Ninja Love Story

Chapter 12

"Nnnnmmm..." When I woke up the next morning, I looked up to a familiar ceiling. When did I fall asleep?

As I began to move, I felt a soft weight over my waist. Gasp! No way...! I realized with a start I had fallen asleep with Hanzo, with his arms holding me to his chest. He breathed in deeply and unconsciously pulled me closer. I felt my face redden and my body shiver. Not only did I cry myself to sleep but I fell asleep beside Hanzo... 

Thump thump...

I listened quietly when I felt Hanzo's heart beat beneath my palm. I held my breath when I realized my heart was in the same rhythm. What should I do? I don't want him to yell at me for falling asleep on him, I'm already embarrassed enough... I stared absent-mindedly at Hanzo's soft features; He sleeps pretty deeply. Perhaps I could... I tried to separate myself from Hanzo's body as quietly as I could, raising his arm gently off of me. I stopped short when I saw my left hand entwined with his. Hanzo stirred, and I snapped my attention to him as his head rolled. 

"Stay... with me..." He mumbled. 

I froze instantly and gasped as he moved. He released my hand and instead enveloped me completely. He squeezed me for a moment then snuggled up to me again.

My heart is going crazy! I wonder if he knows he does this... I snuck a peek at his face, thinking he had awoken. But as I studied his long eyelashes and heard his breathing even out once more, I knew he was still asleep. Hehe, he talks in his sleep. I never would have thought that.

"Mmmnnn..." He's waking up...!

Thinking fast, I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. I tried to calm my breathing but my heart was still clambering. I hope he doesn't notice!

"Mmm, I must have fallen asleep." I felt Hanzo's weight shift beside me when he spoke again, "Huh...? Sheeta..." Feeling it was safe to do so, I sighed deeply. "Are you sleeping...?"

I continued breathing as evenly as I could but still felt my rushing pulse with each breath. "Heh, still out, it seems." Oh, thank God.

Suddenly, I felt a feather-light touch on my neck. Eep-! "Her pulse is so fast..." I felt Hanzo's gentle voice against my hair as he pulled me close yet again. "Be at ease, Sheeta. I promised to be always at your side."

Hanzo, you're so kind... This is almost like a dream.

Wrapped in his warmth and gentle voice, I finally relaxed and felt sleep claim me once more.

"Maaaann, I'm hungry!" Hyosuke groaned. He began to shovel his breakfast into his mouth, but suddenly stopped short. 

"What's the matter, Hyo? Has your food been poisoned?" chuckled Hyuga.

"No... It just doesn't taste like Sheeta's cooking. It's good, just not as good as hers." Hyosuke answered. He slumped and continued eating with much less gusto.

"You really like her cooking, don'tcha?" Hyuga asked.

Yoshitsune walked in and sat down. "Sheeta is nursing Kazemasa," he greeted, "It can't be helped. She does enough for us as it is. Asking her to cook as well as nurse would be too much to ask of her."

Enya looked worried for a moment and looked towards the stairs. "Now that you mention it, I wonder if that kid'll be alright...?"

Hyuga crossed his arms. "It's a rare thing indeed to see you worried, Enya. Especially about Kazemasa."

"Not that I'm not worried about our teammate, but I was referring to Sheeta." Enya said indignantly, returning to his bowl.

"And why are you worried about Sheeta, Enya?" Hyosuke asked accusingly.