Chapter 4- A Demon's Spirit, An Angel's Care.

Akabane and Gosunkugi came back to find that Hotarubi was bait for an Iga attack on the Kouga Manjidani. There were hundreds of bodies strung out across the village. What was left of the main Kouga Ten were still alive and Gennosuke has returned from the Iga.

Akabane knew about the romance between Gennosuke and Oboro but didn't bother to put that in the mix between what had just happened that afternoon. she knew there was no wickedness in her heart to do something this cruel, someone else was behind this.

"What the hell happened here?!" said Gosunkugi in awe of the death and destruction. Akabane's eyes burned with anger while she too was appaled at the devestation.

"Dammit!" She exclaimed banging her armored fist against the village wall, "this little sow was the bait to lure us away from the village to make it vulnerable!" Okoi and the others were still alive, but Hyouma was badly wounded and resting on Saemon's shoulder.

"Okoi-chan, thank the gods you're alive," Akabane was holding the bloodied shinobi in her arms. She looked over at the gapping sword wound in Hyouma's chest, "Hyouma-sama!"

"You did your task well, demoness," Hyouma said in a quite voice

"You shouldn't speak, you're going to be fine," Akabane said in a motherly tone, holding the strong shinobi in her arms like Michelango's 'Pieta' "I hope I can clean this wound, it seems you're following in the very footsteps i was in when I announced my alligence," she thought remembering the day she arrived here in the Kouga. Gosunkugi bandaged up the wound while Akabane used her strength to carry him back to the palace grounds.

"I will take care of Hyouma-sama, you stay and look after the dead," Kagerou suggested taking Hyouma into her care. But Akabane was the kind of person that would return a kind favor to another.

"I will watch over him, Kagerou-sama,"

"But...Akabane...,"

"I said I will watch over him," She insisted, a little more blunt in her approach. Kagerou nodded, "nee-chan, please look after the prisoner, if she tries to makie a run for it, well, I'll leave the punishment to you,"

"Hai, onee-chan," Gosunkugi lead the prisoner to the storage area on the other side of the estate

Akabane layed him on a bed and watched over him. Kagerou enters the room, "How is he?" she asked, Akabane sighed looking at the bad shape Hyouma was in.

"Not to good, the bleeding has lessened but he's starting to run a high fever," Akabane said worried about the weak state Hyouma was in. Kagerou gave her a small vial to help her out, "what is this?"

"Opium, it will numb the pain," Kagerou replied, "please stay with him, Akabane-san," Kagerou left the room with some suspicion in her mind, "Hyouma-sama seems to favor this girl, he always calls on her and her sister to do the job of guarding the village, is there something between them that i don't know about?" Akabane watched him into the night, wiping his forehead with a damp towel. Her demon-like eyes softened in his presence to those of an angel.

"You mustn't be sad, you mustn't pity me," Hyouma muttered, "you are a warrior, Akabane, tears are a sign of weakness," Akabane held his hand and rubbed against the scar on her face.

"But I am a woman," Akabane explained placing her large scythe on the floor next to the bed, "warriors like us have the one thing in our hearts that keeps us strong. I never thought i'd find it until the day i first came here,"

"What are you talking about? I...don't understand,"

Akabane took a deep breath and finally said the fateful three words, "Sigh...I love you, Hyouma-sama," She whispered into his ear. Her breath smelled of a mix of mint, tabacco and sage on his skin. She stood up from the bed, "you took care of me in my time of need, it is my turn to return the favor,"

"What are you doing, Akabane?" Hyouma asked hearing the rattling of Akabane's heavy armor and slipping of bandages and cloth. Akabane smiled and looked down at Hyouma like Eve, naked but not embarrassed.

"What a woman must in a time like this," She slipped herself under the covers and warmed the shinobi with her body. The cold winds blew through the night while Hyouma was in her company, "Akabane..."

"Yes, what is it, Hyouma-sama,"

"I want you...to go to the Iga Tsubagakure and ask for their repentance on my behalf," Hyouma ordered softly

"What if they refuse?"

"Then blood must be spilled," Hyouma explained, "please Akabane-sama, we're at war and peace must be made,"

"But the Iga clan are too stubborn, Hyouma-sama, I doubt they will listen," Akabane said after dealing with Hotarubi on the cliff that morning. Hyouma smiled and touched Akabane's cheek.

"Don't loose hope, Akabane, a loss of hope can tip the scale in battle, you of all people should know that,"

The next day, it was time. Akabane heard about what happened to Kazamachi Shogen, Odono Josuke and Jimushi Juubei. So now it was time to attack. Kagerou, Okoi and Akabane gathered at the front of the estate and prepared to attack Iga Tsubagakure while Gennosuke to the place of Akabane in looking after Hyouma whom was recovering well from his wounds. Bandaged and armored, Akabane looked at the ones assembled with battle-ready eyes.

"Is this everyone?" She asked, they all nodded but Gosunkugi was nowhere to be found, "wait where's Gosunkugi-san?"

Gosunkugi came back to the gates, breathing heavily, "Gomen nasai, Onee-chan," She said resting her hands on her knees and carrying a small sack on her shoulder, "Hotarubi tried to escape this morning and well, let's say I have a little present for the Iga,"

"Enough talk, we must get moving!" Akabane commanded, "when we get through the walls, unleash hell!" The four kunoichi sprinted through the forest with haste, "when you steal the a wolf cub away from the pack, then you better be ready to withstand the fury of the angry mother," She thought readying her scythe to shed peace before blood by resting it on her back.