"Why are you blushing?" Saizo asks, "It was just a joke. Don't take everything so seriously. Idiot."
But before I can yell at him, the paper door slides open again with a knock.
"Princess," Hanzo greets me with a smile. His eyes glance over to Saizo, now sitting politely in what was once my original futon, before he bows lightly to me, continuing saying, "Good morning. I see you have slept well. Saizo, thank you for protecting the Princess for yesterday, and I apologize for my absence for most of the day. Kotaro will take over now," he watches as Saizo stands and helps me up, "Now, please, Princess Abigail, the workers of the temple have prepared breakfast. You have another long day of training ahead of you."
Hanzo steps aside to let me through the doorway, and then follows behind, talking quietly to Saizo. Knowing that I'll be caught if I try to eavesdrop (if I even succeed at it), I begin to walk faster, looking back once at Saizo before turning the corner and heading downstairs to begin the new day.
Chapter 3: Kotaro Fuma
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...
Cough.
...
"So..." I begin awkwardly, "H-How is the weapon procurement coming?"
"Well," replies Kotaro.
"That's...nice."
...
...
...
"Your kimono is really nice, Kotaro. Though you look much less ninja-y in it."
"That's the point."
...
...
"It's been kind of cold at night. I hope the Spring warms it up soon."
"Yes."
...
...
...
Kotaro has an uncanny ability to stop all conversation.
Since the switch-off at breakfast, everything has been much less lively than it ever was with Saizo or Goemon, or ever will be with Sasuke, I'm sure. I've had to follow Kotaro to the main hall, where he's been looking through various parchments and letters for the last hour.
Oh, wait. It's only been a few minutes.
Hmm...I wonder what the others are doing now? Have their jobs changed since Hanzo first assigned them each a duty? We're all supposed to have a meeting at some point later today about what everyone–especially the "captain of information-seeking", Goemon–has found out about what Nobunaga and Nobukatsu Oda are up to.
This is all so confusing...I know nothing of war and tactics. I probably should learn, though, since I'm now the Ninja Princess. I still don't understand how Nobunaga found out about the ninja's grand, official meeting in Iga. And why would he go to so much trouble, rallying all of his troops, in order to invade Iga like this? What's he going to do when he sees that there's no one there after all? Saizo had given a basic description of what he thought was going to happen...I suppose he knows what he's talking about, but if Nobunaga is capable of outsmarting the ninja...
Then again, we've possibly outsmarted him by finding out his plans and avoiding Iga, all together. I hope that Hanzo and Goemon are handling this okay...Goemon would've gone out on a limb with the unpredictable if I hadn't calmed him down on the first day. And yet, Sasuke is so disappointed...I hope this is all for the best. It's so confusing and mind-boggling being with a different ninja every day...they're all so different from each other, but one thing that they all have in common is that they are all incredibly hard to read. That's all a part of being a ninja, I suppose.
"Princess, I am done. Let's head out to the storage sheds, now."
But Kotaro might just be the hardest to read. He's so much older than me and so quiet...I never can tell what he's thinking...
As I follow Kotaro outside the temple, heading to the small sheds originally designed for storing garden tools and animal food (they're now holding the many guns and blades that Kotaro has acquired by...whatever means he is using), I decide to try to get him to open up.
Pulling on his kimono sleeve to get his attention as we walk, I say, "You know...you don't have to be so polite."
He walks a bit faster, releasing himself from my grip, as he says, "It's how I am."
Sigh...I jog a little bit in order to catch up to him. He seems so distant and cold to me...does he not like me? I understand that I may be a bit obnoxious and shy, but still...for some reason, wondering whether he hates me or not is rather...painful? I'm not sure how to describe this strange, insecure, feeling. Maybe I've just been spoiled by being liked by all the other ninjas (minus a half point for Saizo...he's so mean to me...but then again...)
"Abigail," Kotaro pulls me out of my thoughts once we'd reached the several small sheds.
I look up at him, immediately changing my expression from whatever conflicted one it was to a neutral, expressionless one. Just like the one Kotaro wears all the time. He continues, "You're the ninja princess."
I have to refrain from rolling my eyes, "I know...I am aware of my position."
"You are a good princess."
My eyes slightly widen at that, watching him as he opens the shed door and steps inside. I follow him closely, having to be at a close distance due to the tight space. Guns in this shed.
Looking around while simultaneously moving out of the way of Kotaro so that he doesn't trip over me, I ask him, "So all of these guns are from Fuma?"
"Yes," he replies, taking count on the inventory, "Fuma ninja are the best marksmen, and so they make the best guns."
Not an ounce of arrogance in his voice; quite the opposite of Goemon.
"You must be an excellent gunsman as well," I compliment assumptively.
Kotaro doesn't respond, of course, and the air around us remains silent until he's finished his counting and is gently (awkwardly) ushering me back outside. I swear I can hear my ears buzzing when I'm around him...
"Princess, please stay outside while I count the inventory of these last two sheds. They contain bladed weapons. You could get hurt."
I give a quiet laugh, "Kotaro, you sure worry a lot!"
He stares at me, "Of course I worry. You are the Ninja Princess."
I sigh again, deciding to sit down on the grass and enjoy the smell of the wind, "I suppose that's true, right? It is kind of your job to worry about me, right?"
He remains unresponsive; taking a moment longer, staring at the ground around me, before he heads inside the second shed. He's right; there are a lot of weapons in there; I can see that from the angle I'm at from outside the shack.
Breathing in deeply, I lean back until I'm laying upon the ground, the soft grass tickling the exposed skin around my ears and neck. I laugh softly, content, as I stare up into the sky.
Even though Kotaro is awkward and quiet, he's so much calmer than the others, too. Whether he actually be a worrywart or not. I doubt he wastes his time worrying about useless things.
And so what does that make me?
"Abigail!" I hear my name called again, although this time it's far away from the shed. Turning my head, I see one of the female workers of the temple running towards me.
Hurriedly, I stand up. "What's wrong?" I ask.
She grabs my hands as she speaks, almost on the brink of hysteria, "Abigail, who are all these men? The Head Priest said that they'd only be visiting for a day, but they've been here for three days! What's going on? Do you know? And where is the Head Priest? Are these men–"
I grab her arms in order to calm her down, "Setsuna(1), calm down, please! My grandfather went to Yagyu in order to...conduct some business...and so, um..." Kotaro walks out of the shed, closing the door and locking it slyly when he notices the worker girl. I continue, having found the inspiration needed for my less-than-true explanation, "And so these men are high-ranking monks, as well, taking care of the place and of us until my grandfather returns."
"Oh..." the woman pauses, staring at Kotaro. She shakes her head after a few moments, saying, "A-Alright, Miss. Abigail. Please wish your grandfather a safe return for me."
"I will. And please don't worry about the guys! They really are...eh...harmless...and they do mean well."
"Yes..." she nods, slowly turning to head back into the temple, "But that one red-headed man...are you sure that he is a monk? He was behaving rather...promiscuously to me and the other girls working."
I frown, but then smile in order to reassure the worker woman, "I shall have a word with him, then. Please, don't worry anymore!"
She smiles back, finally relieved, as she says goodbye to me and then to Kotaro. Her eyes linger on Kotaro's face admirably for a few seconds longer before she finally heads off to the temple.
"Goemon's a whore," I hear a voice behind me say.
I gasp; my hair swishing with the wind with the speed I turn around at; "Kotaro!"
But said white-haired ninja's gaze is even further behind me. I turn further to see Saizo, leaning against the tall, stone wall which surrounds the temple grounds, his arms crossed.
I scold fiercely, "Saizo, you shouldn't say things like that! I've already had to get onto Goemon for saying things behind peoples' backs.
The purple-esc ninja shrugs, then turns to Kotaro, "Hanzo sent me to tell you that the final shipment of bows, arrows and knives has come in. It's at the house you've directed it to."
Kotaro nods, then looks at me, telling me silently that we're about to head into town. I sigh, nodding back in understanding as I look away, feeling awkward. Then Saizo, now bored, walks off, intentionally brushing past me. I can tell-with the light pain in my arm now-that he does this so to remind me of...whatever happened yesterday. Last night...and this morning. What he'd told me to forget about...
As Kotaro and I finally reach a house on the outer skirts of the already small village, a low rumbling sound catches our attention.
Once the quiet ninja had the door unlocked, he pauses from opening the door to turn and look at me. With a worried expression, he asks me, "Are you hungry?"
Well, it is already after noon...
"I'm sorry," I apologize for a unknown reason, even to myself, "I haven't eaten today since breakfast..."
He frowns, "No, I'm sorry for not noticing. Let's enter the house and then have a snack, Princess."
I nod, following him inside the small house. What a dump...although not necessarily unclean, the rooms are awfully bland and with hardly any furniture; I've seen only a chair in what would probably be the initial living room, as well as a highly simplified kitchen.
"Who lives here?" I ask when my curiosity can stand it no longer.
I hear Kotaro call out from another room, "No one lives here. The villagers have told me that this building has not been occupied for several years."
"But it's so tidy, even as simple as it is..."
Much to my lack-of-surprise, Kotaro doesn't respond, so I decide to go try to find him. Following where I think his voice came from, I cut back through the entry room to a hallway. He's not in here...maybe upstairs then?
Once on the second floor, I continue searching the rooms...two bedrooms, a closet...all of the empty necessities, but just where is Kotaro?! I jog back down the stairs, beginning to worry. As I'm about to run into the kitchen, though, I run into something. Hard.
"Ouch!" I cry, hearing a simultaneous, low-pitched groan come from the warm surface I've just trapped against the wall. "Oh...Kotaro," I awkwardly look up, "There you are..." He looks down at me as I realize that I'm clutching his kimono; and then he realizes that his arms are around me. "I'm sorry," I quickly say, "Everyone has always said that I need to watch where I'm going..."
Then, I see something unexpected: Kotaro blushing.
Letting me go with his arms, he shyly asks, "Um, I don't mean to be rude, but would you mind backing up a bit?"
I look at him oddly for a moment, then remember that I'm pressing him into a wall. Quickly, with me now blushing lightly as well, I take a couple of steps back in order to give him some breathing room.
"Forgive me," he says, looking down, "Uh...here you are. A snack."
In his outstretched hand is a small, square and grey piece of...something.
"What is it?" I ask, taking it.
"It looks small, but it will give you enough energy to last for a whole day."
I laugh, "Really? Well, it's already after lunch, so I don't think that I'll need that much energy! Can I just eat half of it?"
"Of course," he begins walking back into the shabby kitchen.
"Thank you, Kotaro."
...silence.
Ah, of course. I sigh as I eat the strange, flavorless piece of...something. Is it tofu?(2) I think I've heard that it's quite healthy for you, but I've never had it. Either way, that's not what I want to cloud my mind right now. I want to think about Kotaro...have I seen a new side of him today? Just from his embarrassment and shyness, I feel like I know now that he is not nearly as cold and distant as I'd originally thought. Actually, when he was holding me...he felt rather warm. Even if it were only for those few awkward seconds...that's what I thought about. How warm he'd felt with his arms around me, so protectively. But I suppose that's his job, right? To protect the Ninja Princess? Still...I wonder exactly why he was so embarrassed?
The man of my thoughts for the day comes back out from the kitchen, carrying a large and heavy wooden box.
"Are those the weapons?" I ask him.
"Yes," he answers.
"How did the deliverer get them in here? The door had a lock on it."
"Only a ninja could have," he simply answers, readjusting his hold on the box.
"Oh..." I say, holding the front door open for him, When he enters through it, I close the door and grab the lock from its hiding place on the porch.
Kotaro calls, "Princess, we have no need to lock the door again. I only added that on there so to protect the weapons from being stolen."
"Ah, okay," I respond, pocketing the lock, "But why did you give a random house instead of the temple address to the deliverers? Why the diversion?"
"So as not to arise suspicion among the townspeople," he explains, "This house is on the outskirts of the village. And if it were found out that weapons were being delivered to a temple..."
"Oh, I see. How smart!" I beam.
Once I run up to walk in front of Kotaro, we start heading back into town. Until another voice, calling from behind the house, stops us. "Hey!" it says.
Quickly, we turn around, Kotaro backing up so to hold my wrist protectively with his free hand. From behind the building comes the green-haired man I recall meeting several days ago in town. Just what is he still doing here? He walks up, a curious look on his face.
Kotaro whispers to me, "If he asks who we are, assume a false identity."
I nod, wishing to clasp his hand, still softly holding my wrist. I had met this man before, though; his name is Mushashi Miyamoto! He's a swordsman, just like the ninjas...
"What are you two doing here, out of curiosity?" Mushashi asks, folding his arms.
Kotaro answers in a loud voice, "We are simply medicine sellers. I have come to collect a shipment of glass vials and tools that I specified to be delivered here."
"Why here?" Mushashi steps closer, looking more and more curious.
Kotaro ignores this question, and instead asks his own, "Do you live in this house?"
Mushashi smiles, "No, I simply stay in here when I pass through."
When he passes through? But I'd never even seen him in town before until just a couple days ago...if that's true, then why is he staying now?
Mushashi continues, looking a little annoyed, "I had wondered who put that lock on the door. I assume it was you?"
Kotaro doesn't answer.
"Who's that behind you?" the swordsman asks, his features softening. I poke my head around from behind Kotaro, receiving a surprised look from Mushashi. He smiles, "Hey, it's you! You're that kind girl from the other day. What, is he your husband or something?"
When Kotaro doesn't respond, I figure that I would, "Uh, this is...Tojiro. I...eh...we..."
Curse my lack of talent for lying.
Kotaro saves me by completing my sentence, though, with, "Yes, we are married. I am Tojiro Kamui(3). We are herbalists and medicine sellers. Who are you?"
Mushashi smirks, "Mushashi Miyamoto. I am a ronin(4). And, I am sorry, woman, but I've forgotten your name."
I stutter...do I tell him the name I'd originally told him? My actual name? Will he figure it out if I lie? What will he do then? Does he know of the war between the Oda clan and the ninjas? And most importantly...if I tell him my name again, will he know now that I am the Ninja Princess?
Kotaro's gentle squeeze on my wrist tells me to hurry up and pick a name.
"Ah...uh..." I voice, feeling nervous (mostly from Mushashi's now suspicious look), "I...My name is Shizuka."
Mushashi snaps his fingers in remembrance while Kotaro's hold on my wrist suddenly tightens. I groan to him in protest.
"Ah, that's right!" Mushashi laughs, "My apologies, Shizuka Kamui," he turns back to Kotaro, who now nearly has my wrist in the same, stiff, death-grip that Saizo had it in more than once yesterday...Mushashi asks, "Are you going to keep locking that house up? I usually don't spend much time in this town, but it's one of my many resting places."
"...No," Kotaro eventually answers, finally letting my wrist go. I hand him the lock, and he hands it to Mushashi, "We are done using it. You may have it back. Forgive me for stealing it away from you."
And so, with a bow of the head from Kotaro and a mutual wave between me and Mushashi, Kotaro and I head back off to the temple with the box of "medical tools and vials" on Kotaro's shoulder.
But...now, as I look up at his serious face...and his faster walking pace...and remember the suddenly stiff grip he'd had on my wrist...I can't help but feel as if I've hurt him somehow, accidentally...
Bam!
"Ah!" I cry, "I've missed again!"
After delivering the weapons and awkwardly...silently...organizing them among the sheds (which took a lot of insisting on my part to get Kotaro to let me help him), he and I headed off to the woods, away from people, in order to start my training with the Fuma ninja.
"Breathe," he quietly says to me from behind, "You are not breathing smoothly. If you move erratically you will miss your shot."
"But I am breathing," I complain, "It's my hold on the gun...it doesn't feel right."
He walks over to pin the target up on the tree trunk again: a large, woven hat(5). As he does this, he tries to verbally explain to me again, "You must hold the neck of the gun with your non-dominant hand with relaxed, loose fingers, and keep a firm grip on the trigger and the handle."
I relax my arms, tired of hearing him talk (how ironic). "You keep saying that over and over again," I argue, "but it's not helping! Can't you just adjust my stance manually?"
His eyes widen as a slight blush creeps across his face.
I don't think I like that look...quietly; worriedly; I ask him, "What? Do I make you uncomfortable? Do you not like me?"
After a moment, he sighs, looking down, "Of course not. Forgive me, Princess...I...I'll try harder to be better...I-I just don't have any confidence...in...that field..."
I set the gun down, "What field?"
His blush increases as he turns his head even further away from me, "You know...girls..."
...
How. Adorable.
"So is that why you're so quiet all the time?" I ask him, sitting down on a rock in hopes to help him relax; make him less anxious.
"I'm no good with people..."
That may be true, though he does try so hard...
"You'll get better," I encourage, taking his hand in mine and making him blush even more, "It just takes practice."
He softly smiles, rubbing his thumb over my hand, "Yes, I suppose you're right." I laugh, causing him to quickly worry and become embarrassed again, "What? What is it?"
"It's nothing," I say, keeping my hold on his hand so that he doesn't take it away, "That was just the first time I've ever seen you smile."
His smile returns, "Heh...I think that this is the first time I've seen you smile, as well. Or laugh."
I shift my gaze shyly to the grass, my smile widening. Kotaro certainly does have a nice smile...
"Well," he says, releasing my hand and picking the gun back up, "Let's get back to training."
I nod, walking up and taking the gun. Now that he's relaxed, he easily (eagerly?) adjusts my arms and hands manually, taking the time to feel the contact of our skin as he helps me perfect my stance.
His touch is so gentle...yet still so shy...
After all is according to his instructions and I feel much more comfortable, he backs away, allowing me the room I need to shoot at the target several yards away comfortably. Regulating my breathing, I take aim; closing one eye; and...
Bam!
"Oh, I've missed again!" I exclaim, stomping my foot in disbelievement.
"Yes, but..." Kotaro walks over to the target-hat, sporting a hole fairly close to the edge, "You've actually managed to hit the target his time."
With a cheer for myself and a reassuring nod from Kotaro, we set our minds back to "professional mode" to continue my marksmanship training.
After dinner that evening...
"Ouch! What was that for?!" Goemon yells, rubbing his arm as we all head upstairs to the main hall for a meeting.
"For bothering the working women!" I yell back at him, "They are not your playthings! And most of them are married!"
"Well, they didn't complain," smirks Goemon, pulling me into his arms playfully, practically carrying me the rest of the way up the stairs.
As soon as we've reached the open floor, though, Kotaro jabs Goemon in the side, forcing the red-haired ninja to release me.
"Damn!" Goemon complains, "I'll just stop talking then!"
"That would be best," Kotaro ushers me into the room. Behind us, I can practically hear Saizo roll his eyes.
"Hi, Abigail!" Sasuke greets in his usual, cheerful way as he sees me enter. I suppose that he'd been up here with Hanzo and that's why I didn't see either of them during dinner.
"Princess," Hanzo greets as well, bowing.
Once everyone had arrived and surrounded the large table filled with various scrolls and papers in the middle of the room (a map underneath all of it), the meeting I'd been curious about all day finally started.
Hanzo, standing across from me, turned to Goemon, "Goemon, what have you found out about Nobukatsu's plans?"
Sloppily piling up the papers and handing them expectantly to Sasuke, Goemon leans over the table atop the map of Japan, in order to truly be front-and-center. He begins, "Well, first off, I've heard word that Nobunaga's troops will be arriving in Iga by tomorrow morning. I've got men there that will be sending word with more news when they see Nobunaga and his samurais' reactions to our absence. Also, Mitsuhide Akechi is not with Nobunaga on the way to Iga; he's staying in Honno-ji temple."
Hanzo imputs, "Ah, so Nobunaga is really going to Iga by himself, is he?"
Goemon nods, "Yeah, that's what I've been hearing. Whether it's true or not, we'll have to find out. It could just be another look-alike or a false rumor."
"And where did you say that their base was?"
"Honno-ji temple, in Kyoto."
Sasuke, returning to the table after putting the many papers Goemon had handed him down somewhere, exclaims, "That's good! So now we know where his home is."
"Yes," Hanzo says slowly, "But where is Nobukatsu Oda?"
"Ah," Goemon muses, standing up straight, "That's the best part. Nobukatsu is currently planning on a way, now, to try to infiltrate the Yagyu clan. He wants to prove to his father that he can take over the enemy samurai, even if he can't beat his father to the ninja. The Iga Elder sent word from there that that's what Munenori's intelligence has dug up."
"That's what he's planning," Hanzo reminds, "But where is he now?"
"I don't know of his exact whereabouts," replies Goemon, "But I do know that he's not far from Kyoto. That means he's heading from the west to the east. And he might just make a rest stop here."
Hanzo thinks for a moment, "And if not, we'll head over to Yagyu to help the samurai. Keep your eyes on both Nobukatsu and Nobunaga, Master Goemon. In the meantime, we'll keep in contact with the other ninjas and find out what Nobunaga's plan is after he's arrived in Iga."
Goemon nods, backing up and stretching.
"Now, has anyone found anything else out?"
Kotaro, standing next to me, speaks up, "There is a swordsman in the village."
Everyone's eyes widen when they turn to Kotaro."What?" Hanzo asks, confused, "Here? In the Princess's village?"
"Yes."
I input, "His name is Mushashi Miyamoto. He said that he's a ronin."
"Hmm.." Hanzo presses his hand to his cheek in thought, "I think that I've heard of that name before. Have you seen him in town before, Princess?"
"No," I reply, "I'd only just met him a couple days ago, but today he said that he's visited before, as he uses one of the abandoned houses as a resting place."
Hanzo's eyes widen even more, darting between Kotaro and me, "You've talked to him?"
"Yes," I say, looking up at the ever-expressionless Kotaro, "But he doesn't know who we are. He thinks that we are medicine sellers, and that Kotaro's name is Tojiro and mine is Shisuka," Kotaro stiffens again. I continue, "And he also thinks that we are married."
Sasuke cries out, "What?!" as Saizo's, Goemon's and Hanzo's eyes widen even more than they already were.
"We had no choice," explains Kotaro.
Hanzo sighs, "Well, alright, but if he's staying in town, then that means that you two have to keep the act up."
Sasuke angrily inputs, "Well, I'm not losing my turn with Abigail again! They can all just–"
Hanzo yells at him, "We're not stopping the rounds of protecting the Princess! You all still have much work to do. Just, Princess...try to only go into town publicly with Kotaro. If you're seen with a different man every day by someone who thinks that you're married, the town will start to talk, whether they know you or not. And that word could get outside of the town, as well. A young woman named Abigail always seen with a strong man at her side? Nobunaga is not stupid."
I remain silent.
Saizo asks, "Does he really know who the Princess is exactly?"
Hanzo responds, "None of us know if he does or not, but it's not worth the risk. We must keep her identity secret at all times."
...keep my identity secret at all times? So...does that mean that I am no longer Abigail? Am I simply the ninja princess and will be nothing more? How...lonely.
I watch as Kotaro prepares the futons in my room; he'd insisted on not letting "The Princess" do such a task, and instead took it upon himself. Not much had to be done, really; just a clean change of sheets.
"A-choo!" I sneeze.
Kotaro looks up at me, worried, "Are you catching a cold, Princess?"
I sigh, "It's been a cold week..."
He frowns, "And we only have two futons..."
Suddenly, he places the extra futon–his futon–atop of mine, and then leaves the room.
"W-What are you doing?" I ask, worried that he's being serious.
He comes back in, carrying what I assume to be the futon from his own room, "This should keep you a bit warmer." He places the third futon atop the two.
"But now you don't have a futon to sleep on!" I argue. At least the other guys have their futons!
"Don't worry!" he insists, "I can sleep anywhere."
Blowing out the lantern lighting the room, he goes over to sit in the far corner of the room.
When he sees that I'm still standing, staring at him in the darkness, he says, "Don't worry...get some sleep."
"...Alright," I respond, unsure.
I lay down on the small stack of futons, but still feel a deep worry as I hear the wind rattling against the window and temple walls.
I turn around so that I'm laying on my side, facing Kotaro. Tentatively, I ask, "Do you want to...sleep with me tonight?"
What's one more cuddly man in my bed, after all?
In the dull moonlight, I can plainly see his face contort to one of surprise.
"Not like that!" I correct, somehow managing to see what he's thinking, for once, "I just mean...you must be cold."
He frowns, "A princess of your age shouldn't say things like that. I have to protect you, after all. I can't let you catch a cold."
I sigh. Does he only think of me as a job? Does he not care about me as a person? Then again...maybe it's just my hormones or loneliness acting up; this is the first night so far that I've had to sleep alone. That is, without being hugged by someone in my sleep.
"Aright, then..." I sigh, figuring out that Kotaro was not going to change his mind. He's as stoic and reserved as ever... "Good night."
Even though I'm not as warm as I was in Goemon's or Saizo's embrace...that's okay. I still feel safe...if not more so. This futon smells like Kotaro, anyway...it's almost as if I am wrapped up in his arms...
Am I a whore?
I laugh internally at that thought. No, not at all...but still...having so many men care for me in such ways when I've never even dated anyone before...my brain keeps reminding me that this is all business, but my heart...I'm not so sure how much more it can take. I've still got Sasuke and Hanzo to be fully introduced to...and then it all starts over again with Goemon in three days. Then Saizo, then Kotaro again...
What if I end up having to pick just one in the end, after all? If we end up traveling to Yagyu or Honno-ji temple in the same fashion we would have Iga? I have the possibility of knowing regret, now...
These thoughts plague my mind, along with the sound of Kotaro's breathing, as I drift off into slumber.
Author's Notes:
1) The name that this person with the AWESOME "Shall we Date?" forum on . (I had to space it out weirdly so that it'll show up).
2) I think I've heard tofu being like this...healthy but flavorless or bad-tasting? Eh, it's a theory.
3) That, my friend, is a reference to Gakupo Kamui, the Internet Co. Vocaloid and purple-haired samurai. I love him!
4) I looked it up: a "ronin" is basically a samurai with no leader. A lone Japanese swordsman.
Thanks, wikipedia!
5) You know; those cone-shaped, woven Japanese hats? Saizo wears one for his monk disguise.
Eh, not much to say here for this one. Hope you enjoyed reading! Kotaro so adorable...I love his pictures so much.
Fun Fact: Did you know that all the guy's characters as well as Nobunaga's war are all based off of actual historical events, characters or fable characters from Japan? I had a hard time understanding a lot of it, but Nobunaga and his son were real guys! I think Hanzo, was, too, and then the ninjas, I think, were either real or fable characters, like Robin Hood for us westerners. There's also a movie called "Goemon" loosely based about him, but he's not nearly as hot as our red-headed Goemon!
Ehheh...hope I didn't ruin the experience for you with that little wikipedia side fact...it took me a little while to process.
Thank you again for reading! Us few "Shall we Date?" fanfictioners should create a forum...I'm surprised that it's not more popular. Anyway, reviews, favorites and follows are, as always, inspiring!
YOU'VE GOT MAIL!
Email from Kotaro: Are you alright?
Did you sleep well last night, Princess? I hope you aren't catching a cold. Please remember that your body does not only belong to you. Do not listen to Goemon or Sasuke if they tell you that. Take care of yourself. I can't bare the thought of something happening to you.
And...please forgive me for earlier. I will try harder to talk to you. I want to be social...but I just can't. It's how I am. And if you feel as if you need to give me a push...even if it makes me uncomfortable, I will appreciate it. Even if you don't like me, I will do everything in my power to protect you.
Kotaro Fuma.