The Queen And I / Mild Aphros

[leekspin]

Orihime kept her face plainly devoid of emotions as best she could as the suitor sneered, spat on the floor, and stalked away. She knew she shouldn't let people like that get to her; he was a liar and a con artist trying to take advantage of the sheltered princess, and the advisor had called his bluff. But even so, she felt a small twist in her

Comments

Either one! <3 I just love the idea of ninjas mingling with medieval times!

[leekspin]

She no longer jumped at the ninja's abrupt appearances. It had taken her years to grow accustomed to Hanzo's ways, but now they were a familiar comfort to her.

It was amazing just how well he seemed to know her innermost thoughts. She had been fretting! "You're very kind," she smiled at him gratefully, taking his open hand to step down from the dais where her shoes clicked lightly upon the marbled floors

[leekspin]

Orihime blinked a little, surprised that he would...! And yet, he had. She looked up at him for several moments in silence before she smiled, closed her eyes, and leaned against him once more. She'd needed this. She hadn't even realized how much she needed to be held after her father's death until this moment. The emptiness she'd been shunting aside and masking even from herself began to fade, replaced by warmth.

"You're the best friend I've...I've ever had," she said, her voice cracking as her eyes grew damp. She wished she would have done this years ago. His chest was firm and dependable, his arms strong and protective. "It all means so much to me. Thank you."

[tokugawakage]

Hanzo found himself wishing she had done this long ago too. Her body was warm, comforting... not at all like the cold darkness he had pledged himself to as a ninja. Still, the - albeit snickering - approval of his kunoichi was actually a bit of a comfort, to the point that he found his hand starting to stroke the princess' hair softly.

"And you're the only friend I need." He hadn't intended to say it quite like that, but he wasn't about to deny the truth of it now. "When I swore to protect you from whatever may seek to harm you, it was not solely for the benefit of your dying father. It was a vocalization of something I had already sworn silently to myself."

[leekspin]

A small shiver ran down her back at the feel of his fingers sifting through her long hair. It was heaven. It soothed her to the very core of her soul, sweeping away her worries and sadness and anxiety. The suitors barely existed in her mind at that moment. The loneliness induced by her father's death was erased. With him, she felt safe

[tokugawakage]

Hanzo had taken oaths wherein he renounced his humanity. To be merely a shadow of a man. But as much as he tried to deny it, he was still only a man. And now, the princess and object of many repressed desires had given him - a lowly ninja - one of the highest shows of affection known to man. Hanzo had his limits, and no longer could he deny his emotions. Even after the swift kiss, Hanzo found his hands moving on their own accord. In one swift move, elegant and precise, Hanzo pulled his mask away and leaned forward, to give Orihime a long passionate kiss.

It was a long moment before his mind kicked in again and it registered with him what he did and he reluctantly broke off the kiss and replaced his mask. "Forgive me, your majesty... I don't know what came over me..."

[leekspin]

She scarcely had time to admire the face she loved but so rarely got to see before she was suddenly admiring the heat of her first, very real, kiss. His mouth was so warm against hers, the movements of his lips stoking that warmth in her heart into something much brighter and hotter. She was so stunned that she couldn't respond. Her knees weakened, her heart pounded, and her hands felt cold.

Then it was over, and Orihime was kicking herself for not reacting the way she wished she would have. Her legs trembled so much from the feelings that threatened to overwhelm her, that they briefly gave out from under her and she stumbled.

Face flushed and somewhat breathless, Orihime looked up at Hanzo as her mind and body reeled.

"...Do...do you think it could come over you again...?" she asked with a faintly crooked smile as she pressed her hand against her heated cheek, struggling to catch her breath.

[tokugawakage]

Hanzo had to really resist the urge to just take Orihime right here right now. Still, he resisted that particular urge, even if he couldn't bring himself to release her from the embrace.

"It would not be proper, your highness... someone of your stature deserves someone of equal stature. You in particular deserve your prince in shining armor..."

He trailed off for a moment before his voice came in a low whisper, almost as if it had come as a surprise to even himself that he had spoken again. "...you deserve better than a shadow..."

[leekspin]

"What's wrong with shadows?"

Orihime wasn't going to give up so easily. Now that she knew he cared for her, enough at least that he would kiss her like that, she wasn't going to let go. He was too important to her. "My shadow knows who I am better than anyone else. Whatever I need to do, my shadow will do it with me. If I have to wave, look..." She waved her hand while looking down at the gray shadow of herself doing the same. "My shadow waves, too. My shadow is always with me, watching over me, and keeping me safe." She was looking directly at Hanzo now, her eyes searching his.

"I really love my shadow," she said gently, smiling. "More than I love a thousand shiny armors. And if stature is really so important...well..."

Orihime looked down at her feet, her fingers kneading at her skirts. She'd wanted to say it before, to invite him to court her. It hadn't seemed right at the time, but now... It was now or never. "I think a ninja king would be wonderful. Who would ever try to mess with a ninja king?"