Chapter 9:

Yuji was still sitting by himself at the café that they went to. He gently set Soy sauce on the table, as he was asleep in his apron pocket. With a long sigh, Yuji could only play with his cup of green tea and wait for Yumi to return. “Hopefully she’s okay…She looked like she was in a hurry.” 

He thought to himself. The same waiter came by to check on them, only to see a depressed Yuji at the table. “Another lonely night, huh?” 

The waiter sighed. 

“Do you just want me to grab the check and get you outta here?” 

“No…she'll come back, I promise you.” 

“Alright, the check’s always here Yuji…” 

And he walked off. 

Yuji looked back at Soy sauce, and back to the scroll that Yumi left when she dashed. 

“Does she…need this?” 

He said, picking it up like it was a ticking timebomb. Soy sauce woke up to the sound of his owner's voice, and gently rubbed against him. 

“Maybe…I should give this back to her. She might need it…and I’ll get to see her again!” 

He thought, already forming a plan. 

“Alright Soy sauce, we're going on a mission: Operation give Yumi the little scroll that she lost and totally not use this as an opportunity to see her after she left!” 

He giggled at his own name, and Soy sauce left out his nya of approval. 

“Oh wait…Check please!”

Yuji and Soy sauce were finally out and about from the café, and on their way to find Yumi. 

“If I were Yumi, where would I go after a situation like this…” 

He thought. Soy sauce crawled out of his pocket and nodded his head towards the dojo on the hill: Her dojo. “I’ve never wanted to bother that place…but if it’s for Yumi, we're gonna do this!” 

He suddenly placed Soy sauce on his head. 

“I need you to be my eyes boy…” 

He said jokingly, soy sauce taking the job as an honour. They started walking towards the dojo, still holding the scroll like a sacred gift. 

“To be honest…I’m a little scared. I’ve never done anything like this…I wonder how Yumi did it all her life.” 

He thought to himself. The slightest of winds or the shuffling of bushes were enough to make the two jump. 

“I wish Yumi was here…I never realized how much I missed her when she ran off…” 

He said, reminiscing about their time together. 

They finally reached the front gates of the dojo. Yuji looked past a tree, and saw two big, scary ninja guards at the front. 

“Woah…they look like they mean business…I have to think.” He thought of different situations he could do without harming himself. He could disguise himself and pretend to go talk business, but he couldn’t hold a lie that good. He could try and sneak into the building, but he’s not good at sneaking around. He knew what he would do, but Soy sauce let out a concerned meow. He finally approached the guards. 

“Hey guys! How’s it going?” 

He practically shouted, hoping to get their attention. The guards exchanged weird looks, and glared at Yuji. “

Who are you, and why are you here?” 

One said, standing toughly. 

“I-Uh-I found this scroll layin’ around, does it belong to you guys?” He handed them the scroll with big eyes, soy sauce trying to seal the deal by nya-ing occasionally. The guards examined it with careful hands, still stealing glances at Yuji often. 

“This…This is.” 

One of them said. 

“It’s important to us to know where you found this.” 

They said, now curious about the scroll. 

“Uh-Uh-I just found it in the village center…I’m sorry for bothering you.” 

“No…this is serious. We need you examined, ASAP. Come with us…” 

The other said, now giving dangerous looks. 

“Uh…Yeah, that’s fine…let's go Soy Sauce!” 

He doubled down without realizing it. The guards gave surprised glances at each other, and checked themselves in. 

“Unit Hiko and Fang…we have someone that needs to be examined.” 

They said flawlessly. 

“Access Granted. Head to the interrogation room with the visitor. Good luck!” 

A robotic voice said, giving the two ninjas instructions of what to do with Yuji and Soy Sauce.

The two of them were starting to get scared now. The dojo seemed huge compared to them, and the amount of ninjas giving them looks were enough to make them sick in their stomachs. 

“Please let Yumi be here…please please please…”

Yuji thought, hoping to be freed by her. They were thrown into a dark room with a single table and two chairs. 

“Wait here…the master will be down shortly. Don’t get any ideas.” 

The ninja said before closing the door shut. Soy Sauce let out a long meow and crawled into Yuji’s front apron pocket, clearly being scared of the dark. 

“It’s okay boy…well get out of here…I promise.” 

He reassured him, also being scared of the situation. The faint sound of other ninjas asking about who was in the room were filling their heads. The steps of Geta shoes were getting closer and closer, and slowly fading once again. It wasn’t until what felt like days passed, when the door finally opened. 

“Oh Yumi! Thank god you’re here…I missed you so much!” 

He said, not realizing the grave mistake that he made. They were met with the figure of a tall, yet old ninja, breathing heavily and slamming the door shut. It was none other than Toshi Hoshira.

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