At about the same time as his sister was regaining consciousness, Makoto was making his way with uncharacteristically heavy treads to the home shared by Masurao, Yujin, and Tatsuki. He knew that Mao at least was probably still with Yuzu, but he could tell the other two, and surely they would pass the news. There had never been any doubt in his mind about whether he would inform them of what Nobunaga had orderedâit was everything that came after that he was less sure of. Regardless, there were several pieces of news to pass on, one received from Naomi just the night before, when heâd snuck into the estate for more medicine for Yuzu. None of it was good, and it just seemed to be getting progressively worse, for the people he considered his friends.
He let himself into the home, mostly because he knew that knocking was not required of him at this point but also because he didnât want to be seen outside the home for any longer than necessary. He could always be mistaken for casing it, but not if he stood at the front door like an idiot. Inside, he was quick to locate the pair, sitting in the central room as they were, though they were accompanied by a guest that he recognized as Yujinâs sister, Asami Fujiwara. He knew now that she was once Nobunagaâs intended, and the strange twist of fate that her refusal had created was a very interesting one indeed. He wondered how she and her brother would feel when they knew what the result was? It wasnât her fault, of course, but it was undeniable that they were all bound up in this common weave, this fate. He knew not what would become of them, but he did know that he would shield them all from it as best he couldâeven if it killed him.
âNobunaga has hired me to kill you,â he said without preamble, locking eyes with Yujin. âAnd Masurao.â
Clearly, Yujin was not expecting any company, however; it seemed that the gods (or whatever he believed in) were laughing at him. Asami had shown up at his door not more than a few hours ago. She had heard of the recent attack at the temple, of Nobunaga's find, and had come to see if it were true. Apparently it was, from what her brother had told her. He had been a little surprised, at first, that this visit had not entailed her trying to drag him back to the Fujiwara estate, and was still expecting it, however; she made no move, spoke nothing of the sort. They had been in the middle of a discussion when Makoto came in, Tatsuki having already set the table for lunch.
"That doesn't surprise me," Asami was the first to speak, setting her cup of tea down on the small table and turned towards Makoto. She sighed softly, shaking her head as she regarded the Hanyou. "I told you he would do something like this. You are lucky to have the Slayer as your friend, not your enemy, Yuji. So, tell me, what will you do brother?" she spoke, turning to hold Yujin's gaze. Tatsuki had stopped whatever movement she was making, turning to regard her brother as well as he furrowed his brows, narrowing his eyes at Makoto, though they were not intentionally issued at the Hanyou.
"And if you do not fulfill your contract, what becomes of you?" Yujin questioned. He softened his glare a bit as he stared at the Hanyou. Surely the contract didn't come without some complications. It was obvious enough that Nobunaga didn't know they were acquainted, otherwise the man would have not given the Hanyou any time at all to dispatch Masurao and himself. But before an answer could be drawn for Asami's question, he needed to know the risks he would be taking if Makoto did not fulfill his contract. Somehow, he already knew, but he needed to hear it first.
Makoto raised a brow slightly, but then he sighed, his expression returning to normal, and shook his head slightly, folding his arms into his sleeves and holding them against his chest. âThe usual,â he replied flatly, though there was a slight edge to it that was hard to place. âHe murders my entire family.â The Slayer pursed his lips. That was evident enough, and he knew that Nobunaga would not fail to follow through on his threat. He had a few days left before the oyabun would begin to get suspicious. If it were only him, he would be able to make it far enough away by then to be safe, but in truth, he did not know if the same could be said for them.
âThat is⊠partly why I have come. I need somewhere to send them. The only option I have right now is Sakuyaâs village, but things are not ideal there. They are dealing with youkai outbreaks of their own, and they do not need to take in more people who cannot fight. My mother is an apothecary, my aunt a tailor, and even the triplets are apt message runners and so forth, but none of them would be much use against demons. Not yet.â One day, the triplets would be, but that day was a few years in the making yetâhe could not responsibly ask Sakuya to take them in. At least, not unless he absolutely had to. âI was hoping that one of you would know of a place I could send them.â
Yujin sighed through his nose, and Tatsuki glanced down to her hands. She had been raised as a traveler, and didn't have many people to call friends. The only stable home she had ever had was here, in Edo, but even now that seemed less likely as the days went by. Yujin had family, but they would not take in humans simply because they were human. If he recalled correctly, the only reason he'd actually joined Nobunaga at one point, was because his family served the Oni. He was only following his family's footsteps when he joined the Oyabun, however; he was kicked out of the Yakuza and had lived a life of a mercenary. The only sanctuary he could provide for Makoto's family would be with them wherever they went. Asami, however, smiled as she read the troubled faces of her brother and his sister.
"I could take them," she offered, a warm smile etching upon her face. Yujin stared bewildered at his sister. Why would she take them? His family was not safe, and they both knew that. "You do not trust me, I can see it written on your face, Yujin," she spoke, the warm smile never leaving her face. "And you, Makoto, have no reason to trust me either, however; I assure you, I can take them somewhere where they will be safe, where they will be hidden even from Nobunaga. It is a safe haven for all those who wish to flee Nobunaga; humans, and Hanyou alike. Even other Oni are welcome into its camp," she explained. It would be difficult to have them believe her, but it was the least she could do.
"Asami, this is his family though. How do we know that we can trust you?" Tatsuki was the first to speak, her voice low and a bit timid. She was worried for the Yoshida family, if only because they were her family too. She might not have been as near and around them as Yujin and Masurao had been, mainly because Yujin wanted to teach them to be little terrors, as he had said once before. They were still her family too. Asami smiled a knowing smile, and tilted her head to the side.
"It is in a location that has not yet been touched by Nobunaga. There are several Oni lords, and human lords, who have taken up arms against Nobunaga. They are a rebellion, as you may call them. We are large in number, and grow every day. Nobunaga is not yet strong enough to fight us, and the Oni who leads us... well, let's just say they are not exactly fond of each other," she continued explaining. Yujin folded his hands in front of his face as he regarded his sister. For as long as he could remember, she disliked humans as much as their family. She'd even gone so far as to kill one once, so why was she a part of this rebellion? What has changed her so much that he could see the same change in himself... almost.
"What has changed you, sister?" he found himself asking, waiting for her reply. She turned and regarded him with an even stare, a bright smile painting her face.
"The same thing that has changed you, dear brother. Love."
Makoto was not inclined to be immediately trusting, either, but if this option was real, then it was about as good as anything he could hope for. âYou refer to the White Dragonâs Rebellion,â he said softly, tilting his head to the side in thought. He had heard of the oni through Naomi, who kept him appraised of most of the things she learned through Nobunaga or his associates, in exchange for him keeping her up-to-date on the goings-on of their mutual friends and associates in the village. She cared about them a great deal more than she let on to them, and would often ply him with questions for perhaps longer than was strictly safe. Her own situation had taken a poor turn lately, but things needed to be taken care of in order.
âI thank you,â he said, bowing deeply to Asami, âfor your offer. If I may, I will accompany you and they to the place myself, that I might lay my eyes on it and know whether they will be safe enough.â Personally, he thought it might befit him to join such a rebellion, at least for now. He was a killer; fighting was what he did. It was no longer enough to kill the petty youkai surrounding Edo in order to protect his family. He knew now that Nobunaga was the greatest threat to them that existed, and that meant that, one way or another, Nobunaga had to die. He held no illusions about being capable of such a feat on his ownâfor all his strength, for all his speed and ferocity, he was still a hanyou. And while he had killed more than one full-blooded oni in his time, it would take him much training yet before he would be able to stand on even footing with such a one as Nobunaga. If indeed it was even possible at all.
But with others, perhaps he could do what was impossible alone. He wondered if any of the others would have an interest in such a thing, or if they would prefer to wander. He knew now that whatever they did, he would do, so long as he knew his family was safe in the meantime. They had, in some strange way, become kin and home to him, and he would not leave them now. âThere is⊠something else you should know.â Though his eyes flickered to Tatsuki for a moment, they settled on Yujin, because Mako was smart enough to know that it was he that would take the tidings the hardest.
âNobunaga has announced his intention to take a wife. In one month hence, he will force Naomi to wed him.â
Asami smiled, and nodded her head. "Yes, I refer to him. He is a friend, and though it might seem like the reason is because we are both Oni, I assure you, the faith and trust I have in him is nothing of the sort," she spoke, and she had spoken the truth. It had taken her awhile to fully trust the White Dragon, and earning it had been no small feat. In the end, she was glad that they had met. He had become something of another brother to her, and his friendship had saved her on more than one occasion. Her smile brightened a fraction when he spoke of accompanying them, and she nodded her head once more. "You are welcome to tag along to see for yourself," she glanced towards Yujin, wondering if he would do the same.
Yujin, however, met Makoto's eyes when he spoke of something else, and he couldn't help the feeling of his stomach dropping. He didn't like the look in the Hanyou's eyes, and with each second that passed, it seemed like an eternity of waiting. And then Makoto spoke, and his heart sank. He felt sick, and if the expression on his face did not convey it enough, the way his eyes narrowed dangerously, and the way his fists curved in on themselves should have been enough. Tatsuki felt the sudden chill in the air as she glanced towards Yujin, a worried expression on her face, but she said nothing. She didn't know what to do or say about something like that. Naomi was her friend, and she knew small things about the woman, like the fact that she was Nobunaga's concubine, and how she disliked the War Lord. But to be his wife, and being forced into it? She could only imagine what Naomi was thinking.
Asami glanced towards Yujin and sighed. "I am afraid that is partly, if not my entire fault," she spoke, her voice low and apologetic. Yujin turned his harsh glare towards Asami, and she could feel the demand for answers. It was, if she were being honest, entirely her fault that the situation was forced upon the other woman. Had she followed through with her family's plan, she wondered, briefly, if the woman would have ever been in Nobunaga's captivity to begin with. The look in Yujin's eyes, however, was something she wasn't accustomed to seeing, and something clicked. "I am sorry, Yujin, I did not know," she continued.
"I was to be in Naomi's place," she confessed solemnly. "After you left, Yuji, our brothers thought it befitting to join closer in the ranks of Nobunaga's army, and proposed a deal: me in exchange for more power and territory. I have not seen our family in over ten years," she continued, her eyes leaving her brother's form. If she had not left, it would be she in Naomi's place, married already to the Oyabun and perhaps birthing him heirs. It was not a pleasant thought, and she mourned for Naomi. "He isn't doing it out of desire, I can assure you that. He is doing it for political matters. Currently, a few of the lesser Oni Lords do not support either cause, but he is trying to win them over. If he took a human as his wife, it might turn the tides in his favor," she explained, and Yujin could only feel a rage building inside of him.
"If we managed to take her from him, would you give her the same sanctuary as you are giving Makoto's family?" he finally spoke, an eerie calmness to it sent chills down both Tatsuki and Asami's spine. "Would you?" he continued. Asami lowered her gaze momentarily, and something sad passed through them. If they took Naomi, it would only give Nobunaga reason to start an early war with them, and not only that, he would be putting his entire family at risk, not the Fujiwaras of course. Masurao was already a wanted person, however; they did not seem to spare a glance towards Tatsuki. If they knew she was his sister, they would kill her just for being associated with Yujin. He merely scowled at Asami's quiet response. She could not take Naomi, not now at least.
Makoto hadnât known most of that, but he couldnât say that much of it made a difference to him, anyway. The past was past, and Asami had made what he at least took to be a reasonable choice in avoiding any sort of entanglement with that man. Naomiâs troubles now might have never come about if she had chosen differently, but they were nobodyâs fault but the oyabunâs. Still, there might be something he could do to ease the situation, at least a little bit, and if it would help, he would do it in a heartbeat.
âI can sneak you past the guards,â he told Yujin quietly. He had, after all, spent quite a while learning and memorizing their routes, their watches, their faces, even. He could navigate the flow of movement on the estate like a fish navigated a river, and he would be able to take another long with him if he so desired. It was not without risk by any means, but he could do it. âBefore we go, should you desire to see her.â Privately, he did not believe Naomi would agree to leave with them even if there was some place to take her, but perhaps Yujin knew her better than he did. The news certainly seemed to upset him more than Makoto had imagined it would.
Perhaps, though, if they were to leave his family in safety with Asami and the Dragon, the rest of them could live on the move. They would be harder to track that way, and though it would not be an easy life, nor one he was especially keen on, it would be much better than simply waiting for Nobunaga to decide it was time for them to die. It was the only thing he could think of that would work, really, but he supposed in the end, it was something for Yujin and Naomi to work out themselves, if they desired to.
Yujin stared at Makoto, reading the Hanyou's face for a moment. He had to try something, anything really, to get Naomi out of the situation. She had denied him more than once, however; some part of him, a part that was hopeful would make her come this time with him. He couldn't just leave her, not like this. If he could see her, convince her, then he would do his hardest to keep her safe. Living life on the run wasn't an attractive idea, but it was better than her becoming his slave forever. There would be nothing he could do once she was wed to Nobunaga... and he wasn't so sure he could take that. Selfish, perhaps, but he'd be damned if he let that happen to Naomi. He only hoped that she would come with him.
"Take me to her," was the short reply he gave the Hanyou. He would see her, convince her, and they would be able to live their life on the run. He was a dreamer. He knew she would not come with him... but he had to try, right?
He let himself into the home, mostly because he knew that knocking was not required of him at this point but also because he didnât want to be seen outside the home for any longer than necessary. He could always be mistaken for casing it, but not if he stood at the front door like an idiot. Inside, he was quick to locate the pair, sitting in the central room as they were, though they were accompanied by a guest that he recognized as Yujinâs sister, Asami Fujiwara. He knew now that she was once Nobunagaâs intended, and the strange twist of fate that her refusal had created was a very interesting one indeed. He wondered how she and her brother would feel when they knew what the result was? It wasnât her fault, of course, but it was undeniable that they were all bound up in this common weave, this fate. He knew not what would become of them, but he did know that he would shield them all from it as best he couldâeven if it killed him.
âNobunaga has hired me to kill you,â he said without preamble, locking eyes with Yujin. âAnd Masurao.â
Clearly, Yujin was not expecting any company, however; it seemed that the gods (or whatever he believed in) were laughing at him. Asami had shown up at his door not more than a few hours ago. She had heard of the recent attack at the temple, of Nobunaga's find, and had come to see if it were true. Apparently it was, from what her brother had told her. He had been a little surprised, at first, that this visit had not entailed her trying to drag him back to the Fujiwara estate, and was still expecting it, however; she made no move, spoke nothing of the sort. They had been in the middle of a discussion when Makoto came in, Tatsuki having already set the table for lunch.
"That doesn't surprise me," Asami was the first to speak, setting her cup of tea down on the small table and turned towards Makoto. She sighed softly, shaking her head as she regarded the Hanyou. "I told you he would do something like this. You are lucky to have the Slayer as your friend, not your enemy, Yuji. So, tell me, what will you do brother?" she spoke, turning to hold Yujin's gaze. Tatsuki had stopped whatever movement she was making, turning to regard her brother as well as he furrowed his brows, narrowing his eyes at Makoto, though they were not intentionally issued at the Hanyou.
"And if you do not fulfill your contract, what becomes of you?" Yujin questioned. He softened his glare a bit as he stared at the Hanyou. Surely the contract didn't come without some complications. It was obvious enough that Nobunaga didn't know they were acquainted, otherwise the man would have not given the Hanyou any time at all to dispatch Masurao and himself. But before an answer could be drawn for Asami's question, he needed to know the risks he would be taking if Makoto did not fulfill his contract. Somehow, he already knew, but he needed to hear it first.
Makoto raised a brow slightly, but then he sighed, his expression returning to normal, and shook his head slightly, folding his arms into his sleeves and holding them against his chest. âThe usual,â he replied flatly, though there was a slight edge to it that was hard to place. âHe murders my entire family.â The Slayer pursed his lips. That was evident enough, and he knew that Nobunaga would not fail to follow through on his threat. He had a few days left before the oyabun would begin to get suspicious. If it were only him, he would be able to make it far enough away by then to be safe, but in truth, he did not know if the same could be said for them.
âThat is⊠partly why I have come. I need somewhere to send them. The only option I have right now is Sakuyaâs village, but things are not ideal there. They are dealing with youkai outbreaks of their own, and they do not need to take in more people who cannot fight. My mother is an apothecary, my aunt a tailor, and even the triplets are apt message runners and so forth, but none of them would be much use against demons. Not yet.â One day, the triplets would be, but that day was a few years in the making yetâhe could not responsibly ask Sakuya to take them in. At least, not unless he absolutely had to. âI was hoping that one of you would know of a place I could send them.â
Yujin sighed through his nose, and Tatsuki glanced down to her hands. She had been raised as a traveler, and didn't have many people to call friends. The only stable home she had ever had was here, in Edo, but even now that seemed less likely as the days went by. Yujin had family, but they would not take in humans simply because they were human. If he recalled correctly, the only reason he'd actually joined Nobunaga at one point, was because his family served the Oni. He was only following his family's footsteps when he joined the Oyabun, however; he was kicked out of the Yakuza and had lived a life of a mercenary. The only sanctuary he could provide for Makoto's family would be with them wherever they went. Asami, however, smiled as she read the troubled faces of her brother and his sister.
"I could take them," she offered, a warm smile etching upon her face. Yujin stared bewildered at his sister. Why would she take them? His family was not safe, and they both knew that. "You do not trust me, I can see it written on your face, Yujin," she spoke, the warm smile never leaving her face. "And you, Makoto, have no reason to trust me either, however; I assure you, I can take them somewhere where they will be safe, where they will be hidden even from Nobunaga. It is a safe haven for all those who wish to flee Nobunaga; humans, and Hanyou alike. Even other Oni are welcome into its camp," she explained. It would be difficult to have them believe her, but it was the least she could do.
"Asami, this is his family though. How do we know that we can trust you?" Tatsuki was the first to speak, her voice low and a bit timid. She was worried for the Yoshida family, if only because they were her family too. She might not have been as near and around them as Yujin and Masurao had been, mainly because Yujin wanted to teach them to be little terrors, as he had said once before. They were still her family too. Asami smiled a knowing smile, and tilted her head to the side.
"It is in a location that has not yet been touched by Nobunaga. There are several Oni lords, and human lords, who have taken up arms against Nobunaga. They are a rebellion, as you may call them. We are large in number, and grow every day. Nobunaga is not yet strong enough to fight us, and the Oni who leads us... well, let's just say they are not exactly fond of each other," she continued explaining. Yujin folded his hands in front of his face as he regarded his sister. For as long as he could remember, she disliked humans as much as their family. She'd even gone so far as to kill one once, so why was she a part of this rebellion? What has changed her so much that he could see the same change in himself... almost.
"What has changed you, sister?" he found himself asking, waiting for her reply. She turned and regarded him with an even stare, a bright smile painting her face.
"The same thing that has changed you, dear brother. Love."
Makoto was not inclined to be immediately trusting, either, but if this option was real, then it was about as good as anything he could hope for. âYou refer to the White Dragonâs Rebellion,â he said softly, tilting his head to the side in thought. He had heard of the oni through Naomi, who kept him appraised of most of the things she learned through Nobunaga or his associates, in exchange for him keeping her up-to-date on the goings-on of their mutual friends and associates in the village. She cared about them a great deal more than she let on to them, and would often ply him with questions for perhaps longer than was strictly safe. Her own situation had taken a poor turn lately, but things needed to be taken care of in order.
âI thank you,â he said, bowing deeply to Asami, âfor your offer. If I may, I will accompany you and they to the place myself, that I might lay my eyes on it and know whether they will be safe enough.â Personally, he thought it might befit him to join such a rebellion, at least for now. He was a killer; fighting was what he did. It was no longer enough to kill the petty youkai surrounding Edo in order to protect his family. He knew now that Nobunaga was the greatest threat to them that existed, and that meant that, one way or another, Nobunaga had to die. He held no illusions about being capable of such a feat on his ownâfor all his strength, for all his speed and ferocity, he was still a hanyou. And while he had killed more than one full-blooded oni in his time, it would take him much training yet before he would be able to stand on even footing with such a one as Nobunaga. If indeed it was even possible at all.
But with others, perhaps he could do what was impossible alone. He wondered if any of the others would have an interest in such a thing, or if they would prefer to wander. He knew now that whatever they did, he would do, so long as he knew his family was safe in the meantime. They had, in some strange way, become kin and home to him, and he would not leave them now. âThere is⊠something else you should know.â Though his eyes flickered to Tatsuki for a moment, they settled on Yujin, because Mako was smart enough to know that it was he that would take the tidings the hardest.
âNobunaga has announced his intention to take a wife. In one month hence, he will force Naomi to wed him.â
Asami smiled, and nodded her head. "Yes, I refer to him. He is a friend, and though it might seem like the reason is because we are both Oni, I assure you, the faith and trust I have in him is nothing of the sort," she spoke, and she had spoken the truth. It had taken her awhile to fully trust the White Dragon, and earning it had been no small feat. In the end, she was glad that they had met. He had become something of another brother to her, and his friendship had saved her on more than one occasion. Her smile brightened a fraction when he spoke of accompanying them, and she nodded her head once more. "You are welcome to tag along to see for yourself," she glanced towards Yujin, wondering if he would do the same.
Yujin, however, met Makoto's eyes when he spoke of something else, and he couldn't help the feeling of his stomach dropping. He didn't like the look in the Hanyou's eyes, and with each second that passed, it seemed like an eternity of waiting. And then Makoto spoke, and his heart sank. He felt sick, and if the expression on his face did not convey it enough, the way his eyes narrowed dangerously, and the way his fists curved in on themselves should have been enough. Tatsuki felt the sudden chill in the air as she glanced towards Yujin, a worried expression on her face, but she said nothing. She didn't know what to do or say about something like that. Naomi was her friend, and she knew small things about the woman, like the fact that she was Nobunaga's concubine, and how she disliked the War Lord. But to be his wife, and being forced into it? She could only imagine what Naomi was thinking.
Asami glanced towards Yujin and sighed. "I am afraid that is partly, if not my entire fault," she spoke, her voice low and apologetic. Yujin turned his harsh glare towards Asami, and she could feel the demand for answers. It was, if she were being honest, entirely her fault that the situation was forced upon the other woman. Had she followed through with her family's plan, she wondered, briefly, if the woman would have ever been in Nobunaga's captivity to begin with. The look in Yujin's eyes, however, was something she wasn't accustomed to seeing, and something clicked. "I am sorry, Yujin, I did not know," she continued.
"I was to be in Naomi's place," she confessed solemnly. "After you left, Yuji, our brothers thought it befitting to join closer in the ranks of Nobunaga's army, and proposed a deal: me in exchange for more power and territory. I have not seen our family in over ten years," she continued, her eyes leaving her brother's form. If she had not left, it would be she in Naomi's place, married already to the Oyabun and perhaps birthing him heirs. It was not a pleasant thought, and she mourned for Naomi. "He isn't doing it out of desire, I can assure you that. He is doing it for political matters. Currently, a few of the lesser Oni Lords do not support either cause, but he is trying to win them over. If he took a human as his wife, it might turn the tides in his favor," she explained, and Yujin could only feel a rage building inside of him.
"If we managed to take her from him, would you give her the same sanctuary as you are giving Makoto's family?" he finally spoke, an eerie calmness to it sent chills down both Tatsuki and Asami's spine. "Would you?" he continued. Asami lowered her gaze momentarily, and something sad passed through them. If they took Naomi, it would only give Nobunaga reason to start an early war with them, and not only that, he would be putting his entire family at risk, not the Fujiwaras of course. Masurao was already a wanted person, however; they did not seem to spare a glance towards Tatsuki. If they knew she was his sister, they would kill her just for being associated with Yujin. He merely scowled at Asami's quiet response. She could not take Naomi, not now at least.
Makoto hadnât known most of that, but he couldnât say that much of it made a difference to him, anyway. The past was past, and Asami had made what he at least took to be a reasonable choice in avoiding any sort of entanglement with that man. Naomiâs troubles now might have never come about if she had chosen differently, but they were nobodyâs fault but the oyabunâs. Still, there might be something he could do to ease the situation, at least a little bit, and if it would help, he would do it in a heartbeat.
âI can sneak you past the guards,â he told Yujin quietly. He had, after all, spent quite a while learning and memorizing their routes, their watches, their faces, even. He could navigate the flow of movement on the estate like a fish navigated a river, and he would be able to take another long with him if he so desired. It was not without risk by any means, but he could do it. âBefore we go, should you desire to see her.â Privately, he did not believe Naomi would agree to leave with them even if there was some place to take her, but perhaps Yujin knew her better than he did. The news certainly seemed to upset him more than Makoto had imagined it would.
Perhaps, though, if they were to leave his family in safety with Asami and the Dragon, the rest of them could live on the move. They would be harder to track that way, and though it would not be an easy life, nor one he was especially keen on, it would be much better than simply waiting for Nobunaga to decide it was time for them to die. It was the only thing he could think of that would work, really, but he supposed in the end, it was something for Yujin and Naomi to work out themselves, if they desired to.
Yujin stared at Makoto, reading the Hanyou's face for a moment. He had to try something, anything really, to get Naomi out of the situation. She had denied him more than once, however; some part of him, a part that was hopeful would make her come this time with him. He couldn't just leave her, not like this. If he could see her, convince her, then he would do his hardest to keep her safe. Living life on the run wasn't an attractive idea, but it was better than her becoming his slave forever. There would be nothing he could do once she was wed to Nobunaga... and he wasn't so sure he could take that. Selfish, perhaps, but he'd be damned if he let that happen to Naomi. He only hoped that she would come with him.
"Take me to her," was the short reply he gave the Hanyou. He would see her, convince her, and they would be able to live their life on the run. He was a dreamer. He knew she would not come with him... but he had to try, right?