A week after the fight, Aria was looking after Uchi as she rested in the bed. Uchi's face was a deep red and her breathing was irregular. Uchi fell into a massive magic withdrawl. She used too much elemental power without rest. Aria held her hand and held her hand to her forehead then closed her eyes. Avani walked in the room and saw Aria.
"Please..get better...I don't want to lose you as well.." Aria said.
Avani walked beside Aria and pat her shoulder then held her head close to her. Aria leaned on Avani. Avani gave off a motherly vibe to Aria as she was significantly older than Aria.
"She's gonna be okay...I promise.." Avani said.
"She means a lot to me..since the first time I met her six months ago.." Aria said.
"Let her rest..she needs it.." Avani looked at Aria and ruffled her hair then walked out the room.
Aria looked at Uchi then stood up and rubbed her head then walked out the room. Aria covered her face with her hands. She knew how dangerous magic withdrawl was because she went through it once in Asyio. She could have died on that day, but she lived on because of Talamat. She didn't want Uchi to go through the same thing. She walked down the hall and accidentally bumped into Ginchiyo. Ginchiyo held her shoulders and looked at Aria.
"Aria, get a hold of yourself." Ginchiyo said.
"Ginchiyo..has this ever happened to you..? Where you worry so much about someone..that you feel torn apart..?" Aria asked.
"Mhm. Back when me and Yoshihiro were enemies...Muneshige wanted me to run away from the battlefield..thinking he could take on Yoshihiro's men alone...I couldn't bare to think of a life without my husband..he is the universe to me...I can tell Uchi is your universe..?" Ginchiyo asked.
"Yeah...all of my friends are my universe..that is why I am worried about her and Sefia and the others.." Aria said.
"Then be by her side..." Ginchiyo turned her around. "Stay by her side.."
Aria looked at Ginchiyo and Ginchiyo smiled and nodded. Aria smiled a bit then walked back to Uchi's room. She sat in the chair and saw Uchi on her side resting.
A week passed and Uchi woke up. Aria was asleep in a chair with a book covering her face. She was snoring quietly, occassionally mumbling words. Uchi smiled and took the book from her face and closed it. She laid back down and looked at Aria. She closed her eyes and slept once more. A few hours later, Aria woke up and yawned. She looked at the bed and saw Uchi gone. She stood up quickly.
"Uchi?!" She looked around. "How long have I been sleeping?"
She checked the clock and saw it was already the afternoon and facepalmed. She went to take a shower and put on her usual clothing. She ran out the room and saw Uchi sitting with Avani and sighed.
"Oh! You're finally awake? It's time we get moving leader!" Uchi said.
"You scared me half to death." Aria smiled.
"Our next kingdom is Chrysilis. Yoshimoto is the Warlord and he is a jolly fellow." Avani said.
"Jolly and easily flustered..and also sluggish.." Ginchiyo said.
"Now now, don't be too hard on him." Muneshige chuckled.
"How can I not? He has great potential as a warrior, hell he is related to Shingen and Ujiyasu. His skills are phenomenal! But his attitude holds him back." Ginchiyo said.
"You really have an issue with everyone.." Aria said.
"Hmph! He has a lot of flaws." Ginchiyo said.
"That's rich coming from a woman who secretly loves kittens." Aria teased.
Ginchiyo blushed and walked back in the castle. Everyone else laughed softly. Uchi stood up and looked at Aria.
"Aria, can I talk to you in private..?" Uchi asked.
"Sure." Aria nodded.
Uchi and Aria walked to the side of the castle in the shade and Aria leaned her shoulder against the wall. Uchi blushed and looked down a bit.
"I want to confess something to you." Uchi said.
"Alright." Aria said.
"I...I like you.." Uchi said.
"I like you too." Aria smiled.
"No...I li..mmm..How do I say this..?" Uchi twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.
Aria looked at her and rose an eyebrow. She was confused on what she was trying to say. Uchi took a step closer and hear heart was beating fast.
"I l-love you.." Uchi said.
"W-What..?" Aria blushed extremely hard and a little flame appeared on the top of her head. She quickly pat her head to stop the flame.
"It's true..ever since the battle with Motochika..my feelings for you started to grow. I started to love you more and more...I even pushed myself to getting stronger for you. To protect you..your life has started to become more and more dangerous..I want to be by your side..no matter what.." Uchi said.
"I...I have no idea what to say.." Aria said.
No one has ever had any romantic interest for Aria until now. She didn't know how to even respond. Uchi took a step closer and blushed more.
"I.." Uchi started then Aria placed a finger on her lips.
"Uchi.. you must know..after I save Genten...I am going back home..in Asyio..." Aria said.
"Oh..so we-" Uchi started.
"If it were any other circumstances..I would've said yes...But given how things are and where my life is headed..I can not stay in Genten after I save it." Aria said.
"Oh..." Uchi looked down.
Aria gently raised her head and kissed her cheek. Uchi blushed and looked at Aria. Aria smiled and walked past her.
"Come, let's get going. And, don't worry..I won't think any less of you..we are close friends..I still have your back.." Aria looked back and smiled.
Uchi smiled and nodded then ran up to her and walked beside her then fell into a pitfall. Avani laughed and held her stomach. Uchi whined and Aria covered her mouth, suppressing her urge to laugh.
Meanwhile in the Kingdom of Lem, Ranmaru walked in the castle, timidly. He closed the door and heard Omu talking in the meeting room. The person he was talking to was Nene.
"What happened to you?! Where was the honorship?! You have no honor! My people are starving! We barely have enough gold to suffice for another month! Don't you know I have an edgy ninja, a silent ninja, and a husband to care and feed?!" Nene said.
"Your issues do not concern me..just sell something when a merchant appears.." Omu said.
"Wha- You...Lord Nobunaga should have never chose you.." Nene said.
Ranmaru walked in the meeting room. Lord Omu looked at him. Nene looked back and saw Ranmaru.
"Lord Omu..I have decided to leave your army..Lady Nene, I shall supply you and your army with gold and resources..but I am joining Aria's Army." Ranmaru said.
"What..?" Omu said and his dark aura appeared.
"I've made up my mind...I'd rather serve someone who actually cares about the lives of the people.." Ranmaru walked out the room and went to pack his things.
"Tch.." Nene walked out the room then out the castle.
Ranmaru looked at the statistics when it came to money and saw Aria was delegating her army every month and her gold count was high. He nodded and walked out the castle and took the blimp. Lord Omu was not happy with these events and wanted Aria dead even more now. He stood up and walked to the throne room.