Keiko’s blood thundered through her ears as she processed the mercenary’s declaration. It was tempting, far too good to be true. He was human and intended to go after the mnyama, a holy light cleansing the scourge of her people from the capital. She yearned so deeply to trust him, wanted so fervently to believe him. “The perfect trap,” she muttered.

“My lady?” Seth cocked his head in confusion.

“I’ll admit you’ve done your homework well, mercenary. I don’t know why you’re playing at it, why you suddenly decided this was how you’d lure me in, but I commend you for trying to turn my great fascination and my solemn purpose against me.”

Seth’s face fell into a blank mask of questions. “I don’t follow, my lady.”

“It was a noble speech, human, about wanting to destroy the very hands that feed you. How romantic an idea, the last of your kind and the princess of the nation banding together to destroy the mnyama, reclaiming and uplifting the fallen neighborhoods of the capital as you teach me of your ancestors and lost culture,” she proclaimed grandly with more than a hint of sarcasm. Her ears stood straight with indignation as she continued to stare him down. “I’m trying to make peace with the fact that you’re skilled enough to have condemned me to death. Don’t make this harder on me than you already have.”

Seth remained motionless for a long while, watching every small move of Keiko’s ears and lips, steeling himself to take the largest and most insane risk of his entire career. He knew Sybela would still be yelling at him if she could. He closed his eyes and nodded. “My lady is right. I’ve so far risked nothing in this little exchange of ours. You were taken against your will, fell asleep in my presence...and you’ve allowed me to see your passions.” He ran a hand over his bandaged cheek. “At best one could say I’ve allowed you to know my identity, something of little use to you unless you were ever allowed to leave this room.”

“So of course it’s utterly useless-”

“Would you like to explore the neighborhood with me, lady Keiko?”

“I...excuse me?” Keiko stammered, wondering if she’d misheard. Seth moved his hands behind his back, holding them casually together just below his waist in an attempt to present a non-threatening proposal.

“Against the better judgment of my jaguar obsessed net jockey...I intend to attempt to establish a working relationship with you, lady Keiko. One that will hopefully convince you that, for the time being, your place is not in the palace of Alhamkara but in my world, the underground.”

Keiko felt the room spin around her, trying hard to keep her balance. She’d definitely heard him correctly this time. “This was your plan all along,” she whispered. He nodded.

“And like all plans, my lady, they did not survive contact with ‘the enemy’. I believed in the image of lady Keiko that we loyal citizens receive daily, a delicate savannah flower, humble and kind, ready to bear Lord Torando’s children for the sake of our future.” His words had Keiko turning away from him with burning ears, shaking her head to clear it of those thoughts. His hand touched her shoulder gently, just to the side of her wrap. Skin on fur. She growled and spun back to him.

“I don’t recall giving you permission to...stop that damned smirking, Seth!”

“Ah but you see, my lady? That was the fatal flaw in my plan! That Keiko doesn’t exist, does she? Instead she is a fierce individual, willing to bare herself to a wouldbe captor, attack and fight him, and even beg for death instead of being held captive like a rat. Sybela doesn’t understand what I’ve seen. She’ll come to understand this is necessary,” he asserted. Keiko looked away from him, recalling the terror of her panic attack.

“I don’t know why you’re saying these things to me, mercenary. You saw the real me curled in a ball on your floor,” she insisted, rubbing her burned wrists.

“I never said you weren’t human, my lady. You’ll notice that not half an hour later you gave me my first scars.”

“Seth, that’s sacrilege. We cannot hold a candle to the wise ones.” Keiko’s comments earned a tilt of the mercenary’s head.

“You are a very devout woman, it would seem. Then take it from a human, lady Keiko, you have much more of their grace in you than I do. Now, enough of this forced flirting in my bathroom. There should be some street clothes behind the panel next to my armor. The monsoons are on their way, keep that in mind.”

“I’d rather you choose,” Keiko told him. “I’ll clean your blood.”

Seth smiled at her with pleasant surprise. “As I said, my lady, no plan ever survives contact with the enemy. As you wish. Any of the spare towels will do. I can bleach them later.”

“What about the floor outside?” She asked, simultaneously wondering how in the name of humanity the two of them were talking about cleaning his safehouse a mere day after her abduction. He sighed.

“The damage there has been done, my lady. Perhaps one day I’ll have time to replace that area. For now...it’s best as a reminder.” Seth left her, allowing her to collect one of the hand towels that rested on a small, indented shelf to the left of the mirror. His blood had dried in the time they’d spoken with one another, but a bit of water saw it come loose and the tiles restored to their white sheen. She managed to rinse most of the crimson from the towel, leaving it to dry before looking at herself in the mirror. She was about to ask herself what she thought she was doing for the umpteenth time when she caught sight of two small areas of matted fur, each caked with a drop of his blood. Before washing herself clean she closed her eyes and uttered a silent prayer. Please forgive me for drawing the blood of a human, but thank you for this chance!

“That fascination is going to get you killed,” she told her reflection, gazing at her piercings and wiggling her ears to make them jingle about. “But I can’t deny this is much more exciting, and terrifying, than waiting for Torando’s seed to set in my belly. To be captive...but also to be free...”

-----

When Keiko emerged from the bathroom she found Seth in his armor once again and a pile of nicely folded clothing atop the side of the futon she’d slept in the night before. She bent over and collected them, finding a simple sleeveless top and shorts, as well as a cloak made of synthetic hide that was designed to handle the occasionally torrential rains of Alhamkara’s monsoons. Seth glanced at her from where he was seated at his terminal. “I hope you don’t mind a bit of water, my lady.”

“You should be happy. The streets will be empty,” she asserted, turning her back to him and stripping bare. A glance over her shoulder confirmed the reaction she’d been hoping for.

“Lady Keiko!”

“You say that, but your eyes are honest, mercenary,” she teased, feeling a flush of pride as he drank in her bejeweled spine and backside. “You still might kill me at any moment. I’m not below using my body in an attempt to stay your hand. Besides, I’ve never had a man gaze at me the way you do. It’s not allowed in polite society. It feels good, experiencing this at least once in my life.” Keiko bent over to pull the shorts on, making sure her tail kept her center concealed from his gaze. Any part of Seth that compelled him to look away was vastly overruled by the rest of him, a tightening in his loins making it very clear that Keiko was not afraid to play games with him, to attempt to shift the dynamics of power. This game in particular was one that he would never win. Oh, if Sybela could see me now, Seth thought, knowing she’d probably give him a swift kick to the stones. He was pulled out of his thoughts as Keiko turned back to him, now modest enough for them to depart. He stood and advanced on her, footfalls mostly silent on the natural flooring.

“Allow me,” he insisted, taking the mantle into his hands. She glared suspiciously at him.

“I know how to fasten a cloak, mercenary.”

“I wanted to touch you,” he replied simply, pleased that his own blunt honesty seemed to catch her off-guard. Seth was subtle in his movement, however, only allowing the occasional brush of his fingers against the fur of her neck as he did the clasp. It was more the proximity that he indulged in, that and Keiko’s cute intake of breath when he remained before her longer than he needed to.

“You couldn’t let me have this one victory?” She whispered sadly. He placed his mask over his face.

“Who says you lost, lady Keiko?” With that Seth collected his own cloak, walked to the door and undid the locks before stepping aside and gesturing to the dingy hallway. “I daresay I’d prefer not to chase after you in a misguided escape attempt but…” Keiko’s chest thrummed as she understood the depth of his actions. “You’re free to go.”

-----

Keiko could hear the downpour before they even reached the rear door of the building, a thunderous monotone of rain upon the roofs and streets of the city just outside. She hoped they would last. “You’re sure it’s alright?”

“It’s just a bit of water, my lady,” Seth insisted as he opened the door and looked out into the alley. Even that thin span was obscured by silver sheets of rain from clouds above, dark as midnight.

“A bit, Seth?” She challenged, hand on hip.

“Perhaps more than a bit,” he admitted, scratching at his head.

“Do you know where we’re going? While I appreciate the fact that you’re willing to escort me around, if we’ve no destination I’d prefer to wait until the rains abate.”

“I don’t think that curry was enough for either of us, my lady. How does a hearty bowl of ramen sound to you? Did I say something odd?” Seth inquired, looking at how Keiko almost seemed to smile in embarrassment.

“It’s been a long time since they let me eat something so pedestrian. I’d like that a lot actually.”

Seth was curious as to her meaning, but knew they’d have time to talk over their meal. “In that case, please follow me,” he requested, taking her gently by the upper arm and leading her out into the street. The change was immediate. With the rain surrounding her so fully, thundering in her ears, splashing at her naked feet, pounding on her head, she was happy for Seth’s gentle hand on her. Without it she honestly felt she might lose him. The mercenary seemed unperturbed, leading her through sodden streets and alleys, occasionally steering her under an awning or through a covered space to give them a respite. Within minutes she was utterly lost within the shimmering downpour, but it was thrilling in a way. She, heir to the Alhamkaran throne, was wandering the streets with a shroud of rain to hide her from the world. She thanked the skies, pleased that the main aquifers and plentiful rooftop reservoirs of the city would be full to the brim for days to come. Soon she was comfortable enough to look up and around her, marveling at how the holographic and neon displays of shops and restaurants cut through the ethereal curtains in a brilliant display of urban simplicity.

“It’s beautiful,” Keiko said aloud, knowing her voice would be lost in the storm. Seth seemed to pick up on it, however.

“There’s a reason I chose this neighborhood for my ‘home’, if you will, my lady. It’s a bit close to your own home for most mercenaries to feel comfortable, but what you’re feeling right now more than outweighs those concerns in my opinion. It is vibrant, and full of life.”

Her reply was an inquisitive look from under her hood, watching how the diffuse light reflected off the wet surface of his mask. She remarked at how he’d modeled the bottom of the mask after a human skull, complete with teeth and the typical indented profile of the bones of the lower face. A frown fell across her muzzle as she recalled what he’d told her, that he’d killed one of the palace’s finest warriors. She couldn’t help but wonder how many other opportunities he’d had. Dark thoughts of murder were interrupted as Seth’s grip bade her to halt. The two of them had arrived before a small set of stairs that led down from the street along with a veritable waterfall heading for the nearest drain. At the bottom of the stairs was a small, cement walled area almost completely covered by a red awning. Lanterns similar to those in Seth’s safehouse hung above a clean and simple wooden bar with six well padded, backless stools. The place was empty of course, but warm and inviting light came from the kitchen, which they could see in its entirety as they took the middle two seats. Keiko glanced about at sauces that were arranged neatly at intervals along the bar while Seth rapped the wooden surface twice with his gauntlet.

“Ramen in this weather?! The two of you must have a hankering something awful. What’ll it be?” The proprietor, a middle-aged crocodile faunum, asked. Or perhaps he was an alligator. Seth could never tell the difference between the two. It was never relevant in combat.

“Two of the house special,” he ordered.

“You want synth or the real stuff?”

“Real, double helping,” Seth said, removing a tiny chit from his belt and inserting it into his mask. In a moment whatever he’d done was complete and he extended the payment to the proprietor. After a brief stop at his register the chef nodded and smiled.

“I’ll not be looking a gift horse in the mask, eh? Two house specials coming right up,” he said with a wink. Keiko watched with fascination as the croc busied himself in his kitchen, setting two bundles of noodles to cook while layering thin slabs of pork onto a hot stovetop. In between he procured two massive bowls and loaded them with bamboo shoots, cabbage, sprouts, and a dab of chili paste. Next came heaping ladles of bone broth, simmered overnight. The chef hummed a tune to himself as he worked, shaking the noodles free of water and wreathing the area in steam before adding them to the bowls. He sprinkled scallions over top and placed a boiled egg, halved, in each. Finally the pork, just browned, was removed from the stove to top the dish. Keiko could barely control herself by the time the meal was placed in front of her, having already grabbed chopsticks and a spoon.

“It smells delightful!” She exclaimed.

“Well I thank you kindly, miss. You two enjoy now.” Seeming to understand that masked and armored men tended to not enjoy people staring at them while they ate, the chef took his leave. It was just the two of them, surrounded by rain but warmed by delicious food. The princess couldn’t help but start with a slice of pork, popping the whole thing into her mouth before taking a polite sip of soup from her spoon. When she looked over she saw that Seth had removed the lower plate of his mask, revealing the bare minimum of his face necessary for him to eat. Suddenly she understood why he’d been so eager to take it off in her presence.

“Seth,” she gasped after slurping down a few noodles. “This is so good!”

“I find some of the simplest dishes can provide the most joy. Perhaps your royal chefs could learn a thing or two?” He suggested softly, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear. Her ears wilted as she recalled the palace.

“What happens after this?” She asked. He nodded, and she could see his eyes moving rapidly behind his mask.

“I believe it would be better to show you. Sybela sent this to me this morning, pieced together footage from a couple of security cameras and Trang’aul networks. If you would look this way, please?” Seth requested. Keiko had gone after one half of her egg while he fiddled with his HUD. When she looked back at him she saw a file transfer request appear on her lenses. She acknowledged it and opened the video.

“Idris!”

Seth’s finger found itself against her lips, willing her to remain silent as she watched the commander of the Sekhama charge through a recently opened hole in the Trang’aul’s main base of operations, providing cover for two of his soldiers as they fired from behind his bulwark. The room was lit with furious lines of light as the two sides traded fire. The hyenas of the Trang’aul were no match for the coordination of Idris’ team and were soon cut down by crossfire from other squads. Keiko’s heart was pounding as she prayed silently for those who served her family. The footage switched briefly to the helmet camera of one of the Sekhama, though the footage had no sound and was full of static, a testament to the security of their tech. Even so, Sybela had managed to decode enough to show them the quick demise of the Trang’aul’s leader, the burly hyena’s cobbled together scrap armor no match for Idris’ revolver. Keiko gasped as the commander put one more through the boss’ head just to be sure, before moving towards a thin and frightened female wild dog who’d been chained to the wall of the room. Just before the footage cut out Keiko was able to confirm the girl was alive, if not traumatized. She met Seth’s eyes and found them full of sober intent.

“I do not believe I’ll be so lucky again. Those dogs made it too easy,” he said.

"That girl was taken because of me," Keiko whispered. Seth nodded.

"And now the Trang'aul will never harm another soul. Even if she had died the sacrifice would have been acceptable."

"You don't get to decide that!" Keiko said viciously, snapping her jaws at him. Seth remained calm, making a small gesture with his chopsticks.

"How many more young girls would they have raped or kidnapped or sold to unregulated brothels?"

"I understand the point, Seth. I'm just angry at you for looking at life as a transaction," she clarified. He fell silent for a moment, at a loss.

"I...do not have anything I can say to that, my lady. It's simply who I am."

"Fine, let's just drop it for now," Keiko suggested, slurping up another spoonful of noodles and broth. She could taste the pork bone. "I just don't understand."

"What, exactly?"

"Why couldn't you have just offered your services to Commander Idris?"

"My lady, if the goal was to be one man in a great war I would have simply shot Markhan and hoped for the best. Even if I had though, someone would have risen to take his place. These weeds must be purged root and stem."

"But what you showed me, Idris and his men did just that!"

Seth reached out towards her but hesitated, slowly retracting his fingers as he realized what he was doing. He could see the uncertainty on Keiko's face, but she reached out and took them, unwilling to let him escape without a full explanation. He cleared his throat, set down his chopsticks, and turned on his stool to face her directly. "That operation was only possible because I abducted you, my lady."

"What do you mean, Seth?" Keiko demanded softly as a brief gust sprinkled them with water. Neither seemed to notice much.

"You saw it yourself, how easily your Sekhama destroyed that nest of vermin. How long has the Trang'aul been a thorn in the side of your city, my lady?"

"Months, at least."

"And why wasn't something done before now? It's clear the problem wasn't an issue of manpower. That Captain of yours leads a splendidly coordinated operation," Seth said, making no secret of his admiration for the crown's best.

"I don't...I don't know," Keiko admitted, recalling Idris' profuse apologies each time he informed her that the situation on the ground 'wasn't so clear cut'.

"The mnyama dislike the Sekhama more than they dislike the Trang'aul. Those hyenas they could deal with for the most part. They speak the same language of violence and extortion. The Sekhama cannot be bargained with. They are justice...the crown's justice at least. On any normal day the Sekhama wouldn't be able to penetrate deep enough into gang territory to do what they just did. They would be harassed and harried the whole way, maybe even killed. An errant shot, a random grenade, even a brick can find a mark in those alleys. Guerrilla tactics are as old as time, and just as effective. Yesterday they were not because yesterday wasn't a normal day, my lady."

Keiko's eyes widened as what Seth was saying fell into place. "That picture wasn't just to stop Torando from starting a conflict. Killing them was your original intention, wasn't it?"

"For a moment I was rather annoyed if I must say, lady Keiko. The plan was only ever to take down at least one mnyama on the first night, to see if your entry into my world would present an opportunity. I honestly did not anticipate rumors of a war. 'What kind of man is this Lord Torando,' I wondered. Who would threaten such conflict over one woman, a conflict that would only strengthen the hand of the mnyamas that survived, no less? Now that I have a better understanding of what I took from him," the human ran his thumb over the short fur of the back of her paw. "I find myself unable to blame him."

By the wise ones, he's flirting with me. He's actually flirting with me. This bastard mercenary is flirting with me...a man is flirting with me! Keiko shrieked internally, the wild woman within her momentarily winning out over her conscience, which was desperately trying to remind her of that fact that Seth had stolen her, bound her, hurt her, and seemed to have no intention of letting her go. Well yes, but he's also fed me and treated my wounds and talked with me. And now he's flirting with me! She countered, taking back her hand with a coy smile. "You have far less right to me than he does, mercenary."

"The fact that any man has a right to you seems a crime, and I know a bit about crime."

"Ok, I wasn't going crazy. You are flirting with me! You have the gall to flirt with me after what you've done?"

"Let it not be said I'm neither brave nor foolish. You are a compelling woman, lady Keiko. That I cannot deny. And for now, I believe I've created the conditions that led to the destruction of one of the city's most feared mnyamas, if not the most powerful, in addition to paying for a couple of our meals."

Keiko could only raise her brows at Seth's utterly unapologetic nature. "You are just-"

"I understand, my lady, but consider my offer. From within the palace you are nothing more than a figurehead. You may be powerful, but only as a part of the system, a system the mnyamas are ruthlessly exploiting despite the crown's best efforts. Remove you from the palace and you still have power, but the situation on the ground changes, becomes fluid. In that sort of world your captain found himself an opportunity to enact a plan that was clearly already well thought out. Your disappearance gave them the chance they needed."

"So that's it then? Join you and we destroy the mnyamas together?" Keiko asked with sudden suspicion. Seth nodded deeply.

"That's it, my lady."

"And the catch?"

"Other than kidnapping you?" Seth asked with a faint smile. She returned it.

"Other than that, yes," Keiko growled teasingly.

"I may not want to let you go when this is over," Seth whispered, unwilling to face her anymore and returning to his ramen.

Keiko sat and listened to the rains, her two selves waging war within. She desperately wanted to know more about humans and humanity. She'd read every book in the royal archives but still yearned for more. A human sat before her, offering to work with her to achieve a goal she intensely desired, though via admittedly unorthodox methods. She hated what the mnyamas had done to her beautiful city and now she was being given the opportunity to actively participate in nothing less than a war against them. On the other hand, of course, there was Seth and the manner in which he'd gone about proposing his little plot, to say nothing of the fact that he'd acted against the Sekhama in the past. She decided to try to buy a bit of time.

"Do you have any idea how desperate you sound?"

"Yes," Seth deadpanned, taking a particularly large bite of pork.

So much for that plan, Keiko thought. She sighed, looking up and to the left as the rain splattered onto the streets above. Am I really considering this? She wasn't particularly shocked to find she was. If nothing else, Seth needed her alive. She believed that much with surety. He'd already had ample opportunity to end her life. She'd even slept in his presence. Every day she was alive and with him was a day she was outside of her golden cage, one more day away from her marriage. Wise ones, forgive me my selfishness.

"So long as you continue to convince me that the best interests of my people and my nation are served by being at your side, I will help you. That and...this ramen is really good."

A genuine smile lit Seth's face as she took a leap of faith that had her palace upbringing screaming at her. "Best three hundred credits I ever spent then."

"I'm not so cheap, mercenary. I'm simply enjoying my meal."

"And I do not have pockets as deep as Lord Torando. Your agreement to a professional relationship is more than enough, my lady."

"So what happens now?" Keiko asked, suddenly very nervous. He watched the golden chains of her ears as they moved subtly, enjoying the display.

"I think we should finish our meal, my lady. Contrary to what you might believe there won't be much to discuss tonight."

"Not even our next target?"

"Oh my, lady Keiko. How viciously eager you are," Seth smiled.

"Answer my question or can it, merc."

"Ha! You and Sybela may become fast friends yet. All I meant to say is that our next target will depend upon a few things that as of yet are unknown."

"Such as?"

"Such as how will the Wildfire and other mnyamas react to the decapitation of the Trang'aul? How will the palace change its behavior when days pass and you're not found? Oh, always keep your cloak on when outside, my lady. Every camera is an eye for the Sekhama, a corporation, or a sufficiently skilled criminal."

Seth found the look of panic on Keiko's face adorable as she grabbed for her cloak's hood. He stopped her calmly and gestured to the upper arm of his armor. "Localized jamming field. Enjoy your meal in peace, my lady."

"I...sure. Thank you."

"For what, lady Keiko?"

She pondered her invisibility for a moment, how so long as he was nearby she was erased from the world. "For the meal...and my freedom."