--(Senjuro's POV)--

I felt awful. I wanted to stay by Yui, but I trust Mitsuri and Shinobu. Mitsuri's been friends with my brother forever. Shinobu is a very calm, and trustworthy person who gets along great with my brother... but I just- I still want to be with Yuichiro.

I stopped looking behind me, and turned my head to look forward. Obanai was focused on what was ahead of us. Pumpkin just kept galloping forward. We both heard talking. He stopped Pumpkin, making her slow down and trot behind some trees.

We both looked and saw some people, one of them was wearing a hood and wasn't recognizable. The other one though... Gyomei! It's Gyomei and Uzui! Obanai had Pumpkin move forward a bit, Uzui saw us.

"OH! Good, we were worried you and Mitsuri didn't make it out! That would be very un-flamboyant of you two!" Uzui shouted, Gyomei looked at us and began praying. Obanai shook his head,

"We got out don't worry." He said, he hopped off of pumpkin.

"Oh... is Senjuro with you?" Gyomei asked, still praying.

"Yes he is." Obanai replied, walking pumpkin forward. I just continued sitting on pumpkin.

"Shouldn't you be in the castle?" Uzui asked, resting his chin on his hand. I nodded,

"We were kidnapped." I whispered, Gyomei began to cry and pray. Uzui looked shocked.

"Yeah kid, what did happen?" Obanai said, he turned to face me.

"Well, it was- I got separated from my brother, and then I met Yuichiro. Then everything kinda went black, we woke up in a room. And a guy came in and tortured Yuichiro, then Ginko led us away." I explained, Gyomei was praying and Uzui looked shocked. Obanai patted my shoulder, a horse trotted next to us.

It was Shinobu and Mitsuri! Tengen gasped at the sight of Yuichiro, he was still unconscious on Caramel, Mitsuri's horse. I climbed off Pumpkin and stood next to Yuichiro, looking at his face.

Mitsuri and Shinobu both gave me a sad look.

"We should keep moving to the Mist Kingdom." Shinobu told us, Mitsuri went to stand next to Obanai. Tengen walked forward with Gyomei. I stayed next to Yui, Shinobu was guiding Caramel forward.

We walked in uncomfortable silence. I couldn't help but just stare at Yuichiro. His short choppy hair- we should trim that once he wakes up. Hopefully he wakes up.

His arm and chest was bandaged up properly, thank goodness Shinobu was here too help.

"Hey... we're here." Tengen whispered as we approached the giant brick wall surrounding the kingdom.

I recognized the wall, it was the same wall we snuck in through when we traveled here for the first time with the princes.

I hope my brother is ok. I don't know what could be happening inside the castle. The king agreed to shelter us, so I can only hope everyone is ok.

There was guards protecting the entrance, it seemed much more guarded then usual. We all looked at each other, Tengen nodded and went forward.

"Hey pals! Uh by chance could ya let us in?" He waved his hand in a friendly, flashy manner. Everyone but me and Yui face palmed. Both Gaurds raised their spears at him.

"Wing Kingdom is not allowed past these gates, kings orders!" They both said in unison.

"We were.... We got special permission from the king...?" Tengen shrugged slowly, trying to convince them.

"'We'? there's more of you!? Come out now!" One yelled. We all flinched, way to go Tengen.

Slowly we all came out of the trees, but what caught their attention was Yuichiro.

"Prince Yuichiro! What did you do!?" They gasped, both holding their spears at us. I froze, they didn't think we did this right?

"No, this is a misunderstanding, we found him!" Mitsuri tried to explain, but we were all forced together when they threatened us with the spears.

"Stop! Wait! Do you remember me? Senjuro, I came in with my brother and the princes-" I yelled, standing in the front. One of them squinted their eyes and looked at me.

"Lies!" The other one accused. I frowned then was forced to back up.

"You'll be arrested, how dare you harm a prince!" They got closer.

"No you scum will!"

I froze, I recognized that high voice. A crow landed on my head and flapped her wings, she looked pissed.

"How dare you!? How dare you ugly worthless Guards! This is Sir Senjuro! And these are great people! They wouldn't hurt Yuichiro, just wait until the king hears! I'll have you scum beheaded!" Ginko screeched, ranting on and on, still insulting the Guards.

The Guards went pale, dropping the spears and almost running away. Ginko perched on my head, huffing at them. They slowly opened the gate for us, no words said.

They led us inside, taking us into the castle and moving us around. There were gaurds everywhere...

A Gaurd took the horses away, and more people came out and took Yuichiro somewhere.

Ginko remained perched on my head.

"Are you with the other group of Wind Kingdom Travelers?" A female gaurd asked. Obanai and Mitsuri exchanged glances.

"Yes there with the others, please guide them there." Someone said, Muichiro walked into the room.

"Prince it's not safe out here-"

"Shut up."

The Gaurd went silent and motioned Gyomei and Tengen forward, taking everyone but me and Muichiro to the dungeon? I suppose that's where I was going before hand- it's the safest place to stay. It's fortified.

The Gaurd left it was just me and Muichiro.

"Where is my brother- did you find him? Is he ok?" Muichiro pleads, I can hear the concern in his voice.

"Yuichiro- he was with me but..." I went silent, and Muichiro paused.

"But, what. What happened-" Muichiro began to stress out.

"He got hurt. He got really hurt." I whispered. Muichiro paused and looked at me, then looked down and the door. He was trembling.

He moved past me, grabbing my hand. He went away from the dungeons, looking through the castle until we got to a medical room. Yuichiro...

Muichiro went in first and gasped and ran to his brothers side. Yuichiro was still unconscious and on a bed.

Muichiro hugged him tightly, and looked at his bandages and his short hair. He ran his fingers through his hair and tried his hardest not to cry.

I moved closer to the bed, and I frowned. I patted Muichiro's back, I didn't want him to be upset. But it's his older twin brother afterall. If only I was stronger, I could have protected him.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, Muichiro looked up at me confused.

"He got hurt protecting me." I explained, Muichiro looked a little surprised. Than he wiped his tears eyes.

"He's like that. He acts all cold, but when people he cares about are threatened, he'll give his life to save them." Muichiro whispered and wiped his eyes again. His breathing got heavier.

"It's ok Muichiro, you can cry. I won't say anything." I mumbled, I felt like crying too.

He didn't even pause, he burst into tears and hugged Yuichiro. He treambled and just cried into his brother. It hurt to see, I could feel my eyes get watery too.

I patted Muichiro's back in a way to try and comfort him.

Yuichiro stirred and whined in pain, we both looked at him as he opened his eyes. He blinked and looked at us confused and disoriented.

"Yui!" Muichiro smiled and hugged him tightly, Yuichiro groaned. Muichiro backed up. Yuichiro looked at us, then around the room.

"You're safe brother, Senjuro brought you back." Muichiro said, he took Yuichiro's hand and held it.

"Senjuro...?" Yuichiro said looking at me. I nodded.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything for you. You got hurt because of me." I whispered, we both went silent as if recalling the memory. Muichiro frowned.

"Don't be sorry..." Yuichiro whispered looking down. He noticed his hair and looked shocked.

Yuichiro frowned and Muichiro hugged him, he hugged him back. Yuichiro looked at us both and blinked.

"What's... happening?" He whispered.

"Awful things." Muichiro said, looking down at his lap.

"Was my brother ok?" I asked, Muichiro looked at me and nodded.

"Kyojuro and Giyu were fine, I feel bad for Sanemi and Genya, poor Genya... they aren't dealing well with the loss of their family." Muichiro whispered looking down.

"Father's going to attack tomorrow." Muichiro said again, both me and Yui both went silent looking at him.

"With the army? What about Mother? She leads the main unit- are we starting the war-?" Yuichiro said, looking at Muichiro.

"Wind Kingdom started it first." I said, and looked at them.

"The Mist Kingdom is just defending itself." I said, looking away. Muichiro nodded.

We all stayed silent. Were we really going to go to war? Whose side was I on? Obviously Yuichiro's kingdom.

A war.

A war tomorrow.

I hope we win.

~ (⁠◕⁠ᴗ⁠◕⁠✿⁠) ~

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