ALEX'S POV

After escaping from Kenshin, I knew that he was going to try every attempt to kidnap me and use me as a hostage but, I was gonna have a little fun with him and his men. Right now, I was on my way back to the castle from delivering a kimono to one of the clients but, it had started to get dark and that was when I realised that I was being followed. I knew who it was so, I ran into an ally and no surprise, it was Kenshin's men who planned to kidnap me but, I was able to beat the crap out of them and I left one standing.

"*Yawn* was that all you got? and you were supposed to be Kenshin's vassals."

I said after yawning in boredom after beating five of my kidnappers. The last man standing looked at me with a shocked expression on his face and he stared at me like a gaping frog.

"Wha...how...how were you able to defeat all five of my men?!"

"Let's just say, I'm an expert when it comes to hand to hand combat and escaping from jerks like you."

"Grr! you won't escape us that easily!!"

The man charged at me and I shrugged my shoulder while sighing a little.

"This isn't much of a challenge at all, how disappointing."

I punched my kidnapper square in the face and then he fell onto the floor. I chuckled a little and I told them.

"Nice try boys but, tell Kenshin this: if he wants to use me as a hostage then be my guest and come at me as many times as you want but, you can't catch this little wolf."

I laughed afterwards as I made my way back to the castle while leaving my six kidnappers unconsciousness. Once I made it back, Hideyoshi was standing at the gates waiting for me.

"There you are, do you have any idea how late it has gotten?"

"Sorry 'mother', I ran into some bothersome people on the way here, kidnappers from Echigo."

"What?! Hang on, how did you get away from them?"

"Why don't you see for yourself."

Hideyoshi looked in the direction where I was pointing and then he went to check it out for himself.

"This isn't over, Alex!" Hideyoshi shouted before running off to the spot where I left the kidnappers.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

I said as I made my way back into the castle. I was on my way back to my room until I spotted the usual sugar-candy thief on another heist. I snuck up behind and I shouted.

"NOBUNAGA!!"

Nobunaga jumped in fright and he pressed his back against the wall. I burst into laughter and then Nobunaga glared at me.

"Alex! don't do that!"

"Hehehe...sorry I couldn't resist so, you're on another heist to get some sugar candy are you?"

"No."

"Nobunaga, don't lie to me, I can tell you're in a desperate need of some sugar," I spoke with a frown on my face.

"Ugh, okay fine, I'm on another heist and I'm also keeping an eye out for Hideyoshi."

"I wouldn't worry about him, he's a little busy cleaning up my mess right about now."

"Mess? what did you do now?"

"It's, uh, a bit of a long story."

As we snuck to the kitchen, I told Nobunaga what happened earlier and how I dealt with the ronin a few weeks earlier. 

"So, what happened to the ronin you dealt with?"

"I have no idea, hopefully, they're hiding in a hole somewhere, not bothering people," I whispered as I checked the corner to make sure there weren't any guards about.

I gave the signal to Nobunaga to come closer and he then asked me.

"And now tonight, six random people appeared and they tried to kidnap you? why?"

"Well, my guess is, they probably thought that I was your woman and with the battles going on, not to mention with the big war coming up the Uesugi-Takeda forces, every daimyo in Japan will do whatever it takes to find your weakness and use it against you."

Nobunaga looked at me surprised and he said to me.

"You make it sound like you've been through this kind of experience before."

"Not me, Dominic did, when he was 18, he had every wo- uh, I mean, enemies coming after him, they thought I was his woman too and they tried to use me for a bargaining chip or a hostage, you won't believe how many times I had to escape from their clutches."

'Stupid! you nearly blew your cover!'

I scolded myself and then we got to the kitchen. Nobunaga looked impressed when I told him this and then we got to the kitchen. I went first and I checked to make sure no one was around and thankfully, no one was here.

"All clear."

I told him and then we got to the kitchen.

"I'm surprised you didn't try to stop me," Nobunaga said as he went to look for the sugar candy while I kept an eye out for the monkey.

"Well, believe it or not, after Dominic took me in, I used to sneak into the kitchen for a midnight snack as well, at first, I did get sloppy and Josh used to give me a right good scolding but, after a while, I was able to give him and Dominic the slip."

"You are a little weasel."

"I prefer vixen, but, thanks."

I spoke with a smirk before looking out of the door again. Nobunaga found the jar of sugar candy and he smiled in victory.

"Found it."

"Good work."

"Who's down there?" A familiar voice spoke up.

I sweat dropped when I realised it was Hideyoshi.

"Yikes! it's Hideyoshi! quick! hide!"

Nobunaga went into hiding while I distracted Hideyoshi. I got a cup and I poured water into it before Hideyoshi showed up.

"Alex, what are you doing here? shouldn't you be in bed after tonight's events?"

"I'm going but, I wanted a drink first and speaking of tonight's events, did you find the kidnappers that I knocked out?"

"I got to the location where they were but, they had already run off before I could arrest them, I don't know how you did it but, I think you've left them with some nasty bruises for a while."

"Well, that's what they get for trying to kidnap me."

I spoke with a smirk on my face before taking a sip of water. 

"Well, anyway, don't stay up too late, it isn't good for your health."

"Yes, 'Mother'."

I sarcastically said before Hideyoshi left the kitchen. Once he was gone, I peeked out of the kitchen to make sure he was gone. I smirked a little and I whispered.

"It's okay, he's gone."

"Phew..."

Nobunaga sighed in relief and then he came out of hiding. 

"That was close, nice work."

I held out my hand and I said to him.

"Don't I get a reward for keeping my mouth shut and making sure you didn't get caught?"

"I suppose you do."

Nobunaga shared some of his sugar candy with me by giving me a handful of the candy he gave me. I smirked at him and I said.

"Thank you."

"Honestly, I don't know who's got a craving for sweets more, me or you?"

"Well, we share something in common, nothing wrong with that is there?"

"I guess that's true."

I smiled at him and then we left the kitchen. I got back to my room while having some sugar candy that Nobunaga gave me until I spotted a familiar ninja in my room.

"Oh hello, Sasuke."

"Evening Alex, I was beginning to wonder if you had been kidnapped or not."

"Well, as you can see, the War God has failed miserably again, here, want one?"

I asked as I offered some sugar candy to Sasuke. He sighed a little and then he took one anyway.

"Good grief, you still crave for these? I'm surprised you haven't gained any weight."

"Watch it, I can watch what I eat sometimes and if I do eat something that's not healthy for me, I work it off."

I said as I placed another candy ball in my mouth. Sasuke then asked me.

"Why did you tell Kenshin who you were? you should've kept your mouth shut."

"It sorta slipped out besides, he was gonna find out eventually and besides, I haven't told anyone that he was the one who kept sending those men after me, all I've been telling the other it was random men who were sent by a random daimyo, nothing more."

"I see, well, Lord Kenshin will be relieved to hear that but, he is gonna be mad that hasn't captured you yet."

"Let him keep trying besides, it's more fun this way."

I spoke with a smirk on my face before eating another candy ball. Sasuke stared at me intently and I sweatdropped a little.

"What? do I have something on my face?"

"No, but, I can tell you've changed since the last time we spoke before you did a disappearing act six years ago."

"Sasuke, we've been through this, nothing is going on with me and I've been through a rough patch since my parents were murdered and if you still want to know, I've learned how to defend myself properly."

"I was able to see that but, what I still don't understand is, how? who taught you? the way you dodged Lord Kenshin's grip and being able to take down the ronin the way you did. It almost sounds like you're some kind of wild animal wanting to pick a fight with anyone who wants to hurt you."

"So what? it's how I was taught after all, what's the big deal?"

"The big deal is that I'm worried about you, as I said, you've changed over the last six years and I get the feeling you're hiding something from me."

I lowered my head and then Shadow said to me.

"This guy is persistent, isn't he?"

"I know...Sasuke can't know about you or what happened to me six years ago."

I told Shadow before standing up and walking towards the window and opening it.

"Get out."

"What?"

"I said get out, Sasuke. You've overstayed your welcome, now go back to that War God and do whatever it is you ninjas do."

SASUKE'S POV

I looked at Alex and I can tell that she was already past the point from getting angry. I sighed a little and I then walked towards the open window. I looked at Alex one last time and I said to her.

"Alex, I don't know what happened after the death of Mr and Mrs Hinamori but, just to let you know, you're my friend and I'm gonna be here in Azuchi for another few weeks. If you need to talk to me, find me at the inn where we're staying."

I told Alex before giving her a slip of paper to let her know which inn I was staying for the time being. I left through the window and I headed back to the inn.

ALEX'S POV

I watched Sasuke leap on top of the rooftops as he made his way back to the place where he was staying. I looked at the slip of paper that he gave me and it has the name of the inn where he was staying while he is in Azuchi. I looked out of the window and I looked at the waxing-gibbous moon and then Shadow said to me.

"It's all right if you want to visit him, Alex, I'm not stopping you but, be aware, the full moon will be arriving soon."

"I know, I'll make a visit to him tomorrow besides..."

I looked at the moon once more and I continued.

"Time is not on our side when it comes to the full moon."

I told Shadow as I stared at the moon while eating some of the sugar candy.