Ninja Love: Saizo Kirigakure

Chapter 47

Later that evening, Hanzo called me, his ninja, and the heads of our ally clans to a large room that served as our meeting hall. Once the introductions were made, Hanzo got straight to the point, acknowledging that it was getting a little to late to conduct business.

"Nobukatsu has written the letter to his father," Hanzo announced to the eager group, "and he has also given us a wealth of other information."

I glanced at Saizo, who sat beside me around the low table, out of the corner of my eye. From the comforting squeeze he gave my hand, I could tell that he knew I was thinking of exactly how Hanzo had gotten the shogun's son to give up this information.

"Not the best man to put in charge..." the head of the Togakure clan, a man called Jiro mulled thoughtfully, shaking his head in disapproval.

A murmur of agreement went around the room, and I nodded my head as well.

"Nobukatsu told us that Nobunaga plans to pass through Kyoto on his way to reinforce Hideyoshi Hashiba, but for now he is staying in Owari until his scouts assure that their transport will not be ambushed by ninja."

A dark man named Zankoku, the leader of the Kurohabaki, scoffed and spat some insult about how how the entirety of the Oda family was not worth the dirt they tread on.

"So," Kotaro spoke up, "Nobukatsu's letter assures his father that Kyoto is safe?"

Hanzo nodded firmly. "Once he enters the city, we will scout out his location and attack him!"

Cheers went up throughout the room, and I couldn't help but smile as well. We would finally confront Japan's most powerful leader directly. Hopefully, we would not be defeated.

Once the ruckus had calmed down, Goemon addressed Hanzo, "I will find away to transport the rest of our available soldiers here."

"Goemon, how many soldiers do you think he will bring with him?" Saizo asked.

Goemon thought for a moment, his golden eyes shining with possibilities.

"His army is spread thin across the country, trying to keep everything under control. However, we can expect an array of troops and an elite guard at the very least. They will easily be the best of the best, carefully selected and trained to protect their shogun with their lives." Goemon paused and his gaze swept the room, scrutinizing everyone in it. "But unless we take them out, we have no chance of reaching Nobunaga."

A solemn air settled around us, and Hanzo ran his hand through his hair as he spoke again. "This will be the toughest fight of our lives, but we have to prevail. I recommend you all spend the next few days training and conditioning your soldiers."

His eyes settled on me, and I met his gaze without hesitation.

"The day is coming when all of our destinies will be decided."

-

The news came about a week later, as I was taking a break from training and eating a persimmon with Sasuke. Goemon had strode up to us, a steely glint in his eye and announced that Nobunaga was nearly at Kyoto, and our attack was scheduled for the day before his arrival. We had two days in total to finish our preparations for the battle.

The rest of that day and the day after that had been a blur. Everyone was rushing around, making sure that everything went according to plan for what we hoped would be the final fight. I helped out where I could, and I retired late each day. By the time I reached my room late in the evening on the eve of the battle, I was utterly exhausted.

The room was a bit smaller than the one I was used to having at the temple in Iga, but it fit my needs and I was in no way complaining. Because of all the other people staying in the house, I also had to share the room with Saizo, which I was definitely not complaining about either. Saizo watched me with amused eyes as I shuffled into the room like a zombie and collapsed face-first onto the large futon the room was equipped with. My muffled growl into the pillow was echoed by his laugh.

"Long day?" he asked as he left the small desk and came to sit next to me on the mat.

"Yeah," I groaned as I rolled over, "I've been helping load and unload carts of supplies and running errands for people all day. I'm beat."

Saizo raised his eyebrows at me, "Well I sure hope you aren't, we still need you, princess."

He dodged a pillow that I tossed at him and laughed again. It was amazing to me how he could seem to be in such good spirits even before a fight. I faced the ceiling with a sigh, my thoughts running a mile a minute.

"Hey," Saizo reached over to me and gently threaded his fingers through my hair, guiding my head to his lap. "What's bothering you?"

I sighed again and closed my eyes, savoring the feeling of Saizo running his hands through my hair.

"How strong do you think Nobunaga's elite guard is?"

The hands in my hair stilled for a moment and I opened my eyes to meet Saizo's soft gaze.

"To be honest Misaki, I'm not sure... According to Goemon's spies, Nobunaga has employed an amazing swordsman. Supposedly we won't even be able to use our techniques against him. We also have it on good authority that he has imported some of the most advance firearms that we have ever seen from overseas...." he looked away from me. "Kotaro's men will fight, but they're not very optimistic."

I shook my head, the truth hitting me like a sack of bricks.

"If we lose to Nobunaga, he will murder us all, won't he?" It came out as more of a statement than a question, and Saizo's face darkened.

"... Misaki, I'm going to be completely honest with you." his hands go back to working through my hair at a steady pace. "Nobunaga is too afraid of the power of the ninja to allow us to live, so yes, he will kill us all if he is given the chance-"

"But?" my heart rate quickened and Saizo gave me a sad glance.

"... But you are far too valuable to kill. Nobunaga will keep you alive and use you to fit his needs. With your life in the balance, he can control the rest of the ninja," Saizo looked as if he was in pain as he spoke his next words, "and he will probably make you his concubine as well."

I sat up, thoroughly alarmed, but I allowed Saizo to bring his arms around me and draw me into his lap.

"But why?" I finally managed to whisper, "Doesn't he hate all the ninja?"

"Nobunaga is a smart man. He does not fear the ninja blood, but the power it holds. Is is also eccentric and likes exotic things, and your lineage is no exception... he might go as far as to force you to bear him a child." Saizo's face was hardened with a deep-seated hatred towards Nobunaga that I was beginning to understand more and more.

My vision blurred as Saizo held me close to him, pressing soft kisses on the top of my head.

"I would rather die," I mumbled into his sleeve.

"I know," Saizo said consolingly, "but I want you to survive, which is why we'll make sure that we beat Nobunaga and whatever he has to throw at us tomorrow. Losing may be a possibility, but it is no longer an option."

I looked up into Saizo's eyes. They held such deep emotion that I could lose myself with in them entirely. Slowly, Saizo leaned down and kissed me deeply. I tried my best to convey my love through him when words failed me. I matched his passion and emotion toe-to-toe, and we stayed in each others' arms until we fell asleep, opting to ignore the dread of the morning in favor of living in the hope of the night.