14. Nia

I look pretty; I think to myself when I catch my reflection on one of the black mirrored walls in Samovar's private quarters. Still sad and heartbroken inside, and using anger to protect myself. But pretty. Not all out pampered and fancy like on my birthday, the night I met Kenji. But I feel good about myself. What he did and said was on him. Not a reflection of who I am. But it still hurt like a bitch and definitely crushed my ego. So, who knows? Tonight might not be such a bad idea after all…

I followed a lovely, sophisticated hostess to this part of the lounge I never even suspected existed. And now she left me at a door, saying my date is waiting for me inside. I have no expectations, no butterflies, no anticipation. I just want to check this off my list, get Maty off my back and spend a decent time with whoever she set me up with.

I lower the handle and push the door open. And… there he fucking stands! Fucking Kenji The Katana Watanabe. In all his glory. But this time, I don't let myself freeze. I whirl around and make a dash for the door! But this time, Ken also doesn't play by the same rule as our previous encounter. Instead of watching me leave, he wraps his strong arms around me, plastering me to the closed door, cutting off my exit…

"Let go of me, you Neanderthal asshole!" I shriek, fucking kicking my legs, bucking, and overall doing everything in my power for this horrible man to release me.

"Shhh," he coos. "Easy, sweet thing." He fucking presses his lips to the side of my face. "Just wanna talk." I wanna die, and melt, and run, and kick him in the balls, and fucking kiss him, all at once!. His body heat surrounds me, his scent. His fucking scent. I almost weep. It feels like just yesterday we were in each other's arms, all over each other's bodies, and not months ago now. It feels far, like some long ago dream. And so familiar, so fucking close. All at once. He feels so right that I want to cry, even though I know it's all just a lie.

"How've you been, baby?" His full lips brush my skin, making me shiver all over, and I buck again, but with less force this time.

"Please Kenji, let me go. I don't want to play your game. I don't know the rules. I don't get what you could possibly want from me. You had me, you threw me away. Please, leave me alone."

His arms around me tighten and his face buries deeper into my hair. And he… inhales. Like he's filling his lungs with my scent. He also missed my smell… Lies. All lies.

"Never. But you need to listen. You need to hear me out. And you need to know I'm telling you the truth. And after that, if you still wanna go… shit, I don't know. If you still wanna go after, we'll see."

I take a trembling inhale, fighting to calm my erratic heart, to control my voice, my tears. And finally croak out, "I'm listening."

And Kenji proceeds to whisper into my ear a sweet, sad, beautiful, epic story of revenge, honor, duty, family and love. He speaks of his father like a great samurai from an old folktale. Of his mother, like the strong, loving widow who raised a titan. He tells me about his frozen heart, about the fiery girl who breathed life into it. He briefly mentions the evil villain who had his retribution coming for him for a long time. He tells me about the untimely meeting between his fiery princess and the evil monster. About how he had to trick the monster to keep his attention away from the princess. About letting the princess leave, thinking he didn't want her anymore after he pledged his love to her. About his own heart breaking in the process. Kenji tells me about slaying the monster and finally fulfilling his promise to his parents. Straightening his kingdom, cutting all the bad seeds he knew of. He tells me about making the kingdom as safe as could be to welcome his princess into it. And as he talks, as I finally listen, I melt into his embrace. Our hearts start beating at the same rhythm again. Tears sliding down my face, cold and darkness leaving my heart and body. Love and warmth seeping in.