Shadow Wolf (Shinobi Saga)

by Sessha Batto

  “If it makes you uncomfortable,” the Shuhan began, only to be cut off.

  “It's fine, you went to so much trouble on my behalf. There's absolutely no reason I can’t stay there,” the shadow wolf was quick to assure him. “Did you wish me confined at home?”

  “I don’t want to confine you at all. You misunderstand me. You are free to do as you wish. Are you planning on returning to active duty? I have some projects I’d love to have your input on.”

  “Don’t you want to know about what happened?”

  “We know you were drugged and kidnapped from Makoto's home. Souta and Koga Aya tracked you to Nakamura shuudan. That's when they captured Sou. Thank you so much for helping him escape,” Daisuke continued. “I don’t think I could survive without him.”

  “I couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Unfortunately my plan backfired. Rin killed Kazu's apprentice. She wanted to force Kazu-sama to use my body for his ki donor. She pushed him too hard though and he killed her. I wasn’t sorry when she died, but the expertise necessary to perform the technique died with her,” he trailed off, staring off into space for a long time as he relived the last few days with his dying lover. “So in reality, I killed Kazuki. I didn’t mean to, but that doesn’t change the result. I’m a very bad person.”

  “No, no, you aren’t a bad person.” The Shuhan wished there was a way to convince Yoshi of the truth of his words. “You couldn’t have foreseen the chain of events. You stayed with him, didn’t you?”

  “Of course I did. How could I not? He needed me, as I needed him,” the shadow wolf said. “It was nice not being alone.”

  “You don’t have to be alone Takahashi-san,” Daisuke insisted. “Just give yourself some time.”

  “That would be unwise, Shuhan-sama. I bring bad luck to those close to me. It's best if I remain alone.”

  “I don’t believe that Yoshi. We’re ninja. Terrible things happen to ninja, and they have nothing to do with you. Your shishou died in an ambush. How was that your fault?”

  “It should have been me. We were together. I was faced off against a more experienced opponent. I must have gotten knocked out. By the time I came to shishou was dying.” He turned his tear-stained face toward the dumb-struck Shuhan. “It was my fault.”

  “Oh, Yoshi,” Daisuke breathed. “How can we ever make up for what's happened to you?” He pulled the elite close, rubbing comforting circles on his back until his ragged breathing eased before pulling back to examine him critically. “You’re nothing but skin and bones. How long has it been since you’ve eaten?”

  “The last few weeks have been difficult for me,” the shadow wolf murmured. “I haven’t done much but sleep. I guess I lost more weight than I realized.”

  “Makoto will have a cow when he sees you looking like this. He's been worried sick about you.”

  “You don’t need to lie to me,” Yoshi whispered. “I saw Sasaki-san before I came here. He couldn’t wait to get rid of me. Did he even answer my letters, or were you just trying to lure me back here?”

  “I wouldn’t do something like that.” Daisuke was affronted by the underlying accusation. “Did you ask how he got injured?”

  “Makoto was injured? Who hurt him?”

  “Jun-san. Makoto agreed to a competition in order to learn more about you. The pair of them had been drinking. Let's just say he’ll think more than twice about wrestling a hand to hand combat specialist again, and he probably won’t be drinking for a while.” The Shuhan snickered as he recalled forcing the details out of his master interrogator.

  “Is that why he doesn’t want anything to do with me?” Yoshi's eyes radiated his confusion. “I don’t understand.”

  “Just give him some time,” Daisuke urged. “Everything will work out. Now, shall we talk reparation?”

  “I’m sorry, Shuhan-sama,” the shadow wolf stammered in surprise. “I’m afraid I don’t have the funds for that. Perhaps if I contacted Hideaki he could arrange for me to borrow some money from Nakamura shuudan to repay you.”

  “What are you talking about?” the Shuhan asked. “You don’t owe us anything. Kobayashi shuudan, on the other hand, owes you a debt I don’t know how to repay. Obviously I’ve done what I could to restore your finances. I repurchased your house, and your bank account has been credited for assignments and expenses for the last three years, at top pay, but that doesn’t begin to restore what you have lost.”

  “Why would you do that for a whore like me?” Yoshi asked in a very small voice. “I’m not worth all this.”

  “Of course you are,” Daisuke protested. “In all fairness, you’re the one who should be in this office, not me. Do you wish my job, Takahashi-san?”

  “Oh no, no, Shuhan-sama. I am not fit for the office. You are a good man, it will be my pleasure to serve you. I will return to duty, if that is your wish,” the shadow wolf replied formally.

  “Wonderful. Report here to me in three days, you’re on leave until then. We’re glad you’re back, Yoshi.” Daisuke gave the lanky shinobi a brief hug before watching him amble aimlessly out of the office. “Shadow,” he summoned. “Follow Takahashi-san and make sure he gets home undisturbed. Keep watch on him, don’t let him know you’re there and don’t interfere with anything he may choose to do. Well, stop him if he tries to harm himself, otherwise no interference.”

  “What the fuck did Makoto do?” Souta's voice rang out as soon as the black op departed.

  “I have no clue,” his lover replied in frustration. “Obviously it wasn’t well received.”

  “Should I go talk to him?” Souta asked. “He's going to blow it.”

  “In the morning,” Daisuke decided. “Let's let them sleep on it.

  ****

  Yoshi spent his first night back huddled uncomfortably in his childhood bedroom, arms around his knees, trying to convince himself he’d made the right choice in returning. He’d blindly assumed he’d move back in with Makoto. Obviously he should have thought things through more before leaving the safety of Kazuki's lair. I can just go back. If this doesn’t get better I’ll just go back. But he knew that wasn’t possible. You couldn’t breathe there. There's nothing to go back to.

  By the time the first glimmer of dawn arrived the shadow wolf was showered and dressed, anxious to get out of the too quiet house and into the world. He threw open the door and ambled towards the market, addressing his hidden shadow. “You might as well come out. I know you’re there.”

  “My apologies, senpai.” the masked figure replied with a bow. “I should have known you’d sense me.”

  “Maa, it's alright. I expected to be under guard,” Yoshi replied. “What are my limitations?”

  “Excuse me?” the black op asked.

  “What's off limits?” Yoshi ventured. “Am I confined to the village in general, or are there certain areas I need to stay out of?”

  “You’re not under guard, sir. I’m supposed to make sure no one bothers you.”

  “Suicide watch?” The shadow wolf smirked, suspicion confirmed by the sudden tightening of the black op's muscles.

  “Uh, no,” the masked figure stammered. “Why would you be on suicide watch?”

  “Why indeed?” Yoshi whispered to himself before setting out once more, veering into the first open stand to try and quell the growls emanating from his empty belly. Two bowls of plain soba later he sat back and contemplated his surroundings. This is home, he decided, smiling to himself at the sight.

  Yoshi looked up and stopped dead, dropping the piece of fruit in his hand to roll unnoticed across the floor as he stared, riveted, at the scene playing out on the other side of the street.

  Makoto hobbled through the market on his crutches, intent on grabbing something to eat and heading over to headquarters to try and find Souta. He had a sinking feeling he’d done something wrong with Yoshi the night before and was anxious to correct the situation. He was so intent on his goal that he never even saw the blur bearing down on him.

  “Makoto, my
good friend,” Jun exclaimed. “You are exactly the person I was looking for. I need your advice on an interrogation I am conducting.” He threw an arm around the torture master's waist and pulled him into an overly-enthusiastic hug.

  “Put me down,” the interrogator growled, angry at being manhandled, especially in public.

  “But, lover of my friend Yoshi,” Jun protested. “It is my duty to help you until your beloved returns.”

  “One, I don’t need help and two, he got back last night. Now let go of me.”

  “Why are you not with your beloved?” Jun asked. “Weren’t you excited to rekindle the flames of love together?”

  “He only stopped by to pick up his things,” Makoto explained. “He left as soon as I gave him the key.”

  “You should have forced him to stay and work things out,” the combat specialist declared. “You will never win his love if you don’t.”

  “Please put me down,” the interrogator said, wary of the attention they were drawing. “We can go somewhere and talk, just not like this.”

  “An excellent idea, my friend.” Jun shifted the startled interrogator to a more comfortable position in his arms and set out at full speed for some unknown destination.

  That's why Makoto wasn’t interested, Yoshi concluded. He's involved with Jun. He turned the picture of the two of them over in his mind for a while, deciding that his self-proclaimed friend, while overly loud and sometimes scarily happy, was a strong, loyal and good man … and a far better companion for the interrogator than the shadow wolf could ever hope to be. It's for the best. He’d only get hurt being involved with me. The elite dragged himself through the rest of his shopping before heading towards his too empty home, wondering what on earth he could do to fill up the next three days.

  Daisuke looked up from his paperwork when the doors flew open and Makoto and Jun tumbled in. “Would you let go,” the interrogator snarled as he yanked himself loose and tottered to his feet.

  “Well, good morning to you both,” the Shuhan said. “Celebrating Yoshi's safe return, are you?”

  “I was trying,” the interrogator began, heavily stressing the try, “to find Souta. I think I messed up last night and I need his help.”

  “I concur with your assessment.” Daisuke slapped his hands down on the desk. “Especially since Takahashi-san accused me of faking your correspondence with him. What the hell did you say?”

  “I said his things had been moved to his house and I gave him the key,” Makoto admitted. “He caught me off guard. I didn’t know what to say. He said he was just looking for his stuff.”

  “He was looking for an invitation to stay with you, stupid,” the Shuhan growled. “Now he thinks you hate him and everyone will be better off if he doesn’t get too close. I have him on suicide watch.”

  “Yoshi would never kill himself,” the interrogator declared. “He doesn’t want to be like his father. He's shinobi. He won’t die unless you order him to.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure,” the Shuhan muttered. “Souta, come give Makoto a hand. Jun, what news do you have for me?”

  “I have spent the last three days with Genki. He has yet to admit to the error of his ways, although he seems to be protesting less and less.”

  “Protesting what?” Makoto wondered.

  “My efforts to help him appreciate the wonders of manly love,” Jun replied with a frown. “Perhaps you should assign a female interrogator, Shuhan-sama.”

  “No, no,” the Shuhan insisted through his chuckles. “I think you’re the perfect man for the assignment.”

  Just then Souta poked his head through the apartment door. “Get your ass in here, Sasaki,” he commanded. “We need to figure out how to fix this mess you’ve made.”

  “I didn’t do anything,” the interrogator insisted.

  “Exactly,” the assassin agreed. “Now get your ass in here so we can take care of it.”

  Makoto awkwardly made his way into the apartment, dropping onto the couch and burying his face in his hands. “What's wrong with me? Why can’t I speak a straight sentence when Yoshi's around?”

  “Write him,” Souta suggested. “That way you can be sure to say the right thing. You can tell him how glad you are that he's back in the village and ask him out on a date.”

  “In a letter?”

  “Do you trust me?” the assassin replied.

  “Fine. What do I say?” Makoto grumbled.

  “Have you decided where to take him on your date?” Souta asked.

  “I guess out to eat. That way I have something to do with my hands.”

  “And something to stick in your mouth when you say something stupid,” the assassin muttered.

  Several hours later Yoshi was startled out of his contemplation by urgent banging. As soon as he cracked open the door Makoto shoved an envelope into his hands and disappeared. The elite wandered back inside, eying it distrustfully and checking it for booby-traps before opening it.

  My Dearest Yoshi,

  I am so sorry if I upset you last night. I was surprised to see you and didn’t know how to react. I’d love it if you would agree to have dinner with me tomorrow night, at, say, eight o’clock? I’ll pick you up at your house. Please say yes.

  Makoto

  Yoshi stared at the words for a long time, trying to uncover the meaning hidden behind the simple phrases. He decided he would have to take a chance and say yes if he were ever going to figure it out, giving in and summoning Pi-natsu. “Go tell Makoto I said yes,” the elite commanded as soon as the stocky wolf appeared.

  “Yes to what?” the familiar asked.

  “Dinner,” the shadow wolf muttered.

  “Like a date?” Pi-natsu pried.

  “No,” Yoshi bristled. “Like dinner, between friends. He's seeing Jun now.”

  The look of disbelief the demon sent his way was unmistakable. “If you say so boss,” he rumbled before disappearing. The familiar returned almost immediately, “Wear nice clothes,” he rasped before leaving the shadow wolf alone to contemplate what the next day would bring.

  ****

  Yoshi studied the kimono in his hand with dismay. It was the only piece of dress clothing he owned, and he had the sneaking suspicion it was overly formal. Of course, he had no idea what would be appropriate. Nice clothes left a lot of room for interpretation. I think I need some help, he decided, unsure of who would know about such things. Jun was obviously out, he couldn’t face his so-called friend just yet. It would take time to get used to his relationship with Makoto. Then he could learn to hide his bitterness over how things turned out. It's all for the best, he assured himself yet again.

  The shadow wolf briefly pondered asking his shadow. He realized he’d never seen the man in anything other than basic blacks. That led him to start wracking his brain for anyone he knew who wore civilian clothes. He finally concluded that Tatsuya was the most likely candidate. Even if he can’t help me, Yoshi mused as he walked, he's not likely to laugh at me.

  “Takahashi-san,” Mayu murmured when she opened the door. “How lovely to see you. Won’t you come in?”

  “I was looking for Tatsuya,” Yoshi ventured. “Is he home?”

  “He's still sleeping,” the kunoichi replied. “Let me get him for you.” She darted from the room before he could protest, slipping into the bedroom to shake her husband. “Tatsuya, wake up. Takahashi Yoshi is here looking for you.”

  “What does he want?” her husband mumbled.

  “He wants to talk to you. Get your lazy ass out of bed so I can find out what it's about.”

  “Go ask him yourself. I only just got to sleep thanks to his running off on me. I’ll be damned if I let him drag me out of bed.” His rant was derailed when Mayu grabbed his ear and yanked hard.

  “Kobayashi Tatsuya, get up right now,” she demanded. “Yoshi never talks to anyone about anything. If he wants to see you it has to be important.”

  “His definition of important and mine aren’t the same.” Nevertheless,
he threw back the covers and lit a cigarette. “If it were really important I would have been summoned.”

  “There are things of importance not having to do with with the shuudan.”

  “Not this early in the morning there aren’t.” Tatsuya continued to complain even as he dragged himself out of bed and pulled on the first pair of pants he found. “Morning, Yoshi.”

  “I’m so sorry Mayu woke you up. I tried to stop her.”

  “It's alright,” Tatsuya replied with a shrug. “There's no stopping her once she gets going. What can I do for you?”

  “I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but I need your advice. I need some dress clothes,” Yoshi explained.

  “What kind of clothes?” the kunoichi jumped in. “Where are you going?”

  “Just out to dinner,” the shadow wolf hedged.

  “Like a date?” Mayu squealed. “Who's the lucky girl?”

  “Sasaki Makoto,” Yoshi replied. He watched through guarded eyes as her excited daydreams were dashed.

  “Oh,” she murmured. “It's not a date then.”

  “No,” the shadow wolf agreed. “He's seeing Jun now.”

  “Did you want it to be a date?” the kunoichi asked.

  “What difference does it make?” Yoshi shrugged. “I blew it. I spent too long with Kazuki. Makoto moved on, and now I have to as well.”

  “Okay, I need the whole story.” Mayu grasped a thin wrist and tugged the elite towards the couch, pushing him into its grasp. “Tatsuya, bring us some tea.”

  “Yes dear,” he murmured as he took the opportunity to step outside for a cigarette.

  “So, how long were you two going out?” Mayu prodded.

  “We weren’t exactly dating. I was staying with him after he rescued me, until Kazuki's crazy apprentice kidnapped me, that is,” the shadow wolf explained. “Makoto was upset by my relationship with Kazuki, particularly when I stayed with him.”

  “What relationship was that?” the kunoichi pried.