I followed the herd to the main street. As I feared, Watari-chan was tied up in the middle of the street. A large group of people surrounded her. A nearby man was sharpening his sword.
I jumped down from the house I was on, and ran the rest of the way to the main street.
"How did you get out of the building, Miko?" The man with the sword asked. On closer inspection, he was one of Sohma-sama's men.
"There's an attack in the castle. There's an invasion," I said, huffed, terrified.
"What?" He said.
"I guess the ninja are from this girl's home village… there's a lot of them,"
"Aren't Mikos against fighting?"
"I am against violence, but you must protect yourselves too,"
The group was dispersing, going every which way. Everyone forgot about the tied up ninja. I ran over, untied her, and then immediately ran away.
Standard procedure was to meet in the East if separated. I waited several hours, but Watari-chan never came.
I returned to the castle. The Lord was not happy to see my return.
"There were no ninjas," He said.
"I'm sorry. I saw some. They did come into town, headed toward the castle,"
"How come nobody else saw any?"
"I don't know…" I bowed to the ground, "Please, I beg for your forgiveness,"
"I guess I shall forgive you. You were only trying to protect us. But there will be no second chance. Understood?"
"Yes, my Lord,"
"Good. Now get out of my sight,"
The guards, whose previous role was to protect me, and now it was to guard me, took me back to my room. This time one stood in the room with me, while another guarded the hallway outside.
I sat in front of the open window, staring beyond the village, and into the beautiful green mountains. The sun was setting, and the sky was a beautiful mixture of oranges, pinks, yellows, and reds.
"How do you like mice?" He asked.
I turned around to him.
"Mice are vermon,"
He grinned, and I grinned back. A trap among snakes.
"A messenger of Hanzo-sama's told me about your mission,"
"I'm sorry I couldn't save Watari-chan," I said.
"If she can't take care of herself, she deserves to die,"
"I just can't go back and face Mamezo-kun if she dies,"
"If he wants her alive, he can save her himself,"
"Mamezo-kun's face is well-known around here. He can't just waltz in with a new guise,"
"What's your name?" He asked.
"Luna, yours?"
"Yamato," He said, "You're Kazuya-sama's girlfriend, right?"
I blushed.
"N-no,"
He grinned.
"Don't worry. I know who you are, virgin,"
"Shuddup,"
He went silent.
"Seriously, what do we do about Watari?" I asked.
"Shut up. Someone's coming," He said. I went back to staring outside, and he remained motionless by the door.
The door opened. Sohma-sama came in. I bowed.
"Sohma-sama, what an honour. What brings you here?"
"Dinner is ready," He said.
He came all the way here to tell me that…?
"I'm not hungry,"
"I don't care if you're hungry. I want to eat with you,"
I followed him back to his dining quarters.
I was worried if my cover was blown. But during dinner, he got drunk and just liked my company, so I could relaxed and enjoyed the meal. After dinner, he challenged me to Go. I let him win every round.
"Wow, my Lord, you are very talented,"
He grinned ear to ear.
"I could give you lessons, Miko-sama,"
The game was set again for yet another round, but he thankfully fell asleep, so I was dismissed and escorted to my room by a set of guards.
I returned to my room, tired. I wondered if Watari had been captured again, and if she was in the castle. When everyone was asleep, I'd find the prison, and rescue Watari.
The problem was all the night guards. I sent out Yamato, and he returned with 24 guards roaming the castle, and 4 of them were guarding the prisoner's quarters. Watari was not there.
"Why are there so many guarding the prison if Watari isn't there?" I asked.
"I don't know," Yamato said.
I bit my tongue. I didn't know where Watari was.
"Did she leave without me?"
"Possibly,"
"I guess if that's the case, I'll set for home in the morning," I resolved, and slept.
But something didn't feel right.
In the morning, against my instinct, I left Koga to return to Iga. I left immediately after breakfast because Sohma-san insisted I stay for one last meal.
With anxiety pulling me forward, I made it back to Iga in under a day. I was worn out and tired, but I went straight to the Hanzo residence.
Hanzo-sama was in the middle of dinner with his family, so I planned to return later, but he came to meet me anyway.
"Tell me everything," He demanded.
I told him about the infiltration, and Watari-chan's escape, but how I hadn't found her.
"You left without confirming anything?" He asked.
"I thought she left without me. I waited half a day,"
"She didn't come back here,"
The nausea returned.
"Oh my…"
"And Yamato is a guard there?"
"Yes,"
"And you told him everything?"
"Yes,"
He swore.
"What?" I asked.
"Yamato's a traitor,"
"What?"
"Yamato sided with Koga in the war against Nobunaga. He's traitor,"
My legs collapsed under me.
"How did I not know?!" I started crying, "Oh my god. And Watari-chan… I don't know where Watari-chan is!"
Usagi-sama came out.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Go back inside, Usagi," Hanzo-sama said. She did, and returned a few minutes later with calming tea, and left again.
I slumped against the floor. Hanzo-san sat down.
"I sold my friend out… I sold my town out… stupid traitor," I cried.
"You made a mistake. You're not a traitor," Hanzo-sama handed me the tea. I sat back up, and took a sip.
"Oh god, Watari-chan's going to die, and it'll be all my fault,"
"No it won't," He said, "It's not your fault. This was a hard mission. Stay here for a few days. I'll figure it out,"
"Stop being so nice to me. It's creeping me out," I said.
He grinned, and ruffled my hair, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.
"For now, don't tell Mamezo about Watari,"