Title: From the Inside...
Author: Reine Katashka
Fandom: Batoru Biidaman
Characters/Pairing: Tsubame, Enju, Neo-Shadow Members
Word Count: 1410 words
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Batoru Biidaman, because if I did, everyone would be yaoi-fied by now.
Author's Notes: This story was generated when I thought about what would happen if Tsubame joined the Neo Shadow Alliance.

Tsubame broke away from Enju the minute they left Yamato and the gang's sight, glaring at him in annoyance. Enju just huffed and crossed his arms in front of him defiantly, his eyes telling him to deal with the events.

"Why'd you go and do that? Now they'll think you're even worse than you really are!" Tsubame cried out, as if daring Enju to answer him. Enju's eyes narrowed at him and a frown made its way to his lips.

"You don't get it, do you?" Enju bit out, startling Tsubame a bit, who looked at him warily because of his answer.

"The idea was to make you look innocent so that they won't suspect you of helping me. If I hadn't made you pretend to be kidnapped, do you think that the others will trust you?" Tsubame promptly shut up as he realized that Enju was right, before looking away and muttering under his breath.

"Still, now you look even worse to them than before…"

"That's the plan."

Tsubame blinked and looked at Enju in bewilderment, his eyes questioning him in confusion. Enju smirked at this and uncrossed his arms, lifting a hand up and moving it in a motion of explanation.

"Look, here's the plan…"

---

"You're telling me that Tsubame is acting like their ally, when he's actually ours?" Cain said dubiously, raising one eyebrow to show that he didn't buy what they said. Tsubame just hid in the background while Enju explained the situation, making sure to hide his eyes behind his bangs so that he couldn't show them how much he disliked the situation.

"Exactly. Since Tomato and his band of dorks think that the little birdie here was kidnapped, it'll be easier to crush their spirits when they find out their own ally betrayed them and played them for fools." Enju said snidely, a bit of malice forming on his face so as not to betray his plan. Joshua watched them silently from behind Cain, eyeing Tsubame carefully as if studying him. Marda B seemed pleased with the idea as his eye gleefully watched the two discuss Enju's plan, whilst Bierce just watched them critically from his spot next to Cain.

"I don't believe it! This brat is more loyal to Yamato than the rest of the weaklings, how can we be certain he's trustworthy?" Cain said flippantly, but he knew it would have the desired effect. Enju's eyes narrowed dangerously, as if to show irritation at Cain for doubting his plans. In truth, he was cursing himself for forgetting that one fact, since it had just put him in a tight spot.

Tsubame was a ninja, which meant that he would stay loyal to those who he has given his loyalty. Obviously that was Yamato and Armada, his friend and his mentor. Before Enju could think up a reply though, Tsubame had taken initiative and walked up to Cain, eyeing him critically and sternly.

"You know, lad, if I was as loyal to Yamato and the others as you say I am, why would I have left in the first place?" Tsubame asked quietly, but it was enough to take Cain aback. Enju silently thanked Tsubame for his quick thinking, while Joshua and Bierce continued to watch this exchanged from the sides. Cain stared at Tsubame for a short while longer, before he let out a laugh. Tsubame blinked at him while Enju glared, both of them wondering what was wrong with the Knight.

"Oh, you caught me by surprise, kid. I'm impressed." Cain leered, and Tsubame's eyes narrowed as he took a hesitant step back. Joshua made a motion to stop Cain, but the younger lad ignored him and continued to scare Tsubame.

"I've got an idea. Why don't we just put him under mind control so we can be sure of his loyalty?" Cain said, pulling away quickly from Tsubame, who was glaring at him for entering his personal space. Enju hissed at Cain's suggestion, watching Marda B and the rest for their opinions. Marda B's eye flashed with glee, whilst Bierce and Joshua had indifferent looks in their eyes.

"But…" Enju started, only to be cut off by Tsubame.

"I wouldn't mind that, lad." He said, ignoring the bewildered look on Enju's face and the triumphant one on Cain's. Before anyone could say anything though, he quickly continued his statement.

"However, do you think you'll be able to do as much damage to Yamato if you do that?"

"What do you mean?"

"If I was mind-controlled, lad, they'll think you forced me to take your side. That'll only strengthen their resolve in defeating you. However, if I was still conscious of what I do, I can just crush their spirits because they'll find out I betrayed them on my own free will."

Enju blinked at Tsubame, knowing that they had not talked about that. Seeing the determined look on Tsubame's face though, he felt proud that he had picked the right person. Despite all of his flunks, Tsubame knew what made Yamato tick, and for once he was able to use it to his advantage. Of course, he knew it was still a mask, which worried him seeing as Tsubame was a ten-year-old. It was hard to tell whether this was just an act or real sometimes.

All of them stared at the young ninja for a while, before Bierce took over and accepted Tsubame into the Neo-Shadow Alliance.

"However, you'll have to stay in here first until we can determine whether we could trust you or not."

It was an order, and Tsubame had quickly listened and never left the room he was provided with. The minute he was sure that no one was around anymore, he let out a huge sigh of relief and plopped down on the bed provided for him. He rolled over onto his stomach and buried his face into the pillow, trying to relax as much as he could. He was already within enemy territory, he knew, and it scared him how easy it was for him to lie to them. He frowned at the thought of how his parents would react to him, before he closed his eyes and tried to forget everything.

It was disadvantageous for him not to be able to talk to Enju anymore, as they had said it was just precaution in case Tsubame could not be trusted. He wondered briefly if they had just said that just to rile him up, or if it was because they knew of their plan. He hoped it was the former; it would make his mission much easier.

A knock on the door startled him, and he quickly sat up as the door opened slowly. He blinked in surprise as he realized it was Joshua, carrying a small silver platter with a tea set on it. He closed the door behind him and approached Tsubame, setting the platter on the table next to his bed.

"Would you like some tea, Tsubame?" he asked in his usual monotone, and Tsubame shook his head hesitantly, afraid that the drink might have been drugged. Joshua did not take any offence at this and just nodded.

"Would you mind if I kept you company, then?" Again, Tsubame shook his head, afraid that if he spoke he would be found out. Joshua took a seat next to him on the bed, before glancing at him from the corner of his eyes.

"Do you really think you fooled everyone with that mask of yours?" he asked suddenly, startling Tsubame, who turned to him in wonder. Joshua said nothing afterwards, just looked at him intensely.

"What?"

"I know you're lying through your teeth, Tsubame. You can't fool me." He said a bit harshly, making Tsubame wince slightly at his words. The young ninja turned away from Joshua in an attempt to hide his expression, his heart hammering wildly in his chest in fear. It was way too soon to be caught, and he knew it'll all go downhill if the Alliance found out the truth.

"What makes you say that, Joshua?" he asked quietly, frantically searching his mind for any type of reason or excuse he could use to fool the butler. Before he could come up with anything though, Joshua had moved from his position and knelt in front of him, keeping his eyes trained on the blue-haired boy sternly.

"Because, my friend, I'm wearing that mask too."