Chapter 6: Games and Ghosts
The Ferrari LaFerrari's engine purred as Edward Windsor and Tsunade returned to Kensington Palace, the London skyline fading into the evening haze. The Global Investment Forum had ended with handshakes and strategic smiles, but Edward's mind lingered on Viktor Malin's sharp gaze, a reminder of the dangers tied to his role as Duke of York.
Tsunade sat beside him, her tailored black suit crisp against the leather seat, her blonde ponytail catching the dashboard's soft light. Her amber eyes scanned the road, calm and vigilant, her reserved demeanor a quiet anchor in the summit's aftermath.
They entered the palace through the underground tunnel, dodging the watchful eyes of staff or Colonel Marsden's security team. Edward loosened his tie, exhaling as they reached his private apartments, a sanctuary of oak-paneled walls and shelves of weathered books.
"That summit was a marathon," he said, glancing at Tsunade. "You were solid out there, Tsu. Kept the sharks at bay."
She nodded, her lips curving faintly. "Simpler than guarding a clan leader, prince. Your people talk more than they act." Her voice was low, pragmatic, with a dry edge that hinted at humor without flash.
Edward settled at his desk, a polished mahogany surface cluttered with financial reports and a laptop glowing with market trends. As the royal family's financial steward, his evenings were swallowed by duty—reviewing dividend yields, approving maintenance budgets for the Buckingham estate, and assessing a green energy fund pitched at the summit. He also skimmed a security brief, noting a request from his aunt, the Duchess of Kent, for upgraded palace cameras, a nod to the threats his billions attracted. Malin's name, mentioned in a cryptic footnote, tightened his jaw.
Tsunade stood by the window, gazing at the shadowed gardens, her black suit still impeccable. She shifted, her fingers tapping her thigh, a subtle sign of restlessness. After a moment, she approached Edward, leaning against the desk, her voice calm but edged with impatience. "Prince, is this all there is here? Work and silence? It's… stale. Like waiting for a mission that never arrives."
Edward looked up, catching the quiet intensity in her eyes. "Bored already, Tsu? Thought shinobi were masters of patience." He set his pen down, an idea sparking. "Give me half an hour to finish, and we'll do something worth your time. How about a game?"
Her brow furrowed, her expression skeptical but restrained. "Games? I'm not a village child, prince. In the Leaf, kids play—tag, fake battles. I'm a warrior." Her tone was matter-of-fact, rooted in her world's practicality, not disdain.
Edward leaned back, his blue-gray eyes glinting with quiet enthusiasm. "These aren't like that. Earth games are… immersive. You'll see. Trust me, Tsu, it's not childish—it's worth trying."
She crossed her arms, her reserved nature making her hesitant, but his earnestness softened her doubt. "Sounds like a waste," she said, her voice dry, "but fine. If it's dull, you're training with me instead." Her faint smile betrayed a flicker of curiosity.
"Deal," Edward said, diving back into his work with focus. He signed off on a budget, replied to his aunt, and closed his laptop, standing. "Let's go. I've got something you'll like."
He led her through the palace's winding corridors to a secured door in the west wing, entering a code to unlock it. The door opened to a high-tech VR gaming room, Edward's personal escape from royal pressures. Dark walls glowed with neon strips, a central platform held VR headsets and haptic gloves, and screens displayed game menus. The air buzzed faintly with tech.
Tsunade stepped inside, her eyes widening slightly, though her expression stayed composed. "What's this, prince?" she asked, her voice hushed, pragmatic. "Some kind of battle simulator?"
"Close," Edward said, handing her a sleek headset. "Virtual reality. A game that feels real—like another world. This one's a zombie game. Undead creatures, like cursed corpses. You fight them. Ready?"
She examined the headset, her fingers tracing its design, her shinobi mind assessing its purpose. "Undead? Like failed jutsu summons?" She slipped it on, her movements deliberate, her tone curious but controlled. "Let's see."
Edward activated the game, and the room vanished as the VR world loaded—a decayed city, its skyscrapers jagged against a blood-red sky, fog curling through empty streets. Tsunade's breath caught, her composed facade cracking with quiet awe as the realism hit. The virtual ground felt solid, the air chilled, and distant moans echoed. "This… it's like a genjutsu," she murmured, her voice soft, almost reverent. "No chakra. How?"
"Tech," Edward said, his voice close as he joined her, his avatar a rugged survivor with a rifle. "Stay sharp, Tsu. The zombies aren't friendly."
Her avatar—a lean warrior with a katana—mirrored her poise, and she tested its movements, her discipline clear. But as a zombie lurched from an alley, its rotting face snarling, Tsunade tensed, her heart quickening. The unfamiliar horror sparked a brief flicker of fear, her shinobi instincts grappling with the game's surreal threat.
Edward stepped behind her, his hand grazing her shoulder to point out a target. "Aim high—"
She spun on reflex, seizing his wrist with a steel grip, her body poised to strike. Her eyes met his through the headset's display, and she exhaled, relaxing. "It's you, prince," she said, her voice steady, a faint flush on her cheeks. "Don't sneak up."
"Sorry," Edward said, a smile in his tone, his hand lingering for a moment. The contact sent a quiet spark through them, a hint of their growing bond.
The zombies closed in, and Tsunade's fear gave way to focus, her pragmatic nature taking over. She swung her katana, her strikes precise, adapting to the game's mechanics with agility. But in the chaos, as they dodged a swarm, Tsunade's hand slipped, brushing Edward's avatar in a… sensitive spot.
She froze, her voice curious but blunt. "What's this?"
Edward's face burned, his avatar stumbling as he blurted, "It's a bomb, hurry, keep your hand out of there!" His embarrassment was palpable, even through the headset, and he coughed, refocusing on a zombie.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed, her reserved demeanor masking a flicker of amusement, but she didn't press, redirecting her katana to cleave a zombie's head. "Weird bomb," she muttered, her tone dry, the moment passing with a subtle humor that eased the tension.
They fought on, Tsunade's intensity shining as she slashed and pivoted, her movements fluid. "These things are clumsy," she said, her voice calm, almost analytical, though a quiet thrill laced her words. "Like bandits too drunk to fight."
Edward fired his rifle, grinning despite his lingering flush. "Knew you'd get it. Keep up, Tsu."
They battled through waves, Tsunade's reserved focus evident as she moved with precision, her fear fading into exhilaration. Edward stayed close, their avatars back-to-back, and their real-world proximity—mere feet apart—added intimacy. When a zombie lunged at her, Edward's avatar shoved it back, and Tsunade's quiet chuckle, rare and soft, broke through. "Good move, prince," she said, her voice warmer, her eyes meeting his in the game.
As the final wave fell, they removed their headsets, breathless and energized. Tsunade's amber eyes gleamed, her reserved facade softened by the rush.
"Alright," she said, setting the headset down, her tone pragmatic but genuine. "That was… better than expected. Your world's got some tricks."
"Told you," Edward said, his heart light, his embarrassment fading as he met her gaze. "There's more where that came from, Tsu."
She looked at him, a subtle warmth in her expression, her voice low. "Maybe I'll stick around to see, prince." The words, simple and direct, carried a weight that quickened Edward's pulse.
But as they left the gaming room, Edward's phone buzzed with an encrypted alert from his security team. "Malin's associates spotted in London, possible surveillance," it read. "Recommend heightened security."
Edward's jaw tightened, the financier's threat looming. Tsunade noticed, her shinobi senses sharp. "Problem, prince?"
"Could be," he said, pocketing the phone. "Stay vigilant, Tsu. We're not out of the woods yet."
She nodded, her calm intensity a steady anchor. With danger circling and their bond deepening, Edward felt ready to face whatever came, with Tsunade by his side.