"I heard shouting! What happened?!" Shuuto called out as he ran towards the group. He scanned the people, but his Lady was nowhere to be seen. "Where is my Lady?!"
Obi kicked a chair angrily and slammed his fist against the wall, causing the group to jump.
"She was kidnapped..." he growled.
"She what?!" Shuuto shouted angrily, grabbing Obi by the collar.
Obi grabbed his arm tightly.
"Bandits took her!"
"Then why didn't you protect her?! Why are you still here?!"
"Tch."
Obi brushed him aside and leaped into the trees.
"That bastard-"
"Shuuto," warned Mitsuhide. "It's not Obi's fault. They took her by surprise."
"I should've been here-"
Zen placed a hand on Shuuto.
"We'll find her. We definitely will. I promise you that, Shuuto."

A few hours passed by and there was no news or leads about Kana's disappearance. Even Obi hasn't returned from tracking her.
"Where is Obi?" Mitsuhide wondered worriedly.
"I'm not sure. He hasn't come back yet," replied Kiki, looking towards the woods.
Suddenly, a dark figure jumped out and landed right next to them.
"Obi! So? Did you find anything?" Mitsuhide asked.
Obi shook his head, his eyebrows furrowing, and gritting his teeth.
"I couldn't find her."
"It's alright Obi-"
"How is it alright?!" Obi shouted angrily. "I lost her! I wasn't able to protect my own partner!"
"You lost Shirayuki once and we got her back," reassured Mitsuhide.
"It's not the same!" Obi growled. "It's not..."
"Then why?"
"Because I-" Obi gritted his teeth. "I need to find her."

"We received some news!" Shuuto shouted as he ran towards the group. "A group of bandits were sighted boarding a ship. They had a young lady with them, but witnesses say she seemed unconscious."

"Ship, huh?" Obi muttered, looking towards the ocean. "I'm going. Tell Master."
"Hold it," said Shuuto. "I'm coming with you. I will make sure my Lady gets home safely myself."
"Suit yourself," hissed Obi, walking away.
Shuuto whistled loudly, causing Obi and the others to pause and stare at him.
"What?"
"I wasn't calling for you," said Shuuto. "I was calling for him."
Obi turned to find a large black dog running towards him.
"What the-"
"Cocoa, come here," ordered Shuuto.
"A dog?" Mitsuhide wondered.
"It's Kana's dog," said Kiki.
"He's trained to hear my Lady's whistle wherever she is," explained Shuuto. "If she escapes, I'm sure she will call for him."
"Fine," sighed Obi, a little frustrated that he didn't even know she had a dog. "Let's go."

Kana's eyes slowly opened and she sat up with a jolt, observing her surroundings. She was laying on the floor of what looks like some type of cell when she noticed the bars. She strode over to it and shook the bars as hard as she could.
"It's sturdier than you think, little lady," laughed the man who grabbed her.
"What do you want with me?!" Kana demanded.
"I want to sell you."
"You what?! Do you know who I am?!"
"Why of course! And that's why I took you! A skilled noble woman like yourself should come at a high price!" the man laughed.
Kana gritted your teeth. There has to be a way out of here. She scanned the dark cell, but there was no other exit. Kana then felt the ground sway and rock. No.. That meats...
"Yep! Your expression is right," said the man. "We're on a boat. And there's no other way to escape."
He laughed as he walked back up to the deck of the ship.
"Ugh!" Kana cried, slamming the bars. "Why?!"
She looked up and noticed a ledge at the top. The gap to the ceiling was large enough for her to hide in and swing yourself over. Kana smirked, she just got an idea.

"Heeey!" Kana called out. "Is anyone there? I need a bucket. I feel like throwing up!"

She heard footsteps approach her and a man appeared, slightly annoyed.
"What do you want, kid?"
"I-I feel sick..." she said.
"You don't look sick."
"Tch... Bleh!" she vomited all over the floor.
"Ugh. Disgusting. I'll go get you a bucket..."
Once he disappeared, Kana wiped her face and climbed onto the ledge. She heard footsteps approaching once more and got ready.
"Oy! Here's the bucket," mumbled the man, sliding open the barred gate.
"Hyah!"
Kana swung down and kicked the man straight on the chest and knocked him over unconscious. She landed on her feet and dusted herself.
"Well, good enough. Now to get out of here."
Kana walked quietly down the little corridor until she reached the stairs that led up to the deck. It's the only way out, but she knew the moment she got there, she'd be trapped. Especially the fact that she was on a ship that's already set sailed.
"Hey!" Kana heard a shout. "How'd you get out?!"
Kana found knives at her reach and picked them up. One of the sailors who saw her came charging. Ah, better do this without weapons. Kana flipped and kicked him across the chest. It wasn't enough though as he stood back up and came charging dodged his punches and flipped over his shoulder to land behind him. Before he knew it, she had struck him on the back of neck, causing him to fall unconscious.
Kana sighed. Guessed her martial arts training paid off. She looked around the corridor. She needed to get out now or she would be stuck here for awhile. Slowly, she climbed up the stairs, peering at the deck above her . No one was paying attention yet. She quickly climbed up and tried to sneakily head towards the edge of the ship.
"Hey! It's that girl!" Someone shouted.
"Shit," she mumbled.
Kana backed up to the side of the ship. She was surrounded and had nowhere else to go. She glanced down behind her towards the body of water. She then noticed land in sight. Could she swim towards it? It looked far. Did you have a choice? Not really.
"Sorry boys, but I'll be getting off first!" She saluted and jumping off the ship.
"What the-!"
"What a crazy woman!"
"Go get her, idiots!"
Kana swam as fast as she could just in case they were chasing her. After what seems like hours of swimming and her muscles felt so sore, she waded a little, looking back to her kidnappers. There was no one following her. She kept swimming towards shore without hesitation.
When she reached land, she took a deep breath. she couldn't believe she had made it out of there. Turning back to make sure she wasn't being followed, she decided to jog towards the forest where it would be harder to catch her. After running for awhile, Kana leaned against the tree.
They were probably looking for her by now. If they had told Shuuto, he would've come to find her himself and he would've brought Cocoa with him. Taking a deep breath, Kana let out a high pitched whistle. Soon, she heard the leaves rustling and then a bark.
"Cocoa!" Kana shouted happily.

"Kana?!"

"Obi?! Is that you?!" Kana yelled out, glancing around the trees.
Cocoa jumped out of bush and tackled her onto the dirt. She hugged him tightly, happy to see her well-trained dog. Two figures soon followed, Shuuto and Obi. What a strange pair.
"Shuu! Obi!" Kana exclaimed happily.
"Lady Kana!"
Shuuto ran towards her and helped her up. She hugged him tightly.
"I was so worried about you," he said. "How did you get out? We heard the bandits took you onto a ship."
"I jumped off," she smiled.
Shuuto sweat-dropped and Obi laughed.
"You jumped off? Just like that?"
"Well I beat up a couple of sailors before hand," she teold him thoughtfully.
Obi chuckled as he strode over to her. He pulled her into his chest and held her tightly against him. Kana could hear his heart beating rather fast.
"I thought I lost you..." He whispered. "I-I'm sorry..."
Kana looked up at him stunned.
"Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault-"
Obi covered her mouth.
"I didn't watch over you more intently. I'm sorry."
"Mmph!" Kana muttered, unable to speak.
He moved his hand as she gasped for some air. Then, angrily, she slapped him hard across the face. Obi stared at her in disbelief.
"What do you take me for?!" Kana cried. "I'm not a damsel in distress! It's not your duty to protect me so don't blame yourself!"
"K-Kana-"
Kana glared at him teary-eyed.
"Obi it's not fair for you to blame yourself when something happens to me... It's not your fault..." she said.
Obi pulled her back into his arms again and stroked her hair.
"I won't let anything happen to you again."

"Found her!"

The three of them turned to find the bandits grouping up, ready to take her back with them. Obi growled and pushed her behind him. Kana reached for her bow but realized it was gone. She gaped at the bandits in horror. They had taken her bow!
"Not on my watch," hissed Obi, attacking the bandits with quite the skillful martial arts. "You're not touching my partner again!"
Shuuto grabbed his own bow and began shooting at the bandits. Kana grabbed onto his shoulders, grabbed an arrow, and flipped over.
"This time, it's hand to hand combat," she say as he looked at her, astonished.
He dropped the bow and followed her into the circle of bandits with knives.
"Got them all?" Obi asked, glancing around.
"Not all," Kana said, staring at the man who kidnapped her.
"You-" shouted Obi angrily.
But before he could do anything, Kana threw a knife at the man's leg, disabling him from walking.
"Gah!"
Obi stared at her, dumbfounded.
"You're ruthless."
"Bring him," Kana told Shuuto. "I want to question him later."
"Yes," Shuuto said, tying up the man and pulling him behind.
"Are you alright?" Obi asked, observing Kana.
Shen odded.
"Yeah. I'm okay..."
The three of them, along with Cocoa and the prisoner headed back towards the castle.
"Thanks for coming to get me," Kana told Obi quietly.
He smiled.
"I didn't do much. You're one amazing woman getting yourself out of there on your own!"
Kana scoffed.
"The thought of being away from you was too hard..."
Kana glanced at him and he looked at her in awe. Next thing they knew, they both burst into laughter. Kana was home safe. That's all that mattered.