Chapter Five

Kayura smiled as the woman opened the door, "Wanda!"

"Kay," she grinned as she let her in. She was carrying several bags with her, "you weren't kidding when you said you went shopping."

"Yes, and I need your opinion of what looks good," Kayura answered as she came into the small apartment. She put down the bags and gave the woman a hug, "how are you?"

"Well," she smiled. "Although, Cap's training regiment is not for the faint of heart."

"I guess it wouldn't be," Kay smiled as she started pulling out dresses. "Tell me what's happened since I've been gone?"

Wanda started some coffee, "a whole lot. Let's just say Steve and Tony are not quite getting along."

Kayura raised an eyebrow, "oh?"

"Yeah," she said. "I don't know what it is but every time they see each other, there's …issues. Someone ends up getting their feelings hurt and leaving."

Kayura didn't know if it was appropriate to smile, "they love each other like brothers do."

"Is that what that is?"

"In my time, it would have been normal for men to love each other like family who fought in battles together, I don't see why it would change," she paused, "you put your life on the line with someone long enough, you might as well be family."

Wanda nodded but didn't seem certain, "I mean that coul be it, but Tony is acting funny. Pepper left him, something about being obsessive...I don't know that much."

"So Clint..."

"Yeah, Clint," she said as she poured two cups of coffee. "But honestly, I'm not surprised. He's honorable, well mannered, a bit old fashioned, snarky, and heroic. He is the epitome of what the ronins were when they first became heroes from what I've seen."

Kayura smiled, "that's for sure. What do you think red or black?"

Wanda looked at the two dresses, both were satin things that would leave nothing to the imagination. The red one was a halter that would tie behind the neck, the black was asymmetrical. Both cut to fit her form, the red would show off shoes nice while the black had a slit up to the thigh. She asked, "do you want him to die of heart failure? Because I assure you a man his age is not going to survive seeing you in either of those."

"That's the point, dear."

Wanda said, "I think red is your color."

"I think so too," she said as they started going through the accessories and shoes she picked up. "Is he okay, Wanda?"

"He's Cap, he doesn't talk to me too much about emotional things," she said, "but he missed you."

Kayura felt her cheeks flush.

Wanda continued, "I think it was hard for him because Nat was certain that you were on ice like he was and was pushing for him to move on with some agent named Sharon. I have to give you one thing, he's loyal to a T."

Kayura smiled to herself, "he asked me to marry him when we were Africa."

Wanda squeeked, "wait, what?"

Kayura nodded, "and I know, we only knew each other a week but..."

Wanda grabbed her hand, "don't say it like that. What happened that week felt like an eternity with demons and conspiracies. I don't blame him. You showed him that you wouldn't bend or break. "

Kayura smiled at the woman, "I love him more than anyone ever before in my lifetime but..."

Wanda asked, "but?"

"I'm scarred," she paused, "not that he'll leave me or anything, but that he may realize that I'm still a girl...not woman..."

Wanda raised an eyebrow as she tried to figure out her statement, "what do you mean..."

Kayura didn't know how to put politely in English and turned scarlet, "that I've never...had more than a kiss before..."

Wanda turned red too, "oh..."

Kayura blushed, "I mean, it's not like I don't know of things...Goodness knows Kale and Sekh had a lot of loose women around during our mercenary days. Trust me, Edo Era men are not know for their privacy."

Wanda mumbled, "ew.."

"Tell me about it."

Wanda thought for a moment, "honestly...I would tell him...so you guys can figure out stuff together. I don't think he seems like the sort of man who would force anything..."

Kayura nodded, "that's what I was thinking..."

"Well, there is one thing I should tell you before you go the party this afternoon," Wanda began. "There's been some drama with Miss Nakano lately...ever since she told Maria and Fury that her people were out of their jurisdiction."

"About time..."

"But...she's been odd from what I've seen."

"How so?"

"Go with the black," she said about the jewelry, "she put the rest of her husband's company in Pepper's hands until Seito and Junko decide to take it over but its the other stuff that might be a problem..."

"What other stuff?"

"She took control of Sage and Ryo soon after you left but her and Tony have gotten close..."

Kayura frowned, "close?"

"He spends a lot of time with her... and I'm not saying anything for certain, but its definitely weird..."

Kayura sighed, "oh, boy, this party might be a lot harder than I originally anticipated."