Chapter 1- "The Samurai"

Ai's POV

Lost. I didn't know where I was, I had been walking in circles for many days. Everything just kept looking the same and looking the same. I was on vacation and everyone in my ninja party got seperated stupidly by everyone arguing that they knew the right way, no one did. I took one way while everyone took other ways. What a way to start a vacation when no one could be found or the worst that could be happening to them.

I was near the mountains or that's where I thought I was. Every tree looked the same and when I thought I was on the new path, it was the same one from fifteen minutes ago. Obviously, I didn't want think I was lost but I was. With no map and directions this was going to be very hard, no one was around and it was almost evening and no signs of anyone yet.

I continued go around and around for an hour and just sat on huge rock and just stayed there. "I'm so lost. Why didn't we all stick together? For all I know something could've happened to all of them."

I saw a ladder a few trees down with two males talking. One dressed as an ancient Japan samurai and the other in regular everyday clothes. They seemed to be friends or it didn't seem that way after they were arguing about the Samurai having money and not using it properly. I heard the Samurai refer to the boy as Ataru but never mentioned his name.

"Come on, Tombimaro." Ataru began. "You have money, you should be spending it and having it a good time! I would switch lives with you!"

Tobimaro sighed. "You wouldn't, Ataru. I have so many problems plus you would be against Shuu-chan."

Ataru just laughed. "Over baseball? It's over baseball! That's interesting but not as interesting as two men fighting over a woman!"

Tobimaro growled. "What do you see in them? Both you and Shuu-chan run around on panty raids and trying to get every girl's number."

Ataru laughed and laughed some more. Tobimaro began climbing up the tree as I decided to walk forward to ask the two males where I was. I came closer as I would later regret doing because of Ataru's oversexed hormones, he became out of control as soon as he heard my voice.

"Um, hello?." I replied. "I'm lost, can you both tell me where I am?"

Ataru ran straight for me as the ladder fell against Tobimaro as he was hanging by the branch. "Oh wow, you're a hottie! What's your name? What's your number, baby? I'm totally into you, baby!"

"Aiko Otani but everyone calls me Ai." I replied. "It's nice to meet you...um..?"

"Ataru Moroboshi! Don't forget it, baby." Ataru jumped up and down. "You're in Tomobiki where everyday something odd always happens!"

Tobimaro began yelling as the branch began to break. "You idiot! You let go of the ladder! I knew I should of brought Shuu-chan to help me do this!"

Tobimaro fell down as he landed flat on his face and got up and spit out leaves. He instantly flipped backwards and blocked the way of both Ataru and I, Tobimaro was angry as I got a closer look at him. He was an interesting male, I never saw a male bare star pupils. It was very interesting along with his attire and his unkempt hair, long but he fit the profile of a warrior.

"Ataru, get back! It's an enemy!" Tobimaro wielded a sword. "Who are you? What buisness do you have in Tomobiki?"

Ataru grabbed Tobimaro. "Tobimaro, you'll scare her away!" Ataru began pulling Tobimaro back. "Don't scare the hottie away! She's good, she won't hurt anyone."

"Darling!" someone called. "Darling, where are you?"

Ataru looked around. "Oh no, Lum's looking for me! I might as well get zapped since she'll see me do this!"

Ataru went straight for Ai and hugged her as Lum finally found him. "Darling! What are you doing? Another girl? Stop it, darling!"

Lum zapped Ataru as he fell down. He got fried as hell with his perfect hair in every direction and with a shocked look on his face. Lum saw me right away and realized I was someone she never saw before and made sure we were introduced right away. Tobimaro was still blocking the way.

"Oh, you aren't from around here!" Lum smiled. "Icha, my name is Lum! Sorry about darling, he can't control himself."

Ataru looked up. "Ai, I'm being held against my will! I'm tied down!"

"Ai? Oh, that's your name?" Lum smiled again. "What a cute name, icha!"

I smiled. I had to say Lum was very oddly dressed but cute. Tiger striped bikini with the same on the boots. Green hair with two horns. She looked like a bomb and Ataru knew what I meant about a bomb, she was very appealing.

I looked at Tobimaro. He was still angry, he wasn't going to move out of the way and he meant it. He felt I was a problem but I would soon later realize only the other half of it. For now, it was the enemy part I could recognize. He made sure I stayed right where I was and refused to move.

"Tobimaro, I'm lost. All I want is directions to find my group." I replied. "I don't want to attack you or anything."

Tobimaro lowered his sword and put it away. "I don't believe you but ok. I'll escort you back to my house. Don't do anything, ok?"

I remained silent as I walked behind the Samurai. I didn't defy him or go against him since it was respect I was showing him. Tobimaro continued on, he obviously knew his way around since he told me while we were walking that he trained here often, I was just glad he knew where we were.

Tobimaro turned back. "You aren't hurt or anything?

"No." I replied. "I'm ok."

Tobimaro was still uneasy and turned back and gave it no thought. Little did I know that he thought women had no feelings and that they were ill-fated to him and that's why he often was cold but he there was some warmth in it. I didn't blame him, I had mistrust of men also but I wasn't fully like Tobimaro. I guess fate brought us together to get over our differences but I wasn't sure.

This would be just the beginning of the troubles that would await us. For now we were innocent children discovering what life was truly about. For now I followed behind the Samurai and obeyed his orders.

Later, we would be in many troubles and we warned to not be together but knowing it was Tobimaro's first love and it was my second. We didn't see much of anything coming.