A Samurai's Pledge

A/N: I present to you the sequel to Of Assassins, Samurai, and Magic! A Samurai's Pledge! Thanks to all who've read the prequel to this story. I hope you'll enjoy this one as much as the last one. Unlike the first story, this one will focus on Signum and Shamal. Fear not NanoFate fans, you'll see our favorite heroines from time to time too.

I've tried to keep everyone as close as possible to their characters in the anime though I'm sure there will be a few OOC moments. Comments and reviews are much appreciated. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: The characters and the worlds I write in do not belong to me. The stories that I write are intended for entertainment purposes. I do not make any money from them.

*** ~ Chapter 1: Sweet Dreams ~ ***

Shamal was a light sleeper. It was just something that came with being the Empress' head attendant and healer. The amount of things that happened in the Imperial Palace on a daily basis would astound most people if they knew. From stopping full out invasions of the country to settling petty disputes among the Upper Court's officials, no two days were alike.

So when the door to Shamal's room suddenly burst open on this particular morning, the sun only now starting to peek over the horizon, Shamal couldn't but think the worst. Were they being invaded? Was someone gravely wounded? Had Jail Scaglietti broken out of prison? Then Shamal's gaze fell on Signum, leaving the half asleep blonde wondering if she was still dreaming, delusional or if this was just plain wishful thinking finally delivering.

At this current moment, the Captain of the Samurai was garbed in nothing but a simple silk white robe with a purple hem. The robe's sleeves stopped just below the elbow and the length of the robe ended just above Signum's knee. It was tied together at the front by a purple silk belt. Long locks of pink hair draped across Signum's shoulders, reaching down to her mid back, making the Empress' head attendant swallow unconsciously. Shamal sucked in a breath. By the gods! Signum looked absolutely delectable right now! Shamal was tempted to kiss the pinkette silly right then and there. Then Signum locked eyes with her, and those thoughts were immediately forgotten.

"Shamal, I-"

Shamal was out of bed and halfway across the room in an instant. "Signum, what's wrong?"

Fear. That's what Shamal saw when Signum looked at her. Absolute horror and fear. Shamal paled at the thought of what could have made such a strong warrior tremble like this. Now within arm's reach, Shamal was shocked to see how poor Signum's health was. The samurai was terribly flushed and panting, something Shamal was pretty sure wasn't from the woman's dash into her bedroom. Sweat drizzled down the samurai's brow and cheek, Signum's shortness of breath concerning the head attendant especially.

"S-Shamal, I am sorry," Signum finally verbalized. The Captain of the Samurai lowered her gaze in both embarrassment and shame.

In her haste to escape her demonic pursuers, Signum had inadvertently escaped into Shamal's personal chambers. The samurai captain didn't mean to, to wake Shamal up in the wee hours of the morning and worry her so. But for the past few minutes, the only thing she could think about was hiding, and this was the first unlocked door she could find. Signum's head was spinning very badly right now, leaving her confused as to which part of the Imperial Palace she was in. That is, until now.

"I didn't mean to-"

Signum's words hitched in her throat.

Shamal silenced the samurai by cupping her cheek. Blue eyes widened and glazed over as the blonde stroked Signum's skin with her thumb. The Empress' attendant frowned. Signum was burning up! Shamal vaguely remembered yelling at the samurai a few days ago, when the stubborn pinkette came down with a nasty cold and almost collapsed while out on patrol because of it. Since then, Signum had been confined to the Imperial Palace under her orders, until she got better. For Signum to be running around in this condition, whatever it was that scared her had to be really bad.

"You're trembling, Signum."

Signum blinked. When had Shamal cupped her face with her other hand? The moment the blonde's hand touched her cheek, Signum lost all train of thought. All that filled her mind then was how soft Shamal's hands were and how brilliant the head attendant's violet eyes sparkled. Everything else just faded away into nothingness. Signum grabbed at Shamal's shoulders to steady herself.

"Shamal, I-"

"Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiignuuuuummmmm~!" called a sing song voice through Shamal's bedroom door.

Signum jumped, her eyes widening as her head whipped towards Shamal's closed bedroom door. They had found her!

"Hayate...chan...?" Shamal murmured in surprise. She blinked at her door before looking at Signum. The samurai was absolutely stiff, horror written all over her face.

Shamal wanted to laugh like a mad woman.

Now it all made sense. Signum seeking refuge. The samurai's unusual fear (the pinkette wasn't afraid of anything). Signum's less than dressed state. How hadn't she put things together before now?

Today was Shamal's day off. By orders of the Empress, Shamal was to take this day off to rest and do whatever else she wanted, just as long as it wasn't related to the affairs of the Imperial Palace or anything involving healing. While initially hesitant about it, Shamal caved under Hayate's puppy dog look and took off the day as the Empress told her to. That left any healing related matters, which included Signum, to her apprentices.

"Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiignuuuuummmmm~! Where are yooooooooooou?"

Or in this case, to Hayate herself.

Signum cringed as Hayate's gleeful voice reverberated through Shamal's bedroom door. The samurai truly respected and loved her master, but it was during times like this she wished the brunette would just leave her alone. While she knew Hayate, and Rein for that matter, meant well, Hayate wasn't a very good healer. She was more of a dungeon master when it came to the arts of healing. Signum couldn't fathom why the Empress had such a fascination with wiping the sweat around her chest so much.

"Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiignuuuuummmmm~! You can run, but you can't hide!"

Shamal raised an eyebrow at the pinkette, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "I take it Hayate-chan is acting as my Deshi today?"

Signum wanted to die.

The samurai groaned in response to the blonde's question, hanging her head, causing Shamal to chuckle. A smile quickly stretched across the head attendant's face. Then Rein spoke up.

"Hey," Rein said. "Do you think she's hiding inside one of these rooms?"

Signum and Shamal looked at the door.

Hayate hummed. "If she tried to, she wouldn't get far. There's only one room that I know of in this wing which isn't locked."

A gasp. "You think she ran into Shamal-san's room?"

Signum and Shamal looked at each other.

"Would you two give it up?" a third voice said, annoyance evident in their tone. It sounded like Agito. "If my master wants to be alone, just leave her alone."

"Oh Agito," Hayate said. "Stop being a sour puss. It will only take a moment to check. And I'm sure Shamal wouldn't mind."

Signum felt her heart drop the moment she heard footsteps approach Shamal's bedroom door. But before she could even react, Shamal grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her across the room.

"H-Hayate-sama?"

How did this happen?

"Ah, sorry Shamal," Hayate said. "I didn't mean to wake you."

How the head attendant managed it, Signum didn't know. All she knew was that in one instant, she and Shamal were by the bedroom door with Hayate, Rein and Agito closing in on the room. And in the next, Signum was in bed, with Shamal, hidden under the blankets, curled up firmly against the blonde's side. Due to their last second scramble, Signum ended up with her head resting on Shamal's stomach and her arm draped across Shamal's waist. She didn't dare move from her current position out of fear of being discovered.

"Is something wrong? Did someone get hurt?" There was an undercurrent of worry in Shamal's voice. It was all fake though.

The Empress' head attendant shifted slightly under Signum, beginning to sit up as if startled by Hayate's appearance. But Signum knew better. Shamal was far from surprised by the brunette's 'unexpected' visit. The arm around Signum's shoulders was evidence of that fact.

"Ile," Hayate answered immediately, to quell Shamal's supposed fears.

Signum envisioned the Empress waving her hands in the air dismissively at this point, despite not actually seeing it. Hayate was always expressive with her hands.

"Nothing is wrong. I just-"

As much as Signum tried to focus on the conversation happening literally above her head, the exhaustion and stress from her mini escape earlier this morning was finally catching up to her. That among other things.

The warmth coming from Shamal quickly relaxed the samurai, Signum finding her eyelids drooping more and more as the seconds ticked by. The blonde attendant also smelled of water lilies, like the ones out on the lake just behind the Imperial Palace, a scent which the samurai captain found quite enjoyable. Signum would never admit it out loud, but she really loved those lilies. They reminder her so much of Shamal. And as Signum drifted off for a much needed rest (she hadn't been sleeping well the past few days due to her cold), the last thing she remembered thinking was how nice it felt to have Shamal running a hand through her hair.

"You sure everything is alright?" Shamal questioned for the umpteenth time. At Hayate's behest, she remained in bed, with the covers up to her neck.

"I'm apologize for disturbing your rest, Shamal," Hayate said yet again. The brunette was rather miffed to have found no sign of Signum in Shamal's room, but didn't allow that to show on her face. Rein, on the other hand, looked very disappointed, but the small sprite said nothing on the matter. Agito looked at the mischievous pair unimpressed.

"I just thought I heard a noise and wanted to make sure everything was alright."

Shamal smiled at the Empress, running her hand gently through Signum's hair under the covers. The pinkette always had such wonderful hair. If Shamal had her way, she'd never let go of it.

"You're very thoughtful Hayate-sama," Shamal said, knowing full well the Empress was hiding something. Just to tease the girl a little more...

Shamal moved to sit up again. "Are you sure you don't need me to-"

"Ile, Shamal," Hayate said quickly, before Shamal could protest anymore. She held up her hand. "Everything is under control. Please enjoy the rest of your day off." A pause. "Sorry again to have disturbed your sleep."

Hayate bowed slightly to Shamal.

"Be well, Hayate-sama."

The Empress nodded with a smile before motioning to the two sprites to follow after her. Not even a minute later, the trio left Shamal's room without incident.

The head attendant giggled, silently patting herself on the back. It was not everyday one fooled the Empress. Looking down at her blanket, Shamal pulled back the covers. During the conversation with Hayate, she noticed Signum relaxing against her the longer the conversation went on. And now she knew why. A smile stretched across her face. The samurai had fallen asleep.

Shamal knew all about Signum's misery when it came to her being sick. The woman just couldn't sleep if something was fogging up her senses. Had she known all it took was a warm fluffy bed with her in it, Shamal would have suggested that to the pinkette sooner. The head attendant pulled some stray hairs out of Signum's face.

"Ah, sorry Shamal-san..."

Agito stared at Shamal in surprise, her gaze quickly lowering to her master sleeping next to the blonde on the bed. Or rather, partly on top of her. Out of the three of them, Hayate, Rein and herself, they had all forgotten to shut Shamal's bedroom door, and Agito had swiftly flown back to close it.

Shamal looked at Agito in shock, having forgotten completely about her open bedroom door when she pulled back the blanket to check on Signum. But then she smiled and brought up a finger to her lips in a shushing motion. Her free hand continued to stroke the samurai's hair.

"Oye! Agito-chan!" Rein exclaimed halfway down the hallway. "Hurry up! We have more rooms to search!"

"C-coming!" Agito said looking back through the open door. Turning her gaze to the Empress' head attendant again, the fire sprite smiled and closed the door gently behind her. It was nice to see her master finally getting some rest.

A/N: The opening events to this chapter was inspired by E. G. Szyslak's story called "In My Pants." They were used with permission from E.G. Szyslak and their story can be found here: s/6446296/1/In_My_Pants

I definitely recommend reading that piece. It's awesome! :)

For those of you unfamiliar with the non-English words, I have translated them below.

Ile = No

Deshi = Apprentice/Pupil

For an explanation of Japanese honorifics (eg. [name]-sama), please check out: wiki/Japanese_honorifics