Pretty fast for me lately but I might be late again with an update. Schoolwork and my other stories are keeping me busy. Hopefully this will remind you guys to share some love and review my story.

Thanks again to Somniyo who keeps up with this story.

Spoilers for SW3 by the way. YukimuraxKunoichi, KunoichixKai friendship not lovey dovey though so dont expect too much

Disclaimer- not mine.

Walk Besides Me

"Have you told him how you feel yet?" Kai asked Kunoichi.

"Who?" Kunoichi asked confused.

"Yukimura of course," Kai said.

"Feel?" Kunoichi asked.

"You can't be serious. God, you two are so bloody dense," Kai slapped her forehead.

"I'm a ninja. I don't have any feelings towards to Yukimura," Kunoichi huffed.

"Oh yeah? Wanna bet?" Kai smirked as she lumbered over to Yukimura and gripped his hand.

"Lady Kai. Always a pleasure to see you," Yukimura smiled.

"Same with you my lord," Kai smiled flirtatiously.

"Was there something you need my lady?" Yukimura drew back from her clasp.

"I just wanted to talk with you. It's good to let go once in a while you know," Kai placed her hands at her sides.

"I suppose so," Yukimura smiled warmly and put down the spear he was swinging around.

"Now then, how would you like to have din-," Kai began but she paused. She suddenly felt a tremendous bloodlust directed at her. She looked around and grinned to herself when she realized it was coming from Kunoichi.

"You were saying?" Yukimura asked her.

"Oh nothing. Just don't forget to eat dinner later alright?" Kai patted him on the back and ran to Kunoichi.

"Women," Yukimura mumbled to himself as he started training again.

"Jealous?" Kai smirked.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Kunoichi said as she walked away. There was an unmistakable edge to her voice though.

"Why is everyone I know so darn stubborn?" Kai sighed to herself as she followed her troubled friend.

Later that night, hours after everyone else has gone to sleep, Kunoichi found she could not sleep. What Kai said really got to her. Could she really be in love with her lord? Not wanting to think too into it, she walked out to the woods, trying to clear her head. By the lake she saw Yukimura training.

"Worried about him?" Kai's voice startled her from behind.

Kunoichi yelped and turned to her friend, "What are you doing here?"

"Well let's see. I saw you walking towards a lake in the dead of night clearly frustrated or worried. I could've gone back to sleep but if you died on me then I'll feel really bad. So here I am, in the cold and dead of night, finding you stalking Yukimura," Kai rambled, clearly a bit groggy and snappy.

Kunoichi couldn't catch half of what she said. She too was tired. So she just said, "I wasn't stalking him."

Kai snorted and yawned, "Whatever. He's a mess isn't he?"

"What do you mean?" Kunoichi asked.

"He scares me honestly. He has… dead eyes," Kai answered.

"He's just worried about the coming battles. Ieyasu is a tough opponent you know," Kunoichi said defensively.

"Don't be so defensive. You know I'm telling the truth," Kai yawned and went back to her tent.

Kunoichi remained there and watched her lord. His movements seemed like a dance to her, sad and alluring. She kept watching the dance unfold until she began to nod off. In the morning she was shaken awake. When she opened her eyes and grumbled five more minutes, he heard a laugh.

"Kunoichi, the troops are moving out soon. You should go wash up and have breakfast," Yukimura chuckled.

Kunoichi felt her cheeks go red and quickly excused herself. She ran around the camp and found Kai. She angrily stomped over to her.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" Kunoichi snapped.

"Whoa. Did you wash up yet?" Kai pinched her nose.

Kunoichi blushed and covered her mouth, "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"I told Yukimura to," Kai shrugged.

"He saw me snoring like a pig," Kunoichi snapped.

"He heard you anyways," Kai shrugged.

"You," Kunoichi made a strangling gesture.

Kai laughed and waved her away to wash up.

Weeks later, it became apparent Ieyasu would rule the land. Yukimura seemed like he was in a deeper depression than ever before. They were all here at Osaka castle ready for their last stand. It was also here, Kunoichi confirmed her own feelings and what she wanted to do.

"When did I start liking him?" Kunoichi wondered.

"Hey. So when did you start liking him?" Kai asked out of the blue interrupting her thoughts.

"Huh?" Kunoichi asked.

"You have that 'when did I start liking him' look on your face, " Kai explained.

"There's a look like that?" Kunoichi asked.

"There is now," Kai smiled, "Now tell me."

"Well, I met him when I was two. I thought he had a cute goofy grin. Then we grew up together and I guess I started liking him more and more," Kunoichi thought back.

"Let me get this straight. You liked him since you were kids and you didn't realize until today?" Kai demanded.

"I guess so," Kunoichi laughed uneasily.

"You idiot," Kai smacked her upside the head.

"Ow," Kunoichi rubbed the back of her head where she was hit.

"Are you going to tell him?" Kai asked, "There may not be another chance."

"No. I made up my mind. I will be behind him always," Kunoichi said.

"That's a cop out," Kai pointed out.

"Well, that's that," Kunoichi made a dismissive gesture.

"You're so gutless," Kai sighed.

A while later, they won the final battle. Thanks to Kunoichi, Yukimura lived to see the day the Toyotomi legacy would live on. Kanetsugu rejoined the Toyotomi halfway through the battle at the urge of Keiji and the pull of friendship. Now the last three survivors of the three fools were walking in the open as friends and not allies.

Yukimura stepped back and walked besides Kunoichi, "Thank you Kunoichi. It was thanks to your help we won that battle and why I am still alive."

His voice sounded a little heavy at that. Kunoichi looked up uncertainly and said cautiously, "You're welcome my lord?"

"Haha. I'm kidding. I truly am grateful," Yukimura smiled.

"I am grateful to you as well. Thanks to you I realize what path I must take," Kunoichi hugged her chest.

"Is that so?" Yukimura said as he slowly walked away.

"I will be behind you always," Kunoichi whispered.

Then she ran up to her friends and gave Kai a playful shove. Everyone was captivated by the performance dance by the lady Okuni. As she got closer, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"You could just walk besides me you know," Yukimura whispered to her.

Now she knew her face was glowing.