The shoji windows shook in their frames against the windy weather. They were no longer in the perfect condition they once were. The paper was torn, and barely hanging on to its frame. Beyond the frames was a muddy wasteland filled with ashes. Those who once resided no longer stayed; they had gone beyond the mountain for new homes. They couldn't stay, and they wouldn't either. Where the dead rose only meant a curse to them.

Fear was what chased them away. But for good reason. The horrors of that night would forever haunt them in their dreams. They will never forget the demons that destroyed their homes and the heroes that saved them from the fires of Hell.

But even these heroes have their own demons to deal with.

The fire seemed to dance before the samurais' eyes. Its tongue of flames waved around just as the wind commanded. The warmth it emitted was calming, although the cold bore its teeth with the wet garments the woman samurai refused to remove. Yoshie's fingers shivered even when they were close to the flames. Hanzo slept peacefully, while the blue samurai took a seat beside her.

Hours had passed since the incident with shikabane, and it has been only minutes since the shinobis with the samurais have gone back to where the demon samurai first appeared. Ieyasu wanted to come with them, but they refused him. If Hirohisa was dead, they didn't want him to see his body first. It broke the man's heart to stay with the wounded.

Silence lingered like a heavy fog, hiding the feelings they bottled up inside. Ieyasu didn't know what went through the woman's head as her eyes reflected the flames in the hearth. They had told her about the black samurai's appearance didn't they? The calm look in her eyes only confused him, and her wordless reply only left the others puzzled. Ieyasu's hand inched a little closer, but the fire's sudden crackle stopped him. Rainwater dripped from the strands of Yoshie's hair; her clothing dark from the water.

"You should remove your haori, Yoshie," Ieyasu finally broke the silence.

"I would prefer if I kept it on," she replied curtly. "A woman shouldn't undress in front of a man."

"You might get sick though. It's cold, and you're dripping."

"No."

Soft thumps suddenly echoed by the entrance, revealing the great white wolf that accompanied the whole company. Quietly, the creature circled around them for a while before laying down in front of Yoshie and Ieyasu. Rounds orbs stared at the confused couple, but the wolf wouldn't even blink. It let out a small wince before shutting its eyes.

"If you get sick. . you won't be able to face the demon samurai if he comes again," Ieyasu continues.

Yoshie sighs.

"I was asleep--asleep in a stranger's arms while you and Hanzo nearly bled yourselves to death," the woman softly growled. "I came to this strange land to catch this bastard and kill him after I get some answers." Her fists tighten. "But instead, I waste time running back to where I started. I came to this land for nothing!"

"There's no point in moping about that is there?"

"Unfortunately, no. There's nothing to gain from this."

"Then why did you come this strange land of the shinobi, when our country may have the answers to your queries?" Ieyasu asks, giving the woman samurai beside him a glance.

Again, the woman sighs.

"In our country, I traveled around for eight years," she replies. "Under many masters, I briefly trained under to learn their secrets. Priestesses and priests gave no viable answers, and there is nothing more wrong than extravagantly answering the wrong questions. I searched for all possible clues, but what is there to find but the red mask the demon left behind and the corpses that followed him?

"The shinobi had other secrets to wielding their chakra," Yoshie adds.

Ieyasu's eyes widen.

"So you believe the demon samurai is a shinobi in disguise?" 

Yoshie shook her head in response, then waves her hand into the fire. It made the flames twirl, while its embers took flight. "Dark chakra."

"So you sensed it as well? The dark chakra that samurai had?"

"Thus a demon," Yoshie replies. "However, even humans seem to be capable of wielding such demonic powers, so I suspected that the samurai was a mere human. But why would he bother me? Vengeance? Malice? What reason would he haunt me?"

"Regarding humans being able to wield demonic powers, are you referring to the shinobi with marks on his face? The blond talkative one?"

Nodding her head, Yoshie finally turns to face Ieyasu. "I have seen many men behold great reserves of chakra. Such power I have seen, but dark chakra. . that's a rare sight."

"You aren't planning to use him are you?" Ieyasu queries.

"Uzumaki-san?" The woman asks with a raised eyebrow. "He has his own destiny. I wanted them all to leave, but they would chase me all over the world. I won't waste my energy on useless trifle."

A chuckle unexpectedly escapes Ieyasu's lips, perplexing the woman with him.

"Was there anything funny I said?" Yoshie asks with wide eyes.

"You used to say battling for your hand in marriage was a useless trifle," the man replies.

His answer instantly made Yoshie frown. "Don't even think about it."

"About what?"

"I'm done dueling. I cannot marry anyone! I will not marry anyone else! Fusing dragons is unheard of anyway!"

"This isn't about fusing dragons! This is about keeping your clan alive!" Ieyasy shouts. "If your brother was still breathing today, if he hadn't gone off to war fifteen years ago, then you wouldn't have to carry the responsibility the eldest is supposed to have."

"To be part of the Great War was an honor! My brother did what an eldest was supposed to. Him dying was simply the will of the gods!"

Ieyasu grabs Yoshie's hand, pulling her close until they keep hear each other's breaths. His blue eyes burned in fury, contesting with Yoshie's sunset ones. The woman clawed to further the distance between them, but what can a woman's strength compare to that of a man's? More so when his body is toned from training for war? Discomfort wallowed in Yoshie's eyes.

"You have to keep the White Dragon alive. You cannot become the last White Dragon!" Ieyasu continues, keeping his eyes locked into hers. Even if she tries to move, her angry eyes would look away. Then the man calms down, letting his eyes become gentle once more. "Yoshie. . I'm sure you know. . my feelings for you never wavered. Not even once."

Yoshie cringes.

"Did you lust after me even after I married Takashi?" She asks angrily.

"Is it wrong for a man to love? Even if the one he loves loves another?" He challenged as he pulls her closer. "What can people say to a man who only has eyes for one? Can you say my affection towards you is immoral and forbidden? Not once did I touch you. Not once did I speak my feelings. I know you love Takashi, even until now. But seeing you hurt, and realizing that even after eight years. . your love for him remains ardent. As though you fell in love like yesterday. I cannot help but feel hurt as well."

Yoshie fell into a silent trance as Ieyasu pressed his lips against her own. His eyes closed with his hands on his shoulders, the man expressed his feelings as purely as he could. The woman would him froze, and she couldn't pull away. Something tugged in her heart.

It was not affection.

It was guilt.

And pity.

From the shadows, one who came from the country of shinobi, pain was what tugged in his heart. Jealousy? Yes, definitely such negative emotion would emerge. The feeling of joy in his mouth turned into ash to hiss Yoshie in someone else's arns. But Obito wallowed in a pit of self-pity to see Yoshie so near, yet so far from reach. The man bit his lip in frustration as he leaned his head back, pressing against the wooden wall. In his hand was a kanzashi, one that Naruto gave him earlier.

"Huh? You actually bought?" Obito asked with wide, shocked eyes.

The blonde in front of him could only grin goofily, as though he won victory. But his kind gesture would only say how unworthy Obito was to have such a student: one that truly cared for their teachers. 

"I couldn't stand you moping, and being all indecisive. I got it in case you might have a chance to say your feelings?" Naruto asked cockily. "I'm cheering for you, sensei!"

It was gold in color, decorated lavishly into a flower with precious stones and fine metal work. mostly red and green stones decorated the petals that curled so elegantly. It was a masterpiece that needed to complement one just as beautiful and gentle.

Unfortunately, it was about to be a waste.

Of course, you wouldn't stand a chance, idiot!

He walks away, silently. He was not there. He was never there.

* * * * * * * *

All around them, castles of ash was all there was to see, although beyond that were the forests and mountains the shinobi and samurai have treaded through. The bodies that were left on the ground were mangled to death. Even the look on their faces was pale with horror. What was there left of them? But empty shells without souls the shikabane robbed?

To Naruto, this was an unforgivable act made by the gods. Hundreds of families lost their homes. Hundreds died in a few hours. If the shinobi and samurai had arrived any later, the whole village would have turned into a hive of shikabane. And they will have to face another mob just like that in the mountain: they would have to see Yoshie killing them all without a blink of an eye.

"Naruto! Over there!" Said Neji, pointing towards the broken tower ahead of them. "That's where the demon samurai attacked us."

Naruto gulped. "Where he killed. . ?"

Neji nods, and the two leaped to the top as the sky slowly cleared of clouds. The wood planks creaked from their weight, and stones fell down below into the rubble underneath. Clearly, the place was wrecked. The supports were sliced clean, and it could be any time the tower could give way and falll. Then blood permeated Naruto and Neji's nostrils immediately. Then it wasn't before long they found the big chap in his own pool of blood.

Gritting his teeth in anger, Naruto let out a silent scream. It was as if the samurai took on him and his teammates easily for letting them all live. Hirohisa's sacrifice was the first death of their journey. But on top of the man was a flower both he and Neji has never seen before. 

"A rose?" Neji queried, his voice full of confusion. "Why would there be a rose here?"

"Huh??" Naruto's eyes widen in surprise. "It's blue! Never seen something like this before!"

"Let's bring it back," Neji replied. "Along with Uesugi-san."

Suddenly a loud groan shocked them both, and a cry of joy broke out when they see Hirohisa smile at them in pain. "Did they kill the masked bastard?" He asked.

Bringing him back was difficult, but upon the revelation of his survival Ieyasu roared in joy; embracing his best friend was the best he could do to express himself. But when Yoshie emerges from the hut behind Ieyasu, Hirohisa fell down to his knee for respect.

"Lady Masashi," he greeted. "I apologize for my pathetic state."

"It's better to see you alive than dead, Hirohisa-kun," Yoshie replied with a perplexed look on her face. "And I prefer if you wouldn't call me lady anymore."

Nervously, Hirohisa chuckled. It was an honor afterall to meet anyone of the lineage of any of the four dragons. His eyes widened though when he saw the blonde samurai emerge after. Hanzo was dressed in his red trousers, but his built torso and arms were hidden by bandages. The blue samurai was dressed nearly the same way.

"Seems like I missed a lot?" Hirohisa remarked.

"You did, Hiro. You did."

While the samurais busied themselves with the honor of introducing themselves to each other, the shinobi went back to preparing for the journey ahead of them. Naruto nudged Neji to proceed, and the young man didn't need to be told twice to do so. Pulling out the blue rose, Neji hands it over to Kakashi who busied himself with the maps he had in hand. 

The sight of a rare flower surprised him, and he quickly asked where the two got it from.

"We found it on Uesugi-san when we picked him up," Neji explained. "We wondered how it got there. But there could only be one answer."

"A gift from the demon samurai? Is that what you're trying to say?" Kakashi ashed, a frown forming on his face.

Neji nods.

"Better tell Masashi-san, Neji-kun," Kakashi adds. "Withholding information from her wouldn't be good."

Though giving the rose wouldn't put a strain on the relationship between the woman samurai and the shinobi, her reaction to the rose confused them further. Eyes wide in horror, followed by anguish and hate. The rare treasure was quickly crushed in her hand, and further destroyed underneath the metal sole of her sandals. Without a word, she dismisses herself and hurried to the hut, and Hanzo followed suit.

Complex.

That was the word Kakashi could call Masashi.

Although an enigma she was, he couldn't read her true self. But the discomfort she had in her eyes before she got back into the hut was real. Flabbergasted? Or perhaps fear? The rose given to her had a message. A clear one, but it only confused them all even more.

Unattainable. 

That was what the rose meant. Yoshie was an unattainable princess because of the warrior's honor she had. Is that it? He didn't know.

"Naruto! Neji! Help the others!" Kakashi called to the confused two. "We're leaving in a few hours, remember?"

"Yes, sensei!"

* * * * * * * *

"What?!" Hirohisa yelled, but winced immediately after. He may have been healed by the young lady shinobis, but a wound is a wound. It wasn't like their treatment fixed him to a hundred percent.

His best friend looked lost, his eyes full of defeat. Calloused fingers clasp together as Ieyasu's mind raced. Beside him were his swords, now clean from his dedication to them. He bit his lip which quivered. The poor man.

They didn't dare go to the hut Yoshie stayed in. Not after what had happened earlier.

"Stupid aren't I?" Ieyasu laughed sadly. "She wouldn't even duel with me. She refused."

Hirohisa sighs.

"Maybe you need to heal up first don't you think?" He asked. "You're so impulsive."

"She's surrounded by men!"

"She's a woman with a mission! Maybe you should've thought about that. That maybe. . . she'll think about usettling down once this is all over," said Hirohisa, raising his eyebrow at Ieyasu.

Conversations of the future occupied the two samurai as they awaited to be called upon. A miracle happened to Hirohisa, and that was surviving a death strike from the demon samurai. A horrific counter is what many would call it. A moment to face death could be another term for it. Ieyasu could remember the moments he had while he fought. He remembered fear.

Glancing over Hirohisa who lay in bed, Ieyasu realized that the big man had fallen asleep and left him alone with his troubled thoughts. He let him sleep for an hour or two before waking him again so that hey could leave and journey back to their homeland.

When they were finally out the hut, the sun met them with a glare. And waiting for them, Yoshie reach out her hand to him. "Come," she said gently. "Let us return."

"Yoshie, ride our horses," said Ieyasu. "Hirohisa and I brought ours. I would give you mine."

The woman shook her head.

"Kiyo offered me her back," she told him, surprising the other shinobi as well.

"Wait, what?!" Naruto. And just as Yoshie said, the white wolf let the woman onto her back without hesitation. But the samrai didn't pay so much mind of the awe that dawned on her companion's faces. Simply, she pointed eastward where the sun had risen.

The skies above them turned into a beautiful pastel pink, smudged with lavender and gentle gold colors. Above them, cranes flew out towards the lake behind them. The spread of their majestic wings was wide. Their cries echoed across the entire valley. 

Upon following her instructions, the company continued on with their journey. They didn't stop for days. Not even when the moon rises with stars appearing in the sky. Not even for supper when the sun is high in the sky. Now the shinobi saw how Yoshie moved fast with her travels--she was relentless like a hunter searching for deer in the wildeness.

No one could speak to her. Silence was her only reply with her eyes to the horizon, or a glare if she felt pestered. Yoshie wouldn't stop if her caravan of companions would. They had to run after her within a few minutes. 

"Damnit, does she not know what a break is?!" Kiba cried angrily, while Akamaru heaved beside him.

"It can't be helped. She won't stop." Shino's reply came curtly.

A loud rumble made them gasp, only to realize that it was the hungry Choji beside them. Wasting his life away in chips, of course, the poor guy couldn't help it if they won't stop for break. They were exhausted, more so when they had treaded through mountains and valleys without stopping.

"Sensei, can't you ask Masashi-san if we could take a break?" Shikamaru asked Kakashi.

The man shuts the book he was reading and sighs. "I could go ahead and ask," he replied to his poor student. And he does, quickens his pace and found himself prancing to Kiyo's strides. Well, the samurai was on her back after all while the others treaded on foot, but Ieyasu and Hirohisa rode on their horses.

"Neh, Masashi-san," the gray-haired shinobi called casually. "Could we have a break? The young ones are exhausted from this continuous three-day walk."

"We're almost there," Yoshie replied calmly. "I estimate about two hundred more meters. Once we arrive, we leave again tomorrow."

"There? The port?"

"A village Hatake-san. We might as well rest where it's comfortable and suitable instead of setting up camp. If we had taken breaks, we would have arrived there two days after tomorrow. Time is of the essence."

Ting. Ting. Ting.

"You're a bit late for the village," a stranger's voice startled the frontliners, immediately causing the troupe to halt.

From the shadows, a young girl of early teen years emerge. Her hair was like the peaches that bore fruit with bells attached to them. Cut short until her thighs, her kimono was jade green with accents of violet. The first thoughts that flashed through the troupe's minds was why she was there, and what she meant by them being too late. What grieve message did she have for them?

"From now on, your journey will be more treacherous than before. The demon will be sending his servants to cleanse you of the company you have formed," the girl quotes as she pulls out a fan. "And he has a blue rose for you as a gift."

Nonchalantly, the girl she drops the bloomed blue rose at the newcomers' feet. Its cursed appearance shook the woman to her core. In response Yoshie's eyes trembled at the sight and her voice gone. She could only grit her teeth.

"May the gods have mercy on your wretched soul."

~~~

Number of words: 3290

Whew, two day late guys, I'm sorry ;; I'm trying to do one chapter a week, HAHAHHA. 

Guys, feel free to comment your thoughts! This was the fastest chapter I wrote. Seven hours? LMAO GAWD. And the confrontation of Ieyasu and Yoshie was, uh, hopefully done the right way. I need to know what you think, plus I wanna dedicate the next chapter to someone, huehue. Didn't do that this time. 

Thanks ya'll!

- R