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Hot on the heels of this newest realization came a different series of questions

Inako was several hours’ ride from the forest

"You went to Inako?" Mariko asked autoo to Hanami? Are there not pleasure houses nearby?"

"Pleasure houses?" he scoffed "It’s clear Lord Lackbeard does not have the first clue about the joys Hanah his eyes remained closed, one side of Ōkami’s lips curled upward Ranh I’ve never seen Hanami myself, I have every idea what happens in a--"

"Liar"

She crossed her arh her chest Yet Mariko , as she’d found it to be the best response in situations like these

When she kneords would not serve her well

Ōkami’s dark eyes flashed open Mariko had to admit it was an admirable feat Hoas able to shift frole breath "Interesting" He unfurled to standing Glided toward her, onceblood in the water "I called you a liar, yet you’ve said nothing to refute that Unusual, considering your regard for all things honorable"

The closer Ōkami moved toward her, the more Mariko’s worry collected The more she wished to retreat Soain the irritation gathered in her stoer

I will not yield to my eht they’d firsther desire to flee

"It’s obvious you haven’t the faintest clue what Hanami is," he said softly "You lie as freely as you breathe, yet claihter was a brush of air and sound "What other secrets are you hiding beneath that cool head of yours, Sanada Takeo? And ould it take to steal the like black ice

Blood rushed up Mariko’s neck, into her face As before, she stoked her fear into fury Into a strange kind of heat that began to swirl in the space between the of me" She trembled as she spoke "Andyou will never see the end" It was as close to a threat as she dared

His ser can be a good thing," Ranmaru interjected, his features unreadable "It can harden you Make you stronger"

"Perhaps th isn’t the saht as a feather" As deadly as an idea Her hands continued to shake beneath their gazes, yet she returned Ōkami’s measured stare

The Wolf nodded, but Mariko did not see e intensity As though he truly approved "Master your anger, Sanada Takeo Anger is an ery It’s possible you do not know me as well as you think you do" Mariko willed hiuing with Ōka to catch smoke

His only reply was another half smile punctuated by a white scar But his smile was not the playful sort No Despite his barbed attempt at banter, the Wolf was not playful Not at all He was a boy who liked to set fire to things and watch theer quickly slid to ani emotions from her with so little effort

Ran the heat that had risen in the air "I’ll make you a deal, Lord Lackbeard," he said "If you succeed in helping Haruki find a way to make this--what do you call it?"

Thethe words

"A throwing star," Mariko said before Haruki could speak, her words clipped Her attention lingered on Ōkami as he returned to his cushioned corner, his hands now laced beneath his head At this moment, it did not behoove Mariko to look away from him

As he’d once warned, she should never bare her neck to a wolf

Ranmaru continued, hisstar, and the next time Ōkami travels to Hanaain, unfailingly graceful, despite a glimmer of annoyance A snakelike smile spread across Ren’s face just as Ranrin It was clear this newly formed proposal appealed to the leader of the Black Clan Perhaps si his best friend A feat Mariko guessed to be rather difficult