Chapter 2: Kamui's POV

Although I was worried for Kaze, I expected him to return in a few hours from his mission. I knew how strong he was, and how sneaky he was when stealth was needed. I even felt that he had already completed his mission, and he was returning right now. I had that much confidence in my husband, and for a good reason. He had saved my life that one time after we fought against the Wolfskins, and since then, I knew that he was strong enough to defeat even ten enemies. I had full faith in him.

What I didn't expect, however, was an arrow flying right over my head, only cutting a few hairs off my head while avoiding my scalp being torn off. The arrow landed head-first in the nearby tree, and I gasped, turning to face the would-be assailant. However, there was no one there—I only felt a gust of wind caressing my skin. The damned archer got away.

"Who's there?!" I called out, dropping my wooden sword and picking up my Yato. I had been training in the forest, which was only a few minutes away from the Castle, so I didn't expect to see any enemies around here. When I saw no one, I turned towards the arrow stuck in the tree.

When I approached it, I gasped when I saw the emblem of Nohr on the vane. My guard was up then, and I glanced at my surroundings, making sure that no Nohrian scum was making an attempt to take my life.

There was still no one around, and I grew suspicious.

When I turned to face the arrow again, I saw what appeared to be a note tied around the shaft of the arrow. I raised an eyebrow, though I held the Yato tightly as I kept my guard up. Whatever it was, I knew it wasn't good. I was sure that the note wasn't an invitation for tea or anything of the sort.

I untied the string around the note, and when I unrolled it, something fell out from the paper. I looked down to see a piece of fabric fluttering down towards the ground. Before it hit the forest floor, I grabbed it, and the moment I felt the silk, my heart began to beat faster. I recognized that feeling of fabric anywhere, and when I looked at it, I recognized its appearance.

It's part of Kaze's scarf…

When I read the note, I gasped, my heart beating faster than ever. No matter how many times I read it, I felt I was about to have a heart attack from panic and anger, and I gritted my teeth so hard it began to hurt.

We have your little Ninja husband. Want him back? Come alone to the fort deeper in the forest. Don't come, or bring your friends with ya, and we'll send ya more than just his cute little scarf…

My husband. My Kaze. He was captured, and I had to go rescue him from the Nohrians' clutches.

Without thinking, I sheathed my Yato and touched the necklace around my neck, making sure that my Dragonstone was still there. If my husband was getting hurt, I had to make sure that I wouldn't go berserk and make the situation worse for the both of us. I then ran deeper into the forest, my dragon senses heightened from the adrenaline going through my veins.

Those dastards were going to pay for taking my husband. They wouldn't get away with this. If anything, if they ever hurt Kaze, I would make sure that their deaths were slow and painful.

A few hours had passed, and I came across what appeared to be an abandoned fort. There were cracks on the outside walls, as if it was about to collapse any second. The blue paint appeared to be old, judging from how it began to fade and peel off from the stone. I shuddered. It seemed like this fort had been abandoned for Gods' knew how long.

When I took a step into the fort, the dead body odor hit my nose, and I gagged at the stench. As I continued on, my Yato out and ready to strike at anyone who jumped at me, I glanced at my surroundings. Skeletons were trapped in each cell, their arms chained up on the walls. I had no idea how long these skeletons were trapped in their prisons, but since I saw no flesh left behind, it appeared that they were there for years. I gulped before I moved on, not wanting to think about the poor souls who had to endure their last minutes of their lives in such a state.

As I continued to walk, I heard something behind me, and I quickly turned, my sword up and ready to strike. No one. With a sigh of relief, I continued on my way, and behind me, I heard a sword being unsheathed.

My pointy ears perked up at the sound. I quickly turned, and just in time too. I blocked the enemy's sword from swinging at my head with my Yato, and I pushed the man away with my blade. The Nohrian fell on his back, and I ran towards him, ready to kill him, until I heard a deep voice growling behind me, "Don't even think about it, girlie."

I turned, and I was face-to-face with a man with a large scar on his face. Judging by his clothing and his lack of hygiene, he was a bandit from Nohr. I jumped back, my Yato in hand. "Who are you?!" I growled, ready to strike him at any moment.

Without warning, more men appeared out of nowhere, surrounding me. I cursed under my breath, realizing that I had fallen into a trap. And there was no way to escape from it now.

"So glad of you to join us, Kamui, Nohrian Princess," the man with the scar, whom I guessed was the leader of the pack, snickered. "I'm surprised it was that easy to lure you here by holding your Ninja lover captive."

I gasped, my eyes widening. These men, they were the ones who captured Kaze. I had no idea what they were doing to him, but I had to find him. But with this many surrounding me, I wouldn't be able to run past them. I stood my ground as I growled, "Where is he?"

"Oh, you want to see your little husband that bad?" the leader cackled. "Well, here he is!"

He pointed towards a corridor, and walking out was another man, holding...Kaze. A cleave gag was tied around his mouth, and he was bound hand and foot. Scratches were on his body, to which my eyes widened at how his captors had treated him. When he was thrown on the ground, I wanted to run to him, to hold him close and to free him from the ropes...but I knew it was hopeless. If I even dared to move a muscle towards Kaze, he would be cut down on the spot.

"KAZE!" I gasped. My husband looked up at me, his eyes widened before he began to cry out through the gag frantically. However, the gag kept his screams muffled, and his words were unintelligible.

The men snickered at my helpless husband before the leader bent down to him. I gritted my teeth. Even though he was a strong Ninja, Kaze was rendered helpless by just mere ropes and cloth; unable to move or speak as he looked up at me with wide, concerned eyes. I could feel my heart break in two the more I stared at Kaze's helpless position.

"Looks like he wants to say 'hi' to you..." the leader laughed as he gripped Kaze by the scarf. Judging from his expression, I could tell he was being choked, and my heart broke into even more pieces. Those men were not going to get away with handling my loving husband in such a disgusting way.

The leader ripped off the gag from Kaze's mouth, and he cried out to me, "KAMUI! Run! It's a trap!"

I knew it was a trap. I knew it was since I received the ransom note. But I didn't care. Kaze's life was in danger, and I couldn't just leave him behind when he needed me the most. I had to rescue him.

"SHUT IT!" the leader shouted before he backhanded my husband across the face. Upon seeing the redness forming on Kaze's cheek, I narrowed my eyes at the one who had touched my husband as I slashed the air with my Yato, trying to intimidate him and the other captors. No one puts their hands on my husband like that, and I was ready to chop off each and every one of their heads for doing such a thing.

"Let him go," I growled, glowering at the leader standing over Kaze. "It's me you want, isn't it?! I'm here now, so let him go!"

"Then drop yer weapons, girlie..." the leader laughed as he pulled out his sword. Thinking that he was ready to battle, I positioned myself into a battle stance...until he placed his sword to Kaze's neck. I quickly froze in place upon seeing the steel threatening to cut Kaze's life short. "Or the hubby dies!"

My eyes widened, realizing that it was either Kaze's life, or mine. As I stood there, deciding what to do—to run and leave Kaze behind, or to drop my weapons for Kaze's life—Kaze cried out to me, "KAMUI! Forget about me! RUN!"

Forget about him? I thought to myself. I shook my head as if to respond to Kaze's cry. I couldn't just leave him here. If I did, I wouldn't be able to live with myself! After a few incredibly tense seconds, I dropped my Yato and untied the necklace containing my Dragonstone—these men most likely knew of the stone's power—before dropping it on the floor, and I raised my hands in surrender as I stared at Kaze, whose eyes widened at my decision. "All right...you got me."

"KAMUI!" I heard Kaze gasp, but my decision was final. No matter how much Kaze begged for me to flee, I wouldn't change my mind. Not now, especially when Kaze's life was on the line.

The men chuckled, but I saw how the leader didn't even move his sword away from Kaze's throat. My eyes grew even wider, realizing they weren't honoring their side of the deal. Without thinking, I cried out, "Let him go! You promised you'll release him!"

"...No we didn't," the leader laughed out loud. "All we wanted is you. Your husband was just the bait! Now that we got ya, we'll kill 'im right here!"

I gasped, realizing now that these men were going to kill Kaze in front of me. When Kaze was thrown on the ground with an audible "oof", I ran towards him in order to protect him from any more harm, but I felt two strong arms grabbing both of my arms, restraining me effectively. I watched in sheer horror as the leader slashed across Kaze's back, leaving a nasty gash there.

"KAZE!" I screamed, tears blurring my vision as I was forced to watch my husband—the one I tried so hard to save—getting killed right in front of me.

Stab. Slash. Stab.

Upon seeing Kaze coughing up blood, my mind became cloudy, and I looked towards my arms. My anger intensified as violet aura began to fly from my arms, much to my two captors' surprise and confusion. I realized before my mind became blank:

I'm...going berserk! Without my Dragonstone—

"STOP IT!"

Before I could think of anything else, all I saw was the black aura hiding my vision as I tasted blood and flesh in my mouth. I even felt blood flowing down my claws as I lost control over my body. I had no idea what I was doing, but from what I was feeling and tasting, I was in Feral Dragon form, and I was on a killing spree.

I wanted to stop myself, to tell myself to stop doing this before it could get me and Kaze killed, but my mind remained mute.

As I tasted more blood and flesh, I heard a voice—Kaze's voice—as he called, "KAMUI!" The moment my vision began to clear up only a small bit, I saw the Dragonstone in front of me.

Ka...ze...i...s...st…

I could hear myself roar, and I felt my body transforming back into my human self. When my vision was finally cleared, I could think again, though I held my head as my mind got itself together. In fact, I was so busy with my own health that I didn't notice Kaze until he coughed out, "K-Kamui..."

My head shot up, and I turned to see Kaze, who was bleeding heavily from the injuries he sustained. I gasped and grabbed my Dragonstone, not bothering to put it back on as I ran towards my husband. I knelt down to him, and I quickly held him in my arms, relief flowing through me that he was okay.

"Kaze..." I whispered, trying to hold back more tears. "I'm so sorry! If I had come with you on that mission..."

"Kamui..." I heard him cough, and I gritted my teeth in fright as my eyes widened when he coughed up blood. Kaze was seriously wounded. I had to get him to Sakura, and fast. He continued, "A...are you okay? Are you unharmed?"

I nodded as I got behind him, cringing upon seeing the gashes and the stab wounds on his back. "I-I'm okay, Kaze..." I whispered as I worked on the ropes that held Kaze captive. Once I untied the knot, I saw, to my shock and horror, blood around his wrists. I had no idea how long he had been bound, but I figured that if I had come later, he would've died from the lack of circulation. "You're hurt!" I gasped. "Gods...you're bleeding!"

"Kamui..." I looked at Kaze, who was hacking up even more blood as he spoke again, "I...I'm glad that you're safe..."

Kaze then closed his eyes, and my heart beat much faster. Was I too late? Was Kaze dead?

"KAZE!" I screamed, tears streaming down my face. I placed my hand on his wrist, and to my relief, he still had a pulse. But I knew that if I waited around here for too long, he would die.

Freeing Kaze's feet, I then picked him up bridal style and ran out the fort, hoping that the Castle wasn't too far away.

When Sakura saw Kaze's condition, I could tell she wanted to either vomit or scream. She immediately brought him to the infirmary with Azama and Jakob, and I was left to my own devices.

I waited near the infirmary tent, pacing back and forth as I prayed to the Gods and Goddesses. If Kaze died, it would be my fault that he was killed. Because of me, Kaze was hurt, and if he doesn't wake up—

"K-Kamui?"

I jumped in surprise before I turned to see Sakura, who had a small smile on her face. Seeing my sweet sister's happy expression filled me with relief.

"Is Kaze—"

"He'll live. Though he'll be bedridden for a week," Sakura said. "Big Sister...that must've been scary for both you and Kaze. Kana and Midori were worried about you both!"

I totally forgot: our children, Kana and Midori, were left in the dust, wondering where their parents were and possibly thinking if we were still alive. Guilt flooded in my mind. How could I forget them? If I did tell them where I was going, however, they would stop me from going alone, thus jeopardizing Kaze's life.

"R-right..." I gulped. "C-can I see him?"

"Of course," Sakura said as she moved away from the tent entrance. "He needs the company."

"Thank you, Sister..." I whispered before I held Sakura close. Even at the bleakest of times, my family—Sakura, Ryoma, Takumi, and Hinoka—were always there for me. I always wonder how would I live with myself if I even sided with Nohr. Seeing Mother's death hit the nail on the coffin when I had to decide who to side with.

Once Sakura left, I walked into the infirmary, spotting Kaze laying in one of the beds, his eyes closed. His head was bandaged up, and his waist, chest, and wrists were also bandaged up. Even though I could see Kaze's chest heaving up and down, I still felt guilt coursing through my body.

I sat beside him, holding his hand as I whispered, "Kaze...I'm so sorry for what had happened...I should've come with you for that mission. I should've been there when you were attacked...I-I..."

Tears blurred my vision again, and I sobbed. Even though Kaze was alive and just asleep, I still couldn't help but feel guilty for the ordeal I put him through.

As I continued to cry, I heard a pained groan. I stopped sobbing, and I looked down to see Kaze beginning to stir. He turned his head before he opened his eyes, spotting me. "...Kamui?" he questioned as he winced from the pain. Clearly, the wounds weren't fully healed yet.

"KAZE!" I couldn't help but scream as I hugged him tightly, careful not to worsen his injuries. "You're...you're alive!"

"...Kamui...wh-where am I?"

I released him as I stared at him, tears still trying to fall down from my eyes as I spoke, "Y-you're in the infirmary. Sakura healed you. Oh Gods...I thought you wouldn't make it."

Silence filled the air as I held Kaze close again, kissing his face as I whispered "thank yous" to the Gods and Goddesses. That was when he spoke up, "Kamui...wh-why did you come for me? Don't you realize what those men could have done to you?"

I nodded as I let him go before I spoke, "I do. But I didn't care. Those dastards were holding you captive, Kaze. I couldn't let them harm you."

"But Kamui—"

I interrupted him. "Kaze, I love you, you know that?" I let out a sniffle as I wiped away more tears that fell from my eyes. "If I lose you like how I lost Mother..."

I buried my face into one of my hands, trying to hold in a sob as memories of Mother's death flooded my mind. Even though it was months ago, the pain of seeing Mother dying in my arms after she saved my life...it still lingered, as if it just happened.

I felt Kaze's hand grabbing my free one, and I also felt him squeezing it in a comforting manner. I looked down at him, noticing the smile on his face. He spoke, "I love you too, Kamui...I never realize how much you cared about me."

"Of course I do, Kaze..." I smiled back at him as I wiped away more tears that threatened to fall. I felt Kaze's soft hand wiping away the rest of my tears from my face, and I looked down at him. My husband looked up at me, and his eyes were mixed with both gratitude and...guilt?

"Kamui..." he whispered. "Thank you. Thank you for rescuing me. Just...please don't risk your life for me again like that. I wouldn't wish for you to risk yourself for me."

My eyes widened at Kaze's suggestion. After the incident, I wouldn't want to see Kaze hurt again. Why would he even say that? I saved his life! "I can't promise you that, Kaze. If you're in danger, I have to protect you. I don't care if I would die doing so. You saved my life so many weeks ago, and I wanted to repay you for that day...you're my husband. My lover. What kind of wife would I be if I don't protect you?"

"Kamui," Kaze said sternly. "I'm given the duty to protect you. You shouldn't be protecting me..."

"I know...but I love you," I sniffled, trying my hardest not to cry again. I knew how much Kaze hated to see me cry. "Kaze...please don't leave me."

"And please don't risk your life again just for my safety, Kamui..."

I stared at him. Now I understood why he didn't want me to do something rash: he swore to protect me, not the other way around. Although I still wanted to protect my husband from any harm that befell him, I let out a soft sigh before I closed my eyes and nodded. If Kaze promised not to leave me, then I wouldn't risk myself again. For him.

"Thank you..."

Constructive criticism is welcomed!