Night talks
(Eli and Nozomi)
"And when were you going to tell me you put my sister in an arranged marriage?" Eli asked with a scowl "And what happened to not forcing my sister into something?"
"I didn't, those two were seeing each other for years." Nozomi countered "Plus this was her idea."
"And how were they meeting each other during the freezing of our clan's relations with the Minami's?"
"There is a disused road that leads from Honoka's castle to yours, the same one Tsubasa used to reach us with Saki, there's an old watch tower on our side of the boarder, they would meet there."
"Oh, so Tsubasa knew of this relationship too?" Eli said with a scowl. "I'm not sure I like you keeping all these secrets." Eli growled turning her back to Nozomi.
"She only told me about the relationship when she asked to go with Maki." Nozomi said as she hugged Eli from behind "The wedding plan was kept secret because if Yukiho wasn't interested we would have dropped it right there." Nozomi rested her head on Eli's shoulders "I don't want to keep secrets from you, but as daimyo I have too sometimes."
"I don't see how that works."
"I know, but trust me it is, I would never lie to you Elichi unless I feel I absolutely had to."
"Why can't I stay mad at you?"
"I'm a kitsune and I have you under my spell remember." Nozomi said as she loosened Eli's kimono slightly.
"You're never going to let that go, are you?"
"No, now let me show you some real magic." Nozomi said as she bit Eli's ear lobe.
"Horosho!" Eli gasped.
(Alisa and Yukiho)
"I hate not being able to go out tomorrow." Yukiho sighed as she lay on the futon with Alisa keeling next to her.
"You can barely stand up, let alone ride out for a battle tomorrow." Alisa sighed.
"Blasted leg." Yukiho groaned.
"I'd rather my future wife here resting than out there at risk of doing further injury to herself."
"We might not be getting married if Eli has anything to do with it." Yukiho said as she remembered the glare the older Ayase had given her as the pair had left "I thought Eli was about to strangle me when we left the meeting."
"See all the more reason to not go out there, she can't get you if you're in here and she's out there."
"That's not funny." Yukiho sighed as she felt her head throb slightly.
"It will be fine, I think."
"You think?"
"Calm down, I'm just messing, she won't do anything bad, she just needs some time to accept it."
"Well at least in this state she can't claim I'm doing anything I shouldn't be."
"We kind of already did that stuff."
"Alisa!" Yukiho shouted.
"Sorry." Alisa giggled before she began to run her fingers through the redhead's hair "Relax, you'll never heal if you don't rest."
Yukiho sighed before she closed her eyes "Its hard to relax right now, I just hope Rin will be ok."
"Why did you ask her to represent to Minami clan, I would have thought you'd pick your sister?"
"No disrespect to Honoka, but she's not a great fighter and they might ask for someone from the Minami's to fight and Rin is the best fighter we have, plus my sister has to think about Tsubasa right now, I can't imagine she's in a good way right now."
"I'm sure Honoka can handle that." Alisa whispered "Just get some sleep. I'll be right here with you."
"Promise?"
"I promise." Alisa whispered before giving Yukiho a kiss.
(Honoka and Tsubasa)
Honoka knelt next to Tsubasa brushing a strand of her lover's hair as the as the brunette lay on her futon snoring gently, how she looked now was in stark contrast to how she had been a few hours ago, Honoka had watched as Tsubasa had kept up a front of being ok till they left the meeting where she had bolted from the room and ran off.
After a few hours the ginger had found her passed out drunk in one of gardens, Honoka had gently picked her up and carried her inside and lay her down in their chamber "I just can't believe they're gone." Tsubasa had mumbled all the way.
"I'm sorry." Honoka said before she changed to go to bed.
After she had changed, she slipped under the covers of the futon, laying behind the brunette, Honoka then wrapped her arm around the girl's waste "I don't know if you awake or not, but I'll be right here if you need me." Honoka whispered in the Tsubasa's ear "I promise." Honoka finished with a kiss to the girl's ear.
"Stay with me." Tsubasa whispered.
"I'll hold you forever if that will help." Honoka said pulling her in tighter.
"Thank you." Tsubasa muttered before Honoka could hear Tsubasa snoring.
(Rin and Hanayo)
"Do you have to go out tomorrow?" Hanayo asked as she sat watching Rin ready her armour and sword.
"Of course, I'm not going to let the others go out without me Nya, also I came to defend your home." Rin smiled as she finished her checks.
"Our home." Hanayo smiled.
"Huh?"
"Well you are planning to marry me, right?" Hanayo asked with a now concerned look.
"Kayo-chin, it's a bit early for that." Rin blushed as her heart raced faster than her horse.
"Sorry, your right." Hanayo said looking down.
"Kayo-chin," Rin said crawling up to her new lover "I do want to, I just feel we should take it a little slower, I will marry you, just be patient, ok?"
"Ok." Hanayo smiled as she hugged Rin tight "I'm sorry it's just I'm worried." Hanayo whispered as she remembered the feelings she felt when she saw Rin's cut arm "I don't want for us to be in the same situation Umi and Kotori are."
"You don't have to worry, Nya." Rin smiled as she returned the hug "We'll be fine, I promise."
"Ok, but hold me for tonight?"
"Every night." Rin smiled as she pulled back and kissed Hanayo gently.
(Maki and Nico)
"You going to be ok in the castle with the others?" Maki asked as she held Nico tight on their bed.
"You worry about yourself." Nico hummed into Maki bare shoulder and breathed in Maki's scent "Your stamina just now wasn't great."
"Oi, you." Maki said as she rolled them over so she was hovering over Nico "It was no worse than yours." Maki sighed as she hovered over Nico, as she did so something Nico said earlier crossed her mind.
Maki came up behind Nico and hugged her tight "Can we head to bed?" Maki asked as her hand moved over Nico's front.
"Maki calm down, someone will see us."
"Hey, something wrong?" Nico asked as she brushed Maki's hair "You look like something's on your mind, if something is wrong, I'd like to know."
"Why do you insist on this being secret?" Maki asked, "Am I embarrassing to be with?"
"Maki, you're Samurai, I'm Ninja, you have an image to uphold and being open about us would ruin it."
'Not like I haven't done enough to ruin it.' Maki thought in her head "You sound like Umi."
"I might be, but unlike her I am actually breaking the rules she just feels she is." Nico said as she and Maki sat up "I know you hate it, I do to, but unless things change, we have to keep this quite."
"Quiets not possible with us sometimes."
"You know what I mean, get your mind off that for a second."
"Hard to do when your close by." Maki placed a kiss on Nico's head before rolling on to her back "Can you promise me something?"
"What is it?" Nico asked as she snuggled back into Maki's side.
"Be safe." Maki said quietly as she held Nico as close as she could.
"You mean because of her?" Nico ask resting her head on Maki's chest.
"I can't help it; I lost one love Nico and couldn't do anything about it; I don't want that to happen again."
Nico shifted and hovered over Maki, she cupped her cheek "Maki, I can't make false promises, we are at war no one and nothing is safe," Maki made to speak but Nico silenced her with a kiss "Hang on, I do however promise not to take unnecessary risks." Nico smiled.
"That's not really making me feel better." Maki sighed, even if she knew Nico was telling the truth.
"I know." Nico smiled "So let me help you forget that worry my lady."
"Oh and how are you going to do that." Maki asked only to feel a finger brush down her side "Sneaky." Maki sighed as Nico's hand wondered lower.
"I told you I'm the best." Nico smiled before she leaned down and kissed Maki.
(Dia)
Dia sighed as she brought her facemask up to her face, Dia saw the small cut in the mask that Ruby caused when she had been a child 'At least I know Yo will do her best to look out for you Ruby.'
Dia could hear the troops outside "I can't blame you all for following him, given the circumstances." Dia muttered "So I will not see you all killed for nothing."
"Please Ruby, don't hate me for what I have to do." Dia muttered "I hope the others are doing better than me right now."
(Riko – Night before the fight at Hanayo's castle)
Riko had just sat down and was about to play her Shinobue to relax herself before she caught what sleep she could when Hanamaru entered the chamber "Lady Riko." She said as she bowed "Lady Tsuki has requested you come at once Zura."
"What is it?"
"She's not sure."
"Right, I'm coming." Riko said placing her instrument down. The pair went to walls at a brisk pace Kira's troops had attacked at night the last night and Riko was hoping they weren't doing it again.
"Tsuki!" Riko hissed in case it was an attack "What is it?"
"I heard movement." Tsuki whispered back.
Riko let out a sigh 'Give us a break.' Riko thought to herself as she looked out into the lower level of the castle "Maru, go find Yoshiko and tell her to get…"
Before Riko could finish the sound of an arrow flew by Riko's head and it hit Hanamaru in the thigh making the girl cry out "Argh!"
"Maru!" Riko shouted as she dived forward and caught the girl as she fell forward.
Then all at once, shouting and battle cries could be heard "Damn them!" Riko heard Tsuki shout "To the ramparts, all troops to the ramparts!" Tsuki ordered "Riko, get Maru inside, I'll hold here till you get back."
"Right." Riko replied as she supported the wounded girl back deeper into the castle.
As Riko carried the girl inside she heard Tsuki bark an order "Open fire on the breach, fire at the breach!" followed by the monks Tanegashima's firing, she glanced back and saw the archers form hurriedly behind them and loose a volley. Riko lay the wounded Sōhei down on the floor.
"Are you ok?" Riko asked concerned.
"I'm fine, go they need you."
"Are you sure?"
Hamamaru nodded "Ok I'll send Yoshiko to you." Riko said as she got up and left drawing her sword.
"Lady Riko!" Yoshiko shouted as she arrived at the scene.
"Yoshiko, Hanamaru is hurt, get inside and look after her." Yoshiko nodded and ran inside just as Riko ran back to Tsuki.
The Monks fired another volley but then they shouted they had no more shot "Blast it." Tsuki said punching the wall.
"Archers take positions on the wall, replace the monks on the wall!" Riko shouted. "Tsuki gather the monks and defend the gate."
"Ok." Tsuki nodded before she started to organise the Monks behind the gate in case they were breached.
"Make ready to defend the gate!" Riko heard Tsuki shout.
'Yo, in case I don't make it, I love you.' Riko thought as she drew her sword and looked at the gate.