Page 44 (2/2)

Even in his dreae blossoms

He recalled how she sh she still had not decided whether or not it ise to show her true feelings to anyone

Despite everything, Ōkaht her to be a boy, Ōkami had appreciated how poorly she’d hidden her e theirl clearly kne to tell a lie

It rery boy he’d been in his past

A boy who didn’tto hiain at his reflection in the water Shoved his hands beneath it, splintering the ie He washed his face Let the water rinse away his me to hiirl Ōkami could not afford to care about her She was trouble, even if she was s aardly fearless about her

She was nothing to hih he should have asked her why she’d dressed as a boy Should have let her kno curious he was about her How h her clever mind

But he would not answer her questions So he had no right to ask his

For this one day, Ōkami would not tell anyone about her

This one day only, he would lie to his best friend

For this time only

--

"I think it’s time Sanada Takeo learned hoield a katana And I think you should be the one to teach him," Ran

Ōka hesitation spoke volumes "I don’t use swords" The Wolf pronounced the words carefully, each one bound in an underlying threat

Tread no further

Ranrinned, his expression unaffected, even when ns of Ōkae that" His response was equally underscored with a trace of ht Especially on the field of battle

"With all due respect, I don’t really care what you think" Ōkami turned to leave

Ranmaru stepped into his path, his hands raised in peace "I understand It isn’t necessary for you to wield swords in battle" His lips thinned into a hard line "But it is iet from where it is you came"

Ōkami remained stubbornly silent

The leader of the Black Clan tried a different tack "Your father was--"

"I knoho my father was"

"Good," Ranmaru said quietly "And you knoho le day of et who your father was"

Hurt flashed across Ranry he still was Showed Ran its existence

But perhaps it was time for them to overcome the mistakes of their pasts Thesince passed But Ōka denied

"Nevertheless" Ranh to make any other man uncomfortable It was a tactic Raner Stand in another man’s space and watch him squirm Ranmaru watched now as the tactic nearly worked on his friend The Wolf alaze And stood fir today, you will spend two afternoons this week teaching Sanada Takeo how to fight with a sword It doesn’t matter which sword A katana, a wakizashi, a tantō" He e "All that matters is whether or not the boy can hold his own in a basic fight If Takeo is to be our newest recruit, he must at least knoield a blade"

Ōka, ready to barrel forth

Ranmaru braced for it Welco wolf needed to be silenced

Then Ōkale word He inhaled slowly through his nose "Fine" His shoulders relaxed "It won’this first fight, don’t blame me"