Nobutada had decided to go to report into Fin and let her know of his being appointed as her son's protector as well as hers. He didn't plan to be a bother but he would take the job very seriously. Knocking on her door, dressed in his best yukata, he hoped she would not be annoyed with him being appointed by the council without her being notified first but the council felt it was the best idea. Shifting weight from one foot to the other, he waited.

Fin answered the door just seconds before one of the servants could get to it. Smiling as the door opened, "Hello, may I help you?" Findabhair asked the man standing in front of her. He was dressed in a Yukata though that really didn't mean much when she was Empress...

Nobutada bowed to her then let a half smile emerge. " Good day to you, your Imperial Majesty. I am Nobutada noh Amaterasu and I have been appointed to the protection of yourself and Emperor Aoki. The council has sent me, to make sure nothing happens to either of you." He replied, his english being heavily accented but still understandable.

Findabhair smiled, hesitant at first then she simply rolled her eyes at the audacity of the council. "Well, I would shut the door on your face, but I know you were sent by the council. So I will have to wait until they come a'knockin'." She joked lightly as she mved to the side, asking him to come in. "Though it's a pleasure, I'm sure to meet you Nobutada. I am Findabhair noh Ryushikawa, though I'm sure you know this already."

Nobutada nodded when she had introduced herself, though he had never formally met the woman, he knew of her. He took the invite and stepped inside the home, his dark eyes looking about for anything seemingly out of place. Satsified it was safe, he turned back to Fin.

" I found the location of your home from my oath sister, Ruveila. She and you are pretty close I hear." The warrior said, his arms resting behind his back in a sort of parade rest stance. the crimson sparrow crest on his back was proof of him being part of the Amaterasu clan. " I am going to guess that his Imperial Highness is asleep?" He asked, not seeing the infant with his mother and guessed from the age that it was probably naptime for the child.

Findabhair nodded her head with a smile. "We are more than lose. She is my sister-in-law as well as best friend, we couldn't be any closer." She stated with a small smile. "Ah yes, Aoki and his sister Aisha are taking their naps...Would you like me to show you around the house? I suppose you'd like to know the area you're protecting, am I correct?" She asked, figuring this made sense. Findabhair walked into the house a bit further then turned to him, studying his crest. "You...are you related to Kasumoto noh Amaterasu? He was one of the professors at the University.."

Nobutada nodded. " Indeed it would.. that way I know all possible points of entry and exit and can make sure no one can get in without my or your knowing." He replied, rolling his broad shoulders back in a semi stretch. He followed her until she had stopped and spoke. " Yes.. Kasumoto was my brother, elder brother... well only brother actually." He replied with a nod, trying to be on his most professional behavior, after all he was in the presence of the Empress, what more formal could one get?

Fin nodded as she continued into the sitting room and kitchen, allowing him to survey each room. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry for your loss Nobutada. He was a wonderful teacher, and mage. Ruveila told me he helped her quite alot." She said, squeezing his arm sympathetic. "By the way, you may call me Fin. I prefer it and I know my full name is a bit of a mouth-full."

Nobutada was careful to pay attention to details, making a mental map of sorts of the home in his head. He then heard her speak and offered a half smile. " My brother died a warrior's death.. and with great honor." He replied, obviously proud of his brother even with the man being dead. " Well alright then Fin.. but if in a formal setting, then I must appropriately refer to you by rank and name... else I could be stripped of my position and that would be most.. troublesome." He replied, nodding his head afterwards.

" Well.. Nobutada is a bit of a mouthful too I imagine.. so I can work with being called Nobu if that makes it easier for you to remember. Also.. unlike the rest of my clan, I am not Gifted.. so I thought you should know that." He finished in a quiet voice.

Fin smiled, she liked the Yamani outlook of honor and death. It was noble. Fin simply nodded as she took him into a few of the back rooms, still on the first level. "The only entrance onto the street is the one you came through. We've a back door in the kitchen as you saw but that goes out to our courtyard which is fenced." Findabhair explained then smiled. "Of course, we don't want you losing your job." Findabhair then ushered Nobu upstairs as she giggled. "Well then that makes two of us. Though where you make up for yours with physical skills, I work with plants making salves. So on occasion, you may find me in that back room I showed you downstairs with all the drying plants."

Nobutada nodded and followed her about the home, making a note to check the fencing later on, to make sure it was not something that could be easily scaled up. As she spoke, he turned his head to her, intrigued by the fact that like himself, she was a healer.

" Oh really... I am also trained in herbal medicine.. I tended to wounded warriors on the battlefield and off... its one of my passions to help others, though I also can fight if need be." He shared, finding a bit of common ground with the Empress. It helped make conversation much easier with a shared passion.

" Really? Huh, small world after all." She joked with a small smirk as she walked into the nursery to show him though quietly left quickly so as not to wake the children. "Well, in that case you are welcome to my herbs anytime, though if you're making something new, you must share the recipe with me. Those are my only terms." She teased him, moving onto the next room.

Nobutada smiled, something he did not do too terribly often unless comfortable with someone. He peered into the twin's room, making note of the amount of windows in it then left, as not to disturb the children. He followed the woman on in the home, chuckling a bit as she spoke.

" Healers should be sharing techniques and potions and salves... I know I for one would share my knowledge if it was needed. We Yamani tend to write a lot and thus I have several journals full of things I came up with and what was taught to me.. perhaps I can bring them with me next time for you to look over." He replied, smoothing back a loose strand of hair back behind his ear.

Fin's eyes widened at this generous offer. She had a feeling she and Nobu would get along quite well. "I would love that! I think I can scrounge up a few of my recipes as well, though Im afraid I'm not so organized as to keep a journal." She said with a small giggle as her cheeks reddened slightly. "I might end up giving you bits and pieces of paper in no particular order."

Nobutada chuckled again. " Maybe you should keep a small journal at hand to write down componants and the right mixtures for your potions and the like. Then if you ever have to get someone to make it for you, you always know where to find it listed. Mayhaps that is just my overly orgainized mind talking there but there is some truth to it."

The man replied, then nodded. " Perhaps we could sit down and put a joint journal together and both have a copy then better still.. that way we don't have to chase after one another barking about how much of this or that to use."

Fin nodded, impressed. These weren't such bad ideas. "Well, I do believe I couldn't have gotten a better bodyguard. I'm going to have to take you up on that offer. A joint journal sounds fun." She stated with a smile. "And...this is er..my bedroom.." Fin stated as they walked into her rather clean room. Though she thought it looked a mess.

Nobutada felt the blush creep up his cheeks. He was not used to people being glad he was around, typically it was a groan or eye roll he got. " The council said I would be suitable and acceptable to you and I am glad they were right... I'd not like to be hated or having one annoyed with me..." He replied, looking around the bedroom, studying it carefully. " Its well kept and clean... as expected. You strike me as a very orgainzed person, Fin." He added, adjusting the collar of the yukata so it was not pulling so tightly.

Fin tried to ignore his blush as she smiled. "Oh I don't think anyone could be hated or even annyed with you, Nobu. You seem to be a nice man. Though I hardly wish to get on your bad side, I'm...I'm not one for violence." She said softly, her eyes flashing with sadness at thoughts of Sai and her own abusive father and brother flashed through her mind's eye. Though her mood did a 180 and she laughed at his next statement. "Ah yes, you do realize I am the same Fin who isn't even organized enough to keep a journal, correct?" She teased, "Though thank you for the compliment nontheless."

" Aha, but geniuses thrive on clutter.. or so I've heard some say." Nobu replied, brushing his ponytail back over his shoulder. " I don't tend to be a violent person, but I won't stand for anyone manhandling a woman or hurting a child or messing with my loved ones and charges." He added, quite serious now.

Findabhair laughed as she blushed scarlett. "I hardly call myself a genius Nobu, not even close. Thnk you though, that was sweet." She said, realizing they stood in her bedroom she ushered him back into the hall and down the stairs to the sitting room. "Ah well I'm glad for I'm afraid you will be protecting us from all of these things." She said with a sigh before explaining. "Kataru, Ruveila's bodyguard had to kill my brother for he and my father have a rather...violent history as far as I'm concerned. My father has been unwell the last couple months so he hasn't been able to 'pay me a visit' though I've gotten word he is better..." She said, looking down at the floor before offering him a seat. "And well, my son is Emperor so I assume he's on atleast someone's hitlist." Fin stated with a grimace, she hated the thought of her innocent son being murdered for what he was.

Nobutada had sat down, though his eyes carefully looked around the area around them. He nodded as he noted this in his mind. " Well no harm shall come to your father unless it threatens your safety and that of the children.. I might have been only assigned to protect you and Aoki but all the royal children are important in my eyes." He replied, looking over at the Empress.

Findabhair smiled at Nobu, he seemed to be a kind and gentle soul. She liked him. She knew they'd get along well. Fin was about to answer Nobutada when she heard someone knocking on the door. She sighed before excusing herself and answering the door. "Hello how may I...oh gods..NO!" This was the last that could be heard before Findabhair's father had his hands around her throat. "You little wench! You killed my son! You killed my heir!" He yelled, his face already red from anger as he had been anticipating this moment for some time now. The Lord of Cavall threw his daughter against the door, lifting her up by her throat. Findabhair tried to claw at his hands, gasping for air. But his hands were clamped too tightly around her throat.

Nobutada watched Fin get up and answer the door and was on his feet the moment the man roughed her up. The warrior moved quicklya nd wrapped his hand around the elder man's wrist and began to apply painful pressure to his wrist, right in the soft spot on the underside of it, to make him let go. " Remove your hands from her Imperial Majesty or else I shall have to beat it into you..." He said in a deadly calm tone, though rage was in his eyes.

The man yelled as he attempted to hold tight to Fin's throat despite the pain, thankfully for Fin it was a lost cause and his grip loosened. As Fin fell to the ground, coughing, her father aimed a punch at Nobutada . "Who in blazes are you? She's my daughter, my wench to deal with!" He yelled, looking down disgustedly at Fin, before kicking her hard in the stomach just for the hell of it. An unnatural crack could be heard as Fin cried out in pain, clutching her stomach.

Nobutada caught the man's fist that was aimed his way and twisted the arm backa and flipped him over his shoulder, the move looking effortless. After the man recovered and kicked the Empress, Nobu got very pissed, though it would appear he was very calm. He sent a kick into the man's knees, causing him to lose balance and land on floor on his back. A moment later, a sword tip was pointed at his throat. " I am Nobutada noh Amaterasu, her personal protector and I will not have you rough handling her Imperial Majesty.. are we clear?"

The older man groaned as he tried to get up, though as he felt the sword ti at his throat, the Lord of Cavall swallowed. "Fine. I'll leave, let me go." He said gruffly, his eyes shifting between his daughter and this Nobutada feller. Fin refused to look at the man, in fact he was the farthest thing from her mind at the moment for she could only think of the pain. He had kicked her so hard, breaking one of the braces of her corset. She was sure that there would be a large bruise there.

Nobutada moved to be in front of Fin, sheathing his sword but not trusting the man to leave peacefully. He may have looked like he trusted him, but he never let his guard down around a foe or someone who had betrayed his trust before. Keep friends close and enemies closer. His dark eyes never left from the Lord of Cavall's form, waiting for the man to leave or make a lame attampt to attack his charge again.

He wanted to make another attempt but when he noticed Nobu's gaze not moving from him he simply got up with any dignity he might have had left and walked out with a huff.

Fin lay there on the floor, crying as she watched him leave. It hurt her to breath even. "You should have killed him." She said softly, "He's just going to come back with a more elaborate scheme."

" I gave him his chance to leave alive this time.. I won't be so considerate next time." Nobu replied, and took out his healer kit and blushing furiously, he looked at the Empress. " Do forgive me for seeming forward, but I need to check if any ribs have broken..." He replied, gently pressing against each one, feeling if they felt odd or out of place.

Fin blushed as well, not meeting Nobu's gaze. "It's alright..I thik the brace for my corset simply..ouch!" She screeched, interrupting herself as a horrible pain shot through her side at his touch. The pain was so intense it made her dizzy. "Gods I think its broken..." She whispered, realizing a half second too late that in order for him to treat her, she was going to have to take off her corset... She'd rather just live with the pain than that embarassment.

Nobutada cringed when she cried out in pain, it seemed really loud being he was in close proximity to her. Swallowing hard, he then looked at the Empress. " I'm.. going to have to ask you to remove the cloth in the way... so I can set that and wrap your side up.. else it won't heal right or break all the way.. I think its just a bad fracture, not a total break. Thankfully that means it will heal on its own a bit faster."

He shared, looking at the woman, feeling nervous but hiding it behind his mask, trying to remain professional about treating her wounds.

Findabhair nodded, sitting up quietly, though wincing as she jarred her hurt midsection. She quickly began to undress, luckily her dress had a square neckline so it wasn't all that hard to pull off down to her waist. Though her corset, she was going to need assistance with. Especially since, as she looked down, she realized she was right, one of the braces was broken. "Could you..erm help me with the ties?" She asked in almost a whisper, as she pointed to her back, where the ties were.

Nobutada swallowed another lump in his throat and nodded and moved behind her and began to unlace the corset. " Her Highness Ruveila often complained about how she hated these things.. I am starting to understand why and can not figure out why a woman would want to wear something that seemingly deprives her of air.. no wonder some Tortallan noblewomen are so airheaded."

He commented, the Empress not able to see the playful lint in his eyes with that comment. Joking when he was nervous tended to help him forget he was really nervous. He was not as much nervous around Ruveila and Kataru, one he saved and treated for several months and the other he had bedded and was with so it was all good.

Fin laughed before clutching her side. "Oi...don't make me laugh.." She groaned, though a playful note tinged her tone. "But I must agree with you...I've only recently started wearing them, after the twins I just didn't like my shape anymore. Though I do believe its time to put them away for good." She said with a small giggle, wincing as she did. Fin took a deep breath as she felt the corset loosen. She pulled it the rest of the way so now she was in naught but her breastband. Her entire midsection was bare, showing a large purpling bruis the size of a giant's fist. "I uh...never did say thank you for that so..thank you." She said, blushing scarlett.

" I'd agree.. at least till the fracture heals, which is what I think is causing you the most pain." He replied, pulling out two small jars, one of bruise balm and the other was for healing purposes other than bruises. He got some of both on each hand and gently applied them to the bruised area and a bit around it, making sure it was over the bad rib.

After this, he took some bandage and wrapped it several times around the area, to keep it stable and still. " That should help with the pain at least enough you can tolorate it. I would not reccommend a lot of lifting however."

Fin nodded as she listened, ever the good patient. Though she winced at the thought of no lifting. "Great...I doubt the children will be pleased about that." She said with a sigh before she smiled, looking up at Nobutada. "Thanks, for everything. I've barely known you an hour and you've already saved my life..I told you it wouldn't be a boring job." She teased, carefully maneuvering so her back was against the wall.

" They will be fine.. they are tough.. at least that is what I hear.. of the eldest Princess." Nobutada replied, his cheeks still slightly pink. He then waved his hand as if fending off something. " Oh no no. It tis my duty to keep you and his Imperial Highness protected... besides I am not one who likes dull moments." He replied with a nod and smile.

Fin smiled at Nobu sweetly. "Yes they're tough but I like holding my children. Their the loves of my life." She stated softly, before realizing her midsection was bare and silently slipping her arms back into he arms of her dress. "Duty or not, thank you." She said before laughing. "Ah well, there are surely none of those here."

Nobutada raised a finger at this point. " Ahh.. but you could compromise and at least sit down when you hold them.. at least the big girls.. I don't think the twins could weigh much at this point that if you took it carefully, that you could pick them up... besides, make good use of your nursemaids that you have, that they may actually earn some pay." He replied with a chuckle and knew his mother would swat him for that if she was at the home, but thankfully she was up at the Palace with the Empress.

Besides.. if peace and dull moments happened all the time, people like myself and Kataru would be out of a job."The Warlord added with a smirk, yet another corny joke he put out.. he could do that when he wanted to.

Fin laughed at Nobu, glad to know he had a sense of humor. "Well, that's a good thing, since the only reason I've even got nursemaids is because all my servants are of Yamani descent and so they believe that all royal children should have a nursemaid..I swear they don't let my children out of their sight." She said with a frustrated chuckle. "Though I'm hoping that since you're here that will change." She teased. "Ah yes, whatever would you do if there were peace in the world...I could only imagine." She teased, sticking her tongue out.