She tried to ignore his gaze. The entire time she was making the tea, he had been watching her steadily, silently. He only broke his gaze to sip his tea, or glance at his katanas by his side.

It was still hard to believe that this was all happening. That this was REAL.

Venus and her father had hoped that coming to Japan would be a good way to start over, to turn their luck around. It hadn't. Their last hope at survival depended on her marrying into a good family, or at least ones with connections, like the Hamatos. Their fathers had left to discuss the matter further in private, leaving the two of them alone.

It wasn’t the prospect of marriage that bothered her, as she always knew that her father would pick her groom. No, what bothered her was to whom. A family of shinobi- ASSASSINS, spies. It made her shudder to think about it. Venus had wanted to use her knowledge for good- for healing, now it would most likely be used for poisons and aid in their covert missions.

Would she be married to this young man or one of his brothers? What was his name? Something English, foreign to even this land . .. Leon? She had been in such a daze that she hadn’t really been paying attention. She gave a sidelong glance at the young man next to her. How many had he killed?

He met her gaze. “The tea is very good,” he said.

“Thank you,” she replied, and returned back to her thoughts. What would the future hold for her?

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Trying something different, random little one shot fic AU with picture. A little rusty at writing . . .
I'm always looking to improve, so any critiques are welcome, as long as they're civil and constructive.
Leo, Venus © Mirage.