Midnight's Reign

Chapter 6

A couple days have passed and Asami is back home cooking in her kitchen as she preps for tonight. She invited Kyojuro and Giyu over for dinner as a way to apologize for trying to kill them. Of course they both said she didn't need to apologize for anything, but she insisted.

Mitsuri offered to help her, the pink haired woman stands beside her as they both chop up vegetables.

"Kyojuro told me what happened. That must have been terrifying!" Mitsuri says.

"I still feel terrible." Asami says as she preps the pot of water to boil the noodles in.

"They're both grown boys; a few little cuts aren't going to faze them." Mitsuri gives her shoulders a reassuring squeeze as she passes Asami, moving to the other side of the counter.

Both girls finished the cooking, making sure to have plenty of extra since some individuals...Kyojuro...have large appetites. There's a knock at the door. She goes to the front door while Mitsuri sets up the table.

Asami opens the door and her smile drops.

"Tengen? What are you doing here?" She says, confusion on her features.

He gives her a wide grin. "What do you mean? We're here for dinner!"

She leans to the side, peering around him. She sees Sanemi standing behind him, along with Kyojuro and Giyu.

She crosses her arms and turns back to Tengen. "I only invited Kyo and Giyu."

Tengen raises an eyebrow and points a finger behind her. "Then why is Kanroji here?"

"She helped me make the food, so she gets to stay."

Tengen puts a hand over his heart, feigning heartbreak. "Asami, my dear, you hurt me so! You wouldn't turn away your best bud, would you?" He sticks out his bottom lip, attempting to pout.

She narrows her eyes at him. "Fine." She says, giving in.

"You're the best, 'Sami!" Tengen says as he walks past her, rustling her hair. Sanemi follows him, giving her a pat on the head.

Kyojuro and Giyu remain standing outside. She lightly glares at Kyo and says, "Did you invite Tengen?"

He holds both his hands up, displaying his innocence. "I did not. He overheard and invited himself."

She nods and stands to the side, gesturing them inside. "Come in; It's a good thing I made extra."

Kyojuro walks in, but Giyu remains where he's standing, hesitating.

"Are you sure? You seem like you—"

She grabs his wrist and yanks him inside.

Despite the unexpected guests, she had a great time. Everyone sat at the low dining table together; trays of sushi lay out along with steaming bowls of udon.

"I heard she kicked your asses." Says Sanemi, shoveling his mouth with noodles.

"She did!" Kyojuro says proudly.

Asami shook her head. "I wouldn't call it that. They weren't trying to kill me; that's hardly a fair fight." She says as she reaches for more sushi with her chopsticks.

"Damn, I wish I could've been there to see it!" Tengen says.

As the night went on, the food slowly disappeared. Only one piece of sushi remained; Tengen went to reach for it but Sanemi slapped his hand away.

"I don't think so, Uzui. You've been hogging that tray all night. I'm taking the last piece."

Tengen narrows his eyes at him. "I have an idea."