kunoichi-no-hikari:

I’ll have you know that I am still here. I don’t know what came over me, that’s all.

-Even in his attempts to comfort her he was still one insufferable man. If this was his way of making her feel better after that little spell then…

…It was working-

Don’t think that this changes anything between us, Sasuke. Just because I didn’t hit you doesn’t mean I won’t hesitate to do so in the future. I know when to be grateful to people who show me some form of sympathy.

I can assure you that it’s not needed.

-Perhaps she was being too harsh, but who could blame her? Here was someone she’d known for a long time, someone who knew her better than her Lord, someone who…

…Someone who stayed-

…But…

-She was definitely going to hit herself later for this. She looked up at him as she raised a hand against the side of his face. Her lips curve into a small smile as she leaned in close and left a small peck on his cheek.

Definitely going to hit herself later for this-

…Thank you.

-She didn’t know when was the last time she’d thanked him. Perhaps this was all she could do to repay his kindness, or… whatever it was he continually showed to her.

Perhaps…

Perhaps it was all she could do to whisper her gratitude for everything he’s done for her.

At least, until the next time they crossed blades in the battlefield.

But for now… for now she’d thank him-

“I know it doesn’t, and I look forward to the time you get your bite back.”

It was slowly returning as they spoke. Kasuga was reigning her emotions in, keeping them in check. He grinned as she continued speaking, as her fight came back.

Hmmm?

He watched as Kasuga’s expression changed. His eyes widened as she smiled softly at him. She leaned closer and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. He closed his eyes as she spoke and let out a breath. She always had ways to surprise him. Doing something like that…

She was making it hard for him to forget her and focus on his job.

I’m afraid I can’t answer that Kojuro. I have to keep my business to myself as I’m sure you understand.

ishida-mi-tsun-ari:

sanadayuki:

lightoftheeast:

legendary-ninja-of-takeda:

lightoftheeast:

Sanada, Sarutobi, regarding our conversation a few weeks ago…

Do you like it? I think he looks pretty good~

How is he going to use the sword?

N-N-N-NINJA DOGGIE!!!

-huggles it-

/pets puppy’s head

He can use the sword with his teeth….I’m figuring it out right now.

kunoichi-no-hikari:

-Perhaps her own lie was getting into her head, as she could swear that the arms around her held her closer against the pillar of warmth that was Sasuke. Was it just her, or had the heat intensified as fast as her heart raced beneath her chest?-

…I survive Echigo for the sake of my Lord. The bite of the cold is nothing compared to the dedication with which I serve him. Who is to do so if I hadn’t? He needs me just as much as I need him.

-It was true that when she initially came to Echigo with the intention to serve Kenshin, she found it hard to ensure a balance between the cold that had nearly claimed her life to the ease of movement she found with keeping herself as lightly equipped as she possibly could. She had not intended to find love, having traveled to the cold tundra of Echigo to assassinate him…

…But had been smitten with the grace he held himself atop his horse…

…She could not bring herself to kill someone of such majestic stature.

When she returned to her village with the desire to serve him instead, she was given the choice of doing so with the price of banishment. It tore her heart to hear such cold words, but who was she to hold herself down with them?

They did not understand.

They didn’t understand a woman in love-

…

-Silent tears streamed down her cheeks as she hid her face from view, shoulders trembling as emotion held in proved too much for her to handle. She only hoped that he didn’t mind her moment of weakness, nor the tears on his clothes…

It had been so long since she’d cried for her village… for the people that she once held dear… oh the pain of losing those she considered her family… how her father had disowned her on the spot for falling in love with the enemy…

And Sasuke had been nowhere to be found…

Nobody understood her then.

Nobody could understand her now.

Nobody but her Lord-

Cold tears seeped onto his cape as Kasuga let out the emotions she’d kept bottled inside. Sasuke gently ran his fingers through her hair not saying a word as she cried. He’d let her have this moment of weakness. He knew he shouldn’t but there may not be another chance for her to do this.

Sasuke knew her story. How she failed in her mission, how she let her heart interfere with the task she was given. And he knew the result. Shunned by her family and exiled from her home but she’d stayed strong. Through the love of her lord or her own will or maybe a mix of the two.

Sasuke sighed and gently held Kasuga’s shoulders. He pushed her away, so there was a small gap between them, and smiled softly.

“This isn’t like you Kasuga. Where’s the proud kunoichi that usually stands before me?” He tenderly wiped the tears from her cheek “Usually you’d have hit me by now.”

In their lives they couldn’t afford to let their emotions get the better of them. Kasuga had failed this once and she was faltering now. Sasuke may not have been there the first time but he was here now, and he wasn’t going to let her dwell on the past which they cannot change.

lightoftheeast:

Sanada, Sarutobi, regarding our conversation a few weeks ago…

Do you like it? I think he looks pretty good~

kunoichi-no-hikari:

I’m not denying anything. Simply put, we aren’t allies at the moment, and as such, should not be conversing with each other with such pleasantries.

-Though her tone was cold, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret with her betrayed statement. She didn’t really mean it, but sometimes…

Sometimes this stupid idiot just drove her to saying things she didn’t even have the heart to say!-

Wh—?! What’re you doing?

-All train of thought came grinding to a screeching halt as she felt lithe limbs wrap around her. His warmth encompassed her like a smoldering furnace, warm and familiar as her Lord’s graceful hand upon her cheek…

But his warmth was not that of her Lord. His warmth…

It was different-

…Because of how c-cold it is, I will allow this. But… try anything funny and I can assure you that I will not hesitate to strike you down, you hear me?

-She was resilient; she wouldn’t let him read her so easily, not with how he already could given their situation. What was it though? This nostalgia…

Perhaps she’d kick herself later for this, but right now…

Right now she needed a friend.

Someone-

-A soft hum escapes her lips as she leaned against the other ninja, eyes gently closing as she focused on him; his beating heart… oh how it beat rhythmically against her ear… just like its Master… steady, ever present…

Proof that he was alive.

That he was real.

That he was here with her-

You really are warm…

-Perhaps this was what she needed. Perhaps this was all that she needed…

For someone to hold her as he did now…-

Sasuke was surprised when, instead of struggling, Kasuga relaxed into him. He glanced down at her and saw a peaceful expression on her face, her eyes closed. His grin faded into a gentle smile and he held her close. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, she needed this right now.

He was silent as he thought about her words. They hurt a little but they were true. They weren’t allies, and who knew if they would ever be. Loyalty was a trait they shared. For them, their Lords would always come first. Before their own feelings, but that was the price they had to pay. It was part of their work.

He chuckled when she spoke again “And you really are cold…It’s a wonder how you survive Echigo”

For now though, they could have a moment to just be them. Not tied down to their duties. One they wouldn’t get again.

kunoichi-no-hikari:

legendary-ninja-of-takeda:

Sasuke sighed “It’s always about your Lord with you…” He mumbled.

Don’t get him wrong he held nothing but respect for Lord Kenshin, the man was a proud warrior and rival to Lord Shingen. It was just that nearly every conversation he had with Kasuga ended up being about him.

…..He wasn’t jealous!

He didn’t resist when she took the kunai back and instead was silent as he studied her features. He waited for her to yell at him again and was surprised to see she stayed quiet. That’s when he noticed the blush begin to settle on her cheeks. He grinned.

“See, you do care about me more then you let on. Look how red your cheeks are getting.”

Even though he teased her he was glad to see she cared some way. That whatever they had wasn’t completely one-sided.

Wh—I don’t think I like how you’re implying the extent of how much I care for you!

-Her cheeks turn even redder as she glared at him, unable to stop herself from retorting at how easily he could read her. So what if she cared about him a smidgen more than she should? It was only natural; they knew each other since they were kids…

It’s only natural that she’d sometimes spend days wondering how he was doing, wondering if he was eating right, sleeping right, and made sure that her kunai were thrown with the utmost care…

It wasn’t as if he was her Lord.

No.

It was completely natural to care the way she did-

So what if my cheeks are red… it’s cold! Unlike you I don’t have anything I can wear to ward off the bite of the frost…

-Her nose turned to the air once more as she attempted to lie through her teeth, knowing full well that the temperature had nothing to do with her attire. She braved the cold of Echigo to the point it didn’t faze her should a blizzard pass through, after all-

“Don’t try to deny it Kasuga, there’s nothing wrong with caring about me.”

His smile softened as he watched her get more and more flustered. Some things never changed. They’d known each other for years and even though they no longer fought together, they could still act like nothing had changed even though nearly everything had.

His smile faded a little as his thoughts drifted to their childhood. Things had really changed. She fought for Usegi and He for Takeda. Sooner or later there Lords blades would cross in battle…and so will theirs.

He shook the thoughts from his head when she spoke again and the grin returned.

“You’re cold huh?” He chuckled and walked over to her then wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “Sharing body heat is the best way to warm up.”

the-black-rose:

The best part of this picture is Sasuke and Kojuro in the background wondering why the hell they put up with these idiots XD

“I’ve kind of gotten used to it.”