Title: Introspective

Rating: K/K+

Summary: Kagura sees a wedding commercial and wonders about her own romantic prospects. Turned out more angsty and family-centered than I was going for. Kagura/Shinpachi/Gin/Kamui (sort of).

Up Next: Awkward Conversations

Introspective

Kagura, unlike her housemates, loved the various commercials that would interrupt whatever show the three were watching. While Gin and Shinpachi complained and moaned about how they were missing out on their favorite shows, she studied the bright pictures and learned about the world that she now called home. It never ceased to amaze her.

"Gin-chan, did you know that they make houses for dogs? I want to get one for Sadaharu!"

The silver-haired samurai didn't even look up. "Kagura, we don't even live in a house. What makes you think I'm gonna get one for the mutt who uses my head as a chew toy?

The screen fizzed and she smiled as the scene slid to that of a beautiful bride walking towards her groom. Letting the complaints of the two men beside her roll off her like water of Sadaharu's thick fur, she focused in on her favorite commercial to date. The bride's face was perfectly smooth, her eyes large and dark, her hair falling to her feet in a straight wave—but it was the look of happiness on the woman's face that made this moment so beautiful.

Kagura sighed, watching as the image died and the words, Buy Your Dresses Now! crossed the screen. Catching a glimpse of her own reflection on a nearby glass, she studied herself. Pink hair, blue eyes—pale skin that bore the small scars every fighter knew was inevitable. She wasn't pretty—not like the woman in the commercial had been, but she wasn't hideous or anything.

The desire to watch Samurai reruns left her and she walked upstairs. Examining herself in her full length mirror, she gave herself a critical once-over and sighed, flopping down on her bed. Nope, she wasn't ugly, that wasn't the problem.

It hit her like a streak of lightning. The problem must be that there were no eligible men around!

Kagura flipped onto her stomach and cupped her chin in her hands thoughtfully, staring off into space. What did she want in a man?

Someone brave, like Gin-chan, and smart, like Shinpachi. He has to have a good heart—and protect me!

Kagura grimaced a little at the last one. Being Yato meant there were few people strong enough to match her, and fewer who were young, available young men with good hearts and good-looking faces. Shin-chan tries to protect me, sometimes.

"Gin, we need money!"

She grinned as Shinpachi's not-so-manly shriek tore through the house. Shinpachi was always the practical one, the one to keep the unworldly Kagura and their careless sensei grounded in the real world. Despite the fact that Gin seemed to ignore Shinpachi's constant reminders about the need to pay the bill, Kagura suspected he relied on the bespectacled boy more than he admitted.

He was handsome too—not in the dangerous way her brother was, but in a clean-cut, nice-guy way. She'd seen girls stare at him when they went shopping, though Shin-chan turned red whenever she teased him about it.

Could she see herself with Shinipachi?

Rolling onto her back, she stared at the ceiling, where the crack Gin-chan's head had made still ran in a lopsided zig-zag pattern.

x

xxx Flashback xxx

"Gin-chan, look! I saw a commercial of kids jumping on the bed and it's fun! I can do a flip!"

"If you break the bed, I'm not getting you a new one. You can sleep on the floor with that mutt of yours."

"Ooh, is Gin-chan scared?"

"You may not realize this, Kagura, but I'm your sempai, which means I can't be goaded into doing stupid things by your—"

"Bawk! Bawk! Gin-chan's a chicken!"

"Ha! You think that will work?"

"BAWK! BAWK!"

"…I'LL SHOW YOU FLIPS! HA!"

"…"

"…"

"Gin-chan? You're bleeding. I'll go call the hospital."

xxx End Flashback xxx

x

Gin-chan was always there for her, whether she needed a hug, a bed, a friend, or a sempai—and despite his antics she knew she could count on him to keep her safe. He'd been around far longer than her father had, and yet he didn't try to protect her the way Oto-san did.

He was dangerous too, in the way that she could be dangerous. They both had hidden strength that, when exposed, could kill or save—turn them into murderers or heroes.

Ten years wasn't that much of an age difference, was it? Yato marriages were traditionally closer in age, but if she was going by Yato tradition, she'd be married to Kamui.

She didn't think he thought she knew about the custom, or if he did, she couldn't imagine him caring. Beautiful, strong, powerful Kamui with his love of battle and bloodshed was everything she tried not to be, and yet she couldn't hate him.

He was her brother, the one who'd stayed when her father had been away, until he'd left too. She had no illusions about his ruthlessness, but despite the fact that he could have killed her easily during their recent encounters, he hadn't. Didn't that mean something?

She always felt like crying when she thought about Kamui, because even though she was happy with Gin-chan and Shin-chan and Sadaharu—she missed her family. She missed Oto-san's clumsy attempts to take care of her and the way Kamui used to tuck her hair behind her ears and promise that everything would be fine.

"Kagura-chan?"

She was on her feet with a smile on her face before she realized who'd spoken. "Shin-chan? I thought you were watching—"

Shinpachi blew out a frustrated breath, "Gin forgot to pay the electricity bill. TV's out. Want to help me beat him up?" He studied her face carefully. "Kagura-chan, are you ok?"

Kagura nodded, forcing her thoughts of what-could-have-been back because here and now she had a home and a mission. A smile bloomed over her face as she saw the same sinister grin spread over Shinpachi's.

Gin-chan, you better watch out.