Chapter 5: The Plan Gone Wrong-Yuzuki
Yukimura walked into the room to say good morning to Yuzuki like usual. Yuzuki noticed that his usual happy go lucky grin was replaced with worry. "What's wrong master Sanada?" He walked over and sat down next to her quietly. He was acting very unlike himself and Yuzuki couldn't help but be concerned. "Yukimura?" He took a deep breath and looked at Yuzuki. "I'm worried about Sasuke and Kasuga." Yuzuki's eye brow's furrowed in confusion. "What's there to worry about?" Again it took a few moments of quiet before he spoke again. "It's just that I feel like they should have come back by now. They were only sent out on a scouting mission. It shouldn't be taking them this long." Yuzuki did find it strange but didn't really take notice until Yukimura had said something.
It would have taken them a day to get to Odawara and it would take a few hours to get information and then another day to get back but it had been three days since they left. Yuzuki was able to walk on her own again but not very fast. She still had to be careful with each step. "I'm sure there fine no need to worry." Yukimura nodded absent mindedly not looking very reassured.
Sasuke and Kasuga jumped through the trees following behind the Takenaka ninja. They were as close as they could get without being noticed. Their plan was to break off and attack them from the sides while using Sasuke's shadow clones to attack from behind and from the front to close them in. hoping that they would be caught off guard they set the risky plan into action.
One of Sasuke's clones set out ahead to attack from the front while the real Sasuke set off for the right side and Kasuga the left. Once the clone up ahead was in position Sasuke's hawk signaled the time to attack. Kasuga made the first move by rushing in from the left and then Sasuke and the Sasuke clones followed coming in from all side boxing in the Takenaka ninja. They clashed with kunai and shuriken. Sasuke clones were holding up well against two of the Takenaka ninja. Sasuke and Kasuga were fighting the remaining two and doing quite well. Sasuke was a little concerned that they didn't look very surprised. The shinobi battle lasted for about ten minutes before the Takenaka ninja beat the clones and knocked Sasuke and Kasuga out cold.
Yuzuki was walking around the training grounds talking to Yukimura as he demolished the training dummies with his twin spears. "So you and the One-Eyed Dragon are rivals then?" Yukimura nodded while stabbing at the dummies again. "Yes me and the One-Eyed Dragon are heated rivals. I've never fought anyone like him! The thrill and passion in every fight leaves me wanting more but even I have my limits." Yuzuki laughed. "Yukimura Sanada has limits! Who would've ever thought?" Yukimura laughed as well. He set his spears to the side and wiped the seat off his forehead.
Yukimura walked over and sat down on the porch and Yuzuki joined him. Time spent with Yukimura was fun and enjoyable. He was easy to get along with and just had that sense of excitement about him. Yuzuki enjoyed having him around almost like a brother. Yuzuki liked Yukimura a lot but it was nothing like what she felt for Sasuke. She remembered back to when he was about to leave for his mission and he kissed her goodbye. She wished that it would've lasted longer but Kasuga had to interrupt.
"Yuzuki can I ask you something?" She looked over at the brunet and nodded. "Ask away." She leaned back placing her hands flat on the porch with her arms behind her. "What do think of Sasuke?" Yuzuki thought about it for a moment looking up at the clear blue sky. "What exactly do you mean?" She tilted her head to the side while looking back over at Yukimura. "I dunno I guess I mean what's going on between you two?" She felt the corner of her mouth quirk up into a half smile. "Well I guess the only way I can answer is that is to tell you that I love him."
It was silent for a little while but not in the uncomfortable way. It was a nice silence just sitting down with the breeze blowing through her hair. "He doesn't stop thinking about you. Ever since the first day you came here you've been the only thing on his mind." Yuzuki was surprised a little by Yukimura's quiet voice. "Really?" Yukimura nodded. He was looking up at the sky with a smile on his face. "It's funny. Ever since he left on that mission I can't seem to stop thinking about him either. It seems a little quieter around here when he's gone."
"Ya know, with you added to the ninja corps I have ten ninja. You, Sasuke, Saizo Kirigakure, Seikai Miyoshi, Isa Miyoshi, Kosuke Anayama, Rokuro Unno, Juzo Kakei, Rokuro Mochizuki, Kamanosuke Yuri." Yuzuki replayed the names of the ninja in her head putting faces to names. Some of the ninja she had yet to meet but she knew most of them well by now. She recognized Kosuke Anayama as he appeared in front of them. "Kosuke what is it?" Yukimura sounded excited and concerned. Kosuke pulled out a letter and handed it to Yuzuki. "A ninja form the Takenaka ninja corps gave this to me and I was told it was for you."
Yuzuki hesitantly took the letter staring at it for a few minutes. She was scared to open it, she was afraid of what Hanbei had written for her. She shakily unfolded the letter eye's wide. The first thing she saw when she opened the letter was a red stain on the corner of the right side. The dyed crimson of the paper made her even more afraid to read its contents knowing that it came from Odawara and that was where Sasuke was. With the eyes of Yukimura and Kosuke on her with anticipation she began to read the letter out loud.
"I-It says; Dear Yuzuki, I would like to inform you that lord Hanbei knows all about your treachery and is not happy about it in the least. We have also discovered that an Uesugi ninja in whom we have reason to believe is a friend of yours and your new lover Sarutobi Sasuke tried to listen in on our war council. These two ninja also tried to attack us when we started to head for Kai and they now lay unconscious within our hands. If you happen to want these ninja returned to their homes safe and in one piece then I suggest you follow my instructions. You are to meet us at the Kai/Odawara border tonight at midnight. You are only allowed to bring one person with you and we will make a trade of sorts. The person you bring with you will take the ninja we have back to Kai and we will take you back to Odawara so that lord Hanbei can punish you for your betrayal. -Ishidate Kagero."
Yuzuki stared at the letter in horror her hands shaking. "Yuzuki?" She could hear Yukimura calling her name but her voice wasn't working. She closed her eyes and clenched her hands into shaking fist. "Yukimura will you be the one to come with me?" She kept her voice steady despite the fear she felt inside. "Of course! But Yuzuki, you're not really going to let them take you back to Odawara are you?" Yuzuki nodded. "I am." Yukimura stood up. "WHAT?" Yuzuki Sighed. "Yukimura I did betray Hanbei and he has every right to punish me. And if Sasuke and Kasuga are in danger I will do anything to get them out of it."
She started to walk for the border since the sun was beginning to sink down and she had limited speed. Yukimura followed her in frustration. Yuzuki felt tears threatening to spill down her cheeks and quickly used her sleeve to brush them away. They got the border and waited. After a few minutes her old ninja corps dropped down from the trees. Two of the four were carrying Sasuke and Kasuga who were unconscious and bound by rope. Ishidate had a cocky grin on his face as he looked at Yuzuki. "So you agree to my terms then Yuzuki?" Yuzuki nodded while she glared into his cool green eyes.
"Yes Ishidate I agree to your terms. I only have one request." Ishidate's eyebrow rose suspiciously. "And what would that be?" Yuzuki gave Yukimura a quick glance. "Will you allow me to help Yukimura bring Sasuke and Kasuga back to the castle? If you want to make sure I'm not up to anything you can come along and if not you can be assured I'll come back." Ishidate laughed. "And what reason do I have to believe you would come back?" Yuzuki began to get irritated since she knew he was toying with her. "Because the last thing I want is for anything to happen to Sasuke! If I can do anything to make sure he gets home safely then I'll do it! Even if that means going back to Odawara."
Yuzuki glared at Ishidate who glared back. "Kiyosuke go with her." Kiyosuke nodded and handed Sasuke to her While Yukimura took Kasuga. They made their way back to the castle and Yuzuki walked inside Sasuke room and laid him down removing the ropes. She leaned down and Kissed Sasuke's forehead. "I'm sorry I won't be here when you wake up." She turned around and walked back out following Kiyosuke back to the border. The group set off with Yuzuki in the middle surrounded by the Takenaka ninja. She was guarded twenty four seven as they traveled. Four pairs of eyes were always focused on her.
They made it back to Odawara the next day and to Yuzuki's surprise Hanbei was waiting for them at the front gates. Ishidate stepped forward and bowed his head. "Lord Hanbei we have brought Yuzuki back as you wished." Hanbei nodded. "Good. Take her down to one of the prison cells." Ishidate nodded and grabbed Yuzuki by the arm and yanked her forwards. She was forced to push herself beyond her walking limit causing pain to rip through her leg. When they got down to the prison cells Ishidate opened one and threw her in casing her to land painfully on the floor. He closed the door locking it and made his way back the way they had come.
She used her elbow to lift herself up and moved to sit against the wall. She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. She wondered how mad Sasuke was going to be when he woke up. She wondered what he was going to do about it. Would he come after her or would he use common sense and stay in Kai? A part of her wanted him to stay in Kai where it was safe but a small selfish part of her looked at down the hall hoping he would come and get her.
If Hanbei expected her to sit in this cell like a good little girl while he plotted ways to hurt her he must be out of his mind. She wasn't sitting there in hopes of a total rescue. Yuzuki was plotting her own escape looking for weak spots in the bars of the cell, planning on attacking whoever opened the cell next since they had conveniently forgot to chain her up.
While tapping the bars she did find a weak point. The bar was old and it was also starting to rust. It was still too strong for her to break with her own hands but she did have a plan. She slipped a file out of her glove and used it as a mini saw trying to cut through the bar. When she finally broke through to the other side of the bar she did the same thing to four more bars. She sawed through the last bar and slipped the file back into her glove. She took a deep breath and sent one good strong kick to the bars making an opening big enough for her to crawl through.
Once she was out of the cell she broke into a run. She ran down the hallway and up the stairs throwing the door open only to come slamming into Ishidate. Yuzuki stumbled back and tripped on a loose board. She landed on her but and Ishidate grabbed the front of her shirt. Ishidate lifted her up and slammed her into the wall. He then wrapped his hand around her throat coking her. Yuzuki clawed at his hand trying to free herself but it was no use. Ishidate punched her with his free hand and let go of her. She slumped down to the floor. Yuzuki's head was spinning and her nose hurt like hell. She felt blood rushing down her face. She brought her hands up to her face to hold her now broken nose. Ishidate then kicked her in the side hard. Yuzuki cried out in pain and fell unconscious.