Ibuki's Miracle

By: PurpleCobra247

Rated M for adult language, sexual content, blood and gore, and violence

(Before you enjoy my first separate new story in like ages, I should let ya'll know that this will be in Ibuki's POV and any new characters belong to me. Enjoy!)

Chapter 1: An Amazing Discovery

Geez! I can't believe that I'm 22 years old and still have another year until I graduate from college. Time goes by when you least expect it, ya know. Being a ninja in college ain't a walk in the park. I got so many tests and training sessions that it's starting to get a bit ridiculous! And on top of all that, I'm really starting to miss my little Don-Chan. Personally, he's like a little brother to me. He never fought with me and we always shared so many secrets together, but not having him sleep next to me felt kinda strange. Tee, hee! Believe it or not, I also missed his snoring, too. It never kept me awake or anything, but it's just funny hearing him snore. I practically spoiled him most of the time, too. God, I miss those days.

Today, though, I was just hanging out with some of my girls at the mall after I finished some ninja training for the day. We were at the food court, just talking, laughing, and having a good time. I managed to keep out of the conversation with my other three girls as I was staring at a cute picture of me and Don on my cell phone. I know that little guy misses me and I miss him, too. I remember the very first time I had to leave for Sarusuberi. That sad, sad look on his face was telling me not to leave, but I had no choice. Katherine, a blonde haired girl at my table, finally noticed my look of complete solitude and she snapped me outta my trance.

"Ibuki, what's wrong?" She spoke to me in a pure American female voice. "You don't look so hot today."

"I know, Kathy." I replied with a bored tone. "I just miss Don."

"Your pet tanuki?"

"Yeah. I've been thinking about him this whole time."

"Awww, I understand. I remember when I had to give away my pet dog after he was too sick to live. They actually had to put him down and I was just devastated for the next three years. I turned out okay in the end."

"It's not the same! I just want Don by my side again. We've been together since I was fourteen."

"Wow."

I ended the conversation right there, not wanting to be bothered again for the rest of the day. I know there are other tanukis out there, but Don is the only one I cared about. If there were other species of tanukis all over the place somewhere else, then wow. I… would… be… speechless.

Three weeks later, it was the same ol' routine in college as usual… until this announcement came up from the Dean through the PA system:

"Would Ibuki please come to the main office immediately? I repeat, Ibuki… please come to the office immediately. It's urgent!"

"What the hell…?" I muttered to myself as I looked at the speaker from my desk. My Biology teacher, Mr. Jorgensen, nodded in agreement to the announcement before he said to me:

"You better get moving, Ibuki. I have a feeling that you might need to pack everything for this."

"What?" I asked him. I was still confused. My professor was really expecting me to go away on a trip or something. I didn't say another word when he gave me that look that said 'You better get your ass moving or I'll suspend you'. I reluctantly obeyed him and packed up everything in my backpack before I headed out for the office, leaving the rest of the class watching me with just as much confusion.

When I finally got to the office, I slowly opened the door, only because I still wasn't quite as sure as to what's going on. I finally open it all the way and I see a tall elderly man that seemed to be in his nineties, but he was a little too fit for an old geezer AND he had the biggest pair of mechanical arms I've ever seen in my life. They weren't too big, but big enough to scare the hell outta me.

"Ah, Ibuki, you finally made it." Dean Rogers greeted as I got in and took a seat. I was still confused, but I remained serious on my face. "As you can see, we have a guest."

"You're Ibuki, eh?" The old man asked me in a pretty sweet elder's voice. I couldn't help but smile as my response as I nodded. "Heh, heh… you young girls ta-day, I swear. Seems like the older I get, the cuter ya'll get. My name is Shaundo Wellason. I came all da way here from Atlanta, Georgia to ask ya a huge favor."

"Atlanta?" I finally spoke. "Whoa! You got pretty far to get here… and all just to find me. What's the favor?"

"It's… kinda hard to explain right now, but I can tell ya this for da time being. I'm a professional breeder of Tanuki Americans."

"Tanuki… AMERICANS?" Was he serious? I didn't think there could be various species of one of my favorite animals. "Really?"

"Yeah. I have over 900 million of 'em livin' in my humble sanctuary."

"Oh, wow!"

"That is amazing." Dean Rogers agreed. "How did you even find just one?"

"Heh, heh… my little secret. Only Ibuki will know once we start leavin'. I've got a limo outside waitin'. All you need to do is pack up ya stuff, Ibuki. I have a feeling that you just might be livin' wit me for a while."

"If you say so…" I replied as I stood up, but… I was a little scared to shake hands with him. I just waved and went on my way to pack up, but before I could reach the door…

"Bring Don with ya. I have a feelin' dat he may be useful in our mission."

"You're calling it a mission now?" I dared to ask him. Shaundo frowned.

"It's mo' like dat, yeah."

"I have a bad feeling about this."

Thirty minutes later, on the way down the stairs to Shaundo's limo…

"Now dat da dean is outta our sights, I can explain everything you need ta know." Shaundo started as he was helping me carry my bags to the car next to me. I carried the lighter stuff. "First, let me explain how I started all dis. My career as a breeder came up as a huge change in my life. When I found the very first Tanuki American in my backyard, it was a female and I figured I could get her to bring even more to life. It happened so fast… I was thrilled. Pretty soon, the government wanted me to start a sanctuary and I did with all the pride I could. People called 'em either Tanuki Americans or American Tanukis. Either way ya call it, they're all da same."

"Wow." I replied, listening to every word. I was already fascinated by this whole American Tanuki thing and I wasn't about to deny it now. "So, do you really just keep them all to yourself or do you put them up for adoption?"

"I tried puttin' 'em up fo' adoption, but nobody would visit fo' dat. They would just come and visit just to see 'em." What? Are you kidding me? I got one as a pet, for Pete's sake! They seem like good pets to me. "Da reason why was explained to me through the mouth of a cute lil' boy named Toby. He said and I quote: 'We don't wanna raise these pretty animals. They deserve to be free and we wanna keep them that way.' I was blown away by that statement, especially since it came from a six year old boy."

"Awww, that's cute." I nodded in understanding this time. I was about to get all serious and whatnot and this came up. Whew! Good thing I gave him a chance. "So, what exactly do American Tanukis look like? Judging by what Toby said, they must be beautiful."

"SORRY, I'M LATE!" A comedic male voice called out. We looked towards the source and I made the biggest smile in my life. "(huff, huff) Damn traffic… wouldn't… give me… a chance to… to dodge."

"Hey, Don-chan." I started as I just placed some of my bags in the trunk of the limousine. I started leaking a few happy tears and Don saw them, due to that cute smile on his face. I missed him so much and I finally got to see him after, what seemed like, forever. "It's so good to see you."

"Don't cry, Ibuki." Don ran up to me and gave me a hug after he leaped onto me. "I've missed ya, too. How old are ya now? 22?"

"Yeah."

"Sheesh! Where did those years go, huh?"

"Who knows?"

"It's good ta see ya, Don." Shaundo came in, nearly startling my little bro. "The name's Shaundo. I need you and Ibuki ta help me out with a huge mission. I was just about to tell her what American Tanukis look like."

"AMERICAN Tanukis now?!" Don asked with shock. "Didn't think I had American cousins."

"Oh, but ya do, and ya'll are gonna learn all about 'em shortly. Hop in. It's gonna be a long ride to the airport."

"Airport?"

"We're going to Atlanta, Georgia." I told my pet with sarcasm.

"…yipe."

A few minutes later, in the limo ride to the airport…

"Ohhh, now I understand the whole situation." Don replied after Shaundo just repeated what he explained to me. "So, now can ya tell us what these Tanuki Americans look like?"

"You know 'bout Angora rabbits, right?" Shaundo started. Don and I both nodded. "Well, they have the same long hair as those rabbits, only longer since they're at the same size as our typical lop-eared rabbit. They also come in a wide variety of colors, like gray tabby, orange tabby, tortoiseshell, and some are even in the same traditional pattern as a foxhound. In other words, yes. They are beautiful."

"They have hair, huh?"

"What's the difference?" I dared to ask them. Shaundo chuckled.

"Figured you would ask, Ibuki." He commented. He made me feel stupid just now. "Hair on an animal is more perfect for those people who are allergic to 'em. They're hypoallergenic. Fur leaves more dander and they cause allergies."

"Oh. I knew that."

"Uh, huh… sure."

"So, since they're so pretty and they're being raised to be free in your sanctuary, what the hell seems to be the problem?!" I mean, come on! All of this positive stuff I've been hearing. Doesn't seem like there's a problem to me.

"It's a big issue, Ibuki! Ya see, da good news 'bout all this is that 99 percent of the entire state of Georgia loves these gorgeous animals. Da bad news is that… the one percent… wants 'em all dead."

"…say what?!" Don and I exclaimed together.

"Yep… and I ain't lying, neither."

"Who would want those marvelous cousins of mine dead, huh?!" Don asked with anger.

"A group of 20 men and their dogs… all 32 of 'em. The reason why… I can't even get it outta da police. They have no idea what the motive is either, but I can take a wild guess."

"Which is…?"

"You'll see when we get there. Trust me… you'll understand why."

Uh, oh. Something tells me that something small, but huge is the cause of the chaos. I know that doesn't make any sense, but believe me. Being a ninja who's been around some people in the same way, being small and huge all at once, does play some part in the advantage factory.

To be continued…