After spending fun time with Ayame and Yukihime, Nathan left them to rest.
Norihiro had awakened.
Hanzo was waiting for him, and Nathan knew the conversation could not be delayed any longer. The former Daimyo had survived the Kijin, the collapse of his plans, and the destruction of everything he had spent years building.
Now it was time for him to understand what remained.
Nothing.
Nathan dressed quietly, took a last look toward the heated pond behind the guest house, and left Ayame and Yukihime alone to recover.
Steam rose across the water.
The two women rested near opposite sides of the pond, their bodies still warm from the time they had spent with Nathan. Ayame's cheeks were flushed, and her hair clung lightly to the side of her face. Yukihime remained composed despite the faint color in her own cheeks, though her dark eyes had already become cold again.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Ayame leaned back against the edge of the pond and smiled softly.
