Sapphire Ambassadors

Hatsuki made her way from the feast after dropping a discreet note for Choudai after the feast. Hopefully he got it. She wandered casually into the hedge maze. The mid-evening made the shadows between the hedges dark, even within the general gloom.

She used to be nervous under these circumstances, but... it was a little easier to see now in it. She felt a little more at home. She found a place to wait, comfortable, quiet, and dark.

They would have to keep their voices down.

It was blisteringly unwise, but...

There really was no other choice.

Still, he had used a few tricks from his time in the war to shed potential tails, and he had taken his time navigating the maze in the gathering gloom.

He felt his heart skip a beat when he caught sight of her.

Just like it always did.

It took a supreme act of self-control to not break into a run.

Back to stolen moments. All we ever get.

"Good evening, Hatsuki-chan."

She glanced over when she heard his footsteps. She didn't squint or peer intently into the shadows to see who it was, just smiled as if she had seen him standing there in broad daylight.

She rose from where she was sitting as soon as she saw him, walking quietly to meet him, but didn't speak until they were closer.

"Choudai..." She murmured softly, reaching out to brush her fingers against his hand lightly.

The contact after so long was practically electric.

"I missed you."

His own fingertips returned the favor, and he even ventured to take hold of her hand- but lightly, so lightly.

"Every day. Seeing you again, is..."

He looked down to her belly, and allowed himself a goofy grin.

"I am so, so happy. Despite everything. Despite the danger."

She kept his hold in return lightly, her fingers intertwining with his, ready to be pulled back at any sign of danger. She wouldn't let her desire bring him to harm.

She broke into her own grin at his expression.

"I am, too. I was so happy when I realized..." She brushed her free hand over her stomach. "After what happened, it's kind of a miracle."

His grip on her hand tightened momentarily, then relaxed to more of a gentle squeeze.

"I'd say we were owed a miracle, my love. At least one."

His free hand reached up to toy with a strand of her hair.

Carefully.

"I don't know how many more we'll get, but I'd say this is another one."

"Benten keeps bringing us together... She's either very kind or terribly cruel," She murmured, tilting her head just so the hand touching her hair brushed over her cheek, as well.

Then she gives him a playful grin. "I have to hear what you really think about everything so far."

That got a chuckle, one he was clearly at pains to stifle.

"Fortunes, where do I begin?! This town seems to be crawling with insane monks, there's a minor clanner who talks to a tanuki, and this morning I had to go haggle for supplies and then talk to that Otomo!"

He shook his head, clearly fighting to suppress his mirth.

"I had a feeling you were the one she was talking about when she said something about a haggling Scorpion," She said, suppressing a chuckle of her own. She reached up and glanced her fingers over his jaw softly.

Don't say this, it's such a bad idea! Her mind wailed.

"It seems Yasuki-san hasn't lost his touch..." She said, unable to quite resist just a small tease, her voice dropping to the softest whisper, only for his ears.

"And don't you forget it."

He spoke with a bit of the slightly hoarser voice of Yasuki Kanbei, then kissed her fingertips.

It was one more thing that made her perfect.

She actually knew what he had done in the war. Could joke about it.

Understood.

"I made up some crap about having been a quartermaster and let her run with it. I know better than to try to actively steer an Otomo. But now it's my turn... how have you found the trip so far?"

"How could I possibly? I remember all of his talents," she murmured softly when he kissed her fingertips.

Sure, she was doing a little extra teasing, but she really meant all of them. How wonderful of a partner he could be. All the little things that made him thoughtful. His amazing sense of humor. The way he protected her when times got difficult. When she nearly died.

She could have lost their child then, and she hadn't even known it.

But she hadn't, had she? If he hadn't saved her, they might not have a child. She might not be alive.

What did she do to deserve him in her life?

Still, despite her heavy thoughts, she had to put a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing at what he said next.

"I had to play along when she mentioned it. Open commerce! Oh my, how scandalous!" She replied. "Well, I didn't see any other Imperials, so I suspect I might know someone with a bit of a fondess for poor Otomo-sama."

He just lost himself in the music of her voice. One more stolen moment for both of them, and he intended to save the memory against the long, dreary days they would be apart.

"Oh? And who might that be?"

He quirked an eyebrow behind his mask.

"One Akodo Yaukwari," she replied with a slightly sly smile. "A scribe, meant to be recording what happens at the tournament. Brushed off my offers to let him know if I saw her or tell me who she is, so... possibly protective. It was interesting to watch, and perhaps something to keep an eye on. It could be usable."

She continued. "I have also run into quite a few people interested in my talents. I look forward to all the practice, even if some of them are a little strange."

"Akodo-san is probably both paranoid about beautiful Scorpion women offering a sympathetic ear and ashamed to admit he even has passions. I wonder if he plays Go... he could give me a drubbing or two and possibly lighten up a bit..."

Even the regular scheming was more fun with her. It didn't so much feel like a game, exactly, as it felt like a partnership.

"As for the chance for practice, you'll make them look amazing. We both know it. And if some of them are weird, well..."

He chuckled.

"That matches my own experience with monks, tanuki, and other oddballs."

She let out a soft chuckle. "Well, we both know that beautiful Scorpion women are dangerous," she said. "One minute, it's a normal conversation. Next thing you know, they're seducing a poor, innocent chef with their terrible wiles." She clucked her tongue in disapproval. Scandalous.

"It's not as though we're not a little odd ourselves, anyway."

"Yes, just the worst..."

He took a deep breath. Appreciated the moment.

"But at least we're odd together."

"Forever, even if the rest of the world won't allow it," she murmured softly.

She squeezed his hand suddenly, as if scared he'll disappear on her. He was so important to her, but what if this fiance ended up being beautiful and engaging? What if it turned into love, even if he didn't mean it to?

There was nothing to say to her most recent utterance. It was perfect.

So he squeezed her hand back, and carefully- carefully- leaned his forehead against hers.

It only took a small change in angle from their foreheads meeting to their lips, a brief, light, careful touch. "Choudai... what... what if she'samazing? Or at least... really compatible and you can actually be with her?"

"She won't have been through the things you and I have been through, Hatsuki.I... have no desire to be cruel to the poor woman, whoever she is, but..."

He sighed.

"She won't have my first mask. She won't have designed my second, and she won't have shared what we shared in Naishou. Neither the joy nor the terror. I sometimes think that the war ruined any chance either of us had to... do the socially acceptable thing. And sometimes I think that's just an excuse for something that began the first time we spoke to one another."