Chapter 3: Daughter

Nobutada had just returned from a routine perimeter check and went to his lady's tent.

"Lady Sumire?" he called out and entered when the permission was given. He parted the tent flaps and saw her in a black ninja outfit while she braided her long jet black hair. "Is it too impertinent to ask where does my lady wish to go?"

"Ah, Nobutada," Sumire said and smiled as she faced him, "I have been waiting for you. It has been six months and I long to see my father."

"And what about your brother's presence in the castle? Do you have plans on facing him?"

"Maybe," she answered vaguely with an impish little smile gracing her lips. "We shall travel incognito and take the hidden paths to the castle. I do not want to draw attention."

"Very well, my lady," Nobutada conceded and bowed low. "I shall have myself and Eiji ready within a thrice."

Sumire just smiled serenely and continued her dressing.

After three hours of journey, Sumire and her escorts reached the outskirts of the village. They had to enter the castle carefully so that they would not be detected by the guards and report their intrusion to the reigning sovereign of the country. Once inside the castle walls, Sumire hurried to her father's chambers. She felt her father's ki wavering just as she reached to open the door.

"Father," she called out and rushed to Raizen's side. "Father, its me." She tugged at her head dress to reveal the face beneath.

"My little flower," Raizen murmured when he saw her and touched her cheek. "Where have you been hiding, my Sumire?"

"In the forest," she said and she looked at the once strong being that she loved. Tears pricked her eyes as she grasped her father's mortality. "Oh, Father."

Then she heard his stomach growl and saw him wince.

"I've brought food, Father," she said and tokk out the small bento in her make shift sack. "Nobutada hunted and I cooked."

Raizen pushed away the offered sustenance and reached for his daughter instead, holding her close. He stroked her hair so lovingly that Sumire felt the tears that she kept at bay broke free.

"Father, please eat," she bagged Raizen. "I know its not human flesh, but I beg you, please eat. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for me." And pushed the package of morsel to him.

Raizen said nothing and held her closer, breathing in her sweet scent. The sweet scent he always found comforting in lieu of the scent of the woman who gave her this miracle he called daughter. Since that fateful night his twins were born and that same night Nobutada placed an infant Sumire in his arms, he promised to move heaven and earth just for them.

"Have I told you that you look so much like your mother, Sumire?" he asked hoarsely and she nodded silently as she tried feed him. "You have her beauty, her grace and her strength, Sumire. I loved her very much, I still do and I long to be in her arms once more. As much as you are like her, your will is your own. She would be so proud of you if she can see you now, little Sumire."

"I'm not little anymore," she pointed out with a pout. "I'm a lady now, am I not?"

Raizen smiled indulgently and nodded. His Sumire is all grown up and very much a lady. A woman by any man's standard.

A beautiful one at that, Raizen thought to himself ruefully. And intelligent enough to rule the country if she so choose it.

"Yes, I see," he agreed and beckoned her to come closer. "Such beauty you've become. Be wise in choosing oyur mate, daughter, be sure that he will treat you right. I won't be around much longer, my angel. I'm getting weaker with each passing day.

"That's why you need to eat," Sumire coaxed and picked up the bento and chopsticks. "Just a bite or two, then I'll leave you alone. Please." And offered a bite.

"Just a bite," Raizen said and took in the food. And before either of them knew it, he finished the whole meal.

"I need to go now before he comes up," Sumire said when he finished eating and kissed him in the forehead. "I love you."

"I love you, my angel," he said and hugged her tight. "I'll always love you, don't forget that."

"I won't," she choked as tears clogged her throat and quickly hid her face in the head dress. "I'll see you soon."

Yusuke was dodging KItakami and the other's attacks when he felt someone was watching him. He ignored the feeling and continued to punch and kick his way through the onslaught that was his Father's finest warriors. Than all of a sudden, everyone stopped and stepped away. Two kunais were thrown out of nowhere and pierce the earth near his feet. Then, three ninjas appeared and to his amazement and incredulity, Kitakami and the rest kneeled including the two ninjas.

"Who are you?" Yusuke addressed the ninja at the middle. Instead of replying the ninja drew again another pair of kunai and stood in a fighting stance.

"Pick it up, Yusuke," the voice behind the mask said, goading him.

"I don't do weapons," he replied brusquely and raised his clenched fists.

"Mano y mano," the ninja said and nodded with approval. "Very well. Shall we?"

Yusuke tensed up as he and the ninja circled each other, waiting and anticipating who will make the first punch. Then the ninja released his kunais and aimed it at him, Yusuke was taken by surprise and dodged the blades, unfortunately, he wasn't fast enough to avoid the other that grazed his arm. He turned to his opponent and finding none when a kick was delivered to his flank, making him lose his equilibrium.

He straightened and saw his opponent standing before him, looking down at him with lilac eyes and he felt his heart lurch in recognition. He shook his head, noting the impossibility of it, and began his offense. The ninja was good enough, he guessed to deflect the majority of it but he found an opening at the unguarded torso of the ninja and seized the opportunity. The ninja grunted and back flipped away from him.

The ninja bowed to him saying, "It has been an honor, Yusuke," and straightened with her their audience. And in a flurry of movement, they vanished.

Yusuke rounded on Kitakami with a glare, "Aren't you supposed to be protecting me?" he growled at him. "I have been bombarded by a ninja that could've killed me and all you did was kneel! You kneeled as if he was your master!"

"You don't understand, my lord," Kitakami said, giving emphasis on his title. "I owe he-him my respect as well as loyalty. I have served under your father's steward for a long time."

"Tch," he grunted, still annoyed at his right-hand man and left the training grounds. After a few minutes of wandering about, he found himself staring at the closed doors of his father's chambers.

Come in, a familiar voice intruded his thoughts and frowned darkly at the closed doors.

"You know, that's starting to annoy me," he announced as he opened the doors and entered.

"I see you ghave grown stronger these past few months, my son," Raizen said hoarsely.

"Thanks."

"But not strong enough to win against your opponent," Raizen continued.

"Now, why am I not surprised that you know of that?" he asked his father in mild irritation.

"What Kitakami sees and hears, he reports to me," Raizen replied and winced when his stomach went into spasms. Sumire, he thought as he tried to sense his daughter's ki and felt himself weakening just upholding the task.

"What, you still don't trust me?" Yusuke said in mock indignation and heard a growl. He looked at Raizen and saw his pale countenance. "Is your stomach acting up again? Maybe you should take a bite of food to - Hey!" Yusuke exclaimed when Raizen drove him up the wall, strangling him. He tried to loosen his grip but it seemed to anger Raizen more and tightening his hold. When he freed himself from Raizen's grasp when he gave him a small dose of Rei Gun, the onslaught of attack from his father began. Father and son fought valiantly against each other then Raizen used his Rei Gun on Yusuke and the energy ball he released destroyed half the chamber. raizen took this chance to leap at Yusuke and took a bite of his left shoulder. Yusuke howled in pain as the fangs got deeper and tried to fight back as they chashed trough the forest. Raizen's hold on him slackened before finally releasing him, his breating in short gasps.

"Sumire...take care...," he murmured then lost consciousness.

"Oi, Raizen! Wake up!" Yusuke said, concern laced upon the words. He shook him hard when he felt his life force dimming. "Raizen, wake up! Come on, Father! Wake up!"

You do me and your mother proud, Raizen's voice echoed in Yusuke's subconscious. Then the fading warmth of Raizen's ki was no more.

Sumire was running back to her campsite oblivious to all of it whenm she felt it. It was like a warm breeze that touched her heart making her stop at midstride. She turned toward the direction of the castle, with wide eyes that was slowly gathering tears.

"No," she whispered in anguish as the reality of it hit her. "No, Father!" And she started heading back to the castle but Nobutada stopped her.

"It is inevitable, my lady," he said quietly and Sumire stopped her struggles and wept.

"No, Father," Sumire sobbed and held on to Nobutada as she grieved for the loss of her beloved father.

TBC

Thanks for the reviews, it's greatly appreciated…