Samurai Warriors: The Crimson Sun and the Celestial Moon
Chapter Five: Dirty Tricks of the Trade, Not!
The skies grew darker, and the moon wasn't anywhere in sight. "It's about to rain," said Kunoichi. As she rode her horse, she reached for her ponytail. "I should change to my original clothes before the Sanada think I'm an intruder," Kunoichi thought to herself. She stopped near a few trees and changed to usual clothes. She rubbed her eyes and yawned. It was the middle of night but she could stop now. "Can't rest now, gotta hurry up and get to Ueda," she said. She mounted on her horse and left.
In the meantime, Yukimura arrived at his home Ueda Castle. "Yukimura, like I notified, there have been intruders coming in and out of our castle," said Masayuki Sanada, Yukimura's father, "but nothing has been stolen, and no deaths have been reported." Yukimura looked puzzled. "Father, you have no information on these intruders?" he asked. Masayuki shook his head. Yukimura headed up the stairs to his old room.
After two days of traveling, Kunoichi arrived at Ueda Castle. It was late at night yet she saw no guards at the front gates. "Where is everybody?" she said. She yawned and rubbed her eyes. Her faced looked very tired because she was practically awake for three days straight. She couldn't get enough sleep knowing something might be happening to the Sanada. She dismounted off her horse and walked in the front door. There was no one in sight; this made Kunoichi really worried. "Okay...this is really freaky..." she said. She proceeded up the stairs and heard the sound of shattering glass. "Who's there?" she said looking at a broken window. "Someone's here..." she thought to herself. Something appeared from the corner and tried to strike Kunoichi. "Yeah, real mature," she said as she blocked the attack. "The Iga Clan's ninja," she said, "I should have known someone like Hanzo was in this." She knew her abilities were far better than the Iga Clan's ninja. "Stop wasting my time," she said and killed to the ninja and continued up the stairs.
"So Hanzo thinks he got me beat, huh?" she said as she ascended the stairs, "I'll show him what ninjitsu is all about!" She evaded the traps and took down the ninjas that stood in her way. Kunoichi finally reached the last floor and heard some voices. "Looking for me?" said a familiar voice. She recognize that voice, it was Yukimura. She snuck up to the door and peeked in and saw Yukimura facing at Hanzo. She jumped in the room and joined up with Yukimura. "Two against one, you're done for Hanzo," said Kunoichi. "Kunoichi? What are you doing here?!" said Yukimura. "Talk later Lord Yukimura, we got some business to take care of," she said and headed straight for Hanzo. Kunoichi was able to get one hit off of Hanzo. She made a light cut on his right arm that tore the clothing. "The shadows will consume you..." said Hanzo as he made copies of himself. "Stupid illusions," said Kunoichi, "let's get 'em Lord Yukimura!" The duo seemed to be very occupied with the ninja's illusions. "We need to take down the real Hanzo," said Yukimura. He remembered the cut that Kunoichi made on Hanzo's arm. He looked around quickly to find the Hanzo with the injured right arm. "There," he said to himself. Hanzo was fighting with Kunoichi. He ran toward Hanzo and slashed him across the back. Hanzo leaped a few feet away from the battle and was on his knees. "Wanna finished this?" said Kunoichi, "you're a disgrace. First you try to murder Lord Shingen at Mikatagahara and now you try to lure Lord Yukimura out and finished him, huh? Invading Ueda, knowing he would come out and help his father. We saw through you dirty plans, can't we ever have a decent fight? Is that really too much to ask for?!" Hanzo closed his eyes and stood up. "Till next time we meet in battlefield, you may have your fight," said Hanzo and he disappeared through the night. Yukimura sighed. "Well?" he said looking at Kunoichi. She sighed too. "You wanna know what's been going on, huh?" she asked Yukimura, "first...lets eat!"
It was cloudy night and it was beginning to rain. Yukimura and Kunoichi headed inside the castle and sat in Yukimura's old room. Kunoichi sat on the floor and told Yukimura about the Gifu Infiltration. "I wonder why Lord Shingen didn't want to tell you...I guess not right away," said Kunoichi as she scratched her head. "It is possible the Lord wants an alliance with the Uesugi. That explains why he wanted us to let him go in Kawanakajima," said Yukimura. "Why didn't you-" "I'm sorry Lord Yukimura, but your ninja would have to stay in your room tonight. There's currently no more room due to the storm and a chance of flooding." Kunoichi was interrupted by a Sanada messenger. "Thank you," said Yukimura to the messenger. "Man, now I'm stuck with you?" complained Kunoichi. "Well, I haven't slept in a comfortable bed in a long time," she giggled as she hugged the fluffy bed. "Why do you think Hanzo meant by 'next time we meet in battlefield, you may have your fight'?" asked Yukimura. "What do you think it means? Next we meet we fight!" said Kunoichi. "Yes, but doesn't that make you think?" he said putting his hand under his chin. "Everything will turn out fine, you see. I know you're not worrying about losing are you? Heh, well duh, of course we're gunna win," she giggled. Yukimura didn't say anything. Once again those words echoed in his head, "Everything will turn out fine, you'll see!"
A few hours have past and Yukimura was sitting against the wall reading some sort of book. Kunoichi walked in the room rubbing her eyes. She stood next Yukimura and sat down, "Whatcha reading Lord Yukimura?" The rain began to pour harder. "Nothing, just looking at my old memories," he said. She started yawn uncontrollably. Yukimura looked at her and suggested, "Shouldn't you go to sleep? You looked like you haven't rested for a few days." She yawned, "Like I said before, it's my duty to stay awake till you go to sleep. So if you don't sleep, I don't sleep, simple as that." He sighed, "Do as you like." She leaned against the wall and rubbed her eyes. A few minutes past and Yukimura put his book to the side. "I should just go to bed, she needs her rest," Yukimura thought to himself. As soon as he was about to say something to her, he felt something fall on his lap. Kunoichi's head fell onto his lap and she began to snooze. "She was too tired to stay up any longer," thought Yukimura. Since Kunoichi was resting on his lap, Yukimura couldn't get up. He didn't want to disturb her since she had not slept well in days. He leaned his back against the wall. "So much for a comfortable bed," he said as he closed his eyes and went to sleep.
CyNdAi'S NoTeS: I bet all of you kind of jumped out of your seats when the messenger told Kunoichi she had to stay in Yukimura's room. Hey, its PG-13, nothing stupid is going to happen! Duh! LoL. This chapter was short but wait till you see the next, the romance is only beginning!