Ayame let him vent expecting him to do so for awhile, but the more he spoke the calmer he seemed to get. Listening to what he had to say wasn't easy for her. She just bit her tongue every time she wanted to take back. If she started that again they'd just end up in the same boat they were before hand.

"Look I'll treat you the way I treat everyone else. I don't care who or what you may be. You are not my slave and I am not yours. I don't care what happened between our fathers; you owe me nothing." Ayame said softly so that only they could hear. He didn't believe in controlling a person against their will. She'd done nothing to earn his loyalty, but she liked to hear that he sided with her father. If he was someone her father trusted than maybe she could do the same. Just not right now.

Thinking of her father and hearing him apologize only weighed on her heart. She hadn't spoken of her father since his passing. Now here she was fighting with someone she didn't even know, and they'd both brought up him up. It was a painful subject for her, but she never let people know that.

"That's all I'm asking. Treat me like you'd treat everyone else. No one treats me like that. All the other humans treat me like a disease," Jade said lightly. "As for the idea of slavery, I don't like that. I just...owe you. Until I find out who has my hoshi no tama, I don't have a choice. And your father was the last one who had it. So...I owe you everything."

The kitsune cleared his throat, then turned on his heel.

"As I said, I'm going to talk to the men," he said tonelessly. The general in him was back. "As for you...I'd very much like it if you joined me for dinner. You will have until sunset to decide what you'd like to do."

Ayame didn't sat anything to him as he left. Once he was gone she just looked out the window trying to estimate the time. They'd spent a great deal of time talking, well yelling at each other. Ayame guessed she had an hour or so before sunset which was plenty of time. Especially since she'd already made up her mind. It was just fun for her to make him wait for an answer. And could you really blame her; after all it wasn't exactly fun sitting in a room all day.

As usual she was escorted to the bath house before dinner. The same old lady that served her meals sat in the bath house with her. She had a sweet look about her, and long silver hair that was always tied in a bun. While Ayame washed up the women sat calmly waiting for her to finish, but not today.

The women started to braid Ayame's hair when she tried to pull away in protest. despite her age the women held her head still with ease. Letting her small hands work quickly she finished and wrapped the braid up so it wouldn't get wet.
"Come now we can't keep the master waiting." She told her.

Ayame didn't understand the big deal, but none the less she did as she was told. Dressing in fresh robes she held the braid and tried to get the band off. She didn't want her hair braided, but the women had tied the end in a crazy knot she couldn't undo.
"I haven't even agreed to eat with him." She told the women.

"You don't need to. I let him know you agreed. Now move along." The women smiled. It wasn't like she did this to be mean to Ayame. She just think she liked eating alone all the time in that small room.

Ayame said nothing and just followed the women. She was going to join him anyway, but now she wasn't sure. Walking through the house with a women at her front and a guard at her back just made her feel defeated. Ayame wasn't going to try and run away so she felt the guard was just unnecessary

Jade knelt before his spot at the low rise table, not using a chair, but rather just a cushion for comfort. He too had taken a bath, though of course he had his own private one and thus didn't have to use the same one Ayame did. He wouldn't have been so lascivious as to do that anyway. Granted the young maiden was easy on the eyes, and he wouldn't have minded her joining him in bed. But he had a little more honor in him than to try and woo her for a one night stand. She was his family's master, just as her father had been. And with his sister caring for pups in the forest near where the Uta home was located, he had to make sure that he did his duty, and did not endanger the hoshi no tama of his family.

His true ears, hidden under an illusionary veneer, caught the sound of footsteps. He placidly brushed off his shoulder, then straightened a crease out of his midnight blue kimono, patterned with purple chrysanthemums. His hair, too, was braided, and the braid was thrown over his right shoulder.

The kitsune's eyes shifted to the shoji door where he knew Ayame and her escort would enter, the narrow, two-toned orbs full of anticipation at seeing the young woman again. Had she perhaps thought about anything he'd said? Maybe she would take advantage of the situation he was in, and they would take on the shogunate. Maybe she would even elect to assist him in finding the hoshi no tama. If she did, he would, of course, take possession of it and be done with her. Honorable he might have been, but he sought his freedom, and would take it through the highest trickery if necessary.

The women left Ayame at the door, and left to carry out other duties of the household. Ayame sighed before entering the room. It wasn't out of annoyance or anything, it just helped to calm her.

She stood when she slid open the door. Again it was something only men did, women had to kneel. He hadn't been angry about her behaving in such ways in her room so she saw no reason attempting to be lady like. Her footsteps were light and her movement swift. No sound was made until she sat down. The rustling of the cushion she sat down on.

Once they were alone she thought of speaking, but didn't know where to start.
".... So why am I here?" Ayame finally asked. It was a reasonable question because she didn't really know. It was slightly uncomfortable to eat with someone else, she lived alone and so ate alone. She just sat with her hands in her lap fighting off the urge to unto the braid.

Jade's eyes followed Ayame to her seat, and when she finally asked her question, he couldn't help himself.

"Why...you're here because I didn't kill you like I should have," he said with a lopsided grin. He simply couldn't keep from taking the shot. He was, after all, a creature with a very big and often morbid sense of humor.

Ayame looked puzzled and slightly shocked. Out of every answer she was thinking of that hadn't even made the list.
"What? Is this because I tried to escape? Or from yelling at you? Whatever it is if you wanted to kill me for it why no, and then tell me?!" Ayame questioned him. She didn't know what it was with him, but every time he spoke she seemed to get angry. It was hard not to with the things he said to her. Still she stayed in her seat, and kept her voice calm as she questioned him. The last thing she wanted to do was ruin his meal. It was just to rude.

"Hahah, settle down. I meant on the field, not before. You're infuriating, I will admit, but not enough to die for. At least not in my opinion."

Jade exhaled lightly, having had his fun now.

"But to be serious about this, to what do you refer when you ask that question? Why are you here eating with me, or why are you here in my home?" he queried. "You know that was a very broad question, and you must forgive my humor at it..."

Ayame really didn't know how to answer his questions; the only thing she could do was be honest.
"I'm having dinner because you asked me too, and I don't know why I'm here. Everyone else is being held in jail and for some reason I was placed her. I don't know why." Ayame told him. Thinking about it now she felt bad about it, but her once friends were no longer friends. Once they knew she was a female they'd given up. Ayame could only image what they'd do to her if they were in jail together.

"I'm here till you either let me go, I escape, or I'm killed." Ayame said calmly hoping it would be one of the first two.

Wow. She's really jaded...

"I'd let you go if I didn't fear another less magnanimous general getting ahold of you, this seal being used against me, and if I didn't think that away from me you would be in danger. You are still a woman, however strong you may be, and human men are filthy beasts," he said quietly. "You were placed here by my request, Uta-sama. Please, tell me now what you would like to do. I will make it so. Or if you don't have any ideas, I have a few of my own."

Ayame wasn't sure if she should trust him or not, really his only fault was his humor. What he found funny she found morbid. Though she might have found him funny if it wasn't a joke on her life.

"I don't know what you're trying to get at, but we both know what I want." Ayame told him as she finally started to eat. Everything was going to get cold if they didn't do so soon. She ate her rice in small bites that she chewed slowly. It wasn't now she normally ate, but being around him made her nervous half the time. It was stupid how he effected her, but she couldn't exactly help it.

"I want to finished what I started." Ayame told him quietly. Honestly it really was all she wanted. With their lord dead she was free to return home and the war would be over. It was a simple task if she could just get close enough to him. She thought it funny how killing one man would have such an impact on people. With him dead people could go back to their normal peaceful lives, but killing him was easier said that done.

Jade didn't seem half as interested in his food as Ayame seemed in hers. He hadn't touched a single bite. He was studying her curiously again.

"Why don't you just tell me that you want me to help you with it? I wouldn't be against it," he said quietly. "I've no intention to continue working for this lord, and I think that if we play our cards right and gather more supporters, we could raise a lot of lovely hell. Does that appeal to you?"

"Its a wonderful plan, but I want you to do it because you want to. Not because I ask it of you. And you won't get many supporters with me at your side....trust me" Ayame had started strong, but sorrow seeped through at the end. Think of how her men just gave up in the end over something so trivial always made her sad. It showed her just how differently everyone saw her.

She continued to eat slowly; every bite feeling more awkward than the last. She wished he'd just eat with her, but she had a feeling he wasn't. Once her rice was gone she set the bowl down; resting her chopsticks resting over it.

"Look I don't want you to help because you feel you must. I want you to decide on your own. Once this is all through I'll try and find what it is you're looking for. I can't promise I'll find it, but I can try." Ayame told him.

"Mm...well, I don't expect many anyway. Look at me, I'm kitsune. That's a few rungs below woman, you know," Jade said matter-of-factly. He steepled his fingers, leaning his elbows against the table and looking directly at her.

"I want to help. I'm just looking for a reason, and that reason is to protect you. But your promise gives me hope as well...for I don't think what I seek is anywhere you can get it. I think it is with the shogun. Or rather...I fear it is..."

He sighed heavily.

"The only thing inhibiting me is that seal I showed you. I have to find a way to break it..."

"Well As far as I'm aware all my families positions are still at home. Its possible the Shogun has what you're looking for, but if father had it last I doubt he'd give it away." Ayame assured him. As for a a Kitsune being lower than a female Ayame had believe little of that. Even if he was in his true form people would fear him, they never feared her. He was also a male and someone with respect. The only respect a women ever received was from another women.

"If I can get to him, I can kill him." Ayame said softly in confidant manner. Normally higher ups were easy to kill since they had little fighting skills. With so many people watching over you it would be understandable why, but no one should ever leave themselves vulnerable like that.

She didn't know if he was a warrior or not, but the way he acted made her believe he couldn't tell a sword from a chopstick. Still this was just her believe not a fact. If he could defend himself he might pose as a challenge.

"That may be so, but it is also possible that when your father broke with him, in the time between that and his execution, the shogun may have gotten ahold of the ball. I sincerely hope this is not the case, and that he is bluffing, but I could not take that chance. So I sat still for this seal, and let myself be forced into servitude. It's that important to me..."

Jade's eyebrows drew together as she mentioned killing the shogun.

"Tread cautiously. Shoguns are warlords," he warned. "They aren't toy soldiers. It is possible he hasn't fought in a while, but I cannot say whether his skills have dulled. And you can see for yourself he is not against enlisting demon help."

"If I die than I died trying..." Ayame told him with a slight tinge of fear in her voice. She grew up believing in dying with honor, but it never stopped her from fearing death. Every warrior seemed to have no fear, but she could never get over it. Still no matter how afraid she was she would have to face it one day.

As their conversation went on Ayame felt slightly tired. It was by far the most eventful days she'd had since she'd been here, it was also the most relaxed she'd ever been. Knowing he wasn't going to kill her allowed her to sleep easy and let her guard down. Ayame wouldn't completely trust anyone or anything, but around him she was able to relax a little.

"..Why must we talk of such things?" Ayame asked him trying to change the subject. Talking about her father and the Shogun were messing her up inside. One moment she was sad the next angry or scared it just wasn't good for her. It was something she couldn't really keep control of all the time. Ayame blamed it on the fact she was a female.

"But there's no point in throwing your life away. There is a difference there," Jade replied. His expression softened as he caught the tinge of fear in her tone. It softened further when she asked him why they had to discuss this. But then, he spoke.

"I speak to you of these things because you wish to be treated as I would treat any other. There is nothing to gain from dodging the problem, and I figured that any mercy on my side would vex you, because it would mean I am taking pity on you as a woman. At any rate, if you are finished eating, please...feel free to go. I myself have business to attend to after this, and I will not return until a day from now. In my stead, the men will receive orders from my adjutant, Saithu. He is a good man, worry not. A mounted samurai."

He offered Ayame a faint smile.

"Remember...I'm not doing this because I'm forced to. I want to help you," he assured her, and something of his voice seemed to hold a deeper emotion than he showed outwardly.

Because it's going to help me. Then I'll be done with you.

"Well then I thank you for treating me as such." Ayame told him as she got up to leave when she stopped at the door. He seemed all to calm leaving her here. Her hand rested on the door as she tried to figure out what was going through his mind.

"What's to say I won't run away when you lave? Being away for even a day is still enough time for me to run..." Ayame asked him out of curiosity. It might have come across as a clue that she'd already planned on it, but it wasn't the case. Something was stopping her from leaving now. It was as if her curiosity had chained her down to this place ever since she met him. Something about him was just so puzzling.

"I would like to think my trust is not misplaced," Jade responded, still smiling lightly. "And if it is, then Saithu will cover for me. Human he may be, but he is an honorable, obedient man. If you do escape, he will bring you back. Personally, and it is nothing against you, but I think that if you were so easily betrayed, it would be very silly for me to let you escape and get yourself in trouble...besides, I would be in trouble as well, and this seal on me can be used in a very...embarrassing manner."

"I see..." Ayame slid open the door and walked out. No one seemed to be outside the door which was odd to her. Still she closed the door and walked the same way she came. It was dark and the house seemed to glow in a blue hue. It made her uneasy not seeing any guards around, and so she went back to her room as fast as she could. Once to her room she closed the door.

"What did he mean embarrassing?" Ayame asked herself. She laid back on the small bed she was given and tired to sleep. Her body was tired, but her mind was awake and alert still on edge from the lack of guards.
"If he's so set on his freedom why doesn't he just ask me for help? Instead he's been telling me to ask..." Ayame continued to talk to herself as she thought about Jade and what he was up to.

The truth of the matter was that Jade was too prideful to ask Ayame for help. But he wouldn't let her know that.

Once she was gone and out of the room, he sighed, rising from the table. Dinner had really been for her benefit, for he was not at all hungry, and did not partake of human foods unless he had to, or unless he had a particular affinity for them. Such as with strawberry filled onigiri.

He exited the room, nodding to a maid waiting outside to assure her she was free to start picking up. He himself headed silently towards his chambers, which led him down an outside walkway. He glanced up into the stars as he walked, sighing heavily. He wished so fervently that things were simple. But the greed and arrogance of humans had complicated his life, and stolen his father from he and his sister. Now it fell to him to retrieve the Hoshi no Tama...and he didn't know who held it.

Jade was a simple person. He wanted a simple life, in a simple home, away from everything and all to himself. Simple, quiet...all he needed was food, a bed, shelter, and a means to learn.

But now he was doing more than he ever wanted to...and he hated it. As for this girl, Ayame...hm. Well a fat load of good she'd be in the long run. She was only worried about how others treated her. A very womanlike trait in his opinion. It wasn't jsut aobut how you were treated. If that bothers one, then don't complain. Simply pay it back.

Ayame hadn't realized she'd fallen asleep so soon. Normally she tossed and turned for hours before finally falling a sleep. The sun had started to come in through the window so it must have been pretty early. The smell of the sweet morning air already filled the room. Something was different about today, she didn't feel so trapped.

Ayame fixed her robes that had opened slightly during her sleep and stepped outside. She looked around for the small old lady that normally greeted her, but she was no where to be found. Ayame should have figured as much since it was still far too early. Ayame just stood outside her room stretching her arms and cracking her head.
"Strangely cheery morning." She said to herself as she looked around, but knew better than
to wonder off alone and have a guard find her.

The halls were fairly empty, though there were some people wandering around.

One of which was a man with dark red hair that was cut short and parted so as to accentuate his very handsome visage. His auburn eyes seemed filled with serenity, even as he strode in the armor of a samurai with a long, silver-based spear in hand. He held it as easily as if it were a twig, and his gait was as easygoing as if he were not burdened by the weight of his armor, nor his office.

This man happened upon Ayame just as she spoke, turning the corner right at that time.

"Cheery?" he reiterated in a deep, regal voice as he turned his gaze to Ayame. "Mm...yes, I suppose it could be considered that."

His spear straightened a little, the point rising as he held it vertical as he came to a stop before Ayame.

"Did you sleep well, Uta-sama?"

No one else in this home referred to her in such a respectful manner, save for Jade himself, and that had only been yesterday.

Ayame felt slightly nervous by his presence, but really it was just the weapon he was carrying. The man himself seemed oddly gentle.

"There is no need for formalities, just Ayame." She told him though she really didn't understand why. If it had been Jade then Uta would have been fine, but for him she seemed to change the rules. Now that a guard was beside her she remembered her place. Still she didn't want to be cooped up in her room all day. Ayame just stood there looking out into the lush greenery that adorn the middle of the home. She would simply wait for the old women.

"I take it you are in charge while Jade is away." She finally asked him as she searched her mind for his name. Ayame was always bad with names till she finally met the person.