Author's Note: This chapter covers the game chapters 6 - beginning of chapter 7.

"We should reach Iga in another half day's journey," Goemon was saying. After our rest at the inn, our progress back on the mountain path was much faster.

"Sasuke should be back soon too." The younger ninja had gone to scout out the area ahead of us to make sure no more enemies were lying in wait. I wiped some sweat off of my brow as I trudged beside Kotaro. He was silent as usual, which was perfect for me as my mind swirled with the previous evening's events. I'd gone straight to bed after that, but spent much of the night awake, giddily wondering what it could mean. I'd found myself avoiding Hanzo this morning, and stared at his back now as he walked ahead of me with Goemon.

No matter how I spun it, that was far too intimate an action for him to simply consider me the princess. He'd always kept the distance. Hadn't he even told me not to get closer to him? I was so confused. He'd seemed a little different than usual last night—less…restrained. That look in his eyes…

I yelped as I suddenly tripped forward over a fallen branch. I staggered before Kotaro supported my arms, helping me right myself. I heard Saizo snicker from where he brought up the rear.

"Oh, shut up," I muttered at him under my breath, blushing as I thanked Kotaro.

"Are you all right, Princess?" Hanzo had stopped and turned around.

"Ah, yes, I'm fine!" I replied, automatically avoiding his gaze. "Just careless."

"Please, hold on to my arm," he offered. I shook my head, still looking down.

"Kotaro's right here, so I'll be fine, thank you," I said. Why am I making this more awkward? I wondered to myself. We resumed our walking, and I sneaked a glance up only to see Goemon looking back at me, a mischievous smile on his face. He raised one eyebrow suggestively and tilted his head quickly at Hanzo in a silent question. Could blushes layer themselves over one another? I wondered as I frantically shook my head again. He didn't seem convinced, and he gave me another smug look before turning back to the front.

Just then, there was a rustling of leaves and Sasuke appeared, looking pale.

"There are Akechi assassins up ahead," he warned us, his voice low. We all stopped. Hanzo's face darkened.

"And?"

"I defeated three of them, but one was hiding and got away…I'm sorry," Sasuke reported. He lowered his head, ashamed.

"You were alone, it couldn't be helped," Hanzo reassured him. "But now the Akechi army will know where we are."

"Do you think they'll come to attack Iga?" Goemon asked, looking grim.

"Mitsuhide is afraid of Lord Ieyasu. I'm sure he will want to get rid of him as soon as possible, so he might decide to try to catch us there."

"Akechi's army is huge," Goemon worried.

"…at any rate, we need to hurry to Iga and prepare for battle before they get there first." Hanzo turned and we started walking at a faster pace. Sasuke and Kotaro fell back to help the retainers. I felt dread curl in my stomach. We'd only just defeated Oda Nobunaga, and escaped death twice… and already we had to fight again, this time to defend Iga?

We took a rest in a small clearing after two hours of hard trekking, and I walked over to the shade of a tree, worry making me bite my lips.

"Princess." I turned to see Hanzo standing behind me.

"Did you let Lord Ieyasu know the situation?" I asked, releasing my lips. I was still the Ninja Princess. I couldn't appear as nervous as I felt.

"Yes," he replied. He looked at me for a moment before speaking again. "I know you're anxious of the battle." I winced. So he could tell, after all.

"I shouldn't be," I said, twisting my fingers together. I tried to smooth away the worry that creased my forehead.

"You're doing nothing wrong," he said. He gently stopped my winding fingers and held my hand. "Even I feel uneasy. We've lost a lot of the fighting strength of Iga already, and Akechi's army is large… As a leader, I shouldn't say that out loud, but I wanted you to know, Princess. You're not alone." I looked up at him gratefully.

"Thank you for telling me." I squeezed his hand slightly. "I know I can only listen, but I want you to feel free to tell me anything, even things you can't tell anyone else." This was what I want, I thought to myself. To break the rigid barrier together, to meet even a bit closer. I wanted to be his support, even if he couldn't accept my love. Although I wasn't even sure about that…

He gripped my hand back.

"You give me hope," he said. A hard glint returned to his eyes. "I cannot lose this battle. I must survive, and help to rebuild Iga."

"And I will stand by your side. I won't look afraid in front of everyone anymore," I said determinedly. If he was with me, I felt like I could overcome any hardship. I wanted him to feel the same. If being the symbol, a strong ninja princess, gave him hope and strength, then I would do my very best to be his support. My hands tightened into fists with fiery resolve, and I belatedly realized that I was squeezing his hand hard.

"I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, dropping it quickly. Before I could change the subject, Hanzo had stepped forward and gathered me up in his arms, holding me close. He tucked my head under his chin. I barely registered my shock. What?! Why…But I didn't want to think anymore. I closed my eyes and buried my face in his chest.

"I feel like I could defeat them all myself when you're here with me," he whispered. I could feel his warm heartbeat, and I felt my own heart swell with emotion. I love him, after all, I thought as I wrapped my arms around him.

"And I feel a hundred times more brave," I replied. He pulled me tighter in response. I wanted this moment to last forever… but all too soon, I heard Goemon's voice calling for Hanzo. I pulled away quickly, and his arms seemed to let me go reluctantly. He looked as if he wanted to say something further, but Goemon found us. I saw his sharp gaze on me before he addressed Hanzo.

"We should start moving again."

...

We arrived in Iga later in the evening. Hanzo immediately ordered Sasuke to settle Lord Ieyasu in his own home, and set off quickly to assess the village with Goemon. I followed along. Marks from the fierce battle were still visible in the grounds and buildings.

"I see the buildings that the Oda army burned haven't been fixed yet," Hanzo said.

"We haven't had the people or the energy to rebuild them," Goemon replied. Hanzo remained silent. Behind his grim control, I could see pain in his dark eyes. The beautiful village wasn't the same as it had been just months ago when I had first gotten here. And it wasn't just the external damage to the buildings that hurt; it was the knowledge that Iga was made a little less bright with the loss of the brave ninjas who had sacrificed their lives to defend it.

"Master Hanzo! Reika!" I turned to see Kuma hurrying towards us.

"Kuma!" I replied. I ran to meet her and hugged her tightly. She'd fought alongside me to defeat Nobunaga, and we'd gotten along well ever since she first met me and challenged me, all those months ago. That time felt so long ago…so much had happened since then.

"Kuma, thanks for greeting us." Hanzo said. "It's good to see you safe." She bowed.

"Welcome home, Master Hanzo. It's good to see you safe as well." She searched his face for a long moment, as if to make sure he wasn't badly hurt. He smiled back at her reassuringly, and patted her on the head. When I thought I saw her cheeks flush slightly at his touch, I wondered again what I'd suspected before—that she had feelings greater than those of just a friend for Hanzo. I looked away as my heart gave a squeeze. It was a strange mix of jealousy and sympathy.

Hanzo excused himself to meet with Lord Ieyasu to plan for the battle, and Kuma linked arms with me as we walked through the village.

"Kuma-neesan!" I looked up to see a small boy run out from a group of children sitting on the veranda of a house. She went forward to hug him, and he looked over her shoulder to see me.

"Princess!" The other children noticed me and ran over as well, smiling and laughing to see me.

"Princess! Princess! You're back!" they gathered around me, hugging my legs. I laughed and struggled to usher them back. We settled on the veranda.

"How have you all been?" I asked, hugging them one by one. "You've gotten so big!"

"We fought Oda Nobunaga!" they chorused. I laughed and tickled them.

"Did you, now?" I said.

"They actually were quite brave during the battle," Kuma said, tackling one and sitting him down. "They were supposed to be hiding in the cellar, but when they heard the old medicine lady cornered outside, they ran out and chased him away." The boys and girls puffed out their chests proudly.

"My father told me that we would fight to protect Iga for Master Hanzo for as long as we live," one boy declared.

"Mine too!" a girl chimed in. "I'm going to grow big and strong and help defend Iga as the best ninja. I'm gonna make Master Hanzo proud!"

I looked at their shining faces. These small children, still so young, were so vibrant and filled with ambition and pride. I didn't want their bright futures to be sacrificed. We had to fight. Here was proof that the ninjas believed in Hanzo.

"Oh, Reika-san," Kuma held out a flower patterned purse. "I made this for you. I'm not very skilled, so it's kind of ugly, but…" I gasped.

"You made this for me?" I asked.

"You've been working so hard for us…I wanted to repay you somehow." The sweetness of her gesture touched me deeply.

"Thank you, Kuma! I'm so happy! I'll treasure it," I said sincerely.

"I heard what happened at the inn," she said. "You saved Master Hanzo's life, didn't you?" I shook my head.

"I just escaped and managed to bring Goemon and the others to help," I said. "I didn't know if we'd be too late…" She put a hand on mine.

"You were so brave. Thank you for protecting him." The grateful smile on her sweet features pierced into my heart. Had we fallen in love with the same man? Despite myself, I found a part of me wondering if she would be the one to eventually marry him. After all, she was one of the best female ninjas in Iga, the sweetest, most genuine girl, and beautiful. She had known Hanzo since she was a child. But Hanzo had said that he only saw her as a sister…

My heart heavy, I said my goodbyes to the children and Kuma, and wandered to the garden. It was unchanged—the battle must not have reached here. I walked along the path, my eyes not really taking in the flowers. Would all of this, too, be destroyed in the coming battle? Would the Akechi army really come? How many more lives would be sacrificed?

I felt a presence and glanced up in time to see Goemon enter the garden. He caught my eye and gave me an approving smile.

"You're getting better at noticing me, shortie," he said, coming over to me. He patted me on the head. I swatted his hand away, laughing.

"It's about time," I replied. "How many times does this make it?" He chuckled with me, and then he led me over to a stone bench under a weeping willow tree. We sat down side by side.

"So, how are things?" he asked. I frowned.

"I know I shouldn't be, but I'm worried about the Akechi. We don't even know how much time we have before the Akechi forces return… And even though we support Lord Ieyasu, it's hard to ask the Iga ninja to fight once more when they're barely recovered from the last battle," I said, rubbing my temples. "If you look at it simply, the ninjas were saved with Oda Nobunaga's death. They don't have a direct incentive to fight."

"Well, if it makes you feel better about our chances, Master Yagyu's coming to help us again this time," Goemon offered. "He just got here earlier—I saw him talking to Master Hanzo. Kuma should be pleased..." I felt relieved at this news. Munenori Yagyu was known as a strategist, and his help had been invaluable in the last battle.

"But that's not what I was asking," Goemon said. I looked over at him curiously. "How are things between you and Master Hanzo? I never got the chance to ask how that last night went." He gave me another of his suggestive grins. "Did you join him in his bath?" I slapped him on the shoulder, laughing and protesting at the same time.
"Of course not!"

"Oh, come on," Goemon teased. "I gave you the perfect opportunity." I blushed and looked down. I absentmindedly toyed with the sleeve of my kimono where it covered the fading rope marks.

"Well, we…talked in his room after his bath."

"Oh?" he waggled an eyebrow. "Did you have fun…talking to him?"

"Oh, stop it," I said, but my cheeks were still hot. "I…he told me that he couldn't control his emotions when he was with me." Goemon was silent as he took this in, and I went on. "He has something important to ask me once the battle is over and Lord Ieyasu is taken home safely." Goemon's eyes glinted, and I hurriedly tried to brush it off.

"Maybe it's about a new mission, or…" A finger to my lips stopped my babbling, and Goemon smiled, a genuine one this time.

"Or maybe he wants to clarify your relationship in some way or another," he suggested. When I looked away, he pressed on. "How do you really feel about him? Is it so complicated?" I ran my hand through my hair agitatedly, and then I was spilling out all of my thoughts to him.

"At first, I thought I just wanted to be an easy companion, since he was stuck with me," I began. "But then, I realized I just wanted to make him smile. He's always doing his duty with that stern mask of his, and I just… And before I knew it, I realized that I didn't just want to make him smile. I…I wanted to stay by his side and make him happy forever." I blushed and looked down before I went on.

"And then he sacrificed himself so that Lord Ieyasu and I could escape with Kotaro from Mitsuhide's forces. When he blew up the mansion, I thought that that was the last that I'd see him. I couldn't bear the thought that he might be…gone. I realized then how much he meant to me.

"So when he finally came back, I couldn't help it. I started to blurt out how I felt about him, and he just cut me off. He didn't want to hear it. He made it clear, later, that he didn't want me to get any closer to him. I was just the 'Princess' to him, and he was just with me for his mission. He seemed even more distant than before, and I realized that I didn't want him to put up any more walls. I decided to stop burdening him and act as before, because I just wanted to laugh with him again, at least until we parted ways." Goemon had been listening silently, but he slapped his forehead with a groan.

"Damn, then I shouldn't have tried to throw you two together."

"No, well, that made it all the more confusing…sometimes I find myself wondering if I'm receiving mixed signals from him, but I have to remind myself what I'd decided. He just…makes it a little difficult, sometimes," I ended in a mutter and found myself touching my wrists again. Goemon cocked his head to the side.

"I've known Master Hanzo for a while now, but…" he seemed to think for a moment, and then he turned to me with a smile. "I'd wait to hear what he has to say, if I were you. Things should clear up." I looked at him quizzically.

"You're not telling me what you really think," I accused as he gave me an innocent look. "Goemon!" He dodged my playful swing and jumped up off the seat. He turned and tapped me lightly on the nose.

"That's because it's a matter between the two of you," he said. "Be patient." I felt irrational hope stirring in me, but I quashed it down before I could get carried away. Now wasn't the time for it.

"Goemon, will you help me train?" I asked, getting up to stand beside him. "I want to be stronger, even just a little bit." Regardless about how Hanzo may feel about me, the fact that he looked to me as the symbol of the ninja solidarity remained unchanged. I wanted to fulfill that role to the best of my ability.

...

A week had passed, and Iga's preparations were in full swing. Scouts still hadn't reported any movement from the Akechi, and tensions remained as we waited. I filled my time with training with Goemon and Saizo, who were kind enough to lend me their attention.

"Come on, climb faster!" Saizo shouted up at me as I struggled to scale a tree for the fourth time. "You need to be able to move fast if you want to catch the enemy unawares!" I gritted my teeth and swung up to the next branch. The arquebus on my back banged against my head as I moved.

"Go! Go!" Saizo urged me. "Too slow!" I finally made it to my target branch, where I quickly unlatched the gun and swung it to my shoulder. I set my back against the tree trunk, and carefully aimed at the targets set on the ground. The gun leapt back against my shoulder as I pulled the trigger. Thankfully, I hit my mark. I reattached the gun to the belt and then made my way back down.

"At least your marksmanship is good," Saizo said as I panted, holding my knees. "Kotaro taught you well. You just lack speed and endurance." I nodded, wiping sweat from my forehead.

"Run another ten times to the river and back, and then you can rest."

"Thank you so much, Saizo," I said. He gave me a small smile and clapped me on the shoulder. I had to stop myself from stumbling forward from the impact.

"Sometimes I wondered about you since you came here totally fresh and untested, but I guess you've grown… although not vertically, that's for sure," he teased. I shared a grin with him. He gave me another pat and then made his way back toward the village. I hiked the arquebus higher on my shoulder and then set off toward the river at a fast jog.

After my last lap to the river, I decided to give myself a rest. I splashed my hot face and neck with the cool water and then sighed, settling down to let the breeze cool me down. As I sat there, I thought back on the past few days. I hadn't been able to see Hanzo often since he was so busy with readying the village. He spent most of his time discussing strategies with Master Yagyu and Lord Ieyasu. As my mind wandered, I sensed someone watching me and immediately leapt up, arquebus in hand.

"Who's there?" I called. Hanzo stepped out from the shadows of the trees, a smile on his face as he held his hands up in surrender. I lowered the weapon immediately. "Master Hanzo!"

"You've improved," he remarked. I reattached the weapon and smiled back at him.

"Goemon has been testing me since I first got here. He sneaks up on me all the time."

"I heard from him that you have been training very hard for the past week," he said, walking up to join me at the river's edge.

"Goemon and Saizo have been very generous with their time. I wanted to be as prepared as I could be for the battle." He nodded.

"I'm glad." I looked more closely at him and noticed how worn out he looked.

"Is everything all right?" I asked hesitantly. "You look exhausted." He rubbed his face with one hand and gave a sigh.

"Does it show?" he asked wryly. He sat down with a small groan. "The villagers are making their preparations, but I can't help but wonder if we can keep asking them to fight. Iga has lost some of its solidarity…" I crouched down next to him and gave him an encouraging smile.

"They are more unified than you think," I told him. "You underestimate their devotion to you." I thought back to the children and their declarations of loyalty. They'd been told that by their parents. He looked out over the water, his expression still troubled. I tried again.

"If you speak to everyone personally one more time, I'm sure you can unite them. They believe in you," I reminded him. "And if we make it through this battle, we'll be bonded more closely than ever." He let out a breath and then looked at me with a smile. Some of the worry seemed to have faded from his tired eyes.

"Princess, you have no idea how much just a few sentences from you can relieve the burden from my shoulders," he said. I felt butterflies in my stomach as we looked into each other's eyes for a long moment. And you have no idea how happy it makes me feel to have you depend on me, I thought to myself. We shared a companionable silence, listening to the wind rustling through the trees. I gathered my courage and spoke again.

"Can you promise me something?" I asked. He turned to me.

"Of course, Princess." I looked straight at him.

"After the battle…could you stop calling me 'Princess' and just call me by name?" He seemed surprised, but I wondered why. Once the battle was over, I was going to have to leave. I wouldn't be their ninja princess any longer. And deep down, I knew that I just wanted to hear him call my name and treat me like a regular woman, not a princess, even for a short time.

"As you wish," he said, inclining his head slightly to me.

"…Thank you," I said. I looked away as I felt my face drop. Even though I got what I wanted, why did it feel like he was just doing it out of his duty? Another request from his Princess? I bit my lip as I thought back to when he had kissed my wrists and later when he'd hugged me close. One moment, he'd act as if he returned my feelings even a little bit, and the next he'd be back to his usual serious self, a leader who had a duty to protect his princess.

But Goemon told me to wait for Hanzo. And if getting through the coming battle was what I'd have to do, I'd do it.

...

Later that evening, Hanzo summoned all of the Iga ninja to gather in the village square.

"Akechi forces have started to make their move towards Iga," he began. "As you already know, Lord Ieyasu supported us when the Oda army attacked Iga. If it hadn't been for Master Yagyu's forces, our home would have suffered much more damage. I want to repay Lord Ieyasu. And more importantly, I believe that he is the most fit leader to rule this country. He respects us as ninjas, and wishes to recognize us. I believe that he can finally end these wars and bring peace. And for the sake of that peace, I ask that you fight for Iga once again." The square was silent as the ninjas listened seriously to his words.

"The Akechi army has us vastly outnumbered," Hanzo went on. "But if we can just defeat Mitsuhide, the army will likely retreat. Without their commander, they will not have a leader to back. If we all work together, we can defeat them. It will not be easy, but for the sake of our future, I earnestly ask for you all to join forces and fight with me." Hanzo knelt and bowed down, pressing his forehead to the ground.

"M-Master Hanzo!" The ninjas ran toward him immediately. "Please, raise your head!" They pulled him upright and gathered closer around him.

"We are prepared to fight alongside you until the end!" they shouted as one. Hanzo gave a relieved smile, and inclined his head one final time.

"Thank you."

I leaned against the wall of a nearby house and let out a breath of relief. Despite Hanzo's worries, the Iga ninja had proven that they were still loyal and united under his leadership.

"Hanzo Hattori is an impressive man," Master Yagyu said beside me as he looked on. "I'd never be able to bow before my own followers."

"That's why he is the head of the Iga ninjas," I said proudly. "That's why they are so loyal to him." The strategist looked at me with a smile.

"He seems to have your loyalty as well," he observed. I met his eyes firmly.

"I will fight alongside him until the end."

In the next chapter: Battle finally reaches Iga, and Reika has an idea to shift the tide...