"Are you out of your mind?!" Itnasha barked. "Sessho-maru would skin me alive if I let you do that!"
"It's my fault we're going to war, I should at least help out…!" Fawks countered.
"Then go and sew Sho-san a new Haori or something…"
Fawks gave him a withering glare, "I was trained as a warrior, I'd be able to hold my own in battle…"
"There is no way Sho would allow it" he glared at her with hard blue eyes.
"I could be an asset! No one knows what I look like or that I'm his fiancée!" Fawks began.
Itnasha crossed his arms over his broad chest, "Alright your ladyship, if you can convince Sessho-maru to let you fight, I have no say against it…"
"Fine I will" she lifted her chin at the challenge.
Itnasha looked at her skeptically, "We both know he's gonna refuse, you're so precious to him after all…"
"When he met me, he knew I was just some quiet little girl who would sit at home while the people she cared about risked their lives for her. He loves me enough to respect my wishes and let me do this…!"
"No" Sessho-maru said flatly. Fawks blew a sigh through her bangs, 'So much for respecting my wishes…'
"But Sessho-maru…!"
"We are not discussing this. I refuse to willingly put you in danger just so you can feel better"
"That's totally not what this is about…"
"Then what is it about then? How did this foolish idea even surface?"
"I just…I wanted to protect you the way you're trying to protect me…"
Sessho-maru raised an eyebrow as she shyly took his hand, "I love you so I want to keep you safe too, isn't that only right?"
Sessho-maru let out a sigh, "You are…going to do whatever you want no matter what I say, aren't you?"
"You know me so well already" Fawks smiled.
He glared at her, still disapproving, "Very well, but you must do what I say at all times"
"Yes!" she chirped. Sessho-maru sighed, wrapping his arms around her waist, leaned his forehead against hers, "You are going to be the death of me, mate"
"You love it…" Fawks teased.
"…I love you, so I suppose that means I also love trouble"
"It's my middle name" she smiled, leaning up to kiss him.
"Well I'll be damned!" Itnasha laughed. Fawks glared at him as she wiped the sweat from her face.
"You really do have Sho wrapped around your little finger, don't you? Though I never woulda thought he'd let his precious Fawks-chan into battle…"
"He just realized he couldn't stop me" she shrugged.
"Oh really? Though I'm sure convincing him required some extra special…persuasion…"
"Get your head out of the gutter, Sessho-maru and I haven't had sex in weeks" Fawks rolled her eyes.
Itnasha blinked, "Ex…excuse me…?"
"Yeah, he says he doesn't want to risk me getting pregnant before we're official"
"Well…I must say I'm surprised…" Itnasha sighed.
"We still fondle each other, if that makes you feel better…" Fawks sighed, taking a swig of water.
"At least I know he's still the same cousin I grew up with…" Itnasha muttered.
"I don't even want to know what you mean by that…"
Itnasha studied her, "Be careful, Fawks-chan. You have more to fear here then out on the battlefield…"
Fawks blinked at him.
"Many members of Sachiko's clan were given work in this castle as a show of goodwill. Sessho-maru-sama and I are still weeding out the ones who are still loyal to the other clan…"
"Do they know who I am…" Fawks lowered her voice.
"No, none of them are in Sessho-maru's inner circle. Count yourself lucky for that…"
Fawks hesitated, Itnasha clasped her on the back. "Don't worry yourself too much, just be cautious"
"Yeah…" she nodded.