"What about everyone else?" Rin lifted her head weakly, gazing at the crowd gathered by her mat. "Glad to see you all made it, although if I'm the worst off, that's just embarrassing." She huffed in Gin's direction. "Even the thief held up better than me."
"I think I remembered why I don't like you," Gin mumbled, but she gave Rin a small smile to show she was joking.
Kaede barely noticed. Her eyes welled over with tears, and she had to wipe them away with her sleeve.
"Don't do that," Rin said, resting her head on Kaede's knee and caressing her hand with a warm tongue. "I hate it when you cry."
"I can't help it," Kaede sniffed. "You almost died for me."
"You would have done the same. I was just in the right place at the right time."
Kaede tried to say that it was more than that, but she was distracted by Imari passing over her handkerchief. She took it and swiped the rivers from her face while Imari rubbed circles on her back. "Try and get some sleep," she murmured. "You need it."
"I'll look after Rin if you want to rest," Takeshi offered. "My shoulder isn't going to let me sleep again now that I'm awake anyway."
"Me too," Kenta added. "I only got a little knock on the head. I'm fine to sit up for a while."
Kaede remained uncertain, but it was Kaze who finally convinced her. "She's going to be fine, Kaede. You don't have to watch over her alone."
A great weight lifted from Kaede's shoulders. Kaze was right. She didn't have to look out for Rin alone anymore—or do anything alone, for that matter. She had Imari, and she had Hayate back, and more friends than she had ever dreamed of. With relief came exhaustion, and she yawned loud and long before covering her mouth with her hand and cuddling up beside Rin. "Just for a few minutes," she said, draping an arm around the wolf's midsection. She smiled when she felt Imari drag her mat closer and settle down behind her.
"Thank you," she whispered to Rin as her eyes drifted shut. "You'll always be my best friend."
Rin didn't say anything, but Kaede fell asleep to the soft, happy thump of her tail against the floor.
***
The following days passed quickly for Imari. Between looking after her injured friends and helping to direct temporary repairs to the castle, she kept busy. Empress Tomoyo arrived on the second day with a full complement of soldiers, and her first order of business was to interview the imprisoned shogun, who were being temporarily housed in the dungeon. She requested Imari's presence, claiming she had “first-hand experience” with Kyuubi's manipulation.
As they were brought before the Empress, each shogun told the same story: they had come across a large pearl at some point in the past few years and it had started whispering to them. They were horrified to learn exactly what they had done, and there had been a few dramatic requests for executions to end their shame. Empress Tomoyo had dismissed those requests decisively, reminding the samurai that it was their duty now to restore their own honor. She stripped them of their ranks as punishment for being deceived, with the promise to return their positions if they proved themselves wiser in the future.
Imari had to admit, under the circumstances, the Empress was displaying both mercy and foresight. However, she took a more sympathetic view toward their requests for an honorable death. She remembered how disgusted she had been with herself after breaking free from Kyuubi's spell. The violation still lingered, casting a shadow over her whenever she remembered how it felt.
"You'll have to be careful, Imari," the Empress said after dismissing yet another green-looking shogun from the southern provinces. "If you keep being this helpful, I'll have to make you a shogun yourself."
Imari bowed deeply. "You flatter me, Your Majesty, but perhaps my father would be better suited to that title."
"And this has nothing to do with you wanting to take over Mirai from him when you return there?" Empress Tomoyo asked with a knowing smile.
"Maybe," Imari admitted. "It would be strange, going back home after adventuring all over Tengoku only to help him with his extra correspondence."
"I'm sure we can find something much more useful for you and your friends to do. You all deserve to be rewarded for what you've done for the Empire."
"Ishikawa Gin will be happy to hear that, Heika," Imari said. "Her village could certainly use a helping hand from the royal court to get it on its feet again. Oh, and a pardon for her previous crimes wouldn't go unappreciated either, if that would be your will."
"Ishikawa-san…you mean the other woman who helped you into the castle?" Empress Tomoyo frowned. "I wasn't aware she had previous crimes that needed pardoning."
"The weight of her crimes isn’t heavier than the heroism she showed," Imari said. "She was only stealing to feed her village, and she risked her life to help us. She even cut off one of Kyuubi's tails."
Empress Tomoyo nodded. "Consider it done. Considering her actions, I will grant her an audience to discuss the problems in her village. What about Yukimura Hayate? As I understand it, he was a great deal of help as well."
Imari thought for a moment. "Well, Yukimura is going to need a new daimyo, at least while Setsuna recovers. It only seems right that her son should take over for her."
"Another reasonable request. Hayate is next in line anyway, and he has proven himself. If he does well in the position, perhaps I can consider lifting his family’s punishment in a few years and make him a shogun. What about your other friends, Hibana Kenta and Takeshi? As Homura samurai, it is your place to reward them."
"It is, Your Majesty, and I already know what I’m going to do for one of them," Imari said with a laugh. "I'm going to send Hibana Kenta on a little vacation to the northern provinces. You know, to make sure things settle down properly." She gave the Empress a small smile. "He and Yukimura Hayate have been getting along well recently."
The Empress laughed. "It seems the universe decided to reward him instead of waiting on his master."
Imari laughed as well, but then her brow furrowed in thought. "Hibana Takeshi is harder," she mused aloud. "It's strange. I've known him since I was a child, and we were even engaged for a little while, but I still don't have a good grip on what he might want."
That wasn't entirely true. The two of us are going to have to have a talk, she thought to herself, her heart sinking at the prospect.
"Well, you have time to ask him," Empress Tomoyo said. "It's only been a few days. What about Aozora Kaede? I plan to commission a scroll of her deeds for the Library of the New Moon, of course."
Imari looked at the Empress in astonishment. Having one’s deeds recorded in the Library of the New Moon was one of Akatsuki Teikoku's highest honors, one only bestowed on national heroes. There had only been two such scrolls awarded in the last century, and none in the past fifty years. Then again, she shouldn't be surprised. Kaede had defeated Kyuubi, prevented a civil war, and saved countless lives. If anyone deserved such an honor, it was her.
"I'm sure she'll accept it humbly," Imari said, bowing deeply. "I can't think of a more fitting reward, Heika."
Empress Tomoyo smirked. "I'm sure you can, but my advisers tell me I'm too young to speculate about such things."
Imari's cheeks flushed. It wasn't so much that the Empress was fifteen—she remembered what it had been like to experience those tumultuous years—but the fact Empress Tomoyo had been bold enough to say so. Apparently, the Empress was offering the honor of her trust and friendship. "Actually," she said, lighting up with an idea, "there might be one more thing you can do for us, if you would be so kind."
The Empress leaned in closer. "Tell me. I'll see what I can do."
***
Imari didn't get a chance to speak to Takeshi until later that evening. He had tried his best to help her organize over the past several days, but aside from Rin, he had suffered the worst injuries. When she didn't see him at dinner, she gathered a bowl of steamed rice and cooked chicken and returned to the room he and Kenta had been given, hoping to find him there instead.
She wasn't
disappointed. When she nudged the screen with her foot, still carrying the bowl in her hand, and called out his name, he responded almost immediately.
"Come in, Imari. I'm sorry, I was resting."
Imari shouldered her way in. Takeshi rested on his futon, although it didn't look as though she had disturbed him from as deep sleep. His hair was in place, and he seemed to be fully dressed.
"Are you sure I'm not bothering you?" she asked, setting the steaming bowl on the table in the middle of the room. "I got worried when I didn't see you at dinner, so I brought you something."
Takeshi gave her a smile. "Thank you. I appreciate that. I'm afraid I haven't had much appetite lately."
"You still need to eat," Imari insisted. She sat on one of the cushioned mats beside the table, about a yard away from Takeshi's bedding. "I'm not going to let you die of starvation after everything you managed to survive so far."
At the mention of his injury, Takeshi rolled his shoulders. "I'm doing fine. See? My back isn't bothering me as much anymore."
Imari sighed. From the tension that stretched between them, she knew Takeshi knew the real reason she had come. Never one to dance around important subjects, she took a deep breath and plunged into uncertain waters. "Was what Kyuubi said that night true, Takeshi? Are you afraid of being alone?" When his forehead wrinkled, she coaxed him further. "Come on. After everything we've been through, you can talk to me."
Takeshi didn't answer right away, but he didn't avoid her eyes either. For once, he met them straight on instead of averting them politely. "Sometimes," he said at last. "I know the two of us didn’t work together, but part of me isn’t sure I’ll ever find someone else."
Imari smiled. She felt sympathy for Takeshi’s pain, but the truthful answer he had given gave her hope as well. Back during their relationship, he had rarely been so open and honest. She took one of his hands. “Takeshi, I know you will find someone. You’ve already changed so much since we were engaged, all for the good. You’re a better man than you were even a few months ago, and I’m not the only one who’s able to see it.”
Takeshi stared into her eyes, some of the worried lines smoothing from his face. “That’s kind of you to say. . .”
“I’m not just saying it to make you feel better. I mean it. The next woman who comes into your life is going to be so lucky.”
Takeshi laughed softly. “Well, you’ve always been truthful with me, even when it hurt. I believe you. I have to say, it’s going to be hard to find someone as wonderful as you.”
“Hard, maybe, but not impossible,” Imari said.
“No, not impossible,” Takeshi agreed. “I think watching you and Kaede has been good for me. It gives me hope. That isn’t strange, is it?”
“Not at all.” Imari hesitated, weighing her options. The more she thought about it, the more she felt like this was the right time to tell Takeshi of her intentions. He was her best friend, after all. "I'm going to ask Kaede to marry me. That's one of the reasons I wanted to clear the air between us."
To her joy, Takeshi smiled genuinely. "Normally, I would question your judgment and tell you it was too soon to think about marriage but not after everything the four of us have been through together."
Imari chuckled in agreement. "We have faced down much more frightening things, haven't we? But even though we've suffered together, it wasn't all bad. Those two peaceful months at Hongshan were some of the happiest of my life. Kaede and I worked well even when the world wasn't threatening to collapse around us."
Takeshi seemed to understand. "I won't be presumptuous enough to offer my blessing, because I know you don't need it, but you're welcome to it anyway. I'm happy for the two of you and I think you're making the right decision."
Imari's heart swelled with love, both for Kaede and for Takeshi. "I know I am, but I'm glad you approve. As much as I complain, I care what you think. You're my best friend and the most honorable man I know."
"What about your father?" Takeshi teased. "Although I'm sure he'll be thrilled when you tell him the news."
"You and he are tied for first," Imari said. "Now come over here and eat. I'm not leaving until you finish the rice in that bowl."
Carefully, Takeshi drew himself up from the futon, walking over to the table. Once he was close enough, she wrapped him in a tight hug, careful not to put pressure on his bandages. "Thank you," she murmured, kissing him lightly on the cheek.
Takeshi wrapped his arms around her as well. "You don't need to thank me. Seeing you and Kaede happy is enough."
Chapter Twenty-Eight
THE NEXT WEEK DRAGGED by. Imari's lips quivered with the question she wanted to ask, but she had made up her mind to wait until her father arrived. She had sent for him with the Empress's permission, thinking it best to bring him up to speed before rumors of her battle with Kyuubi reached him. If Imari's guess was right, he was on his way to Asahina as fast as he and his samurai could travel.
Although she was certain he would approve of Kaede once she told him of their adventures together, Imari wanted his blessing. It stunned her to think that while she had gotten to know Kaede intimately over the past six months, her father knew almost nothing about the woman she loved. It was a problem Imari wanted to fix, but in the meantime, she was stuck waiting. And that's assuming Kaede says yes.
Imari prayed she would. Kaede had been incredibly affectionate since her near-death experience; the two of them spent their days together and every night wrapped in each other's arms. Still, there was a niggling sense of doubt. Despite all they had been through, theirs had been something of a whirlwind romance. They hadn't had a traditional courtship at all. Imari was certain of her decision, but she couldn't assume Kaede felt the same, no matter how high her hopes were. Though she saw at least a hundred chances to tell Kaede what was in her heart, she bit her tongue instead. She needed to wait for the perfect moment.
That was why, as dawn's rosy fingers crept in through their window one morning, Imari lost herself staring at Kaede's sleeping form. The covers pooled around Kaede's hips, and the sleeves of her yukata had rolled up during the night, revealing her tanned forearms. Her lips curved in a soft, sweet smile and she breathed steady and peaceful.
On impulse, Imari scooted closer. She wrapped her right arm around Kaede's midsection, pressing a light kiss to her shoulder. For a moment, she simply inhaled Kaede's warm sleep-scent. During moments like this, her heart was so full of love her chest ached with it.
Kaede sensed the shift, or at least Imari's movements. She groaned and opened her eyes, blinking slowly. "Were you watching me again?" she mumbled, her voice still low and throaty with sleep. "You know, coming from anyone else, it would be creepy."
Imari gave Kaede a guilty grin, although she wasn't the least bit repentant. "I'm sorry. You're beautiful. Sometimes I look at you and I'm so overwhelmed. I don't know what I did with myself before I met you."
"You probably got in a lot less trouble," Kaede chuckled.
"True," Imari admitted, "but it hasn't all been the bad sort of trouble." She moved her hand down along the curve of Kaede's side, stopping at her hip and squeezing lightly.
Her teasing produced the desired result. In a flash, Imari found herself flat on her back with Kaede's weight on top of her. One of Kaede's thighs pressed between her legs, not quite a demand, but not an accident either.
"You can't keep your hands to yourself, can you?" Kaede teased, kissing the point of her chin.
Imari gave Kaede a look, waiting for her to realize what she had said. When she finally did, she groaned and tucked her head in embarrassment. "Sorry. A figure of speech. I'm tired."
"It's okay, it was funny. And no, I can't keep my hand to myself." To prove it, she brought her hand down to Kaede's backside, giving it a firm squeeze and sitting up to try and catch her lips in a kiss.
"You could at least let me brush my teeth first," Kaede snorted, only half pulling away.
"I don't care." Imari took her mouth just to prove it, ru
nning her tongue along Kaede's full lower lip. It didn't taste any different than usual—and Kaede's taste was always enough to drive Imari wild.
They broke apart, Kaede breathing heavy and ragged. "Sometimes I think I could kiss you forever," she murmured. Her eyes had become dark pools of desire, and heat blossomed between Imari's legs as she gazed into them. Kaede's knee wasn't quite riding against her yet, but it was close enough to cause some delicious friction.
"I couldn't." With their bodies pressed flush, Imari could feel Kaede stirring. "Looks like you couldn't, either," she purred, hooking her knees around Kaede's hips. They gave a short pump in response, enough for Imari to feel her outline. It was a surprisingly bold gesture, and Imari laughed softly to show she appreciated it. She began to loosen Kaede's yukata, doing her best to untie the obi backwards and one-handed.
Kaede wasn't much help. Her mouth wandered down along Imari's neck, making it even more difficult to concentrate. "This gets easier the more we practice," she sighed, going to work on Imari's yukata as well. She was faster, and soon Imari felt Kaede's hands running along her bare stomach.
"And what do you want to practice, Kaede?"
A look of uncertainty passed over Kaede's face, as if she was considering something deeply. Eventually, without coaxing, she spoke. "I want to learn how you feel, Imari," she said, choosing her words with great care. "From the inside. I mean, if you want to."
Imari's eyes widened, but after a few seconds, a broad grin spread across her face. "Of course, I want to." She finally managed to get Kaede's yukata open, and she brought her palm up to Kaede's left breast, caressing the subtle curve. "I was hoping you would ask."
"I've thought about it," Kaede admitted. Her voice shook, but with what sounded like excitement rather than nerves. "A lot. With you, I want to try.”
"Not because you think I'm unhappy with the way things are, I hope," Imari said.
Kaede looked horrified. "Not at all. I just." She flushed, averting her eyes. "You feel so good around my fingers. You're one of the warmest, softest things I've ever touched." The length of Kaede's shaft gave a throb of need against Imari's hip. Her own inner walls rippled in response, and a soft stream of warmth spilled down along her inner thigh at the suggestion.
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