The Samurai's Kunoichi wife (The men of Five Nations International)

by Quinn, Shelli

  Kat was having feels that she hadn’t experienced before. Thankfully her leather jacket was enough to hide her hardened nipples, caused by his touch. But the heat that spread throughout her had to be evident on her face which she was certain had darkened to a deep red.

  Kenji was relieved when he finally reached the limo. Not because Kat was heavy. No, it wasn't her weight that was the problem, but holding her in his arms and close to his body was a real test of his gentlemanly control. But it wasn't the first time being close to her had tested his control, that's one of the reasons he had left seven years ago. He'd been assigned the task of training with her, when they were children.

  That task became more difficult as she got older. It had become a distraction during their training sessions. Even though she was only fifteen, she was quickly developing the figure of a teenage girl and becoming an attractive young woman. And since he was a couple of years older than she, his testosterone levels were off the charts.

  Leaving her Uncle to complete her training, was the only way he could live up to the promise he'd made to always protect her from any potential harm, that included protecting her from him. Not that he would purposely harm her, but acting on his feelings back then would have caused her harm in many ways.

  He’d been told the whole story of her family and what she one day was expected to do.

  Kenji knew how important it was that she masters her training, to accomplish that she needed as few distractions as possible. That meant he had to complete his training elsewhere. Her family’s future depended on it, as did the future of his family.

  Everything she'd been taught from the day she was born. Were essential elements for the future of both their families. It would take all the skills they'd both learned to defeat the evil that threatened to destroy their family’s legacy.

  Just as Kenji approached the limo one of the security guards opened the back door so he could place her inside. He did so, none too gently. He practically dumped her onto the backseat before sliding in beside her. Kat yelped due to the pain it caused her tender bottom when he'd tossed her onto the backseat.

  “Hey, you didn't have to throw me into the limo, you big dummy.” she yelled.

  “Still name calling I see.” Kenji said through clenched teeth.

  “Yeah well... You deserved more than that, I should kicked you for dumping me.”

  Kenji looked over at Kat when he heard the deep emotion in her voice. He squinted before responding. “Are you talking about now or seven years ago? Because you know why I left back then, it was for your own good I had to protect you from me.”

  Kat was so sick and tired of hearing about how things were for her own good, and that she had to be protected. She was almost twenty two years old. Despite what everyone thought about her she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

  Releasing a sigh she merely replied, “Whatever, just forget it.” Then turned her head to stare out the window.

  Kenji watched her as she stared out the window. Kat looked more beautiful now

  than she did seven years ago. Her gorgeous skin was the color of caramel, her shiny black

  hair hang around her face like a curtain of silk. Those golden eyes of hers could draw anyone under her spell. Her full kissable lips were now pouty because she was upset with him.

  The leather pants she was wearing fit like a second skin and enhanced her temptingly

  sexy shape. One thing he remembered well was her short temper. When she got wound up he could always expect a good fight.

  But now was not the time to be fighting, they had to work together.

  “I'm sorry, for then and now.” Kenji reached over and placed his thumb and forefinger at her chin to gently turn her face towards him, “You do know that I would never intentionally hurt, Hime.”

  Kat presented him with a tiny smile at the use of the nickname he'd given her when they

  were kids. She hadn't found out until after he'd left, that Hime in Japanese meant princess.

  Kenji would say a lot of things to her in Japanese, when she was still trying to learned the language.

  “Yes, I know. You just make me so mad.” She said as she looked away from him.

  “Well I guess some things will never change.” He replied as he watched her look

  away from him. Kat would not be happy when she found out the real reason he was here.

  But whether she liked it or not she'd just have to deal with it. They both would.

  Chapter Three

  Uncle Diachi opened the door expecting to see Kenji and his men. The gate security staff had informed him that they were on the way up. What he did not expect to see was Kenji holding Katsumi in his arms.

  “Konnichiwa, Uncle Daichi, my sincere apologies for not greeting you properly, but as you see my hands are full at the moment.” Kenji said as he bowed his head out of respect as did his men. Diachi looked at him with a concerned expression on his face.

  “What happened? Why are you carrying Katsumi? Is she hurt?”

  Katsumi replied quickly to ease her Uncle's concerns, “No I'm not hurt, well not really, I fall off my bike that's all, I am perfectly capable of walking if Kenji would just put me down I'll show you.”

  Kenji slowly and reluctantly removed the arm that was holding her legs at the back of her knee, letting her slide down his body before her feet touched the floor, holding her gaze as he did so. He knew she felt the heat from his body even through all the layers of clothes they were both wearing. That was something he could not help being around her always made his blood boil in his veins.

  Katsumi's hands were still resting on his shoulders. She couldn't seem to look away from him. What she saw in his eyes made her shiver. She quickly removed her hands and stepped away. Turning to her Uncle she said in a breathless voice.

  “See Uncle I'm fine, now if you all will excuse me I'll freshen up and dress for dinner.” And before anyone could object she ran up the stairs.

  Uncle Daichi turned back to Kenji after watching Kat disappear up the stairs, shaking his head he said to him.

  “That girl is going to be the death of me one day.” Leading the way to the living room he invited Kenji to follow him. “Come in, please have a seat.”

  Kenji took a seat as he glanced around the place that was once his home. It had changed a little, but not much. He could see that Kat's influence of style has added a homey feel to the room. It still had Japanese decor but now it also had a strong presences of African decor.

  The mix of the two cultures had a powerful impact.

  Like Kat herself the best of two cultures.

  The combination of art work throughout room complemented each other the result was appealing, elegant and comfortable. Kenji stood when Amaya entered the room carrying a tray with tea and cake. After sitting the tray on the coffee table she throw her arms around Kenji in a

  welcoming embrace. He truly missed her. No one take care of him the way she did.

  She loved to feed and pamper everyone around her. Amaya released Kenji and placed a hand on either side of his face.

  Smiling she said to him, “Kenji have you been eating? You feel so thin, I knew you should have come home before now. I have made all of your favorite dishes, you eat plenty now that your home.”

  Kenji embraced her again as he laughed at the way she thought no matter were

  he went that this would always be home in her eyes. He also noticed that she still spoke with that accent was combination of Swahili and Japanese. He had often wondered where she was from. No one really said much about her background. She was trusted by everyone. And mother to all that loved her. She hadn't changed much over the years.

  Amaya had to be well into her seventies, but she looked as if her age was somewhere between forty-five and fifty. Her cinnamon colored face had very few wrinkles and revealed her African ancestry. Her once long black hair was now cut into a short bob and sprinkled with silver. Her almond shaped eyes hinted at the possible fact that she m
ight be part Japanese. Her smile lit up her soft brown eyes.

  She was also fit for a woman her age. She stood at about five feet two inches and could be quite a ball of fire when she needed to be, she didn't take orders from anyone.

  Amaya turned to Daichi, “Where is Katsumi, is she not feeling well?”

  “She's fine Mi, she went up to change for dinner she should be down soon.”

  Her only reply was, “Dinner will be ready soon, and if you'll excuse me I'll see if Katsumi needs anything.” She then left the room.

  Upstairs Kat had showered and was fretting over what to wear to dinner. She wanted to look nice, but she didn't want to overdo it. Kat had changed her outfit four times already. Why was she putting herself through this, it's not like it was anybody special it was just Kenji. She had known him since she was eight and had loved him since she was thirteen, then he'd left her and gone back to Japan to complete his training there.

  He'd been her best friend and it hurt her when left. He hadn't even said good-bye. She had gone to bed one night and when woke up the next morning he was gone. No explanation, no letter, nothing. And now that she finds out she has to marry some stranger, he decides to come home.

  There was a knock at her door just before it opened. Amaya stepped in with a concerned look on her face. “Are you alright Katsumi?”

  Kat smiled at the woman who was like a mother to her, “Yes, Mi I'm fine, just trying to find something appropriate to wear for dinner since we have guests.”

  Amaya walked over and cradled Kat's face between both her hands as she'd done early with Kenji. Smiling she said to the girl that has grown into a beautiful young woman, “I know how much you care for Kenji, It doesn't matter what you wear you will look lovely and that is all he will see.”

  Amaya was the only person she'd ever told about her feeling for Kenji. She'd said that it would all workout if she would just have patience and let what will be, be. She had often said things in riddles that only she knew the answers to.

  Amaya turned to the bed were she had discarded several outfits. She looked over the outfits, picking up the red and black sleeveless, silk dress with oriental print mandarin collar. It was one of her favorite dresses because it hugged her figure and although it stopped just past her knee it had slits on both sides that ended mid thigh. It was elegant and sexy, without over doing it.

  Amaya handed the dress to Kat. She didn't say one word, she just smiled and walked out the door gently closing it.

  Downstairs Uncle Daichi was explaining to Kenji that he hadn't yet told Kat the identity of the person she was to marry, nor had he revealed to her the reasons for the union. “Uncle Daichi, forgive me but the wedding is to take place in three days

  on her twenty second birthday, when will you tell her everything?”

  Daichi understood why Kenji was worried about Kat hearing the truth about everything. She was sometimes rebellious and he was sure this would be one of these times. Daichi would need to have patience with her so that she could understand what this wedding meant to future of her family and Kenji's.

  Before he could respond to the question Amaya called them to the dining room for dinner. Just as they sat down for dinner, Kat walked in to the dining room. She looked beautiful in her red and black silk dress. Her long black hair was twisted into a knot at the back of head and secured with black and red kanzashi, hair sticks. On her feet was a pair of strappy, red high heel sandals that made her legs look long and shapely.

  She wear very little makeup, she didn't need it her beauty was natural. Everyone stood as she entered the room. He noticed that a couple of his men were looking at her a bit too long. Kenji walked over to pull out her chair. As she took her seat, he gave his men a look that could freeze water. The men quickly averted their eyes.

  Daichi and Amaya however did not miss the look he had given his men. After they'd almost finished their meal Daichi thought this was a good time to tell Kat about her obligation. “Katsumi I 'm sure you're wondering why Kenji has returned from Japan?” Kat looked at Kenji before turning to speak to her uncle.

  “Yes, I did wonder why he has come back, is he to be part of the wedding party?” Daichi also looked at Kenji before returning his gaze to Kat, “In a matter of speaking he will be a part of the wedding.”

  “Okay what is does that mean, in a matter of speaking, he is or he isn't?”

  Kenji had been watching Kat to see if she would catch on anytime soon. Since she didn't seem to understand he would help her understand.

  “It means that, I'll be standing next to you on that day.”

  Kat looked at Kenji through narrowed eyes, “Why on earth would you be standing next to me during the wedding?”

  “Because I am the man you will be marrying.” He said with a sly little smile on his face.

  Kat dropped the fork she'd been holding onto the table. She jumped up so fast that her chair fell backward to the floor. Shaking her head she said through clenched teeth, “Like hell you are.”

  Chapter Four

  “There is no way I'm marrying Kenji,” she walked over to where Uncle was sitting and knelt beside his chair and placed her hand on his arm.

  “Uncle please, tell me he's just joking he can't be the man I'm to marry.” Uncle Daichi covered her hand with one of his own and gentle pat it in soothing manner.

  “No Katsumi it's not a joke, you are to marry Kenji that is the promise the two families made when you were both children.”

  Kat could not believe this was happening. She had wished that one day she would become Kenji's wife, but not like this. She wanted him to want her as much as she wanted him. To love her as much as she loved him, now she would never have his love. How could he love her if he was being forced to marry her?

  She didn't understand why they had to marry because of some promise that was made when they were just children. She had to know more.

  “Exactly why was this promise made between the two families, for what purpose will this serve?”

  Uncle Daichi stood. Still holding her hand he helped to her feet. Speaking to everyone in the room he said, “I think we should finish this in a more comfortable setting. Amaya take Katsumi to library, Kenji and I will be there in a moment.”

  Amaya and Kat had just taken a seat on one of the sofas when Daichi and Kenji entered the room closing the door behind them. Daichi spoke first.

  “I thought it was best that just the four us be a part of the conversation.” Daichi sat in his favorite chair, while Kenji took a seat on the sofa opposite Amaya and Kat.

  Daichi then addressed Katsumi to explain the situation, “Now, this wedding is necessary because the future of both families, The Fujimoto's and The Oshima's are at stake. These are two very important families. The day you were born your mother, Imani had a vision. She saw the boy that was to be your husband, on that someday a wise old woman also had a vision of the woman that would be Kenji's wife.

  When Imani described the boy with the dragon birthmark, to me and your father we knew that boy was Kenji. The old woman saw a girl with golden eyes, caramel skin and the birthmark of a tiger. That girl was you.

  “The prophecy must be fulfilled. The two of you will marry and someday produce an heir that ties the two families by blood.”

  “What?” Katsumi was so shocked that she jumped up from the sofa as she yelled

  something she never did. “So I'm not only supposed to marry him but make a baby with him, oh I don't think so.”

  Kenji had sat there quietly listen to Daichi deal with Katsumi now she was being childish and bratty.

  “That's enough.” Kenji said through clenched teeth as he slowly stood from the sofa, and leaned over the coffee table that separated them.

  “Uncle has explained your family obligation, now you will stop your whining and do as you are told.”

  Kat gazed at Kenji with narrowed eyes, mouth gaping open. She could not believe that he had yelled at her. “Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? You have
some nerve we aren't even married and his already trying to boss me around.”

  She said to her uncle as she pointed towards Kenji.

  Kenji was getting tired of her little temper tantrum. He leaned over closer to her face. “Who do I think I am? The man you will be marrying in three days.”

  “Three days!” she yelled as she too leaned over closer to his face. “On my birthday?

  Are you crazy, there is no way I'm getting married on my birthday!”