Capítulo 121: Chapter 121:- Meeting the daimyo of fire
As Kenshin turned around, he noticed Amaya stepping out of the tent, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "So, young man, your name is Kenshin, huh? And that woman—she's from the Hidden Rain, isn't she? Don't worry, I wasn't eavesdropping. I just woke up and didn't want to interrupt such a... heartwarming moment." Her teasing tone was unmistakable.
Kenshin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're going to get me in trouble, Amaya-sama. And it's rude to eavesdrop on your own people."
Amaya chuckled softly, crossing her arms. "Relax. I'm not planning to tell anyone if that's what you're worried about. If anything, I'd prefer it if you spoke to me the way you spoke to her—casual. Like I'm just a normal woman, not some daimyo."
Kenshin shook his head with a small laugh. "You're definitely not what I imagined a daimyo to be like. But for the record, my name isn't Kenshin—it's an alias. ANBU don't have real names. We're given mission names." His tone was calm, but the lie was obvious to anyone paying close attention.
Amaya raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but she didn't press him further. "Alright then, Kenshin. I'll get ready."
Kenshin spoke again. "And maybe wake Hana while you're at it. We should head out soon before we run into any more shinobi from Tetsuya's faction."
"Good idea," Amaya replied. As she turned to head back inside the tent, she paused and glanced over her shoulder. "Oh, and one more thing. Can you make some warm water? All this blood on me is getting irritating."
Kenshin nodded. "Sure. I'll get it ready in a minute."
He relit the fire with a small Fireball Jutsu and pulled a large pot from his storage scroll. Gathering some of the surrounding snow, he filled the pot and used another Fireball Jutsu to quickly melt it into warm water. Once it was ready, he soaked a towel in the pot and carried it to the tent.
Standing at the entrance, he handed it to Amaya. She accepted it with a small smile, taking the pot as well. "Don't peek," she teased.
Kenshin smirked, leaning casually against the tent frame. "I think I've already seen enough," he joked, his tone light but his words pointed.
Amaya froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing as the memory of last night surfaced—her wrists bound, stripped naked, bruised, and bloodied.
But she quickly composed herself, masking her embarrassment with a playful retort. "Even so, let a woman have her privacy. Otherwise, you'll find yourself in trouble when you're in a relationship."
Kenshin chuckled, pushing off the frame. "I'm already in one, and trust me, I know that. Just make it quick—we need to leave soon." With that, he walked away, and waited before the fire.
Inside the tent, Amaya quickly shed her clothes, letting the cool air brush against her skin. She picked up the warm, wet towel Kenshin had handed her and began carefully wiping away the dried blood and grime.
Her hands moved over her body, pausing at her chest, where the once painful burns and wounds from the previous night had been fully healed. The skin was smooth again, but the memories of her torture still lingered.
All of this—her suffering, the coup—had stemmed from her desire to protect her people, yet it was her father's trusted subordinate who had betrayed her.
Amaya's gaze shifted to Hana, still curled up in a blanket, sleeping peacefully. The child looked so small, so fragile, her chest rising and falling in rhythm with her breathing.
Hana was innocent, completely unaware of the sins of her father or the suffering he had caused. Her father's greed had not only orphaned his own child but also robbed Amaya of her home.
A pang of sorrow hit Amaya as she thought about the girl's mother, who had passed away when Hana was only a year old. Hana had already lost so much in her short life.
Yet despite everything, Amaya felt no malice or anger toward the girl. Hana was blameless, a victim of circumstance like so many others.
"I'll protect you," Amaya whispered softly, more to herself than anyone else. "I'll take good care of you, no matter what."
With renewed determination, Amaya finished cleaning herself and slipped into a fresh set of clothes. She wasn't just fighting for herself anymore—Hana was her responsibility now.
No matter what challenges lay ahead, Amaya promised herself that she would give Hana the life she deserved, one filled with love, safety, and hope.
Amaya stepped out of the tent, the cold air biting at her skin, and she immediately sought Kenshin. "Kenshin, do you have any warmer clothes? It's nice inside the tent, but it's still the middle of winter out here."
Kenshin, without missing a beat, reached into a storage scroll and pulled out two cloaks, handing them to Amaya. She looked at him in surprise, clearly impressed by his resourcefulness. "I didn't expect you to have something like this with you," she said, taking the cloaks from his hands.
Kenshin gave a small chuckle. "I'm always laughably over-prepared when it comes to stuff like this. You never know when it'll come in handy." He shrugged nonchalantly. "Go wake Hana up. She needs to eat something before we head out."
Amaya nodded and made her way back inside the tent, where Hana was still curled up in the warmth of the blankets. She sat down beside the little girl, gently brushing her hair from her face. "Hana, it's time to wake up."
Hana's eyes fluttered open, blinking in confusion as she looked up at the woman. For a moment, she didn't seem to recognize Amaya, her sleepy mind still foggy. But then, her eyes brightened, and she reached out for Amaya's hand. "Amaya-sama?" she asked, her voice still heavy with sleep.
Amaya smiled softly, stroking Hana's hair as she replied, "Yes, it's Amaya." Her voice carried a warmth, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.
Hana's small brow furrowed as she recalled something. "Papa said you were gone, and that he would take care of everything…" Her voice trailed off, and for a moment, there was an eerie stillness in the tent.
Then Hana's eyes grew wide with sudden memory, and she sat up slightly, looking up at Amaya with a mixture of concern and fear. "What happened to the monster? Did it hurt papa?"
Amaya hesitated for just a moment, a tightness in her chest as she thought about how best to explain things without burdening Hana with too much too soon. She knew the girl had already been through too much. Finally, after a quiet pause, she spoke, her voice soft yet firm.
"The monster hurt your papa, Hana, he's gone." Amaya began, carefully choosing her words. "But there was a strong Shinobi, someone that helped me as well, who defeated the monster for you and your papa." Her voice grew gentler as she added, "That Shinobi is waiting outside, and he's here to make sure we're safe. He's here for you too."
Hana's expression softened, and she nodded slowly, the confusion lingering in her eyes, but the comforting words seemed to ease some of her fears. She didn't ask further questions, instead focusing on the warmth of Amaya's embrace and the promise of safety.
Amaya stood up, brushing off the folds of her cloak, and gave Hana one last reassuring smile. "Let's get you something to eat now. We need to be ready for the journey ahead."
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