"Setsuna, you're finally awake!" Sasuke brightly smiled.

I was almost at a loss for words. Almost.

"How long were you two watching me sleep for?", I grit my teeth in accordance with my disapproval of this literal never let me out of their sight arrangement.

"I only got here six hours ago", Sasuke replied in a way that tried to make sound better than it actually was.

" That's not creepy at all..", I spat out sarcastically; it almost made my skin crawl knowing they had their eyes on me all night, it made me feel exposed.

"I never catch any of you sleeping, do you even sleep?", I said and Sasuke chuckled.

"We spend years training to be fully aware even while sleeping, the slightest noises alert us", he explained it all.

"That sounds inconvenient, with your mind still alert you can't get a proper rest"

Kotaro who was listening all this time finally moved out of the room. I held his hand all night, which was a little embarrassing when I think about it. Even if he does seem cold I know he would do what I ask. Which was a slight relief, if they are using me as a symbol, I can use them to make that experience as the Kusunoki princess memorable.

"You know you talk in your sleep", Sasuke broke my train of thought.

It was annoying knowing my privacy was not sacred.

"Its incredibly unbelievable that it's prioritized to watch a lady while she sleeps, it is exceedingly annoying, uncomfortable, creepy and downright insulting that even my own private thoughts which are expelled through words are available for you to hear as if it any of your concern", I ranted.

Sasuke started laughing as if it was the best joke he's heard in his life.

"I heard your were sharped tongued, but hearing it is much more adorable", he barely managed to talk because his laughter was so frequent.

"Adorable?"

"Yes, I find your anger and odd traits adorable", he said "The kind of woman I'd want to marry"

I changed the subject, a ninja is not the type of person I'd want to marry. Too many cautions and it would be worrisome.

"How long until we reach Iga?", I got up from the futon.

"If we continue through the night we should probably reach Iga by day break", he said reassuring "You probably want to relax as soon as possible"

"Yes, but most of all I want a long, hot bath", I said tying my hair back into a bun.

I shoo'd Sasuke out of the room and I changed my kimono, the one Kotaro had set out for me the previous night. It had a simple elegance to it, a pale green with many beautiful butterflies on the hem and a pink obi. It looked like a lot of effort went into picking it out.

When I finished dressing I stepped out of the room and Sasuke was eagerly waiting by the door.

"Wow, you look really beautiful", he swept me into a hug.

Dumbfounded, I stood still marvelled at how brash he was. He embraced me, a princess, without warning. I have not been touched by a man, it was supposed to only happen when I am arranged to marry someone of my father's choosing.

"You can't be so casual in touching the princess", Kotaro said hitting him on the head.

"I can when I make her mine", he smiled at me "I'll definitely become someone worth marrying, I promise"

I didn't know what to say, he doesn't know a thing about me but wants to marry me. It was peculiar.

"Anyways, from here how long with it take to reach Iga?", I wanted the comfort of being somewhere safe, it made me feel restless with being on guard all the time.

"From here, at least half a day", he told me and my shoulders sunk.

"Let's get going, I want a proper sleep tonight"

I waved goodbye to Kotaro as Sasuke and I left the tiny house, he bowed so respectfully; it is was a little sad to leave but in a way it was always sad to say goodbye knowing they might die and I could never see them again, even if I didn't know them all that well yet.

The trek into the steep forest was not easy, I had to be very cautious of my footing and had to push myself from giving up due to the exhaustion building up and my legs giving way.

"We can rest here for a little bit", Sasuke sat beside me giving me a flask filled with water.

Thirsty I gulped it down, wanting more as I finished.

"I can't give you anymore, we have to conserve what we have",he explained before I even had the chance to ask, like he read my mind.

"How much further?", my voice cracked, I wasn't used to this, not in the slightest, I had a castle full of servants and now I was looking at the dirt on my hands.

Sasuke took a long pause, even though it had been a few hours he looked ready to take on the world; I always thought he was so young, but seeing his look into the distance changed my opinion that very instant, I could feel a tightness in my chest, Sasuke was no kid, he was a man. Unexpectedly, I was nervous, realizing that from now on I would be protected and surrounded by men, alone with them, like I am with Sasuke now.

"Setsuna…", Sasuke abruptly stood, the wind strongly blowing his hair across his face.

"Y-yes?", my voice shook, these were one of those moments I've read about it books, the start to an intense romance scene.

He placed his hand on my shoulder, and a jolt shot through me, delicately I was laid on the grass, holding my breath I braced myself for what I thought would happen next, I'm not ready for this, I'm a princess I'm-

A shuriken struck the ground beside us, descending from the trees were ninjas, dressed in a dark blue.

Sasuke smirked "The Hachisuka clan"

"Give us the princess and we will let you live!", one of the Hachisuka ninja exclaimed with weapon drawn.

"I already vowed to keep the princess away from Nobunaga, even if it means to die", he also readied his weapon, which were a pair of claws, the fighting began.

"Don't move Setsuna!", Sasuke warned me; even if I wanted to, I was paralyzed with fear.

I lay in the dirt listening to the faint sound of clashing steel that was steadily being drowned out by the sound of my pounding heart. Everything became so real, this was the real threat, being attacked and possibly dying, everything was a gamble.

"Damnit. He's too strong", a voice struggled.

"We have to pull back", another called out.

"No, we have to succeed, give them everything we've got", this time a feminine voice calmed the masses.

Sasuke quickly scooped me off the ground, a couple a bodies lay there, unmoving..dead.

"Hold onto me", he instructed.

He carried me on this back and vaulted into the trees, intricately hopping from one branch to the next with incredible, unbelievable speed, despite his size and the fact he was carrying me. He had to kill some of them to keep me safe, I knew it would happen but I didn't think I'd feel so sad about people dying because of me, and I was glad Sasuke was safe. He was silent, I was silent, whats was I supposed to say, my clean kimono was dirtied yet again, I'm a princess, I would be upset but now didn't see like the best time to complain, so we both stayed silent. It continued for quite a while until he stopped on a branch and pointed to the distance.

"You see that, it's Iga", I could tell he was smiling while telling me this "We've almost made it".