Outside the walls, the bustle of the town bellow was wafting up to Kazune's ears. It was a bright morning and the first one that he was feeling better. His leg had nearly healed and the once stitched wound was now a fresh scar. As he stared at his bare torso in the mirror, Kazune had to admit that he looked pretty beaten with the scar. It had been seared twice and reopened two or three times. He wondered if it would ever look less gnarled. Sighing to himself and pulling his new tunic down over his head, Kazune prepared himself for the day. He adorned his usual pendants. He had gotten a new one from Karin as a get well gift. He had been irked when she gave it to him since it was a weather charm but, she told him it was to celebrate his bravery and victory.

"I guess I should start studying weather magic now too, huh?" he thought to himself as a smile spread over his face.

Kazune grabbed his shoes and pulled them on. He then took the walking cane that sat in the corner of his room into his hands. Leaning his weight partially onto the cane, he walked out of his room and down to the kitchen where the smell of hot food greeted him.

"Good morning, Kazune!" Karin's wonderful voice sounded.

"Good morning, good morning!" came another cheery voice.

Kazune turned to see Suzune running up to him. Being careful not to grab Kazune's injured leg, he gave Kazune a big hug.

"Did you sleep well, Suzune?" Kazune asked.

"Yes I did Mister. I dreamt that I was playing on a hill and when I jumped up I just started to fly and it was so very fun."

"You're still calling him 'Mister'?" Karin called as she walked into the room with plates of waffles.

"Oh yes, since he is quite respectable." Suzune's face turned to a look of assurance.

"I wouldn't say that... He's just stubborn."

"Hey." Kazune scowled at Karin as she giggled and gave Suzune his fruit covered waffle.

"In any case, I have found someone I think will do well in taking care of this kingdom."

"Really?" Kazune questioned. "Who is it?"

"I was walking in the town square when a man with chestnut hair came through the streets with his own entourage of servants and followers. He is apparently related to the late governor and was already on his way here to try to talk to Jin about his ruling practices. Jin's methods were giving their family a bad name." Karin explained.

"And you think he is a good candidate because...?"

"Because, he is already a governor in another country, he is very kind and good hearted and seems to love people and the environment."

"Sounds like a saint." Kazune said as he rolled his eyes and shoved a waffle slice in his mouth.

"I could do without your sarcasm!" Karin snapped. "He will be joining us for dinner tonight so you will be able to decide for yourself. AND you'd better be on your best behavior."

"Yes, mother." Kazune sneered as his eyes tried Karin's patience.

Suzune watched back and forth as the two bickered. He had not seen them together much since the end of the battle but when he did, they always seemed to be arguing. It was never so much that he thought that they would stop being friendly though. Suzune found their actions to be more amusing than anything so when the argued during a meal, he usually sat quietly and watched.

Finishing his food, Suzune popped up from his chair and decided he'd rather go do something else for the duration of the day. Kazune watched him as he left the room, drowning out Karin's annoyed talk. When Suzune's form disappeared around the corner, Kazune flipped his cane around so the hook end wrapped around Karin's neck as he pulled her shocked face down for a kiss. His lips felt unbelievably hot to the touch. Karin felt like she'd get burnt if she stayed there too long but when she motioned towards pulling away, Kazune pulled the cane tighter. She fell into his lap and now sat straddling him. It had been a long time since they did anything like this. Even longer since they were one. Kazune pulled his face away and let the cane fall back down to his side. He leaned into the crook of Karin's neck while his hands wrapped around her small waist.

"You smell very nice today; did you get a new perfume?" Kazune asked between kisses to her clavicle.

"N-no..." came the shuddering reply. "I smell the same as I always do."

"Then I must have been away from you too long." Kazune's nose nuzzled in behind Karin's ear.

"What are you doing, you're still hurt and this is not our house." Karin said trying to calm herself.

"You had no problem with a tavern... I am almost better, I'm sure we could do it with you on top." Kazune chuckled as he bit Karin's tender skin at the base of her neck, leaving a dark bruise.

"Ah! I was tied up then... and you're the one who undressed me there..." Karin's voice waivered. Speaking was becoming more difficult.

Kazune bit her again on the other side and again closer to her breasts. The dark purple marks suited her alabaster skin and golden hair. Her face was becoming flushed with embarrassment and resistance.

"Y-you... I was going to wear an off the shoulder dress to dinner tonight."

"You still should. Then that kind and personable chestnut colored haired governor will leave you alone." Kazune's voice was dark and his had gone stony.

"You're worried about that?!" Karin exclaimed.

"Well I did almost let you be taken away by the last governor... can't have you developing a taste for gentlemanly treatment."

Karin climbed off Kazune's lap and looked him squarely in the eyes.

"You are so possessive! You think I'd do that? Did we not just go through a huge test in trust? Sorry but, you're stuck with me till you die!"

"Is that a promise?" Kazune questioned as he looked up at Karin through his lashes. A smirk curling at the corners of his mouth.

Realizing what she had said, Karin turned and briskly walked out of the room. Kazune could have sworn he saw steam rising off her head.

The evening came faster than Kazune expected. He had been reading and studying the magic text in Jin's library when a maid came to tell him to get dressed in proper attire for the dinner.

Kazune did not particularly feel like dressing up for this man that was coming to visit but he would indulge in Karin's request.

He arrived at his room to see a white shirt with long sleeves and a ruffled neckline. There was a green vest with thin gold stripes crossing the fabric vertically and a black overcoat with tails. As he dressed he thought he looked very handsome. Karin really knew how to put together outfits fit for aristocracy. For the final touch, Kazune tied his hair back to give himself a cleaner appearance than his usual loose, shoulder length hair.

There was a knock at his door and the sour old maid came into his room.

"Your guest has arrived." she said while eyeing him up and down with a critical glare.

"Thank you, I'll be right down." Kazune said brushing her dirty looks off.

As he descended the flight of stairs that lead into the main hall, Kazune could hear Karin's jingly laughter and a playful voice conversing in the dining hall. When he got to bottom of the stairs Karin called to him and beckoned him over to their guest.

The man turned around with a beaming smile. His hair was parted at the side and about as long as Kazune's, maybe longer. He was very tall and had a friendly air about him but the most striking thing about him was his two different colored eyes. One was purple and the other was blue. Kazune was almost stricken by the man's beauty and elegance.

"Kazune, this is the governor related to Jin that I was telling you about." Karin said excitedly.

Kazune noted that she was wearing a high-necked dress.

"Hello there, Mr. Kujyou." Came the man's pleasant voice.

"My name is Michiru Nishikyori."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Nishikyori." Kazune said sheepishly.

"Miss Hanazono was just telling me about your bravery in your fight against my cousin. He was quite a handful; I can't even begin to imagine how you faired against him!" Michiru's eyes sparkled as he talked and he sounded excited about everything.

"Micchi says that he is interested in this kingdom because it was supposed to be his but he gave it to his cousin out of good sportsmanship when Jin lost to a sword fight to determine the heir to the family land." Karin babbled.

"Micchi?" Kazune glared at Karin and then Michiru. "That is awfully familiar of you, Karin."

"Oh! Pay no means to that, Mr. Kujyou. You may call me Micchi as well. It is what I go by with friends since Michiru is kinda a mouthful."

"I will stick with Michiru, thank you very much."

"I can give you a pet name too, Kazune. How does Kazu-chan sound to you?" Karin teased.

Kazune was starting to boil over. He had promised to be on his best behavior but Karin and Michiru were making it difficult. They both had an air of manipulation to them and he was at the butt of it.

"If you call me anything, shouldn't it be 'Master'?" Kazune said with a strained smile.

Karin's face went red and angry.

"Woah, Miss Hanazono, I did not realize that you were interested in such activities. How unique." Michiru said with amusement.

"I am not interested in anything of the sort. That is just what Kazune wants."

"Aww, don't be shy about it." Michiru said as he wrapped his arms around Karin and Kazune's necks and pulled them into a hug. "I won't judge. All kinds of people are interesting!" Michiru planted a kiss on each of their cheeks as if they had all been friends for years.

Kazune was ready to blow a gasket while Karin already seemed to understand that Michiru was just a happy-go-lucky person.

"Now, since all formalities are out of the way, shall we eat our dinner?" Michiru suggested.

"Yes, I am quite famished." Karin responded as she and Michiru turned to walk towards the dining room. Kazune stood in the main hall huffing about how well Karin and Michiru got along.

Michiru looked over his shoulder and saw Kazune glaring at him.

"Come on, Kazune-chan, it's time to eat!" he said with a sunny smile.

Kazune stood with his mouth slightly open and face a little red. He was not sure how he was going to deal with this new guest.