My Soul Will Find Yours 74 Reimagined : Hold On To Me, Be Careful Not To Fall

I was prepared to signal my men to attack when out of nowhere, a woman in unusual clothing limped and hid in the bushes four feet from where my stallion was hiding. On her back was an unusual looking bag with flowers painted on it, she was holding some sort of parasol-looking thing on one hand and a thick pine branch on the other. She turned her head in an angle, affording me a view of her profile. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her face. It was only a portion of it but I could tell she was a beauty. As I was busy scrutinizing her, I didn't notice my idiot of a cousin appear. He and the three men started to argue and fight. While all four men were engaged in battle, the woman below started to move, she was careful but swift.

She signaled for my niece to be quiet when their eyes met before she untied the rope that connected the little girl to the horse. Once freed, the woman half carried half dragged my niece to her hiding place. It was then that I noticed the gash on her knee, it looked fresh but thankfully it was not bleeding. She produced something from her bag and started removing the filth from Yuki's face and arms. She asked the little girl a question, earning her a shake of the head and a question in return.

My observation was interrupted by the anguished cry of a man. I reluctantly removed my gaze from the two people below me to where Shouta was. His loud voice mocked the remaining bandit.

"Is this the only thing you've got? And here I thought that the Three Riding Brothers were a match for the great Kousai Ishokushou!"

My four guards looked at my cousin with disdain. I couldn't blame them as I, too, have yet to get used to his shamelessness. I heard that he liked to pose himself as me when I'm gone but seeing how he didn't even make an effort to conceal one of his eyes, I was exasperated. His temper and arrogance always overpowered his ability to think. I smiled evilly when I thought of a punishment for him, his inability to take care of his imouto and this farce are simply unforgivable.

I saw him behead the last of the bandits. I had to admit that his strike was swift and flawless, now if only he could be that way when he thinks. I looked down and saw the woman was in hysterics. It was probably the first time she has witnessed such a gory scene. I watched Shouta run to them; when he cupped the woman's cheeks, I frowned disapprovingly. When I saw her hit him with the branch she was previously holding, I immediately knew she was an interesting woman. She completely disregarded his samurai status, either because she was stupid or brave. I had a feeling it was because of the latter.

They bickered and it seemed like little Yuki was on the woman's side. As someone who was helpless against his little sister, Shouta relented. He then alternated between praising himself and teaching his sister to lie. I thought it was time for me to make my presence known so I got down from the tree and went to get my horse. All three of them jumped when I emerged from the trees.

"Teaching your imouto to lie just to avoid getting in trouble. Shouta, you've just made a new personal best," my words were full of derision. I saw the woman hide her smile, her eyes glinted mischievously as if she was internally laughing at my cousin.

After instructing him to prepare for our return to the palace, I turned my full attention to the woman. I didn't expect her to be eyeing me openly, her scrutiny left me feeling conscious. When I regained my composure, I returned her gaze and studied her features as frankly. The woman's skin was smooth and void of any imperfection; its color reminded me of dried rice husk, only paler and more attractive. Her almond shaped eyes were framed by short but thick lashes, her nose was neither too strong nor its bridge too high. Her black hair fell in luscious waves on her shoulders. Her lips were tinted in a glossy color that further enhanced her features, but what I liked the most about them was that her lower lip is fuller than her upper one. I suddenly wondered how they'd feel if I kissed them…

As if reading my thoughts, she suddenly blushed. She tucked her hair behind her ear and gave me a little wave, she looked so cute I almost couldn't contain my laughter.

'So she's not a mind reader, she just realized I caught her staring,' I thought to myself.

Shouta and I argued about bringing the woman with us. In the end, he had no choice but to insincerely offer her a horse. The woman suddenly looked like she was in a dire predicament as she chewed her lower lip. Her innocent gesture distracted me, it connected to my honorable other self[1] and I was suddenly overcome with a desire to kiss her senseless. Shouta's rude retort saved me from my lascivious and unsettling thoughts.

"You don't know how to ride a horse?" he was being rude to her again. "Who are you, the crown prin—"

Without thinking, I got off Kuro, grabbed the woman by the waist and lifted her to my mount. Afraid that I might do something I will regret greatly, I sat in front of her instead of behind her. "Hold on to me," I instructed. "Be careful not to fall."