She laughed, and the sound carried across the water like music. "You know what's beautiful about what you just said?"
"What?"
"You didn't say 'my Tiger who I need to protect.'" Her eyes met mine with fierce clarity. "You said 'my Tiger' like you know I'm just as dangerous as you are. Like you trust me to fight beside you, not behind you."
"Because you are just as dangerous." I meant every word. "Maybe more. You walked into a Dragon's den with nothing but courage and a recorder. You've earned the respect of my Fangs and Claws. You've made my Roar smile—something I've barely seen in years. You got Hiro to cook like he’s an obedient little boy. And tomorrow. . .you're going to hunt down a spy that's evaded my entire security network."
I caressed the elegant line of her palm with my thumb. "So yes, Tora. You're my equal in this war. Which is exactly why I need you rested, sharp, and ready. Because when we strike, we strike together."
"Together," she whispered. "I like the sound of that."
"Good. Now stop thinking about spies and war." I guided us deeper, the water rising to our chests. The world beneath us came alive with color and movement.
"Look, Tora." I didn't need to point—the fish were everywhere.
She gasped. "Oh my God!"
A school of bright orange fish with white stripes swam past her legs, completely unafraid.
"Kumanomi," I moved us closer, steadying her as she tried to watch the fish without moving too much. "Clownfish. They're common in these waters."
"They're beautiful." She watched them dart around a nearby coral formation. Her expression filled with wonder. "I've seen them in aquariums, but seeing them like this. . ."
“You love it?”
She turned to me with shining eyes. "This is magical."
"You deserve magic, Tora." I lifted her hand and kissed it. "You deserve everything."
She blushed. “You’re spoiling me.”
“You spoil me.”
She smiled.
“Come here," My voice grew rough with emotion. I cleared my throat. "There's more fish."
“Oh, I’ve got to see this.”
I took us further out and showed her more. The damselfish with iridescent blue scales. The pufferfish hiding among rocks. The purple and pink sea stars clinging to underwater formations like they were hugging them.
"These starfish are so different from the ones I saw in Jamaica on vacation," she crouched down to get a better look at a particularly large one. "I didn't expect that."
"Japan sits at the intersection of several ocean currents." I crouched beside her, enjoying her wonder. "Where the currents meet, they bring species from both warm and cold waters.Therefore, we have marine life here you won't find anywhere else."
She ducked underwater to see the coral better, her braids trailed behind her like flames.
Damn.
When she surfaced, water streamed down her beautiful face, and her braids slicked back.
Fuck, she’s so beautiful.
She caught me staring and grinned, that mischievous look I was learning meant trouble. "So tell me, Kenji."
“Yes?”
Slowly, she leaned back and began to float in the water, showing me a captivating view of that wet body. "Since you’re big on redesigning nature. . .did you also import the water here too? Or did you let the ocean remain?"
