Hikaru hurried down the hall. His servant, Yori, chased after him, tugging at his sleeves and trying to straighten Hikaru's crooked outer robe. He spotted Rin across the veranda. She did not see him at first; she was looking around the palace with interest, her neck craned, and her pale skin contrasted against crimson leaves on her robe. Yori collided with him from behind.

"Pardon me, my lord," Yori said.

Hikaru waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. A jade comb in Rin's hair sparkled and winked at him as she moved under shafts of sunlight falling onto the landing. She turned and their eyes met.

Yori cleared his throat. Hikaru had forgotten he was there. "There's no need for you to apologize; I stopped too suddenly. I thought I felt something in my sock."

"Should I take you back to your chamber and switch them out, my lord?" Yori asked, with a hardly stifled laugh, which he poorly disguised as a cough.

As Rin drew closer, he suddenly felt very aware of his attire. He ran his hands over his hair to make sure it was smooth and then discreetly turned to Yori. "How do I look?"

Yori smiled, like a fond uncle would. "Very handsome, my lord."

"You know how to please your lord. I will call for you later."

Yori bowed, but the grin did not leave his face as he backed away. "As you say, my lord."

Rin was close enough now that he could touch her if he were so bold. Her smile flashed across her face. Unlike so many noble ladies he met, her smile was broad and reached her eyes. Can the sun even shine as bright as that smile?

He bowed to her in greeting. She stared back at him. Did I do something wrong? Why did she not bow as well?

The handmaiden who accompanied Rin gasped. When Hikaru glanced at the maid, she turned her head away, a blush staining her cheeks. He was not the only one who had noticed Rin's bad manners. It was her eccentric behavior that fascinated him and it endeared him to her more than anything.

"Lady Nishimori, I am glad to see you. I hope you slept well."

The smirk did not leave her ruby lips, but it curved the corners of her mouth in a way that was both enticing and mysterious. The night before he had been sure he misunderstood her intentions. What noble lady would invite a man she just met into her chamber? But judging from the secretive way she smiled and how she looked at him through her lashes, that may have indeed been her intention. He tugged at his collar; he felt very hot all of a sudden. I'm turning into a lecher. I must be misreading her signals.

"I thought perhaps we might break our fast together." He motioned towards the room beyond. The sliding doors had been pulled back on all sides. The sun filtered into the room, giving it natural light. On the opposite end of the room, it overlooked a courtyard garden, one of many sprinkled across the palace. The maple tree in the center of the courtyard burst with crimson leaves, which brightened an otherwise bleak garden.

Rin walked through the room, and instead of seating herself on one of the pillows on the floor, she went into the garden. It was a small space and Rin, wearing the same kimono he had found her in, seemed to fill the bleak space with light. She stepped down from the landing and revealed dainty bare feet as she lifted up the hem of her kimono. She stepped onto the cobblestones that made a path through the small garden. She stood beneath the maple tree and tilted her head back. It revealed the column of her throat and the nape of her neck; it was oddly erotic. He had seen such few glimpses of her flesh, but each time it stirred something within him. He followed her out as if in a trance.

He did not take off his own socks, but he did find a pair of sandals by the door and slid them on so he could join her in the garden. He followed her same path, his sandals clicking on the stones. She turned to him. Her eyes reflected the gold of her kimono, and her hair in the light looked almost coppery. He stared for a moment, thinking once more of the strange woman who had saved him in the woods. But when he blinked, she returned to as she was, dark hair and eyes, a noble lady. She was an odd woman, but that was what drew him to her.

"Do you like the tree?" he asked. How simple I must sound.

She smiled and moved closer. She pressed her hand to the bark and then to her heart.

"You seem to have a strong attachment to nature." He hesitated, then under his breath said, "I wish you could tell me what you were thinking."

She did not look at him, but he could feel her smirk somehow. She has secrets that I would drain the ocean to learn. She makes me want to write bad poetry. I may be more adept with a brush than a sword, but I do not think anything I could pen would do justice to her innocence and beauty.

"I've heard that the Nishimoris have strong ties to the forest. They say it is because of your patron Kami, but I do not put much stock in those sorts of things."

She turned to look at him. Her eyes traced his face and then slowly went down to his throat and over his shoulders. It was an intimate feeling having her eyes travel over him like that. It felt as if she could see through him. Did she find him wanting? Did she like what she saw? She looked at his face again and then shrugged. The sting of her dismissal nearly staggered him. He was left with his mouth agape as she turned and ran back up the stairs. She must be teasing me. He followed her back into the room. The servants had laid out a meal of miso soup, broiled fish, rice, and an assortment of side dishes, including fried tofu.

Rin knelt down on one of the pillows and she leaned forward, smelling the food in front of her. Her expression was blissful. He could not help but drink in her appearance. She seemed to experience the world as if for the first time, like she had been born just the day before.

"Is everything to your liking?" he asked.

She picked up a bowl of fried tofu and had pressed it nearly to her nose. She closed her eyes and exhaled. When she opened them, she looked at him rather sheepishly. He laughed and she smiled before diving into the tofu with gusto. He watched her eat for a few more moments before taking a few bites of his own food. I cannot keep staring, it's rude.

When she finished the tofu, she tried the fish, which seemed to her liking, as did the rice and the soup. She ate heartily, which was a refreshing change. So many of the women he encountered nibbled and hardly ate. Rin was different from them in so many ways.

When they finished their meal, he offered her a tour of the palace. He started at the outer ring of the palace. This area was populated by the servants and lower-ranking clan members. A young woman walked with her head down, carrying empty dishes back to the kitchen. Hikaru did not notice the woman approaching them until she collided with Rin. Hikaru caught Rin about the waist and she fell against his chest, clutching onto his outer robe. He stared down into her large dark eyes. She smiled at him before very gently pushing away. Her hand seemed to linger on his chest a moment longer than necessary, but he might have imagined it. The servant who fell knelt over the broken dishes, which she picked up and placed in her upturned apron. Hikaru noticed and bent down to help her up.

"My apologies, my lord, I was not watching where I was going." She did not look at Hikaru, but he could see her eyes darting towards Rin.

"We should have watched where we were going. You are the one who was doing her duty." He smiled at her, but the young woman did not return it.

She gathered the dishes and fragments, refusing Hikaru's help. When she was finished, she gave him a low bow, scurried backwards and hurried away from them. When she disappeared around the corner, Hikaru returned his attention to Rin. They walked side by side through the palace grounds. He wanted to reach out to touch her hand or brush against her arm, though he knew it would be inappropriate. No matter where they went, the servants watched them go; their expressions were mixed fear and apprehension. At first he paid it no heed; then he heard their whispers and could feel the tension in the air like a blanket covering them. The servants would never openly stare, but they all but did. One man ran in the opposite direction as they approached. He looked at Rin, who grinned back at him. She did not seem to notice. Rumors have already begun to spread. I must stop this now, or she may suffer the same fate.

"Let's go to the practice yard. I can show you the men at work."

She inclined her head and they walked off together. The practice area was full of activity as they approached. A ring of men surrounded two who sparred. Swords rang as they collided, followed by the shouts of the watchers in support of their champion. Hikaru and Rin took a spot in the shade of a veranda that overlooked the yard. Rin scooted very close to the edge, her eyes glued to the fight.

The men were shirtless and glistened with sweat. The man to the right breathed heavily, his practice wooden sword held at the ready. Hotaru, on the opposite side, eyed his challenger with a grim look of determination. Hikaru had seen that look in his brother's eye before and he was glad not to be on the receiving end of it. Hotaru's opponent had his back to them and did not appear to even have broken a sweat. The two charged one another, swords slashing and jabbing.

Rin touched Hikaru's elbow, and he flinched involuntarily. Her casual touches inflamed him and filled his thoughts with images of what could have happened had he acknowledged her invitation from the night before. Damn my honor. If I were a different man, I might consider it. As it was, he was hard-pressed to push aside such selfish thoughts. She did not withdraw her hand, however. When he looked at her, it seemed there was a question she wanted to ask.

"Are you wondering what they are doing?" he asked.

She shook her head.

"Then perhaps you want to know why they are practicing?"

She nodded.

He looked back to the men. The man who had his back turned to them before was facing them now. Hikaru recognized Captain Sadao. He had his brother cornered and the strain of keeping his cool was visible in Hotaru's face. It gave Hikaru a jolt to see his brother with his back against the wall for once, but he knew it wouldn't last. Hotaru never lost. Hikaru held his breath, expecting his brother to turn the tables at the last moment. Captain Sadao jabbed again, the practice sword grazing against Hotaru's unprotected midriff. A killing blow. Hotaru threw up his hands in surrender. The fight was over. The captain and Hotaru bowed to one another. Rin stepped in front of him, her brow raised. She was waiting for an answer.

Hikaru hesitated to reply; his family's business was private. It had not occurred to him until this moment that she may very well be a spy sent by their enemies. "It is not right for me to speak of war in a lady's presence."

She crossed her arms in front of her in a most unladylike fashion.

He sighed. "We are preparing for war. There has been tension between the clans."

She looked back to the men fighting, her expression thoughtful.

"There is no need to worry, your father and mine are allies. You are safe here." He dearly hoped she was not a spy and he was just being paranoid.

She smiled, but it lacked the conviction of her previous smiles. Her eyes seemed troubled.

"Hikaru, have you decided to take up swordplay?"

His brother Hotaru approached them. Rin perked up as he approached. His brother's hair was down and he dabbed at his face with a towel. He had hoped his brother would be distracted by his loss and not notice them. I've never seen anyone beat Hotaru before.

"I was showing Lady Nishimori around," Hikaru replied. It was difficult to keep the ice from his tone when Rin looked at Hotaru like a woman dying of thirst.

His brother looked Rin up and down, his gaze slow and languid. Hikaru's hands balled into fists at his sides. Hotaru had a reputation with women; his natural magnetism and position made it easy. Hikaru stepped discreetly in front of Rin, drawing his brother's attention to him.

"I see you have met your match, brother." Hikaru nodded towards Captain Sadao.

Hotaru laughed. "I have to let them win from time to time. It keeps up morale."

Hikaru rolled his eyes, but his brother did not notice. While the captain did not appear taxed at all, Hotaru's brow glistened with sweat and his breathing remained labored. Hotaru stepped around Hikaru to approach Lady Rin. "I have heard much about you, my lady. The rumors of your beauty do not do you justice."

Rin batted her eyes at Hotaru.

"We should be going. This is not a place for a woman to linger," Hikaru said and grabbed onto Rin's wrist without thinking. He pulled Rin along after him. She came, but when they were alone again, she wrenched her hand from his.

She glared at him and he could see the accusation in her eyes.

"Don't be angry, Lady Nishimori, my brother has a reputation—" He choked on the rest of his words. He dared not offend her further.

She tossed her head and stomped away from him. He went to chase after her when he was intercepted by a servant, who stepped into his path, blocking him from following after Rin.

"My lord, your father bid me give you a message."

"What is it?" Hikaru snarled. He looked past the servant to Rin, who was about to turn the corner and out of sight.

"He has sent me to remind you that your wife is to come soon, and it would not be appropriate to be seen paying any special attention to our guest."

Hikaru looked at the servant. His eyes were lowered, but he knew how his father's men reveled in delivering his decrees.

"Tell my father I do not forget my place." He clenched his jaw, biting back what he would rather say.