Thanks for those who were nice enough to comment. It's usually the best encouragement I have to keep writing. Please let me know if you liked the story. I'm always curious as to who's reading. Again, not much in the way of sex here, but for everyone who's been asking about Genzo, he's the primary focus.
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Returning back to the apartment with many bags in hand, the three kicked off their shoes and fell back onto the couch. "My feet are soooo tired," Angela griped.
"Me too," Linnsa agreed. "Thanks for carrying all those bags, Genzo." Feigning irritation, he simply grunted, causing both girls to giggle.
"Are you hungry at all, Lins?"
"I could eat," she grinned.
Turning to Genzo, she smiled. "Genzo, could I impose upon you to go grab something for my sister and yourself?"
Standing up, Genzo gave another little bow. "What would you like?" he asked, looking at Linnsa.
She laughed. "Surprise me. I've given you enough trouble for one day."
"I will return shortly," he promised.
When he'd left and was presumably out of earshot, Angela eagerly scooted onto the couch next to her sister and whispered, "So what do you think?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Her sister blinked, genuinely perplexed by her question.
Rolling her eyes, she jerked her head at the door. "What do you think of him? He's pretty cute, huh?"
"What?!"
"Come on, Linnsa. Don't you think Genzo's nice?" Angela wiggled her eyebrows for emphasis.
Linnsa narrowed her eyes at her sister. "Unnie, are you trying to set me up with him?"
She looked coyly at the ceiling. "Maaaaaybe. What's wrong with that? You're single, he's single, you're cute, he's cute – the list goes on and on."
Sighing, she said, "It's too soon after Rich. I need some time. Plus I don't know really know anything about him." Suddenly she thought back to his night terror and blushed slightly.
"Ohhhh, there's something you're not telling meeeeeee," Angela needled. "Come on, spill."
"Promise you won't say anything?"
"You know me. Now spill!"
Not knowing the best way to relay the story, Linnsa decided on the straightforward approach. "Last night I heard Genzo having a nightmare and when I went to check on him, he was screaming like he didn't know I was there."
"And the good part is?"
"Unnie!"
"What?! Quit stalling!" Angela was literally on the edge of her seat.
"Well, I tried to soothe him, but he sort of fell back asleep without letting go of me. I tried to get up but his arm is so heavy." Linnsa looked down at her empty ring finger. "I think I embarrassed him. He didn't remember any of it."
Trying not to laugh, Angela put on a serious face and said solemnly, "Don't worry, Ninja Boy will never know." At the last sentence, both of them began cracking up uncontrollably. "Well, considering that you two did sleep together, it's just something, you know, to consider." A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. "Who is it?"
"[Konbawa]," Noboru's voice greeted.
Getting up, she opened the door for him. "How were your meetings today, Big Dog?"
"The room smelled nice," he joked as he kissed her cheek.
"I don't get it," Linnsa said as the two of them started laughing.
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konbawa: good evening (Japanese)
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Walking back to the flat, steak take out in hand, Genzo smiled to himself and hoped that she would not mind the same meal twice in a row. Linnsa was so different from her sister. There was a gentle quality about her that contrasted sharply with her sister's hard-headed feisty attitude. He found her demeanor quite peaceful to be around. She inspired a calm in him that he had long forgotten, or thought he had forgotten. It was nice to have had the opportunity to get to know her and his smile disappeared a little when he thought about her returning to the United States. Stepping into the living room, he announced himself with a light knock and saw Noboru's face answer the door. "[Konbawa], Noboru-donno."
Noboru gave him a welcome smile. "Come in, come in." Sitting on the couch next to Angela, he looked at Linnsa and asked, "Since our esteemed friend has returned to keep you company while you eat, would you mind terribly if I borrowed your sister for the evening?"
Grabbing her steak, Linnsa busied herself with getting herself set up to eat. "Nope. You two have fun. Just don't keep her out too long, or I'll have to turn you into [boshing tang]."
"Lucky for you she has that steak, Nobu," Angela jibed.
Genzo looked perplexed as he watched the three of them burst into laughter. After Angela had hugged her sister goodbye, he queried, "What is [boshing tang]?"
Linnsa grinned evilly. "Dog soup."
"Oh." In spite of himself, Genzo began laughing as well.
They spent the next few minutes without exchanging words. Genzo tried his best not to look too much at her and would discreetly avert his eyes if she looked up. Feeling awkward with all the silence, Linnsa asked, "So, did you ever go back to find the people who ransacked your village?"
"Yes."
When he didn't pick up on what she thought was an obvious follow up question, she added, "Well, what happened?"
Feeling himself stiffen a little at the question, he replied, "You do not need to concern yourself with such things." He didn't relish the idea of her knowing how he had exacted his revenge. "Let us simply say that I repaid them in kind."
"I guess it would be really hard to forgive someone for massacring your whole family."
Genzo found himself recalling the events leading to the fulfillment of his revenge. After he had completely recovered from his wounds, his first target was the village that was the home to most of the Takeda. He intentionally had picked the night of a new moon so that there would be little, if any light. Stalking quietly into the outskirts of the village, he waited and watched as people entered and left their homes, unaware of his presence. One of the shinobi walked a few feet in front of him and he was the first to be taken. Covering his mouth so that he couldn't scream, Genzo smiled at him while in his human form, then shifted, enjoying the sheer terror in the man's eyes and he watched him grow. Between his fangs came a barely recognizable rumble, "[Shinnei...]."
"Genzo?"
Her steak-filled voice snapped his attention back to the present. "[Nani]?"
