My next clear recollection was waking up baking hot and throwing covers off me to get fresh air.

The second recollection was the shot of pain it sent through the back of my shoulder.

I curled up moaning as it thumped a harsh protest into me. I recognised the low chuckle from somewhere in the room, then Shingen’s voice followed:

“I’ve never seen anyone wake up quite like that before.”

I pulled the covers over my head, back into the sticky warmth.

“Glad you enjoyed the show.” I mumbled through the fabric, “How long have I been asleep?”

“All day and most of the evening.”

I groaned, if not for me we would have been at the first town on the way back, I had delayed things again.

“I’m sorry, I always seem to cause you so much trouble.”

I was going to have to go for air; the bedding was just too hot. I heard Lord Shingen’s boots clip the floorboards and the creak of leather as he sat on his heels near my head.

He slowly pulled the top cover away from my face and laughed more loudly as I tried to see him through my hair. I briskly shoved it back with my right hand, and then had to put my hand over my eyes as most of it sprang back again.

“Aaargh!” I groaned as I tried to wriggle away from the disheveled horror he must be seeing.

“Lady Tamara, you are constantly surprising, a little strange perhaps, but never any trouble.”

“Strange? What do you mean, strange?”

But he just stood up and walked to somewhere else in the room, still laughing softly to himself.

“I’m not strange, this whole bloody place is strange.” I muttered from under the covers.

I suddenly sat up.

“Saizo!”

“He’ll be fine, it would take more than one sword blow from a spoiled brat to take him down.”

I looked across the room to see Shingen had his back to me, I couldn’t see what he was looking at. From where he stood he spoke again.

“You will still have to be Lady Takeda for a while yet,” He paused and I knew he was still smiling. “I can’t have my newly pregnant wife running off with some new in town ninja.”

I fell back into the bedding on my side, that’s right, that dreadful rumour … Eeewww.

“That’s the first rumour you have to stop Lord Shingen, I don’t think I could face all those … Aaargh!” I curled up into a ball, all those whispers, smiles, nods, knowing looks, then the disappointment, the pity …

No. No. No. No. No.

It was just taking this whole Lady Takeda thing a step too far.

“I’m sure Lady Kaoru will think of something.”

I peeked out from the covers; he was still standing with his back to me. Shingen slowly turned; his arms crossed, and started walking towards the door.

“I’ll be a while.” He said in passing, “I’ll have Lady Kaoru bring you something to eat and stay with you.”

The door closed firmly and I heard his footstep fade quickly away.

I slowly stretched my arms up and backwards, my eyes shut tight, forcing my shoulder to work and grimacing at the pull and ache of it, I reached up as far as I could and held the pain there, then relaxed a bit, still at full stretch and opened my eyes.

Two dark blood red eyes met mine with an upside down shock of silver hair framing them.

I squeaked, jumped and rolled over onto my stomach. Being set free a large chunk of my unruly hair sprung over my face, and I had to blow the strands out of my way to see him properly, to see those eyes and the genuine smile on his face. Saizo was crouched down just inches from me, and he raised his head a little to look at my hair.

“Did the little lady have a rough night with the Tiger?”

“NO!!”

He vanished before I could reach him, so I rolled back over, just as he reappeared on top of the bedding sitting on me. I had to sit up quickly as he pushed the air out of me as he landed.

His right hand caught the back of my head and pulled me straight into a kiss, catching me totally by surprise, it had been so long since I had felt his touch, and having to moan at the pull on my shoulder, I put my hands around his neck.

Despite hearing me, he didn’t stop, and as he took his time deeply exploring my mouth, I felt the protection laced around my heart beginning to melt.

This was real?

This was totally real.

I melted.

As he felt me change the kiss became more passionate, almost desperate and I returned in kind.

Saizo suddenly broke away from me with a wicked glint in his eyes.

“Time to go.”

All I felt was a breeze through my hair as he vanished again, leaving me in a daze. It then occurred to me he may have been in the room for some time, and that Lord Shingen had known it.

Within seconds the doors opened and Shai came in, bearing a large tray. She stopped, looked at me quizzically, and then scanned her eyes around the room.

“It’s good to see you too Saizo.”

She said, putting the tray down. All I heard was the door quietly closing, and I could feel that stupid grin had found a home on my face once again.