Nemesis

Some months had passed since his first meeting with Shigure, and Azuma was still just relaxing, visiting Miu, when his dad returned to Japan from his "World Saving Trips", spending time with his mom, talking with Ilona and Florián over the phone, keeping an eye on Shizuha, or, his new hobby, evading his new stalker, that to his amusement, somehow it only takes her a couple of weeks to track him down.

It took him two months to get her name out of her.

~~~

-Two months after their first meeting-

After what, to Azuma, seemed their hundredth fight, him always retreating, feeling tired of holding back.

At the ending of one of their usual fights, but instead of running away, like always, Azuma asks her.

"Alright woman, I'm getting tired of calling you lady, woman, a girl, or any other damn pronoun or synonym, if you're going to keep stalking me, at least give your goddam name."

Hearing his question Shigure only softly whispers, "Not…. a...stalker…"

Seeing her lips moving but not hearing anything Azuma says, "What was that? I couldn't listen."

Angrily, Shigure only says a little bit louder, "I… am… not… a…stalker."

Finally hearing what she said, Azuma shakes his head, telling her, "Really, let's see, a stalker is a person who pursues someone obsessively and aggressively.... I'm one hundred percent sure you ARE, a stalker."

This time without answering, Shigure only points at Tenken in Azuma's back, and says once again, like in their first meeting, "Sword."

Azuma only facepalms at her answer, "Lady….. wait, you didn't tell me your name."

Hearing this, Shigure, happy the conversation moved out of the 'Stalker' talk, happily answers, "Shigure Kōsaka."

Surprised Azuma says, "Huh? No pauses this time, it looks like we are making progress, dear…..Shigure Kōsaka." Finishing with an emphasis on her name.

Blushing, feeling embarrassed when someone points at her way of speaking, "Do…not…. make…. fun…of…how…. I…. speak."

"I did not make fun of how you speak, Shigure...-chan." By this point, seeing her embarrassed look, Azuma felt the need to poke a little more. He normally didn't use Japanese honorifics, only using them as a way to sarcastically insult somebody, or when messing up with someone, like his cute, cute niece, Miu-chan, much to her embarrassment.

Hearing the ending of his sentence, Shigure was dumbfounded, 'chan' people did not use 'chan' with her name, she was not cute, or adorable, she was a warrior, the prodigy of swords, the mistress of all weaponry.

While Shigure was still in her thoughts, Tōchūmaru reappeared, he had hidden as always before their fight began. The mouse only jumped at Azuma's shoulder and gave him a high-five.

Their relationship has progressed since their first meeting, since he was always there with Shigure, trying to steal his sword before she appears. They had gotten the chance to know one another. Being Shigure's only friend Tōchūmaru was happy she is talking with someone else.

Shigure, finally regaining clarity, seeing his friend on her opponent's shoulder, says to the small mouse, "You…..traitor…"

Tōchūmaru only shrugs while shaking his head, giving Azuma one last thumps up, he jumps to Shigure, landing comfortably between her breasts.

Azuma believing this was his cue to leave, starts walking away, but not before saying, "Glad to finally get your name…..Shigure-chan."

Leaving Shigure once again blushing, her head on the clouds, Tōchūmaru snickering at her reaction.

After today's meeting, Azuma started to get enjoyment seeing the reactions on Shigure's normally, expressionless face, earning him the label of Shigure's 'nemesis'.

._._._._._.

-Three months after getting her name-

It would appear Azuma and Shigure are friends, their encounters slowly becoming more, meetings than fights.

It started after a fight, as always, Azuma stayed to mess with Shigure, she started opening a bit, not before confirming with Tōchūmaru. She started to tell him her past, how her father practically committed suicide in a fight against Akisame.

Her relationship with her father, and her two surrogate fathers, Hachirobe Kōsaka, who taught her how to use her sword, and Akisame, who takes care of her, visiting from time to time. Her belief in Katsujinken and her relationship with her little mouse Tōchūmaru.

They exchanged stories, Azuma telling her about his different trips, his mother (not his father), how he came to get a hold of Tenken, his missions for the government, between their fights they start talking, really becoming friends, much to Tōchūmaru's gratitude.

That was until Azuma told her of his first, and proceeding, multiple kills during some of his fights or missions, obviously explaining to her his belief on all the Katsujinken vs Satsujinken business, as he did to his father.

This seemed to startle the woman, who was a serious Katsujinken believer. A couple of their next meetings ending with no conversation between the two, much to Azuma's distress. That until seemingly Tōchūmaru talked to her if the fact that on their next meeting the small mouse demanded stupid amounts of cheese as compensation.

"…. I'm….sorry….. you….are…..a….good….person…..I…..shouldn't…. have….reacted...that….way."

Was what Shigure had told Azuma. Who proceeded to hug the woman, much to her terror, as an acceptance of her apology. Only for her to almost pass out, and then not talk to him, again. The number of bribes he had to give Tōchūmaru was outlandish.

By the end of the fifth month, they had gotten pretty close as friends. Shigure never forgetting to ask for Tenken.

And much to Azuma's ignorance it seems he started seeing the shameless, funny speaking, expressionless, Shigure as more than a friend, and the same started happening to the clueless woman, who started to enjoy, his presence or when she treated her like a lady, not that either of them would realize anytime soon, only Tōchūmaru, the only one who realized, would continuously sigh at their ignorance.

The cycle would continue for almost a year since their first meeting but it seems that, to Tōchūmaru's growing annoyance, both of them would stop meeting for some time before any of them could realize each other's feelings, Shigure needed to return to her father, Hachirobe Kōsaka, and some news required Azuma to stop traveling.

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A/N:

Today's chapter is a shorter one, but I hope you liked it.

I sincerely hope, it didn't seem forced or rushed, please leave your thoughts in the comments.

Ciao