Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Kazemaru and Miharu ❯ Chapter 24

Kazemaru stared at the pool of water, listening to Miharu's soft, even breathing. He had been gone all day, and had returned to find her sleeping. Not so surprising, he thought. She hadn't gotten much sleep last night…. He smiled. The last two weeks had been heaven here, even as things outside of their little island worsened. He was managing the war well, actually, more and more the yokai took one look at his forces and turned west. Apparently the daiyokai that held the western territory wasn't so concerned about controlling his lands. But the humans…

 

When Miharu had first warned that her father would send his forces against the yokai lord, he had taken it lightly. He figured that they would give up after a few days or so. But the daimyo's total disregard to the number of men he lost in his search for his daughter drew both respect and disgust from Kazemaru. He was glad the man was aware that his daughter was something special, but the part of him that was mainly yokai said it was a silly thing to fight over, a girl—until he looked at Miharu's sleeping form. Maybe not. He felt a little guilty—she had said she didn't want innocent blood spilled on her behalf, and so he had kept the killing to a minimum, especially since he could not call on his war forces to assist and must face the human forces himself.

 

He had asked the old blind woman why they were fighting so hard, and she had explained it very calmly. Apparently Miharu's father hadn't been a daimyo for very long. He had been a samurai, once, and when the Shogunate rose to power it saw fit to bestow lands on their most faithful men, placing them nearest to the new capital. Seeing as the new capital was only about 40 miles away, he must have been faithful indeed. On top of that, Miharu was his only child. His lands could not pass to her, so he must find a suitable husband on which to bestow them.

 

Kazemaru had to laugh. If only he knew….

 

Behind him, he heard Miharu's breathing change, and she shifted a little as she began to wake. He turned to see her sit up, the blanket that he had lain over her slipping down to reveal her naked to her waist. She stretched a little, and Kazemaru admired the love-marks he had left on her here and there, visible even from this distance. She scrubbed at her eyes in a very endearing manner, and then blinked her eyes open.

 

“Koishii?” she murmured, and he left the edge of the pool to go to her side.

 

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, loving the way she reached out for him to join her.

 

“Mmmhmm.” She convinced him to lie next to her, and snuggled up against him. “I was very tired…” she said with a sly smile.

 

He grinned back. “Is that so?”

 

She nodded. “But I'm not tired anymore…” she slid a hand under the fabric of his haori, and he chuckled, snatching it away.

 

“I've made you wanton,” he laughed, kissing her face.

 

She shook her head. “No, you've made me happy. Very, very, very happy…” she leaned in to kiss him, and he sighed deeply. How to tell her? He supposed one last time wouldn't hurt, but….

 

“Miharu-chan,” he broke away from the kiss, his voice somber.

 

“What is it?” she asked, still somewhat sleepy and drunk on passion.

 

“I know you aren't going to like this, and you have to understand, it's not what I wanted either, but I'm going to have to take you home,” he said kindly.

 

Miharu frowned. “To the other cave?”

 

He almost smiled. “No, to your home. To your father.”

 

Her frown deepened. “Why?”

 

He sighed. “Your father has been fighting to find you these past two weeks. He certainly isn't going to be in a mood to discuss marriage the way he is now, and I'm afraid the only way to placate him is to give you back—for a short time,” he added hastily.

 

She pouted, something he guiltily found cute. “Is that the only way?” she asked, sullen.

 

“No,” he said, and she looked to him, hopeful. “But it is the only way that doesn't involve loss of innocent life on a rather large scale. Your father is serious about this. As am I. Like I said before, I would fight every last one of them for you, but—”

 

“But I don't want that…” she finished.

 

Kazemaru nodded, and let her think. She sighed heavily and leaned her head on his chest. “When do I have to go?” she asked quietly.

 

“Tomorrow,” he said it quietly, too, as if that would make it not real.

 

She bit her lip and held on to him tightly. “Then tonight…”

 

“Yes,” he said, not wanting to hear the words. “Tonight we are together, my love,” he kissed her softly. “Let us take advantage of that.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN

That's what I've got for now! Tell me what you think. I would so love comments on this, because I want to make it as good as possible.