The Lord of Fire and the Lady of the Storm

"You're really an anti-romantic, Shin," Ruka grumbled. She tore at the pink cotton candy she bought, not Shin, her money — and she thinks that's a valid reason for a crash-out.

They walked along a pier at Osaka Bay where a small matsuri is being celebrated to bid the spring farewell and welcome the summer. Various stalls selling foods as well as traditional Japanese games, with Kingyo Sukui still popular from kids to even young adults.

"What are you talking about?" Shin asked incredulously.

"We're at a matsuri. We're at a place where people have fun. We're at a place where you should have fun."

"And?"

Ruka rolled her eyes, "Then why did you bring your blades? You're scaring off... basically everybody."

Ruka's source of frustration was hanging loosely on Shin's belt. Kokuuryu bounced on Shin's hip like a middle finger to their not-date date — their "team building", as Shin called it.

Shin shrugged, "We never know when we might need it."

"Don't you think you can beat anyone up in hand-to-hand should it come to it? No one will come here that you would need to draw your blade to suppress. It's not like the Entei will be loitering around in a matsuri anyway," Ruka murmured that last part.

"I beg to differ Kawai Ruka," Shin stopped in his tracks, his arm rested on top of Kokuryuu's scabbard.

Ruka sighed and walked past Shin while absently peeling a portion of the cotton candy, "Why do you have so little faith in me, Shin —?" She asked playfully before Shin stopped her by placing a hand on the crown of her head. Ruka skidded to a stop. Confused, she tried to turn around to look at Shin, but his hold on her scalp was firm.

"What are you —?"

"Can you just look at where I'm telling you to look..." Shin sighed.

"What do you —?" Ruka let Shin's hand guide her and her jaw dropped.

"Oh shit —" she murmured, for at the edge of the pier is a boy, dressed in a sleek red suit, his odachi resting against the railings, and a fishing rod in his hand.

"I told you so," Shin let go of her head and walked past her.

"Wait, you're not thinking of approaching — who am I kidding..." Ruka sighed in disbelief as Sanada Shinsuke walked towards the new Lord of the Takeda, the Entei, Takeda Benimaru.

Shin approached, then leaned against the railing right beside the Entei's odachi. Ruka stood a little bit beside him, one hand went behind her back, fist clenching at the place where her tanto was usually placed — before she remembered she had complained about carrying blades not even three minutes ago. The Entei on the other hand, kept his eyes on his line, whistling a jolly tune which appeared mildly threatening coming out of his lips.

"Takeda-sama," Shin greeted.

"How's your chest, Sanada-shosa?" Takeda Benimaru greeted back cheerfully.

Shin resisted the urge to clench his tightening chest. "Better. That may be the hardest blow I endured."

"I took it as an insult, Black Dragon," he said, but his voice carried no heat, only amusement. "For you to attempt to hold back in blocking my strike."

"It was out of respect, Takeda-sama. You are hatamoto after all."

"I am a swordsman before I became a hatamoto, Major," he said with a wide smirk.

"Duly noted, Entei," Shin responded, earning an approving expression from the young Lord.

"Speaking of being a hatamoto," Ruka began, "is it safe for you to be here without any security?"

Benimaru grinned, "I am enough security for myself, Lieutenant, but thank you for your concern."

Shin and Ruka's eyes drifted to the Entei's odachi. Sensing this, Benimaru just laughed, "Feel free to throw my odachi to the bay, I can still give you an ass beating with this rod," he shook his rod playfully as he said so.

Shin scoffed, "As you say, Takeda-sama."

"Please, call me Benimaru. We're both warriors after all. And the fact that you didn't cower for your life when I confronted you in the council, and even decided to face me head-on, you have my respect."

"Thank you," Shin gave him a curt nod, "but forgive me if I can't just simply drop the formalities, Takeda-sama."

The Entei scoffed, "Suit yourself, Major."

"May I ask why you are here, Takeda-sama?" Ruka asked.

"Why, it's a matsuri? Do I need any other reason? Aren't you here for the same?"

Ruka tilts her head judgingly at Shin — who had the nerve to just shrug his shoulders.

Benimaru scrunched his face, "Aren't you here for a date? Like, your little R&R after a successful campaign?"

"He calls it team-building," Ruka replied flatly before Shin could.

Benimaru looked aghast, "He's that dense?"

"Unfortunately," Ruka replied.

"I'm right here," Shin said in indignation.

"Physically," Benimaru scoffed. "But your mind is elsewhere, you don't even notice the beautiful lady you're with."

"Too smooth for a fifteen year-old, Takeda-sama," Ruka grinned.

"I was a charmer at school back at Kai," Benimaru winked.

Shin just rolled his eyes. He sees, though, not just the beauty, but he can also hear her dangerously infectious laughter carrying over the wind. He can also smell her wisteria perfume, something he's gradually getting accustomed to.

"Say, nee-san," Benimaru addressed Ruka directly, "I saw you at the council, but never got your name."

"Lieutenant Kawai Ruka, Takeda-sama," Ruka bowed.

"Ooooh... the one with Sanada-shosa during the shinobi attack at Echigo," Benimaru nodded.

Shin and Ruka tensed. The Entei's voice remained calm, but they both know he can snap at any moment.

Benimaru seemed to sense this, "Relax, both of you. I won't do anything that... dramatic... in front of," he looked around at the people having fun in the matsuri before continuing, "...civilians."

"Can I trust those words?" Another voice chimes in, playful and testing. She leans against the railing at the opposite side of the Entei. She's dressed in a simple pink shirt, denim jeans and pink heels — too simple, too... domestic, too... not her.