Takuma ran through the trees, darting his eyes this way and that as he made sure no one was following him. He scrambled up a nearby pine tree and scouted out the surroundings. Seeing no one following him, he scrambled down a little to a middle branch and then began to spring off of it and onto other branches along the forest. He finally ended up at the small hut that was nestled in Chitaki Forest and plopped down soundlessly in front of the hut.
As he was about to open the door, a throwing star shot out of the window and if Takuma hadn't been expecting it, it probably would have embedded into his skull.
"Will you quit that!? You know I come around this time every day!" he growled.
"Takuma?" someone said quietly from the hut.
"As it is every day at 4 pm, milord..."
He waited for a few minutes but opened the door to the hut and walked deeper into it. Upon a small hay laden bed was Tsume, looking much bigger but looking none too well. Takuma and Tsume were only about three years apart and though Takuma was a servant, he had been taught the ninja way as well. Since he was considered servant class, he had been treated very poorly by the rest of the ninjas but Tsume always vouched that he would be a great ninja if everyone would stop laughing at him. Now that Tsume had been banished, everyone was reduced to making fun of him even more because his lord was now a very disgusting and pregnant one.
Takuma knew that Tsume would never do this on his own and as a servant, he knew that people were people and they made mistakes; ninjas or no. He knew that Tsume only did what his father had asked of him and who would have known that the crazy lady was an enchantress or capable of doing this to his master?
"I'm sorry but I couldn't grab very much this time." He said, pulling out a loaf of bread and a skin bottle. "I did procure milk though, instead of water. It might give you a little more strength."
"Maybe..." Tsume said softly.
Takuma began to walk over but Tsume put out his hand.
"Don't come closer."
"Milord-"
"Takuma, I've been banished, I'm no longer anything. If anything, I'm the same class as you now."
"Then you are still a ninja warrior." Takuma said affirmatively. "Your family may believe you dead but I know the truth. I was there... There are others who would like to see you, milord."
"I don't exist." He seethed.
Takuma sighed and walked over despite what Tsume had asked of him and grabbed the cup that was on the makeshift table. He opened the skin bottle and poured the milk into it. He handed the cup to Tsume, who took it with shaking hands and he drank down the pasty liquid. He hadn't had milk in weeks and was happy to have a different taste in his mouth other than water. Takuma set to cutting the bread on the table with one his throwing knives, knowing good and well that they were not used for that purpose. After cutting a hefty piece for Tsume, he walked over and handed it to him.
"Would you like some more?"
"Yes, if you please... You don't have to do this every day, Takuma. If Father or any of the other ninjas catch you, you'll be banished too."
"Well, if that were the case, then it would be more convenient."
Tsume frowned as he bit into the bread.
"Don't say that."
"It's true. You are very ill, milord."
"It's what's happened that's the reason."
"And that's reason enough! I support your decision to keep it but I also support your father's for you to rid of it."
Tsume glared at his servant with angry gray eyes.
"If you're going to say stupid things then I would rather you not come here."
"I apologize, milord... I'm just worried for you." Takuma moved the little table over so that Tsume could reach the rest of the bread and milk. "I can't stay long today, for we have to attempt to invade the emperor's castle again."
"Don't go through the apothecary." Tsume said with a smirk.
Takuma smiled. "I don't plan to, milord. Shall I let anyone know you're doing fine?"
"I told you, Takuma, I don't exist so it doesn't matter how I'm doing or not."
Takuma just nodded. "Of course, milord."
He left the hut and traveled back to the Kayoshi Village.

****************

When Takuma landed, he was suddenly grabbed around the waist and a hand thrown over his mouth.
"Where have you been going?" someone said in his mouth.
"Off to see your nasty little wife?"
"Leave him alone." Someone yelled and the two let go of him.
Takuma turned around and glared at the two ninjas. A man a little older than Takuma made a face at the two and they walked away. He looked at Takuma and lifted a graying eyebrow.
"And where have you been?"
"Nowhere..."
The man lifted a small pine needle from his shirt and looked at Takuma.
"You went to see him, didn't you?"
"See who? I was just practicing my leaps, sir." He said, looking behind the man.
The man looked behind him and saw Lady Benihone walking with her husband. He motioned for Takuma to follow him and they walked over to a small dojo.
After closing the doors, the man looked at him and immediately saw a face of gloom.
"What's wrong?"
"I fear that Lord Tsume may die." He said, tears forming in his brown eyes. "Mayori, what do I do? He won't let me help him, save bring him food and drink."
"Tsume was the son of Master Yukorite, so he knows what being banished means. He just doesn't want to get you in trouble. But, tell me, how does he fair?"
"As I said, he's not well. He has very much changed these months... He's turning to skin and bones. I can't get a good enough meal out to him without being watched. That is why I try so hard to make sure I get food to him... I don't know what to do for him anymore, Mayori."
"Maybe I can go out to him-"
"He won't let me tell anyone where he is. It was a fluke that I found him in the first place. I think he thinks it an invasion on his pride for anyone else to see him in his delicate condition. He barely lets me see him. When he took the cup from me today, his hands were shaking. Shaking, Mayori! I've never seen Lord Tsume's hands shake like that except when he is angry but can't draw his weapon."
"Hmm... this is very grave indeed." Mayori said, putting his hand under his chin. "We must get some medicine out to him then, without the detection of Master Yukorite. I'm surprised he hasn't detected you already."
"He is still comforting Lady Benitone of her grief. She is quite elaborate and so I have a chance to escape for about an hour or so as he takes her to the onsen to calm down and get a massage. They are becoming less frequent though..."
Mayori put his hands on Takuma's shoulders in a friendly gesture as he looked down at the younger man.
"Takuma, I need to know where Tsume is located. It will be dangerous for you in the near future for you to go out there. I won't tell Master about it or anyone else but if what you say is true, then someone needs to be administering medicine to him."
Takuma didn't want to break his lord's word but he knew that Mayori was right.
"Alright... But... You didn't hear it from me."
"The strictest confidence." He said with a smirk.

****************

Tsume woke with a start, feeling an odd feeling. He looked down at his distended stomach and put a hand on it to steady himself. Something didn't feel right on the wind. He got up carefully and walked out of the hut he had made for himself. He closed his eyes and felt the wind go through his longer black hair and still felt the strange sensation. It was coming from the clan. It's not my clan anymore. he thought to himself. He wanted to check and see what was happening but decided against it. He wobbled back inside and laid back on his straw bed.