THE POSTING WHILE I HAVE ENERGY.
The man, that cocky man, sat down beside the fire and inspected the meal. Isabella merely stared at him, hands on hips. Then, she crossed her arms over her chest, rather impatient and aggravated at how easy going the other male was. He was so radically different from her, who knew this could have come about? Even though, honestly, they were simply so mismatched that they cared enough for each other to let either do whatever was desired. Kaoru certainly knew the deal that was made between the two of them, and he meekly followed along even if some of it was not quite to his tastes.
But the man redeemed himself as he brandished the sticks. Isabella's eyes sparkled as she took them from his hand, cradling them in her palms. She gave him a genuine smile, though most of it was a cocky sort; she deserved this, of course. She had expected it from him, and he could expect something in return now and then too if he had wanted. She really was a nice person when she wanted to be, but at the end of the day, the man was there for one reason only. And he probably knew it. Not that he cared, nor did she care if he violated whatever sanctity a mateship held. She certainly did and happily let him do what he pleased; as long as he knew where the real loyalties lay, she was content.
Kaoru crouched by the fire, keeping his eyes on the sizzling flesh of the rabbit in case his masters got distracted enough to let them sear beyond taste. He sniffed at the provincial fare, usually cooking for them in the traditional ways he was taught. Granted, little of the traditional food there grew here, such as rice. Isabella, peering at the sticks, had a wicked idea. Perhaps as a thank you for the work the man provided, and the usefulness he had often displayed. "Perhaps after the meal we can both thank our gods in our way." She let him touch her face, though she moved slightly to sever the contact. They were twisted and it worked as best as it could, but neither were lovestruck children blinded to the faults of the other. She could pray in thanks for the grace the Mother had in sending her a man that obeyed and let her be. Even if his gods were not her Mother, they were still praying to her in the end.
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