"Why do you call me that?"

"What?"

"Sky Child."

Blue eyes sparkled at me. "Because that is what you are, Sky Child."

I watched her as she brushed back her honey gold locks, hooking them behind her ear. My eyes lingered on her hands, the delicate bone structure and long fingers. 

As I watched, she walked closer, her hand coming to rest upon my forehead. "How long have you been ill?"

I laughed without humor. "I have been thus since I arrived in Master Argo's service."

Her blue eyes widened, startled. "Over a year? That long?"

I shrugged, looking away from those inquisitive eyes. "I never told what they wished to know. Over two weeks of torture, hunger, and beatings does take its toll on someone, Lady." I shrugged again, feeling very uncomfortable. "I do not wish to speak of it."

I felt those sapphire eyes scrutinizing me. Finally I heard her draw a soft breath. "What made you choose Argo's side, Sky Child?" she asked very softly, almost hesitant. She had already asked me that question, but I think she knew I was not truly truthful.

My eyes still refused to meet hers. "Revenge. It was to revenge my family who was betrayed and slaughtered. I did not find out until after my torture that I was protecting those that betrayed me into Master Argo's hands." I sighed, turning my face upward. "I never gave him nor Sasaki Kujuurou the information."

I felt her soft fingertips brush against my flushed cheek and I barely restrained the flinch that wanted to come out. Her voice was even softer as she ran wet fingers across my forehead.

"Why is it you refer to him by his true name?"

I glanced at her eyes, and then looked away. "For reasons."

I felt her watching me, contemplating me before she turned away and went to a small box she kept on her desk. My eyes turned back to look at her, watching her slender fingers open the box and pull out a few velvet bags.

My voice was wary when I finally gathered courage to ask her. "What is within those bags?"

She looked over her shoulder at me and I saw a faint smile on her lips. "Something to help you." She turned back to pulling out the small bags, and finally she found the one she wished it seemed, for, with a wave of her hand, she summoned a cup of tea and added a few leaves and powder from the various bags.

She was intent in her work as I studied her. 

I laughed to myself at that thought.

I seemed to be studying her a lot.

She was so different from what her reputation portrayed. I was so sure she was another woman save for that first incident in the sparring grounds. That is the only thing that made me wary of her and how to be around her.

Shinare was for all intents and purposes, a kind woman. It was almost impossible for me to reconcile the twin images of that vicious creature I had heard about and this gentle, caring woman in front of me.

She returned, holding out the black pottery for me to take. With a gentle smile and a slight push of her hand, she was telling me that she wanted me to drink it all.

I sniffed at it cautiously and Shinare almost broke into laughter. "I am not going to hurt you, Oni Masho." A smile tugged at her lips. "If I wanted you hurt or dead, you would have been so by now."

I could not help but smile at her knowing the truth of what she said. "I trust you, Shinare." A smile widened on my lips. "Perhaps more than I should."

She laughed out right then, bending forward to catch herself with her hands on her thighs. I drank some of the tea she made as I watched her honey hair slide over her shoulder as she laughed.

Shinare was beautiful when she laughed. Too bad she did it so infrequently. 

I arched an eyebrow as she straightened up for some air, and when she saw my face; she broke out into gales of laughter again.

Taking my time finishing off the tea she gave me, I waited out her laughing fit with infinite patience. After all, it's not every day the Mistress of Death laughs.