Ninja Love : Kotaro (Chapter 5)

Ninja Love : Kotaro 

Kotaro : "we should get to Iga by morning"

Kotaro looked at the mountain as he rowed the boat

Yuki     : "do you think that the Hachisuka will come after us?"

Kotaro : "They might. We need to get to Iga before they catch us"

In the dark, all i could hear was the sound of water

Kotaro : "are you scared?"

Yuki     : "no. As long as you are here, i don't feel scared"

Kotaro : "you're a very strong person"

Yuki     : "no, i'm not. i'm weak. I only feel strong when i'm around you"

Kotaro : "..."

Silence, again.

*Kotaro : "I'm sorry Shizuka,..i still.."

I wonder if he's thinking of her?just then,

Kotaro : "get down!"

Yuki     : "ah!"

The boat shook violently!

Yuki     : "what was that?!"

Kotaro : "the hachisuka are shooting at us with a cannon!"

With a cannon?!

Chief : "ah hah! gave you a little scare didn't i?!"

The hachisuka approach on a huge boat!

Kotaro : "Nobunaga must have set them up with that boat"

Kotaro readies his gun and returns fire!

Boom!

Chief   : "ha ha! that little gun won't scratch this boat!"

Yuki    : "ahh!"

Kotaro : "Princess! grab onto the boat!"

Kotaro throws a hand into the air!

Kotaro : "Cyclone!"

The water of the river raises into the air like a dragon!

Chief : "Ahh!"

The hachisuka leader is lifted into the air!

Ninja : "sir!"

Chief : "you can control water too?!"

Kotaro points his gun at their leader and pulls the trigger!

Bang!

Chief : "AHHH!"

The bullet shoots through his chest and then, Boom! the boat rocks violently!

Yuki     : "AHH!"

Kotaro : "Princess!"

i am thrown out of the boat! Kotaro drives in after me!

Yuki     : "ugh! cough!"

Kotaro : ...! are you awake?"

Yuki     : "where are we??"

Kotaro is holding me. We are on a plank of wood

Kotaro : "The boat was destroyed. This is all that's left"

Yuki     : "what about the hachisuka?"

Kotaro : "they lost their leader and left. Certainly they think they won"

Yuki     : "did you save me?"

Kotaro : "..."

Yuki : "you're always saving me. i'm such a hassle"

Even now, he holds me close to protect me

Kotaro : "ugh.."

Yuki     : "is this.. Blood?!"

There is blood coming from Kotaro's back!

Kotaro : "i hit a rock when i was thrown from the boat"

Yuki     : "you mean you hurt yourself saving me?!"

Kotaro : "..."

I rip a pieces of my kimono off and use it to stop the blood

Yuki     : "hopefully this will keep the bleeding down"

Kotaro : "but that was such a nice kimono"

Question:

who cares about a kimono?

don't talk

i'm sorry

Yuki : "who cares about a kimono!"

tears started flowing from my eyes

Yuki      : "i'm sorry. i know that apologizing won't make it better.. but.."

Kotaro : "don't apologize. it's my job to protect you"

Yuki     :  "don't say that!"

Kotaro : "..."

Yuki     : "please.. don't say that.."

The blood doesn't stop. What should i do? at this rate he'll die!

Kotaro : "i'm sorry"

Yuki     : "why are you aplogizing?!"

Kotaro : "if i wasn't hurt when we could have swam to safety"

Yuki     : "..."

Kotaro : "but now i don't have the strength"

Yuki     : "Kotaro.."

Kotaro : "Princess.. listen closely"

Kotaro looks me in the eyes

Kotaro : "if i keep losing blood at this rate, i'll be dead by morning"

Yuki     : "...!"

Kotaro : "if i die before.."

Yuki     : "what are you saying?! don't say that!"

Kotaro : "but this is reality. You have to be prepared to accept it"

Yuki     : "no! you can't die!"

Kotaro : "princess!"

Kotaro grabs me by the wrist!

Kotaro : "you control the fate of the ninjas!"

Yuki     : "..."

Kotaro : "the ninja's were able to organize because of the princess!"

Yuki     : "..."

Kotaro : "you.. can't die, you have a responsibility"

i have to protect the future of the ninjas..i look him in the eyes and nod

Yuki     : "i know. that's why we're both going to survive this!"

Kotaro : "..."

Yuki     : "i think i have something.."

I pull a sweing kit out of my kimono

Yuki     : "we can stitch your wound closed with this. i've only sewn cloth before"

Kotaro : "are you serious?!"

Yuki     : "i'm good at sewing! but it will probably hurt you really bad.."

Kotaro : "you are always suprising"

Kotaro turns his back to me

Yuki     : "it's going to hurt you pretty badly.."

Kotaro : "don't worry about me"

i grit my teeth and pushed the needle into his skin

Kotaro : "...!"

Kotaro bit his kimono to keep from screaming. It's scary, but i have to get this wound closed up as soon as i can!

Yuki     : "finished"

Kotaro : "..."

Kotaro looks drained of energy

Yuki     : "that must have hurt"

Kotaro : "you must have been scared"

Yuki     : "it was scary, but i did my best. it shouldn't come undone"

Kotaro : "ha ha.. thanks"

kotaro smiled.. then he hugged me close

Kotaro : "you sure are a courageous girl"

Yuki     : "..."

Kotaro : "..."

we lock eyes, i want to talk, but words don't come..

Kotaro : "the dawn should come soon"

In the darkness, in silence, we held each other

Yuki : "it's so bright"

The water is glittering in the morning light

Yuki : "..."

Kotaro squints in the light and looks at me

Kotaro : "looks like i made it until morning. Thanks to you"

Yuki     : "if you weren't here, i would died already"

All night on a plank in the water, we really could have died. Then i realized.. as long as Kotaro was here, nothing was..and then,

Hosuke : "hoot..hoot.."

Yuki      : "Hosuke?!"

Hosuke perches on Kotaro's shoulder

Kotaro : "that boat is.."

A large boat was making it's way toward us

Hanzo    : "princess! Kotaro!"

Goemon : "we're comng to help you!"

Yuki       :"hanzo! Goemon!"

Thank God! we're saved!