Promises

I pause before I answer. " I...I think I really like you. But wouldn't it cause problems if I don't spend time with the other two?"

"I might able to reason with the Tengu, but there may be a fight with the Kitsune." Arakan starts, "but if you want to stay, I am willing to fight. Even to the death."

"But I don't want you to die! Or anyone else for that matter!" I say while standing up. Just thinking of anyone in this village getting hurt because of me starts to fill my eyes with tears.

Arakan stands too and takes my hand, " I won't die, I am the strongest there is, no one can beat me." He lends down and kisses my wet cheek.

"If...if I tell them when they come, that I have already picked you, maybe...maybe they would respect that ?" I ask.

"They would still want you to go, so they can try to sway you." Arakan responds, pulling me closer.

He holds me close and I can fell his heart beating and I start to relax. I close my eyes and breathe him in, my head against his warm chest.

"If you are that concerned, you can go to their villages, but if they try anything" Arakan pauses and takes a breathe, " anything, I will kill them myself. However, if you find that you love one of them more than me... I cannot say that I will not challenge them to a fight, but I will not force you to be with me." He finishes and moves his hand to my chin and gently tilts my face. He kisses me gently and fully before stepping back.

"Now.." he coughs and smiles, " let's eat lunch and then enjoy the rest of the day."

The rest of my days in the village go by in a flash. I spend my days by Arakan's side, helping with the daily business of the village. There are some stolen kisses during the day, when no one is around, but nothing like that first and second kiss.

In the evenings when he checks in with the hunters, I work on sewing a small bag with a bear on it for Arakan; with Tara's help of course. The night before it is time for me to leave for Nobu's village, it is nearly done; although it is not nearly as well done as Tara's sewing.

"Do you think he will like it?" I ask, holding it up for Tara to inspect.

"I think he will love it" she responds without looking up from her own project.

"You didn't even look," I said putting it on my lap, running my finger along the bear who looks more sleepy than fierce.

"I don't need to look," she says, tying off her last stitch and then looking me in the eyes. " he will love it because you made it for him. You literally put you blood into it" she laughs.

I look at my poor fingers "Not on purpose." I say defensively.

We both hear the crunch of Arakan's feet approaching.

"I am going to sleep in the young female's tent tonight, I have too much sewing to finish and don't want to keep you two up all night" Tara says as she rushes out the door with a sly smile, too quickly for me to respond.

"Where was she off to?" Arakan asks as he enters the tent.

"She said she had to do more sewing so she was going to sleep with the other young females." I say, blushing.

"What's on your lap?" He asks as he comes closer.

"Oops!" I say and stand up quickly, trying to hide the bag behind my back. All my thread and my needle fall to the floor. "Oh come on!" I mutter, trying to find the needle before someone steps on it.

I find it and stand back up. I see Arakan holding the bag I made, but I cannot make out the expression on his face.

"Do...you... like..it?" I ask, coming closer to him, so that I am right in front of him.

"I tried hard, and Tara was a great teacher, but I know it's not great. If you don't" I try to explain.

Arakan lowers the bag and pulls me in for a deep kiss. He pulls me close, without setting down the bag. My body warms and starts to pulsate with energy immediately. I kiss him back, with an urgency I had felt before. However, Arakan breaks the kiss but does not let me go. I can feel fell his heart beating strongly against my body.

"I will treasure this for the rest of my life," he says so softly, I am unsure that he even said it out loud.

"We can't be together right now," he starts, "but would you lie next to me tonight, since you will be leaving me tomorrow?" He asks, his eyes full of emotion.

"If sleeping is all we are doing, then yes" I respond, looking deeply into his eyes, "I do not want you to be hurt by Kami again."

"He cant hurt me" he laughs, " but I will respect your concern. I will simply hold you"

I nod and Arakan walks me to his cot, it is much larger than mine but I am not sure that both of us can fit on there.

Arakan blows out the candle in the room and lays down on the bed. He look at me and I smile nervously. I lay down slowly on his bed. I was right, there was not much room. The back of my body is resting against all of Arakan's body. My heart races again and I start to feel warm all over. Arakan places his arm around my waist and pulls me closer. I am sure he can feel my heart racing with his arm so close to my chest. My mouth is dry and my body is urging me to do something.

"Just relax" Arakan says into my hair and I can feel the warmth of his breath on my ears

I take a deep breath to calm myself. Eventually my body and heart calm and I can feel myself returning to normal. Or as normal as I can be sleeping so close to a man who I have feelings for.

"I love you, remember that no matter where you are," he whispers, holding me closely.

"I love you too," I whisper as he starts to snore softly.