" Do you have any plans for your day off, Arashikage-kun? "

Amira looked up from the report she was giving, wondering if Munakata was teasing her; when she saw his violet eyes focused directly at her, she realized that he was serious.

She felt her cheeks turning pink. " Uh… no, Sir, " she admitted. " I was planning on going to visit Anna, however, Kusanagi-san said that Tatara Totsuka was taking her strawberry picking. "

A soft understanding dawned in the Blue King's eyes, and he nodded. " I see, " he said, remembering the reports about the little girl becoming speechless after her paternal aunt had forgotten her following the traumatizing events of the Nanakamado Incident. He was well aware that the Red Clan had swallowed their pride by asking the girl in front of him to help Anna find her voice despite the fact that she was from the Blue Clan since they knew how much she cared for her, and Amira hadn't hesitated to try. He was also aware that his young clansman was still emotionally scarred from that time since she had lost her father, and been tortured in one night, even though she never spoke about her ordeal.

The signs were quite visible to anyone who took the time to try and look past her stoic demeanor, not to mention her bad temper: on more than one occasion, when she'd thought that she was alone, Munakata had seen her sitting alone behind the dojo, her pain filled eyes looking inward, her expression one of loss and pain, her hands clenched in her lap to stop their shaking. She tried to hide her agony from him and everyone around her, but he could see it as clearly as the earth at sunrise; sometimes, she would slip, and a crack would appear in her expressionless mask, allowing her fears to surface, resulting in her shrinking away from those around her. Several of the men had reported that she was quite quick to anger when they tried to flirt with her, making it a point to remind the men – verbally and physically if the latter was needed - that she wasn't there to tolerate them when they made advances on her; she was there to work.

" I will be visiting my family on your day off, " Munakata revealed. " I was wondering if you would like to accompany me? " He watched in amusement as her already wide green eyes became the size of saucers, her lips slightly parted, the combination forming and expression of surprise at his invitation.

One of the reasons why he had been particularly intrigued by Amira Arashikage was her naivete regarding some things despite her emotional scars, and her tendency to get caught off guard at certain moments despite how aloof she was around people. The Blue King considered himself to be lucky that he was one of the few who were able to catch a glimpse of the soft side that she rarely displayed…

" Sir…?! " She was sure that she had misunderstood him.

Munakata chuckled softly, rising to her feet. " It was not a jest, Arashikage-kun, " he smiled, moving around his desk before perching on its edge, directly in front of her, and folding his arms.

Amira swallowed, feeling her face turn completely pink. Munakata was so close that one of his legs was touching hers, and she could feel his warmth. " I… isn't that a little too presumptuous of me? " she asked, suddenly feeling awkward. " Your family doesn't know me… "

" My brother is somewhat acquainted with you since you are the one who brought his wife to the hospital on the day she gave birth to their children, " he reminded her. " Although you made a French exit as soon as they were delivered; I would say that it is time you met them. "

" Do they even know I'm working for you, Captain? "

At her question, a secretive, yet knowing smile slowly lit the Blue King's face as the memory of his earlier conversation with his brother flashed in his mind.

" What?! " Taishi Munakata practically yelled into the phone. " The girl who rushed Inari to the hospital is working for you, and you never said anything?! "

Munakata leaned back in his chair, chuckling at his more talkative brother's reaction. " Yes, she is, " he confirmed. " However, it has only been recently. The day that the twins were born was our first official meeting; I spoke with her a few times after that before she agreed to join Scepter 4. "

" So what's she like? " Taishi asked his younger brother. " When I saw her, she struck me as pretty aloof and formal; she also seemed a bit snobbish, and impatient. "

The Blue King smiled. " Yes, she acts that way with most people, " he confirmed. " But she is quite soft hearted and kind. " He sombered as he remembered what he had read about her background, and the few times her inner fears had made themselves visible. " She is an introverted, somewhat troubled young lady, thus her taciturn approach. "

Both brothers were silent for a moment. Finally, Taishi Munakata spoke. " You care about her, don't you? "

His younger brother was silent.

" Why don't you bring her over one of these days? " Taishi suggested. " I bet Mom and Dad would like to meet her, considering the role she played when the kids came along; Inari would also be happy to see her since she never got to thank her properly for bringing her to the hospital. "

The younger Munakata chuckled. " I will need to ask her first, " he pointed out. " She is a stubbornly independent young lady who has her own mind, and would not appreciate having others make her decisions for her. "

His older brother gave a nervous laugh. " She sounds like a tough girl. "

" She is… "

Amira wondered for the thousandth time what the hell she was doing as she rode in the passenger seat of the Scepter 4 car that he Blue King had taken to drive them to his family home. Knowing that being seen together would attract unwanted attention and make tongues wag, they had agreed to meet at a discreet distance from headquarters.

Amira left first, walking for a few minutes until she reached the end of the block and turned right at the corner, trying to calm her racing heart. When she heard the vehicle pull up, she turned, her eyes meeting those of the man driving. Trying not to think of how their rendezvous seemed like a date, she was about to open the door and climb into the passenger seat when he surprised her by opening the door on the driver's side, and crossing over to where she was, smiling when he saw her startled expression as she reached for the handle.

" Allow me, " he said, reaching over and opening the door for her.

Amira felt her face turn pink. Now it was starting to feel like a date. " Thank you, Captain, " she breathed softly, and turned to climb into the car. She nearly jumped out of her skin, and had to remind herself who she was with so that her hands wouldn't lash out to deliver an otherwise injuring blow when she felt his hand take hold of her elbow as he assisted her into her seat before crossing back to the driver's side and doing the same.

Nice to know gentlemen aren't an extinct species, she thought as she fastened her seatbelt. Keeping her eyes averted as the Captain turned the car in the direction of his home, and she settled into her seat, watching the scenery go by.

The Blue King glanced at his young clansman, noticing that she had fallen asleep five minutes into the drive. It was alright, though; he knew that she had stayed up long past her shift yesterday after her reports were done to finish her laundry so she wouldn't have to worry about that particular chore today.

Amira Arashikage had agreed to his request / invitation to meet his family after some persuading, her acceptance had filled him with a strange sense of peace and relief. He had confirmed via text to his older brother that he would be bringing her today, and when Taishi had called him as he was preparing to leave, Munakata found that the call was on loudspeaker. His sister in law had sounded excited to finally meet the girl who had helped her on the day her children had been brought into the world, and his mother informed him that there was something that she would like him to see when he arrived with their guest.

In her lap, the young Strain had a lavender bag that looked like it had come from either a boutique, or a gift shop alongside the large tote bag she'd brought with her; Munakata couldn't help but wonder what was in the bag that would require such a big size.

" Arashikage-kun… We've arrived. "

Amira became conscious of the tall shadow bending over her at about the same time she had registered the deep voice that had spoken. She woke slowly, blinking to find to her embarrassment that Captain Munakata had already parked the car, crossed over to the passenger side, and undid her seatbelt as he'd coaxed her awake.

He was so close right now that she could feel his warmth, and see the violet color of his eyes despite the way that his body was blocking the light; she even caught the scent that brought to mind the snow capped mountains on a quiet night under the full moon.

Everything that was him…

She went from drowsy to fully awake in one leap. Munakata pulled out and straightened to his full height as he caught sight of the change in her demeanor, an amused twinkle in his eyes as she suddenly jerked upright and rubbed her eyes.

" I fell asleep?! " the black haired girl almost shrieked in disbelief. She quickly clambered out of the passenger seat unaided only to have her heel catch the metal step, causing her to trip.

Oh, boy.

Amira flailed helplessly, while stubbornly keeping a hold on the bag she'd brought with her, anticipating having her knees and palms – possibly along with her nose – collide with the asphalt, only for the Captain to step forward and catch her with an arm around her waist.

Amira instantly felt her face burning at the contact as Munakata steadied her with his strong arms, one around her waist, while one hand gripped her elbow. She felt humiliatingly helpless as she clung to his other arm with her free hand, her forehead coming into contact with his chest, once again feeling the warmth he radiated.

" Are you alright? " he asked gently, his deep voice tinged with concern.

She couldn't bring herself to look up at him, feeling absolutely humiliated, merely nodding. " Yes Sir, " she answered, her heart pounding from the encounter. " Thank you. "

She was feeling humiliated, and something else…

What is this I'm feeling? she wondered.

Amira could feel embarrassment and humiliation coursing through her after her near collision with the ground, and yet… the feeling of the Captain's arms around her, along with the warmth of his body still lingered.

And it hadn't felt good…

It had been…

Pleasurable….

She'd wanted him to keep on holding her….