(Umi and Kotori – Night-time same day as Maki reaches Riko)

Umi sighed as she walked with Saki moaning in her arms, the tiny Sonoda had been moaning all evening and Umi was trying to walk around the castle to try and settle her niece.

"Are you missing Kotori?" Umi asked as she walked back to the chamber. The ashen girl had been away for the last three days, Umi had barely seen her, the blunette knew Kotori was with Hanayo so she knew she was safe but she was still wondering why she was avoiding her 'Is she angry at me for something?' Umi wondered as she rounded a corner.

As she came to the small open grassy area in front of the chamber Umi saw Kotori sitting next to one of the wooden pillars connected to the ceiling.

"Lady Kotori?" Umi said as she slowly approached the ashen girl.

"Oh Umi, sorry I didn't realise you were here." Kotori said with a smile glad to see the blunette, patting the space next to her.

'She didn't mention the title.' Umi thought 'I must have done something.' The blunette felt a chill down her spine and a panic set in her chest as she sat next to the ashen girl. As she sat down Saki let out a small moan.

"Aw I'm sorry Saki, I didn't mean to forget you." Kotori cooed as stroked the tiny Sonoda's head as Umi kept her in her arms, Umi could see the ashen girl's eyes were red and faint streaks on her cheeks.

"You shouldn't spoil her so much Lady Kotori." Umi mumbled.

"Umi, the rule." Kotori said glancing at Umi before she went back to smiling at Saki.

'She remembered then?' Umi thought confused as Kotori kept stroking Saki's head.

"Maybe I should teach you my Onigai face so you can weasel things out your aunty." Kotori said with a small smile.

"Ga…" the pair heard Saki let out.

"Aw, starting already I see." Kotori smiled happily.

"Kotori, don't corrupt my niece just yet, otherwise I'll never be able to teach her properly."

"Sorry Umi." Kotori giggled and the blunette found herself joining in for a second, before the pair settled into a brief and comfortable silence with Kotori continuing to stroke Saki's head while Umi contented herself to watch the two.

Eventually Umi reluctantly broke the happy silence "Kotori, are you mad at me?"

"No, why would I be?" Kotori asked shocked at the question.

"You've been avoiding me the last few days and you seemed upset before," Umi sighed "I just thought…"

"No." Kotori said leaning closer to Umi's face "I've just been working on something, I'm sorry I worried you."

"It's fine." Umi smiled "I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions, though why did you seem to be upset?"

"I was talking to Nozomi and mama." Kotori sighed looking at the ground and immediately making Umi feel worried.

"What about?"

"What Sakura said." Kotori huffed dropping her head down a bit making some of her hair fall over her ear as she felt her heart twist slightly.

"What did they say?"

"I wasn't really listening for most of it." Kotori said quietly "Nozomi seems to believe it and is wondering what to do as it might cause trouble for her, I think mama believes it, thought doesn't want to." Kotori finished with a sniff.

"Do you believe her?" Umi asked hesitantly.

Before Kotori could reply, Umi saw some of the hair that had fallen in front of Kotori's ear move, which caught the ashen girl's eye to, the two looked down and saw Saki trying the grab the end of the strand.

"Saki, that's rude, sorry Kotori." Umi said before she went to take Saki's hand away only for Kotori to gently grab Umi's hand and stop her.

"It's ok." Kotori sniffed, before smiling as Saki's actions made the weight on her heart lighten, the ashen girl moved her head slightly so Saki had bit more to play with "I've let her do it before, let her have her fun."

Umi saw Kotori smile again as Saki played 'I've missed that smile.' Umi thought as she silently watched the two the corners of her mouth turning upwards before speaking.

"If you're sure it's ok." Umi said, though with her honour grumbling thoughUmi felt a tang of frustration with that.

"Umi?"

"Yes?"

"Can I lean on your shoulder, its little uncomfortable holding my head like this?"

"Kotori we shouldn't, it's not proper, if someone saw…"

"But it would help make your lady comfortable." Kotori pouted.

"But…"

"Umi…Onigai."

'It's late and no one is around.' Came the mystery voice in Umi's head, Umi looked around and true enough she couldn't see anyone and it was indeed late at night so most people would be asleep.

"Ok." Umi said quietly before Kotori smiled and quietly placed her head on Umi shoulder while Saki kept playing with the strand of hair.

"Would you let Saki play with your hair?"

"I don't think my hair is long enough." Umi replied as she ran a hand through her short hair.

"Why did you cut it, I liked your hair long?"

"Really?"

"Yes, you look weird with it short, can't you keep it long from now on...Onigai."

Umi bit her bottom lip as she pondered, she's originally cut her hair short from shame, but it had been a bit of a rash decision and she never really liked it short herself 'Well it wouldn't infringe your honour if you grew it out.' Umi heard the mysterious voice say before she spoke"I suppose I can grow it, from now on, though it might take a while."

"Thank you." Kotori smiled feeling relieved that Umi had let that go at least.

Umi looked down and saw Saki still messing with the hair with a smile, the blunette smiled in turn before she took a deep breath before speaking to the ashen girl "Kotori, you didn't answer me before."

"Huh?"

"About what Sakura said, do you believe her?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure, I want to believe papa wouldn't do that." Kotori let out a shaky sigh before continuing "But papa wasn't himself for a long while after you…you left." Kotori said shifting closer to Umi so much so that the Ronin could feel Kotori's hair tickling her cheek. "Can we not talk about it now; I want to just forget today really."

"Of course." Umi said as she felt her heartbeat pick up at the closeness. As Saki kept playing Umi could hear the occasional sniff come from the ashen girl on her shoulder, making the Ronin's heart burn with anger at Sakura for upsetting Kotori, all she wanted to do was hug the girl and let her know it would all be ok.

'Your Lady is upset; you need to do something to stop it.' Came the mysterious voice, Umi waited a minute but her honour remained silent almost like it agreed.

"It doesn't matter." Umi said quietly.

"What doesn't?"

"What Sakura said, it doesn't matter to me if she was telling the truth or not, to me you will always be My Lady."

'Not that title again!' Kotori scowled before she began to talk "Umi, the title."

"I didn't mean it like that." Umi quietly "I mean I don't care if you're the Lady of the Minami clan or not, my loyalty is to you and only you, if Nozomi was forced to make you go on the run then I would be right there with you, I left you alone once I won't do it again."

Umi felt her heartbeat increase with every word and she was sure Kotori heard it but she found she wanted her to in case it gave the girl some comfort, Kotori meanwhile was sure her heart had just melted and exploded all in one go.

Kotori closed her eyes and Umi saw a sad smile appear on the ashen girl's face "I betray you, lie about you and still you never hate me even though you have the most cause to."

"I told you before, I could never hate you, Kotori."

"I don't deserve you." Kotori sniffed.

'No, I don't deserve you, Kotori.' Umi thought before looking down and seeing Saki fast asleep "It is getting late we should turn in."

"No, wait!" Kotori pleaded as she felt Umi shift "Can't we stay a little longer, I want to pretend that the last five years didn't happen, I want to pretend we had our wedding and we have our niece visiting us, please for just a little long."

"Didn't we pretend before?"

"Can't we again…Onigai?"

'Those are working more and more.' Umi sighed in her head as her honour attempted to stop her.

'No you shouldn't, it's shameful.'

'But your Lady wants to, are you going to refuse your Lady's request?'

"Ok, but only for a little bit, Saki needs her bed soon."

"Ok." Kotori said quietly.

The two remained silent a moment before Umi closed her eyes a second just listening to the sounds of Kotori and Saki breathing while listening to her own heart beating like a charging horse 'This is a nice feeling; I wish I could do it more.'

'Why couldn't I have had one more day to hold you, would it have been too much for the gods to give me just one more day of happiness with you.' The pair mused together in their heads.

(Honoka)

'How did I get lost?' The ginger thought as she walked around the corner, only to stop suddenly at the sight before her, as she took a moment to realise what was before her, she was glad she had done her best to walk quietly and not spoken outload.

Before her on the far end of one of the gardens were Umi and Kotori sitting quietly, the pair smiling happily together as Umi held Saki in her arms.

Honoka quietly walked away to not disturb the two and ruin their moment of joy, it was the first time she had seen either of them smile like they were in a long time, smiles she had last seen five years ago.

'It's nice to see those smiles again you two.' Honoka thought as she walked away.

So let me know what you think.

Also i have just posted a short alternate timeline story where Umi, Kotori and Saki all appear, so if you want to see what might have been then check that out.