Guan Yinping paced back and forth in her chamber. She had a week left until she went on her mission and she couldn't figure out what to take with her. If what she was told about the deadlands were true, how should she prepare. Should I bring warm clothes, what if it gets hot? If it rains, should I bring extras? How am I going to take everything, should I pack small then?

It was what she had been thinking about since she started her own preparations. Her thoughts would go from "what should I bring with me?" to "her and Ma Dai will be together for a while." She would continue this circular stream of thoughts before starting back at the beginning, all the while continuing to procrastinate. Because of this, she hasn't been able to make any progress. By the time she circles back around her original thought, if she ever did, it would be time to either eat, train, or sleep. It was like this for several days and she was no closer to finishing.

She continued to pace around until she pulled herself aside. Okay Yinping, just relax for a bit. It'll just come to you. After a small pause, she shook her head. No, you've been relaxing too much. That's why you haven't even done anything. Just think of some kind of solution. She closed her eyes to think of what to do. Her lips began to pucker and she squeezed her eyes. After a few minutes passed, she came up with an idea, "I know! I'll just bring two of everything." It sounded like a good idea, right? If something were to happen to one of her outfits, she would have another one to use just in case.

She started rummaging through her stockpile of clothes, grabbing different types of clothing she felt she needed. Heavy coats, warm leggings, skirts, ribbons and a myriad of other things she grabbed as she organized everything together. She then sorted out her options by separating them into piles so she can get a better idea for what to bring. However, during this process, she realized how much clothes she really had as it was far more than what she was able to carry.

"Mmm, maybe this is a little too much," she said. She curled her hand into a ball and held it up to her mouth. She would spend the next half hour organizing and reorganizing her clothes, ending up with the same unsatisfactory results time and time again. She continued to rummage around until a handmaiden came into her room.

"Lady Yinping, are you in here," the handmaiden asked as she walked in. She looked around and didn't see the lady anywhere. She called out again, "My lady, Lady Yinping?" Her calls went silent until Yinping popped out of one of the piles. She startled the woman as she let out a small yelp. "Oh, my lady! I didn't expect you to pop out like that."

Her reaction made Yinping giggle. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. What do you need?"

The maiden took a second to regain her composure. "Hoh, well. Your father is here to see you."

"Oh, okay. Please send him in."

Yinping got out from the pile and fixed her outfit before her father walked in.

"Hi Papa," she said cheerfully as always.

"Hello, Yinping," he replied. Guan Yu looked around the room seeing the piles of clothes lying around. "I see that you are packing for your mission."

"Yes, Papa. Though I have been running into problems with what to bring with me."

"I see you thought about taking two of each clothing you have."

"Mhm, I have. There's just a lot of it. I mean I can carry all of it but I don't think I can actually take it. I think it might be too heavy for the horse to carry."

Guan Yu scratched his beard, "You have a point. You also have to consider that you are also carrying your mace, which in itself is very heavy, as well as any other supplies."

"Mmm, you're right. I can't pack too much if I don't want to break the horse's back. I think I managed to put on some muscle so I'm a little heavier, too."

Her father simply looked at her. She was exactly the same size as before.

"I forgot to ask, do you need me for anything?" asked before sitting down on one of the piles.

"I just wanted to talk to you about your mission. Do you have any thoughts or concerns you want talk about before you leave?"

Yinping shook her head, "No, not really Papa. If I do have any, I'm sure Ma Dai and the others will be able to help me when I go."

He heard it again. That happy tone when she said his name. Although she always sounded happy, he knew his daughter well when someone catches her attention. It was obvious from his previous conversation with Ma Dai that he cared about her. Perhaps a little more than what the god of war would want to know. But it seems that she too shares the same feeling for him. He wanted to know how much though. While he didn't have any reason to not trust Ma Dai, if there is something between them, he wanted to make sure he was at least the right one for her.

"Well then, that actually leads me to what I want to talk to you about," he continued to stroke his beard as he looked into his daughter's eyes. "How does it feel that Ma Dai personally wanted you for this mission?"

"How does it feel? Mmm," Yinping gets up from her pile of clothes and starts roaming around the room. "Well, it makes me feel great to be honest, Papa. It makes me feel that my abilities are valued and that I'm needed by someone. Especially, since it's him..." She stood still and began playing with her hair. Her mere mention of him filled her with happiness and nervousness. Her chest grew heavy and her cheeks became red. She closed her eyes as she began to think of him. However, she quickly remembered that her father was still in the room and tried to regain her composure. "Oh, I mean, since Lord Ma Dai is a pretty high ranking officer, working for him might help me get some experience." She let out a nervous laugh.

Guan Yu simply continued to stroke his beard. The way she acted when Ma Dai was mentioned gave him all that he needed know. Part of him wanted to be the overprotective father he had always been. Scaring off any men who felt like they had a chance with her. But she was an adult now. She was old enough to be with anyone she fell in love with. It wouldn't be fair to her if he kept every man away from her, even if he did enjoy terrifying them. It was just a matter of if Ma Dai was right for her.

"I see, you don't have anything else you want to say about him?"

"Hmmm, well..." she said before sitting back down on her bed. "He is a great friend to me, but there are times where I get a bit sick when I'm with him. Nnno-not that he annoys me or anything like that, I really enjoy being with him. It's just when I'm with him, my face gets warm and my chest gets heavy. Sometimes, my stomach feels like there's something flying around inside." She became more flustered and her face turned red again. "Oohhh, I'm starting feel that sickness again! I think it's because I'm talking about him!"

Her father couldn't help but laugh at her. He knew exactly what she was talking about. "It's not a sickness, you don't have to worry it."

Yinping was trying to regain her composure, "To be honest Papa, even if it was some kind of sickness, I wouldn't mind having it."

Guan Yu now could see how much Ma Dai truly meant to her. He didn't wish to pursue any further as he noticed the moonlight peering through the window. He hugged his daughter for the night and began to walk out of the room. Before he reached the door, Yinping called out to him and asked, "If something does happen... and me and him become a thing, you won't be too hard on him, right?"

"No need to worry, Yinping. You just worry about your preparations for now."

As her father left the room, Yinping turned back to the piles of clothes. She decided to merge all the piles into one and placed it towards the corner of the room.

"Hmm, I'll get it in the morning."

Kunoichi waited outside of the main gate of Chengdu Palace with her back against the wall. Her hands resting in her pockets as she stared into the sky. She was waiting for Ma Dai who was meeting up with Lady Yue Ying in hopes of getting new equipment. Kunoichi remembered what he said about how the trip to the depot could be dangerous due to the random weather conditions. That didn't really bother her so much but if it meant having a more leisurely trip then that's fine with her. Maybe she could ask Yue Ying for some gadgets that could help her out. Maybe a gadget that throws smoke pellets further than she can. Perhaps one that can turn her invisible without having to hide. She doesn't want to be too unrealistic, but it doesn't mean that she can't dream about it.

She kept thinking of different ideas until she saw Ma Dai coming back. She shouted to him, "Did you find her, big brother?"

He shouted back, "No, she's not here..."

He walked up to Kunoichi before finishing, "Lord Zhuge Liang told me that Lady Ying is at her workshop. No doubt she's probably working on something."

"Well we should probably go see what it is. Do you really think she might have something for us?"

"She is one the brightest minds here and has created many inventions that go beyond my comprehension. Not to mention with Lord Benkei around, the two of them working together can make something incredible."

"I hope so. I'd hate to have to walk all the way over to the depot."

Ma Dai chucked, "No, if anything, you'd probably enjoy sharing a horse with Master Yukimura."

She got flustered, "Wha-pfft! You're one to talk, I bet you would have no problem sharing one with Yinping, either!"

They continued to make playful banter with each other until they made it to the workshop. The loud clanging of metal on metal, banging of wood, and various shouting from different people can be heard coming from the building. The two can hear Yue Ying yelling out orders and various expletives. They walked around to the back where they saw her standing atop of a large contraption. She appeared to be very frustrated as she was yelling at soldiers who were trying to help her.

They heard her yell out, "The armor plating has to be curved so it is more resilient! If it's flat, then it's more penetrable! How many times have I told you this!?"

The soldiers didn't know how to react as they just starred at the inventor. They were about to say something but Ying interrupted with, "Find a way to fix it or start over! Someone's here to see me!"

Ma Dai and Kunoichi chuckled to themselves as she made her way over to them. Ying had smudges on her face and on her arms. Her coat was wrapped around her waist as more dirt appeared to be on it. Her usual black and white gloves were replaced with bigger, more rugged brown gloves.

"Sorry about the noise," Ying said, "turns out working with metal is a lot easier than working with people. Especially when asked them to do something." She took her gloves off before continuing, "So, Lord Ma Dai, little miss ninja, what can I do for you?"

"My lady," Ma Dai replied, "we are making final preparations for our journey and I was wondering if you had anything we could use?"

"Specifically anything of the 'awesome ninja variety,'" Kunoichi chimed with.

The inventor laughed, "C'mon, I'll show you what I have in the shop."

The three walked past the two soldiers who looked puzzled as to what to do with the contraption. It was larger than everyone in the room and looked as long as the room it self. Out of curiosity, Kunoichi asked what it was. "Lady Ying, what is that big thing you're making? Is it another war machine or something like it?"

"Well, it is something like it. But it is unlike anything I've ever created," she responded enthusiastically. "It is part of a massive prototype that, I believe, will help protect us. Just in case if Orochi, Kiyomori, or anything else tries to wipe us out again."

"Wow! How does it work?" Ma Dai asked, "Does it fire something out if someone gets close?"

"No, not at all. Like I said, this is only part of something massive. Besides, you guys are here for something that works, not something that doesn't."

The three kept walking through the warehouse, Ma Dai looked around the room when he noticed something. He saw a large door that was left slightly open. Through the opening, he saw something massive starring right back at him. He couldn't make out what it was, but the large object resembled a head of some sort. He didn't want to be rude so he kept on walking, but whatever Yue Ying was working on truly is something ambitious.

Numerous weapons and gadgets lined the walls of the workshop. Trebuchets that can be carried manually, Japanese firearms designed to work like swords and spears, and element infused weapons. It was an impressive array, perhaps when the mission is over they'll come back to try them out.

Lady Ying went behind her workbench before rummaging underneath it. "Let's see what we have here..."

Kunoichi and Ma Dai stood on the opposite side, both thinking that the bench seems much bigger on the inside than it does on the outside.

"Ah, here's something." She placed what looked like one of Masamune's guns with a small hook coming out of the chamber.

"It's a self launching grappling hook, or shortly a grapple gun. You fire it at a ledge like you would when throwing it. Saves you the trouble from having to throw it, and it goes about as far between 30 to 35 feet. On the side is a button that lets you retract the cable, the only thing left to do is to reload the hook like you would a normal gun and it's ready to use again."

Ma Dai was impressed by the gadget, but he was a little skeptical. "My lady," he said, "I have no doubt that this will be useful to us. But, for some us especially some in particular, can throw a hook further than 35 feet. Why would we want to have this around?"

"I know what I would use it for," Kunoichi said, "Maybe for a quick escape when our heroic efforts are about to be snuffed out. Or when I need to reach the food before Keiji or anyone else eats it all."

"Well, simply getting to and from somewhere isn't the only thing it can do." Yue Ying said. She turned her head to the left, "Shoot at this wall."

Puzzled, Ma Dai complied. He took aim at the wall then pulled the trigger. The crack of the gun nearly blew out his ear. The hook flew from the chamber of the gun and punched through the wall. Ying's face lit up with excitement seeing her creation work flawlessly.

"Great! Push the button to retract the cable."

He complied with her demand. The cable flew itself into round chamber on the side of the gun. The hook dug itself into the back of the wall, stopping the cable.

"Yes!" she exclaimed, "It's working perfectly! You should able to pull down different types of surfaces now. Just as long as its not a hard one."

"Wow," Ma Dai said, "this IS impressive, my lady. How many of these do you have available?"

"Well, not much. I only have five of these created and you're holding one of them."

"Well that's not bad," Kunoichi said, "four for me, one for you, big brother? Hee hee!"

Ma Dai and Yue Ying chuckled at the comment. She grabbed the remaining guns and wrapped them inside a cloth. She handed the wrapped

Ma Dai and Yue Ying chuckled at the comment. She grabbed the remaining guns and wrapped them inside a cloth. She handed it over to the painter before he and the ninja took their leave. The door he saw the giant head was closed now. Someone must have seen him peering through. The two parted ways with Lady Ying as they left the workshop, hearing the inventor resuming her shouting match with the poor soldiers.

"So, are we just about ready for the trip? No extra things you have to work out, not even a special meeting with your love before the journey begins," Kunoichi teased.

"We are ready, and there's certainly no 'special meeting' of any kind, Kunoichi. I can almost say the same thing for you with Master Yukimura."

She paused herself, before nervously yelling, "Oh c'mon! Why do you have to bring him up again?"

"Only because you keep bringing Lady Yinping up!"

Kunoichi calmed down before letting out a sigh, "Sorry, it's just funny to see you reaction. As for Lord Yukimura, he's off doing his own things that are more important. After coming back from recruited Magoichi, he left again without telling me anything. He most likely seeking some guidance from either his brother or Lord Takeda. And if not, then he's most likely training by himself again."

Ma Dai could hear the melancholic tone in her voice. She didn't even looked once at him when she gave her response. "Kunoichi, I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay, I'm used to it. It's just the way things have always been." She gave a smile, one eerily reminiscent to his own. "We should get going," she said before wrapping her arms around the painter. "I'll see you on the day we leave for the depot."

She quickly turned around and started walking fast before Ma Dai yelled out, "Hey, did you just-"

"Sorry, can't hear ya! Later big brother!"

She managed to steal one of the grapple guns before running off, firing it over the wall and vanishing into the other side. He could hear her cheers as she flew in the distance.

"Damn, she really did that to me. Smart girl." He couldn't help but smile after being tricked. Though he couldn't shake off what she said. He had hoped after Orochi was defeated, Yukimura would settle down and Kunoichi would be with him more often. Not just for protecting him in battle, but for the sake of being with him. He hoped that she would actually admit her true feelings for him as well. But you can't take the battle out of the heart of a warrior and his obliviousness towards her continues. She too also feels like she can't fully open up to him as it would go against her everything she's done as a ninja. Even he, someone who is technically centuries older than she is knows more about her than someone she's known for her entire life. A tragic existence, really.

Ma Dai made his way to the stables to check up on his horse, Yuqiang. He saw the horse standing as usual in the center of his stable. Fitting how he usually desires to be the center of attention.

"Hey there, buddy," Ma Dai said, "I have to get you ready. We have a long journey ahead of us in the next few days."

He entered the stable and noticed some apple cores on the ground. Playfully, he picked up the core and began interrogating the horse.

"Yuqiang, was somebody else here today?"

He responded with a mere moan.

"You know that there's three other people who give you green apples. Kunoichi was with me the entire day and Young Master has been gone since earlier this week."

The horse retorted with another annoyed moan.

"Yuqiang, was Lady Yinping here with you?"

His ears flared up and his eyes widened upon the mention of her name.

"She was, wasn't she?"

The horse neighed in excitement, confirming Ma Dai's suspicion. He rubbed his hand across the horse head.

"You know, buddy, I have a feeling that if she cares for you more often then she'll become your new master. Then you'll forget all about me, won't you?"

Yuqiang placed his head over Ma Dai's shoulders and let out a small neigh. The painter returned the favor and gave him a big hug.

"Nah, you and I have been through too much to forget about each other. Though I will say this, buddy."

He placed both of his hand underneath the horses head so he can look him in the eyes.

"If something were to happen to me, you protect as much you would me, got that?"

The horse lifted his head and stomped twice with his hoof.

"That's right, Yuqiang. C'mon, she will be coming with us on our journey so we must do our best to keep her protected. Even though she could probably carry both you and me combined."

Yuqiang looked at him, as if he was demanding something in return.

"And I'll make sure to bring a stockpile of green apples just for you."

The horse let out a cheerful neigh in return.

Note: Big thanks to ayane-88 for letting me use her name for Ma Dai's horse, Yuqiang. It comes from her story, Ink-Painted World. If you haven't read it, please do so, it a great read. Even though she going to see this, give a review and tell her I sent ya.