Love at blades edge
#1 of Love at blades edge
When two opposing forces meet the unexpected happens.
Short story idea I had, any likeness to characters are purely intentional :P Not meant to be historically accurate so don't get your panties into a bunch.
For years the houses of Migi and Hidari had been fighting for the Emperors favour, countless battles fought and lives lost as the two great houses war raged on through the generations. This year though House Migi had a trump card, in the excavations of their mines they had unearthed a jade dragon egg, the last of its known kind in existence, having thought to be extinct for centuries and would be priceless, surely enough to finally gain the Emperors favour. With sons having grown too fat and lazy on their father's name, it was decided to hire some outside help to make sure the treasure was safely delivered to the Emperor on his birthday. It was decided to hire a rhonin by the name of Hageshi to be the eggs protector, her master only having been recently slain she was relatively unknown and was promised a place in House Migi is she was successful in her mission. Her beauty belying her true nature and skill, seeming far too small and delicate to pose much of a threat to any would be attackers. Being a kitsune as well she would blend in well with the envoy being sent, word being spread that she was the true gift to the Emperor as an offer of marriage to his soon to be eligible son. Such things were not uncommon to garner status among the houses.
The small band of Migi soldiers would set off on horseback, two each side of the carriage Hageshi would be riding in. Making sure to keep a slow and leisurely pace as not to draw too much attention to themselves, the group would travel along the Emperors road and heading up through the valley and into the mountains before descending back down the other side. The first few days relatively uneventful, the commoners working in the fields barely stopped their work to watch the passing carriage. All the while Hageshi would sit in the carriage fanning herself idly, nerves wound tighter than a harp string as an uneasy feeling rolled about the pit of her stomach. Staring out the window at the passing rows of cherry trees her ears would suddenly perk at the sound of a faint whistle. Soon another and another was heard, her blood running cold as she recognised the sound too late. Before her eyes the riders beside the carriage cried out as blood erupted from their chests, the arrows easily piercing through their simple armour. The carriage drawing to a halt suddenly as the driver jumped down and bolted for safety, only to get a few paces away before meeting the same fate as the soldiers.
"Step out of the carriage Princess, we promise not to hurt you" came a low growled voice of one of the attackers. "But what if I want to hurt you?" the kitsune chimed back in a singsong voice, a faint smile touching her lips. "Don't be silly, we have you outnumbered!" another voice hollered with a laugh. Indeed it seemed she was outnumbered, stepping from the carriage Hageshi would see a band of five men, from their dress she knew instantly they were from House Hidari. "Come now, surely it doesn't take five Rongut?ru to handle me?" still Hageshi smiled demurely, stepping away from the carriage while holding the front of her Kimono to step over one of the fallen soldiers. With a nod the snow leopard whom seemed to be in charge would send the largest of his men to handle her. As he approached the kitsune could see why the large black panther seemed to suddenly scowl at being called a long tail; the short stub of what must have been a luxurious tail flicked agitatedly behind him. Growling as he got in close, making to grab the collar of her kimono he would scream out in pain as his hand was grabbed and twisted painfully, soon dropping the big oaf to his knees before Hageshi. A moment later he would be knocked out cold as she did a simple spin, raising her foot to connect with his temple and sending the panther crashing into a heap on the floor. With a final stomp to the back of his neck and a sickening crack, his body gave a last few twitches before falling still, much to the shock of the remaining men. Their largest member being taken out in an instant with so little effort, they quickly realized this was no ordinary Princess, if she was a Princess at all.
At the sound of knives and swords being drawn, Hageshi turned to face her attackers again. Slowly undoing the sash of her kimono with a skew grin on her lips at the look of confusion on the men's faces. A sudden flare of movement as she whipped the silk garment up and off, tossing it into the air to distract them, her own Daisho hidden beneath soon drawn and held at the ready. Her clothing beneath the kimono giving away her true identity, the simple white keikogi and black hakama and her stance seemed to bring a smile to the snow leopards lips. Still standing behind the others and watching with mild interest. With a roar the three soldiers rushed in, swords drawn and slashing wildly at Hageshi who parried and blocked their attacks with ease with the blade of her shoto while lashing out with her daito. All the while she would smile and laugh, seeming to almost dance between her enemies blades without tiring. Meanwhile her would be attackers soon wore many red stripes as small wounds were opened all over, fatigue quickly setting in from their disorganised attacks and the loss of blood.
"Just finish them already, Totsuzen" the snow leopard would say with a soft laugh, knowing his men had already lost. Hageshi's smile faded at being called a mutt, whatever mercy she might have shown gone as with a few flicks of her daito, arcs of crimson soon spilled across the ground before the three fell to the ground motionless. "You won't fare any better" the kitsune growled at the leopard, aiming her daito at him and making sure he would see the blood of his men still dripping from the blades edge. "Cherry blossoms, how cute..." he stated as he stared down her blade to see the pattern carved into her tsuba, an intricate pattern of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind.
With a flick of his thumb the leopard would unsheathe his of daito and shoto, shrugging out of his cloak and turning to face her. A few steps brought him close enough to touch sword tips with the kitsune, also to finally notice the dazzling emerald of her eyes and the odd stripes which were barely visible at her shoulders beneath her keikogi. Likewise the kitsune got her first real look at the leopard, though not a true leopard it seemed. The green eyes were not common for his species, there also seemed to be a hint of another species in him, yet she could not place it. Not that it mattered; he was the enemy and needed to be put down. "I am Hyo, may I know the name of the Totsuzen that killed my men?" he would ask with a slight grin, knowing that word seemed to anger her and might just give him the edge. "Hyo, a bit on the nose isn't it? Your parents must not be very imaginative to call you that....I am Hageshi" the kitsune replied as the pair began to slowly pace and circle one another, sizing each other up. Hageshi would be the first to strike, a simple probing attack which Hyo easily deflected; likewise his counter too would be brushed aside with ease. The longer they seemed to dance and deflect one another's attacks, the mood in the air seemed to change. A few dances and steps back and soon they found themselves dancing beneath the falling cherry blossoms, petals being cleaved in half by sharp blades as each tried to score a hit. While the pair continued to battle the sun would cut a lazy arc across the sky, morning soon changing into afternoon before the light started to dim as it changed to sunset. Still the pair danced, the kitsunes moves flowing like a river while the leopard was the immovable rock. They were far too evenly matched; neither seeming to gain the upper hand other than shredding one another's clothing and exposing more of each other's forms in the process.
By the time Hyo and Hageshi were finally panting from exertion, the mood in the air had changed. No longer where they enemies fighting, the look of desire in their eyes and admiration for one another's fighting styles issued in a change. "Neither of us is going to win this, what say we call a truce?" Hyo finally asked with a laugh, grinning at the kitsune whom would nod and slowly sheath her Daisho, though only after the leopard had done so first.
After a brief exchange the truce was cemented, both being too far from their house to make the journey back alone it was decided for Hyo to build a small fire while Hageshi would catch some fish for their dinner. But when the fire was well underway and Hageshi was nowhere to be seen still, Hyo's curiosity got the better of him. Creeping along to the riverbank he would find more than he bargained for. Hageshi would be standing nude waist deep at the rivers edge, having decided to take a quick bath before dinner it seemed judging by the fish lying beside her clothing. With the moonlight dancing on the surface of the water Hageshi's true beauty was readily apparent, stirring desire even years of training and discipline could not contain in Hyo. Slipping out of his own clothing to casually stroll down to the rivers edge before her, Hageshi would not flinch or even try to cover herself. Instead the kitsune would grin at the leopard, her eyes travelling along his form. The many scars along his chest and shoulders speaking to his hard life, likewise the scars she wore telling her own tail. Despite being of different houses it seemed they had a lot in common, perhaps more than just mutual attraction and admiration from the way she gasped as his lips met hers in a sudden kiss. Strong arms wrapped about her waist and shoulders, the leopard held the nude kitsune against himself, her small breasts pressed against his chest and stiff nipples rubbing against his soft fur. A soft kitsune hand stroking down along the leopards side, resting momentarily at his hip before moving in to grasp at his swelling length and bringing forth a pleased growl from him. "What would our houses say if they knew we were doing this?" Hyo joked with a pleased churl as Hageshi began to steadily stroke him to fullness. "I'm rhonin, I have no house so I have no problem" the kitsune replied with a hint of sadness which was soon replaced by a startled yelp as Hyo's hands found her behind with a firm grip, hoisting her up and carrying her to dry land.
Laying the kitsune down beneath himself, his lips would find hers again in another passionate kiss. Her thighs rose to press against his hips, rubbing against his sides as his turgid length teased against her slit. Like sheathing a sword the leopard would hit his mark, burying himself to the hilt within the kitsune. Their kiss broken by a mutual groan of satisfaction as they began to move as one, hips rolling against thighs, thickness stroking and stretching Hageshi in ways most pleasurable while her embrace hugged and gripped Hyo's length with an almost perfect fit. Muscles flexed and ears twitched as they rolled against one another, soft grunts and pleasured groans filling the air as cherry blossoms drifted down around them. As much as they both wished it would last forever, the inevitable end came with a howl and a deep growl; Hyo growling as he gave one final thrust and came within Hageshi. While Hageshi would howl as Hyo sunk his knot within her, bringing more than just pleasure to the kitsune as she suddenly realised why there seemed to be something else to the leopard, which she now realised he was part kitsune as well.
As they lay panting and staring down at one another, neither unable to move for a little while at least, Hageshi would reach up to stroke her fingers against Hyo's cheek. "What of your house, you've lain with a rhonin and tarnished your honor?" A deep silence would follow before the stern expression on Hyo's face would crack into a smile. "Guess I'm a rhonin as well now"