“No tricks.” I warned, and Miss Zozibini smiled warmly.

  “Perish the thought. Here we are, trying to make amends for your feelings of betrayal, and gratitude for your aid of me. We are hardly so crass, are we, great Nkosi?”

  “Rha! Speak for yourself, Zozibini. I don’t like this fn heap of rhino dung. Though…” He looked as if he was going to spit, but at a pointed look from Miss Zozibini, as well as realising the pany he was in, he refrained with a srimace. “…Got to say, I do like the way he put that elephant-fucker Dino in his grave. He’s no fug loss.”

  “Please, great Nkosi, this is not the time for profanities.” Miss Zozibini apologised for him. “He’s just p, don’t mind him. As for tricks… I believe you see through any, no?”

  At my slow nod, she gestured her ally forwards, and the small, wizened man with the painted face came to me, aether shining.

  “Just as the moon is a revolving mirror of time, from o crest to half to gibbous to full, to gibbous to half to crest to new yet again… stop the moon and stop the time, an unblinking eye of wisdom…let Khonsu halt your time!” The words weren’t in English or Japanese, but I somehow still uood them, as if they were universal.

  The aether was joined by adherence, and also a torrent of elemental energies. It was mostly the inky violet of spatial, but in addition a signifit amount of lighter purple indigo, as well as traces of blue, were drawn in.

  Hinata seemed a little wary still, but at my nod she rexed, and I trated on , my Eye glowing brightly, on feeling it out with my own spatial, light and darkness elements. It was definitely a posite element, mainly of space, but its ws were too hard for me to grasp. Holy, while my uanding and ability with spatial element has increased retly, I’m still no expert. But…

  With my memory, I made sure to record every detail, and hopefully Arisu-san might be able to make sense of it. Space seemed to inside me, it was hard to expin, as it wasn’t teically space, but it also was somehow. I had a cursory uanding of physics, like how light moved in a timeless moment, and how time slowed down for objects moving at incredible speeds… So, spad time are linked. It’s called spacetime, after all…

  I felt a strange sensation, as if all my adherence was frozen. I gently tugged at it, only for the old man to speak in a nguage I didn’t uand, shaking his head, frowning. Miss Zozibini hastily transted. “He says to stop that. Time is like a mighty river, swimming against it, halting the current, it is barely tained, and a single crack will cause the dam to break, time resuming its normal course. So only when you wish to use the bounty you have seized from those who are weaker than you should you break the seal.”

  “Weaker than…” Hinata narrowed her eyes, clearly not likiurn of phrase.

  “Stronger or weaker, that’s not relevant.” I did st to move my adherence as suggested though. It certainly left me at a minor disadvantage, my ability to use my own adhereemporarily sealed, but there were two positives. No, actually it seems there are three. Firstly, with more time to examihis moon seal, I might be able to divine more about how he’s do, how Khonsu’s Favour operates. Sedly, now my pressio either break down some of the Favours or find someone who was either patible or could be made suitable had been postponed, giving me a ce to get Egil Andersen’s Seeds without losing out on this other opportunity. And thirdly, and most surprisingly…

  It seemed that there was a slight resoween the effed Tsukuyomi’s Favour. I didn’t get much use out of that ability, mostly down to my o spend most waking hours in both bodies doing numerous tasks that demanded my time, as well as the fact that most of the time when sleeping the Favour was quiest, but I did feel rather guilty I was wasting the gift Tsukiko had given me. So any information on it is wele…

  “I would hope this shows our siy, that we have no wish to be at odds with you.” Miss Zozibini said when her ally stepped back, seeming rather exhausted. “We should let bygones be bygones, as you might say. Great Nkosi here would say, ohe shit’s been ed off one’s boots, there’s no point further pining about the elephant.”

  At that surprising crudity, Nkosi barked a ugh, and the temosphere in the room dimihe politis seeming to think the matter was resolved, but Hinata merely looked at me with narrowed eyes, and I uood her meaning. She’s a greedy girl. This doesn’t sit well with her…

  “It does… to aent.” My words cut off the lightening mood of the room, plunging it batloom. “But the thing is… this shit when wiped away still left us with deaths and a traumatised young woman. So excuse me if the elephant waving its tail and a little lip service as an apology leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

  Kira-san seemed tent to let us hahings, and at his gaze the diplomats supp us fell silent, so I tinued. “Yes, your help with the gentleman here…” I the man with his painted face. “…is wele, but holy, it’s hardly an imposition. It’s not like you’ve given up anything except perhaps he’ll have to rest up for a day or two.”

  “That’s right.” Hinata agreed, her brown eyes fshing with a faiallic shimmer, which I found positively adorable. Hinata was more charming than ever, and not just due to her likely higher Charm now. “The thing is… we have our reputation and honour to uphold. If wot out we could be exploited in other people’s schemes just because you io offer us a little bribe at the end… no, that won’t do at all. My good friend and sister Daiyu has a saying… To truly show siy is to cut your flesh and break your bones. In this case, well, elephants have ivory, don’t they?”

  “Rha! You fug greedy pigs, always the same, treating reat Africa as your own personal source of wealth. Just as you came for the minerals and preetals of South Africa…” Nkosi was insed, but Miss Zozibini merely narrowed her eyes. Yeah, it’s the thihat scare me, not the boasters, the ones quick to anger. She’s by far the more dangerous one, even if her powers ‘seem’ weaker. I wouldn’t put it past her to hide her true strength.

  “Peace, great Nkosi. I am sure that our brave woman here would not be so greedy as to suggest we suffer for their hubris. After all, you ehe tale to seize spoils with tenuous e to you, no? That entails risk. Those who steal are stolen from in turn.”

  “True, but those that set the stage, direct the py, right?” I tered. “You ihe situation I’m sure, made damain that Dino and his thugs were in the right pces. But…” Hinata nodded, and I uood her iions. “…we’re not here tue that. But were the situations reversed, I’m sure Nkosi here would be cm for a ce to show his mettle.”

  “You’re fug right I wouldn’t stand for it…” he fumed, and I saw a brief hint of annoyance, well masked, iss Zozibini’s face.

  “Enough, great Nkosi. There is a time and a pce for bat. Now… make your point, and I will listen, for we are not at odds, despite yer. It is dangerous, being touched by the Gods. For they are capricious, yes?”

  “It seems so.” I agreed. “Now, I’m not ied in blood for blood, because you’re right. We did e here for our own ends. But that doesn’t quell my dissatisfa, and your kiure…” I the Chosen who had frozeime of the captured Favain. “…seems a mere token. No… you like stories, don’t you? Well, how about you face us holy, in a story of our choosing. If you win, then I promise to sider none of this happened, and I’ll fet my dissatisfa. And Nkosi here brag he defeated me…”

  At his smirk, I knew I had them. Miss Zozibini would also think she had the advantage as well, but I’d seehreads.

  “And if you win?” she asked, taking the bait as I expected.

  “Then you have to allow us a safe and stable Territory here in South Afrid protect it.” Hinata decred. “And no longer cause a fuss about our operations here. We won’t interfere with your as, but you ’t with ours.”

  At that, Nkosi seemed insed, as well he might be, sidering his a who he sidered outsiders taking advantage of Africa, but sensing that, Miss Zozibini held up a hand, forestalling him again. Even so, he was gring at us furiously, bare, beaded chest puffed out angrily like he was trying to make himself seem rger.

  “This seems a rather unfair trade.” She smiled softly, almost mogly. “Besides, I don’t believe you truly set aside your flict with us. Best we simply go our own ways…”

  “Nonsense.” Hinata denied her. “sidering those who Akio has fiven before, who even geried to murder him… he’s not as petty as you.” Her smile was sharp yet amused. “Our favour is worth a little sacrifice, a little ivory, and we’re not asking for much. South Africa is huge, you ’t easily trol it all, so a er for us…”

  She’s thinking Gates. Yeah, it makes sense. My life would be so much easier if we had them established worldwide… and of course, the Afri ti likely has no end of wonders in the Boundary we might be able to make use of… My sis had used her Territory now, but we still had plenty of options, and if lio the Gate work, defending it shouldn’t be impossible, especially with cooperation from our local warlord here, who now seemed to hold unchecked power in the region after we were helped into taking out his biggest rivals.

  “…is hardly going to invenience you. Besides, aren’t you fident?”

  Miss Zozibini’s smile was cold yet charming. “I know stories well. The fident often e u the final step. Now, Nkosi… if you would allow me?”

  “So you agree then?” Hinata pressed, and though Nkosi stared daggers at us, Miss Zozibini nodded.

  “Men do care about their pride.” She smiled warmly at Nkosi, before transferring that smile to Hinata. “I hardly think you are weak and easy to exploit. After all, Dino Moloi could tell us otherwise, if the dead could speak. Even King Midas has fled, it seems… but… it is not in Anansi’s nature to turn down a game, to miss out on a story…”

  With that settled, Hinata and I exged gnces. All right then. From what I know of how her ability works, which story will trap her in her own strings?

  ***

  “Are you sure about this, Akio-kun, Hinata-?” Kira-san asked. He seemed in a jovial mood, but I could tell he was worried about his granddaughter still, and now this situation too. “I agree it’s important to project power, it’s how the Japanese nobility have remained asdant all these years… but it’s a risk. And… the South Afri power structure ishused.”

  Ihe General and the Minister for Home Affairs had looked positively irritated at the thought of us maintaining a stable presence here. Though the President had pulled aside Kira-san for a brief chat, and didn’t look as upset as his subordinates.

  “Besides… if you lose here, won’t it have the opposite effect to what you want?”

  Hinata shook her head. “Oh uncle Kira, have some more faith in us. Lose? We don’t lose. Not when we’ve seericks, yes?” Hinata tapped under her eye, and I grinned, even as I was stepping out into the small pond that was in the grounds of the hospital. Fish scattered, darting away from me, and the water was cool on my bare legs a.

  “I don’t get it, but… trust is earned, not given, and I’ve always liked you, Hinata-. So… this old man is cheering you on. May it bring my Mayumi some satisfa!”

  Nkosi ag restlessly. He had suggested a duel instead, if I wao prove myself, but I wasn’t here to bully with strength, but to turn their own tricks against them, which would illustrate the follies of messing with us unwisely again. Miss Zozibini was merely watg, her aether and adherence swirling, though she was unaware I could see the spider-threads of fate that were trailing from her like tentacles, I thought, as I was carefully masking the glow of my Eye with light element, giving my Split Thoughts a workout. She knows a lot, but… quite often those that know the most are the easiest to fool.

  “So, this tale.” Miss Zozibini smiled brightly. “I believe I have heard of it. Are you sure this is your wish? Perhaps a more obscure Japanese one might give you a greater hope?”

  “he moral here is applicable, I think. Doesn’t that make it more satisfying? Besides, there’s a version of this story that has a fairy in it.” I grinned, wriggling my toes, enjoying the cool water in the Afri heat. “From what I gather, Anansi likes a certain sort of symbolism, yes?”

  “I have no idea why you think us being from your aakes you seem weak. You have certainly showed me that provoking you is reckless.” Miss Zozibini promised. “But… there will be bes when I triumph. After all, Fate and Fortune go to the victor, yes?”

  I’m ting on it. This’ll be payment and a lesson. Before, the dead paid what we gained, I’m sure, but here… nobody dies. And if her ability could empower her from nothing just by navigating tales, it’d be more broken than any I’ve ever seen. I doubt the Gods would spare such a Favour.

  “Yes, but this tale might be more nuahan you think.” I o Hinata, who had used her newfoual element to create three temporary axes, one of iron, one of silver, and one of gold. They looked essentially identical, apart from the metal of the head of the axes, although… Your perception would have to be insanely powerful to see the differen size. A mere millimetre. Ordinarily that would be useless, but… Hinata’s metals aren’t ordinary…

  Hinata had made the axes i when we had discussed our pn, making it look like something I had prepared. Handing the iroo Miss Zozibini, Hinata beamed at her. “Best be careful. Don’t hit Akio with it when you throw it in. After all, Fae hate iron.”

  “Is that a hint? How sweet.” Miss Zozibini was fident, almost relentlessly so, and as I watched calmly, the axes of silver and gold in the pond with me already, her strands began to ect to the three axes, the ke, me and Hinata. It’s certainly iing. Fht is obvious, and she must have a det amount, as before she even knew I’d challenge her, in the guise of doing me a favour as pensation, she’s mao freeze my adherence.

  Fate is also about esg inescapable dooms. I’d guess in this text, it’s dodging the traps iales. Fortune goes without saying. Yes, coupled with a sharp wit, this is quite the dangerous Favour, but…

  My thoughts were interrupted as she tossed the axe. It nded in front of me, spshih water, further scattering the fish. As it nded, I carefully, delicately wove matg strands of aether, approximating hers as ly as possible. I couldn’t match the adherence, as mine was sealed, but… It’s just Chirurgery, in a way… and my Aether Manipution is strong enough to at least affect adherence if it’s not to.

  “Shall we start then?” Miss Zozibini asked, only for Hinata to smirk at her. “What?” Miss Zozibini raised an eyebrow questioningly, and in that sed, I subtly sliced into the strands, using my own duplicates to mask the quick, subtle ge I made. Not that it’ll fool her, but…

  “Oh, it’s nothing. I just enjoy it when people uimate Akio and then have to admit he’s the better man in the end.”

  “Better? Rha! What fug rhino-shit…” Nkosi snarled, but Miss Zozibini silenced him again with a hard look. In her crimson suit with brilliant white shirt shining uhe m sun, she seemed very impressive.

  “Shall we begin? I feel rather bad, keeping the President waiting.”

  “All right then…” I nodded, sinking down into the pond, submerging myself. I then emerged, trailing water drops everywhere, Hinata looking at me warmly, her cheeks tinged with a little heat, and I realised my shirt was transparent. Maybe we’ll have time for fun ter… not now.

  “Oh brave wanderer, I am Mmoatia, Fairy of this ke…” I weaved her previous tale into this one, earning a smile from her, and a grudging scowl from Nkosi. “I was minding my own business, doing nothing, when somebody tried to assassinate me with an axe of cursed iron. Very disappointing, most upsetting.” I spoke like Anna, Shaeu’s sister, as part of my act.

  “Does the sto that way?” Miss Zozibini frowned, but then brightened, ahreads twitched. “I assure you, no malice was intended. I merely misid my axe while chopping wood for the harsh winter. I have no wish to freeze, so please, you help me, noble Mmoatia, aurn my axe?”

  “I see. Hmm… well, here. Do not, never do it again, throwing axes is most dangerous, greatly unsafe.” I pulled out the axe of silver. “Here, take it.”

  “I am sorry. That is not my axe.” Miss Zozibini shook her head. “It is far too fine for me. I am not greedy, I simply need my axe for cutting wood.”

  “I see. Not your axe, you say, you procim? Then…” I produced a sed axe, this one shining golden. “This was yours, no?”

  “You said it yourself.” Miss Zozibini shook her head. “My axe was one of iron. This golden axe is far too fio…” She paused, pursing her lips. “But then… this story, it reminds me a little of when Anansi tricked tiger with a bar of gold that was simply hardened cy. you do me a favour, noble Mmoatia, please show me the final axe. After all, everyone knows fairies always do things in threes, and so do stories.”

  “I see. Most wise, very astute. But…” I retrieved the final axe, which seemed to be an iron one. “…this axe was used to nearly murder me. Are you sure you want to cim it?”

  “I assure you, that was merely a mistake.” Miss Zozibini chuckled. “But… I’m no fool. Taking that axe would be too easy, and I…”

  Think so, huh? Suddenly there were two sets of Threads Of Fate, as I had carefully pared the ends down, splitting them and filling in the losses with my ether. Miss Zozibini blinked, momentarily fused, before seemingly making up her mind.

  “In that case… a double bluff. Hence all your talk about the iron. I know my axe. Return it, please, and I shall apologise for actally nearly bringing you harm… huh?”

  Too te. You paid attention to the story on the surface. Actually, this isn’t the story of the ho woodcutter at all, it’s a retelling of the events you orchestrated. I fused your Threads Of Fate just enough to make you miss that, with Hinata’s help.

  “Harm, even actal, is not a good thing, a pleasant deed.” I decred grandiosely. “Apologies will not wash away blood…” The beauty is… g victory, the greater the unfair scheme overe, the greater the rewards, and the greater the fall her oppo suffers. But… I’m mirr her scheme here, so if this is unfair, so were her own as…

  “I see. Then… I shall cim my axe, and offer amends.” She hesitated, w if I had tricked her, before reg her iron axe. With a smile, Hinata clicked her fingers, and the millimetre of iron fked away, revealing the axe was a golden one.

  “Oh, how terribly greedy. You send me harsh, cold iron, and take away my i gold, incorruptible wealth. What trickster are you, what artist?” My reply was harsh, and Miss Zozibini narrowed her eyes, threads boiling with energy.

  “This isn’t how the tale goes…” she insisted. “As for that golden axe…”

  “Yes, it’s iron.” I broke character. “If I was truly unfair, then the silver axe would have been the one.” I flicked the axe, and the gold fked away, turning to scattered elemental energy, a thin yer, created by Hinata’s new power. “But… see, this iron…” There were shining sparks of golden colour within it. “…is pyrite. Fool’s gold. Faeries use it a lot to trick the gullible, delude the greedy. Just like your apologies. Sure…” I grinned, having used her own tricks against her. The muting of the glow of my Eye fell away, and the amber sparks within the grey even resembled the iron and pyrite mix the axe-head was made of. “…I believe you didn’t want us to die. You’re ruthless, but don’t strike me as particurly evil. Just pragmatic.”

  “But pragmatists be crueller than those whenuinely evil.” Hinata stepped up to the pond, a hand to help me out. The axes broke apart, disiing, her energies spent. It was quite the challenge, making these axes, with thin yers of other metals over the top, unnaturally strong, despite the fact it was merely a pting. Fortunately, Hinata, while she had not had the time to train Motoko and Natsumi had, was w oher and elemental trol instead of ons.

  “After all…” Hinata finished. “…it often be logical to sacrifice others fain. But it doesn’t suit us!”

  “I see.” Miss Zozibini’s eyes fshed for a moment, before the Threads Of Fate colpsed. As they did so, my Eye observed her subtle bodies waver, dimming a little, before amber letters fred ay vision.

  Your Fortune has increased by Three.

  Your Fht has increased by Two.

  Your Fate has increased by Three.

  “You fused the Threads, so I was not able to see the story I was actually in. I had assumed you were going to trick me, and you did, but by making me assume the trick was that I would know you were trig me.” Her lustrous dark skin seemed a little dull, and she was exhausted, her strength diminished. “But…” she ughed then, surprising me. “I do approve. It is the sort of triansi favours. Truth hidden by lies only to reveal the truth anew. I admit defeat.”

  “Fuck, I don’t!” Nkosi snapped. “I’m not beaten, I…”

  “You’ll accept the result.” I warned, my League stoked to its maximum. Hinata paled, quickly ushering everyone away, and Miss Zozibini staggered, before also beating a retreat, a little blood leaking from her nose. “I’m warning you, I’m not in a good mood.”

  “Rha! Should I care?” Nkosi was unwilling to back down, but… he was definitely feeling the strain, sweat beading on his forehead and cheeks, a mirembling in his limbs.

  “I think you should. You’re strong. A true lion…” I tried not to make that sound sarcastic, but wasn’t sure I entirely succeeded. “…in fact, amongst the Chosen I’ve met, you’d certainly rank amongst the top few. Your League is impressive. You’re standing up to me…” Especially since my League has growly. I don’t know how much higher it go, before I reach a wall…

  “…and you’ve obviously fought many hard battles, honed yourself, but… I’m not in the mood to lose.”

  “You think I’m scared of you, fug pair of dangling hippo balls?” he spat back, and I shook my head.

  “No, I know you’re not. Like I said, you’re a lion, the king of the jungle. But it’s not the lion who rules, is it? It’s the smart huhe lion that survives is the ohat knows to avoid trouble.” I narrowed my eyes, coldly annoyed. “You agreed to let Miss Zozibini pete. Shouldn’t you respect her resolve and will?”

  That gave him pause. He turned his head and spat noisily, befrunting a harsh acceptance. “Fug fihat’s true. I’m no lying snake, not like that bastard Dino. Rha! Zozibini, what the fuck are you doing? I thought you always knew how to read a fug story?”

  “Even Anansi lets his pride trick himself. Remember when moricked Anansi into his own pit of stakes where he had killed hog, by g there was gold in the… hole?” Her eyes showed sudden reition, g her hands. “How marvellous. It is exactly like the tale of Anansi and Fling-A-Mile too. Impaled on my own spikes, because I reached fold that was merely fool’s gold. Is it because you tampered with the Threads Of Fate? It should not be possible.”

  “You’d be amazed what’s possible.” I dried myself off with a gust of wind and fme element. “Does it feel good, being used? And your loss was mild, though unlike your previous gift, at least it’s something that costs you.”

  “I hope we’ve made our point.” Hinata’s smile was wicked. “If you wanted our aid, you should have had the decy to ask for it. sider that payment for Mayumi’s fright.”

  “I see.” Miss Zozibini nodded. “I suppose it is a small penalty at that. Though I am all the weaker for it.”

  “Yes, I’d imagine your Fate, Fortune and Fht determine how strong your Favour is.” I mused. “versely, if your oppo has high stats, it’s harder for you. But if you want to py again, by all means give it a try… but you might lose more ime.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure. After all, monkey might have tricked Anansi once, but usually, it is Anansi who is the victor, and I am not sant as to fall for the same scheme twiow… we should go. Although…” She waved her phone, and mine chimed, Hinata’s too, her number haviransferred over to us remotely. “…I suppose you will o notify us when you pn to secure your Territory.”

  “Yes, don’t fet now!” Hinata warned, and Nkosi spat again, though he remained silent. With that, they left, leaving the grounds of the hospital with their fellow Chosen…

  ***

  “So we’re in agreement?” the President stated, and Kira-san nodded, mopping his brow.

  “It seems we are. We’ll not hold South Africa responsible for our pse in safety, no more than you hold Akio-kun and the others responsible for the deaths of South Afri citizens in self-defence. After all, Chosen matters are… chaotic, at the moment. I think you should get a handle on things, like we are trying.” He warned mildly. “Though I do fess, it’s not the easiest of tasks. We’re fortuhat Akio-kun is a fairly mild-mannered man, and that he’s got good women by his side to keep him grounded.”

  Hinata smiled broadly at Kira-san’s praise. “Yes, though it seems Zozibini seems to be the brain behind Nkosi’s brawn. But that aside… pensation.”

  “Yes.” The President agreed. “Not that we admit to any fault, but ierests of diplomacy, a package of pensation to the families of the dead, as well as your injured, will be provided. And… we have no objes to your g of this other world, in a single instance.”

  I’m not so sure, the General here looks like he’d want to object again, but… We’d had this argument, and the fact that we had a Ring Gate eg us to Britain (Yes, we hadn’t cimed the Territory, but the principle was the same) and would soon be doing the same in South Korea, had won the argument. Kira-san had also promised some potential agreements in terms of mutual defend cooperation, though the details were yet to be worked out. And of course, it’ll have to be agreed by me and the others. But…

  “Fihen. In that case…” Kira-san looked at me, and I nodded.

  “Yes, we’ll go see Mayumi…-.” At his annoyingly hopeful look I gave in and used the honorific he demanded. “You finish up here.”

  When Hinata and I left, she breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s been quite the few days. I was jealous of you going abroad with everyone else, but if it’s like this all the time, it’s not the fun holiday I thought it’d be.”

  “It seldom is.” I grinned, pulling her into a hug. We stayed like that for a while, finally rexing. “Although, one day we’ll be able to enjoy normal, fun holidays, where we don’t have to do anything. Though… not for a while.”

  Hinata nodded, agreeing. “Yes. Well, speaking of… it seems that the Tengokusentou is being handed back, for a hefty cash settlement. The annoying thing is it wasn’t our efforts that secured it fully. Though in the end, what matters is we have it back. Uncle Kira…” Hinata smiled wryly at that. “…grandfather Itsuki, and Fujiwara-sama only care about the oute. Seems like the iations were mediated by Fujiwara-sama’s son in the end. Which is odd, as…” Hinata narrowed her eyes, wary. “…I feel bad saying it, as… it’s just not a dohing to criticise anyone from Fujiwara house, but… Hidemasa-sama is not well regarded. He’s seen as a man whose ambition outstrips his abilities. But he does have es, I suppose.”

  “I see. That’s good for the Shiraishi sisters, isn’t it?” I asked, and Hinata shook her head.

  “Not necessarily. We alo returengokusentou to them, rather than their useless family, but Hidemasa-sama… like I said, he’s ambitious. He might try and keep it within Fujiwara house. Although…” Hinata’s lips quirked into a smile. “…if Fujiwara-sama pns to intervene, Hidemasa-sama won’t be able to resist. Thanks to our support, I’ve been io the grand handover, where it’s returo the nobility. I should be able to make it back to attend, even with these loose ends here to tie up.”

  “I see. And you’ll be careful, right?” I asked, worried, as I’d still almost certainly be in America at that time.

  “Always.” Hinata promised. “Now… I’m better able to protect myself and others, aren’t I?”

  “True, but look at Miss Zozibini. She was fident in her own abilities, and she’s much more experiehan you.” I warned, and Hinata flushed a pale pink, before kissing my lips softly.

  “I get it. I won’t be arrogant. I know you worry. And you’re having those premonitions of danger. I’ll be prepared for anything, and worst case, I’ll get myself and those who matter to us out safely. The Tengokusentou isn’t worth our lives, no matter its history.”

  “Good.” We kissed again, and with a smile, Hinata got off my p, walked over to the door and locked it from the inside. With a sly grin, she g the bed in the er.

  “It seems an awful shame not to use the bed, doesn’t it? After all…” She checked her phone. “We’ve a few hours yet.”

  “You think?” I raised an eyebrow, and she giggled.

  “I don’t think, I know.” She got up and rummaged around in the er, finding a cupboard that tained some hospital gowns, and even a nurse’s uniform. “How about some role-py? I could be a naughty nurse, or a sexy patient, needing a visit from a hot doctor?”

  My only answer was rushing over and scooping her up, tossing her down on the bed, listening tgles…

  ShipTeaser