little while and then see if we can sell it. Then most of the money goes to the people of the mountains."

"Oh yeah?" Kai turned the music box over again, immediately putting her defenses up again. She'd let them down for a moment when he'd caught her with the music box but letting it go too long was dangerous to say the least.

"Weren't ya listenin' before?" Genrou shook his head and her head snapped up toward him and she forced a cocky grin onto her face.

"Sure I was. But you know, stuff goes right through my head sometimes." She tucked the music box under her arm and shrugged. "You didn't hire me because I was a genius."

"I didn't hire ya at all, idiot." The words came out sounding almost affectionate and Kai fought to keep her smile even. "C'mon, it's time to eat."

"Oh," she said. It hadn't even occurred to her that he had come looking for her and her facade slipped a little again. "Right. Sorry if I'm keeping you guys from eating. I'll get those plates right out onto the tables." She picked up the basin. "I just went back to my room for a second and when I did I just kind of-"

"Yeah, I can guess what happened."

Kai blushed and set the basin down again. "I'll come back for it," she said, not answering him. Then she put her head down and ran for the kitchen, leaving Genrou standing in the storage room. She didn't realize until she was in the kitchen that she had brought the music box with her. With a tiny smile, she set it on the table beside the washbasin and started cooking dinner.

While she served the food, she found that she couldn't look at Genrou. She didn't know why this should be. It was true that she was clumsy, even more so when she was around him, but somehow his pointing it out this time had hurt. Maybe it was because she had opened up to him about the music box reminding her of her family, or because he had been nice enough to give it to her. Either way, she couldn't meet his eyes.

After dinner was finished and everyone else had gone their separate ways, Kai finished the dishes in record time and went back to her room. She went to wash her face only to find an empty space where her basin had been. The floor was still wet from when she'd broken the other one and her heart dropped slightly when she remembered what Genrou had said.

I have to go back for it, she thought. I can't go to bed without washing my face, especially after working with Nami Aniki. She stepped back into the boots she'd kicked off when she went back to her room and pushed open the door, fully intending to go back to the storage room. Much to her surprise, she almost hit Genrou with the door. His hand was up as if he was about to knock and her hand tightened on the frame.

"Kashira! I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were there!"

"It's okay. I shouldn'ta been standing in the way. You've gotta be the most forgetful guy around here," Genrou said, holding out the music box. "Left this in the kitchen."

"Oh, damn." Kai reached out and took it from him, the tips of her fingers brushing the tips of his as she did. It sent a shiver up her arm and she wondered for the briefest of moments if it would ever feel the same for him. "Thanks, Kashira."

"Thought you weren't gonna keep callin' me that," he replied, watching her carefully set the music box on the table beside the bed.

"Sorry, it's just force of habit." Kai turned back to him. She wanted to ask him why he'd been in the kitchen in the first place but she couldn't make herself. The last thing she needed at the moment was to hear that he'd been looking for sake or cups for sake, or whatever small thing she'd forgotten. "Excuse me. I have to go get that basin."

"Why're ya goin' to sleep so early? Come down to the side room and have a couple of drinks with the rest of us." Genrou followed her down the hallway and she avoided looking back at him.

"I don't feel like it tonight," Kai said honestly. They reached the storage room and she pushed the door open. The basin was where she'd left it and she could feel his eyes on her back as she bent down to pick it up. "I'm really tired. Nami Aniki and I spent a lot of time fighting this evening."

"Oh." It might have been her imagination, but Kai thought Genrou sounded a little disappointed. "Hey, is somethin' wrong? You're not actin' normal."

"Aren't I? I'm sorry." Kai forced a smile onto her face. "I'm really tired," she repeated, then looked down at the basin in her hands. "It's okay if I take this, right?"

"Of course it is," Genrou said. "Especially if ya broke the other one." It hit him then and he frowned at her. "Is that what's up? You're pissed because I made fun of ya?"

"No!" It was the truth. She wasn't angry at him, but she couldn't explain why she felt so hurt by his words. She didn't want him to think she was mad at him, though, so she shook her head forcefully. "I'm not mad. It's not like you're saying anything I didn't already know, right?"

"Yeah, but-"

"It's okay," she said, not realizing she was hugging the basin to her chest until it hurt. Stop it, she thought. Stop being such a girl before he notices something. "And I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Genrou looked at her, confused.

"Sorry I tripped the net earlier."

"Oh, that?" He grinned. "It was kinda my fault too. Ya know, when I first came up here I got caught in one of the nets. I'm actually kinda impressed that ya didn't trip one before this. Just be glad ya didn't trip one of the spiked ones." He looked at Kai as if he expected her to smile back at him and she obliged, though she didn't feel much like it. "I'll show ya where those are tomorrow."

"Thanks," Kai said. She pointed at the door. "If you'll excuse me, I want to get back to my room and wash up." Something occurred to her and she sighed. "Actually, I've got to go down and get some water from the well. I used the last of it washing dishes."

"Need some help? I'll go with ya." Normally this would have sent Kai's heart soaring in her chest but she shook her head.

"I'll take care of it," she said. "Thank you for offering though." Kai gently pushed past him, then looked back at him as she was standing in the doorway. "And thank you for the music box. I'll do my best not to break it."

"Kai-"

"Goodnight, Ka-Genrou," she said, then disappeared.

000

Somethin's wrong, Genrou thought as he looked out his window. He was watching the path he knew Kai would have to take to get to the well but so far he hadn't seen him go past. It's like he's a completely different guy from how he was earlier. And where'd he go? I thought he said he had to go get some water.

"Excuse me, who is it? It's Kouji, come to see his good friend Genrou after he didn't come down to drink with us like he said. Oh good, please come in." It was Kouji's standard way of announcing he was about to come in and Genrou turned away from the window reluctantly as his doors opened.

"Sorry 'bout that," Genrou said. "I just kinda changed my mind about it at the last minute. My stomach kinda hurts." He hoped that Kouji wouldn't see through his flimsy excuse but he raised an eyebrow and Genrou sighed. They had been together too long to try getting away with anything.

"Did you find the kid and give him his music box?" Kouji looked on the verge of laughter and Genrou nodded. "That kid likes the weirdest stuff. Gotta keep it in mind for next time we pick up something like it in a haul."

"Speakin' of Kai, what do ya think of him?"

"What do I think of him?" Kouji looked as if this was the last thing he expected to come out of Genrou's mouth but he recovered quickly. "I like him. He's got a good sense of humor and he's always eager to help. Probably one of the best recruits we've had since Ruri went back to his family. Why?"

"I dunno," Genrou said, leaning against the wall. "I was thinkin' of makin' him the third around here once he gets his feet wet."

"Really?" Kouji looked at his friend with eyebrows that were even more raised than they'd been before. "Any particular reason?"

"He's smart, for one thing. I'm sure ya noticed that he's more of a thinker than a fighter, which only makes me wonder more what he's doin' around here." Genrou smiled, showing the tips of his fangs. "I think he'd make a decent assistant for ya if somethin' were to happen to me."

"Don't even joke like that," Kouji said, serious again. This surprised Genrou, especially after his previous glowing review of Kai's personality.

"What, ya don't think he's got the stuff?"

"No, I just don't wanna think about anything happenin' to you."

"Aw, Kouji, I didn't know ya cared."