Plans and Requests (2)
(Honoka – Next day - Midday)
"How are you feeling this morning?" Honoka asked Tsubasa as she walked out to the garden in front of the pairs chamber her sword in her hand.
"I'm fine," Tsubasa smiled as the ginger sat down beside her. "You're starting to worry like Umi does, if something was wrong, I'd tell you."
"Promise?"
"Promise." Tsubasa said before kissing the ginger on the cheek.
"Sorry." Honoka yawned as she laid her sword down at her side before laying backwards on the floor.
"It's ok, I find it kind of sweet." Tsubasa said before picking up the sword and examining it "Can I ask you something?"
"Well that's worrying, asking me permission to ask a question." Honoka said sitting up.
"It's nothing bad, it's just I know you like to keep this secret."
"You mean my sword?"
"Are you ever going to tell them about it?"
"Not anytime soon." Honoka sighed as she laid back down.
"Why not?" Tsubasa said as she laid next to the ginger.
"It's embarrassing."
"I don't think so, I find it rather sweet you hold them so closely." Tsubasa smiled "Though I must confess to a bit of jealously that you don't do that with me."
"I don't need to, I have you right here."
"Well aren't you the charmer." Tsubasa smiled and the ginger could see a faint blush "Seriously though why don't you tell them; I think they would be pleased to know?"
"Not right now, they have other things to deal with right now."
"I know, but don't wait too long, ok?"
"Ok."
(Umi)
"Umi, are you alright?" the blunette heard Kotori ask as she knelt next to the ronin with Saki in her arm "You've been glancing at the door and the gripping your Naginata when you do."
Umi glanced downwards and noticed her hand gripped around the weapons shaft "Oh," the ronin said "Sorry, I'm just still on edge." Umi sighed as she released the weapon.
"You mean about Kanan?"
"And the Ohara's." Umi sighed leaning her head back.
"I don't think you need to worry."
"Kotori, I'm responsible for your safety, I have to be careful."
'Especially given how well that went last time.' Umi's honour added in her head, though before any more internal words could be said the ronin felt a soft hand touch her shoulder.
"Hey, the voices at it again?" Kotori asked.
"A little."
"I'm getting a little tired of telling you to stop tormenting Umi." Kotori said as she leaned closer before pulling back and asking "Did that help?
"A little."
"I doubt Lady Ohara will try anything bad, at least till she gets here."
"And what about when she does, aren't you worried what she might do?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I have you here to protect me."
"But…"
"Umi," Kotori interrupted "I know your worried I can see it on your face, but I know history won't repeat, because you're here and I'm always safe when your around." Kotori smiled and Saki smiled with a babble "See Saki agrees with me."
'She's right, you are next to her now, unlike when Kira tricked you into leaving her alone.' The mystery voice added in her head, something even her honour had to concede.
"Thanks." Umi smiled before gently placing her hand on Saki's, the smaller Sonoda warped her fingers around one of the ronin's and pulled it down till it was touching Kotori's, both girls looked at each other in the eyes and Umi could see Kotori's cheeks turn red slightly and she could feel her own heat up, the blunette could feel both their hands pairs pinkie fingers gently interlock on their own,
"Oh sorry are we interrupting?" Umi turned her head sharply with a sense of concern but was relieved to see Nozomi and Lady Minami standing in the entrance, before she realised the pair could see the two blushing.
"Lady Minami, Lady Nozomi, is there something you need of us?" Umi asked with slight embarrassment as the pair entered the chamber.
"Not me," Lady Minami smiled "I just haven't spent a lot of time with Kotori lately and I wished to talk to her for a bit."
"While that happens, I was wondering if I could borrow a moment of your time Umi?"
"Of course, Lady Nozomi." Umi said before giving Saki's hand a gentle squeeze before standing to leave.
As she stood up, she heard Kotori whisper "Don't worry she'll be right back."
"You seem a little tense." Nozomi said as the pair walked into the courtyard.
"I have concerns about Kanan and the Ohara's." Umi said before glancing back to the chamber to see Lady Minami and Kotori playing with Saki and talking about something she couldn't quite hear.
"I wouldn't be too concerned about Kanan and Mari, they seem to be sympathetic to our cause, Lady Ohara on the other hand might be one for concern."
"Is that what you wish to talk to me about?" Umi asked a sense of dread welling in her stomach.
"Yes, it is." Nozomi sighed "You know your pledge to protect Kotori?"
"What about it?" Umi said as a chill run up her spine.
"You might need to do it sooner than you think."
(Kotori)
"How is Umi holding up?"
"Stressed, she was constantly worried on the way here and she's been really on edge since we got here." Kotori sighed before Saki let out a little whin "Sorry Saki." Kotori whispered.
"Your arms look a little tired, would you like me to hold Saki for a while?" Lady Minami asked.
"Thanks." Kotori said which got a moan out the little Sonoda "It's ok, mama will be gentle with you." The ashen girl whispered Saki before handing Saki to her mother.
Kotori saw Saki wriggle a little bit before she seemed to settle in her mother's arms "She's bigger than you were at this age." Lady Minami said as she gently rocked the blunette in her arms.
"Really?" Kotori said surprised.
"Yes, you were a very tiny, I was a bit scared I would hurt you whenever I picked you up." Lady Minami smiled "You can imagine my sense of relief when you and Umi first became friends, I knew then she'd look after you, even if she was a bit shy at first."
"Yeah, she was a bit." Kotori smile before glancing over to blunette who was taking to Nozomi, her arms crossed and an annoyed look on her face, Kotori could tell the ronin was uncomfortable with whatever the two were talking about.
"What are they talking about?" Kotori asked making her mum look up from Saki to glance at the pair talking at the far end of the courtyard.
"Oh, Nozomi's asking if Umi would be willing to help us with a matter?"
"What matter?" Kotori asked concerned.
"Mari came to use, she had concerns with an issue that the two of us were also wondering about, Nozomi's asking if she would be willing to help us head off the issue."
"That sounds important." Kotori said as her concern rose, as a wave of ideas rushed through the ashen girl's mind as to what the two could be talking about.
"It's not something to concern yourself with, we don't think it's likely to occur."
"Then why talk to Umi about?"
"We are just being prudent is all."
"But…"
"Don't worry Kotori, we won't force her to do anything and we won't split the two of you up." Lady Minami smiled "We actually want the opposite."
Kotori let out a sigh she knew there was more to this then her mother was telling her but before she could ask further, she saw Umi and Nozomi begin to walk back towards them.
"Lady Minami, Saki's not been any trouble for you, has she?" Umi ask once she reached the pair.
"No, she has been well behaved." Lady Minami smiled "You've done quite well raising her so far."
"I can't take too much credit, Kotori's been a big help."
"I see, I'm glad to hear that." Lady Minami smiled as looked at her daughter.
(Umi – Night-time)
"Goodnight." Umi whispered as she placed a kiss on Saki's forehead, before tucking the sleeping girl in.
Umi quietly stood and walked over to her futon, glancing over at her armour and her family sword as she did so 'I really do wonder why I was asked to bring that; Lady Hanayo said it was perfectly safe at her home.' Umi mused as she closed the chamber doors, giving a quick check just to be sure no one was around.
Once the door was closed, the blunette let out a small sigh as she looked at Kotori's sleeping form as she thought about what she and Nozomi had talked about earlier.
"You want me to announce me and Kotori are to be married again?"
"Well, I will try and avoid forcing you to do that, but if it come down to it yes, we would."
"We?"
"Me and Lady Minami."
"Why?"
"Lady Ohara is likely going to want compensation for their help."
"And you think she might want Kotori as part of a marriage deal?"
"Yes, we do."
"What am I going to do about this?" Umi wondered as she walked back to her futon.
'I didn't realise your pledge to protect Kotori included proventing marriage deals.' Umi's honour said in her head.
'Do you really want to see Kotori married off to someone who doesn't love her?' The mystery voice countered.
'I doubt Mari would hurt her if she was.'
'No, but they wouldn't be happy with each other either.'
'Would Lady Ohara even accept you announcing that?'
"Enough!" Umi hissed as she had reached her limit as she knelt in front of Kotori 'It's late, I'm stressed and I don't have the patience for this.' Umi groaned internally before she laid down on her futon, while laying a hand on her Naginata.
As she began to drift off, Umi felt an arm wrap itself around her waist making the blunette tense up until a gentle voice reach her ears.
"Umi..."
"It's ok Kotori, I'm here." Umi said placing her free hand on the ashen girls "I'll protect you Kotori, no matter what." The ronin heard Kotori let out a gentle peaceful moan as she pulled herself closer to the blunette's back, making Umi's heart speed up slightly.