Dueling
(Maki and Nico - Morning after Nico snuck into Maki's tent)
Maki awoke to something tickling her chest, as she opened her eyes, she saw Nico's dark hair, the Ninja's head resting on her chest, the two holding each other in their arms, the feeling and sight making Maki smile.
Maki started to play with Ninja's hair as she placed a kiss on girl's head "I love you Nico."
"I love you too Maki." Nico sighed as she started to rub small circles on Maki's back.
"You're awake, for how long?"
"Long enough, we should start getting ready we need to move soon."
"Why didn't you leave then?" Maki asked.
"You asked me to stay till you woke up, so I did, besides," Nico said as she snuggled into Maki more "I like being held by you, if I could stay here forever I would."
"I would to." Maki smiled "Could we stay a little longer?"
"We have to reach the castle, but once there you can hold me as much as you want." Nico said as she kissed Maki on the lips.
"Just hold?"
"You're impossible."
"You love me for it." Maki smiled.
"Unfortunately and to answer the question if you want more then we can, just make it as special as last night."
"Anything for you Nico."
(Kotori)
Kotori sat on rock with Saki on her lap watching her two best friends taking up their stances, it surprised her that Honoka wanted Umi to train her, in the past if Umi so much as suggested it Honoka would run of the hills or try and fake being sick.
'Please be safe Umi.' Kotori thought as Tsubasa came to stand next to her.
(Umi)
Umi took a breath she had to admit she was still surprised, when they were younger and Honoka needed training Umi had to practically march Honoka to training and now the ginger was actively looking to train, as she thought about that, she got brief whiff of nostalgia of their pairs practice duels in the past which Kotori would watch, Umi also remembered the line Kotori would wish her luckjust before.
"Umi, you ready?" Honoka asked, her sword in hand.
"Yes, sorry, shall we begin Lady Honoka?" Umi asked in response.
Umi saw a small smile on the gingers, though weather Honoka was getting it from the same nostalgia as she was or something else Umi wasn't sure "Yes, let do it." Honoka said with another bigger smile.
"Good luck Umi!" Kotori shouted on instinct, Umi felt a small smile creep up the corners of her lips only for her honour to force it away.
"Good luck, my dear, if you win, you'll get a treat, but if you lose you know what happens." Tsubasa said from beside Kotori.
"Don't mention that stuff, especially around Saki." Honoka shouted back behind her before turning back to look at Umi, whose face had turned beet red before saying "Please, keep your private life to yourselves my Ladies."
"Sorry about that shall we begin now, I'm sure Kotori wants to see you in action again."
"Honoka!" Kotori shouted to the ginger, Umi glanced over and saw Kotori's looking down and Umi could have sworn she saw a blush on the ashen girl's cheeks.
The two bowed and then Honoka advanced forward with the sword above her head 'You always were quick to charge in.' Umi thought as Honoka got to striking range, she brought the sword down.
Umi brought her sword up to parry Honoka's blade while she stepped to the side, Umi twisted her sword and thrust it forward hitting Honoka directly in the chest making the ginger stagger, though she was happy with the result she felt the injury to her hip sting a bit 'Need to be careful with that.' Umi noted in her head, as she shook her leg.
"That's one, first to three." Honoka said as she spun the sword and put it so it was like she had sheaved it.
Umi stepped in slowly weighing up her options, but as she did, she caught a glimpse of Kotori's worried face and something in her heart made her stop and before she could fully snap out of her distraction and begin her strike, Honoka took a step forward and slashed out at Umi's stomach, the blunette tried to twist her sword down to block the strike but she wasn't fast enough and sword hit her right side.
Umi hissed as she jumped back further, Honoka looked stunned with her sword dropped to the side for a second looking at the blunette.
'What the heck was that?' Umi thought to herself.
"Are you ok Umi?" Honoka asked with a concerned look.
Umi gritted her teeth as she divided forward and thrust at the still surprised Honoka, hitting her in the centre of her chest, forcing the ginger backwards to her knees, as Umi stepped back to open the distance.
"You can never let your guard down Lady Honoka." Umi said through gritted teeth, frustrated that she'd become distracted.
"Sorry, so that's two for you and one for me." Honoka groaned. As she brought her sword up to the shoulder and charged forward.
'Going for a charging strike, bold you.' Umi said in her head as she made ready, just as Honoka came to strike sideways Umi ducked down and slashed but as she was about to hit, she saw Honoka had twisted her sword and altered her strike to slash down.
The pair hit each other simultaneously, the Blunette screamed as Honoka hit her left shoulder and Honoka grunted as she was hit in the stomach.
"Are you ok Umi?" Honoka asked through a groan as she got up holding her stomach.
"I'm fine." Umi said she stood up, her shoulder burning 'I'm really out of practice.' Umi thought to herself 'I should have been able to see that I need to practice more.' Umi said as she stood up and walked up to Honoka "Well done, Lady Honoka." Umi said offering her hand to help Honoka up "Thanks." Honoka sighed as the pair walked to Tsubasa and Kotori.
(Kotori)
Kotori ran up to Umi with Tsubasa next to her as the pair went up to the two groaning girls "My apologies if Lady Honoka's a bit sore for a few hours Lady Tsubasa."
"It's ok Umi." Tsubasa smiled as she supported the ginger "Now you, let's get you taken care of." Tsubasa smiled as she led Honoka away.
Honoka turned and looked at her friends "Save me." She said in a whisper.
"Sorry Honoka." Kotori muttered before turning to Umi "Are you ok Umi, that hit to the shoulder looked really bad."
"I'm fine, such things are bound to happen in battle." Umi said as she walked slowly back to the tent with Kotori and Saki following her. Umi groaning as she walked as the shoulders till burned.
(Honoka and Tsubasa)
"So, why are you training with Umi, the real reason?" Tsubasa asked as she tended the gingers bruises.
"I'm trying to help her and Kotori, I was thinking if Umi remembers the good times she might open up to Kotori more and I thought our old duels when we were younger might help in that."
"Doesn't sound like your idea." Tsubasa noted "It's a bit too subtle for you."
"I got the idea from Nozomi." Honoka admitted with a pout.
"Did it work?"
"I think so, I saw Umi smile before we began duelling, she only ever smiled like that when she was happy and that usually involved Kotori." Honoka smiled happy with herself.
"Aw, aren't you sweet trying to help your friends like that." Tsubasa smiled "Well I shall do what I can to help you, but for now I feel you need a reward for helping them."
Honoka gulped slightly.
(Umi and Kotori)
As Umi and Kotori walked back she noticed Umi was carrying her shoulder the whole way there "Umi are you sure you're ok?"
"I'm fine Lady Kotori, really." Umi said as she felt a small trickle on her shoulder.
Kotori wasn't convinced and judging by the noise Saki made even she wasn't convinced, as the trio came to the tent Umi tried to hold the flap open but her shoulder stung her and she recoiled her arm.
"That's it." Kotori said as she held the flap herself "Inside now!"
"Lady…"
"Don't, inside now!" Kotori said with a scowl. Umi did as she was told and went inside with Kotori quickly following "Sit!" Kotori ordered as she went to put Saki in her cot.
Umi did as she was told again, mildly worried by Kotori's sudden anger. Once Saki was in her cot Kotori knelt in front of Umi, before the blunette could say anything Kotori pulled the ronin's hand away seeing the fabric on the blunettes shoulder was turning red.
"Umi, that shoulder needs to be treated."
"I'm fine." Umi hissed 'It's penance for failing you.' Umi added in her head.
"It's not fine, wait here." Kotori said as she stood up "And don't move."
Once Kotori left Umi touched her shoulder, making herself wince 'Maybe I do need it looked at.'
Kotori came back with a bowl and cloth "Now we're going to treat that wound."
"Lady Kotori, if it has to be done, I can do it myself."
"No, I'm going to do it." Kotori sighed "Umi, I just want to help you, it hurts seeing you in pain, let me help…Onigai."
Umi bit her bottom lip "A lady shouldn't…"
"Umi, during a siege a Lady may help the warriors by tending the wounded, a lesson you taught me once, so let me treat you…Onigai."
'That's really underhanded Lady Kotori.' Umi thought as she dropped her head "Very well if you insist, just don't pull it all the way down, please."
Kotori smiled at Umi's embarrassment as she knelt in front of Umi "Ok, now just hold still." Kotori said giving a comforting smile as she moved the fabric off the shoulder, as she did Umi looked away with a blush on her cheeks.
'Guess some thing's never change.' Kotori thought as she began to clean the cut on Umi's shoulder, "Argh!" Umi hissed as she tried her best to hold back the cry by gritting her teeth.
"Sorry." Kotori said pulling back a bit.
"It's ok Lady Kotori, I'm used to it." Umi said still looking away.
"Those practice swords shouldn't be able to cut you, should they?" Kotori frowned as she went back to cleaning the wound.
"No, Honoka's strike must have opened an old wound I have, that one never really fully healed." Umi said still gritting her teeth. It then struck Kotori she had seen this wound before 'Just how bad was the cut?'
Kotori pulled the fabric back a bit so she could see the back of Umi shoulder, thankfully it hadn't opened all the way, the only bit that was bleeding was confined to the shoulder, everything past that was still ok "How did you get this one?" Kotori asked her voice shaking slightly as she got a closer look at the wounds covering the blunettes back.
"I can't remember to be honest." Umi said "Can we not talk about them now Lady Kotori?"
"Ok." Kotori said as she wrang the cloth in the water before she carried on cleaning the wound, having to reach the ronin's back "Sorry, it's gone to the way to the back as well." Kotori said whispering in Umi's ear.
"Just be quick." Umi pleaded.
Once she was done with the cloth, Kotori wrapped it in a bandage as best she could, Umi for her part kept silent only letting out the occasional hiss and groan 'Oh Umi, I'm not worth all this pain you're putting on yourself.'
"Ok, done." Kotori said pleased with how well she had done.
"Thank you, Kotori." Umi said she pulled the cloth up over her shoulder, hissing as she moved the arm "Sorry to have troubled you."
Kotori smiled at the blunette, for the first time since the two had met Umi hadn't used the Lady title for her, but not wanting for the Ronin to apologise and use it again she kept quiet, even if her heart was beating like a bird's wings "Umi." Kotori said cupping the Ronin's cheek forcing her to look at her "You're never a trouble for me."
Umi felt her breathing stop for a second as she looked into Kotori's sweet droopy eyes, she could feel her own eyes start to feel heavy and small pull tug at her heart, but her honour started to scream at her and she turned away "Even so, I'm sorry." Umi said she stood up and went over to Saki's cot and looked at her niece.
'Umi, please just forget honour and come back to me.' Kotori thought as she cleaned up after herself.
As she played with her niece Umi remembered the first time Kotori had treated a wound she had taken during a practice spar, she'd been left with a tiny cut, it wasn't anything major but Kotori had insisted that she clean and wrap it.
Umi felt a small smile creep onto her face despite her honour shouting at her, though she was sure the honour's screaming sounded a little less loud this time.