Don't Fear The Reaper *Izana x OC x OC* (COMPLETE)

Strictly Business

~6 MONTHS LATER~

Reza--

    I let out a soft sigh and let my head fall on the desktop in defeat. Roman's laughter reaches my ears a moment later so I reach around and toss the nearest object at him. I hadn't expected to still be working on re-establishing the compound after six months. Once I was dismissed from the medical buildings of Wistal Castle I met with Prince Zen, Izana, Kirini, Obi, and of course Roman. Obi and Kirini simply filled us in on what had been happening at the compound before they were dismissed so we could talk about Mother and the future of the compound. I hadn't fully discussed it with Roman before when we were making the plans so he wasn't even sure what would happen to the Mitzko family.

    In the end, Mother was put to trial for all of her crimes and ultimately executed as ordered by the kingdom. I attended the execution despite Roman's reluctance and her final words when she saw me in the crowd were an onslaught of insults and death threats until the platform dropped beneath her. I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do but I decided to take on the leadership role in my mother's place but with some major changes. Zen, Izana, and I made an agreement to secretly ally my organization with Wistal Castle as bounty hunters. We would be given bounties and other jobs to be carried out by the family and we would be paid for our successes. It would take a while to get everything settled and figure out which family members would be loyal and go along with it but I had a better turn out than expected. Kirini continued to be one of my attendants and took on the role of messenger between my office and the castle. Unfortunately for Obi, he is the one sent with correspondence from the castle to the compound. He still isn't very fond of us but I think he's warming up... until Roman jokingly flirts with him just to annoy him.

    I look up as Kirini enters the room with Obi following behind. I apparently missed the knock and Roman allowing them to enter. Obi nods at me before casting a glare at Roman who blows him a kiss and winks. He hands me a letter without speaking and leans against the wall to wait. I open it to find an invitation for me to meet with Izana and Zen at the castle tonight to have an important business meeting. I quickly pen a response that I will be there with my attendants and let him leave with it.

"Business meeting?" Roman asks.

I nod. "You and Kirini both will be in attendance. Kirini, I need you to gather the supplies."

"Yes Miss. When will we be leaving?"

"An hour before sunset. Meet us at the gates."

"Yes Miss."

    Roman, Kirini, and I enter the castle through their gates using the passes the princes gave us. The guards hadn't seemed to realize that we were involved with any of the attacks against Izana or the raid on the castle. I am known to them as a foreign leader and Roman and Kirini are my staff, of course. The herbalists have kept quiet about us as well so we have no issues. Instead of heading into the castle, we redirect our pathing to the main medical building. We enter to find a large table set up in the middle of the main area. The table is occupied by Izana, Zen, Obi, Garak, Zen's secret girlfriend Shirayuki, and Zen's other attendants Mitsuhide and Kiki. I hadn't met Mitsuhide and Kiki until our first actual meeting. They were gently informed of some of the events that occurred and who I was to the princes, but after a while and a lot of mistrust, they have come around to us. Roman and I have a continuous game of seeing who can fluster poor Mitsuhide the most. It's rather easy, honestly.

    I take my seat across from Izana and have Kirini place the supplies on the table. Our supplies, of course, are two bottles of imported rum, one for Garak and one for the table. It's tradition now for me to bring her a bottle on our meeting nights. Everyone settles in their spots, Roman beside me and Kirini across from Roman next to Izana. They hadn't spoken aloud about it, but it's not too hard to tell that she and Izana are seeing each other. I approve of it, naturally, so I occasionally send a series of pointless letters that require a 'super long response time' that gives her a day or two to 'wait for his response'. In his letters in return, he thanks me for it. I'm glad they're happy. Izana and Zen had a long talk after everything happened and Izana told him the truth about what had happened from the beginning and how he felt. Officially, nothing has changed, but Zen has privately become the one to make all decisions while seeking guidance from Izana.

"Alright, let's get down to business." I sigh before lightly coughing. "Let's toast, then deal us in. The Reaper needs to get wasted."

I of course have scars from my fight with Mother but the most recognizable after-effect is now my voice is softer and I seem to develop a raspy, itchy feeling from time to time and it hurts to talk.

    I stumble in the door to our cottage and giggle as Roman catches me. I'm not drunk but I am a little less alert and stable than I normally am. We were gone for several hours drinking and playing cards with everyone but Roman said it was time to go home. He held my hand the whole way home and it made my heart feel weird. We've been what he called 'dating' for just about five months now and I still don't fully understand it but he's been patient with me and helping me learn what emotions are and how to tell what I am feeling. It's strange, to say the least but I've enjoyed being with him so far.

"Please be careful, Love. We have a lot to do tomorrow." He sighs and kisses my forehead before releasing me.

"Why should I be careful when I know you'll always be there to save me?"

"Because that would make my job harder and I will start to become whiny and dramatic."

"Aren't you always whiny and dramatic?" I ask as I take off my cloak and boots, then start to unload my weapons.

"You wound me, Reez. You really wound me." He gasps.

I roll my eyes and take his hand once he's finished removing weapons and lead him toward my bedroom.

"Ooh, how forward. I didn't expect for-" I put my free hand over his mouth and sigh.

"Just shut up and hold me please. I'm tired."

"I'll be right back."

     While he is gone I change from my clothes into one of his shirts I'd stolen and a pair of shorts, then crawl into bed. I lift the charm from Meiran's necklace and study it. I'm not sure what my brother would think of me now, but I hope that I've made him proud somewhere along the way. I look over at Roman as he poses suggestively in my doorway, his outfit changed into just a pair of loose fitting pants. I roll my eyes as he wiggles his eyebrows and blows me a kiss.

"Don't make me regret asking you to be my attendant." I sigh as I try to hold back a smile.

He smirks and comes to lay beside me. "Well Reez, I'm sad to say, after all these years, you're stuck with me for life, as an attendant and your lover. Don't worry, I'm irresistible."

He pulls me closer to him and I rest my head on his chest as his arms wrap around me. This is one of the few phyiscal affections that I am completely comfortable with so far and I rather enjoy it.

"I think I'm okay with that." I tell him around a yawn.

"I love you, Reez. Get some sleep."

"I love you too." I smile as I feel his lips press against my forehead.

A/N: This is the end! I hope you enjoyed it!<3 Keep an eye out for the next book to come!