Chapter 7: Setting a wager counts as courting, right?

Tip: Sometimes the traditional approaches don't work and you have to get creative. Start small and save the weird shit for when you know she's into it.

Jorg flipped through his notes from every contributor for the book, sorting them into piles based on where it would be placed within the book. Several of his comrades had been willing to give their perspective, whether they were currently attached or not. A couple of the Sorcerer Shoguns had also given input from past experiences. Gara had given a few tales of missed opportunities and Jorg was pretty sure some of those were exaggerated. It was confirmed when Nei overheard the Ninja Master boasting and put him in his place.

There had been a few tell-all's from some women in the residence, Kai being the primary source, even if she didn't know what it was for. Jorg felt guilty for not disclosing everything, but he'd make it up to her one day. Nei had given a few opinions on what not to do, which were most likely things that Dark Schneider had done. He tried talking to Sean Ari eventually, but she was so innocent that the conversation stalled almost immediately. He even approached Shella, who gave him such a dark look when he misgendered them that he had to reword his questions. It was still safer than talking to Vai's mother, who was too comfortable telling tales and Jorg feared hearing about the boy's conception.

He wanted to make sure his best friend got the girl, not get scarred for life.

And then, Hammet stopped by his room to check in with him about his progress with the book. Up to that point, Jorg hadn't told the man everything about his intentions. Trying to explain to Hammet that piles of notes labeled "what to say vs not to say" and "will this work with water" were meant as an attempt to humor their leader had taken a lot of effort. It was even harder to do when he was laughing.

"This…is for Joshua?" Hammet asked, staring over his glasses at Jorg. The title that Jorg had landed on was scrawled on a loose piece of paper – The Unofficial Guide to Getting Screwed: A comprehensive guide on the art of getting with a woman.

"Yeah."

The man flipped through more of the notes. "And this is why you asked for a blank book?"

"Mm-hm."

Hammet passed back the notes after arranging them into a neat stack. "You do know you're going to get your ass kicked, right?"

"Oh, yes sir." Jorg laughed. "I expect it! You haven't seen the ones that Dark Schneider suggested, have you?"

"He didn't –"

"Oh he did. Here, there's gonna be a whole chapter just from him. Could even be two or three if he can draw."

"Joshua will kill him, then. And you'll still get your ass kicked." Hammet shoved his hands in his pockets. Dark Schneider's advice was crass enough; he didn't want to imagine what the dark wizard would illustrate. "What brought this idea on in the first place, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Kai makes Joshua hot under the waistband and he won't tell her he likes her," Jorg shrugged. "So I'm…you know…helping things along. Maybe give him some inspiration to go for it if he hasn't gotten her before this book is done. I think I'm ready to write it, but…man it's a lot bigger than I expected."

Hammet looked at the piles of notes on Jorg's desk, mildly pleased that some of his habits had rubbed off on other men in the residence. "Do you need some help?" He offered. "I can help you paraphrase some of these, if you need me to?"

"If you've got the time, I'd really appreciate it." Jorg chose to withhold how…creative…some of their brothers-in-arms were, and it would be worth it to see the look on Hammet's face when he found out on his own.

The match between Joshua and Kai ground to a halt the moment the samurai lowered his sword. "You've been lost in thought again."

Kai looked offended at the statement. "I have not!"

Joshua returned his sword to its scabbard. "Do I sound like I'm mad? Kai, you haven't been focused the entire time we've sparred. It's been this way for most of the week, and I'm concerned. We don't know where our next mission will lead and everyone needs to be at their strongest."

"So that's how it is," she muttered. "You want me at my best and if I can't deliver on it then I need to not be part of the rebellion."

That…was not what he was suggesting. At all. "Kai? Where is this coming from?"

"Why don't you ask Jorg? He seems willing to tell all –"

Joshua felt like he'd stepped through another portal, for all of the nonsense he was hearing. He thought that things were going well! They had met up for their evening practice matches as usual, and sometime after they began, Kai lost her focus. She'd miss openings he was giving deliberately and made mistakes he'd never seen before. Now she was talking about Jorg and being kicked from their forces? What did Jorg even have –

"Dammit…" he sighed, rubbing his face. "Is this because of that conversation at dinner, by any chance?" The one he hadn't wanted to have about future plans and children – oh he was going to skin his friend once he caught him –

"Is that a problem?" Kai had crossed her arms and was looking more closed off than she'd ever been with him.

"For Jorg, it will be. Kai, please talk to me. Let me know what I can do to make things right? It upset you, and –"

She shook her head, and his stomach fell. "It's nothing you can do, Joshua. You're not the problem." Kai looked so withdrawn into herself as she spoke. "I…I don't have anything to look forward to when the war is over. That conversation, it made me realize that I've served Empress Nei for years with no goals for after."

His knee-jerk reaction was to tell her that she'd always have him, but it didn't feel like the moment to say it. "After everything else we've talked about recently, I was afraid it was what Jorg said that upset you." Like the future hypothetical children. That was why he'd kicked the man; he'd just gotten to tell Kai that he had feelings for her, and to throw his late-mother's wish at her? It was a wonder Kai didn't take off running.

In fact, she looked like she might run at any minute.

"You mean raising a family?" Kai looked away. "There's nothing wrong with your dream, Joshua."

He couldn't tell if that was meant in relation to their situation or if it was a general statement. On one hand, it implied that if she did reciprocate, she might not want a family and didn't want to tell him. That thought scared him the most. He never wanted her to feel like she couldn't be her true self, regardless of if anything happened between them. "It was my mother's dream, anyway. I don't know if that's something that I'd want. And if I do, there isn't a rush –"

"It – it doesn't upset me! It's that I've never – I mean –" Her words stopped short and it looked as though she were holding back what she wanted to say.

"Kai?" Joshua felt his heart pick up, but he couldn't decide if it was a good thing. She had a hint of a blush in her face, and she wasn't making eye contact with him. It was time to push forward and ask. "Is this because you've never…with a man...?"

With how quickly she turned to face him, he should have put his hands up to block his head from being punched. Kai was definitely looking at him now, and that little bit of redness was now bright and spreading down her neck. "I'm a virgin, alright! Virgin!" Kai let out a strangled sound of resignation and dropped to her knees on the floor. "You may as well say it, Joshua."

Slowly, he kneeled on the floor beside her. "It's not a bad thing, Kai…"

"You're tiptoeing around me –"

"You can turn a man to stone, and I'm not trying to twist that into something crude. If I'm tiptoeing around you, it's because I don't want anything to get broken off." There was the tiniest quirk of a smile, and Joshua felt victorious. At least he could make her smile.

Kai stared down at the floor. "But you're a man. Of course you'd say that. If it weren't the case, I'm sure you'd react differently."

He was starting to see where this was leading. That ridiculous double-standard. Women were supposed to be "pure" until one man came along, then she was duty-bound to him for the rest of her days, keeping the home and bed warm. Raising the children. Giving up her identity. Men were expected to sow their wild oats when they were young, never thinking of the consequences. It never made sense how the two ideals were supposed to balance society, unless men were sowing their oats with each other. And if neither man nor woman could meet those standards, it was awful how they were valued as less than acceptable.

"How would you react if a man told you he was a virgin?" Joshua countered. "Would you laugh at his lack of prowess? Pity him?"

"You're..?" Kai looked back up, surprised. He didn't see amusement or pity though.

"I wasn't kidding when I said I didn't know what I was doing that night in the bathing pool." There. If there had been any doubt in her mind – and there must have been a little – he'd just told her. It wasn't as if he'd been shamed for not sleeping with a woman in the past. It's that no one dared try to make a joke at his expense. Jorg was an exception under the best friend clause, and Dark Schneider…well he was Dark Schneider.

"Heh," Kai's face softened, and she still held some blush in her cheeks. "You certainly figured it out in my dre– never mind."

Joshua had dropped his sword with a CLANG and looked at Kai with wide eyes. 'Dr-dream?! Was Kai about to say dream?! Has she dreamt about me? About us...?' He swallowed, hoping his voice didn't crack when he spoke next. "No, no…you brought it up…is there something you want to share, Kai?"

Of course, it would be his luck that all it took to make him soak his sheets was a daydream of a kiss, but Kai's dream must have gone much, much further. Her face was going very red the more time went by.

"It's nothing! Don't worry about it!"

"You're going terribly red, Kai –"

"I swear it's nothing –"

Slowly, Joshua reached down and took Kai's hand in his, holding it gently. "Can I at least ask if – if whatever I did made you happy?" He knew that dreams didn't imply anything, but the thought that she was dreaming of them together might have raised his hopes. It didn't mean that it was what Kai really wanted, but –

Kai nodded, biting down on her lip. With the blush in her cheeks and the shy look in her eyes, Joshua almost wished he were a total bastard. If he had been, there wouldn't have been this awkward dance between them for the last couple weeks. She'd already be in his bed, warming his sheets at night and begging him for more.

'Dammit. Dark Schneider is a horrible influence.'

Elsewhere in the castle, the dark wizard sneezed.

"Gah, what the hell," he groused, laying back against the pillows in his bed. "The hell do I have to sneeze about…unless…" His expression brightened quickly. "Unless…it's Yoko thinking of me!"

Across the room, the window pane swung open, letting in a soft breeze from the night. Dark Schneider scowled as a piece of paper blew onto the bed. He was feeling particularly lazy and didn't want to get up to close the window, but the air was cold. Now annoyed, he snatched up the paper and frowned at it.

Yoko is asleep to the world and your lecherous ways, Pervert.

"Wh- who the fuck –" He watched as ink appeared from nothing on the paper, forming a new sentence.

You know exactly who I am, Wizard.

"You! You're that damn author!" Dark Schneider sat up straighter. "I've got a bone to pick with you, asshole! Why aren't I in this story more! I'm the handsome hero! The main character!"

You're not the main character in this story. I'm sorry, Sweetie –

"Sweetie?! No one calls the great and powerful Dark Schneider 'Sweetie'!"

I can go back to pervert, Sweetie. Neither one is in your favor.

"I am not sweet!"

Alright, Pervert –

"Why are you doing this?!"

Besides the fact that I need a transition for the plot and you're the only character awake?

"You know this only shows your age," Dark Schneider pointed out. "You're of that generation of writers that had conversations with characters at the start and end of chapters –"

It's not cringe if you didn't do it the first time, Sweetie.

"Oh fucking dammit –!" He crumbled up the paper before getting up and stomping to the window to close it. "Why don't you just tell me why the fuck you're annoying me and be done already!"

A new piece of paper flew through the window before he'd pushed it shut. Now that would be spoilers, Sweetie.

Dark Schneider laughed triumphantly at the paper. "Now you have to list this as a crossover!"

That's only a reference. Until you see a big blue box somewhere in the castle, mind your business.

"Again, why in the hell are you bugging me?!" His patience was gone, but the ink on the paper kept appearing.

You recall the book that Jorg is putting together, Sweetie?

"That sex guide for the samurai? What of it?"

You know…if you were to…go and help Jorg and Hammet finish the book, it could be given to Joshua so much sooner. And if you were so inclined, I could find a way to get word to Yoko that you've been willing to assist others like Lucien would. Hint-hint?

The dark wizard perked considerably at that. "You mean you'll talk up Yoko for me?"

If you do a good job, I'll try –

"Good enough for me!" Dark Schneider didn't bother throwing on his boots as he headed for the door. "No more time to talk, Author! I gotta make sure that book gets finished!"

Unbeknownst to him, another piece of paper lay with a message on the table. It would likely be hours before he happened upon it, and then it was guaranteed to be thrown out. The omnipotent author had kept the sentence short and to the point.

I said that I'd TRY, Pervert.

Ever since Kai let it slip that she'd dreamed about Joshua to him, it was almost like dealing with a dark-haired Dark Schneider. He met her every morning at her door, ready to walk her to the dining hall for breakfast – and pester her for any scrap of details she would give him. Kai thought he'd be too embarrassed to be this insistent, but many times she saw him blushing before he even began his question.

In a strange way, it was kind of adorable that he wanted to learn what dream-her had enjoyed. The problem was, it was so inappropriate to speak about in the hallways that Kai never could specify what he was doing where in the dream. Even if she had the courage to say it at all, there were too many nosy people in the residence. Trying to confide in Yoko had been a feat so great that she'd have rather faced a thousand orcs alone in a field before she talked about her fantasies where anyone could hear.

So Joshua decided to get creative.

Instead of asking questions, he began to throw out guesses, and Kai had to tell him if he was even remotely close. It was the strangest game of "Hot or Cold" that she had ever played, and with the exception of entertaining Lucien Renlen for two years, it wasn't something she'd done since she was a child. Joshua must not have either, because there were some days where he was simply throwing out guesses.

"What about…feet?"

"Cold! Cold!" Kai laughed.

"Did feet come into play at all? Or are they ticklish?"

"No – and I don't know! No one's dared try –" Kai didn't like how his expression changed. She could only imagine that Joshua was going to keep that in mind for a future sparring session. 'If that's how he wants to fight, I'll be ready.' She had no idea where he'd be ticklish, or if he was ticklish, but she knew he had one sensitive place she could pretend to strike.

To further complicate things, Kai had been having more dreams about Joshua. One featured him finding all her most sensitive places. There was another where his hands had made her body sing. There was even one where she was the one in control and he was at her mercy. For all of the details in the dreams, not one took it as far as she thought it'd go. Maybe it was because she was inexperienced. Maybe it was because her mind was cruel. But above all, it sucked. It would do her some good to know what to expect when – if...?

"Do I worship your hips?"

Without thinking, Kai replied, "Kind of? Not so much in that dream –"

"There have been more than one?!" Joshua's voice cracked, and she couldn't tell if she'd accidentally thrilled him or terrified him.

"Not so loud!" she hissed, tugging on his arm. "We're not alone, but yes…there's been…a few…"

Kai really hoped he wouldn't press for more information. They were too close to the dining hall and had passed a few people already. The others in the residence had gotten used to their proximity to each other, but she didn't want them hearing Joshua's guesses! To his credit, Joshua wasn't blushing too bad, but that dumb grin on his face said enough.

"Okay, just one more," he whispered, leaning in close. Kai shivered slightly as his breath tickled her skin. "So there's nothing to do with feet in any of these dreams?"

Her eyelid twitched. Why was he so hung up about feet?! Was it some weird fascination he had that she was discovering? Was he self-conscious about his own feet for some reason? Kai pushed away the thoughts. She didn't want to know. Instead, Kai licked her lips, noticing that his eyes were following every movement. "Let me put it this way, Joshua. The only time I remember feet being important…it was when we were standing up and trying not to fall."

She broke him. Joshua's eyes unfocused and he stuttered through the remainder of the walk to the dining hall. All because she'd hinted at one small part of a dream where he'd held her up against a wall.

"Lord Mifune looked pleased to see that you're rested," Kai noted later that evening. They had been called for a private meeting with the seneschal. There had been reports coming in about attacks from nearby villages, and groups were being arranged to provide relief to the survivors. Mifune had pressed the need to be prepared for anything. "I don't understand why you were blushing though."

"It...it's nothing," he muttered, sliding the door open for Kai to enter the practice dojo first.

"I disagree. I think this is worth an explanation," she teased. Kai removed her sword from its scabbard and took some practice swings. The meeting had stretched over most of their time they allowed themselves for these evening sessions, but the topic had both of them looking for any opportunity to get stronger.

Josuha, however, was searching for any excuse to not talk about it. "Since it's already late, and we won't have much time, how do you feel about making tonight's match interesting?"

"You're avoiding the question."

"No," he smirked, "I'm gonna make you earn it. The victor of the match gets to make a request. Any request."

Kai hummed. "That's an interesting offer. Do I have time to think about what I'm going to get to ask of you?"

Before she could blink, Joshua rushed at her, and Kai was on the defense. The swords connected swiftly, and she could feel the muscles in her arms quiver as she held him back. "You'd need to not be on the defense in order to do that."

"You need to start a match properly," she said through clenched teeth, feeling her feet slide backwards against the floor. Kai hated that he'd caught her by surprise, but if Joshua was going to ignore his personal fighting code, then so could she. With a grunt, she stopped fighting against his strength and dropped to her knees, flattening her back on the floor. Joshua vaulted forward above her, just as she predicted.

The face plant on the floor was a surprise, but one she was going to take advantage of.

Joshua groaned as he flopped over onto his back. His focus looked like it was on another planet entirely when Kai climbed above him and sat on his chest, using her knees to pin his arms to the floor. With the shortish red dress she was wearing, it wasn't the smartest move, but she wanted to win. "That was a dirty trick…" he groaned again.

"So was charging at me like you did, Samurai." Kai didn't bother raising her sword to his throat to claim the match. There was no need, and it's not as though they were sparring by their rules. "I do believe that I won, for all of your masculine force."

"Don't be smug, Kai."

"Oh but I will!" She let out a laugh, placing her hands on her thighs as she leaned forward. "You made an offer before we started; the winner of the match gets to make a request. From where I sit, it looks as if I'm the victor."

Beneath her, Joshua smirked. "From where I lay, it appears that I have quite the consolation prize."

Kai's face turned hot and she began to sputter. "You – you –! You haven't tried to knock me off!"

"Why would I?" Joshua let out a grunt as she scooted back onto his stomach before she got to her feet, knocking the air out of his lungs. He slowly sat up, rubbing his midsection. "Surrendering to a beautiful woman doesn't sound like the worst way to lose to me."

"But you're a samurai!" She couldn't believe how bold he was speaking! 'Either Dark Schneider has rubbed off on everyone by now or Joshua is more comfortable around me.' Kai wasn't sure how to take his words. A part of her was frustrated that he would throw a match for such reasons, but there was another part of her that almost quivered at being called beautiful by him. That part was quickly trying to take over her thoughts, reminding her of all the things the dream-version of him did that also made her qui–

"Have you decided, then?" He asked, breaking Kai from her spiraling thoughts.

Kai blinked, staring at Joshua for a moment. He'd gotten back on his feet and sheathed his sword, looking at her expecting an answer. 'What was I supposed to decide on?' she wondered, struggling to think back to before the match.

Why Joshua looked resigned, she had no idea. His shoulders were squared and he wasn't looking her in the eye when he spoke next. "Alright, fine. If you must know, the reason that I was…blushing during our meeting with Lord Mifune was… it was because… he'd suggested that I… t-take matters into my o-own hands. Uh…that is…expend some pent up…uh…frustrations… so that I could rest b-better…"

She tilted her head slightly, seeing his face red once more. "Joshua? Why do you look so ashamed?"

"D-did you not –?! I was told to that I needed to get my release one way or another!" Joshua's voice squeaked when he said 'release' but Kai didn't get a chance to laugh. "I couldn't bring myself to find you and tell you that –"

"O-oh!" Now she was blushing, and all of the things Joshua wasn't saying made sense. 'He was…he was…and…I had…we both…' Her thoughts couldn't form a full sentence before they turned into shrill white noise. They had both gone solo in the bedroom, and if he was telling her now after he had confessed his interest… Kai reached up and patted her cheeks, hoping to calm herself. She shouldn't have been surprised by the admission, but still… "Um… I don't know if…if it helps, but… I have…too? But also, I wasn't… going to ask for you to tell me what had you so bothered." When she looked over at him again, Joshua's mouth had gone slack. Kai winced. She couldn't help it that she'd recalled why he was telling her that after he'd said it!

Joshua opened and closed his mouth a few times, but no sound was coming out. He even started to move his hands about, like he were searching for the words. "So you…you didn't intend…" He cleared his throat. "What um…what did you want to ask for?"

Everything about his expression said "before I embarrass myself again". Kai was pretty certain that what she said next would make them even.

"I was going to ask for…for…a…a kiss."

There, she did it. Ever since the first dream with Joshua, the simple act had been plaguing Kai's thoughts. Some nights she'd laid in bed wondering if the dreams were an exaggeration, or if actually kissing him would be as enjoyable in real life. Would his lips feel as nice? Would he hold her tight? Would she even be halfway decent? Kai worried about that the most. She'd never kissed a man, not even that worthless boy she'd once been infatuated with in her village. When Joshua proposed the wager, her thoughts went to the dream kisses first. Now that she'd asked, she had lost all of her courage.

"R-really?"

There was always a chance he could say no, and Kai didn't know how she'd face him afterwards. Joshua may have admitted some things concerning her, but that didn't mean he was willing to follow through with this. Kai nodded, feeling self-conscious as he stepped closer to her. "If you don't –"

"Don't be ridiculous," he breathed. "I've wanted this for longer than you realize."

Kai knew next to nothing about kissing, but she knew enough to close her eyes as Joshua leaned in. There was a soft warmth pressing against her lips, a hand on her cheek. Nothing more, nothing less. Moments passed, and then she felt him pull away. Kai felt warm, but it was nothing like in her dreams. Joshua watched her closely, which made it hard to ask her next question. "C-could we…? Could we do that again?"

It was going against the terms he'd pitched, but Joshua cupped Kai's face and pulled her forward again, kissing her a little more intensely. Kai felt a bubble of something rush over her, urging her to return the kiss with more passion than before. Her hands reached up to fist in his robes, and then one of his hands fell to her waist, pulling her closer. That action drug a moan out of her, and something inside Joshua snapped.

Joshua tilted Kai's head back slightly, coaxing her lips open to deepen the kiss. She hadn't expected to feel his tongue brush against hers, but there were so many sensations happening at once, Kai didn't know how to process them all. The hand cupping her cheek slid to cradle her neck. His tongue explored hers. His other hand held a bruising grip on her hip, and it was like he couldn't get her close enough. Kai's hands had moved up around his neck, trying to pull him closer. She needed more…

Somewhere between accidentally biting his bottom lip and his fingers sliding under her robes, Joshua lifted Kai up against his body. Moments after, she felt her back hit the nearest wall. Kai wrapped her legs around his waist, knowing he wouldn't drop her. It had the added benefit of bringing him flush against her, even with the sword hanging from his hip. Everything around her felt so hot… Kai's body shivered when Joshua pushed into her, giving her a new reason to moan. 'There it is again!' Her hips rocked against his involuntarily, wanting to feel more of the hardness that was poking her. Kai didn't care how appropriate it was at that moment; all she knew was that it felt good and Joshua seemed to approve.

He pulled away slightly, groaning out her name as he rolled his hips. Both of Joshua's hands now rest underneath her thighs, holding her steady. Kai felt secure enough to let one of her hands let go of his hair to explore other places. Her hand slid down between them, feeling along the edge of his robes for the opening. She'd felt how firm his chest was that night in the bathing pool when he'd shielded her from Jorg's eyes, but she didn't get to appreciate it like she was then. Joshua's lips had moved to her neck during her search, and he'd already hit a sensitive spot.

"J-Joshua –!" Kai gasped. His tongue laved at the skin he'd just nipped with his teeth. 'He never did that in my dreams…but I've also never felt like this. Everything is so hot. I – I don't know if I can take much more…!'

Her head bumped against the wall when Joshua rocked against her harder. His voice was even deeper when he asked, "You want me to make you feel good?"

Almost instantly, Kai was pulled from her haze. 'That was what he said in my dream!' It should have thrilled her, but his words had the opposite effect. Panic began to rise up in her chest. Everything felt good, but this was too fast. All she'd asked for was a kiss. Kai tried to wet her lips, but it was difficult when his moved back to catch hers. Her eyes drifted shut, taking in the moment before she remembered she needed him to stop. Kai freed the hand that was fisted in his hair and moved to push against his shoulder. "Joshua…"

"Kai," he breathed, moving to the other side of her neck. "Kai…"

"I can't…" Her nudges weren't getting through to him. Joshua was moving down across her collarbone and was headed for the opening of her robes, leaving a trail of heated kisses in his path. "Joshua, please…"

The groan he let out rumbled against her chest and moved south, and Kai was feeling like she was fighting a losing battle. Did she really want Joshua to stop? Would it be so bad if she gave in to the good feelings just once? Joshua was now leaving kisses across the tops of her exposed breasts. 'He hasn't tried to undress me,' she tried to rationalize. When Dark Schneider mistook her room for Yoko's that one night, he hadn't given her a choice. 'But…ugh…J-Joshua's not giving me a choice now…' There was only one thing to do.

Kai wiggled against him until she could slide her free hand over Joshua's mouth, pushing him back slightly. That appeared to bring him back to his senses. He blinked, watching her with growing concern. "Kai…? Are you alright?"

How did she begin to answer that? Her lips felt puffy, her body was hot all over, and she was certain parts of her were tingling with anticipation. "I…I'm…" Kai looked away, knowing that what she said next was going to disappoint him. She couldn't bear to see his world crushed. "I'm sorry, Joshua. I…it's not you, I promise! I just… everything was wonderful and then…"

"It was too much."

Kai looked back in surprise. "Yes…how –?"

"You only asked to be kissed," he smiled sadly. "I took it too far. I'm the one who's sorry, Kai. I let myself forget everything and pushed our boundaries. You've got every reason to be upset with me."

"Upset?" She shook her head, not-so-subtly removing her hand from under his robes. He chuckled, catching her in the act. "Overwhelmed, yes… but you never did anything that I didn't want. Everything went too fast, and when you said those words…it was almost like my dream. Then I realized how very real things were, and I panicked. I wasn't…I wasn't ready for what happened next."

Joshua slowly lowered Kai to her feet, but he kept his hands at her waist. "What… what happened next?"

Kai looked up at Joshua and felt her cheeks burn. That dream played in vivid colors in her mind. Every touch, every kiss, every breath of his she felt on her skin. She swallowed, feeling incredibly shy. 'I never intended to tell him, but after what we just did…' Kai rose up on her toes so that she could better whisper the details to him.

CLANG!

Both of them jumped in surprise as the silence of the dojo was broken by Joshua's sword hitting the floor. Kai continued to blush, stooping to collect the sword. "It doesn't appear to be damaged," she muttered, inspecting the attachments.

"P-Probably didn't t-tie it prop…properly," he stammered. Joshua stared down at the weapon, trying to come to grips with what Kai told him. She returned the sword to him, and with shaking hands, he was able to reattach the sword to his belt. "We should get some rest – I – I mean – not together – unless –"

Kai covered her mouth with her hands, but she couldn't stop the giggles from being heard. Joshua had been so curious to know what had happened in her dream, and now that he'd been told part of it, it had shaken him. The poor guy was a mess, fumbling his words, and if she hadn't interfered he would have walked into the door frame as they left the dojo. She'd asked him if he was the one that needed escorting back to his room, but that only seemed to make it worse. She couldn't begin to imagine what was going on in his head, but she had a hunch that it was something dirty.

When they arrived at her room, Kai double-checked the hallway before pulling Joshua in for a goodnight kiss. It was simple and quick, unlike their last kiss, but she'd felt that delightful warmth all the same. Once again, she was closing the door seeing his dumbstruck grin – only this time she hoped he didn't announce to the whole residence what he'd done.