Fourever Loving Yasu

Come Back To Me

With time Yasu and Gin built up their hidden force working in the shadows within the city.  Ren’s contact, Yasu was able to obtain 20,000 acres of land which included a mountain. Although the land around the mountain was fertile, the mountain was steep with rocks and cliffs.  Yasu sent men to explore the mountain and found a good place to begin building a training camp. While the fertile land was rented out to farmers.  

As time passed they began infiltrating into different cities.  With the help of Ren and Shiro, the first city they expanded to was Hima.  While Gin and Ken held down the operations in Nijo, Yasu and Kei alongside 20 retired soldiers traveled to Hima.  

To keep in touch, Ren, Shiro and Yasu wrote to each other at least once a week.  Their letters were about mundane daily life, but inside the messages was a hidden code they used to communicate to each other.  

By the time Yasu reached the first checkpoint into Hima,  Shiro alongside ten guards stood by waiting for them. With Shiro’s help, Yasu and his men were quickly “checked in” and passed through both checkpoints.  

Yasu and his men were not recorded in Hima’s safety procedures.  Should anyone follow up on Yasu, their whereabouts would not be found.  Their mission was to work in the shadows so their identities were not recorded.  

Once inside of Hima, Ren met four more secret guards that Ren gave him.  They would be their point of contact to Ren and help the retired soldiers to establish themselves within the port city.

Yasu split the retired soldiers up into four groups and sent them off with the four secret guards that Ren gave him.  Each group was to be stationed at different safe houses and had their own orders to complete.  

Yasu and Kei followed Shiro into a private property, located near the westren gate.  

When they arrived, the servants all stood to one side and bowed towards them.  

“Welcome, Young Lord.”  They all said in unison.  

Yasu frowned at the scene, he didn’t want anyone to know his status or the reason why he was there.  Too much attention could cause his careful planning to be exposed.  

Shiro panicked at Yasu’s unhappy expression.  He had thought to let the servants know who was their Master.  With acknowledging their new Master, they would be loyal towards him and work hard for him.  

Yasu let Shiro lead the way and once they were alone did Yasu express his displeasure.  

“Don’t do these unnecessary things in the future.”  Yasu told Shiro. “Not only do I not like it, it also makes me a target to those who might be watching.”  

Shiro’s head quickly looked down to the ground as he bit his bottom lip.  

“Sorry.”  Shiro whispered.  “It won’t happen again in the future.”  

“I appreciate your intentions, but we must be careful in everything we do and say when we are in public.  Especially since our opponent is Lord Hiraga. With his status alone, he can crush us like ants, just like those 51,000 soldiers that he sacrificed without blinking.” 

“You’re right.  I’ll be more careful from now on.”  Shiro agreed.  

“These small mistakes could open a door that could ruin everything we worked so hard for.  The lives of so many loyal men are at stake. Their safety and lives are my responsibility.  One lost life is akin to losing a limb. I will not let their lives or identity be compromised due to mistakes.” 

Shiro bowed his head down more.  He had looked forward to this day since the moment Yasu left Hima.  He had thought their reunion would be joyful, but instead he made a mistake that could compromise their whole operation.                      

Yasu sighed heavily and placed his hand on top of Shiro’s head.  His hand petted Shiro’s head softly, comforting him.  

“I didn’t mean to be so stern with you, I just wanted to remind you to be more vigilant at everything that you do.”  Yasu gently told Shiro.  

“Are you disappointed in me?”  Shiro asked. His eyes stared at the ground, refusing to look at Yasu for fearing to see Yasu’s disappointed eyes staring back at him.  

“What’s there to be disappointed at?”  Yasu said as his hand moved to tilt Shiro’s head up to look at him.  “I have received your good intentions and thank you for your care. I ask that you take care of me more in the future.” 

Yasu’s last sentence caused Shiro to hold those words in his heart for a lifetime.  Shiro nodded his head up and down before showing a smile at Yasu.  

“Hungry?”  Shiro asked.  

“Famished.”  Yasu told him.  

Although their journey from the capital to Hima was only a day’s ride, the food on the road was cold and joyless.    

Shiro led Yasu to his room to freshen up while the meal was being prepared.  After the door closed behind Yasu, Shiro leaned his head against the door and sighed.  Now that Yasu was in Hima with him and Ren, it’ll be their opportunity to get closer to Yasu.  At least now he’ll be able to see Yasu everyday. With a small smirk on his face, Shiro turns around and leaves to check on their dinner.  

Yasu took a turn around the room, getting familiar with it before freshening himself up.  After wiping his face and body with a wet towel, he changed into clean clothes. Yasu then went downstairs and met up with Shiro once again.  

The moment that Yasu entered the dining room, Shiro stood up from his seat.  There was a slight nervous smile on his face and his eyes shined with excitement and anxiousness.  

It had been a long time since Shiro was alone with Yasu again.  He couldn’t help feeling the way he felt. Ever since he met Yasu, he knew that Yasu would one day be his partner and lover.  

“Is the army treating you well?”  Yasu asked as he took a sip of his tea after eating.  

“Very well.”  Shiro confessed.  “Everyone under General Ren works diligently and treats each other well.  There is no dissension within the ranks.”

“That’s good.”  Yasu said as he placed his tea cup down.  “And how are you? Personally, I mean. How are you fairing?” 

Shiro’s eyes became gloomy at Yasu’s words.  There was a sense of loneliness that hung heavily around him.  The nightmare that he experienced has not disappeared from his memories.  The memories hovered around him like a thick, dark cloud.  

Yasu had made his way towards Shiro.  Shiro was lost in his thoughts and no matter how much Yasu called out his name, Shiro did not hear him.  Yasu sat down next to Shiro calling out his name softly so he wouldn’t spook Shiro. But to no avail, nothing worked.  

Yasu reached out and gently took Shiro’s hand.  The moment their hands touched, Shiro’s body shook.  

“Shiro.”  Yasu softly said his name once more.  “Come back to me.”