#yourfathersdaughter

Moons went by and that night wasn't discussed. Mizu didn't bring it up to her apprentice, so you decided neither would you. It did not stop Ringo’s lingering glances at the dinner table while you all ate together. You would pass a bowl, and Mizu’s slender finger would hover over yours, sending you deep into a flashback so strong your body would react and the apprentice would catch it. 

You would pass Mizu in the hall before she took you into one of the rooms by your waist to rob you of the air in your lungs. Intense and passionate, she would pull you in and you would be sure that she would take you right then and there. She would break away and leave the room, and you wanting more. You would walk out and meet face to face with a confused Ringo. 

During trainings her hands would grip in places that would force a moan to slip from your lips, followed by a glare from you shot in her direction; but she loved it. You two would fight and she would pin you almost effortlessly before crawling over your body. There was one point she managed to uncloth you slightly, exposing your collarbone for her to place her lips on. Her fingers drifted between your legs, and rubbed at your aching entrance like that of a beggar on a karamon gate. It didn't take long before she had you pinned to the trunk of a tree, embracing your lips with her own as she slid a finger between your folds. Legs squirming in the dirt, your hands went for her arms, unsure if you wanted to stop her or plead with her to explore your depths further. A familiar voice called for dinner and you let out a sorrowed sigh as she pulled out a drenched finger. Walking back inside you avoided Ringo’s eyes as you scurried past him.

He never dared question her. Mizu was his master after all, but you weren't. Ringo and you carried a different relationship to that of the samurai and him. You just weren't quite sure how to discuss this with him or what his response would be to something so queer. You sure he had questions, but you did too. You were still new to this after all. 

A quiet afternoon crept up on all of you as you became aware of the setting sun. Caught up in one of Master Eji’s elderly lectures ,as men his age tend to enjoy offering from time to time, had made time race past you, and when you noticed he was growing tired is when you decided it would be respectful to relieve him of your presence. 

Bowing deeply, you removed yourself from his hut and turned abruptly, bumping right into the meal Ringo had prepared for the saged swordfather. The greens and soba landed on your skin bringing a shock from the sudden heat and you let out a tiny yelp. Even after all this time, you were still unsure how the large man could move about as quietly and undetectable as you. Ringo’s soft hearted nature immediately made you the focus point, placing the tray on the ground to check if you had been burned badly, but you reassured him with a wave of your hand and a small nod that you were fine. Now you two met eyes, which was something you two hadn't been able to hold for very long these past few days. He offered a small smile, but you could see there was a sadness behind his eyes. It seeped into you and you let out a sigh before reaching over to pick up the tray. He tried to reach for it, but you blocked him with your shoulder.

“ We will go together.” 

You sat in silence as you poured more vegetables into a clean bowl, and he watched the soba boil in its water. Though it was only two of you, a third presence sat between you. That of a conversation that needed to be had. How could you break this tension that sat so smugly between you and with  someone who conversation flowed so easily from. Your mind scavenged for topics to ease into this discussion.

“Master seems happier.” he broke the silence, stirring the pot slightly. The statement brought your mind to Mizu and her behavior the past few weeks. Her playfulness, her eagerness to touch and hold, her regular scowl that you were convinced was how she emerged from her mothers womb has even slipped revealing a more sincere relaxed expression. She has been happier, you acknowledged mentally. 

“It appears so.” you finally admitted, hiding the shy joy in your tone. 

“Are you?”

“Am I what?” you asked, your mind already slipping from the conversation to recall Mizu’s behaviors.

“Happier.”

It was then you stopped picking, and turned to meet Ringo’s wide brown eyes. He was already looking in your direction, and you could tell on his face he was hoping for a positive response. It didn't cross your mind before, but now it was apparent. Ringo truly viewed you as a friend. How could you have forgotten that throughout your kidnapping, and him tending to your wounds both physical and emotional that he was the most kind. He admired his master and looked up to her and all her greatness, but to him you were a companion. Someone he would care for with all of his heart. 

And he missed his friend. 

You gave him a simple nod followed by the most genuine smile you felt you had ever given him the months you had known each other, and was greeted with Ringo’s ray of a smile. That was enough for him. A soft laugh from his chest followed by yours that caused you to lean over and rest your head on his arms for support. You both sat there in unison. In all your years you never thought you would be given the chance to experience this kind of softness from anyone let alone another man. 

How lovely it was to care for the same person.

How tender it felt to have a friend.

Gathering the remade dinner tray, you both made your way to the door to go your separate ways. Him to Master Eji, and you to find Mizu. Before you split off he turned to you to ask one simple question

“How does it..work?”

There was genuine curiosity and confusion in his eyes that brought a smile to your face once again. You didn't need further details to understand what he was asking, but you didnt feel you needed further details to explain how this worked between Mizu and you. A simple word was enough.

Warm air blew strands of hair across your face repeatedly, tickling your nose and summoning you out of slumber. Sunrise brought a warm glow to the room, making you feel comforted until you realized quickly these were not your usual surroundings. Your eyes shot up and you jolted awake with sudden movement before you realized you were latched down to the ground with weight. Shifting your gaze, you glanced down quickly to notice skin across yours. Your blurry morning vision cleared enough to realize it was an arm, wrapped firmly around you. Trailing this arm lead you to a half exposed Mizu, resting peacefully beside you. Serenity washed over you like a strong wave as you realized you were not only safe, but cherished. Clung to like a child's favorite ningyō.  Ever so slowly, you lowered yourself back into position so as to not wake her, but turned to now gaze at another sight you have never seen before.

Mizu in this lighting was beautiful. Her tousled hair covered most of her face, but it was small peaks that caught your eye. Her nose was a light pink as she exhaled softly onto your face. Her usual masculine scowl that she carries so well had softened, bringing gracefulness to her features that you appreciated even more. Her breasts were exposed to you and they were as soft and plump as sweet peaches that grew each spring. Once again you wished you could capture this moment forever. 

You also wished you could kiss her, but nervousness took over you. You didn't remember what time you two had finally fallen into slumber, but you do remember the sun was beginning to rise as  the heat from your conjoined flame was coming to an exhausted dim, the waters coming to a slower pace until they became still. To wake her now would be a disservice, but the desire to meet her lips with yours was so strong in this moment as you watched her rest. 

Your mind began to wander as you admired her features. Soft breaths becoming heavy pants, skin gliding against skin, firm hands gripping you in ways you never thought you would appreciate until last night. The memory was pulling at you, bringing you back to the moments you two shared that will forever be embedded deep in your mind. Mizu’s neck elongated as she tightened her grip on your (H/C) hair, her eyes closing as you pleased her the way she taught you, the beauty of her low groans and the way she spoke your name as soft as moonlight-

“(Y/N)...”

Startled, you were brought back to the present. You noticed almost immediately how your body was reacting to a mere recall of memory already. Your body remembered what she could do to you, and in doing so craved more. You felt a small leakage already pooling, and prayed it wouldn't be like this all day. 

Instead of speaking, you nudged your head under her chin to show her you were awake as well. You couldn't trust your throat to speak without whimpering for her the way you had the night before. Your body was already reacting to her and she hadn't done much but stir into slight consciousness. 

Her arms pulled you in as if you two were not close enough in this moment. Skin to skin with your head becoming a resting spot for her chin you took the time to appreciate once again how natural this felt to you. How your bodies interlinked like connected fingers. Your arms like your digits, your navels like palms. 

Could you stay like this forever? As cruel as the world had been to you, would it grace you with this act of kindness and let you rest in these strong arms for a little while longer? You gently closed your eyes so that you could take in the moment. The soft hint of sweat lingered between you two, but it wasn't the same as the scent of others. It filled your mind with sweet, reminiscent thoughts and you swore in that moment you could recognize her by any small piece of her essence. Her scent was lodged in your mind, her footsteps tracked for months, her movements studied from afar and up close. You could recognize her in a crowd, you could feel the linger of her presence in an empty room. You could catch her breath in the wind and know it was from her lungs, you could touch a tree and know just from how it leaned her hands had graced it. Now that you had become one, there was nowhere she could hide from you. You could recognize her by soul alone. 

It was almost like she knew this herself, or perhaps because you were so connected now she could read your mind. Your samurai adjusted herself so that she could gaze deep into your eyes. Her ocean blues shined differently in the orange morning dew. They reflected strongly the mixture of emotions behind them. A bravura of calmness, desire, euphoria before the sun had even reached its peak. She wanted to stay in this moment as well, tangled together underneath her kakebuton. 

Mizu lifted her hand and placed it behind your head, her slender fingers tangling themselves into your own tousled bedhair. You moved closer, desperate to bring erasure to the distance between your lips and she responded willingly. A morning kiss so deep you felt it in your core, so hot to the touch it competed with the gentle rays of the sun slipping indoors. Her desire was beginning to wash over you again, your body already anticipating for her touch. You wanted her to show you again how little fight you had compared to her. How your restraint was no match to her waves, how her fingers could make you sing like a little shinobue should.

“Good morning, Master.” An excited voice rang through the sliding door before it slid open. The scent of steamed rice and hot soup filled the room followed by Ringo’s just as warm smile that slowly lowered in confusion. You both scrambled to the side now like alley cats  searching for your robes that conveniently were tossed across the room. Sounds of embarrassment and frustration filled the air as her apprentice lowered his gaze, she muttered for him to leave, and you let out annoyed sighs as you looked for the arm holes in your clothing. The sliding door shut quickly, but he still sat behind it as you all froze. Glancing from his shadow behind the door, to Mizu, and back again. You were unsure what to make of this. The last time it crossed your minds that there were others who could possibly come across you two and become involved was when you were sneaking into her room the night before. Now you were in a position where you were unsure what to do or how this would be taken.

When you sleep, your mind drifts off to a distant dark pit before you are brought into the world every morning. Dreams aren't an occurrence, but when they do happen it surprises you. You hate dreaming. It was your father you would go to for comfort, and now it was just you waking up in a dark room on your own. You weren't sure you would go to him about this dream anyway.

Flashes of moments and sceneries danced behind your eyes. An opening scene of you standing in a winter field and as you walk you’d find yourself stepping in an ice puddle and sinking to the bottom of the pond. It would cut to firm hands grabbing you out the water and firmer hands pulling you back in, fighting for dominance over your body. A long black pause before you would find yourself in a dark room with a dimly lit candle. It seemed that you were sleeping, so you rolled over and crawled towards the candle to blow it out. As you made your way over, you felt slender hands slide up your thigh and around your waist. A warm presence approached you from behind before lowering himself onto you. A soft chest pressed against your back, but before you could question, you heard the sleep heavy voice of the samurai purring beside your ear, breathing down your neck.

“Can’t sleep, (Y/N)?”

Your eyes shot open and you sat up quickly. You pulled your (h/c) to the back to give your flustered face some air and caught your breath. You could still hear his voice in your ear, his breath on your skin and you reached your hand to the nape of your neck to feel if it was real. Obviously it wasn't, you scolded yourself before standing up. You just needed some fresh air. That was all. 

You made your way to the deck before lowering yourself to the ground. The moon was bright, and full, looking over the land with her shiny face and glowing presence. The night was peaceful and quiet and it was exactly what you needed at this time. Something calming to counter the craziness slipping into your sleep.

 The problem was reaching towards you, even at rest. You could ignore the intense eye contact building between you two. You could ignore the lingering touches during meals when you two would pass bowls of food. You could ignore the fact that you both enjoyed training and exercise because it was the only time you could give yourselves permission to touch one another. The way he says your name and how it makes you feel like you’ve entered warm waters, the waves convincing you to let go and drown. The way he laughs, the rare occasion you’d catch a smile. You could ignore it. You would until you had a plan. It didn't want to be ignored, and now it was in your dreams begging for attention and time. Time you weren't sure you had, and attention you weren't sure you wanted to give. 

“Can’t sleep, (y/n)?”

You jumped and heard him snicker behind you. You weren't expecting him to be up at this time, but of course he would. Perfect timing. He sank beside you and stared ahead at the moon and the stars. Silence grew before you took the opportunity to ask him another question. It seems with him, you were always full of them which was unlike you. Or maybe he just pulled out a more curious side to you.

“Do you dream?”

His face didn't change, but his body did. He shifted slightly, reaching his arm back to relax behind him before answering 

“I don’t like to.” He said plainly.

“What do you dream of?” 

He turned to you and with a sad look in his eyes, repeated the question.

“What do you dream of?” he responded in a way that gave you a better answer than you had needed.You understood what he meant in that question. That the same monsters that haunt your dreams, most likely  visit him as well.  Ever since the conversation had in the field, a deeper understanding found its way between you two. This wall that divided you two had come down and now the only thing stopping you from reaching closer was your fearful minds. You weren't going to cross that border. You had never had to before, and you were unaware of what lay on the other side. 

Two sides of the same coin. Kindred spirits in a way. 

“What do you do with your bad dreams?” 

“I do what you're doing right now. Sit outside and think. Sometimes I’ll train so hard my body exhausts itself.” He glanced over for your response, and sat up when he saw the distant saddened look cross your face. 

              Your mind was drifting to thoughts to a place of solemn loneliness as you realized how isolated you were in this world. As reluctant as he was to accept Ringo's presence, even Mizu had someone to accompany him on this journey of life. There was no father to calm you after a nightmare, there was no apprentice to make you warm meals, there wasn't even a home to go back to. Fear followed afterward. This world was not kind to women, and it was even more cruel to women who were alone.

Who cared for nightmares and terrors when every day for the rest of your life could be worse. You could walk down the road and be attacked by a group of drunken bored men. You’d have to find ways now to afford to even eat. The stories and horrors your father shared with you about the realities women faced seemed to be closer than you had realized. Their claws reached around the corner, they pulled at the helm of your cloth, they called your name in the dark. He was right. He would always be right. His voice echoed with them. 

Slender hands reached around your waist, pulling you close to him before the other lowered your head onto his shoulder. It was an awkward effort to provide comfort, but only because you had not expected it. He held you there for a few short moments, his skin on yours bringing you back to the present. 

“I don’t need your pity.” You mumbled against his collarbone

“This isn’t that.” His voice vibrated in his chest, cool and calm. 

You pulled away gently to look into his eyes.

“Then what is this?” A soft whisper left your throat, frightened and confused.

You watched each other, looking for an answer somewhere beyond your eyes before you both came rushing into each other. 

He leaned into your face and you met him halfway. It was gentle at first, both of you were surprised by the other's reaction, but after a few seconds you both fell into each other with passion. He held your head in between his palms, tilting your head slightly while he robbed the air from your lungs. You clung to his clothes from his waist, giving into his touch, leaning into his hunger. A warmth you had never experienced began to grow inside you, an ignited fire remembering to flame. It was just like the night you tousled onto the floor, except this time the inferno was being fed. Unsure what to do, your hands followed whatever they desired naturally. They trailed from his waist to his side, gripping and pulling him in closer and he obliged. You heard the palm of his hand hit the flood behind you as he lowered you onto it, still devouring your lips with the passion and greed of a man who’s never known a meal. Slowly, your hands began to reach for his chest. You needed to feel his heart move. You needed to feel his skin on yours. You needed to burn with him. 

“Mmm-Don’t.” In just moments, he pulled away leaving a trail of saliva between your gaping maw’s. He quickly swiped at his mouth before pulling his robe, covering himself and combing his hair back with his fingers. He looked panicked, and guarded now; throwing you off guard from the few minutes of openness and tenderness shared between you two. You both sat back to catch your breath, you watching him and him looking off to the ground. Tilting your head, you tried to look into his eyes. What changed in a matter of seconds? Did you do something wrong? Was he now feeling the problem you had been feeling for some time? 

“Was..” you took a few breaths “Did something h-”

“We should rest. The moon will set soon.” and with that he picked himself up and left. The cold current of his behavior sent chills through your skin as you sat there under the moonlight alone. 

~

Three days had passed since the encounter on the deck and you had taken that time to spend with Ringo again. The routine of cooking and cleaning beside him brought a stability that was needed at this time. Your heart still raced when you sat by the samurai during your meals, and you could feel his eyes on you when you didn't join him for training. It itched at you to see what emotion stirred in them. Was it anger for using your womanly emotions to lure him into comforting you? Was there confusion for why you weren't joining him? Or could it be sadness, a furrow in his brow, a tightness to his lips..

This couldn't be how you two would be before he eventually would leave. What did he mean by it wasnt pity? What was it then? To pull someone in and hold her close to you, to meet lips and beg for more but not with words, with your body. And What was it to pull away so abruptly? What did any of this mean to you, you wondered. What did any of this mean to him?

That night you had decided to bathe in the hot spring not too far from the land. You preferred the bathing quarters, but you felt that you would run into Mizu. Not that you ever had. You don’t know when in the day he put aside for bathing, but he was always clean while here. You weren't ready to find out and have an awkward encounter in clothes that hid nothing but your naked bodies underneath. 

Down to the bank you went, the silence of the night taken over by the sound of rushing water. You could feel the humidity from the hotspring dampening your skin, and you quickened your pace. Excitement swelled inside of you as you reached the ledge, just for you to freeze. 

Mizu stood in the center of the pool, water from his hair dripping down his toned back and arms. From his stance you could tell he was at peace, enjoying the heat from the spring. 

You considered joining him. It had been three days since you two had spoken. It was time to put aside this childish behavior and feed to your bodies what they had been craving that night. What was the point of denying anything when it was felt so strongly between you two. If you stepped into this pool, joined him in his nakedness, it wasn't confirmed anything would happen; but if anything did happen you wouldn't do anything to stop it. Granted, you didn't have any experience for what was to happen between the two of you, but you had seen enough from your missions and watching. You had hoped he would be more gentle, or maybe you wouldn't mind. 

Taking a deep breath, you poked your toe into the pool and let the warm pull the rest of your foot into its warmth. You heard his arms drop as he turned around quickly. Shock spread across his blushed pink face before you looked up from your foot.

Soft breast. 

There was a long silence between you two before you removed your foot from the pool.

“(Y/N..)” you heard her say, but she didn't move towards you. 

Chapter 1.

“(Y/N)” 

It was like summoning the spirit of a shadow to your beck and call. Wisps of silence followed by your silent footsteps. Your presence now known, you made yourself available for whatever he requested of you. The light of the candle bouncing off the walls and onto your face, creating illusions of shapes and figures on the wall and onto you. 

Straightening your back, and correcting your posture you approached his side, standing far enough to leave a little distance for respect. He hovered over you greatly, his back turned to you. His presence was overwhelming to many, but not as overwhelming to you like it used to be. After years of being close to him, and standing by his side you’ve learned to enjoy the warm rays of the sun. To bask in its light and let it warm the cold corners of your mind with its reassurance and comfort. To take in its greatness. 

“Father, I’m here.” Your voice is quiet, stable. Not that he needed a confirmation that you were present. No one could tell if you were in the area or not, as you were skilled at what you do. You had built yourself a reputation for being as silent as an empty room. No one could detect your presence as quickly as your father could. He always knew when you were around, he could sense you. That’s how close your bond was. To others though you slipped between the shadows of a room, as quiet as  

“My little mouse, ” A nickname from years ago. Early childhood. The first nickname you’ve ever received actually. From anyone else you would have found it an insult as they were comparing you to a rodent that scavenged for trash outside on street corners, but coming from your Father it made the world feel at ease. Like it was a safe place to be. His voice was low and soothing, beckoning you to come closer, and you did. Finally stepping to his side, you were able to stand over and view what he was waiting for you to see. 

His attack plans and strategies were always thought out. Organized. Detailed. Precise. No piece or plot left missing, no turn or corner left unchecked. Displayed on the table before him, adjusted to his liking. With a mind as grand as his, and plans even bigger there was no room for mistakes. Honor and pride filled your heart whenever he shared any details with you of his goals, and even more when he sent you on missions to help him achieve them. 

There was a reason you were called his “Mouse”. Your father was the sun, and every light casts a shadow. You were that shadow. Your father, as grand as he is, couldn't be everywhere at the same time, but with you it’s almost like he could be. Unlike everyone else, he stands out quite a bit. Not a lot of people living here in Japan have seen a man of his color. A white man from a foreign land, here to do foreign things. Most people gawk and stare at him if they get the chance to see him, as he looks far from your ordinary japanese citizen. His hair seems to be in competition with the sun as it is as golden as the great star in the sky, and his eyes are the lightest shade of blue, like the sky it inhabits. He towers over most of the people here with his height, and his build is different, more broad. Though he is different from everyone around him, he finds no shame in it. You watch him from corners as he strolls into rooms with a silent confidence that demands attention. He is the sun, resting gently on the horizons of Japan.

You are not the moon, you’re not even the stars. You don’t mind it now as it makes performing tasks for him a lot easier. Wherever your father tells you, you go. Slipping into the shadows to find whoever and wherever. For years, your father has trained you to be his eyes and ears for where his grande presence would become too much of a distraction. You're his sight into the rooms he can't explore, echoing back the words and plots being whispered behind closed doors. Sometimes, you're his final say. Slipping poison into the cups of those who drink to betrayal, or cold sharp iron to the necks of those who have removed the collar of obedience to your father. Everything you’ve been taught, from spying to assassination, has been taught by this man. Everything you do is for this man.  

Your mind begins to slip, stepping into the doorway of the past. Memories dance behind your eyes, reminding you why your gratefulness will never find an end. You never find peace in this specific room of memories. There is no tenderness or love in the beginning as it opens up to you, dragged  by your thin, fragile elbow and thrown onto the floor like a rag doll.

“Take her.” The voice of your mother that night still rings in your mind like it did fourteen years ago. Cold, and desperate. You’ve heard farmers speak over their cattle with more kindness. 

You dared to turn your gaze from the floor to meet her eyes. You could smell the fear that lay under her skin, how it furrowed her eyebrows, how it oozed out her temples and dripped down her face. She finally made eye contact with you, and for a quick second you thought you had seen a look of regret before disgust crossed it. 

“She’ll do him good. She’s young, learns quickly.” she spoke over you like a desperate merchant trying to make his last sale. 

“A girl holds as much value as a rat,” the man spoke, his voice booming through you and your mother. 

“What he wants is the information you owe him. He’s given you enough chances to do what you do to make it. Now, where is it?” 

At this point he gets into your mothers face, his height towering over hers tremendously. She stutters over her words, still trying to sell you off, and they begin to argue. The sound of two adults voices rising, sending fear running up your spine. Men arguing with your mother wasn't new to you, but it didn't mean you enjoyed the sound. Lucky for you, you’ve always been a quiet girl, attention never seemed to follow you and it didn't here as you slipped out the room into the night. You crawled to the front of the little hut you and your siblings called home. There was little to no room for any of you, and even less food to spare amongst all of you, but you found ways to sneak scraps from your older siblings whenever you could. 

You noticed a shadow overcast you and realized you were kneeling in front of a carriage. You had never seen one this grand before. It looked foreign, and new. The horses that carried it were sleek and as black as the night. The windows were too dark to look into, but you felt someone was looking at you from inside. 

The sound of a woman screeching, and the smell of smoke washed over your curiosity as you quickly turned your head to catch what you had been missing behind you. Your little corner of the world that you had called home was now a blaze, and you could hear your mothers voice from the inside. You couldn't tell if she was pleading or just screaming, but it shook something inside of you that you had never experienced before. The man who was arguing with her finally stepped out, using the fire that reached behind him to light his kiseru pipe, adding the scent of tobacco to the night sky. Smoke left his nostrils like a dragon as he exhaled, lifting his head towards the moon, a look of relaxation crossing his face. You could hear conjoined screams and realized it wasn't just your mother being burned alive, but the rest of your siblings. Your family and you didn't have the sound relationship a mother and daughter or sister and siblings should have, but they were all you knew. All you had. You choked back tears, the sound catching the attention of the smoking man burning your past away. 

“Ah,” he spoke, taking in another puff. “There you are. I didn’t see when you slipped out. Little rat-” he began to approach you, his footsteps shaking the ground around you as you sat there frozen to it. You could run into the woods, but how soon until he caught you. If he doesn't, surely the fire will spread and catch up with you soon. If you make it, then what? Who would take you in? Your mother wasn't very popular amongst the women of the town, so no one owed her any favors. Men around here rarely paid attention to the children wandering the streets, but when they did it was never good. Your options were limited and you didn't believe in the kindness of strangers.

Before he could lay a hand on you, towering over you already, another voice spoke behind you. You didn't know when he arrived, or why you didn't hear him, but you could hear the authority in his voice. Calm, powerful.

“Leave her.” The new presence spoke. Slowly, you turned your head to catch his shoes. Those too were foreign. They had traces of gold, you had never seen gold this close before, and a material that you could tell was also expensive. You trailed your eyes up his attire, finally meeting his eyes just to see that he was already meeting yours. His head blocked the light of the moon like an eclipse, and his eyes scared you at first. You had never seen eyes that shade of blue before ever in your life. You had never seen someone who looked like him ever in your life. 

“Can’t you see you're scaring her?” he began to kneel, the clean cloth of his pants touching the dirt you sat on. 

“My apologies, Sir.  The damn thing was so quiet I didn't notice she left. I can get rid of her quickly and so we can continue-”

“That won’t be necessary.” You were face to face with the strangest man you had ever seen, as he was now at your level. You were still processing his face. Eyes blue, and not a dark brown like your neighbors, hair golden even in the night light and not as black as the raven's wings. His face was long, angular and his eyes were round. Even his nose was shaped differently. But you didn't find him ugly. You could tell that where he was from he was well groomed, and would be considered handsome. 

The sounds of frantic screaming broke out again as the fire spread. You recognized one of your siblings, and immediately tore your eyes from his. Though life wasn't the best, you were reminded that all you knew was being burned to the ground. All the scents in the air were beginning to make you sick, and your heart was breaking, sharp shards falling into your stomach, adding to the queasy feeling you felt. You choked back another cry, but the tears were threatening to break through. Turning back to the man who kneeled, you noticed he never stopped looking at you. He wasn't looking at the fire, or the other man apologizing for his lack of duty. But at you. A small child he just met by chance on this red night. 

“Why do you cry?” he asks you finally, his eyes never breaking yours. It is then that you realize that the dam had broken, and the ocean behind your eyes had won. 

“Not everything lost is a loss,” he spoke to you with calmness in his tone. Words that fell from his mouth felt like the final say. If he said the night sky was now day as long as he spoke it, it would become true. 

And yet you still quivered. From fear of the unknown your future had instored for you, from the tears and sadness that left your body, from the coldness of the night. There was so much to shake for, and he was as steady as a rock, no mind the ocean waves washing against it. Nothing affected him. Nothing moved him. Not the fire, not even your tears. 

He pulled you in close, his large arms engulfing you and shading you from the heat of the flame. It was then you allowed yourself to cry. Truly and fully cry. The sobs broke through you, the sound of weakness threatening to echo through the night now muffled by his coat that your tiny hands clung onto. Soft words you've never heard before spoken from a man filled your ears and settled in your young mind. His voice, soothing and cool, offered a comfort you had yet to experience. They drowned out the flames behind you, and they tamed the racing thoughts in your mind. They were your final say. 

“I need you to be here.” his voice brought you back to the present. Your father, the man who saved your life, was now looking over to you. His face warm, and patient. His eyes never leaving yours. You straightened your back, corrected your posture. In the presence of greatness. The shadow of the sun.

Days were like seeds planted into the soil and left to nature to cater to as they grew into weeks, but they never tended to so they became months bearing no fruit. Your only priority was to rest as the weather outside began to melt snow off tree branches and roof tops ever so gently. As the icicles turned to puddles on the soil beneath the trees, you found yourself growing more and more accustomed to this new way of living like the flowers that would soon sprout from the ground when spring’s blushed yukata brushes the earth, making her presence known to all.

As of right now she was in hiding, showing hints of warmth on the surface of snow or in the sunlight that warmed the door entrances. In a way, she was like you. Refreshed and new as your body has healed almost completely from the harshness that came along with your winter beatings. It wasn’t yet her time to come out to the world and bring her colorful spirit and fruitfulness in every footstep; but for you you were not sure if you would ever come out of hiding. For you, the winter of your mind still trailed behind you threatening to take you deep that time again. His iced fingers you could hear snap and pop as he reached for you, his cold breath on your neck. You were sure if you stayed put for long enough he would catch you and it would be harder to break from his cold grasp. You moved to keep yourself from being swept away

It seemed that the blue eye’d man had the same idea or atleast a similar one as he was always up and moving. The routine was simple. By the time you had woken up, Ringo had a meal set out for you and his master who had already eaten his portion before leaving. You would eat and then decide if you were to take a walk or keep the apprentice company. Helping him with chores helped your poor muscles build strength again so you offered where you could until he had enough of you and rushed you away. For a man with no hands, he was very independent and prided himself in being so. You would leave him to himself then, and on the way out you would spot his master.

He was always training. Even when you both were badly injured, he was outside swinging his sword with whatever strength he had, or having his tense muscles massaged and stretched, or meditating. There was no resting muscle in his body. At first it concerned you as you had not been training and you had a detailed memory of how good he was before his injuries. How frustrating it was to go up against him. It had been a while since you two had fought like that, but you were sure that at this rate he would dominate you once again. 

It frustrated you walking by him during his training sessions, but overtime you found a small seed of admiration planted in you. Whether it was by you or his Ringo who sings his praises you weren't sure, but his determination and discipline was commendable. He was a man of little words, but his movements said everything. They spoke of time and effort, and sang a story of trial and error. Of lost and regained strength. He fought with purpose. The same way you do.

You recalled a few conversations Ringo had with you when you would help him in his daily routines. Still putting up a face of nonchalance, you’d respond with simple sentences whenever his master became the topic. 

“ You're healing just fine which I am glad for. Look at how you lift those trays. I know Master is glad you’ve regained your strength too-”

“So he can kill me properly?” You said semi-coldly, dropping the tray on the shelf with a small thud.

“He wouldnt..Not after all you both had been through.”

“You mean what he brought upon himself and now I?”

The apprentice let out a small sigh and shook his head, lifting a large bag of rice before you could get to it.

“Despite your past with him, he isn’t as cruel as you believe.” and as he headed towards the door he turned to you and with his eyes alone you could tell he was speaking the truth.

“He asked about you every day.” 

There were times during your healing when you were stuck in the room you thought you had heard his voice outside of your room. You were so deeply injured you had thought to yourself during those times that if now was a good time, let it be quick. If he was deciding whether to take your life or let you suffer just a little longer, you prayed he would make the decision to do what you couldnt and be rid of you. Isn’t that what demons do? Take souls and light them aflame, burn them out of existence? That would be better than the healing process. The pain was so bad at times, you couldn't even pay attention to the conversations behind had right outside the room.

Now when you walk by him on your way from Ringo’s duties, you watch him a little closer. Your lenses had changed but to what color you weren't sure. Spring was showing itself by leaving small hints of her presence here and there. Snow melting off the roof. Ice on branches turned to nourishing droplets for the soil. A seed you had never seen in this season had been planted within your soil. You just felt it day by day. Week by week. 

The man turned and locked eyes with you, feeling your presence from afar. His body was tired, but his soul still burned with energy. He would train until the sun touched the earth and then trail his sweaty body and soaked garments into the room to eat with his apprentice and captive. You would eat in silence, and he would eat fast enough to leave. That was routine. 

“Dinner will be ready soon.” 

You ripped your eyes away first. The seed would eventually die inside of you. There were no grounds soft enough inside to encourage its growth. No living sprout within you would survive these conditions. You’ve done more killing than nourishing. You were no garden, let alone a gardener. In this way, you were like winter. 

~

With a night as dark and clear as this one, the stars seemed to dress themselves in their most glistening attires and display their brightness on the dark stage of the sky. You planned to take a seat outside and enjoy the show. The air offered a brisk taste in the back of your throat, and a cooling sensation to your skin as you whisked away into thought. Remembering a more simple time. A young girl in her fathers lap as he pointed to the night sky, testing your memory. 

“And that one is?” your father waited

“Taurus. The bull.” a younger you responded excitedly, confidently. 

“And that one?”

You raked your brain for the answer before responding quickly. “ The lion.” 

“Good, good.” your fathers coo’s fed your soul and quickened your heart. His praise made you feel comforted and secure. 

“Father,” you began to ask. “Are there any mice in the sky?” 

“Are there any mice in the sky?” he repeats your question 

“Yes,” you start. “I see bulls, and heroes. I even see lions. Like you, Father.” He smiles at the mention of you referring to him as a the great royal beasts of the jungles he’s told you stories of.

“But where am I in the stars? Your little mouse.” 

He’s quiet and for a moment you thought he had forgotten your question, distracted by the beauty of the stars. 

“In order to be a star, you must shine. Only greatness dwell among the stars,” he states plainly before tilting his head to give you a look you had never seen before the warmness of his smile returned. He continues. 

“A mouse can bite, but never kill. It can hide, but never chase. The little mouse could only get the smallest star, but we can never see it due to the brilliance of the others. There is no room for the small in a sky so large.” 

Before you could find the words to speak, you feel his arm pull you in closer. 

“but I have made enough room for you, my little mouse, have I not?” 

The memory pierced the skin of your chest, into the ribs, and through your heart. It spun the surrounding veins, twisting and scaring everything around it, and making it hard to pull in air. A lump formed in your throat, and you felt the dam behind your eyes threaten to break. You bite your lip, hoping the sudden physical pain would take away from the one in your chest. The one stitches, nor Ringo’s soup would be able to reach. Be able to heal. 

Light footsteps approached you from behind and you were surprisingly grateful for them. After breaking the barrier of ice between you two, there was still cold air but it wasn't unbearable. It brought his apprentice much comfort to see you two interact even if it was small. On a night like this he could hopefully offer you a better distraction than the one you were attempting. 

“You didn’t finish your bowl.” he spoke to you in a low calm tone, not bothering to ask if he could sit with you. 

“You have my permission to finish it for me if that’s why you're here..” You responded, a hint of a  coldness to the  teasing tone hidden between your words. The time you’ve spent together has let you witness his eating habits. Quick, rushed, like a man in the middle of war. A man who’s never experienced the delicacies of food. The first time you watched him bring the bowl to his lips, he consumed the soup Ringo had made as if it was his last. You remembered how it shocked you at first, but in a strange way it began to entertain you. Unknowingly you found yourself waiting for him at the dinner table, not because you couldn't eat alone, but because it was fun to watch his reaction to whatever Ringo had made that evening. You found yourself thankful for whatever stars were in line to appoint Ringo and his master paths crossing so that you could see this brooding man gather food in his cheeks like a little boy.

You could see him out of your peripheral vision. One leg lifted for him to rest his arm, and the other extended. He was relaxed, even his attire wasn't tied as tightly, draped a little looser than usual. 

“Are your wounds affecting your appetite?” he asked, and you weren't sure but you thought you had heard a hint of shyness to his voice. Ringo was right. You appreciated the directness in an odd way. Like your dagger. Like his sword. 

“My appetite is just fine. I told Ringo I don’t eat as much. He still fills my bowl to the brim like my stomach has no end.” 

“Not finishing hurts his heart.”

“Finishing hurts my stomach.” 

He scoffed, and you smiled. You both seemed to enjoy the silence that followed afterwards. Not harsh, or unintentional, but a comfortable silence. The kind of silence you share with a soul familiar to your own; the kind of silence where words aren't needed. 

Off in the distance somewhere, you both can hear Ringo humming a tune. An old song about the merging of souls. You weren't aware that Ringo enjoyed the romantics, but getting to know him now it made sense. Ringo was a soft soul, one you could never imagine tarnished and blackened by the darkness the world could provide. You wondered how he could remain that way, given the stories of abuse he’s told you of his time at his fathers shop. The beatings, the cruel words, the even crueler customers and yet he seemed to move through the world light on his feet. 

“He’s in a good mood.” You spoke first

“He’s always in a good mood.” The man responded coldly, but you could tell there wasn't any genuine coldness behind his words. 

“Do you know the song he hums?”

He readjusted his body, shifting slightly. Here you turned and saw him lay his head back on the wooden post, closing his eyes. His hair wasn't in the tight bun it usually was in. It was relaxed. He had a more feminine touch here, but you weren't sure if it was the darkness of the night playing tricks on your eyes. His features seemed to soften, strands of hair delicately touching his more exposed neck. You began to squint, now focused below his jaw. Something was missing, but you weren't sure what just yet. If you could just look a little closer-

“It’s some love song played in a puppet performance.” He spoke with his eyes closed, his voice taking your focus away from what your mind was wandering to before. You could see the skin between his eyebrows scrunch and furrow as he spoke on the topic of love. 

“Something about the merging of separated souls who cross paths again just to be distanced. The story has no happy ending.”

“As is life.” You responded.

“As is life.” he let out an exhausted sigh. 

A few quiet moments pass before you speak again. 

“Do you believe souls can merge…?” You waited for his name now. It was daring and you weren't sure if he would comply until he spoke softly. He said it like he was a stranger to himself. He said it like he forgot he was a person. 

“Mizu” 

Very fitting. He had given you no family name to respectfully address him by, so you didn’t either.

“Y/N.” 

“Well, do you believe in souls merging”

“Like a river crossing paths with another, leading a stream into the ocean?” The few times you would catch him speaking, he spoke in poetry. Like a river. He had a way with words when he wasn’t in battle.

“Like two flames of lights shooting past one another. Coming together as one, landing in the river. ” You weren't heavily educated but you could speak in the words of an artist too.

“A conjoined meteor, cooled by the winds to be separated soon by greedy hands.”

“Do you believe in it?”

“Is there a reason to?” 

You thought about it for a second, thinking of all the depictions of love you’ve seen in your life up to this point. Though you’ve never gotten the chance to experience such a feeling, or the time to imagine yourself in it, you’ve seen how it’s made people act. What it’s made others do. 

“I’ve been told it gives one a reason to live, to breathe.” You said softly

“You give yourself a reason to live. Everything else is unnecessary. Additional.” 

You could see the conversation was beginning to make Mizu a bit argumentative, so you sighed and focused your attention back on the stars above you. You had been distracted from their twinkling performance by a man as quiet as a gentle stream and as unpredictable as the ocean. 

“I was married once.” He mentioned it briefly, as if treading around the topic in hopes it wouldn't bare its teeth, latching onto his arm, drawing blood like a starved dog threatening to take him down memory lane. This was news to you. Not that you found the man not fit to marry, but the man you’ve observed and slowly  grown to know through said observation didn't seem the type to marry. A man who prefers his solitude over the company of many.

“Did she die?” you asked directly. Might as well cut the corners. 

“Yes.” You were surprised by the quick response.

“From?” You weren't surprised by the silence that followed this time. 

Your mind naturally began to race. Mizu. The demonic tsunami  washing through Japan leaving a trail of blood with every footstep. This infamous blue eye’d samurai. He used to be married. Was he in love with her? Is that the reason why he was on this path? You’ve seen people do crazy things for the ones they love, is this one of them? A man turned insane with bloodlust from the touch of love now removed from his grasp? Was this the result of a soul touched just to later be lost? Was it his fault he lost her? Did he kill her? 

You sat alone in your mind,  unaware that now Mizu’s eyes were open and watching you chase your thoughts like wild horses. You finally spoke. 

“I never planned on marriage.” Honesty. You never thought about anything but your father. How to please him. How to aid him. How to be of assistance. You were either on a mission, basking in his greatness, or resting in his shadow. There was no room for another man in your life. He had been sure to take up all of it. 

“Why not?” He finally responded.

“It was never really fitting to me.” You thought about the quiet life of becoming a wife. Marrying a man and submitting to someone, anyone other than your father. In an earlier time, the idea would have brought you to sickness. Giving up the freedom and protection your father has gifted you by being associated to him to settle for someone who probably could never live up to him irked you. Now, without your fathers light, you must use your imagination. The idea doesn't sound as appealing still, but now you don’t have any excuse as to why you couldn't see yourself marrying a man. Your father explained that those were the options for women. Become a wife, or become a prostitute. Throwing their bodies at any man whose pants rang with the promise of currency for their provided services. That didn't sound ideal to you either. These were all the choices women had, and like your father had now reminded you, you are no longer his daughter. You’re just a woman. Worse, a stupid girl.  These were the choices that laid beyond you for your future now. 

“I am no man’s wife.” you spoke with an unwarranted anger in your tone, a scowl forming on your face. Nothing Mizu had said made you upset, it was your own thoughts on the circumstances you find yourself in. 

“You're no man’s wife?” Mizu repeated.

“Mhm.” 

You soon heard Mizu snicker, and then begin to laugh. A look of surprise washed away your scowl as you quickly turned your head to the man. He found this humorous for some odd reason, and you found it odd that he was laughing. It was odd to hear. It was nice.

“Please direct me to the joke. Because I don’t remember saying one..” You huffed, attempting to appear upset and looking back up at the stars. 

“You just sound like someone I know.” and he continued to laugh. 

Though his laugh was an odd pleasure to hear, you couldn't help yourself. You weren't really angry, but you didn't particularly enjoy being the butt of a private inside joke. Picking up your water, you dipped your finger into the cup, letting the now cool liquid accumulate on the tips before flicking some into Mizu’s face. His blue eyes widening now from the shock of the unexpected liquid touching him. Now it was your turn to laugh as his expression quickly turned to an angry pout. Like a little child. You flicked another, and another, and soon he had had enough. 

“Alright.” you heard him grunt, moving positions to crawl towards you.

“Oh no, is it not my turn to laugh?” 

Dashing back, you got yourself up quickly still spritzing water into his face occasionally. He got up with you, quickly following your footsteps as you entered the room to escape him. His arms raised as he tried to defend himself from the cold water droplets being flicked at him off your fingers. Eventually he would lunge, you knew it to be true. He would try and take this cup from you. You quickly had to shift your mind from offense to defense as the game would be over if that happened. Your goal became to keep the cup in your hand, while still shooting at his face. You could see the challenge acceptance twinkle in his eyes as he saw the challenge request light up in yours. Your movements were like the water you hold. Fluid, moving, but so was his. You became dance partners, dodging and weaving between one another's movements. He’d reach for the cup, you’d switch it to another hand. He’d reach for your hand, you’d sway your body away from him. It was like this for a minute before he switched motives. You saw it in his eyes, but before you had the chance to counter he had already tackled you. Water spilled and so did laughter as both you and the cup fell to the floor. Now you two wrestled. He had been training this whole time, but that didn’t mean you would give him an easy win. You shifted and adjusted, kicking at his lower limbs to catch him off balance so you could shift his weight off of you. It worked and soon you were on top, pinning the man down by the wrist. Looking down, you met Mizu’s gaze. Lighthearted excitement flowed between your eyes and his like a river. 

As the heavy breaths and panting began to slow, and you found yourself  drifting away in thought. How did this happen? Only a few months ago this man was your target. You watched his every move, unaware that he was watching yours. A month or two later, you were being held captive. You despised him and everything he was, everything you knew about him. Now you have his body pinned to the floor between your legs, his heavy breath intermingling with yours, his blues never breaking eye contact with your (E/C). In an earlier time, this would've been the perfect time to strike, but once again you find yourself hesitating. Watching him watch you. 

“I planned on killing you” You spoke in a breathy tone. 

“I did too.”

“Do you plan to kill me now?”

“Do you?”

It seemed you both were looking for the answers in eachothers eyes. For some hint of the truth of intentions. Far off in the distance, you could hear Ringo humming the same tune he was before. He was getting closer from the sounds of it. You turning your head to look behind you lessened the grip on Mizu’s wrist, giving him enough time to break free. His hand on your waist, his hips bucking upward to lift you off the floor, his leg overpowering yours. He had you pinned in seconds. You were forced to look up at him now, a small smirk of approval painted on his lips. He was satisfied that he had won, that he was on top. You could see it behind all the dark strands that draped his face. His features now looked more appealing than they ever had before. Your eyes drifted from his, to his lips, to his neck, unwillingly. You could feel a rush of heat rise under your skin like a furnace that had just been started. You knew what it meant when you began to grow hot. It was usually anger, the only heat you were used to. This was different. You didn’t know what this feeling was. 

You didn't follow Mizu’s hand as it reached over your head, lowering his face closer to yours. You were too distracted by what was on top of you to notice what was being done above you. Ringo’s humming still carried on with the tune of the wind, your body temperature began to rise, your breath increasing, your eyes losing focus. In an odd way, you felt thankful to be on the floor as the room began  to spin in your mind. 

A cold sensation splashed on your face, causing you to blink several times. It took you a minute to realize, but he had pinned you right under the spilled water cup. He had collected whatever was left in the cup and spritzed it on your face.

“You looked like you could use refreshments.” his witty smirk grew on his face again before he chuckled. Whatever face you had made was clearly funny to him. 

“Master-” Ringo’s voice called from a closer location now.

“Yeah, yeah I’m coming.” and with that, Mizu pushed himself off of you, but not before spritzing a few more droplets on your face. You spat and shook, wiping your face desperately with your sleeve. 

Before leaving the room, he turned to you watching you use your elbows to raise yourself up. You made eye contact with him, and attempted to put on the best playful scowl you could. He shut the door gently, but the smile he had given you was even more gentle.

Cold night air greeted you, slipping its fingers through the cloth of your attire to leave hidden kisses on your skin. You had no real plan for how this would go, you had no idea on what you would say, you had just decided enough was enough and it was time to face your confusions head on. 

From a distance, you could hear the water movement of the hot spring ahead. You knew she would be occupying its waters at this time of night. Just like when you caught her the first time. Her..The thought of her made you hold onto your robe a bit tighter. The signs were all there now that your mind was cleared by focused determination and you could think about it, but you weren't thinking about it. You stopped thinking about what she could have been hiding from you as you grew closer. Now that her secret was revealed to you, it has removed the rug, revealing more about you  than you were ready for but that didn't matter. It was time to address these thoughts.

Your feet stopped at the edge of the spring, where the earth and water met. You stared down at it, your reflection stared back at you. Crossing this line would mean entering the waters with Mizu. It would mean facing Mizu’s truth and facing yours. That despite discovering Mizu was a woman, the feelings that nested within your heart never died. They still settle, baby birds in the spring waiting to be fed. 

You looked up to catch Mizu watching you. A painter's canvas, different emotions were displayed on her face like colors. Shades of sadness, and regret. Of fear, of confusion. Of yearning. She missed your presence as much as you missed hers but you needed the distance. Even if it hurt. Feelings like this for a woman as a woman were unheard of. You’ve never met anyone who felt this way. You’ve never seen it. This wasn't like learning to throw knives, or learning to quiet your steps so that you truly become shadow like. There were only two options for this. Slip it away into the shadows to never be seen again, or let it stand in the light. Hide it, or be bold. You let your robe drop to the ground, puddling around your feet. Boldness became you.

Mizu backed away slightly as you entered the spring, fear and confusion becoming the main colors on her face. Holding your breath, you walked towards her. The spring water felt nice on your skin in contrast with the wind and the steam felt even better. You would not break eye contact. You could not break eye contact. You had to show her you weren't scared. You were willing to accept her nakedness now, her vulnerability, her secret. To reveal yours. To stand with her in her waters. 

When you finally reached her, you realized you had stopped breathing. You were more anxious than you realized, but that was okay. You were being bold. Bravery walks with fear behind him, but never lets him lead. You stared into her blues, straightening your posture even though she towered over you. You would show her you were no longer frightened and indecisive. You had made your choice, and it was her. Silence passed between you two before she spoke finally, her voice low but not as confident as it usually was.

“I’ll leave-” she began, making her move around you.

“Don’t.” you cut her off with a whisper, freezing her in her spot. The silence continued.

You were truly lost here. You didn't have a plan which was unlike you, didnt think about what to say, and every miniature speech you had forming in your mind didn't seem  fit. You were sure that  there were no words ever spoken in the history of this world about a scenario such as this one. You must have been the first. That thought brought you discomfort. You felt so alone in the world with these feelings. So small which wasn't new to you but this wasn't like the good feeling of being small in a safe space. You felt small in a large room with nowhere to hide. You began to regret this idea.

“Im sorry-” “Forgive me-” Mizu and you spoke at the same time. The sudden interruption of eachothers voices caused you both to pause, heat rising in your faces. 

“You have nothing to be sorry for-” She started

“I fled from you like a coward..” The memory of you turning and running back home stuck in your mind again. Mizu’s face, leaving her there alone. The guilt settled in, making it hard for you to hold eye contact now. You folded your arms over your chest, your shoulders rising to your neck. The warmness of the spring now felt cold.

“I hid from you like a coward.” 

Slowly you shifted your gaze from the blues of the spring, to the blues of her eyes. She was still looking at you, the colors of guilt painted on her face as well. You slowly unfolded your arms, bare chest facing hers. It was understood at this moment that you weren't alone in this. Mizu had been feeling these emotions as well. You weren't sure how new to this she was, but you grew comfortable in knowing that you stood in this understanding together, the same way you stand bare in this spring. You were here, and so was she. Frightened by the vulnerability, but together in the pool of it.  

Reaching out your hands, you gathered hers in your palms. Her slender hands calloused from constant trainings and fighting with her sword were larger than yours.  Her fingers extended in length to interlink with yours. She began to close the distance, spring water creating ripples around your bodies. It was her turn to be brave, and you were accepting it. 

“I won't hide from you.” She said in a whisper, her warm breath tickling the skin on your cheek.

“And I wont run from you.” Your voice was shaky, being this close to her was affecting you more than you thought. Nothing separated you from touching. No anger or hatred, no clothing or weapons, not even the water. Chest to chest, hand in hand. It sent rushes of excitement through your veins. Your eyes shifted from left to right, then slowly lifted to meet hers again. She was already looking into yours. A plentiful of thoughts ran through your mind. Mizu’s hair lay laxed, reaching to the middle of her back with the  little black coil that was as stubborn as she was, refusing to slick back like the rest of her hair but you thought it charming. Her skin was decorated with battle scars and stitches from previous life threatening fights, you found yourself admiring her strength. To be thrown into battle and come out alive each time; greatness must lie within her for her to survive this many times . The muscles under her skin, the way her hair stuck to her the side of her face, framing her features beautifully, the way her eyes reflected the spring like a river meeting another. Your thoughts had no voice but they echoed in your mind, no legs but they ran wild. And yet none of them were as loud as your heart in this moment. You could only think of one solution to silence them, one that you’ve seen others do but never had to chance to replicate yourself, but as usual Mizu was one step ahead of you.

The kiss was soft. Mizu had lowered herself to reach you, her lips brushing yours, testing your waters before diving. You held on to eachother still while you locked lips. The feeling was electrifying and you could feel its lightning running through your veins, straight through your fingertips. She pulled back gently to look into your eyes. You weren't sure what she read, but you read a different emotion in hers. She went back in, but this time with a little more hunger. She was breathless and you were air. Her fingers unlocked themselves from yours and quickly adjusted to holding the sides of your face, pulling you in closer. You held onto her elbows gently, and leaned forward. There was a small rock under your foot you were using to elevate yourself, but standing on the tip of your toes created an unsteadiness and you slipped, falling into her. She caught you, and pulled you in even closer. Skin to skin, heart to heart. Her arms wrapped around your backside, your navals connecting. Throwing your arms up you wrapped them around her neck to pull her into you as well, and the kiss grew into a hunger. A craving. A consumption of soul through breath, You found yourself desperate for her all over again,  in need to be consumed by her, to give her all of you and more. Anything that would satisfy her hunger for you, and there was a hunger. The kisses were repetitive, Her head angled from one side to the next, as if she was unsure which side she enjoyed the most.

She lapped up the moans and whimpers you left in her mouth like sweet milk. They were involuntary, you weren't even sure you could make noises like this for another person until this moment. So weak, and dizzying, your breath quickening between each kiss as she robbed it from you. It was like you had no control over your body either. Between your legs began to throb and ache, causing you to grind your hips. Back and forth, the movement of the water sliding between your thighs helped but it wasnt enough. You were beginning to grow mindless, and your body had agreed to do the thinking for you. The only issue was your lack of experience. You craved, you seeked, you longed for..something.  Kissing each other was forming a typhoon in your lower regions, threatening to cross the shoreline and destroy, conquering everything in its path. You just needed something, anything, that could get you to the point your body was seeking. 

Mizu stepped back, her self control only a tad bit stronger than yours as you tried to pull her back in again. She chuckled, breathless, and lowered her head to gaze into your eyes. You began to catch your breath, thankful for this chance to slow your heart as you felt you were soon to explode with an unimaginable level of lust. The woman raised her slender hand, leaving a spot for cold air to hit where her arms were now absent, and gently stroked her thumb over your cheek. A few strokes and she found herself brushing your lips. Looking into her eyes, you plumped your lips and laid a soft kiss on the padding of her thumb. Slow, beckoning. A trap. You heard a soft sound of pleasure slip out from her vocal cords, as she leaned back down to meet your lips. Pulling away this time was a little harder, as you were focused on holding her as close to you as possible. You didn't want to stop, your body craved her and you could tell hers hungered for you too. The goosebumps on her arm, her chest rising and falling fast, the nipples on her soft breast as erect as yours. You wondered if she felt the same typhoon threatening to overcome her between her legs. You wondered if there would be a time where you could explore eachothers bodies. Finding the samurai's weak spots in her armor. Fighting a battle where for once there is no loss, and everyone wins. Making the other fall to ones knees, overcome by the ocean tides within, letting the waves consume your bodies. 

“Ringo,” she started but didn't finish the sentence, still out of breath.

“No..” You whimpered in protest. This couldn't be it. Not now. She had walked you to the cliff, it felt, and all you had to do was jump together.

“Yes.” she chuckled again. “He will start looking. I’m not usually out here for this long.”

“Make it a habit.” you teased in a hushed tone. The thought of more sessions like this night with Mizu excited you again; your hips twitched unintentionally. Mizu noticed, attentive as always, and lowered her hands to your sides to grip them. If it weren't for her holding you up, you were sure your legs would give way. 

Your back hit the ground for the fourth time that session before your body decided it was done for the day. Air spilling out of your lungs was humiliating enough, but to hear the snicker from your opponent not too far away was degrading. Everytime you’d turn over you could see him covering his mouth, or looking off into the distance to pretend he wasn't enjoying the scene behind him. You retracted your comment from weeks prior as you realized shortly into your training sessions, he was a lot stronger than he looked. Even after the battle of the near death experience escaping your father’s home was. Scars, bruises, and cuts, inner bleeding and outer, he was more disciplined than you had ever seen a single man who wasn't in some form of military or guard work. 

Mizu’s training was based in control and release. He knew his body well enough, and slowly began to know yours. Training with Mizu brought you to the observation that you both were observant. You both studied your opponent in combat,  so it made it difficult for you to be on your feet with someone who found pleasure in discovering strategic ways to get you off of them. 

He didn't win every time, but he won enough times for you to call it a day. Every now and then you would land a very good hit that would knock the wind from his chest, giving you enough time to come up with your next move. 

“You don’t have to pretend you don’t find this amusing..” You muttered, using your elbows to turn painfully onto your side.

“No, no I don’t.” Sarcasm dripped from his words, fueling your frustration. You attempted to sit up and slipped on wet grass , causing a chuckle to ripple through his body. It was small and short, but his laughter was oddly soothing. His footsteps moved the earth as he made his way to you before settling beside you to rest. Of course, not close enough for you to mount him for another attack. Not like you had the energy for it at the moment.

You both caught your breath in silence, watching the clouds drift lazily across the sky. The seasons were changing in a beautiful manner. You could feel spring growing stronger, taking from winter’s strength and brightening the world around you. It made you think of time. How long have you been out here really? A few weeks, a few months? And how long would you continue to stay out here? It’s not like you had a place to stay, or a purpose if you really thought about it. For the first time in years, you were without direction. What were you doing out here with…

You glanced over at the samurai who was also watching the sky before he felt your eyes on him. They met with yours and you both stopped breathing at that moment. Searching. Observing.

…no longer the enemy. A stranger. 

“We can keep going tomorrow. Give your limbs a bre-”

“Why do you want to kill my father?” 

The question rushed out of you with little to no hesitation or sense of direction. You were not sure how he would take this question, but his response would help you further understand who he is. You could watch him all of your life, and still not know too well the depth of his soul. You could tell he was self trained, but he was an incredible fighter. He trained himself to kill. There must be a reason for one to train themselves to take lives, and train themselves to this level of efficiency. You were raised a fighter, but you grew up a hider. That you could do well and when it came to fighting it was for someone else's purpose. You did it well enough, but your purpose was to be your fathers eyes in the shadow and at times his final word. Mizu built who he was all on his own, with little to no help. To the point where stories of his battles crossed Japan and were discussed in the hidden rooms of the wealthy. No one becomes this powerful for no reason. You knew that. 

Mizu held eyes with you for a little longer before sighing and lowering his lids. 

“How is he your father? You don’t even resemble each other.” He responded in a cold manner. You could tell that bringing up the topic of the man who almost killed you both returned distant thoughts of revenge to the front of his mind.

“He..he saved me from the life I was living. He gave me a home and a purpose. He freed me from my past.”

“Making you into his trained spy and endangering your life in the name of him was what you called freedom?.”

“So that’s why you want him dead? Because he adopted poor beaten girls and took care of them? Is that what your great moral reasoning is, Samurai?” You didn't mean to sound as snarky, your response just slipped out that way. Deep down there were still a few memories of your father that you cherished and held close, and it came naturally for you to defend him. Deep down, you knew he had cast you to the side long before his hand reached you. There were no traces of you in the heart that beat in his chest. 

You both faced the sky again, the silence growing thick between you two. Regret was starting to form in your mind before he cut through the tension. 

“You were poor and beaten.” The way he phrased it was more of a statement, but it sounded like a question. He was trying to peek into your life as well, pulling back the curtains to discover your reasonings. Why you chose to run off with a foreign man and leave your family behind. Why you chose this path that eventually led you to each other.

“We were dirt poor. It was just my mother and my siblings. My mother wasn't welcomed in a lot of pleasure houses, and was despised by most women for her tendencies to prey on their husbands..” You shifted a bit. It had been a long time since you talked about her, but as you spoke you could see her face reappear in your foggy memory. You could hear her voice. You could almost feel her strikes. 

“She would sell herself to make ends meet, but it wasn't enough with all the children she had. Her lack and frustration grew into cruelty and her cruelty was taken out on whoever was the weakest and whoever was around. All of my siblings had each other. They would band together to go and scavenge for their own food or side jobs. I was the youngest of all of us. I had my mother and her cruelty, and in that I had no one.” you turned to Mizu now

“The night I met him, my mother was pleading for her life. She owed a debt she couldn't pay off, and offered me on the platter with no hesitation. Threw me to their feet the moment she had the chance to. While they were distracted, I fled and hid. I watched as my fathers men threw her back into our home and set it ablaze with all of my siblings sleeping inside. I could hear their screams as they all died together.  No one escaped my past but me.”

“His men could have killed me, but he stopped them and took me in that night. He carried me to his home. He fed and clothed me, taught me things I never thought I would get the chance to know. I’d like to believe he saw something in me worth keeping. It was one of my greatest reasons to stay alive. If someone so great could see something in someone so small..I must be of value.”

“Without him, I could have been dea-no..would have been dead. In a matter of time.My mother was gone, my siblings if they had made it would never have taken me, a burden, under their wing, my true father could have been anyone but he wasn't anyone looking for me and right in front of me, my only choice was choosing me first. Could you..could you blame me?”

The question sank in the air with heaviness. You had not expected to go into detail, but Mizu listened so patiently you sank into the comfort of his attentive silence. His eyes never wavered from yours, even though yours looked off into the distance following a past you’d never return to. There are bruises you thought would have healed by now, reminding you that they are still aching and that just because you choose not to poke them, it does not mean their presence is erased. Time does not heal, it just helps you forget. 

He sat up with a sigh before placing his elbows on his bending knees to look off into the same direction you were. 

“You give him too much credit..” he mumbled, but not in a snarkish way.  It was genuine. The way the conversation was going along, it didn't feel like he was going to dismiss you, or say anything rude like you had prepared for. Instead he took in what you said before turning to you. 

“I didn't know my father either. That’s why I'm looking for him.” 

You gave it a few moments, taking in his statement, before the realization settled into you sending cold chills down your arms. You sat up and took a second to really take in Mizu’s appearance. It is very obvious that Mizu doesn't look like your ordinary Japanese man, you realized that from the moment you spotted him in the town. His features were more slender and long, more distant and foreign.  His hair, as black as it was, gave hints and signs of a mixture of waviness in its texture. His eyes were the most obvious. Roundly shaped with an odd and bright blue instead of a deep black. 

Mizu was not fully Japanese. 

Putting the pieces together, you began to map out a story in your mind of Mizu’s upbringing. The cruelty of family and those around him that don't take kindly to those who are unlike themselves. How cruel the world can be when you are different. When you glanced in his direction again, he was waiting for you with an answer to your questions already.

“At the time of my conception, there were four white men in Japan. One of them forced themselves onto my mother. I’m not one to ask too many questions, and I don’t care which one of them did it. I want all of them dead.” he then pulled back his sleeve to reveal an inked scar on his forearm. It was two lines crossed over creating four empty spaces. One of the spaces had a small point in the center and he pointed to it with his fingers. 

“One of them has to be my father. One of them is responsible for the life I lived. For the beatings, the cruelty. For the killing of my mother. Being hunted and treated worse than a street dog. I didn't ask to be this way, to be this monster, but it became my problem the moment I was born.” He lowered his sleeve aggressively, turning his attention to fixing his clothes. You could tell his thoughts now were dark, a storm brewing over the deep oceans of his mind. 

“I have made it my life's mission to make it theirs. Could you blame me?”

It was then you understood Mizu in a way months of observing him never would have revealed to you. His discipline, his movements, his silence, his devotion. This wasn't just a quest for him. He trained for years, taught himself to take life and then took lives.  He made this his only reason to live. To get up. To keep searching. Because a foreign man forced himself upon a woman who birthed him into this world to be treated like a creature of the night, he has made it his life’s goal to hunt him like one. With the same eagerness and hunger for blood and satisfaction.  A life for a life. Whoever it was.

Looking into his eyes, the reality of the situation settled deeper within you. His eyes, your fathers eyes, both shades of blue. If you let your mind wander enough, you could almost see the resemblance but you weren't sure if it was just an illusion created by Mizu’s words. You didn't know all of your fathers moves, especially before your paths crossed but it was in this moment a great realization struck you.

In moments of frustration, to be still was the best decision to make until an opportunity revealed itself. Be still, be quiet, and be observant. An opportunity will arise, a solution to your problem. It always does if you are patient enough. You usually were in moments of frustration, but here it was different. The problem couldnt be identified as you had never come face to face with an enemy such as itself. It was deep under your skin, hidden in your chest cavity. It was behind your eyes before you dragged them away. In the tone of your voice, and sometimes a hint in the tone of the samurai’s. There was a problem, but you couldn't find it, and it didn't seem the blue eyed man was looking for a solution if he had even identified there was something wrong in the first place.

No, he was too focused on training. Always training. Every morning you woke to the sounds of his huffs and grunts. If you woke up late enough, you would hear his sword cutting through air or clashing with whatever log of wood that he chose to become his defenseless opponent. He was always moving, pushing, fighting through everything even in pain. It was Mizu’s way of staying fit. Mizu..

.It had only been a few days since you had learned his name finally after months of taking up eachothers space. Unwillingly. You still couldn't believe that you had trailed him for weeks on weeks and never heard a slip of his name anywhere. No written form, no introductions, not even the conversations with his apprentice. You trailed this nameless stranger for weeks just to find he is as fitting as the title given to him to introduce himself. His mother held him in her arms and named him after one of the greatest forms of nature known to man. Evershifting, evermoving, a force so unstoppable that man builds contraptions to contain it behind great dams and walls, but it never stops. Water is never still, even if it looks like it.. He never stops.  Or perhaps she just looked into his eyes as a newborn and went for the easiest thing she could think of. Either way, how fitting. 

You still couldn't find yourself using it. It would brush the skin behind your lips before you would give up, swallowing him whole and spitting out a “Hey you!” to catch his attention for when his apprentice called for meals. You couldn't bring yourself to it. Not without being brought back to that night he let you hear it for the first time. The sound of your footsteps on the floor as you chased each other, the look of excitement in his eyes, the feel for a challenge, his body close to yours. That was the furthest you’d let yourself travel back to before clearing your mind. It’s not like you two had not fought before. You've fought enough times to know he played unfairly, but so do you. But to play with the enemy, what would your father say..

“Hey you.” His voice called from behind you, cutting through your forming deep sea thoughts like a bursted dam. You tilted your head slightly to catch his eyes as he approached where you were standing. He must have seen you standing there for a little too long with the straw bag. You hadn't noticed until now that he doesn't use your name either. Maybe he was aware of this brewing problem as well. You waited for his shadow to cross your face as his approaching figure towered you with his height. 

“I have a name.”

“So do I.” He responded with quickness, no sign of disruption on his face. He reached down to help you with the bag, leaning closer to you. He probably assumed it was the reason you were standing for so long. You remembered Ringo’s words on how his Master would ask of you to make sure you were healing alright. Though you were enemies, he would ask. You being so close to death, crossing over would have been a convenience for him, and yet he asked. He always asked. Did he think you were weak? Or that you were still healing in some way. 

“I’ve got it, Mizu.” You looked him in the eyes as you spoke his name. It sounded like a spell coming from your lips. It  froze him in movement like a pond in the winter. There was a different look in his eyes, oceans stirred beneath his blues. His lashes were long and wispy as he stared into yours. You could see the sweat from his previous training dripping down the center of his bridge. You wondered what you  looked like through his eyes. You wondered if he could feel the problem too.

“It’s probably only what..14..15 kan? I can carry it myself. ” You broke eye contact now, pulling yourself from his gaze. It had to be you first. You heard him clear his throat before straightening himself up to his full height again. 

“I bet I’m strong enough to join you in your little trainings.” 

“Oh yeah?” You could hear the relief in his voice as you moved down the hall. 

“You don’t do anything too difficult anyway.”

“And yet, I’ve beaten you..how many times?” He teased, and it pressed against the bruise on your ego, but not as bad as it would have months ago. No, months ago you would have lunged at him for speaking that way to you. Months ago, you wouldn't have even let him speak. 

Before you could respond to his banter, his apprentice turned the corner as quiet as a mouse. It still surprised you that someone his size could move with such agility and stealth. His smile was warm as he took the bag from you.

“Perfect! Thank you, (y/n). This should last us a long while. I finally figured out what I want to make for tonight. Master, it’s your favorite! It has been a while. ” The excitement in his voice seeped into your skin like sunshine and you too found yourself a bit excited for dinner. Ringo’s joy was contagious. It affected all, even his stoic, crude master. You could feel him shift beside you before looking off into the distance. 

“Call when it’s finished.” and his apprentice nodded before they went their separate ways. Now you had a choice. You could keep Ringo company, helping him prepare his meal and listening to him hum sweet tunes over the food he prepared like you did almost every other day. You watched him walk down the hall, already humming softly and creating an atmosphere of peace that trailed behind him. When you turned the opposite direction, you saw his master. His back stood tall and strong as he made his way back onto the field. The wind blew against him, but he moved continuously. You watched as his hands lifted towards his neck and up into his waves of ink, retying his messy hair. He was drifting further away. 

“Hey you!” You heard yourself speak before you had time to reconsider. Your body moved towards him, following behind before you found yourself standing in his shadow. With him turning around to the sound of your call, the wind now blew him in your approaching direction but he stood still for you. Waiting for you to catch up to him.