AN:: Alright so these are a few adorable little oneshots I had stashed away on my computer. I actually have a lot more, I just need to proofread them and put the finishing touches on, these stories all end and start pretty much here, a lot of them take place in the 'Warriors Orochi' Universe and/or are inspired by the actual happenings of certain titles, like Samurai Warriors: Empires. ;3 Enjoy


Nobunaga felt restless, with an irritation visibly plaguing him as he continued to stare out his window. That's what he had been doing all day, ever since the storm brewing outside had hit. That wasn't what bothered him, and he couldn't get the doubts out of his mind as he recalled a few days earlier what had happened.

"My Lord?" Ranmaru's voice called out to him soothingly, Ranmaru was the only person who could soothe his irritation. "I'm sorry Ranmaru. My plans are just being delayed." He sighed, annoyed. Ranmaru had a gentle smile as he caught up to his lord, and tilting his head almost curiously, he asked, "Delayed? You mean because Hideyoshi still hasn't returned?" He asked. Nobunaga nodded silently, Ranmaru seemed to laugh.

Nobunaga regarded his page skeptically, but before he could question him, Ranmaru said with a childlike honesty, "Well why didn't you just send me?" He inquired. Nobunaga looked away, he hadn't even thought of sending Ranmaru away, he had been so caught up with actually having the boy by his side once more that it hadn't crossed his mind. He had spent many months secretly searching for Ranmaru, grimly fretting over the idea of him having been captured by Orochi.

"I... Suppose I could send you..." Nobunaga admitted softly. "Let me take care of it my lord. I will be back as soon as possible." Ranmaru smiled and happily took the task into his own hands.

Ranmaru had been gone for almost four days now. Nobunaga wanted to ignore this feeling, because he knew how capable Ranmaru was. He couldn't be sure anymore though, Orochi could be anywhere. It was something he didn't want to admit but Ranmaru could be used against him, if he fell into Orochi's hands. If Orochi ever discovered how much Ranmaru meant to him, then Ranmaru would be in an even greater peril.

They may even go after him specifically. Nobunaga had been careful to hide his favoritism, but now that he had barely any officers with him and Ranmaru was the last resort, Orochi, or more importantly, Da Ji, could figure it out.

He had more cause to worry, as Ranmaru's travels should have only taken him two days, and he'd been gone for four. It was even nightfall now, and the storm ragging made it hard to have hope of seeing him coming in the distance. Knowing Ranmaru, if he was alive he was out there going against the storm. He had never been the type to stop for the rain, just like himself.

Nobunaga turned away when he heard someone running down the hallway, and Hideyoshi came in, he had returned yesterday. "Did you find him?" Nobunaga asked, Hideyoshi was completely out of breath and soaking wet. When Hideyoshi had returned and been told of the situation, he took it upon himself to have a search party sent out to see if he was in the surrounding area, possibly injured in case he had been pursued by the enemy.

"Downstairs..." He finally got out through his gasping. "Is everything alright...?" Nobunaga asked. Hideyoshi just shook his head, Nobunaga made his way quickly downstairs, he saw Ranmaru being tended to by a few maids, he was trying to tell them he was fine and towel drying his hair.

"Ranmaru..." Nobunaga called urgently, walking up to him quickly. "My Lord? I didn't think you'd be up so late." He laughed softly. Nobunaga could see why the maids were fretting over him, he had three arrows in him. "Ahh.. You're... Why are you looking at me like that?" Ranmau looked away. Nobunaga was silent, staring at the wounds, fresh blood still on his skin. One of them through his shoulder, and the other his forearm, and third seemed to catch him right above the ankle.

Nobunaga quietly told the maids to leave, and he tried to get a better look at Ranmaru, who was facing away from him. "What happened...?" Nobunaga asked, with as much gentleness as he could muster through the anger he felt. "I'm sorry... I took a long time, didn't I?" Ranmaru bit his lip, and refused to look at Nobunaga.

"That doesn't matter... Who attacked you...?" Nobunaga asked, deciding he couldn't hide his fury. "I'm not sure, I didn't stop. It was on my way back from delivering the message, and once I had got these I barely managed to hold it together. I remember collapsing at least once. I should have rested and tended to the wounds myself but I wanted to get back to you quickly. My horse wasn't hit at all, thankfully." He smiled.

Nobunaga was already working on getting the arrows out of Ranmaru. "And... I'm sorry it took me this long... It's unacceptable... The storm slowed me down quite a bit and I fell off my horse and passed out." He admitted, shamefully.

"And then Hideyoshi found you?" Nobunaga asked, Ranmaru nodded. Nobunaga moved on to bandage his arm and leg, "My lord... You don't need to-"

"Ranmaru... Never leave my side again..."

Ranmaru blinked, "Hm...?

"I was afraid I'd lost you... If the Orochi army find out how much you mean to me... They'll use it against me, but if I treat you like any other soldier I'm putting your life at a high risk... I'll just have to keep a closer eye on my enemies. I can't afford to lose you again."

"Lose me, my lord? I live my life hoping to one day die for you though..." Ranmaru almost seemed to pout, Nobunaga grabbed his shoulders, "Ranmaru... It doesn't matter if you die before or after me... The fact you will die someday is enough to make me grieve."

"Lord... Nobunaga...?" Ranmaru stared at him for awhile before smiling, "The rain always sets you in a funny mood..." He laughed. Nobunaga felt the urge to roll his eyes at his naive page, but he resisted. It was enough that he was alive. "Oh, and my lord, you should come with me to the baths, I wanted to tell you about how strong my horse is, can you believe he kept going with me unconscious? He's so smart." Ranmaru crossed his arms, then winced when he remembered the arrow he used to have through one of them.

"You should be careful." Nobunaga warned. "It doesn't hurt so badly... Come with me?" Ranmaru smiled innocently, tugging on Nobunaga's hand. "Heh... Alright."