Chapter 2: Who Would Have Ever Thought-Sasuke

Sasuke walked over and knocked on the door. "Yes." Yuzuki answered groggily. "Come on sleepy we've got border patrol to do move it. If you're not out here in five minutes I'm coming in." He heard her mumbling and sat down to wait. Yuzuki had been staying with the Takeda for about a week now and today was going to be her first day working for them as a ninja. Sasuke planned on taking her with him for the border patrol and then figured he would show her around a bit. She seemed to be adjusting well to Kai which was a good thing. She finally came out her ninja gear on and a bright smile on her face. She grinned at Sasuke and he laughed. "So much for not being a morning person there sunshine." She rolled her eyes. "I told you that once I actually get up I'm fine and ready to go. Getting me up is the only real challenge."

Sasuke laughed and jumped up into the trees. Yuzuki followed as he took her out for the daily patrol. They leapt from branch to branch scanning the area for anything out of the ordinary. The morning was quiet and peaceful as the birds chirped away and the wind sent the choir of leaves singing out the song they did when rustled. Sasuke loved every little detail of the forest; the birds, and the leaves, and the small animals that roam the forest floor.

The leaves had bursted into a frenzy of color over the past few weeks due to the coming fall. Sasuke looked around at the bright vibrant red's, the luminous gold's, and the copper glint of the orange's. The forest seemed ablaze with the early morning light flittering in through the gaps and making the leaves and the trees burn with a fierce beauty. The sky was also colorful this morning. The soft pink and orange lit the sky with such a contrast to the blaze of the forest.

Sasuke loved fall more than any other season. Kai is at its peak beauty in the fall so colorful and mesmerizing. He looked back at Yuzuki who was looking around at the trees herself. The breeze blew sending leave spiraling like embers all around her. Sasuke had to admit she was pretty. She had purple hair that stood out amongst her surroundings and beautiful blue eyes. As they moved through the trees Sasuke noticed the usual change in scenery telling him that they were close to the Echigo border and at just the right time.

Kasuga stopped once she caught sight of the two. Sasuke stopped on the branch in front of her with Yuzuki at his side. "So Kasuga, how are things in Echigo?" She rolled her eyes and focused her attention on his new companion. "Who is she?" Sasuke laughed lightly. "This is the newest member of the Sanada ninja corps Yuzuki Hitomi." Sasuke was taken aback by the horrified expression on Kasuga's face. "Sasuke, do you know who she is? She works for the Toyotomi! Hanbei Takenaka sends her out to kill other warlords and ninja like us! For all I know she could have been sent her to kill us both! Get the hell away from me!"

Sasuke looked back at Yuzuki who was standing in frozen fear. Her body was shaking and her expression showed guilt, fear, regret, and sadness. "Kasuga don't shout at her like that! She attempted to kill lord Shingen and Yukimura about a week ago. I caught her and after a series of question she is now a part of our forces. She won't be killing anyone without lord Shingen or Yukimura's orders! She isn't who you think she is!"

Kasuga shook her head and pulled out 8 Kunai. She immediately threw the Kunai and in Yuzuki's attempt to evade she was hit twice on her left leg sending her to the forest floor. Sasuke froze when he thought he heard a crack. He saw Kasuga preparing to strike again so he made a move. Sasuke rushed over and flung himself on top of Yuzuki making Kasuga hesitate. "Move it Sarutobi or I will fling these at you first."

Sasuke felt Yuzuki's hand on his chest as she struggled to push him off. Sasuke moved and she took off disappearing into the blazing trees. Kasuga was about to head after her but Sasuke being the faster shinobi of the two grabbed her by the wrist stopping her.

"Stop it Kasuga! That girl has been forced into serving Toyotomi because it was the only thing she could find! She was mistreated and severely under paid. It took every ounce of her strength to make it through the days. She isn't the kind of person you think she is. She is just scared and lonely. She came with me today hoping for a better job and a better life and now I don't even know if I'll be able to find her let alone convince her to come back! You can be such a cruel person sometimes Kasuga! Maybe if you quite jumping to conclusion every time you see someone that you've only heard about things like this might never happen. Dammit Kasuga are you even listening to me!"

Sasuke felt furious. He couldn't believe Kasuga would outright attack a fellow shinobi of his. He was still worried about the crack he though he heard after she fell. "You had better hope I find her. She is probably scared to death and I know she's injured thanks to you. She just recovered from serious injuries a few days ago! I honestly thought you had more self control."

He took off in the direction Yuzuki had left pushing his limit on speed to catch up with his new injured comrade. As he flew through the trees he was almost knocked off balance from a stray shuriken that passed by his head. He looked to see a hand retreat back behind a tree. He jumped over to the tree and saw Yuzuki leaning against the trunk of the tree clutching her knee.

When he looked down at her knee he saw that on hand was holding her knee while the other gripped the kunai knife that was still embedded in her knee. There was another kunai in her thigh that was staining her grey shorts scarlet. Sasuke looked up at her face. She was looking at him with watery eyes. Silent tears streamed down her face the sun reflecting of her wet cheeks. He knelt down and pulled a roll of bandages out of his bag. He offered her a hand silently and she hesitantly removed her hands from her knee and the kunai.

"This is going to hurt just a little okay." She nodded. He grabbed the kunai in his left hand and placed his right firmly on her leg. Quickly he pulled the kunai out and moved to the one on her thigh. He pulled that one out quickly like he did before and then took the roll of bandages and wrapped them around her wounds. "Well so much for you first day. I'm really sorry about Kasuga I had no idea she would react that way."

He helped her to her feet and placed her arm around his shoulder. "I'm also sorry that you will be confined to recovering again but this time it won't take as long." She nodded her head slowly and wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her coat. "Thank you Sasuke." Those beautiful blue eyes were now looking at him with a kind sadness in them. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug mainly because he felt like that was what she needed the most. "Anytime don't mention it. Let's get back patrol is done for the day."

He got her back to the Takeda mansion and He slowly moved her along to the infirmary. Before he opened the door he heard the sound of a familiar voice shouting his name from across the compound. "SASUKE!" Yukimura ran over to greet him but then looked at Yuzuki and became worried instantly. Lord Shingen rounded the corner and saw the commotion and walked over himself. "What is going on over here?" Sasuke pointed to Yuzuki's leg. "Sasuke, how did Yuzuki get injured? I thought you were only taking her for a border patrol?"

Sasuke nodded his head. "Yea well we ran into Kasuga. Kasuga apparently has heard of the things Hanbei Takenaka has had her do and overreacted." Lord Shingen nodded and opened the door to the infirmary for him. After nodding his head in thanks he half walked half carried Yuzuki inside." He set her down on one of the beds and walked off to search for one of the doctors.

Sasuke found one of the female doctors and brought hr around to have a look at Yuzuki's knee. Sasuke gave her smile. "I'll be back soon." Yuzuki nodded and Sasuke left. Sasuke headed for the kitchen area and grabbed two plates of food one for Yuzuki and one for himself. He walked back over to the infirmary. He walked in and sat down in a chair next to Yuzuki and handed her the plate of food. "Want some lunch?" She nodded and took the plate from him.

Sasuke and Yuzuki ate in silence. Sometimes silence was okay but then there were times like these where Sasuke just felt flat out uncomfortable. "So uh…do you like living in Kai?" Sasuke was looking at the floor playing with his fork. He heard a laugh; it was small at first than it gradually got bigger and bigger until it was the only thing he could hear. He looked up at her face as she laughed her eyes closed and her smile stretched across her face.

"What's so funny?"

"You."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's really easy to tell when you're nervous."

Sasuke sighed letting out laughter himself. He was nervous that much was true. The only problem was that he didn't know what he was nervous about. "And yes I do like living in Kai. Kai is a beautiful place and it's full of kind people." They talked for the rest of the day. Laughing here and there and sharing stories.

Yukimura walked in at one point wanting to spar with Sasuke. Sasuke accepted his young master's request. "Yuzuki you wanna watch me beat Yukimura up?" Yuzuki laughed and nodded. Sasuke walked over and helped her out to the porch. He walked over to the opposite side of the clearing and pulled out is shuriken. "Come on Dana show me what you got."

Yukimura charged him as he usually did. Sasuke easily blocked his spears with his shuriken flinging himself into the air with his ninja speed and grace. He landed lightly on his feet behind his young master with his shuriken still interlocked in the tips of Yukimura spears. Sasuke spun Yukimura around by swinging his arms around. Sasuke then pushed Yukimura to the ground using his foot. His spears went into the air one landing on its side while the other one lodged itself into the ground. Yukimura landed on his butt with a thud knocking the wind out of him.

"Come on Yukimura! That was pathetic! This match lasted for about five seconds." Yukimura was about to go off on how unworthy he was and all the crap he usually beat himself up over but Sasuke stopped him. "Hey don't get upset about it I just know you to well and can predict your movements setting mine accordingly. Just work on using a different approach instead of charging out right as soon as the fight begins."

Yukimura nodded and sulked away back to his room. Sasuke then moved to sit next to a smiling Yuzuki. "Poor master Sanada." She laughed quietly. "Ah he's just so predictable." Sasuke leaned back so that he was laying on the porch with his hands behind his head. Yuzuki watched Yukimura as he walked down the path slowly getting farther in the distance. "You know something Sasuke?" He tone was light and content. She rested her head on her good knee with her arms wrapped around her leg. "What?" he asked in the same light tone.

"I never want to leave this place."

Sasuke subtly turned his head the other was hiding the smile that played across his lips hoping that she didn't notice.

And I never want you to. He thought still smiling.