Saizo (SLBP PART 1)

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Thanks for tonight.. Saizo.." Lina thanked her boyfriend with a smile. "I'm really happy you let me meet your family."

Saizo's eyes didn't waver but he gave her a small smile.

"You're welcome little lady."

"You can send me till here. My grandma is up late inventing a new recipe for our restaurant so it won't be safe for you to walk me to my doorstep." Lina told him and gave him a side glance. "See you tomorrow at the same place, same time alright?"

She began walking away but Saizo suddenly grabbed her arm, whirling her around and kissing her feverishly.

"Mmf.. S-s-Sai-Saizo..." Lina whimpered in need as she kissed him back, her arms clutching at the front of his hakama.

"Just.. a... lil' bit... longer..." Saizo panted in between breaths as he continued kissing her passionately.

"Sai-Saizo..." Lina cupped his face and pulled herself away. "I gotta go..."

Saizo looked into her eyes, sighed and released his little lady from his grip.

"See you tomorrow kay'?" Lina reminded him gently.

Saizo gave her one of his handsome smirk before disappearing but.. Lina knew he will turn up nevertheless..

*~*

"So... You will cut off financial aid for the Takeda unless we carry out your request?" Lord Shingen asked with a raised eyebrow.

It was after midnight and Lord Shingen was still holding an important meeting with the Daimyos from Kai.

"We cannot have such a threat lingering about! His shinobi have already taken out many of our best bodyguards as a warning!" a Daimyo from East of Kai, raised his voice.

"I'm sure it's that your men are the one who's not capable of doing their jobs well." Saizo shot back with a smirk, riling up the anger of the other Daimyos.

"Then why don't you do the protecting huh?!" a Daimyo from West of Kai crossed his arms and continued in a snide voice. "Unless you don't think that you're up for it."

Saizo however, wasn't perturbed at all by their jeers.

"I don't take cheap tricks as payment."

Kansuke, who is a trusted bodyguard and a ninja of Lord Shingen, was deep in thought before raising his eyes.

"How about I go? I'll protect all the Daimyos and at the same time take out the threat surrounding all of you? Will you then provide financial aid for Milord Shingen?"

"What Kansuke?!? No!!" Yukimura protested out loud before anyone could. "You are Lord Shingen's personal bodyguard! The most trusted one too! There's no way we can leave Lord Shingen unprotected!!"

"Then Saizo can take my place. Right?" Kansuke pressed as he stared at the silver haired ninja. "I wish to serve my Lord the best I can and right now he needs financing for the many upcoming wars."

"If you're talking about taking them out I can take the enemy out by myself." Saizo replied curtly.

The Daimyo from North of Kai fanned himself with a fan as he sighed.

"So? Have we reached an agreement? Honestly we don't mind which ninja you choose to send Lord Shingen. Either Kansuke or Saizo will do since they're both excellent ninjas."

"But if Saizo is coming, so are his siblings right? They come in a package too right?" the South of Kai Daimyo spoke.

"No." Saizo answered coldly. "If you want my siblings to take missions you go to them personally. We ninjas have pride and honour. We don't take requests based on word of mouth."

The Daimyos all fell silent and all eyes were on Lord Shingen...

"Before I reach a decision though, may I know why this shinobi is after you?"

"How should we know?! All we know is we each got a scroll saying he or she is sending someone to assassinate us!" West Daimyo yelled out.

"Next thing we know whoever we hired as our bodyguards are killed! The scroll did mention that they'll give us about two weeks to live!"

"But why???" Yukimura exclaimed, extremely befuddled.

"Something just doesn't add up here..." Lord Shingen narrows his eyes suspiciously as he stood up. "This meeting is over. If you don't wish to provide financial aid for me then that's fine and dandy."

"Milord Shingen! We will NOT be aiding you financially if you choose to a turn a blind eye to this!" the South Daimyo threatened.

"I will not send my men to a mission that I'm not even clear about!" Lord Shingen growled, showing everyone present why he earned the title Tiger Of Kai. "If you want to play hide and seek with me then so be it! But once I seek you out, trust me, I WILL TEAR EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU UP!"

The hall fall silent as Lord Shingen stride out of the room.