Yukimura (SLBP PART 2)

Chapter Thirty-Two

The first picture is Tadakatsu, followed by Toramatsu and Hanzo.

*~*

"There they are!" Lord Kenshin sighed in relief as he saw the approaching figures of Saizo and gang...

"Sorry to keep you guys waiting..." Saizo said with a wry smile as Toshiie pushed everyone aside, punching his shoulder.

"You're late! I heard from Lord Shingen you went off to look for Lina during the war!! What took you so long to only get back now?!?"

Saizo gave a deep sigh as he thought about what to answer...

He did took longer than usual to end the fight with Kotaro as he was reminicising on old memories...

Saizo decided to tell the truth even though Toshiie might not buy it...

"I got lost on the path of life..."

"Wha-? Bullshit!"

"I knew it... Why do I even bother..." the silver haired ninja muttered under his breath..

"Come on Toshiie, all that's matters is Lina hime is safe right?" Hideyoshi placed a hand on his hip, giving a warm smile.

"Yea, thank god Lina is safe. I thought something happened to her..." Mitsuhide approached them...

"Hey does anyone not care about me?!?" Yukimura grunted in annoyance as Ieyasu rolled his eyes.

"Puh-lease. You already have Lina sama as your wife. So why should we care about you?"

"Why you little-"

Kojuro stepped forward before Lina and studied her with concerned jade green eyes.

"Are you sure you're really fine? Do you need to rest? I could carry you on my back if-..."

"Hey! That's my wife you're talking to!" Yukimura huffed in anger as he struggled to get down Hotaru.

"Wait, why is Sanada even on Hotaru's back?" Masamune, who's holding Kojirou's hand in his, asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Let me guess... Hotaru must have tried using his voice to hypnotise our dear Saizo but Saizo managed to deflect his genjutsu technique again hasn't he?" Yuki chuckled, earning a smirk from the silver haired ninja.

"Guess our dear little brother will never learn..."

"But..." Hanbei waved a hand repeatedly in front of Hotaru's expressionless face. "Why isn't he responsive or protesting this one bit???"

"That's because I learnt a new technique... I deflected his genjutsu back onto him..." was Saizo's simple reply.

"Damn... I wouldn't want to mess with you Saizo.." Shigezane chuckled as Saizo cracked his neck with a sigh.

"You're a samurai and I'm a ninja. Samurai don't have jutsu for me to deflect so you guys are in the safe zone... to a certain extent..."

"Hmph. I'm sure we'll have the upper hand in battle." Kageie answered with a smirk.

"Oh? Really now?"

"It might just be after the war but I'm still raring to go! Let's have a sparring session right now!" Kageie's voice filled with excitement as Yoshichi held him back by locking his arms.

"Kageie! Not now! Please have some respect for the other lords here!"

"Well I'm fine watching this actually." Lord Nobunaga gave a wide grin.

"Me two." Lord Shingen chimed.

Lord Masamune chuckled as he gave a nod.

"Aww hell yea! Let's get-"

"Are you forgetting who you serve?" Lord Kenshin's voice piped as his two retainers froze.

"But Lord Kenshin I'm not tired-"

"It doesn't matter Kageie. Our pregnant princess is. So we should get back now. Kanetsugu and Kagetsugu, drag them back to Kasugayama castle."

"But hey! Lord Kenshin I didn't start the fight!" Yoshichi wailed as he was dragged by a cursing Kanetsugu.

Lina was then approached by Ieyasu and three people behind him.

"Hey!" Lina's eyes widened. "You are Tadakatsu and Toramatsu aren't you? And you're Hanzo right?"

"Hey hime sama remembers our name!" Tadakatsu replied in glee as Ieyasu rolled his eyes.

"Don't be so girlish Tadakatsu! I swear you'll need to lose your balls if you become any more girlish!"

"Oh Lord Ieyasu will you be the one cutting off my balls?!?" Tadakatsu asked in excitement as a genuine blush covered his cheeks.

"What?!?" Lina exclaimed in horror as Toramatsu stepped forward, bowing slightly.

"Let me officially introduce ourselves. I am Naomasa Toramatsu and this here is Honda Tadakatsu. We're both Lord Ieyasu's retainers working as spies to sell out Nagahide. And this ninja here is Hattori Hanzo, he serves Lord Ieyasu too..."

"Oh... Uhm... Nice to meet you all... Thank you for not harming me or the boys back at the castle..." Lina replied with a bow of her own.

"It's only our duty to protect you and those on your side hime sama."

"So Lord Ieyasu are you cutting off my-..."

"For the last time NO TADAKATSU!!!" Ieyasu huffed out in irritation, the awkward conversation interrupting Lina and Toramatsu.

"Don't mind them. Tadakatsu is always like this. He has a fetish for being verbally abused by Lord Ieyasu."

Lina just responded with an embarrassed nod..

"Lina, Yukimura..." Lord Masayuki approached them on his horse. "Please see me after you have rest up back at Ueda castle."

Lina looked to Yukimura who gave a firm nod, and in turn, doing the same..