Some spoilers to manga #9 and #10.

I contemplated on changing the way I wrote this chapter a couple of times, but I finally decided to hell with it. This is as good as it's going to get, it only gets worse every time I try to rewrite it. (sigh)

Honor and Loyalty
Chapter 3: Wounds

Saizo brushed his hands over the bare skin of his lords' back, his eyes trailing over the deep cuts that Basara's arrows had created. His teeth clenched in anger as he moved to pick up the bandages beside him.

He had been only minutes too late to help in the situation and had found Yukimura's group walking through the last of the forest of Aokigahara to a safe haven lead by Nobuyuki-sama.

They had been unable to get Demon Eyes Kyos' body back thanks to Akira and Nobunaga Oda's head had come up missing, of all things.

Yuya-san was busy tending to Demon Eyes Kyo and Okuni-san. Sasuke had gone off to tend to himself against Saizo's wishes and Benitora-san was making it his duty to pestered Yuya-san everywhere she went.

So that left Saizo to tend to Yukimura-sama's wounds, but it angered him to no end seeing his lord injured. He should have left sooner, he should have insisted on coming along.

Saizo was literally shaking in anger and if Yukimura noticed the way the bandages shook in his hands then he most certainly didn't comment.

The two sat at the edge of the forest near the town, Yukimura sitting with his back to Saizo waiting patiently as Saizo inspected his wounds and bandaged them.

"You got bored with waiting around for me?" Yukimura joked softly.

"It was over a week and we didn't hear from you," Saizo replied even as Yukimura chuckled.

"One week..." he commented shaking his head as he smirked.

"You could have at least written a report for us," Saizo insisted frowning at his lords' back.

"This one week was just a little too hectic for me to write out the reports," was the reply.

Saizo sighed as he gave up and wrapped the white bandage around Yukimura's upper arm where a rather deep cut was present against the fair skin.

Yukimura just barely winced and Saizo looked up studying his lord's expression, but as always the face gave no hints of pain or anything. His lord just simply smiled as if nothing was bothering him, nothing at all.

"Am I hurting you?" Saizo asked as he slowly ordered his hands to stop shaking.

"Nope. You were always good when it came to treating wounds. Ever thought of becoming a nurse?" Yukimura joked.

Saizo couldn't help but snort before moving on to the next wound. " If you didn't get hurt so often than I wouldn't be so skilled in dressing wounds, Yukimura-sama."

The two were silent and Saizo slowly but surely bandaged each of the wounds. He marveled at the pale skin beneath his hands and glared daggers at the red scratches that marred it in places.

If he could, he would revive Basara again just to beat the crap out of him for marring such beauty.

"Hey, Saizo? What ya doin?"

Saizo jerked back quickly pulling his hands away. He had gotten so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed that he had finished bandaging the wounds. His hands had lingered a little too long.

"Uh... I was checking to make sure that you didn't have any more wounds," Saizo replied quickly.

"Mmm-hmm," Yukimura pulled up the light jacket he had kept in his lap and wrapped it around his shoulders, not bothering with the arms.

Saizo sighed as he realized that he was finished and began picking up the remaining bandages, piling them together.

He was startled a moment later however when Yukimura fell back to rest against his chest, his head nestled just beneath Saizos' chin.

Saizo sat there feeling a blush come over his cheeks, while his lord pulled at the pile of bandages and examined them; seemingly ignoring the situation he had put his servant in, entirely.

"You always have plenty of these on hand," Yukimura commented turning the simple cloth over in his hands.

Saizo was still busy trying to find his voice in the uncomfortable situation and so just simply nodded. He shifted slightly so that he was resting against one of the forest trees and rested his hands on the ground beside him.

"How are the others doing?" Yukimura asked.

Saizo shrugged carefully. "Fine."

Yukimura remained silent for a time and placed the bandage he had been holding back on the pile.

"Sasuke ran into an old friend from Aokigahara," Yukimura remarked absently.

"Your worried about him?" Saizo wondered aloud.

"Nah. He's strong enough he can take care of himself," Yukimura replied waving his hand in the air in front of him. "I believe the name of his friend was Kotaro or something along that line."

Saizo nodded his understanding.

He knew just from the fact that Yukimura was mentioning this that he was at least a little bit worried for Sasuke. Saizo almost felt jealous of the younger boy at that moment.

"I know you can take care of yourself too," Yukimura continued. "I never did thank you that time, did I?"

Yukimura moved to take one of Saizos' hands and traced over the palm where only days ago the last of the scratch from Nobuyuki-sama's sword had cleared up.

Saizo shook his head quickly, pulling his hand back. "I was only doing my duty. I will always serve and protect you, Yukimura-sama."

"Always? You promise?" Yukimura asked looking up at him with a devious smirk.

"Of course," Saizo replied without thinking twice.

Yukimura laughed softly as he pushed himself away from Saizo and stood up, picking up his sword that had been resting beside him at the same time. "Alright, I believe you."

Saizo sat up wondering if Yukimura-sama actually did believe him and finished gathering the bandages as his lord walked a few steps away to look at the forest with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"I plan on following Kyo for a while longer," Yukimura commented, " You can come along if you want, Saizo, but I don't want you to interfere."

"But-," Saizo began.

"No buts," Yukimura said looking back with one of his rare serious expressions. Saizo hesitated for a moment his mouth still hanging open to argue.

"...As you wish, Yukimura-sama," he said at last, bowing his head. He knew that arguing wasn't going to get him anywhere. Yukimura had already made up his mind.

"Why don't you watch the area and make sure nothing attacks us while we recover from Aokigahara," Yukimura ordered.

"Hai."

Yukimura smiled before waving at Saizo and leaving the forest to head back towards town.

Saizo watched him leave his brows furrowing in wonder before he jumped up to the tree above him looking out towards the town.

He watched as Sasuke waited for Yukimura at the entrance, frowning impatiently. At the same moment Benitora appeared out of the alley of one of the buildings to pester the young Juyushi.

Saizo smiled at the strangely humorous scene. Perhaps he could understand why his lord felt so comfortable among these people. He sighed softly before sitting down on the branch of the tree he was on and watching the entrance to the town, keeping his word as he guarded the city.

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I'm trying to think of a new summary for this fanfic. Anyone have any ideas?