11. In Love And War

1 Week After the Last Meeting

Katagiri's health had been starting to go. Her body, once strong and rarely ill (only once she had caught a cold in the citadel), was starting to break down.

{Soon. I'll join you soon, my love}

"I'm sorry", she apologized on the phone to the researchers, "but I'm not feeling well again. Perhaps we can go over things later?"

Yamano was the one she had talked to over the computer. "Sakura-san, are you doing okay?"

"I'm just getting old."

After the call, Matsumoto was reading one of the journals. "I think we should finish up soon", Yamano took his place next to her. "Katagiri-san didn't look too well."

"She sick?"

"Not sure, but it looks like our meeting is cancelled for today." He peered over his partner's shoulder, "Anything interesting?"

"Let's see..." She skimmed over some pages. "She lost a tantou but the smith made her a new one right away...so basically the kid never even left." She continued, as Yamano could see spots of pink spreading to her cheeks.

"Matsumoto-san?"

"She and the hot eyepatched guy really got hot and heavy. I heard some of those girls wound up marrying a man who served under them. I'll give her credit though; she had very few deaths compared to some of the other saniwas." Then something caught her eye. "Oh..."

"What is it?"

"Here's something." She pointed to the book. "Munechika knew her mother."

"What?"

"Yes."

####

10 Months In

Even though she had realized this two months in, it had finally hit Sakura that:

-She wasn't going back anytime soon. At least not now.

-She had actually found herself a life here.

{When do I know that the enemy's been defeated?}

A pair of arms were wrapped around her. Strong arms. "Good morning", Mitsutada nuzzled her and kissed her neck. "Did you sleep well?"

"I did after..." She blushed. "Well, you know. What about you?" She smiled and turned over.

"I am fine, thank you. I'm glad you did. You need your rest." He stroked her cheek. "What's wrong? You seemed restless."

"I was?"

He nodded.

She sat up, the sheet covering her. "I was thinking that it's been almost a year now since I came here." He, in the meantime, had started to get dressed. "I...I wish I could take you back with me. Well, not just you...everyone."

"I would love to see your world." He rejoined her on the bed, his gloved hands over her own. "I want to see everything that you've talked about, see the country...and I would love to be by your side."

She drew him closer. "I love you. I mean...I really love you as in I want to be by your side always..."

"I love you too", the one-eyed tachi took her hand into his and massaged it gently. "I...I'm happy to be forged to you...and I too...want to be with you always. I think I understand now why Tsuru-chan and Hasebe-kun feel the way they do. You've taught me so much about being human...it would take your lifespan to repay you back." He took her hand to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss. "However..."

His mistress and lover already knew what he'd say though. It hurt, but deep down Sakura knew. "I know. It can't happen because of you being a sword."

"I'm sorry." He was sad until, "in the meantime, let's make lots of memories together! And", half dressed, he laid almost on top of her as he began to savor her body yet again, "I'll be by your side as long as I am alive."

"Mm mm", she moaned as he savored her, showering her with affection and making her hungry for more of him, "Shokudai-san, don't you have duties to do?"

"Oh, you're right!" He stopped midway (which made Sakura think to herself. "I should get started on breakfast soon anyway before the others get up."

"It's like, the crack of dawn!"

"You know me, Sakura-chan!" He, Sakura knew, truly was at home taking care of his fellow swords, especially the brothers that were closest to him. "But...I guess I can wait a few minutes..." His face was red, "I...if you'd like."

{He blushes like a teenage girl sometimes. We've been lovers for a few months now and he still acts like this}

This time, she began showering him with kisses, all over his body, which eventually turned into gentle bites, which made him moan. He was getting hard again.

"Shokudai-san", she looked into both of his eyes, as she kissed his scars, "you've been taking care of me all this time, so let me take care of you, okay?"

"Sakura-chan..." He held onto her as she eased herself so he could enter her. She put a finger to his lips.

"I'm yours." She adored him, "for now, I just want to be with my boyfriend. Not master and sword...just girlfriend and boyfriend..."

He moaned as she began to go down on him.

3 Hours Later

With an easy schedule today (at least until the team that was in battle, her Shisengumi team came back) and a group out farming, (which included Mitsutada, who kissed her after their dalliance and promised to make sure that their crops were the coolest), Sakura decided to take a break and sat outside.

"Are you, as they say, taking a break?" Mikazuki was hobbling up to where she sat.

"There's not a lot to do today. I never knew that paperwork could be so exhausting", she sipped. "Hasebe-san would be mad." Then, "hey aren't you supposed to be out farming with Mitsutada and the others?"

"Hahaha, I hurt my back."

"Oh!" She grew concerned, "How did you do that?"

He laughed, "I was picking up an apple when I hurt my back."

"You really are a grandpa."

Then Mikazuki changed gears and then asked, "Did you enjoy my little present to you?"

"Huh?"

"With Mitsutada and I believe a shower..." Now the oldest, most grandfatherly sword was grinning madly. She turned crimson. She looked away, not wanting to show the blush that was spreading quickly across her face. "Thank you for that."

"I assume everything is well?"

"I'm happy." She looked at Mikazuki, "very happy. I've only been with three people, but somehow, this feels like the real thing."

"Hahaha".

"I wonder what happens when this thing is over." She turned to her companion, "Did you ever have feelings for anyone, Mikazuki-san?"

"I did." The beautiful sword looked to be lost in thought. "She...she was a lot like you."

"Another saniwa?" She was shocked. "Or do you mean Nene-san?"

"No, it wasn't her." He took a deep breath, "It was a few years ago when I was on display. A young woman touched me accidentally."

"Ok..."

"It's not like that", he chuckled, "I don't think she even knew who I was. We became friends when she thought I was just home from college. We grew very very close...had a passionate encounter myself...until one day she simply said that she could not see me anymore."

"Did she ever find out who you are?"

"I never knew if she did or not. I found out later that she was getting married and that she was already with child."

"Awwww..."

"Sakura-sama, there's something that I have not told you", he continued. "I, along with Konosuke, saw you that day, along with Yui."

She was stunned. "How..."

"I was the one who had summoned you here. Because of your mother..."

"I haven't seen my mother since she died when I was three..." Then it hit her what Mikazuki had stated.

{I have no idea what to say. I've been here for almost a year and I almost forgot what my old life is like. How shall I react to this?}

"Please forgive me", Mikazuki faced her. "I knew that you would perfect for this though. You are a lot like your mother..."

Still in shock, she stood up. "I...I'm not angry. Just surprised at this."

"I see." He seemed relieved.

"I don't know what to say", she admitted, "but I wouldn't have met everyone, including you..."

*30 Miles Away*

It was evening when Yui and her group camped out. Ten miles more and Yui would separate while her group provided a distraction to trap Sakura's men. "What if they leave a bodyguard?" A yari had asked. Yui had been eating by the fire and had already thought of an answer.

"You're a yari", she simply answered, "some of those tachi and uchigatana can't even stand against you for two seconds."

"Some of them look pretty tough though."

"Do whatever you want." She sighed, finishing the rice that the priest had made for her. "Just don't kill anyone."