Conquering the Samurai: (Yukimura X Emperor of the Night) - COMPLETE

CHAPTER 1

It wasn’t that Yukimura hadn’t thought about apologizing to the Ikutachi.  He just wasn’t very good at such things.  To be completely honest, he thought saying sorry now would be nothing more than a waste of time.  Ikutachi was with Barbatos, and no amount of apologizing was going to change that.      

But Tennyo, pretty much his only friend and pseudo-little sister, had insisted he apologize immediately.  She and Ikutachi were good friends, and she’d been absolutely appalled when she heard what transpired between him and the Anima.

It was nearly three weeks later, and Yukimura was finally heading over to Master Akasha’s mansion to settle the matter once and for all.  Waste of time or not, he was tired of hearing Tennyo talk about it.  Hopefully this would shut her up.

Yukimura had always found Ikutachi attractive.  There was even a time when he was what others might call ‘obsessed.’  As it turned out, once he’d finally tasted the pleasures the Anima had to offer, his desire for him quickly faded.  Still, during his time of ‘momentary infatuation’ he’d pretty much memorized Ikutachi’s schedule; where he’d be and what time.  So when he reached the small gazebo, he already knew the Anima would be there; sipping a cup of tea and quietly admiring the scenery.

“Good morning, Ikutachi.”

The Anima turned at the sound of his name, going still for a moment and eyeing Yukimura suspiciously.

“Don’t worry.  I’m not here to attack you.  I wanted just to… uh… apologize for my actions the other day.”

“Apologize?  You?”

Yukimura sighed in irritation at the Anima’s disbelief.  Apologies were certainly not his forte, but he could admit when he’d done something wrong, even when he felt it held no real value.  

“Yeah, well, I was wrong.”  He replied, trying to sound as repentant as he could.  “I can admit that.  It was not my intent to hurt or frighten you.  And that’s the truth.”

It was indeed the truth, and Yukimura hoped Ikutachi would realize that.  If he didn’t, oh well.  Just so long as Tennyo knew he’d done as she’d asked and would finally shut up about it.

“Tennyo put you up to this, didn’t she?”  Ikutachi smiled knowingly, his tone changing from suspicious to amused. 

Yukimura scratched his head, smiling guiltily.  “Yeah, can’t lie about that.  You know how she is.  But I really am telling the truth.  I didn’t mean to scare or hurt you.”

“Well, thank you for the apology.  And please accept mine in return.  I should’ve known better than to confide in Tennyo about this.”  Ikutachi sighed.  “She can be a bit insistent when it comes to these kinds of things.”

“A bit?!”  Yukimura said with a snort.  “She’s an annoying little chit is what she is.”

Ikutachi laughed loudly, a delightful sound that made Yukimura’s groin tighten ever so slightly.  That was his cue to leave…

“Well that’s all I had to say.”  Yukimura said with a quick bow.  “I should head back.”

“Thanks again.”  Ikutachi replied.  “Unexpected as it was.”

As Yukimura turned to leave, he paused, catching a shadow moving in his peripheral.  He turned just in time to catch Barbatos’ fist with his face. 

Yukimura was used to being hit, and if it had been any other daemon, they would have been knocked out cold.  But Yukimura Sanada was a warrior; tried and tested in battle.  It would take a great deal more to bring him down.