"Are you proud of yourself?"  Asano asked after the lesson he taught.  It was the day after The Dead Spy massacre and the legend of the Ghost spread like wild fire.  Ghost had become the infamous name whispered between people, afraid that Ghost would be listening and would kill you should Ghost hear anything Ghost doesn't like.  

The Blood Moon became the second best assassin organization in Bido Kingdom over night.  The Crimson Lightning Tea House also became the most popular tea house in the royal city of Obe.  Everyone came there hoping to get a glimpse of Ghost.  Everyone was speculating on how Ghost would look like.  There were rumors that Ghost was a man ten feet tall and as strong as twin dragons.  There were rumors that Ghost was really a ghost.  A vengeful ghost who came back the living to collect souls.  What ever rumor there was, one thing was for sure and that was if anyone cause trouble for Blood Moon, Ghost would destroy the troublemakers.  

"What is there to be proud of?"  Hongmo asked back. "That my hands are dirtied with more blood than I ever thought possible? Do you find me less attractive now knowing how twisted I am?  How absolutely cold and unfeeling I am towards the life of others?  How little value I give to human life?  How little belief I have in the human race? Am I now a monster to you too? " 

Asano sat still.  He didn't expect Hongmo to be sensitive about her killings and her guilt for taking their lives.  She said those words to push him away because she felt guilt over killing them. She was insecure about how Asano would now perceive her and how he would judge her.  

Asano quickly pulled Hongmo into his arms and held on to her tightly.  No matter what she did.  No matter what she said.  There was nothing she could say or do to change his mind about her.  He had fallen for the cold, aloof, and deadly girl a long time ago.  He understood her heart and knew her better than herself sometimes.  

"Silly girl."  Asano told her.  "I was asking if you were proud of yourself because I'm proud of you."  

Hongmo breathed in his deep and musky scent.  It had a way of calming her as she stayed quiet. 

"There is no one out there that could have done what you did last night.  You took responsibility for something that wasn't your fault.  You went in alone into The Dead Spy's headquarter because you didn't want a bloody war between The Dead Spy and Blood Moon.  You didn't want any one from Blood Moon to be hurt, so you settled their score for them.  It's not your fault that they cause trouble because you're better at your job than they are.  It's not your fault that The Dead Spy didn't pay up the blood debt, or your fault that they conspired to convince that naive young man to claim to be Ghost, which caused you to kill him to send out a message to others."  Asano squeezed the young woman tighter to him, secretly wishing that he could make her his and only his forever.  

But he knew, deep down, she would never belong to just one person.  She couldn't trust anyone enough to let them in and open her heart to them.  She would never be that woman who would let a man take care of her and give her his protection.  Why would she let a man do that when she could do that herself. 

"Silly girl."  Asano said again as he pulled her back to stare at her.  He knocked her gently on the head with his knuckles and smiled.  "No matter how dark and twisted you think you are, trust me, so am I.  I'm just as dark and twisted like you so I understand."  

Hongmo pulled him to her lips and as they kissed, the passion between them lit a fire within their bodies.  Their clothes fell away as Asano brought her to her bedroom.  For the rest of the afternoon, he showed her just how much he found her attractive.  

---------

That evening as she laid in Asano's arms, she felt contented and safe.  It was a feeling she hardly let herself feel.  It was a feeling that she could easily get use to, but she would never let herself get use to it.  For it made her weak.  It made her easily rely on people that she had to be strong for.  For she didn't want to be the reason why they got hurt or the reason why they were distracted.  If she was strong, they wouldn't worry about her.  

"I wanted to be the first one to tell you, before you heard."  Asano said.  "My King Father granted me a betrothal earlier this morning."  

"Congratulations."  Hongmo said as she lifted her head off of his chest so she could look at him.  Although her heart tightened at the news and felt her heart being stabbed with an invisible knife, she knew this is what she chose.  This is the reality of her life and and the reality of his life as well.  She would bring nothing tangible to his life.  She was just a commoner, with no connections. All she had was her strength and she wouldn't be able to use her strength to help him if she became his concubine.  She would be stuck inside the cold palace along with other concubines and wives to fight for his attention and love.  She would be held accountable for her actions and be forced into society's mold of gender roles and her spirit would slowly die.  But mostly, she wouldn't be able to lend him her strength when he need it. "Who's the lucky girl?" 

"Her name is Masa Ramora, she was granted first rank concubine.  She's the daughter to General Ramora.  He was my teacher and Captain when I first joined the army.  He trained me and taught me how to fight.  Masa and I are good friends.  We grew up together."  He told her.  

"Since you already know who she is and what kind of a person she is, your marriage with her would not only be beneficial to your rise to the throne, but also your marriage would be peaceful. Your friendship with her would make your marriage and life more smooth."  

"Em."  Asano couldn't say anymore words to her.He didn't want her to be reasonable and understanding. He wanted her to be jealous.  He wanted her to cry, scream and be angry.  To cause a scene and be unreasonable, to make him feel as if she cared for him, even if it was just a little bit.  Even if it was a lie.