“Sun’s setting, let’s truce it for the night,” I said. My mortal being stood still in a ready stance. My feminine rival would stay idle too. I’ve been fighting with this woman for a few hours now, we’re evenly matched. With my limited viewing, I refuse to fight in the dark.
The woman looked at me keenly. Armed with weapon in both hands, she seemed like the kind of woman I’d take home, were it not for the enemy thing. “Stupid man, how can I trust you?” she said.
Been trying to kill her—what a workout. She should know by now that I’m honorable and don’t fight dirty. Kill with worth, fight to the death. “If you hadn’t noticed, I didn’t realize I was fighting a lady until now. Even if you’re a man, I wouldn’t hit below the belt. What’s your name?” I hoped that my sincerity would ease her uneasiness.
“Celestial Jewel—most people call me CJ,” she said. CJ finally seemed friendly, and maybe she finally got a good glimpse of me. “I am no man, nor do I want to be.”
“I see. You’d make an ugly man. Well, CJ, I know a shelter nearby, we’re in a territory I know quite well.”
“How do I know this isn’t a trap?”
“In this war, winning to the death isn’t everything. You’re limiting your conversation with me because you’re in it to kill, whereas I’m in it to survive. Would you rather hunt an easy target, or fight to the best of your skills?”
“Easy target, takes less time,” she said, as she lunged forward with a deadly blow. She made me lose my balance, and as I fell to the ground, I wondered if I really should fight dirty. “You think too much, and that’s why you’ll always be the first to die in battle,” she scoffed at me. “Besides, we’ve never gotten very far in ending the war because all of our soldiers keep on disappearing over here. We don’t want to fight, we have to fight.”
“Wow, more than a sentence, you’re warming up to me!” I jested. The ladies just adore me. “You could have killed me, just now, why make me fall?”
“All men should die slow and painful deaths,” she said. I think she has a problem.
“We can pick this up in the morning,” I said, as I sprung up from my fallen position. She showed me mercy. Have no idea why.

CJ’s eyes met mine. She followed me with caution, as I led her to the shelter. Perhaps I’ve been too trusting while she seems to do whatever it takes to win.
The night is finally normal dark, and the moon’s reflection is brilliant. The animated round sphere acts like a spotlighter tonight, for a show about to begin. What will happen tonight? I’m all frazzled because I’ve never felt this way before. Would I have been killed instantly back there? No, must have faith in my abilities.
“You know, I’ve never fought with anyone this long before,” I said.
“It’s because you’re like me and you’ve found your match,” she said.
“Are you serious? You think we should hook-up?” I said.
“No! Match, as in opponent, rival!” she said. She poked my back just to remind me.
Chuckling never felt so good until now. Flirting with the ladies has always been a breeze to me, but I’ve never chuckled like this before. I usually stay far away from women, but I’m so drawn to her. Would I have the heart to kill her?
We’re almost there when she tried to trip me again, to no avail, of course. “Ah, you’re quick on your feet now,” she said.
“I see you keep me on my toes just to remind me your true intentions,” I said.
“What is my true intention?” she said.
“You want me to fall for you,” I said.
“Have you realized how even more stupid you’ve made your species to be?” she said.
“You know, some of your people are men. Your father is a man too.” I said.
“Yes, the men in my home are tolerable. You, sir, are just incorrigible. By the way, my father is no longer a man, we’ll leave it at that.” she said.
“We’re here,” I said. Thank gawd for this shelter.
“What is this? Luxury hotel for happy campers?” she said, looking around the environment.
“There’s a deep fresh water pool over in the back, I made it myself,” I said.
“Impressive. You’ve redeemed a small percentage of worth,” she said.

“It’s not like the fancy pool in those luxury hotels. It’s just a deep hole with rain water in it. Not very sanitized, but it’ll do. It serves a purpose. In times of war, there’s always struggle and progress. Someday, I’ll add fish so that they can spawn and then I’ll have breakfast too. Let’s build a fire.”
“K, make sure it gets warm enough to dry wet bodies.”

CJ got to freshen up first. I opted to go after her. “Thank you, I haven’t bathed in days,” she said.
“Well, that’s good to know,” I said.
“Your resting place is there,” she said, as she motioned her hand for me to go as far away from her as possible.
“Sounds like a plan,” I said.
“Just so you know, you can come over here whenever possible, so I’ll have a legitimate excuse for self-defense manslaughter,” she said.
“You know, that doesn’t apply to war,” I said.
“All’s fair when it comes to war and war,” she said.
“I should sleep with both eyes open,” I said.
“Yes, you should, and with eyes in the back of your head as well,” she said. What a woman.

We stared at each other for quite some time. Her wondering when it would be the perfect time to execute me, and me just staring at her.
CJ had this certain allure to her. Eyes like the dirty ocean. A few inches taller than me, but she’s grounded and down to earth, or maybe it was some sort of alternative reality I was in. Perhaps I’m hallucinating, just a mirage. No, she’s real and in the flesh.
I heard stories about the enemy, of a woman warrior so badass that any man would gladly be killed by her. I thought I would be different, but I’m no better.
Nevertheless, I have obligations to fulfill. But I have to fulfill them on my terms. She must die an honorable death.

I closed my eyes. Rested for a minute when I felt sudden heat. Flesh up close and very personal. Below my belt, a presence of another hovering over, CJ was up close and too personal.
We fought closer than ever. We wrestled and I loved every moment of it. I didn’t want to win, and I wouldn’t know how to beat her. Our lips accidentally met, I wanted to kiss her. I did. I pinned her good. She smacked me across the face and rushed back to her corner of the shelter.
“You have quite the lips there, CJ,” I said.
“You’ll never have me, not interested in men,” she said.
“You’ve never gone to bed with a man?” I said.
“Women are more enjoyable, have gone to bed with thousands, enough for a harem,” she said.
“You’ve got quite the curriculum vitae,” I said. I rushed to her corner and pinned her. Thought about fighting dirty, but changed to kissing her long and passionately.
My lips on hers, while my hands and arms moved around her entire body.
She went beneath my tunic and below the belt. “You’re no man,” she said.
“So I’ll just be another in your harem,” I said.
CJ wanted me as much as I wanted her. When it comes to war, time is a luxury, so is love. Instant attraction, but it’s not love that we felt, it was lust that got provoked. Of course, love and lust, quite the confusing pair. Is it possible to love the enemy?

We embraced the entire night, feeling each other, resting our wary eyes. The booty before the end of the war—who will win in the end—I don’t know. What a booty though.
Morning has never been better, don’t want to get up. Eyes’ first sight, a woman in the mirror, a reflection, why was she able to fight freely while I fight in secret? She is me and I am her. Maybe I can sacrifice myself and she can win and change everything for the better.
I kissed CJ to wake her up. Her eyes opened slowly but she knew where I was and kissed back deeply. “I’ve got to jet,” she said. And jet she didn’t. She didn’t have to say anything.
“Well, I’ve got to jet too,” I said. I held her tight and longingly.
We stayed like that for an hour or so, she was all I wanted in the world. She was more than enough.
The strong of the two, I let her go gently. Before we parted, I showed her how to get to where she needed to go.

“Saburo! I’m back!” I said.
Ah, my trusty second-in-command. “Where have you been?” Saburo said.
“I bedded a woman last night,” I said.
“Impossible!” Saburo was aghast.
“Anything’s possible,” I said.
“Well, consider it a one night stand, ‘cause you’ve got much to do,” Saburo said. He took me to the main headquarters as I was still a little frazzled from the one-woman harem.

“My liege, your child has returned,” Saburo said.
“Father, I bedded a woman last night,” I said.
“Impossible!” father said.
“That’s what I said,” Saburo said.
“What’s impossible?” General Takayama said, as he walked in the tent.
“Hiroko has bedded a woman,” father said.
“She said that anything’s possible,” Saburo said.
“It’s unnatural!” General Takayama said.
“Your wife does it all the time, Takayama-san,” Saburo said.
“She does not!” General Takayama said.
“Yep, I’ve seen her a dozen times, caught in the act,” Saburo said.
“What were you doing peeking at my wife?” General Takayama said.
“Seeing her naked, she’s hot,” Saburo said.
“Saburo, stop, just stop,” I said.
“I’ll catch up with you later, Hiroko,” Saburo said, as he fled the tent.
General Takayama shuttered. “So, Hiroko, you bedded a woman?” he said.
“There’re more important things to discuss, let’s focus!” father said. Father then informed me of the latest strategic plan that would end the war once and for all. The only good the war did was CJ.

News broke out like a wildfire that I finally bedded a woman. The only people that know of my identity underneath my clothes were Saburo and General Takayama, and of course, father.
The women in every village were a little disappointed, as they’ve been my biggest fans. My battles and duels were big favorites with the ladies. I’d make the headlines almost every gossip.
I’d flirt with whichever lady that’d throw herself at me, and no more. My excuse was that I wanted to focus on victory before women. I was all work and no play.
Now here comes the enemy CJ, the woman that’d ruin an entire group of people, me being the sacrificial lamb. It won’t ruin my appetite though, so that’s some consolation.
“Midori, what’s for lunch?” I asked. Midori’s in charge of feeding all the soldiers. She’s like the mother hen we’ve always wanted.
“Can’t you smell it, Hiro-san?” Midori asked. She then scooped up so that I could get a closer look.
“Trying to smell it, it just smells like fresh meat cooked for starving boys. Wonton soup smells good! You know wonton soup was originated by the enemy?”
“Yes, they’re pretty innovative people. They’re tasty too. The only way to beat an enemy is to eat the enemy.” Midori smiled.
“Are you serious? Wait, you put human meat as the filling?” We’ve resorted to cannibalism.
Midori chuckled. “Ah-choo! Excuse me.” She started filling bowls with wontons.
“No wonder we’ve mostly been adopting a more defensive approach to this war, easier harvest for meat. Midori, are you sick?” I said, hearing her sniffle. Great, Midori’s sick and she’s serving us wonton soup with human filling.
“My nose is running, be right back,” Midori said. She blew her nose deeply. “When you’re the only one taking care of everyone, you gotta work even when you’re sick.”
“Are you insane?” I said. I don’t know if I can forgive her for tarnishing my image of her as my ultimate dream cook.

Life is simple. Wake up. Eat. Kill or die. Human robot, what a life, and then one day something out of anyone’s control happens. I find a deep connection with someone, and how can I explain this emotion other than love? Love does not grow, it is already there, but it needs polishing.
CJ, she’s slashing my people left and right. I’m doing the same, with her people. She finally met my eyes. She lunges toward me, with weapon in hand.
We clash. I put up a fight, but deep down I wanted to protect her. Fatal blow, she holds me as I fall.
Like the night before, I couldn’t close my eyes. She repeats a promise made if I closed my eyes to rest. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Where am I?” I said. My eyes met with hers. CJ was in the flesh. Real, I touched her just to make sure.
“My home,” she said. “Sorry to say, it’s not morning, but it will be eventually.”
“Home?”
“My home. You’re just a guest.”
“Did we win?”
“I won. You’ve got to rest. You’ve been through a lot. I liked it when you couldn’t talk.” She’s being elusive, but playful.
“Who took care of me? How long have I been out?”
“I did, of course. No one knows your secret. Just told people that I’ve claimed you as my spouse, you’re a worthy adversary.” She sealed it with a kiss on the forehead. “The war is over an hour after you got wounded, which was six hours ago. No more cannibalism.”
“What are y’all, vegetarians?”
“Omnivores, to be precise. Due to the shortage of meat, we certainly can’t become carnivores. We will feed the remainder of the grinded meat to the prisoners, and the rest that are whole will receive proper burials.”
I kissed her. I kissed her hard on the lips. “I love you. I can’t love you because you’re the enemy. How do I stop thinking about you?”
“Find someone new usually works. Or you can kill yourself. Both work fine. You’ve got to stop panicking. The war is over. We’re not killing each other anymore.”
“I’m glad we don’t have to kill each other. All I can think about is that one night. You haunt me well like no other.” I kissed her many times more. Grabbed her with my greedy hands, we embraced again like we did the night before.
She kissed me back. “There will be plenty of one night memories with us.”