The End of Gan Ning - The Menace of the Sea (Noh)

[Nohime]

She liked that fact that Gan Ning told her that he was glad she was here. She then listened to what all he had to say about what he liked and whatnot. She really hoped that, in Gan Ning's mind, that she fit everything he was talking about when it comes to the women he likes. There was one thing that bothered her though; the wine. She wasn't much of a drinker, as a matter of fact, she didn't like alcohol all that much. Painfully, she knew she would have to tell him. Hopefully he would understand. "Uh...I hate to tell you this...but I've never really been a big fan of alcohol..." she admitted. "But, if it will make you feel better, I'll give it more of a chance when you are drinking it. I'll have a cup or two. Who knows, I may even start to like it...how does that sound?"

She hoped this would be okay and everything. She then began to wonder what her answers would be to those questions, if Gan Ning were to ask. She actually hoped that he would have some other questions he would like to ask her. She wanted them to know everything that needed to be known about each other.

[Kang Ren]

Gan Ning smiled, "I'm not too much of a drinker myself. No problem if you don't wanna drink." Gan Ning smiled and kissed her softly, "I drink when I want to relax. But with you... I am relaxed. Your like alcohol. You slur my judgement and you make me happy." Gan Ning pressed his nose lightly against Nohime's. He inhaled and kissed her one more time. This wasn't something he had done before. Nor was it normal for anyone to do it. He took her face in his hands and kissed her again.

"Nohime... Why did you help me?" He asked laying down on the bed.

[Nohime]

Nohime sighed with relief. Her admission to not liking alcohol turned out to be an opener for yet another charming compliment from her beloved pirate.... Did she really just think that? Her 'beloved' pirate? She couldn't hide her feelings for long. She would soon have to tell him the truth. Suddenly, he did something that made her head go slightly tingly. He pressed his nose against hers and took a deep breath. It was very intimate in its own way, and very cute. She smiled as he kissed her again. She almost felt like she was a young teenage girl again, falling in love for the first time. Then his question arised. It surprised her, in all honesty.

"Well...I helped you because at first, you just seemed distraught," she told him. "Then you just seemed like you would be on the verge of self-destruction if I didn't say something."

Suddenly she began to worry a bit. She felt like she was about to spill out those three words 'I love you'. She had to control herself, otherwise...No. No more worrying about it. If it came up, then it would come up.

[Kang Ren]

Gan Ning yawned and smiled, "Well to me you were like... a blessing sent from the heavens. Thank you." He kissed her gently again. His was aching. He really did think she was a blessing. But he would have to leave her soon. He didn't want to, but his pride told him he had too.

Tiredness crashed over him. The adrenaline from their earlier activity had star to wear off. He kissed Nohime once more and said, "Come, my viper, let us sleep. We do have a long journey ahead of us."

[Nohime]

That was sweet...Nohime thought it felt nice to have someone feel that way about her. She didn't know if it was the blessings of the heavens, fate, or pure chance that they had found each other, but whatever the circumstances, she was glad it happened. He kissed her again and she held onto him tightly as she slowly closed her eyes.

"Very much so..." she whispered in agreement. Slowly, she came closer and closer to falling asleep. Just a few seconds before she finally fell into a deep sleep, she accidentally whispered "I love you..." It didn't wake her up when she realized what she had said. She simply felt relieved that she finally said it. She couldn't stay awake long enough to hear if he said it or not, but something inside her told her that he loved her too...but did he really?

[Kang Ren]

Gan Ning was shocked when he heard her say it. It wasn't something he thought she would say. Especially only after one night of passionate lovemaking. He mumbled something and snored trying to play it off that he was already asleep. But inside him his heart was beating extremely fast, how could she say it? They haven't known each other long. But his heart on the inside told him he did.

-----three hours later----

Gan Ning slid out of the bed without waking her up. He slipped on his clothes, and picked up his sword. He was about to step out when he looked at how beautiful she looked. He sighed and smiled. It was a hurt smile. He knew this would hurt her.

He rummaged through her pack and found a piece of paper and some ink. He then wrote this on the letter.

Nohime,
I am sorry. I cannot let him go unpunished. I will find you in wu.

Gan Ning

PS. I love you too.

He smiled and looked at her one more time. He kissed her on the forehead gently and he stepped out the door. He descended the steps and said the tavern keeper, "Watch out for her when she wakes up. She's pretty deadly. And I mean it." The tavern keeper nodded and Gan Ning stepped outside and took a few steps and looked back. He quietly whispered to himself, "I love you Nohime. My beautiful viper" and he set off into the night.

[Nohime]

==5 hours after Gan Ning has left==

Nohime slowly stirred to life once more. She was still feeling somewhat tired from last night. She rolled over a bit while waking up and couldn't help but be a little shocked when her hand touched mattress. Her eyes bolted open and saw that there was indeed no one in the room with her. She felt very lonely at that moment. She had hoped that Gan Ning would have at least stayed until she woke up to say goodbye. That was when she saw the not.

She picked up the parchment and read the short note. She understood his thirst for vengeance. Who wouldn't after something like that? However, that wasn't the part of the letter that got to her the most. What made her heart leap was when she saw that Gan Ning had written her that he loved her as well. She couldn't believe it when she actually began to blush after she read it and she began to smile uncontrollably. Yeah, it hurt that he was gone, but she knew that he would return to her. There was no doubt in her mind.

This was, again, the moment that made her feel like a teenager all over again. Only this time, she had a better reason. She eventually willed herself out of bed and got dressed in her more formal outfit. She packed up everything that she had brought and was about to leave when she looked back at her note that he had left her. She smiled and picked it up, folded it, and placed inside her kimono obi to keep it with her at all times. Finally she left, ignoring the lewd comments some of the guests at the inn made in response to the...ahem...noises last night. She looked back at the tavern one last time before departing for Wu. She would remain their until Gan Ning returned.