It was midday when Reiko finally emerged from the shrine. She had been sitting for hours, meditating, praying, and reading from the sacred scripture. She couldn't say for sure, but she felt like the Gods had listened to her. She had done everything she could, and now all that was left, was to wait and see.

The sun was high up in the sky, the weather still nice and warm. There was no sign of Samickle anywhere. Slowly, Reiko began making her way towards the camp.

"Where could he have gone?" She muttered. "Hopefully he didn't wander too far..." Then, from the corner of her eye, Reiko spotted a figure standing next to the river. She walked closer, and recognized the tall, lean frame and the heather hair. It was Samickle. She stopped by her tracks when she noticed what he was doing; He had his katana in his hands, and with a single, swift and graceful move, a thick bamboo stalk was cut off, dropping to the ground.

"So, he was practicing..." Reiko mumbled. She watched as he practiced his swordplay, her eyes following his movements. She could feel her cheeks heat up, and a sudden tightness forming in her chest. Samickle was without a doubt the most skilled bladesman of the tribe, his style fast and efficient. Every move was precise and calculated, his form perfect. And, not to mention, he was absolutely gorgeous to look at. Reiko had to admit that she enjoyed watching him practice— He looked almost majestic, his movements so fluid and natural, like the flowing water. "How is he doing that?" She wondered. Every movement seemed perfectly timed and coordinated, almost like a dance, the blade flashing as it sliced through the air. It was mesmerizing.

Then, his stance shifted; As he raised the blade over his shoulder, there was a faint glow surrounding him, and he swung the sword down, the tip of the blade stopping just above the surface of the water. With a swift stroke upwards, the blade cut through the air, an enormous splash of water shooting up, creating a wave that crashed onto the shore. Reiko gasped, her gaze fixated on the Oina warrior in front of her. She was astonished; She had no idea that Samickle could perform such a technique..! With a sharp exhale, the glow around Samickle disappeared, and he lowered the blade, his breathing heavy.

"Wow..!"

Samickle quickly turned his head, his eyes locking with hers.

"That was amazing..!" Reiko couldn't help herself. "When did you learn that?" She asked, taking a few steps closer.

"I, uh... It's a long story. I've been practicing that one for quite some time, and only recently, have I managed to master it." Samickle explained, averting his gaze. He had completely lost track of time, and hadn't even noticed Reiko watching him.

"I can't believe I've never seen you practicing before. I knew you were skilled, but... that was incredible!" Reiko smiled. "But, why are you embarrassed about it? You shouldn't hide your talents."

"I-I don't hide them." Samickle protested. He was used to receiving compliments for his skills, but this time, the praise made him flustered. It was probably the fact that the compliments were coming from Reiko— She was almost beaming with excitement.

"Can you show me how you did that? I've never seen anything like it before!"

Samickle's face heated up behind his mask, and he quickly shook his head. "I-I'd rather not."

"Why not? Come on, show me!" Reiko insisted.

"N-no, really, I'd rather not..." Samickle repeated.

"Fine. Then, will you teach me?"

"What?" Samickle's head snapped back up. Did she just ask him to…

"I want to learn how to use the sword. Will you teach me?" Reiko pleaded, her dark grey eyes fixated on his. "I barely know the basics, and I can't really defend myself. Please, teach me?"

Samickle stood speechless, unable to form a coherent sentence. He couldn't believe his ears. The girl he was in love with, wanted him to train her. He could feel his pulse rising. He should have said no, but the thought of Reiko wanting to learn from him…

"A-alright." Samickle eventually agreed.

"Really?!"

"Y-yeah, sure." Samickle nodded. Well, wasn't this a mess he had gotten himself into... "Can you show me your sword?"

"Uhm... it's... nothing special." Reiko smiled somewhat apologetically, seemingly embarrassed about her poor weapon. She handed him the blade.

Samickle unsheathed the sword, and took a look at it. It was old, and the edge was dull, the hilt barely holding together.

"It's a miracle this thing hasn't broken yet." He mumbled. "Well, we're not doing any training with this. I'll let you borrow my katana for the time being. Just, be careful with it, okay? It's a family heirloom, after all."

Samickle's katana was just as beautiful as the man himself; The exquisite blade was perfectly balanced, and had an elegant, slender shape. The hilt was decorated with a silver ornament, filled with intricate carvings.

"You should try a couple of swings. See if it fits you." Samickle suggested, and handed her the blade.

"Okay."

Samickle stepped aside, letting Reiko take a couple of practice swings.

"It's heavier than I'm used to, but not by much."

"Hmm... Maybe you should try a lighter sword, then. A wakizashi might be a more suitable option for you." Samickle thought out loud. "But, my sword has to do, for now."

"Okay. So, where do we start?" Reiko asked, looking up at Samickle.

"First, you need to know how to properly hold the sword."

"Oh." Reiko's brow furrowed as she glanced down at her hands. Apparently, she had a longer way ahead of her than she originally thought.

"Here."

Reiko looked up. Samickle had moved closer, and was standing in front of her.

"Allow me to show you." He placed his hand over hers, and gently moved it a little. "Your grip is too tight. Try to loosen it a little."

"S-sorry." Reiko muttered, trying her best to ignore how warm his hand felt on hers.

"It's okay." Samickle assured, and moved her hand a bit lower. "There, this should be fine." Reiko nodded, and Samickle moved on to adjusting her other hand. "Now, hold the hilt with both hands, and put your thumbs on the side, not on top. This is much better, and more comfortable. The way you were holding it before, would put strain on your joints, and it's bad for your wrists. Also, keep the blade close to your body."

"Like this?"

"Yeah. Perfect." Samickle smiled. He could feel the warmth of her body radiating from her, and her scent was driving him mad. He had to restrain himself. "Okay, now try a couple of swings." He suggested.

Reiko nodded, and tried swinging the blade.

"Not bad. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time. But, when you bring the sword up, your stance, it's just a little..." Placing his hand on hers again, he guided her to raise the blade above her head. Now finding himself right in her immediate presence, he was able to see her up close. His breath caught in his throat. He could smell the sweet aroma of her skin, and could hear her soft breathing.

"Um... Samickle?" Reiko hesitantly called for his name. Samickle was frozen in place, almost as if he had dazed off in the middle of the sentence. "Are you alright?"

"Uh... y-yes. Sorry." He quickly released his grip, and took a step back. "A-anyway, uhm... You need to stand with your feet a bit further apart, and keep your body steady. It will give you better control, and also, balance."

"O-okay." Reiko muttered, trying to compose herself.

"Now, when you swing the blade down, make sure to do so in a straight line."

"Like this?"

"Not exactly." Samickle stepped a little closer, his arms wrapping around her, his hands moving hers into a new position. His mind was racing, and his heart was pounding. This was a mistake. He should have known better than to do this, but his urges got the better of him. It was foolish. "Now, when you bring the sword down, make sure you put your whole body weight behind the strike. Try not to stop in the middle of it."

Reiko did as she was told, and followed his instructions.

"There. That's much better." Samickle whispered, his arms still wrapped around her. Her body was warm, and the feeling of her pressed against him was exhilarating. His thoughts were clouded, his mind racing. The heat was building up again. Samickle let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping as he forced himself to take a step back. He couldn't stay near her any longer; His self-control was slipping.

"Samickle..?" Reiko turned her head, glancing at him.

"You're doing great. So, um... just keep practising, and I'll check on you in a while." He said, his gaze fixed on the ground. Without saying another word, he quickly turned on his heels, and hurriedly walked away.

"Huh..?" Reiko frowned. Something was definitely wrong. He was acting strange. Was it because of her? "Oh, no. Did I do something wrong? I hope he's not mad at me."

"No, I'm not mad." Samickle whispered under his breath. He was hiding out of sight, leaning against a tree. He had to get away from her. His entire body was on fire. He couldn't stand the proximity any longer, his urges overwhelming him. His hand was clutching the fabric of his robes, trembling. His cheeks flushed in embarrassment, his gaze wandering to the direction Reiko was standing. Reiko had put down the blade, now focused on tying her hair up. The sight of the back of her neck, exposed and glistening with sweat, was enough to drive him mad. Samickle bit down on his lower lip, stifling a moan. His heart was racing, the sound of his blood pumping almost deafening. It was a dangerous game he was playing, and his body was betraying him. He felt weak, the heat taking a toll on him.

"Damn it..." Samickle gritted his teeth as he took his mask off, burying his face in his hands. He could feel the tightness in his groin, and let out a frustrated groan. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't get rid of his erection. It was humiliating. "How could I allow myself to get carried away like that?"

"Samickle?"

He snapped his head up, and found Reiko standing a few feet away, staring at him.

"A-are you okay?" She asked. "I'm sorry, did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me?"

"What? No. No, of course not."

"But... Why did you leave so suddenly?"

"I just..." Samickle tried to come up with an explanation, but he was at a loss for words.

"You look very pale. You're sweating, too."

"I-it's nothing. I'm fine." Samickle stammered.

"No, you're not. Please, tell me what's wrong."

Samickle was about to protest, but his words caught in his throat when Reiko placed her hand on his cheek, caressing his face. Her touch was soothing, and sent a pleasant shiver down his spine. His eyes were glued to her, and he couldn't help but lean into her touch.

"See?" Reiko whispered, her brow furrowing in worry. "You should-" Her sentence was finished with a squeal of surprise, and the next thing she knew, she found herself down on the ground, lying flat on her back. Samickle was above her, pinning her arms to the ground. "S-Samickle?"

He lowered his head, burying his face in the crook of her neck. "Reiko..." Samickle whispered her name, his hands roaming all over her body, caressing her, his lips brushing against her skin. He wanted to fuck her, right there, in the middle of the forest. He couldn't contain himself any longer.

"Samickle, stop it..!" Reiko tried to wriggle herself free, but it was no use.

Samickle's lips pressed against hers, muffling her cries of protest. His hand slipped under her robes, grabbing her breast, his fingers squeezing her soft flesh. Reiko squirmed under him, her hands trying to push him away, but he was too strong. His hard-on was pressing against her thigh, his cock throbbing, aching. His fingers moved under her robes, finding her wet entrance. Samickle didn't hesitate— His hands were already on the waistband of his trousers, pulling them down, his cock springing free. His cock was rock hard, the tip glistening with precum. Reiko gulped, her eyes widening at the sight.

He couldn't hold back any longer; Samickle pushed himself inside her, the tip of his cock penetrating her. His mouth covered hers, kissing her hungrily, his tongue slipping into her mouth. His hand reached for her breast, his thumb rubbing her nipple. Reiko gasped and moaned into his mouth, and Samickle took advantage of it, thrusting his hips, pushing himself deeper inside her. Samickle was already too far gone— He didn't want to hurt her, but his self-control was completely gone, his instincts taking over. His thrusts became rougher, faster, and he could feel his orgasm approaching.

Samickle grabbed her by the waist, and flipped her onto her stomach, his fingers digging into her hips. He pushed his cock deeper inside her, his pace unrelenting. His hands roamed over her body, feeling her, touching her. Reiko cried out in pleasure, her nails clawing at the ground. She threw her head back, her body was shaking, her thighs trembling. Samickle was relentless, his thrusts becoming more erratic, his rhythm faltering. He was close.

"R-Reiko...!" His vision went white, and his mind went blank, his orgasm hitting him hard.

"Samickle?"

Hearing her voice, his eyes snapped open. He stood there, his cock in his hand, his heart hammering in his chest. He had completely zoned out into his fantasy, his urges taking over. He was drenched in sweat, his robes sticking to his body. Samickle cursed under his breath, and looked down at his cock— It was covered in his own cum.

"F-fuck..!" He gasped, staring at the mess he had made.

Reiko, thank god, was still where he had left her. She was seemingly confused, calling after him… But he didn't want her to catch him like this. With shaky hands, Samickle adjusted his clothes, and headed for a nearby stream.

His legs weak, Samickle dropped down onto his knees by the water. His stomach was churning, a sickening feeling flushing over him— How could he even imagine himself doing such things to Reiko? He felt utterly humiliated; The heat was still coursing through his veins, the need unrelenting. It was almost unbearable. Even in his fantasies, he was like a mad beast, forcing himself on her in his lust-crazed haze.

Samickle sighed and took his mask off, splashing some cold water onto his face, hoping the cool liquid would calm him down. He was lost in his thoughts, staring at his reflection. His hair was dishevelled, and his face was flushed, his eyes dark and clouded.

From now on, he'd keep a safe distance from her, making sure to retreat at the very second he'd even feel a slight temptation to get closer to her. The last thing he wanted to do was to scare or hurt her. He just had to hope that his heat would subside soon; It was always worse at the beginning of the season, so he'd just have to endure a bit longer, and eventually he'd be back to normal.

Or at least he hoped so.