Dark Edge Village

Hideo hadn't cared for the rumours of the day. While he could easily and politely deflect them, he worried for Amaya. She wouldn't be used to such scandalous words from gossips with terrible lives and little to do but drag names through the gutter. He had even considered telling her he wouldn't come on this evening to save her from more pain.

However, his feelings for her and eagerness to see her again won out, and he found himself at her yurt.

He knocked politely. "Amaya-san? It's Seppun Hideo."

There is no answer or movement from inside the yurt.

Amaya is crossing towards the the tent she's been living in, Satsujin on her shoulder. She has a small box and her folded half-tatami with her. The grass stains on her hem suggest that she's been out on the Western Fields.

There was a small frown. Had she moved? He took a step back, looking around to see if he could see her.

She moves between the yurts and finally her tent and the Imperial come into view, oh, it's later than I realised.

Eventually his eyes come across her, and he smiles. It was a warm smile, but he managed to stop any more grinning by bowing to the girl.

"Good evening Amaya-san. I hope you are well?"

She bows, stiffly, Satsujin shifting his weight, quick and agile, to not tumble from her shoulder. Her eyes are troubled and her face is a studied mask of neutrality. "I am, thank you. And yourself?"

"I am well, thank you. Except for my poor performance in the event" He frowned, easily noticing her troubled expression "would Amaya-san like some tea?"

Her on is imperfect, and there is definite relief at his offer, "yes, I would like that very much."

Hideo nodded, standing to a side. "After you. It is your yurt, I would not wish to enter without you inside."

It takes all her self control not to look around her to see who might be watching or listening, but instead enters the yurt and holds the flap open to welcome him.

Hideo enters with a nod, moving over to start a fire. He didn't embrace her yet - just focused on preparing the tea for her while Amaya got comfortable.

"Did you enjoy the event today? I imagine you loved being back on a horse."

She let the door flap fall back into place and busied herself with putting away the tatami, and setting Satsujin amongst her bedding and quietly admonishing him to go to sleep and behave. Sighing, "it was incredible, Hideo-san, I thought I knew how much I missed it, but I was wrong. I just wish I could saddle up Bo and race out under the stars and ride until I was exhausted. Just ride and maybe never come back."

Hideo chuckled. "I can see you doing that. I feel I let my horse down with weak arms, so I rewarded her with some brushing and treats after we finished. She seemed to forgive me."

He poured the tea, then took a moment before he spoke again.

"I saw your performance. It was quite incredible to watch you ride, Amaya-chan. You were beautiful and elegant "

She gives Satsujin a final scratch behind the ear, the little weasel yawning widely, and rose, moving back to the centre of the yurt. "That was very kind of you to do so. But are you sure it was me you saw? I think you might be mistakenly thinking of the Otaku princess."

Hideo shook his head, moving to meet Amaya and his arms slipped around hers. "I can tell you that it was you and only you that my eyes were on. How you gracefully lead the horse to charge, how brilliant you were. Your hair fluttering in the wind, and the joy in your eyes."

He places a kiss on her lips.

"It was only you that my heart sang for."