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Katsumi proceeded to fire at all of the target, and lowered her bow once she was done. With a content sigh, the archer moved forward and began gathering up her arrows. With each one, she set up the targets again, carefully putting them back into place. Two of the arrows splintered from the impact, and she tossed those aside, as they were useless. Katsumi had plenty of ammo, having made much of her own a week back. A couple of broken ones wasn't a big deal.

As the woman masquerading as a man walked, her long, dark hair pulled back in a high ponytail swished from side-to-side, ticking the back of her exposed neck. The sleeves of her black kimono covered her slender arms, and her hakama and covered feet helped keep the woman warm.

Eventually she gathered everything and turned around, beginning to head towards her previous spot. But something was spotted with her keen eyes, and Katsumi's brows furrowed. Eyes narrowing, the archer caught sight of a man perched on a branch, and the woman halted. She tensed and quickly drew an arrow. The woman did not draw her bow, but she was prepared to do so in a moment's notice.

"What are you doing?" she called out suspiciously. Kat didn't really care who this man was, but she wanted to know why he was there, watching her.

Just how long had he been there? She shuddered, suddenly feeling unnerved by this peculiar man.

Katsumi wandered into a village, searching for new jobs. The life of a mercenary never went standstill. She was essentially a ronin, constantly moving and trying to find more work. She had hoped for luck in this small village, but it seemed it was too small. No one here needed someone captured or killed. She had enough money to where she didn't need to resort to simple menial labor, so Katsumi planned on going to the inn here, spending the night, and then moving on.

But as she headed to her current destination, Katsumi heard a commotion. Brows furrowing, the petite woman disguised as a man, wearing a black kimono and charcoal hakama, made her way through the crowd and eventually halted. Her eyes widened at the scene. A man with a crazed look in his eyes holding a woman hostage.

She herself was all about her own survival, and yet... perhaps it was meeting the sweet and good Haji and him rubbing off on her, or because she sympathized with this other woman due to the years of abuse she suffered, but Katsumi felt she couldn't idly stand by. Glancing about, knowing none of these other simple villagers would do anything, with a sigh, Kat removed the bow from her back, and the 4'10" archer stepped out of the crowd.

Her voice her calm, expression impassive. She did not aim her weapon at this other man, but an arrow was in one hand and the bow in the other. Katsumi would be ready to shoot at a moment's notice.

Speaking in a false tenor, her voice masculine to keep up with her disguise, she said, "Please, sir... She has nothing to do with your demons. Release her, and I will help you in whatever way you need. I... I am a mercenary. Saito Hiroshi. If you let her go, I can try to help you find these... 'warriors in black'."

Her brows raised. "What do you say?"

He was smiling, and it made Katsumi want to smile too. Maybe since he finally brought her the happiness she always desired, Haji could teach her how to smile too at some point. Perhaps later she could ask. She wasn't sure if it could be taught, but... with how kind the man was, Katsumi was sure he would try.

Soon enough their foreheads were touching, and the tips of their noses. His warm breath filled her senses, and she wanted more. Her lids were drooped, and Kat's hues kept staring into his, and lowered to his lips. They would linger there and she would feel a pull, and Katsumi couldn't figure out why. But, damn, did she want to act on that instinct. But she was so very controlled on a normal given day.

Yet... today wasn't so average, now was it? There were so many new experiences right now for her. Maybe... just maybe she should act on impulse. Katsumi licked her lips, swallowing roughly, and her own lips parted as she stared at his.

But her eyes tore themselves away from his lips and went back up to his eyes when he spoke again, and that flush heated up her cheeks further. Surely by now they would be glowing in the dark! Oh, she felt so very happy, abundantly so, and the thumb of her hand in his over his cheek stroked the flesh. She simply just didn't know what to do with herself.

The merc nodded slowly. "S... So am I. I'm... I'm glad the bounty got away and hurt me, because... then we met and... and... this."

She moved his hand and placed his on her wrapped chest, over her heart. Oh, how it ached terribly, but not in the way it had her entire life. No, this was such a wonderful feeling, and it was one she could never possibly describe.

Katsumi felt the corners of her lips twitch again. "I'm... I'm so glad."

Her eyes once more fell on his lips, and she felt herself lean in, tilting her head. What was she doing? Katsumi inhaled, breathing him in, wanting to focus on his scent, of all things, and her hand on his chest began to slide up again. The lids of her eyes fluttered as her nose brushed up his neck and his neck caressed her cheek. She leaned in, moving up, and Katsumi found herself just inches from his lips, her breathing heavy, and yet... she wanted to go even closer. What on earth was going on?

Kat's voice was full of uncertainty, and yet there was no fear, no trepidation. It was filled with emotions she was entirely unfamiliar with, love, desire, lust. All of it was alien to the woman, and she didn't even have names for any of it (besides, perhaps, that she felt she wanted, needed him, but she understood not in what manner) and yet Kat was feeling those things, and it felt right.

"I don't... know what I'm doing or what I'm feeling. But... But I don't... I don't want it to stop... Haji-kun..." she whispered breathy, one hand running up and down his chest unintentionally, and the other gripping his hand, pulling it to his cheek again, away from her chest, fingers longing to reach up and brush through his beautiful white hair.

His hand held hers, and it was such a nice feeling. In fact, all of it was. They barely knew one another, it had been such a short time, and yet... Katsumi trusted this man, he knew her far more than anyone else in her life, and there were feelings there she had never felt before and, in fact, had no idea how to act upon. For the first time in his life, Katsumi actually felt... happy.

Haji's arm wrapped around Kat, and the teenager nuzzled closer. He was so warm, and her heart continued to flutter. But the quick and heavy beating wasn't that of nervousness, at least not the typical anxiety she felt. This was entirely different, and she noticed her cheeks were flushed and her stomach was twisting some, but not unpleasantly. Katsumi had never felt this sensation before, and she had no idea what to call it or what to do. But what she did know was that she wanted to get closer to Haji, felt drawn in. Yet... how could they possibly get any physically closer? Daw, so innocent and cuuute~

He said her name with the suffix again, and her cheeks were like glowing apples in the sunlight. And then--her eyes opened--he kissed her forehead. If her cheeks could have gotten any redder, they would have, and they were practically steaming. Katsumi feared her heart would hammer out of her chest and that Haji would be able to hear it, and yet... she didn't want any of it to stop.

Her face hid beneath her side-swept bangs and the crook of his neck, and she lifted her head up. Kat's hand on his chest slowly slid down and the merc peered up at the man. She stared into his beautiful eyes and her gaze then fell down onto his lips, and she stared at them. But why? Why was she doing that?

The archer's eyes fell from him and she whispered nervously, softly, fingers clasping his hand, "My... My heart is racing, H-Haji-kun. I feel... warm."

That blush persisted and her palm rested on his lower chest. As she talked more and more, she was unconsciously drawing nearer, lids drooping a little. "This.... is the first time I've ever... felt... happy, H-Haji-kun. Safe. Good."

His hand reached up and rested over hers, and they were so close, and yet strangely she wanted to be closer. Kat's heart was fluttering and thumping wildly against her chest, and her tears started to dry up. The girl sniffled and wiped at some of her tears, before unconsciously moving up a little and nuzzling her cheek against the crook of his neck. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

Cheeks turned rosy red when he used the chan suffix, and her heart fluttered even more. Maybe... just maybe she could use an endearing suffix as well, and the very thought caused her to swallow roughly.

There was nothing the merc could really respond with, and there was no need for anything more, and so her hand on his chest released its grip and the palm rested against the center of his chest, the man's name slipping past her lips, warm breath and nose tickling the thin flesh of his neck, "Haji...kun~"

She used the suffix, and it caused her stomach to fill up with bubbles, and her flush to increase.

[[I'm definitely sailing this ship. >.>]]

For the first time really in her life, Katsumi actually felt... safe. When she was a child and up until last year, her Father was a constant threat, and after she was forced to kill him in self-defense she was alone on the road, trying to make a living. It was already dangerous enough to be a lone woman, but if anyone found out she was a female warrior? That wouldn't bode well with their society.

Katsumi drew closer, leaning, clinging to his form, and it felt so relieving to be embraced like this. She had never been held her entire life, never heard a comforting word. The merc never wanted this moment to end, for the affection to stop. She wanted more and more, but the teen didn't know what to do, and so she simply held onto him, sniffling and letting out those long-suppressed tears.

She glanced up at him and the corners of her lips began to twitch in the slightest, as though they were to curve into a smile, but she knew not how to do so, and so there was just the relief and warmth shimmering within her eyes. A dainty hand, fingers calloused from all of her intense training and archery, reached up and cupped his cheek. She didn't know why she did it, or even really notice that she did. It was an involuntary motion, and her heart felt like it was lodged and beating at the base of her throat.

"T... Thank you, H-Haji-san," she whispered softly.

When Kyoya used the endearing suffix, a blush coloured Katsumi's cheeks. She had only heard friends use that before, and Katsumi... well, she didn't really have any friends. Not like the girls she would see walking together on the streets. She had certainly never been called that before.

She looked up at the taller woman in amazement. She never had to use an alias and pretend to be a man? "R... Really?"

They walked and the woman talked, and Katsumi listened in absolute fascination. She was silent and didn't speak a word as she was shown around, but it was clear with her wide, shimmering hues that she was listening and hanging onto every word.

At the end, Katsumi slowly shook her head in disbelief, amazed by it all, and murmured quietly, eyes searching the ground, "This... it's amazing. I... I can't imagine... being accepted... and by a whole town. To be... myself..."

She really couldn't. What the hell would she do? How would she do it? Would it change everything? Her mind was boggled and she was starting to feel a little lightheaded, mind on overdrive. One could practically see her eyes spinning like a whirlpool.

A small hand clutched at her chest, and she whispered, looking up into Kyoya's eyes, "It's... It's terrifying, but exhilarating...!"

Katsumi... why, she didn't even know where to start. Wearing men's clothing made her feel safe, and she shrunk down a little bit, clutching at the black kimono.

Katsumi was trying to unsuccessfully climb out of the hotspring when she felt a sudden gust of wind. She clenched her eyes shut and clung to the ledge. What the hell was going on?

Upon opening her eyes, she saw that the steam was gone, and could hear the man approaching her from behind. This elicited a shriek, the woman panicking, and she released her hold on the ledge, splashing into the water. He was right there! She would be able to get away! What was she to do?!

When she emerged to the surface, Katsumi gasped loudly for air and immediately hugged her chest, eyes wide with fright. The archer (who sadly did not have her bow at this time) pushed herself against the wall, shrinking down, hiding her body within the water and clutching at it frenetically. Katsumi was panicking, body creating adrenaline to course through her so she couldn't feel the pain of her terribly aching, injured body.

"G-Get away from me!"

There was no logic right now, or even listening. Simply hysteria, the instinct of flight overwhelming her body. Her dark eyes were searching for a way out, and she was just about to bolt to the side. Hell, she was starting to. She would swim the hell away if he had to!

His grip loosened and hold unraveled, and then his hand went on her small shoulder, supporting the woman. He began to speak and ended it with a smile, and Katsumi listened with disbelief, large eyes staring up at him. She slowly began to shake her head.

"Why... Why are you so nice?" she asked, voice trembling with despair. Soon enough, Kat's body began to shake, and it was not from the cold. She felt emotions flood her, and the back of the petite female's lids began to prickle. Memories of her Father and how he treated her, her past flashed through her mind. Even after she killed him and got away and pretended to be a man, others were bastards. Rough and violent, just like he had been. But she wouldn't let them touch her like he had. Not with the same control. She survived whichever way she could. "N... Nobody has ever been nice. The world is cruel. People are harsh and filled with... with h-hate. It's just the way... the way it is."

A tear fell down her cheek, followed by another. She never cried in front of other's, not since she was a little girl and her father beat her for doing so a few times. Katsumi learned not to show her weaknesses in front of people, to hide everything and keep it locked away until she was convinced the thoughts and feelings didn't exist. But she couldn't do that now. It felt as though Katsumi was being bombarded with grief and emotion.

The false tenor fell away, and Kat's voice squeaked, as she choked up, question following her previous words, "Isn't it?"

[[Baw. So cute. :3]]

The warmth increased as his arms wrapped around her, and Katsumi quickly fell into slumber. Her breathing was heavy but light, and for the first time in a long while, she actually slept soundly.

Time would pass, the sun setting and nightfall ascending, and eventually Katsumi began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, brown hues looking up at the starlit sky, and the merc yawned, hand slowly lifting up and rubbing at her eyes. The air was cool against her bare flesh, yet there was warmth.

Her brows furrowed. Why was her flesh bare? She always had her clothing on. And... what was that warmth? In fact, her back and cheek were resting upon something hard yet... fleshy. Her brows furrowed a bit, and Katsumi's head moved up a little, and her eyes widened at seeing a man there, and she quickly tensed up. At seeing the white hair, everything came back.

That's right! It was the man from earlier. He had tended to her wounds, and she had been injured. Katsumi must have passed out. Had... Had he been sitting there the whole time with her resting on him like that? Her clothes were all in place, so nothing else seemed to happen. This guy couldn't... he couldn't be for real!

A blush coloured her cheeks a bright red and Katsumi tried sitting up, moving away from him, but she fell back against his chest. The rest did wonders, but she was stiff and still weak from earlier. It would take time for her to get her speed and vigour back.

"I... I'm s-sorry!" the girl stammered. Her voice had been higher, and at immediately realizing it, she lowered the tone. She tugged at the kimono, pulling it down, and Kat wondered if the wrap was tight enough. Would... had he felt...? Katsumi gulped. Not only was the merc worried, but she felt terribly embarrassed, and she really didn't understand why. But she knew that the contact increased her nervousness, and thinking about it made her blush all the more. She started to ramble, "I... I must have... dozed... Oh shit. I.... I really am... I'm very sorry. I... I wasted your time and... you... you didn't need to..."

Katsumi was out once more looking for work, having finished up her other jobs. It seemed no matter what she did, she never had enough money. The woe of the commonfolk. There was often luck in the various factions and, while she didn't care about any of the sides and knew little about them, that didn't matter. She was a mercenary and, if you offered the right amount, she would work for whoever.

The woman masquerading as a man released a sigh, halting a ways off from the crossroads. She had been walking for some time and stretched her muscles, scratching her head. Pulling her hair out of her ponytail, she put it back up, this time higher, dark locks cascading in waves down her neck and back. Her men's black kimono and charcoal hakama kept her warm from the breeze, and she inhaled deeply, cool air filling her lungs.

Kat's eyes were closed and she relaxed for several moments, taking a brief break from her journey, before the lids fluttered open once more. She kept going and made a turn, going further along, and eventually a figure came into sight. It appeared as though someone were working out, and Katsumi didn't think much of it.

But as she drew nearer, the archer realized it was a woman, and she halted in place, eyes widening and jaw dropped. A woman with a weapon, working out. She was clearly a warrior, and yet... her sex was absolutely obvious. Kat's mouth felt dry and she slowly shook her head. There was just no way! Katsumi was absolutely petrified of anyone finding out her sex. If they did, who knew what would happen!? After the abuse she endured for years with her father, Katsumi could only believe terrible things, was convinced of them.

"A... A w-woman?!"

Katsumi gulped, swallowing roughly, and she glanced from side-to-side. Was this woman just being careless? Maybe no one saw and she could go in disguise again? That's what anyone else who was a female fighter would do, yes? That's what Kat had to do.

The petite merc rushed forward and exclaimed in a hushed voice, eyes nervously gazing about, searching for any potential people who could see this other woman exposed like this, "W-What are you d-doing? O-Out in the open... If... If people saw you like this...!"

[[So yeah. Kat dresses like a man and hides being a woman, in fear of being found out. ^^;]]