Chapter 11: Second mission

"Hi everyone!" I enter the meeting room with Saizo and Sasuke.

"Princess! Welcome back." Master Hanzo was in the meeting room with Goemon and Kotaro.

"I can already see it from your face…" Goemon give me a knowing look.

"I can't helped it! It's my first mission!"

"Yes she did it!" Sasuke chimed in.

Saizo reported to Hanzo about how she beat the mountain bandit and rescued the head of Kurohabaki clan's son. Noburo easily comply to our wish. He promises to send the troops and weapon to Iga in a few weeks. They were pleased to hear the good news.

"Well done, princess" Kotaro praised me.

"Thank you Kotaro. How is everything progressing." I asked Goemon.

"To be honest, it's going pretty slow around here."

"I went alone to Shinano to asked for alliance from Togukure clan. I arrived here this morning." Kotaro reported with his usual expressionless face.

"How was it?" I asked Kotaro

"... They don't want to involve themselves with us. It seems they have there own problem at hand, but they wouldn't tell me. I'll try look into it some more."

"Thank you for your hard work Kotaro. You were a big help at training the Iga ninjas the other day too" Kotaro gave him a noded.

"Let me go to Shinano." Everyone looked at me knowing that they will hear this from me eventually. I really want to help them talked to Togukure clan myself after being motivated from my last mission.

"Princess, I'm certain that it won't be easy like Kurohabaki clan. They are not happy people princess." Hanzo tries to change my mind.

"But think about it, if I'll be able to help with their problem, they will reconsider our proposal. There exterior maybe soften if it's me that asked them. If we succeed this, it might persuade other clan to join us as well." I suggested him with reason.

"Don't be so naive. We are still not sure if they will be happy to see you. Even if they know you are a ninja princess." Saizo warned me

"I know it won't be easy, but it is better to try first than doing nothing and regret later."

"There are no helping with your stubbornness sometime princess." Hanzo sigh.

"You should know it by now that I won't take no for an answer." I grinned.

"You have become very cheeky, Izumi" Goemon looked at me with a cheeky grin himself.

"I learnt it from someone around here." I give Goemon a wink.

"Alright,… princess you win. Please go together with Kotaro this time. Find out what is their problem and help them with it."

"It will be done!" I answer confidently.

"But, if anything dangerous happened, Kotaro will bring you right back to Iga!" He said sharply warning me not to be reckless.

"Thank you master Hanzo. I'll be careful. On to another matter, I heard from the little girl I met on the way about villages being attacked. Has Nobunaga made a move?"

"Hah… the news spread fast. Yes you heard it right, it seems the enemy troops burnt down the Enryaku temple, and even killed women and children. They seriously plan to wipe out all of the ninjas." I feel a sense of anger inside my chest. 'How can a man with no moral rule this land? If he become the rural then there will be no future for anyone!'.

"That's right. Stabilize it against your shoulder and keep still." Kotaro is instructing next to me. I have joined the arquebus training with the rest of the ninjas for a few days before our mission. I think I have found the suitable weapon for myself.

Bang!

"Impressive! Nothing but bulls eyes!" said the ninja that trained next to me

"Kotaro is a good teacher". I praised Kotaro. I think I saw his ears tip changed into shades of red.

"...No, princess you have affinity with the arquebus" He clear his throat before replied me.

"I don't remember carrying around arquebus back in my village" I joked earning a laugh from the ninjas that surround me.

"It was so refreshing to have you here with us". said one of the ninjas

"I'm prepared to fight and die for you, princess!"

"No, please fight in order to survive!"

"Princess..."

"We can't afford to lose any of you now. We need everyone strength in order to win this war!"

"That's our princess! I can feel your shout has given us more strength!"

Oh dear, not another rumor... But it seems their morale has heightened like what master Kotaro used to say.

I leave the ninjas to continue their training and walk out from the group with Kotaro.

"Princess, I know it's a little late but I must thank you properly from healing my wound that time." He gave me a deep bow.

"That's ok Kotaro, I'm happy you are alright. Anyway, How is everyone progressing?"

"They are doing better since you are here princess. They even competing each other, to be able to train next to you. Your presence really help them a lot".

"That's good…"

"What's wrong princess?"

"When will you drop the 'princess' Kotaro? We've been through a lot together for a while now. I think it's time you start saying my name and drop the formality".

"...I don't think I can do that, princess" I see his cheek blushed for the first time. A rare sight indeed...

"Why is that?" I pressed him

"If I say your name, I don't think I can stop my…. feeling" He mumbling his reply to me.

"I can't hear you… What did you say?"

"..."

"...Fine, but this is not over alright!" I challenge him with a cheerful voice and leave him to trained the rest of the ninjas.

"Alright... Izumi" he replied her when she is no longer there.

It's the day me and Kotaro depart for our mission to Shinano to asked Togukure clan to join us. We just exited the Iga village gate while waving my hand to the villagers who sent me off with smiles until I can no longer see them. I speak to Kotaro.

"Let's get to know each other better in this journey, alright?"

"Certainly."

"And drop that formality!"

"...I'll try my best"

"Better."

"..."

We made some progress in our journey. I didn't realized that traveling with someone can be this quiet. Kotoro only speaks when it is necessary. I kind of miss my journey with Saizo and Sasuke, but maybe this is also good for a change. I strike up a conversation.

"Kotaro are you hungry?"

"I'm fine. Do you want to take a rest?"

"...we made quite a progress. Maybe we should take a short break"

"Alright, prin-" I gave him a glare before he could finish

"..."

"It's IZ-ZU-MI... It's not hard just say it!"

"Umm, yes...Izumi" I can barely hear him.

"I can't hear you!" I shouted at him.

"Izumi"

"See it's not hard." I gave him a smile

"You certainly are a handful sometime..."

"I heard that!" I see him smile.

We rest by the creek where we took out our supplies and refill our water.

"Hah, the water here is so cool and refreshing. Here have some, Kotaro." I handed him my bamboo tube filled with water. He looked at it but didn't reach for it.

"Umm... you just had that?" He asked me.

"Yes, what's wrong? Come on have a sip."

"..." I just realize maybe he don't like drinking from other container other than his own because of his ninjas habits.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I just realize that you don't normally drink from the container other than yours. Here I'll fill your bamboo tube for you."

"N-No it's not that...I trust you enough to drink from your container." Kotaro seems to be bothered by something.

"Kotaro, don't hide things from me..." I am starting to lost patient.

"It just that your lips touched it already..."

"And?"

"Fine, I'll take just a sip." He awkwardly took the water container. I'm a bit confused but let the matter slided. We share supplies between ourselves.

"Do you have enough Kotaro?"

"I'm fine. I should be the one who look after you"

"Old habits died hard. I'm used to take care of people rather than people take care of me."

"Then let me take care of your safety"

"Deal!" I packed up my belonging ready to depart again.

"Let's go Princess Izumi"

"...That'll do for now." I smile wryly and looked at his expressionless face.

We've come to a stop as we felt we're being followed. Kotaro signal me with his eyes and I nodded to him.

"Show yourself!" I stand ready with master Kotaro

"Too bad you spotted us..." People in ninja suit appeared out of the tree shadow and threw their shuriken at us. Those training I did with Saizo and Sasuke really paid off in this situation. I dodged all the shurikens as they approached us. They attacked us in all direction. Kotaro used his wind to blew them which make them lost their balance. Once their stance falter I throw a smoke bombs at them trying to create a confusion. Everything happened so fast until Kotaro's wind stops and I disguise myself in the smoke. I waited until the only thing I can hear is silent. As the smoke subside they are lying on the floor, dead.

"What are Hachisuka ninjas doing around here? They seems to attacked thinking we are someone else." said Kotaro but I stood there staring at their dead bodies in silent. He seems to understand what it is.

"This is how ninjas are... In order to keep ourselves safe we have to get rid of them"

"I know...I am trying my best to understand too..."

"Princess..."

This is how war is... You either killed or be killed. I know killing is not right but in order to protect what is important to me and my people, I can not avoid it and I may have to do it at some point...

"Let's go Kotaro." I walk forward as he follows me.

As the journey progress, It was unusual for Izumi to be quiet. Kotaro was trying his best to lift up the mood by strike up the conversation himself.

"...Umm, princess you were great just now."

"It's thanks to Saizo and Sasuke I guess..."

"Are you tired? Do you want to rest?"

"No..."

"Are you injured in anyway?"

"No..." The conversation stops there. He was trying his best to think of something to cheer her up. Izumi seems to realize that as well.

"Thanks Kotaro, I'll be alright just give me a moment." She gave him a wry smile.

He only nod to her but the awkwardness in the air has turn into a comfortable silent.

We made a progress to Togukure clan's village in no time. As we approached the village gate Kotaro speaks to me.

"I must warn you beforehand princess. The head of this clan is quite a... difficult guy."

"Thanks, I'll be preparing myself for him. But what is he like with you?"

"He-" before Kotaro could say anything further. The tall man with scars all over his arms step out of the gate. He looks like a strong person with his hand holding on to a spear. His scars told me that he is an experienced fighter. He looks intimidating toward us before saying.

"Well, if it isnt' the Fuma guy again. Didn't I told you last time not to come back here! I'm not interested in joining your army!" I think that's the guy we are talking about...

"Plus, how do I know you are not another one of my enemy"

"Because we come in peace. We are here to asked you to fight against Nobunaga who wants to wipe ninjas away from this land!" I replied him.

He seems to notice me now

"And who is this little girl?"

"Stop being so rude to the princess!" Kotaro's tone sharpened.

"It's alright Kotaro"

"So this is the princess we been hearing the rumor about. I don't believe a thing about it!"

"It's good that you didn't because none of them is true. I do have an ability but not the one you heard from the rumor, I'm sure..." I feeling like I'm dealing with Saizo for some reason.

"You have quite a mouth on you. But we don't have time to waste on greeting your precious little princess."

"You can tell me what's your problem? Maybe, I could help you."

"Bah, I have nothing to tell you little girl! Now scram! Before I asked one of my ninja to escort you out!" Soft approached doesn't work on this guy. He's not a very friendly person, but if I can deal with Saizo then this guys is nothing!

"Please hear me out! I'm sure I would be of use to you if you know me better"

"What are you doing?" Kotaro whisper to me."Trust me on this"

"Know you better? What can you do anyway? I can only see you pour wine and warm my bed for me."

"How dare you!" Kotaro took out his weapon.

"Kotaro! Calm down!" Even if he insulted me, we have to stay calm. I took a deep breath then speak to him again.

"That's not what I'll be doing for you I'm afraid. I must ask you, do you know of the ability to heal? That's is my clan specialty." I hope this gamble will works.

"Now that's does sound interesting"

"So, are you interested?"

"Nope!" This guy is so difficult to deal with, but I won't give up!

"I guess you refuse because you didn't see the ability yet. Let me show you."

"No princess! It's not a good idea to show this ability to the person we don't trust yet!"

"Trust me Kotaro, Now I need a volunteer who is not afraid of getting hurt."

"Try it on me." The guy with a bad attitude approached me

"Don't worry it won't leave any scar" It's a funny thing to say to a guy who already has so many scars on his arms. I slit a small cut on his arm and the faint glow from my hand heals the cut in no time.

"Woah! This is amazing!" He looked at his arm in amazed

"See I told you!"

"Maybe you could help us... Come with me." He grabbed my hand and drag me inside the village gate. Kotaro grab the man's hand to make him let go off me.

"Please handle the princess accordingly"

"Don't be a stuck up around here. You won't survive if you're like that."

I can feel tension in the air between these two. I decided to interrupt them by introducing myself to the man.

"I don't know your name yet. I guess you know this is Kotaro Fuma and I'm Izumi Kusunoki."

"I'm Masaru, we don't have much time let's hurry!" His attitude seems to changed into a serious one.

As we entered the gate, I have a bad feeling once I see the burnt remains of what used to be huts in the village. Many men are busy rebuilding a house and cleaning out all the debris away.

"You must have been attacked by someone..." I voice out my though.

"I see you understand why we don't want any outsider here"

"What happened?" I asked him.

"It's that bastard Hachisuka clan. I want to wipe them all off the face of the earth myself! They did this to my people! This is the problem between me and them so don't you dare interfere."

I understand why he is angry once I enter the large room he leads me too. The rooms is filled with wounded people not only the fully grown man who seems to be injured from fighting but also women, children and elder as well.

"This is horrible..."

"I know right. Your job here is to heal as much people as you can." I do understand him now. I would feel very angry if something were to happen to my village or Iga.

"...I see what I can do."

"Don't dissapoint me. Or maybe I should have you warm my bed instead."

"No thank you! Kotaro please lend me a hand"

"...Ofcourse" Kotaro still eye Masaru suspiciously.

"We have no time let's get to work!" I raised my voice before Masaru left us to our work.

Sorry for the delay everyone. I hope this chapter is worth waiting for. Izumi really like to bully Kotaro. He is so adorable when he didn't know what to do with his princess.

I got another review,follows and favorite! Thank you so much for your support!

It seems there are a lot of Musashi fans around here. I'm sorry to disappointed you but he will still appear in the story so please stick with me until the end. - Love Momamommam