The next day seemed to drag on forever, the wind was relentless, full of ice, and although I was glad of the extra layers Shai had provided me with, the wind had a plan to find any small weakness in it. I rode next to her, further down the caravan, I could see Lord Shingen's bright hair some way ahead, but from what I gather he spent the day discussing things with his generals. I suppose there must be a continual set of politics and God only knows what going on at any one time that would demand his decisions.

An icy blast slapped my face and I hunkered down as much as I could and just watched Jin's neck and the wisps of his mane being toyed with by the wind. The days were getting much shorter now, it was only mid-afternoon when we arrived at our lodgings but the last tinges of colour were draining from the skies.

I was feeling as though I could never be warm again and hugging my arms to my chest I concentrated on getting my frozen feet to work properly. Everywhere plumes of steam blew into the air as horses, men and the rest of the caravan bustled about, trying to get everything settled before the night swept in.

Shai put a comforting arm around me and guided me inside.

It was like walking into a mild furnace by comparison, so immediate it felt like it sealed the cold into my bones and set my face on fire.

There were some hurried pleasantries offered by Shai, but I had to keep my jaw clenched shut against my chattering teeth. We were swiftly guided to our rooms, I have no idea whose I ended up in, I just headed for a pile of cushions and pulled a pile of furs over the top of me and sat in my fur tent waiting to warm up.

The private space was nice; I could only hear the distant muffle of voices and occasionally felt rather than heard footsteps. The floor was heated, but I wished it were hotter; my body was drawing it so quickly from the boards.

My thoughts turned to Saizo, I hadn't seen him at all while we were travelling, and although Shai had said he had returned to the castle, it didn't mean he wasn't still around, he could be standing right next to you and you wouldn't see him unless he wanted you to.

I giggled in my tent, as warmth finally started to get into my body, even if my hands and feet were still like ice.

A hand landed on my head and I squeaked and jumped under the furs.

It took me several attempts to find a way out there were so many layers, but when I finally surfaced I saw Shai smiling at me and holding a steaming cup of something towards my hands. I wrapped both around it, the heat felt like it was burning, but I gripped it anyway.

My first sip told me it wasn't all that hot, more my hands were still cold, so I shimmied back under more fur and took it with me.

It was like warm, sweet sake, not much alcohol, but enough to be welcome going down my throat, it sent a flower of warmth through my whole system and I wriggled my toes in my boots as I began to feel them again.

I liked my tent.

It was nice to be alone.

I might have known it was too good to last, despite the fact I was starting to cook, out of nowhere I felt the layers being lifted, and although I scrabbled to at least hold onto one or two, the hands removing them were much stronger than mine.

As Lord Shingen flung the last one off me I hugged my knees to hold the last of their warmth, and clutched my cloak around me.

I felt him kneel down in front of me, and when he didn't speak I raised my head from my knees to look up at him, his eyes sparkled, but his expression was firm.

"Lady Takeda, your presence is required, there is a feast in your honour."

I groaned and sunk my head back into my knees - kimono time again - all that fussing, but I sensed it would be the only direct route to food, and I should at least have the good grace to turn up. I sighed loudly and couldn't keep the petulant expression from my face and as I looked back up Shingen simply tilted his head, his ponytail swishing to the right as he smiled down at me.

It didn't help at all.

He stood up before I could say something rude and I sat up cross-legged and unbraided my hair, looking longingly at the furs sprawled around me, silently willing them to come back.

It was the first time I actually took in the room, I guessed then from the size it was not for Shai, and also noticed she wasn't there anymore as Lord Shingen walked back to me with another drink in his hand.

I absently thought about how much before I seemed to do as a normal thing, and how my friends would be sending me to therapy about now.

"That's better." Shingen handed me a drink, "You should smile more often."

I wasn't even aware that I was.

I downed the drink before I realised it wasn't sweet sake and my eyes watered as the stronger alcohol burned its way down me. I had only just set the cup on the floor when I was hoisted to my feet, and had to hold tightly to the front of Shingen's robes as the resulting head rush made the room spin.

He held me easily with one arm as he finished his drink and looked about to say something, but Shai returning with a huge bundle of clothes and a maid carrying more broke the moment. I couldn't read the look he gave me before letting me go, handing me his empty cup in the process and exiting the room in a hurry.

Shai looked quizzically at his departing back and then to me, before returning her attention to unfolding all the layers I would be changing into.

Thankfully, there is no way of doing all the kimono thing and rushing, so by the time Shai was satisfied with how I looked, my stomach was actually eager to join the feast.

The outfit was really heavy, and everywhere it bore Takeda emblems on it, it was a deep red and the light made it shimmer. There was a small train, which with the weight swept the material back around my frame and the underskirts also shone, it looked like flickering flames as I moved.

Shai didn't add any hairpieces; just worked with my own hair, adding some elegant flame red hairpins and the tie on the braid down my back wrapped it in gold. I found myself idly playing with the obi pin I had been presented with from the battle, then my stomach growled loudly and both Shai and the maid giggled at me as I blushed.

There was a collective gasp as I entered, I've never gotten used to how much of an effect a woman in a fancy dressing gown creates here, and it put a large smile on my face. Shai and the maid ducked in behind me and disappeared, leaving me alone, but this hall was much smaller than Kofu, so I didn't have too many steps to the dais.

Lord Shingen had only just stepped down as we met.

"My Lady," He said to the hall as well as me, "You have captured the hearts of all those present with your beauty."

I couldn't do anything except feel my cheeks colour, he had never formally greeted me like this before and I wracked my brain to come up with a suitable reply.

"My Lord," I bowed to him, "One heart is all I need."

As soon as the words left my lips I realised to my horror what he would think I was implying.

I was in no position to take back what I'd said.

Although his smile never wavered, his amber eyes showed me I had unwittingly hurt him, but in the circumstances and good cheer around us I had no way to apologise.

The food was hearty, and despite my background feeling of dread, my stomach appeared happy to share the sentiment with food.

Finally, I was warm again.

There were a few toasts, but by then I had drunk enough to not pay much attention, I was busy internally brooding on my stupid mouth's words.

Lord Shingen's aura changed noticeably as we left the hall, he usually measured his stride to stay with me in the kimono, but this time I was struggling to stay with him, and he wouldn't release my arm. Shai caught up with us, but he dismissed her with a curt sentence before bundling me into our room.

I almost lost my balance in the heavy fabric as I turned to face him, he pushed the doors shut, strode towards me, snagged me around my ribs and picked me up to be at eye level with him. His gaze was sharp, a hint of wildness stirred in the depths of his eyes. I held his shoulders.

"Please! I'm sorry! I never meant for it to sound like that!"

He continued to stare into my eyes, moving his head slightly as he looked back and forth from one to the other searching for something. Under the intense scrutiny I felt tears wanting to come and I dropped my head away from the pressure.

"I didn't mean to hurt you." I mumbled, seeing a tear escape onto the front of my kimono.

"Tamara, look at me."

I didn't want to, at least now my vision was blurred enough to avoid his eyes. I blinked away fresh tears, but his face was still a shimmer.

"I'm so sorry." I repeated, looking down again.

"Tamara." I looked up again and my eyes were clearer this time.

"I only wish what you said was meant for me."

He sighed heavily and put me down, and having nothing else at hand I wiped my eyes on the kimono sleeves, leaving dark streaks in the fine silk.

"I must be the worst Lady Takeda in history." I said, looking sadly at the mess I had made on the kimono.

Shingen picked me up again, this time wrapping his arms around me and holding me close to his body; I put my hands back on his shoulders, keeping some distance between us. He was faintly smiling as he spoke to me.

"Oh there have been far worse than you." In the time it took me to look surprised he continued, and his expression changed again.

"But there is only one Lady Tiger that I know of."

I looked up to the ceiling to roll my eyes and he took the opportunity to bury his face in my neck. I felt his teeth lightly nip me before he set me down again. I had forgotten my hands were still on his shoulders, and as they slid to his chest I quickly drew them away as my fingers felt how strongly his heart was beating.

Shingen released me and sidestepped around me, heading for the sake flask on a small table. I smoothed the fabrics down as I watched him from the corner of my eye, not really sure what to do. His weapons clattered loudly as he set them next to mine.

I walked over to a pile of cushions and sat on the warm floor in a pool of silk, taking out the various hairpins as I sat there, leaving the braid down my back. My hair had certainly grown longer with whatever the treatments were that I used on it here, and it still glowed a deep indigo at the ends. I was lost to my little tasks, so when a hand descended from above holding a cup, I started a bit as it came level with my face. Shingen spoke from way above me.

"This will be your last night as Lady Takeda, at the return feast tomorrow I will make the announcement to the Hall and you can go back to being Lady Tamara again."

It was odd, I never wanted to be Lady Takeda in the first place, and now hearing how easily it would be taken away actually hurt. As if sensing something in the way I was feeling, Shingen continued, his voice softer.

"The title was only for the mission, and now that is done."

I sighed, looking deeply into my drink, he was right of course, that was the arrangement, but all this time I had spent in his presence seemed to ... seemed to ... I don't know, it seemed to be something.

I also recognised this was his way of allowing me to be with Saizo without any awkward social protocols, although I think that was solely for my benefit, no one else had ever so much as raised an eyebrow before.

As I stared at the beautiful fabrics and hairpins around me I knew that although I would never feel like I belonged in the finery, it had been interesting and fun to play dress up, and I made a mental note to do this kimono thing once in while in the future.

As Lord Shingen sat in front of me on the cushions, I couldn't look at him, I gathered up the hairpins and stood up, finding a low table I could put them on, and then carefully laying each one down on the lacquered surface. I cast a glance over to where he was sitting and saw he was lost in his own thoughts.

Shai had left me a beautiful evening robe, so I thought I might as well start getting out of all these layers. After trying to struggle quietly, I worked out I couldn't get out of the obi without some help, however she had fixed it was beyond the skill of my fingers.

The silence between us had dragged on for what seemed like ages.

"Lord Shingen."

My voice was far louder than I meant it to be and I smiled as he jumped at my tone. He turned around to face me taking in the problem immediately and flashed me a grin. He easily freed me, still saying nothing, and walked back to the cushions leaving me holding the long obi.

I thought for sure he would say something laden with innuendo or try something, but no. I blinked a couple of times and got on with the task of getting out of all the layers.

I carefully laid each one out on a low table, to stay as flat as possible, and laid the hairpins on top. The evening robe was heavier than it looked, and after the cold chill of putting it on, I was surprised how quickly it warmed up around me.

The cut looked more ceremonial than nightwear, and like the kimono's overcoat, it swept behind me a little as I moved. Now this was a dressing gown I liked, especially the really high collar to keep out any draughts. My feet were just starting to get chilly, even on the warm floor, so I padded over to the cushions to get a couple of furs.

Before I could sit down, he rose and walked past me towards the door, saying something about speaking with Shai, and then he was gone. I poured myself a drink, downed it, and poured another, taking it and a fur over to the bedding.

Lying on my back I spoke to the ceiling.

"So that's that then."

I rolled over onto my side and could see the folds of kimono fabric softly flickering reds and golds in the lamplight. I wasn't sure at all how I felt, but found burying myself into the bedding meant at least I didn't have to see anything but fabric.

I'm not sure how long it was, but I had dozed off by the time I felt Shingen get under the bedding next to me, I was instantly wide awake and my heart was thumping in my chest for some reason.

I shrank further under the covers as I felt him reach over me to pick up the cup of sake I hadn't touched.

I think I held my breath?

What was wrong with me?

We had shared more than bedcovers before and now I feel awkward?

I tried to sigh quietly as my head thumped in time with my heart, clasping the edge of the bedding to keep it over my head.

The trouble was, I had sealed myself in, I was going to need to get fresh air. I stayed still for as long as I could, but I had to let go of the edge to grab a lungful.

I slowly lifted one finger at a time, fighting the urge to fling the covers off. I was just about to lift the edge when Shingen suddenly sat up, taking the covers with him.

I was left curled in a ball in my robe.

A rich, genuine laugh echoed around the room as he turned to look down at me. I stayed exactly where I was, but I couldn't help a bit of a smile, I must have looked ridiculous. He leant around me and tried to roll me over from my shoulder, and all I did was end up in pretty much the same position on my back, arms across my chest, eyes closed and my knees up, trying hard to lose the smile that was intent on invading my face.

I opened one eye as he laid down on his back still laughing, damn it, he had let his hair down.

Don't look Don't look Don't look Don't look Don't look Tamara, you'll be fine if you Don't look ....

I risked a peek.

Instantly he rolled over and caught my eyes, a rush of flame red hair followed as he grabbed the bedding and brought it back over my knees, tucking it in around my waist. I don't know what he saw in my eyes, but I was held there by his, and the small smile that flickered in them.

I said the only sensible thing I could.

"I think I need a drink."

I was met with more laughter.

"No Tamara, I don't think so."

He reached up to my head and pushed my hair back over my ear, I had to shut my eyes as what felt more like a large paw ran over my ear and slowly down my neck, and then rested on my shoulder. My body couldn't help reacting, whilst my head spun. I gasped a lungful of air as my heart still pounded.

I really didn't want to feel like this, yet my body was still sabotaging me. Shingen leant over me and I could feel his hair fall around my face, I still couldn't look and bit my lip hard enough to distract my thoughts for a few seconds with pain, and I felt him chuckle softly above me.

"Tamara." His voice was a low rumble.

I looked.

I shouldn't have.

But I did.

His eyes were so close to mine I drowned in them.

I'm not necessarily proud of what I let happen, not my finest moral moment, and I will forever keep the details to myself.

Whatever scenario you come up with...

You're probably right.