Katsuo was still in a bad mood when he arrived at the castle gates. Taiki silently slid next to him.

“My lord.”

“Report.” Katsuo’s terse reply didn’t faze the ninja.

“Orihime-dono swears she sent a message ahead, but we have not received such a thing. She insists on staying here until…”

Taiki trailed off, which was rare for him. Katsuo gave him a sideways glance.

“Until?”

“Until the wedding.”

Katsuo froze, opened his mouth, then realized he was already in the courtyard near the gate, and if he lost his composure, everyone would hear. As a dependable leader, his men needed to know they could count on him through better or worse. If he lost his temper, then who would they rely on to bring them home safely from the battlefield?

“Your eyes, my lord.”

“Stop calling me that!” Katsuo snapped, turning and continuing his march to the uninvited guests. He could only hope he had calmed enough for his eyes to be back to normal. If not, he’d just have to blame the torches’ light.

“Orihime-dono,” he greeted.

“My lord, Katsuo-sama!” The woman twirled around, a big smile plastered on her face. She was pretty. Her long, raven black hair was tied up in an elaborate design, and she wore a crimson kimono. The colors contrasted with her smooth, alabaster skin, which seemed to luminesce in the weak light of the torches around them.

She hurried up to him, full of energy. Her big, brown eyes were wide as she gazed up at him and batted her eyelashes. Katsuo was mesmerized before he reminded himself what happened the last time he submitted to such a look.

“To what do I owe the surprise of your presence here?”

“Oh.” Orihime put a hand over her mouth as she gasped. “Haven’t you received my message, my lord?”

“Apparently not.” Katsuo quirked an eyebrow. He wouldn’t let her play this game.

“My honorable father has decided it was time to start on the wedding preparations.” Orihime stepped closer and reached out to touch Katsuo’s arm. He stepped away before she made contact.

“I do not recall sending a response to the proposal.”

“Well, yes, but…” Orihime was uneasy, fidgeting with a lock of her hair that escaped her bun. She glanced down shyly. “It’s a good proposal. Why would you refuse? So, I thought—”

“You thought wrong.” Katsuo was fed up with the charade. He didn’t have time for a wedding and certainly not with such a sly woman. He took another step back. “As it is very late, please stay here for tonight. I shall write to your father come morning. And excuse us for the ill-prepared rooms. We weren’t expecting you.”

Katsuo made a quick escape with as much politeness as he could muster.

“Wait!” Orihime reached out after him. “Won’t you reconsider? Our families—”

“Good night, my lady.” Katsuo cut off her further protests as he walked out of sight. Takeru bumped into him just as he was rounding a corner. He tensed as he looked at Katsuo’s face.

“Brother… your eyes…”

“I’m going to my room. Tell everyone not to bother me.”

“Sure. Did she say why she travelled here?”

“She is under the illusion that she is to be wed to me.”

“Didn’t you reject the proposal?”

Katsuo sighed. Finally, the gold hue receded from his eyes as he forced himself to calm down.

“It seems I had forgotten to send a reply between the recent border skirmishes.”

“Ah, that’s bad.”

“I’m leaving. Just one more thing, Takeru,” Katsuo said as he stopped at the veranda.

“Yes?”

“Find some rooms for them.”

Takeru grinned, an idea already forming in his head.

“Leave it to me, brother!”

He sounded way too happy about it, but Katsuo didn’t have the energy to contemplate that. He suddenly felt drained. When was the last time he had a good night’s sleep? He couldn’t even remember.

***

He was awakened near dawn by a nagging feeling that told him he was in danger. Katsuo’s hand slid under his pillow, and his fingers wrapped around the handle of the dagger he kept there. Whoever was trying to take advantage of his sleeping hours, they were in for a nasty surprise.

He doubted anything could get close to him under Taiki’s supervision of security, but ever since the incident with his ex-wife, he had been prepared to expect the worst.

Katsuo suddenly tensed and threw the dagger in a wide arc. It sank in the wall next to the door. He was alone in the room, but something still didn’t sit well with him. He calmed his erratic breathing and stood to retrieve his weapon.

He was halfway to the door when it unexpectedly slid open. Taiki stood on the threshold. If the ninja was surprised to see his lord awake, he didn’t show it. Taiki eyed the dagger with suspicion.

“Is everything all right, my lord?”

“Yes,” was the terse reply as he pulled the dagger out from the wall. He brushed his long hair to the side. “Why are you here?”

Taiki never sugarcoated anything. He went straight for the kill.

“Ayaka-dono was kidnapped during the night.”

Katsuo thought he heard wrong. He inclined his head.

“Care to repeat that?”

“Ayaka-dono was kidnapped.”

“Talk to me.” Katsuo hastily wrapped a haori around his torso, grabbed his wakizashi , and headed to Ayaka’s room in a hurry.

“It happened sometime after dinner and before the early morning shift. I’ve just discovered the body.”

“What body?”

“There was a guard outside her door. His throat was slit, and Ayaka is gone.”

“I don’t remember placing a guard outside her room.”

“Neither do I. It’s…” Taiki racked his brain for the appropriate word. “Intriguing.”

Katsuo knocked on Takeru’s door before continuing to Ayaka’s. Takeru slept as light as he did, so Katsuo knew he would be soon on his way. By the time he arrived at his daughter’s room, Takeru had caught up to him. He was only wearing a hakama . His unbound hair was messy, but his eyes were sharp.

The three looked at the lifeless body of a young soldier. Takeru squatted down, examining his face.

“This was the guy who told us of Orihime’s arrival. I tasked him to bring Ayaka to her room,” Takeru informed them. His voice quieted. “This was only his second week here.”

And I told him to trust us. Takeru closed his eyes and bowed his head, mourning for the loss of a good man.

“Other than his injuries, there are no signs of scuffle,” Taiki added.

“She was probably asleep,” Katsuo murmured as he entered his daughter’s room. Nothing was out of place, except the missing little girl.

“Who could’ve done such a thing?” Takeru followed his brother inside the room. “Slit someone’s throat then kidnap a child? That’s just cruel.”

“War is cruel. You should know by now.”

“Ayaka has nothing to do with war,” Takeru protested. Silently, Katsuo agreed.

“My lord,” Taiki said as he crouched down. He held up something in his hand.

“What is it?” Katsuo asked as he walked over. Takeru followed him immediately.

“A piece of paper,” Taiki replied and held it out to them. Two characters were written on it. The ninja was taken aback as both men’s eyes flashed gold. He was used to such display from his lord but not from Takeru.

“That bastard Kawayuki! I’m going to kill him!”

“Takeru.” Katsuo’s icy voice stopped him. He turned back.

“You’re not going to tell me to sit here while he has his disgusting paws on my niece!”

“Of course not. But we need to come up with a strategy. We can’t just rush into this,” Katsuo said. His body was so tense, and he resembled a snake coiled to attack any moment. Seeing his brother in such a state made Takeru calmer. At least one of them needed a cool head to come up with something.

“I understand. Shall I gather our strategists?”

“No.”

“What? Why?”

“Nobody has seen anything,” Katsuo replied. “Nobody has heard anything. Doesn’t that make you suspicious?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think they had help from inside, my lord?” Taiki asked, his eyes narrowing.

“Anything is possible. Right now, you two are the only ones I trust in this household. I’m counting on you. Get ready and meet me in the council room.”

Takeru nodded and hurried back to his room.

“Get someone to confirm her kidnapper,” Katsuo ordered the ninja. Taiki bowed and melted into the shadows of early morning.