Standing in front of the burned Honnō-ji temple was Sasuke, he tapping his foot as he glanced back to the temple. He was waiting to see if Yuki was going to show up to head back home. It was the day the portal was opening back up. The day of their only opportunity. It was now or… never.

He feared, however, that she might wish to stay back. From his intelligence gathering, he knew that Yuki was close with the Lord of Azuchi Castle, Lord Nobunaga. And, he feared her relationship with him was too close to risk separation, that she would stay here with him. However, these thoughts were merely such, he knew that she was smarter than that, right? She had told him of her bet with Nobunaga, that she had to win her way back, he hoped that- according to the slightly twisted bet, that she wouldn't end up stuck in the Azuchi castle.

However, those thoughts ceased at the loud galloping of a horse from the shadow bathed path, a large brown horse jumped out from between the trees. A surprised look graced his features at the scene, watching the horse jog up, slowing down as it neared him. And, at the front of the horse was Yuki, she calling to him as she rode. What was more of a shock was who was behind her. Oda Nobunaga.

"Sasuke!" She called, now the horse was slowing to a halt, Nobunaga holding the reins of the horse. "I'm here!" She looked exhausted, a little winded. "I'm not late, right?" And, then, she carefully got down from the horse, Lord Oda following right after her.

"You're not late." The ninja muttered, giving her a momentary glance, but then his eye focused on Lord Oda. How to reply to the lord, how to question his existence here. Why was Lord Oda here? "It seems you brought a friend with you, Yuki?" He questioned, using a more modern term, one the samurai was not comfortable with.

"'Friend'?" Nobunaga almost grumbled, cocking a brow while shifting his weight from his left leg to his right. He was wearing his armor, with all the swords at his waist and a bag over his shoulder. Knowing he was leaving, he grabbed a few things; his full kimono, his favorite book, his glass Konpeitō jar, his special Goban board, his dagger, and crest, branded in metal. "I am more than her 'friend'. Now, aside the assumption, who are you? State or die."

"Well-" Despite the grumbling of the samurai lord, Sasuke continued with a simple sigh. "Dear Oda, I am a friend of Yuki, from our timeline, about 500 years from now." The inflection of speech made the samurai grumble under his breath. "My name is Sasuke. Now, may I ask, as I do hold much more of a right to question- But, what are you doing here? We're leaving tonight."

"That is MY business." Lord Oda replied, a fraction of a pout at his lips as he folded his arms over his chest. And, before Sasuke could reply to the Lord's more obnoxious childishness, Yuki spoke up.

"Well, Nobunaga had decided to go with us." She explained, coaxing another grumble from the Lord and another shocked look from the ninja. "I told him how our timeline went, and what happened to the samurai, especially him-" Her voice came out as a mutter for a moment. "And, it is his choice to go with us. Right?" She looked to Nobunaga and he mumbled a huff under his breath, turning away and likely blushing out of sudden change of character.

"Oh?" Sasuke questioned, raising a brow at the tyrannical warlord. "Well, besides the obvious issues with taking someone from the past to the present-" He mumbled, "But, I assume you ironed out the kinks before coming." He sighed softly, giving a look to the two before him. He was trying to think of ways in which Nobunaga's presence could affect the present, but nothing was obvious, since all that came to mind was fiction.

"Of course we did." Yuki started with a soft smile, nodding her head. She looked to Nobunaga with a look that seemed more… sheepish. "He had a few interesting ways to leave. I feel he took a page out of our century's playbook- Apparently, we're going with the suicide note and faked death."

"Interesting." It was a little odd that Lord Oda was now quiet, but it was likely because he had nothing else to say, just listening to the two speak. Sasuke nodded his head, a little surprised with the samurai Lord's choice, but this is the Lord of Hell, Oda Nobunaga. "Are you prepared, however, to go?" He asked the Lord of Azuchi.

"I would assume I am." Nobunaga muttered with a shrug, giving Sasuke a side-glance.

"You would assume you are?" He questioned back with a raised brow. "You will be the first person in history to travel to the future and your only reaction is you assume you are?" Sasuke was a little unsure with Lord Oda's reaction. "I would be terrified. Yuki and I were both terrified when we arrived." And she nodded in agreement.

"You two are a lot in common." The samurai grumbled, looking from Yuki to Sasuke. He spoke about how they act, he had warmed up quite a bit to Yuki, he would go so far to say that he loved her. And, there were similarities between their behaviors. He seemed to dodge the question and the topic, instead responding to their actions.

"It's okay to be afraid, Nobunaga." Yuki said gingerly, giving him a sweet smile. "Fear and weakness is what makes a man." He made a small, embarrassed mutter, plopping his hand atop her head and ruffling her hair. He was thankful for her kind words, she is sweet- and somehow innocent. And, with his gingerly actions, she grinned up at him happily.

"The portal should open up any moment now. Prepare yourself." Sasuke said rather firmly, nodding his head as he looked around.

"Nobunaga." When Yuki spoke up, he looked to her, having just given the ninja a look she couldn't completely read. Fear? Was he scared? No? Or was he merely upset with Sasuke's presence?

"What?" He had, actually, at first, made a small moan of a response, a soft syllable. But, realizing it wasn't good enough, he responded with more than a hum. His arms were, again, crossed over his chest, and his gaze away, similar to how Sasuke was holding his own not three feet away.

"Are you ready?" She had asked softly, there a look on his face as soon as her voice left her lips. "I know you were already asked, but I'm serious. I just wish to help you if you are feeling uncomfortable. Okay?" And, once more, the samurai lord raised his left eyebrow, it thinly cocked high.

"I already told you I am." Nobunaga huffed, not as much as the growl from earlier, with how he spoke to Sasuke. She gave him a knowing smile. Why? He was going to ask her why, but chose against it, turning away with the softest scoff. Then, there was a warmth in his hand, her own hand. "Yuki-" Her name slipped his lips, she giving him a soft smile.

"That's not what I meant."

"Oh, is it not?"

"It is not." She hummed, giving his hand a firm squeeze. The way she smiled gripped and tugged his heart, she standing before him in the clothes of her time. She had explained it as a white collar shirt- it's a type of job? The buttons lined the front, top to bottom, and she wore something called a pleated skirt, with heels. Such odd clothes. "Nobunaga, you're going to be going to a foreign place and time. You're leaving your accustomed life, to one you've never seen. It's going to be about 500 years from now. Are you sure you're okay with that change?"

"I-" He muttered, grumbling at the way his voice cracked. "I'm fine. I have you." They way his cheeks tinged as he squeezed her hand was sweet- Adorable.

"Besides that being the cutest thing ever-" She giggled, "I just want to make sure, since the technology of the future is not something you are used to. I have no way of knowing how you'll react, you have no way of knowing what you'll see. I want you to be happy, knowing you made the right choice. Okay?"

"Well-" Nobunaga trailed off, trying to put words to the feelings he had. It took his forever to put the word 'love' to his feelings for her. She made a fair point, he could understand that. But… He didn't know what to say. Was he fearful? He's a warlord, of course not!... Is what he would say. He was scared, just a little.

"It's okay to be scared." She told him once more, giving his hand the softest, yet firmest of squeezes. "I just want you to know it's okay to be scared, and to rely on me. Not too long ago, when we were fighting against the Uesugi and Takeda, you told me that you trust me to know your feelings and thoughts. That I am the only one to know. So, don't be afraid to trust me now. You did just say that you'd be fine because you had me." The way she giggled made his heart thump.

"Then- give me your strength, Yuki, and your support, with it, I could take on God." A small grin etched the samurai lord's face and he gave her hand a firm squeeze, he glad to have her at his side. Especially, now, on a journey as frightening as she said.

"You know I already am." Yuki hummed, looking to Sasuke, who seemed to be looking anywhere but at them, flustered. The ninja was more or less deciding, himself, whether or not, to stay. He found himself at an impasse; Yuki, his fellow friend in this once-in-a-lifetime journey, was leaving back to their present, but he had grown ever close to the people of this universe, of this time He felt he would miss both of those groups. Yuki and those of the Uesugi and Takeda. They were his family. Maybe he decide in the moment.

It was silent in that moment, the two 'love-birds' as Sasuke kept from calling them, quiet and holding one another's hand. The temple they stood at was burned, nearly to a crisp, leaving very little left of its original form. Such a sad thought. A beautiful temple completely destroyed. To Sasuke, it was such a tragedy. He had, however, been given a chance to see it in its glory.

There was a heavy feeling in the air, a high pressure- if one was to put a more scientific term to the feeling. Sasuke made the softest of muttered to himself as he thought, making Yuki look to him. It was likely that they were going to be going very soon. The ninja turned, watching the two shift their bags a little to something more comfortable. The more uncomfortable the air, the more obvious it was that they were that much closer to them going.

The way the air felt dense and heavy was odd, an energy, almost, making the air tingle, it made it feel that very soon they were going to leave. It was such an indescribable feeling. Electricity seemed to weigh down the air, more and more, in that moment, every second. Sasuke made the softest mutter, looking back to the two lovers. The way he nodded his head signalled to them that it was time to head out, time to prepare themselves physically and mentally to leave, time to ease their nerves.

"Any moment now." Sasuke said, making Yuki steel her nerves. Her jaw tensed a little in preparation, her small hand holding onto the strap of her purse ever tighter. Nobunaga, too, tensed his body, a momentary flash of fear in his eyes. The ninja felt an odd sense of thankfulness at the fear of the great samurai general. It showed he had some humanity, surely not as heartless and demon-like as history seems to say. He was, indeed, human, and that thought made him smile.

Now, the air felt tense and, ever more so, dense. It seemed it was truly 'any moment now', or, at least, that is how the air made it feel. Hand-in-hand, the samurai lord and his lady resolved themselves to leave. For a moment it seemed to grow dark, even with the night. Then, suddenly, all too light, a bright, white light, that seemed so intense. An almost stingingly white light, that seemed like staring into the sun. And, as fast as it appeared, it disappeared. To darkness. Making it now feel as if they were weightless. To the point of nothingness.

Yuki stirred, waking to a familiar feeling, one that she had felt not three months before. But, this time, instead of awaking besides Nobunaga in the burning of the Honnō-ji temple, it was back at the same monument and memorial for the temple that she had left from. Though, her body was softly sore, she stood to her feet, brushing off her clothing of any dirt or dust. Laying near her and next to the large stone placard, of sorts, was Lord Nobunaga himself, and, not feet from them, was Sasuke.

"Nobunaga." Her voice was soft as she called to her lover, now kneeling back down at his side. Her small hands gingerly brushed the hair that stuck to his forehead aside, giving his cheek the softest of pats to awake him. "Nobunaga…" When she says his name again, holding his cheek, he slowly stirs. His rusty, blood-colored eyes fluttered open at her soft calling, he shifting a little.

"Y-Yuki- Wh-where are we…?" The samurai lord's voice came out with the slightest of rasps, his eyes looking from her face to the area around them. The large amounts of polished and finely cut stone… The memorial plaque… the large pillars near… the ground below him… Everything, but the roof to the memorial was stone. Beautiful polished granite, that glistened with the ambient light of the city, the soft lights at the outdoor memorial, and the lights of the nearby metropolis that is Japan's cityscapes. It was a shock to the male out of his time, such light without fire, such nice craft of stone-

"We're in Kyoto, my time, of course." She explains gingerly as she helps him sit up, only to turn her head to Sasuke. "Sasuke?" She called to him softly, he, too, stirring awake. He made the slightest groaning, rubbing his head as he sat up. He seemed to have hit his head when he had shown up, leaving the slightest bruise under his hair. "Sasuke?" When she called for him again, he nodded and put his hand up, showing with a simple gesture that he was okay.

"I'm fine. Make sure Lord Oda is." The way Sasuke said that seemed sarcastic, but he couldn't completely tell. 'Lord Oda' only nodded his head from the word of the ninja, looking to his lady at his side. It was more of a teasing jab to refer to Nobunaga in such a way, but it was not like he minded. Lord Oda is his name, is it not?

"I am alright frightful ninja, fear not." Nobunaga grumbled lightly, sitting up more. Sasuke made the slightest of glares, rolling his eyes in reply to the samurai's similar teasing jabs. Now, hoping to tease the ninja further, he, now, adds an extended flourish of words, playing more at the royal and dated actions. "Do help me up, my lady, for your grace is all I need to find every ounce of my strength." But, a hearty chuckle left him, breaking his joking ruse as he stood to his feet while grasping her hand. "I kid." He voiced simply, "I kid. For it was merely a joke."

"Yes, yes, very funny." Sasuke hummed simply, nodding his head. Though Sasuke thought it childish, Yuki was flustered warmly as she helped her lover to his feet. The ninja fixed his glasses upon his nose, looking to the lord of the past before him. With the softest of groans at the pain from suddenly showing up on the bed of stone, he stood straighter and firmer, fixing his own bag at his shoulders. In the bag was his own clothes of this time, his research both modern and that from the past, as well as but a few of his items from his ninja studies. "Yuki, you live near here, yes?" When she nodded, he continued to speak. "Then let us head there. Or, at least, let me escort you home."

"Alright. Let's." She had replied gingerly with the softest of smiles, and led them from the shrine and into the city. What was like a park tucked away in the middle of a maze-like metropolis, they stepped out into the once capital city of Kyoto. How Nobunaga had left it was far from what he saw, stepping out onto the sidewalk.

The shock on the samurai's face was ever evident, his eyes like saucers. His face was similar to that of a kid in a candy-store, looking to and fro at each skyscraper that stood stories above him, at the bright lighting, neon lighting that lined the buildings and covered the city, at the cars zooming down the road. This was starting to make sense to Lord Oda. He finally understands the worry of his two travel mates. The overwhelming fear and awe, that seems to handicap him, ease him as his body stands stiffly, captured by this all.

In comparison to the war-ruined castles and many small, grungy towns that Nobunaga was used to, this 21st century Kyoto was something he had never imagined. These skyscrapers- though he didn't know the name- made his castle look like a doll house. Azuchi Castle was the largest castle in Japan, then, but compared to what stood before him…? Not even close. He was used to the dull, orange light of fire, candle or lantern. But, what was that bright white… blue… pink… yellow… green… that rainbow of color? Every color he was aware of, it seemed- lined the buildings. Moving too! What is this sorcery…?

It's not everyday that the great Oda Nobunaga is shocked, and so wordlessly. He is a lord that is hard to frighten, or surprise, like many samurai are, but, now, he couldn't even find the air in his lungs to try. He felt breathless. Well, it does actually seem possible, now, to see something so beautiful it takes your breath away, he was aware of that now.

"Should we tell him that this is only one city?" Sasuke asked Yuki, making her hide a giggle behind the back of her hand. "Not even Japan's most impressive. Kyoto doesn't hold a candle to Tokyo." Nobunaga looked to the ninja with a shocked look, wait- this wasn't as impressive as it gets? "Kyoto is definitely holding it's own, but this city is still full of older architecture and many shrines and rural areas. Forests all around. Tokyo is the most impressive, by far, technicallogically and socially- Home to what- 9.3 Million people? That's over six and a half times the people here."

Nobunaga felt like he choked at the information told to him. 9.3 Million people-?! It was a challenge, most of the time, to have ten thousand soldiers fighting for the Oda Clan. 9.3 Million sounded like something of fantasy. His Japan grew to be something of legends… Grew to be exactly what he wanted. An itching pride built in his stomach, the unification wouldn't have happened without him, it was a great pride booster. Not without him, Akechi Mitsuhide, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

"Why don't we keep going? I live just up the road." Yuki said simply with a sweet smile, hoping to get them to hurry up and off the streets. Nobunaga already looked like he was going to have a heart attack- After a quick agreeance, they all started walking up the street, passing two street lights, seven shops, a convenience store, three restaurants, a clothing store, a grocery store, and an apartment building before getting to Yuki's residence.

It was a decent sized condo, among a set of what seemed like ten. It was something Nobunaga didn't understand, she explained it as American- He had no idea what 'American' was either. What's 'America'...? A new European culture? An art style? When she opened the door, he peered around curiously. Sasuke walked in, thanking her for entrance, a newer custom, before slipping off his shoes and walking right down the hall, which is an older custom.

By the front door was a small hallway, it was really only a third of the full hall. It had a step, not six feet from where he stood, that had a mat and four pairs of shoes next to it. Sasuke's. A pair of plastic… boots? Something he recognized as sandals. And… A pair of odd white and black shoes, with laces. At both sides of the walls were these short cabinets, of sorts, like desks. They had doors on them, with glass panes, which he had never seen before. He could see inside them, too. Books. Wow… There were a few things atop the cabinets, like charms and statues of some deities he recognizes from what Kennyo had taught.

"C'mon." Yuki hummed softly, closing the door as she walked in, locking it with a loud 'CLACK' which caused him to jump a little. She had slipped off her heels, letting out a happy sigh, and stepped onto the shined wooden floor. It was like tatami, but far more impressive. He had nodded, looking down to his feet, what to do about that- The complicated boot setup was far different than their shoes, he knew how to take them off, yes- But, it wouldn't be as smooth as bare feet. He made a soft mutter and she smiled, bending down at his feet and helping them off. "You won't have a page anymore to help you dress, you'll have to learn how to take care of your clothes yourself."

"Alright." Nobunaga had no other words to use, that was all the air his body had to speak. She helped him out of knee-high, complicated armored boots. They were similar to a sock, almost, with wooden, paper-like weaved plating for protection. On the sole of the foot, was a hard, wooden base, that would be similar to a rubber sole of a tennis shoe. It was like assembling an Ikea bookshelf, a large set of pieces that took a bit of practice and skill to put together and take apart appropriately. What made it all the more fun, was the layers- Atop the foot was a metal sheet, shaped to the foot, also for protection. And, down to last layer, was a sort of ankle sock, separating his toes in the the iconic-two set, which the Japanese were known for.

"You can keep your socks on." She hummed, and he raised a brow, nodding, but not understanding the word she used. She gingerly set the armored shoes in the corner, besides Sasuke's ninja flats before stepping up the stair and walking down the hall. "I can get some tea started. Sasuke?" She called, and he poked his head out from the bathroom. "Do you think you can turn on the lights? I don't mind privacy- for now." She told him, he nodding his head. She meant, she didn't really mind if he went around and turned on a bunch of the lights. He, then, exited the bathroom, moving on to get to lighting the place.

Nobunaga had no idea what to do, he staring around in awe. This was her house. It was a little bigger than his room in Azuchi, and he was the lord of the castle! It had two floors? Impressive. His rusty eyes peered at the wooden staircase, following it up to the dark top above. He'll pass for now. And, instead, decided to follow his lover like a lost puppy. She walked down the hall, and right into a doorway on the left, not 10 feet from the door. When she turned on the light, he felt that breathless feeling again, not that he hadn't felt it already.

This room was a kitchen? The kitchens he remembers from his time look like nothing like this. They were small- dirty- Full of shelves and mediocre dishware. This- Was all shiny, metal- What in the name of all hells is this?! There were many cabinets, all with those glass panes again, inside was full of dishes. There was a large metal box, taller than him, with two doors on it. And, when he touched it, it was cold. Upon closer inspection, there was a little screen on it… And, a slot cut out of it, maybe 15 centimeters long, by 23 centimeters tall, and 10 centimeters deep. What was it?

"That's the refrigerator. Go ahead and open it, if you want." She offered with a soft smile, going to a lower cabinet to the ground, and pulling out a porcelain teapot. He recognized that. It was similar to the one's from his time. She filled it with water, and set it on another metal box. A stove, it seems- Makes fire with a flip of a switch. He, then, watched her grab a set of three teacups, and a tray. It was a familiar sight. So, in the future, old traditions still live? She indeed had a tradition tea making set, pulling out a little container of dried leaves.

"Mm." He responded, as a 'yes', of sorts. And, turned his attention to the so-called 'refrigerator'. What was it…? When he open the door, he jumped. "How in the hell-?!" He let out an sound that was a little surprising of a warmongering samurai. Immediately, there were giggles from his lover, who found his behavior utterly humorous. "It's- Frozen, like you left it in the snow. How?" He muttered, looking at the items he later figures out are in the 'freezer', then opening the other side, everything was cold, but not frozen. How- Odd!

"A refrigerator is supposed to be that way." She explained softly with a smile, watching the water heat up on the stove. "It's meant to preserve food. I could keep things in there for years, if I really wanted to. You can either freeze food, like here-" She pointed to the side he opened first. "Or, I can keep them cool, like this side-" And, her finger pointed to the other side.

"I- I see." Nobunaga made out, nodding his head as he made the softest gulp. Imagine a world of the Sengoku with one of these- Famines would be far more rare. They would keep food for a long period of time. It'd be- it'd be amazing! When she smiled at him, he blushed a little and closed the fridge. She did seem to be enjoying his surprise.

"It's nice…"

"What is?"

"To see you like this. So- surprised by the future. It makes me feel better. You teased me so cruelly for being surprised with your time."

"Well-" Nobunaga huffed, crossing his arms. "That's because-"

"You're cute." Yuki hummed with a smile, taking a step to him and pecking his cheek. "It's okay. There's far more here that will shock you, than how your time scared me, I will assure you that- But, I'll help you. Promise. And, so will Sasuke."

"Y-you're cute…" He huffed in reply, turning his head away in flustered and embarrassed anger. His lady, though, was certainly one he trusts. One he was comfortable leaving in charge of his castle, and in charge of the care of his men at war… One he wouldn't have minded seeing as Lady Oda. With a grumble, he plopped his scarred, calloused hand atop her head, ruffling her hair.

When the water finished boiling, she grabbed the tray and told Nobunaga to follow her. She had the cups, the leaves, the tea making tools, and the pot with freshly heated water on the tray, moving smoothly through the house. Impressive, and he was told by her, that this wasn't what she wanted to do with life. People, in his time, could become tea experts, just to serve lords. But- she has skill with that, and other things. It seems, like few of his time, many people are great at many things in this time.

She walked so effortlessly, down the hallway, to the doorway that was most obvious from the front door. It was on the opposite side of the hallway from the front door. It led to something called a living room, it was like his great hall, sort of. She set the tea tray down on the small table in the center, then sat down on what was actually tatami this time. How… odd. Sasuke, soon, entered the room, sitting down on the mat not far from her and the samurai, eventually, sat at her side, parallel to the table.

"Sasuke, may I ask you a question?" The samurai heard Yuki ask as she gingerly prepped the tea in front of her with skilled hands.

"Sure. Hit me." Nobunaga feigned from slapping or hitting the ninja.

"You live near here, yes?"

"Yes. Not a fourth of a kilometer from here. And, my lab is in Fukui. Why?"

"Well- besides being curious and wanting to keep in touch. It would be mostly because I need help in assimilating Nobunaga to life, here, in the 21st century. He's a handful, reminds me of my little cousins." She laughed, making him silently laugh.

"Understandable."

"And, I want him to have a familiar face. Someone, besides a historian, who knows where he is coming from. We are the only three people, we know of, who have travelled time, or are still living from the Sengoku era. It'd be nice if he had a friend… a male friend."

"Also understandable."

"Friends with Kenshin's ninja?" Nobunaga spoke up, making the softest of grumbles as he looked to the same man in mention. The two locked gazes, glaring for a moment. "Meh- I don't see why not. He kept you safe, Yuki- He's a decent person." He muttered, making the female smile.

"Then, you agree?" When she asked, Nobunaga nodded, and so did Sasuke. "Great! Thank you very much, Sasuke. We'll, hopefully, make you feel like this was the proper choice, Nobunaga." She gave him a soft look.

"I already know this is the right choice- Love, for a samurai, it seems, is only once in 500 years…" He muttered, making her fluster a rosy red along her cheeks. What a cheesy line. Even Sasuke was a little impressed, hiding a chuckle. "I'm not letting my woman leave me either. Never met a woman like you." He huffed, though there was a cocky smile on his lips.

"Thank you for the complement." Yuki hummed softly, giving him an embarrassed, toothy grin. And, then, she served them some tea. This was to be the start of a journey like no other, for the samurai. One where he would be in foreign lands and times. One where the love of his life was at his side. One where he would actually grow to his last days. And, one, that he hoped would lead to happiness and a family with his lover.