Hayato opened his eyes and looked at her, sighing heavily. The depth of sadness was all too clear in his eyes. Glancing momentarily out of the window, surveying the Tokyo skyline, he then looked back at the woman and the leather of the sofa creaked as he leaned forward to rest his folded arms on his legs.

"It’s okay," he replied "I want to talk about it."

He closed his eyes again as his thoughts drifted back ten years.

_____________________________________________________________________________

General Tani glanced up from the mass of papers on his desk to see that his second-in-command, Corporal Garrick, had returned to the compound. He seemed almost bewildered.

"Well?" Tani asked "Is the rumour true?"

"Yes Sir, it’s all true." Garrick replied "Count Takeshi has been overthrown by Lord Hideyoshi and is currently languishing in one of his own castle dungeons, along with most of the Emerald Guards. Hideyoshi has his own league of gorillas guarding the place, apparently."

Tani leaned back in his chair, astonished.

"How the hell did that happen?" he wondered incredulously.

"Who knows? Complacency, carelessness….with a thug like Hideyoshi, one opportunity is all he needs."

"So it would seem." Tani replied "Hideyoshi’s been after both Takeshi and me for a long, long time. He’s a ruthless bastard. Now he’s got Takeshi he’s not going to stop there, he’ll come after us, you can bet your life on it."

Garrick nodded, smoothing back his brown hair, wearily. He studied the General with concerned eyes. It was late, Tani needed sleep.

"Sir," Garrick said "shall I call the senior officers in early tomorrow?"

"No." Tani cleared his desk quickly "I want them in here now."

"General, it’s very late and you’ve been working since the early hours of this morning. Don’t you think….?"

Garrick was stopped in his tracks by a steely glance from Tani. The General didn’t need to raise his voice, the fixed, stern glare was enough.

"Now, Corporal." He said, firmly.

"Yes Sir."

_____________________________________________________________________________

The senior officers listened as General Tani briefed them on their mission to rescue Takeshi.

"We go in smaller groups hitting different locations simultaneously." He explained "Garrick, you’ll lead a group over the Slippery Wall. Takamatsu, your group take the Skipping Stones. Kamimura, you’ll be leading your group along the uphill corridor, I’m sure they’ll be more efficient at dodging the boulders now you’ve given them extra training. Erryn and I will take our respective groups up either end of the Great Wall."

Erryn pursed her lips and pondered quietly for a moment. Hideyoshi might have been expecting a change of tactic, but then General Tani knew what he was doing. Tani gazed at her thoughtful expression.

"Lieutenant Erryn…..do you have a problem with that?"

The blonde Lieutenant sat up straighter and smiled slightly.

"No Sir." She replied, not needing to add as if I’d dare.

Tani nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Good." He turned to Takamatsu, seeing how uncomfortable the man looked.

"Sir," began Takamatsu "Why are we doing this? We’ve been storming the Castle at regular intervals for ages, trying to get Takeshi out of there. Now he’s overthrown, so why are we charging to the rescue?"

"Oh," Tani gave a mock shrug "I thought it would give you all something to do."

Lt. Erryn looked down to hide the amused smile she couldn’t suppress. Tani calmly leaned on the desk toward Takamatsu.

"Because Takeshi is the lesser of two evils. Because it’s the right thing to do." Tani could always predict Takamatsu’s simplistic thinking "Because Hideyoshi is a ruthless, merciless thug. And because I say so. Okay?"

"Yes Sir."

Tani had perfected the art of gentle sarcasm, and Erryn had been on the receiving end herself, although he mostly saved it for Takamatsu. She knew he was right about rescuing Takeshi, but in her heart she was worried. Hideyoshi had sworn to get him, and he was about to go storming in there. Tani was a good commander, a born leader, he had quiet but unquestionable authority and he knew how to get the best from his people, there was no doubt about that, but this mission filled her with unease. Something she hoped he hadn’t picked up on.

"We go at daybreak." He told them all "Dismissed."

The officers rose from their seats and began to leave Tani’s office. Erryn felt Tani’s eyes focusing on her face.

"Garrick, Erryn," Tani said, "hold on a moment, would you please?"

Garrick and Erryn glanced briefly at each other, both thinking Uh oh. When the three were alone, Tani came around to them, and leaned on the corner of his desk, looking from one to the other. The gold collar of his black uniform glinted under the light. He sensed discomfort in his officers.

"You two seem to have….concerns." he observed.

He saw Erryn look floorwards, and directed his gaze solely at her.

"Do I scare you, Lieutenant?" he asked suddenly, his voice a mixture of concern and amusement.

The question startled Erryn. Her blue eyes widened as they met his very direct gaze, and her face coloured up slightly.

"No Sir." She replied, when she finally found her voice "Well not really."

Tani looked away momentarily and allowed himself a slight smile, understanding. He sat casually on the corner of his desk and when he looked back at her he saw her relax a little.

"Off the record, Erryn." He said "Do I scare you?"

Erryn smiled back at him. There was warmth in her eyes now.

"I have…" she considered her words for a moment "…a healthy respect for your authority. I also respect you personally. I wouldn’t call it being scared."

"Good," he sounded relieved "I may be your commander and I’m truly grateful for your loyalty and respect, but I don’t want to frighten you."

"You’re the General," Garrick commented, "you’re supposed to be intimidating sometimes."

Tani laughed for a moment, but remembering why he’d kept them back in the first place he looked at them both again and asked gently:

"I know something’s bothering both of you about this mission. What is it?"

"Your safety." Garrick responded "Hideyoshi is after you and you’re going to walk straight into his lair."

"We trust you….we trust your judgement, you’re a good leader, and you know we’ll always follow you into battle and obey your orders." Erryn assured him "But…going on this mission is going to put you in terrible danger."

"They usually do, Erryn." Tani pointed out "But I’m still here. We watch each other’s backs, don’t we?"

"Always, always." Erryn replied "It’s just…..well this one is different. Hideyoshi is different. I don’t know, I just feel…"

She struggled to find the right words.

"….A sense of dread." Garrick completed the sentence for her.

"Yes, exactly." She brushed her blonde hair nervously back from her face.

Tani folded his arms and thought for a long moment, looking down. He understood, but now they would have to understand his position.

"I am in charge of this army, I can’t just run away from a fight or hide in my compound just because there’s some danger involved." He insisted "I don’t have a yellow streak and I don’t leave the risk to others. When have I ever asked any of you to do something I wouldn’t do myself? This is our fight, not your fight. I appreciate your concern, but I am leading you into this battle and that is that. Do you both understand me?"

"Perfectly, Sir." Garrick replied.

Erryn nodded. She turned to Garrick with a mischievious grin.

"I hope your combats aren’t in the laundry."

"Cheeky mare!" he grinned back.

Tani gave them both a warm smile.

"Get some sleep." He said "We have an early start tomorrow."

_____________________________________________________________________________

As the dawn light crept over the compound, General Tani stood before his assembled troops, an imposing sight in his black uniform. Garrick and the other group leaders stood at the front. The various groups had been briefed, everyone was wearing khaki vests and combat trousers, they were all equipped and ready to go.

"Takeshi needs to be rescued." He told them "I know some of you are wondering why we don’t just leave him to Hideyoshi. We can’t do that. Hideyoshi is cruel, without mercy and without honour. In short, he’s a bastard. Takeshi is the lesser of two evils, as I told the senior officers last night. What we’re about to do is the right thing. You’re good people, you’re good at what you do. Remember your training, keep your wits about you and let’s watch each other’s backs. You good to go?"

"YES!" they all responded in unison.

"Then LET’S GO!!!" he yelled, with a wave of his cane.

_____________________________________________________________________________

The sun was slowly rising behind them as they reached the Castle boundaries and split up into their assigned groups. Erryn beckoned her group to follow her, and they made their way behind Tani’s group to the Great Wall. She felt just as uneasy about the mission now as she had the night before, and resolved to keep Tani in visual range as much as she could.

"Tanaka," she whispered to the man behind her "stay at the back, I’ll go over first."

"There’s another wall after this isn’t there?" he asked.

"Yes….but at least it has steps."

"And windows." Tanaka responded.

"One thing at a time, eh?" she said with a wry smile.

Tanaka watched as she scaled the Great Wall, pulling herself up with well-toned arms, and disappeared over the apex. Landing softly, she crouched and scanned the terrain. The next wall was some distance away and there was some shrubbery in between. Some distance away, she saw Tani drop himself over the wall. Timing was crucial to make the most of the light levels. When all her team were over the wall, she signalled them to stay put as she scampered across to the shrubbery, keeping low. Peeping through, all seemed to be clear apart from a couple of patrolling guards, who would be gone in a moment or two. She gave her team the signal to follow, trying to ignore the rising levels of dread and the pounding of her heart.

"Come on, come on…." She hissed at her group "….this is taking too long!"

She took her mini binoculars from her utility belt and observed the patrolling guards slowly. Suddenly they stopped and their attention seemed to be focused on the east part of the wall. Erryn’s mouth went dry. Tani and his group were at that end. What if one of his group had allowed themselves to be seen? Tani was too experienced and too good at his job to be visible himself, but what if one of his army hadn’t kept low and had been spotted? Erryn’s eyes narrowed as she studied the guards’ behaviour intensely.

"Oh my God, no!" she said, suddenly.

"What’s wrong?" Tanaka asked.

"They’ve been seen! The guards know General Tani’s group is there!"

"What do we do?" Tanaka asked, fearfully.

"You" she handed Tanaka her binoculars "will lead the team instead of me and carry on as planned. Wait until the guards have gone before you proceed but don’t wait beyond that or a patrol will come and investigate. I’m going to divert the guards away from the General, I can’t let them take him."

"What?! You’re crazy!"

"It’s not up for debate!" she snapped "Just do it!"

"Yes ma’am." Tanaka replied.

Erryn disappeared through the bushes and Tanaka watched through the binoculars.

"She’s crazy!" he told the others.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Just as Hideyoshi’s guards were going to investigate the movement they thought they had seen, one of them spotted a blonde-haired woman scurry out from the bushes and then disappear back into them further along.

"There!" he pointed her out to his colleague just before she vanished into the shrubbery "See that? Tani must have sent a lone scout."

"Go and alert the other guards, I’ll intercept this one."

_____________________________________________________________________________

Tani breathed a sigh of relief, figuring they hadn’t been seen after all. He didn’t know what Erryn was doing. He figured that if their luck held and they proceeded with care they would make it over the next wall before they had to get into any fights. Giving the signal to proceed, his group emerged from the bushes once the guards had disappeared, and swiftly made their way to the next wall. Tani got to the top first and peered over. A flurry of activity by the guards by the Maze got his attention. Observing with binoculars, his heart sank…..the guards were massing into numerous patrols for a search, he knew their behaviour patterns. Shrinking back slightly as he spotted Hideyoshi himself, he motioned his group to stay back.

"Oh hell, they must have seen us after all." He said to Noriyuki, at his side "Damn, there’s too many of them, we don’t stand a chance here. If we carry on, we’re all going to get slaughtered. Damn, damn, DAMN!"

"Do we retreat, Sir?" Noriyuki asked.

"Isn’t that what I just said?" Tani replied, bitterly.

Heavy-hearted, he ordered Noriyuki to hand him a flare. He fired it off to signal all the groups to retreat and then withdrew swiftly with his team.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Erryn’s consciousness returned slowly. Her head hurt terribly, and for a moment she couldn’t remember what had happened. As her senses swam into focus, she realised she was lying face down on a cold, stone floor and her wrists were tied behind her back. Her ankles were tightly bound as well, and she couldn’t move without feeling pain. She wondered where she was. Then she remembered. The Great Wall. The guards. General Tani. She tried to move and the intensity of the pain drew a soft groan from her lips.

"You’re still with us, then?" a voice as cold and hard as the floor she lay on said "For a while I thought my guards had dealt you a lethal blow."

A wooden sandalled foot harshly rolled her over onto her back and the pain made her wince. There wasn’t much light in the Castle dungeon, but she could just make out the face of the man there with her. Her captor stood over her, stony-faced.

"You must be Hideyoshi." She studied the portly kimono-clad figure staring dispassionately down at her.

He was twice as large and just as ugly as she had imagined.

"That’s Lord Hideyoshi to you." He snapped, icily "And you…"

He leaned over to study her face more closely.

"….you are Lieutenant Erryn of Tani’s little band of amateur misfits." He continued "Almost didn’t recognise you under all that blood."

She remained silent, glaring up at him, wondering what had happened to the General. Hideyoshi continued to stare coldly at her.

"Here’s something for you to think over today. Tomorrow, you and I are going to have a little talk. You’re going to tell me all about Tani, his pathetic little army, and the layout of his compound." He told her, flatly.

"I’m not telling you a damn thing!" she retorted.

"That’s what they all say in the beginning." Hideyoshi shrugged "But they all roll over eventually. I always get what I want."

Tani must have got away. He must have. Relief flowed over her like an ocean wave. Hideyoshi turned to leave.

"You haven’t got Tani!" she almost laughed, in spite of the pain "And you’re not going to get him!"

Hideyoshi stopped and turned back to face her. Rage suddenly contorted the man’s features, and he pushed her over onto her stomach again. As she cried out, he knelt down beside her and grabbed her hair.

"You cost me Tani today," he snarled, pulling her head back slightly "and you are going to pay for that!"

He let go and stood up.

"Besides," Hideyoshi told her "if he comes for you, he’s mine!"

He turned and marched out of the dungeon. The door slammed shut and she was left alone in the cold to contemplate her fate.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Tani slammed his fists down hard on his desk, frustrated, enraged, distressed. His distress was so evident that Garrick dismissed the other officers and summoned a servant to bring some tea. Garrick had never seen Tani like this before.

"Are you sure she was still alive?" Tani asked, not looking up.

"DeSoto was sure. He said that the Guard struck her on the head, and when he lifted her up she staggered and then collapsed….DeSoto is positive she was only unconscious, not dead."

"What the hell was she doing?!" Tani began to pace angrily, he made a helpless gesture with his hands "What could she have been thinking of?"

"You." Garrick said, quietly.

"What?" Tani turned to him with a shocked stare.

"I talked with Tanaka," Garrick told him "she knew your group had been spotted and she did what she did to draw them away from you. She did it to prevent you being captured."

"Oh…..no!" Tani sank into his chair, leaned forward and buried his face in his hands.

The servant brought the tea, then left swiftly. When Tani finally looked up, Garrick saw unshed tears glistening in his eyes.

"Erryn sees protecting you as part of her job, Sir." Garrick placed a cup of hot green tea in the General’s hands "She was watching your back."

"But to deliberately sacrifice herself….." Tani shook his head, hardly able to contain his anguish "….to go that far."

Tani took a sip of tea, but it burned his lips and he put the cup down on the desk. He stood up and began pacing again.

"Do you know what they’ll do to her?" he turned to face Garrick again.

"I’ve got a fairly good idea, Sir." Garrick replied, trying to block out the mental images.

"Didn’t Tanaka try to stop her?"

"How could he? She pulled rank on him."

"Yes of course."

Tani leaned on the desk, drumming his fingers, staring determinedly at the wall. Garrick knew that look well. Erryn always called it Tani’s "planning face".

"Sir," he said, after a long pause "what are we going to do?"

Without moving his head, his eyes focused on Garrick.

"We’re going to get her back, Garrick." He replied firmly "We’re not leaving her there to let that bastard kill her. I swear to you we’ll get her back alive."

"You’ve got an idea already, haven’t you?" Garrick’s words were more a statement than a question.

"An idea, yes." Tani picked up the cup of tea and took another sip "Better get the senior officers back in here and order some more tea. It’s going to be a long day."

_____________________________________________________________________________

As day slipped into night, Erryn wept. The pain in her wrists and ankles was excruciating….the cords were cutting into her and she knew she was bleeding. But that didn’t matter so much as the safety of General Tani. She knew that Hideyoshi was correct in his assumption that Tani would try to rescue her, and she was terrified at the thought of his capture.

I’m going to die here, she thought, but please God don’t let him die too.

She was cold, so cold, and so tired, but she shivered more from fear for Tani’s life, the life which was more precious to her than her own. If only he knew how she had longed to be closer to him. In her mind’s eye she could see his handsome face and his beautiful smile, she couldn’t bear the thought of a single drop of his blood being spilled. Eventually she succumbed to hunger, cold and exhaustion and slipped into unconsciousness.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Tani couldn’t remember a worse night in his life. He slept only fitfully and feverishly, and in spite of confidence that their plan would work, he found no escape from the anxiety. When sleep did take him, he was tormented by nightmares where he could hear Erryn weeping in pain and begging him not to come to the Castle.

"No!!" suddenly he was sitting bolt upright in bed, breathing heavily, soaked in sweat.

A knock at the door heralded Garrick’s prompt appearance, along with a servant, both in their nightwear and looking worried.

"General, are you okay?" Garrick asked, anxiously.

"I’m okay," Tani wiped his face with the back of his hand "it was just a nightmare."

"You were screaming."

"Was I? Sorry I disturbed you. What time is it?"

"It’s 4 a.m., Sir." Garrick told him gently "The usual Godforsaken hour."

"Right." Tani permitted himself a slight smile at his second-in-command’s reassuring sense of humour.

Garrick turned to the servant and asked her to bring the General some coffee, before passing Tani his yukata.

"Time I was getting dressed anyway." Garrick said "I’ll see you shortly, Sir."

"Yes," Tani nodded "we’ll be leaving soon."

Garrick paused.

"You know Hideyoshi will be expecting us?"

"I know," replied Tani, prosaicly "in fact I’m counting on it."

_____________________________________________________________________________

One hour later, the troops were ready to go. It was odd to see Tani in a khaki T-shirt, plain khaki trousers and khaki boots instead of his usual uniform, and just as odd to see Corporal Garrick dressed the same way. Both men were more tense than usual this time. Tani’s face was set in an expression of grim determination. He just hoped they would be in time, that they could get to Erryn before Hideyoshi did anything to her. Under different circumstances it would have amused Tani to see Takamatsu wearing his white uniform, it seemed so strange. Little did Hideyoshi know that this time they would be turning up in a heavy goods vehicle. Even if Hideyoshi’s spies were out on the road, they wouldn’t be looking for such a vehicle.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Erryn scowled at Hideyoshi defiantly before turning her head away. Shutting out any thought of the pain in her wrists and ankles, ignoring the blood spilling from the cut on her lip, she focused instead on being angry and insolent. Hideyoshi stood in front of the chair she was tied to and yanked her head back to make her look up at him.

"Tell me about the security measures at Tani’s compound." He demanded.

"Screw you!" Erryn yelled at him.

Hideyoshi cuffed her across the mouth again. He grabbed her face and made her look at him again, his own face only inches from hers.

"Tell me! NOW!" he bawled.

Erryn spat at him, and he let go of her, in shock.

"I’m not going to betray Tani!" she screamed at him, summoning all the fury she could muster "Nothing will make me give him up to you!"

Hideyoshi looked down at her, suddenly calm again.

"We’ll see." He said, simply.

"Yes," she snarled, through clenched teeth "You will!"

_____________________________________________________________________________

Garrick parked the improvised troop carrier a short distance from the castle, and they all streamed out of the back, eager to go. Tani addressed Takamatsu.

"You know what to do. It’ll take them a while to realise it isn’t me leading the charge. By that time, hopefully, we’ll have Erryn and we’ll be ready to go. Gambatte."

"Good luck to you too, Sir." Takamatsu bowed "We’ll do our very best."

Tani nodded to Garrick. The troops went with Takamatsu and Garrick followed Tani in another direction.

_____________________________________________________________________________

At the appointed time, Takamatsu led the charge over the Great Wall. Tani and Garrick proceeded to the uphill corridor. As anticipated, once Takamatsu began the assault on the Castle, the majority of the guards were called to where the action was taking place. Only two guards were left at the corridor, and they were too busy chatting to notice Tani and Garrick sneaking up the hill. The two men reached the top and scrambled down the bank at the other side. There was a wall there, just as big as the Great Wall itself. Garrick was amazed at how quickly Tani climbed up, and how powerful and muscular he was.

Like a rat up a drainpipe, Garrick thought

When he himself reached the top, Tani gestured him to crouch down. Two guards were patrolling. Tani checked his watch.

"They’ll be gone in a minute." He whispered.

Garrick studied the Castle and in small entrance several yards from the wall through which they would gain access to the dungeon area.

"How come we’ve never done a direct assault on the Castle here before?" he asked Tani.

"Because," explained the General with over-extended patience "this area is usually crawling with guards….at most times of the day anyway….and the guards in this section usually carry guns. Outrunning a bullet isn’t one of my skills. If it’s one of yours tell me now, and I’ll remember for future reference."

"I’ve never tried," Garrick answered, "and I don’t plan to anytime soon."

"That’s what I thought." Tani replied, dryly, watching as the two guards disappeared round the corner.

He swiftly scanned the area for any sign of other guards. Satisfied that there were none, he signalled Garrick to proceed down the wall. Five feet from the bottom, Garrick lost his footing and fell into the bushes at the bottom.

"Watch it!" hissed Tani, "Are you okay?"

"Shit!" snapped Garrick, picking himself up and surveying all the scratches on his arms "Yes, I’m okay. Talk about branches everywhere."

"Funny." Tani replied "Not. Come on."

The two men scuttled across to the entrance. Garrick pressed himself against the wall, keeping watch, whilst Tani tackled the lock with a long, thin, very sharp blade.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Hideyoshi had stopped his interrogation of Tani’s lieutenant to watch the battle from the higher levels of the Castle. He had been feeling some satisfaction that Tani and his army had come, but something didn’t feel quite right about this battle. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Garrick stared open-mouthed as Tani’s fist connected fast and hard with the guard’s jaw. The General didn’t seem to feel any pain from the punch. The guard, being rather portly, hit the floor without making much sound. Tani looked down at him with disdain before taking the man’s keys.

"Sometimes there are advantages to the enemy being well padded. Tie him up and gag him, we’ll lock him in one of the dungeons."

Garrick obeyed hastily, thinking how glad he was to be on the same side as the General, and the two continued to pad silently along the corridor. It was a dimly-lit, dank-smelling place and there were mice here and there. Suddenly Tani froze. They could hear soft sobbing coming from a dungeon further down, around the corner. It was Erryn, it had to be. Tani took a surreptitious peek round the corner and suddenly shrank back.

"Oh bugger!" he turned to Garrick "there’s a guard at the other end."

"Sir," Garrick replied quietly "let me take care of the guard. You get Erryn."

Tani nodded. Garrick disappeared down the corridor and he looked for his Lieutenant.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Erryn had never been in so much pain. Her body hurt everywhere, and the cords binding her were causing her absolute agony. Having tried to beat her into submission, Hideyoshi had thrown her down onto the floor and hurried off to watch the battle, boasting that he would soon have General Tani in his grasp anyway. She felt such terror and dread that her beloved Tani might soon be Hideyoshi’s captive. Why did he have to come? Why had he tried to rescue her instead of staying at the compound where he would be safe? She couldn’t bear the fear any more, and when she heard the dungeon door open, she hoped that they had finally come to kill her and get it over with.

I don’t care if I die, she prayed silently, but please, please don’t let them get Hayato.

Suddenly, gentle hands touched her….warm, tender arms lifted her carefully off the cold floor and cradled her.

"Oh Erryn…what have they done to you?"

She found herself weeping afresh to see him kneeling beside her unharmed, to feel his touch and the warmth of his body, and his arms holding her.

"Hayato…" she sobbed.

He was appalled to see her so bloodied and bruised, it made him feel sad and furious at the same time. Encouraging her to rest against him, he took the blade from his belt and cut through the cords binding her wrists. She whimpered from the pain.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry….I’m trying to be gentle."

"I know."

He leaned over and freed her ankles, horrified at the angry red weals made by the cords, before holding her gently in his arms again.

"You have to go…" she sobbed "…you’re in so much danger here, he’s determined to get you."

"I know that, but I’m not leaving without you." He lifted her to her feet "Can you stand? We have to get out of here now."

"You’re not going anywhere!" boomed a deep voice from the dungeon door.

Tani turned to see Hideyoshi’s enormous bulk blocking their escape. Erryn clung weakly to him.

"Oh God, no!" she wept.

Hideyoshi was sneering.

"Oh you were clever, trying to fool me with a lookalike instead of leading your misfit army yourself," he came towards them "but not clever enough. I knew you’d come for her. I know your weaknesses, Tani!"

"You’d disgust any right-thinking person," Tani spat venomously "you couldn’t get to me in a fair fight, and your thick-headed bunch of no-hopers couldn’t get me either, so you use your fists on a woman and you think it makes you a tough man. You’re just a scumbucket!"

Hideyoshi lashed out with his fist, catching Tani in the face and sending both him and Erryn sprawling. Tani found himself lying on his back, looking up at Hideyoshi’s smirking features and wiping a thread of blood from the corner of his mouth. Slowly, Hideyoshi raised a handgun and aimed at Tani’s chest.

"No!" Erryn cried out "No, no, don’t, please don’t!"

"Don’t bother appealing to his humanity, Erryn," Tani said calmly "he doesn’t have any."

She tried to crawl towards him, her sheer terror rising within her, everything inside her urging her to protect him, but the pain overwhelmed her and she collapsed.

"Hayato, I love you!" she managed to sob weakly, before she passed out.

Tani stared at the gun, stared at Hideyoshi’s finger tightening on the trigger, stared at death. Cold steel. Suddenly there was a metallic thud, followed by a dull thump. Tani blinked, dazed. Count Takeshi stood over the unconscious body of Lord Hideyoshi, with a spade in his hand. Garrick stood beside him, grinning.

"Look who I’ve found." He announced.

"I’ve wanted to do that for ages." Takeshi remarked, mildly.

"I’ll bet you have." Tani replied, bemused, as Animal helped him to his feet.

"You okay?" Animal asked.

"Yeah," he quickly gathered his wits "I’m fine. Erryn…"

He looked round to see Garrick already kneeling beside the lifeless form of Lieutenant Erryn, as appalled as he had been on seeing her injuries.

Takeshi came over to Tani, and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I was a bit surprised to learn that you were trying to rescue me and my Emerald Guard when your Lieutenant was captured, but….thank you."

"Thank you," Tani smiled "you just saved me, and my Lieutenant."

"He couldn’t break her, you know." Takeshi told him "He tried to make her betray you, but she wouldn’t."

"She protected me." Tani said softly "She always has."

"Now you know why." Takeshi patted his shoulder "Get your troops together and get her home. Leave Bonehead there to us, we’ll sort him out."

"She’s coming round." Garrick called to Tani.

The General knelt by Erryn’s side, held her hand and stroked her forehead tenderly.

"Hayato…" she moaned softly.

Garrick looked at his Commanding Officer with raised eyebrows on hearing Erryn use his first name. Tani didn’t seem perturbed at all.

"I’m here, Erryn, everything’s okay now." He gathered her up into his arms as she opened her eyes and lifted her off the floor.

"Thank God." She said, seeing his handsome face again.

"Let’s go home."

_____________________________________________________________________________

Tani hadn’t wanted to draw Erryn into a serious conversation about her feelings for him, not while she was healing, and he’d tried to avoid the subject. She’d been so weak from her ordeal and he wanted to give her time. One week on, and he felt she was finally strong enough for a serious discussion.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Erryn sat alone in the compound gardens, beside the koi pool. She loved the peace and tranquillity of the gardens, she loved to feel the cool grass beneath her bare feet and listen to the birdsong. Today, though, not even the tranquillity, or the birdsong, or the sweet fragrance of the flowers, could ease her troubled mind. Not even the warmth of the sun or the gentle breeze caressing her face. Not today. It had been one week, and facing Tani every day since then had felt awkward. Not that he hadn’t been considerate, or gentle, or kind, he’d been all of those things and he’d shown her great care and affection, but she didn’t know how he really felt, because he wouldn’t talk to her about it. In fact, he seemed to be going out of his way not to talk about it.

Perhaps, she thought, he just doesn’t love me that way.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

His voice behind her startled her, and she jumped visibly, turning quickly to face him.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you." He said, warmly.

He stood there beside her in his white uniform, smiling gently at her.

"It’s okay." She smiled back.

"May I join you?"

"Of course."

He dropped down onto the grass beside her, and removed his jacket. The white T-shirt he wore beneath it showed off his tanned muscular arms and his lean frame perfectly. He sat so closely to her that she could catch the scent of his aftershave. She ached to reach up and touch the smooth skin of his cheek, and his soft, dark hair.

"How are you feeling today?" he asked, his expression as gentle as his voice.

"I’m okay." she studied his handsome features., trying to gauge his real mood "The bruises have healed and most of the soreness and pain has gone now. Just a few cuts left to heal now."

"I’m glad you’re almost healed." He watched the breeze play with her long hair "But what about how you feel inside? You went through a hell of an ordeal, Erryn."

"Well," she looked down "I still have nightmares, but they’ll fade in time. I’ll be alright, General."

"My name’s Hayato, remember?"

She shifted uncomfortably, remembering her breach of protocol the day of her rescue. And that wasn’t all she said that day. Tani saw the colour rise in her cheeks.

"It’s okay," he told her simply "you can call me Hayato. If you don’t, I’ll start calling you Lieutenant. Even when we’re off duty."

Erryn smiled. So did he.

"Okay." She looked at him curiously.

Obviously there was something on his mind and she figured she knew what it was. It was unlike him not to be direct.

"I guess" she observed "that there are things you want to talk to me about."

"Yeah," Tani nodded "but I didn’t want to push you into talking until you were recovered enough."

So that’s why he had been avoiding the subject of her feelings for him. She felt a little brighter with this realisation.

"Well, I’m recovered enough," she smiled at him, almost mischieviously "so talk to me."

"That’s unusually direct for you." He teased, looking surprised.

"I’ve been taking Tani lessons." She teased back.

He laughed out loud and smiled broadly back at her.

"Cheeky mare." He said.

"Watch it," she prodded him playfully "you may be my Commanding Officer but I can still kick your butt."

"I don’t doubt it." He laughed "I wouldn’t dare cross you."

"And you thought you scared me?"

He reached over and stroked her hair back from her face. His gaze met hers and in that moment she knew.

"I’d never want you to be scared of me," he told her, softly "or be scared of talking to me. I love you."

"You already know how I feel," she said "but what you don’t know is that I’ve been in love with you since the day I met you. That’s why I was praying that you wouldn’t try to rescue me from Hideyoshi. I was terrified that he’d capture you. I couldn’t bear the thought. Your life is means more to me than my own."

"I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving you to die there." Tani drew her closer to him, until his arms were around her "You mean as much to me, Erryn."

He leaned forward and she felt his velvet-soft lips kiss her, tenderly at first, but then the kiss became hungry, passionate. She was kissing him back with the same hunger and passion. Tani pulled her down onto the grass with him. She’d never kissed a man’s neck before, hell she’d never wanted any man this much before, but she felt Tani shiver with delight as she kissed his neck. Just when it seemed like they’d make love right there in the garden, Tani’s newly acquired mobile phone rang. He swore quietly as he sat up and reached for his jacket.

"Yes?" he said, sharply "What?! When? Damn! Yes she’s here with me, we’ll be right there."

He switched off the phone and turned to face Erryn.

"Hideyoshi killed two of Takeshi’s guards and escaped." He told Erryn "It happened this morning. Garrick’s just spoken to Animal, they think he’s headed this way. We’ve got to get back inside."

Tani picked up his jacket and rose swiftly to his feet, taking Erryn’s hand and helping her up. He held onto her hand tightly as they hurried across the courtyard.

"TANI!"

The too familiar bawl made their blood freeze. They both turned around to face Hideyoshi. Erryn saw what was coming. As Hideyoshi levelled his gun, she screamed:

"NO!!"

She threw herself between Tani and Hideyoshi, just as the gun went off. Erryn was thrown backwards as the bullet hit her in the chest. At that moment, Garrick and some of the others appeared. Garrick fired an arrow at Hideyoshi and felled him efficiently.

"Erryn!" Tani cradled the injured woman in his arms again, just like he’d done a week previously.

She was bleeding so profusely that as hard as he tried to stem the flow, he just couldn’t. Her wounds were too severe.

"Erryn, hold on, please hold on!" He wept, tears spilling down his horrified face "We’re going to get an ambulance and get you to hospital. Please don’t give up, how would I go on without you?"

She opened her eyes for a moment and smiled weakly, reaching up with trembling fingers to touch the smooth skin of his cheek and his soft dark hair. She stroked the tears from his cheek tenderly.

"I….love you."

The light in her eyes died, and her hand fell limply back down. She wasn’t breathing any more. Garrick knelt down beside them.

"Sir," he said gently, his own face wet with tears "she’s gone."

"No!" he clasped Erryn’s lifeless body tightly in his arms, almost curling up around her, sobbing convulsively "No, no!!"

Garrick had never witnessed the breaking of a human heart before. It was as if Tani’s very soul was being ripped asunder. The wails of grief between the sobs were almost too much to bear.

"Oh God, I love you Erryn!" Tani was almost howling in pain.

He’d never loved anyone the way he loved her.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Hayato got up from the leather sofa and went to the window. Ten years ago it may have been, but although he had come to terms with it, the pain still lived inside him. The beautiful Japanese woman stood at the window beside him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"I understand."

"It was important that I tell you all this," Hayato said "because it’s part of my past and it shaped who I am today."

She nodded, as Hayato turned to face her.

"I didn’t think I’d ever love anyone the way I loved Erryn….and I didn’t, until now." He took Kikko Matsuoka’s hands in his "I love you, Kikko. Will you marry me?"

With tears of joy in her eyes, Kikko put her arms around Hayato’s neck and hugged him close.

"Yes. Oh yes!"

Hayato held Kikko tightly, happy tears stinging his own eyes. As he glanced up at the sky, he knew in his heart that, wherever she was now, Erryn was smiling.