Saizo (SLBP PART 1)

Chapter Twenty

"Lina please listen to me!" Toshiie demanded as Lina tried to close the door on him.

"Inuchiyo please! That's enough from you! If grandma gets home and sees you like this not only you but I too will get into trouble!" she snapped.

"I meant it when I said I love you!"

"And I thought I made it clear at the restaurant a month back when I said I'm not interested in having a relationship!"

"Hey nee chan, can you move? I need to go falconry training with Lord Kojuro." Yahiko's voice piped from behind Lina.

"Ugh Yahiko! Not now!"

"Yahiko! Help me convince your sister that I'm serious about her!"

"NANI?! What the hell is going on?!?" Yahiko exclaimed as his head shot up from behind Lina's shoulder and stared at Toshiie than at his sister. "I thought you rejected him before?"

"Yahiko! Not helping!" Toshiie growled.

"Come on Inuchiyo! Not today kay'! I seriously am going to be late for my falconry training!" Yahiko said in frustration as Lina refused to budge from the door.

"I can't let you pass Yahiko! If I do Inuchiyo will just run into the house and will refuse to come out soon after!"

"Then let him stay here till grandma gets home! Not like grandma hasn't beaten him before since he's our childhood friend!" Yahiko snorted as Lina frowned.

"I too will get into trouble with grandma for letting him into the house and failing to keep him at bay!"

"Hey! I'm still here!"

"Yahiko? Lina? Is there a problem?" Lord Kojuro's voice interrupted them and Yahiko sighed in relief.

"Oh thank the heavens! Lord Kojuro thank you for coming here to fetch me!"

"I thought I should since you were running late..."

"Yea because of a certain someone!" Yahiko glared at Toshiie before slipping out from under Lina's arm. "Come on Lord Kojuro!"

Kojuro's green eyes studied Toshiie's violet ones carefully till the latter broke under the tension.

"What?! You wanna have a go with me?!" Toshiie growled.

"Inuchiyo! Not now! And why do you always have to pick a fight with everyone huh?!?" Lina gritted out in anger.

"I wouldn't if you'll just hear me out!" Toshiie tried to reason.

Lina and him had a staredown when she finally sighed and gave in.

"Ugh alright fine!" she then looked at Kojuro with a look that says 'I'll be fine.'

Kojuro was hesitant but after being persuaded by Yahiko and Lina's look, he relented and left..

Lina stepped out of her house, closing the front door behind her.

"Okay talk."

Toshiie took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry."

"For?"

"For being pushy and putting pressure on you about my feelings.." he said in a small voice as he looked at the ground.

"Good dog." Lina said with a teasing tone.

Toshiie looked up at her, shock in his violet eyes.

"You.. You're not mad at me???"

"I was but... You're a precious friend to me Inuchiyo.. I don't want to lose you.."

Toshiie opened his mouth but Lina raised a finger.

"Ah-ah. I'm not done yet. As a friend. I meant it when I announced I'm not looking for a romantic relationship."

Toshiie scratched his head roughly before sighing.

"Any chance?"

"Any chance what?"

"That I'll get to be with you?"

"Err... If I say no will you stop trying to woo me?"

"No." was his immediate reply.

"Yea that's what I thought.." Lina gave him a sad smile. "Inuchiyo, I'm really sorry but... Things just won't work out between us."

"Why?"

"What why? I thought you just apologised for putting pressure on me and here you are doing it again?" Lina rebuked but Toshiie held his ground.

"Yes I did but if you reject me then at least I have the right to know."

"Damn it he has a point." Lina cursed mentally before taking the risk.

"I'm not looking for a relationship right now, true. But..."

"But?"

"I'm in love with someone else." she breathed out.