Shall We Date Ninja Love

Chapter Twelve Fever

Narrated by Aki
The next day Kotaro said our good byes to the villagers as we started to make our way to Iga. Nobakatsu hasn't approached the village. I guess Hanzo was right.

Kotaro: I've contacted Hanzo. I said to prepare for attack.

Aki: Oh…

Kotaro: Though I would lie to stop them before they get to Iga…

Kotaro couldn't kill Nobakatsu, and now he is going to try to kill the ninja in Iga.

Fwoosh

Aki: What is that sound?

Kotaro: There should be a waterfall around here.

Aki: Really? Can we go see it?

Kotaro: Sure but you have to be careful not to fall.

Aki: Okay!

Kotaro: I'm sorry…I said to much…

Does he think I'm a little kid? I guess I am young compared to him…

Aki: You sure do worry a lot.

Kotaro: It's my job to worry about you. To keep you safe.

Three villagers came over to us.

Aki: Hello

Villager 1: Hi, having a nice walk?

Aki: No, were traveling to the next town.

All of a sudden Kotaro stabs one of the villagers!

Aki: Tojiro!

Villager 2: What are you doing?!
Kotaro: You were hired by Nobakatsu weren't you? You move like ninja. You've read the book!

Villager 2: What? What are you saying?

The villager draws his sword and comes at Kotaro!

Villager 3: You bastard! You're after Nobakatsu! 

Kotaro: You're a back stabber! Hachisuka!

Ninja 3: DIE!

Slice!

Ninja 3: …!

SLAM! The ninja falls over! What just happened?

SLICE!

Aki: …!

Soon everyone had fallen over! Kotaro moves so fast! I can't keep up!

Ninja 1: Y…you…

Just then the Ninja took out a whistle and blew on it.

Kotaro: He called for help Princess, climb a tree and hide.

Kotaro picks me up and helps me into a tree. Soon after many ninjas showed up and surrounded Kotaro.

Aki: !?

Ninja 4: You! Are you from Iga!

Kotaro: …

Ninja 4: You don't want to talk? Fine! Get him!

Slice!

Kotaro takes down every ninja that attacks him.

Ninja: AHGHH!

Ninja: AHGHH!

Kotaro is amazing! How can he take on so many people at once?

Ninja 5: Look over there! There's a girl in that tree!

Shit! They found me!

Ninja 6: He must be protecting her! Get here!

They jump into the tree and grabbed my arm, and dragged me down to the ground.

Aki: Let go of me!

Ninja 5: You better shut up if you want to live!

Kotaro: Princess!

Kotaro is surrounded by the ninja's!

Aki: Alright…I'll listen to you.

Ninja 5: Alright. Then shut up!

The ninja's are going to take me as hostage, and Kotaro can't move. They're going to kill us. I open to my hands to the ninja's.

Aki: I'm unarmed! Please don't hurt us!

Fwoosh!

I can hear the waterfall behind us.

Ninja 6: Check her for weapons.

They might torture us for information before they kill us.  So even if it's dangerous…I…When the ninja's let go of me I jumped off the waterfall. 

Splash!

I blacked out. I woke up to Kotaro's worried face. I was back in the village.

Aki: Ah…

Kotaro: You're awake…

I looked over and Chiyo was on the other side of me.

Chiyo: Shizuka! You're finally awake!

Aki: Chiyo…

Chiyo: You've been asleep for a half a day!

Aki: Half a day?

It's already dark outside…

Chiyo: You fell off the waterfall when you were sightseeing. We've been so worried!

Kotaro saved me…

Aki: Ugh…Ah…

Chiyo: You need to stay in bed! You have a fever!

Kotaro: You were catching a cold, and then you fell into the river…

That must be why my head is so…

Chiyo: Anyways, you just relax. I'll leave you to rest.

Kotaro: Thank you Chiyo.

Chiyo: Sure thing! Take care now!

Aki: Thank You…

Chiyo walked over to the door then stopped to wave back to me.

Chiyo: Don't go falling into any more rivers!

Chiyo then left the house.

Kotaro: You sure are crazy…

Aki: I'm sorry. I thought that if I was a hostage that they could…

Kotaro: That's why you jumped off the waterfall?

Kotaro looked me straight in the eyes.

Kotaro: Are you crazy? Don't ever do something like that to proect me!

Aki: I can't promise that!

Kotaro: … Ah…Well…

Kotaro holds his head, but I can't promise something.

Kotaro: Well you are right. If you were a hostage they would have caught me. They wouldn't have done anything to make me talk.

Kotaro put his head on the floor.

Kotaro: I'm sorry to put you in danger.

Aki: Get up off the floor! What are you saying?

I ran over and took his hand.

Aki: Who cares? In the end were both safe.

Kotaro: …

Aki: I'm so happy that you're alright!

Kotaro let go of my hand.

Kotaro: My hands are blood stained…

Aki: …

Kotaro: I killed all of them.

He was able to fight off all of them?

Aki: I'm sorry…

Kotaro: …

Aki: I'm so sorry that you have to say things like that to me!

Kotaro: Princess…

Aki: Even though you risk your life for me and the ninjas.

I take his hand once more.

Aki: Your hands are NOT dirty.

Kotaro: …

He looks into my eyes, and then presses a hand to my forehead.

Kotaro: You still have a fever.
Aki: …

His face is so close…my heart starts pounding.

Kotaro: Do you think you can take some medicine?

Aki: Um…Maybe?

Kotaro: I'll bring you some water.

I grabbed onto the sleeve of his kimono.

Aki: Will you stay by my side?

Kotaro: Of course I will.

Aki: Are you mad at me for worrying you so much?

Kotaro: I could never be mad at you.

Aki: …

Kotaro: Don't worry. You can worry me all you want.

I stare into his eyes.

Aki: Because I'm the princess?

Kotaro: …

He stays silent. I should have kept my mouth shut. I knew I shouldn't have asked.

Kotaro: Sleep well. That medicine should help you rest.

I took the medicine and climbed into bed. After some time there was a rattling sound at the window.

Aki: Ugh…Uah…

Kotaro: Are you cold?

Aki: Yes. I'm shivering.

Kotaro: …

Suddenly Kotaro climbed into my futon!

Kotaro: This should be a bit warmer…

He wrapped his arm around my tiny waist. I can feel his warmth on my skin. It's like the cold has vanished.

During the night.

Hosuke: Hoot….hoot…

I woke up to Hosuke's call.

If I open my eyes then Kotaro will back away. I'll keep pretending I'm sleeping…

Hosuke: Who…who…

Kotaro: Sorry big guy not now. The princess is sleeping.

I hear him whispering.

Kotaro: Yes, she's stupid; she gave herself a fever to protect me.

I feel so wonderful in his arms.

Kotaro: She's so soft…I won't be able to let her go…

Kotaro…