"Tsuki!"
"What is it?" you called over your shoulder, putting the last stroke on your calligraphy scroll.
"You've been commissioned by Pein-sama…" she said, sounding slightly anxious.
"Really?" you asked, disbelievingly, your eyes widening at the news.
"It seems he requires your skills," your mother said, her voice growing softer.
You frowned, your mother wasn't supposed to seem sad at your summoning by Pein-sama, it was an honour to be of use to the God of the Rain Village. "When do I leave?" you queried, trying to think of all the things you'd need to bring with you.
"As soon as you can, you wouldn't want to keep him waiting, Tsuki…" she replied, the pain in her voice surprising you.
"Mother, when will you ever tell me why you fear Pein-sama?" you sighed, washing the smooth-handled brush and placing it back in its rough wooden box.
Taking the paper in your hands, you reached to your side, searching for the tube to house the newly finished scroll. Your mother moved to your side and placed the tube in your hand; you thanked her with a nod before rolling up the scroll. "This one is finished," you informed her, raising it as a sign for her to take it from you.
The weight lifted from your hand, and you gathered your things before standing up and moving towards the door. "I will tell you one day, when you are ready to hear it, Tsuki," your mother murmured from the door.
Her footsteps faded down the hallway and you wondered what she had meant. 'I'm not ready to hear it now?'
Making your way to your room, you felt around for your most important items before seeking out your mother. Deep breathing alerted you to her presence in her bedroom and you quickly went to sit next to her on the bed. 'It…sounds like she's crying…' you thought to yourself, cursing the fact that you couldn't see her face.
"I'm ready to leave, mother," you whispered, unsure if she was aware of you.
"I know…just give me a moment and I'll take you there…" she whispered back, her voice sounding strained.
"Is there something you're not mentioning?" you asked, suspiciously.
'She didn't say that it would be dangerous…'"No, no. Have you brought your lute?"
The bed lifted as she pulled herself to her feet, and you turned your face to where she stood. You nodded in reply and stood up with her. "Okay, let's go," your mother said, "He said there'd be a man waiting for you at the front gates…"
You frowned at this information. Any summons from your God in the past had not required you to leave the village. You wondered if your mother had been crying because she knew you might die on this mission. Your mother gently took your arm in hers and you followed her across the village to the front entrance. "There he is, he told me to expect a man with a strong chakra with a constant flow of chakra around his eyes," your mother said, leading you over to the waiting man.
"Sato Mei and Sato Tsukiko," the man stated as you approached, his deep voice detached and unwelcoming.
Your eyebrows raised in surprise at how young his voice sounded.
"Yes, sir," your mother replied, the title sounding strange on her voice.
"Sato Tsukiko, you are to take this scroll and quickly educate yourself on the contents," the man informed.
His clothes rustled as he outstretched an arm, but you felt unsure about his directions. "Take it," he ordered, sounding impatient.
Obviously, he was aggravated about having to be the one to talk to you and even more now that he thought you were incompetent and unable to follow the simplest instructions. "Did no one tell you, sir?" your mother ventured, surprise entering her voice.
"Tell me what?"
"My daughter is blind."
There was a tense pause and you turned your face downwards, almost in shame. The man spoke again, and you swore you heard a smirk in his voice, "I see."
Already thinking that this man was unbelievably rude and conceited, your opinion of him dropped even lower. "Mother, just read me the scroll."
"Okay," she agreed, before unrolling the scroll and speaking quietly, "Sato Tsukiko, you have been commissioned to play a private concert for the Lord of Nagawa in the Country of Earth. A trusted associate will accompany you there for your protection."
You registered the information, feeling honoured that you were to be the one to represent Rain village and your God. "We should leave now," the man said shortly, his voice moving away towards the gate.
"I'll be back in a few days, mother, please don't worry too much about me…I'm 15 years old, after all…" you murmured, finding it hard to breathe as your emotional mother enveloped you in a massive hug.
"Be safe, Tsukiko…trust this man, he will protect you," your mother advised, squeezing you one last time before releasing you.
"I will, mother. I'll come back soon," you farewelled, patting your mother's arm, comfortingly.
You turned away and moved over to stand by the man at the gate. "Do you require…assistance?" he asked, seemingly concerned.
'But then again…the slower I am, the longer it takes for this to be finished for him…'"I can keep up just as well as anyone without my…disability, if that is what you're asking," you said, finding pride in the fact that you had developed ways to overcome your impairment.
"Good, maybe this won't be as bad as I first thought," the man remarked, causing you to scowl in his direction.
You heard his cloak rustle and quickly followed after the sound, knowing that if you didn't react with speed; you would irritate your companion. Walking in his footsteps, you wondered about who he was, and why he was the one going on this journey with you. "What's your name?" you asked, thinking that even just by knowing his name, you might find his silent demeanour more bearable.
"Why do you need to know?" he replied, sounding genuinely surprised that you had decided to talk to him.
"Well, what do I call you then?" you questioned, realising that maybe this man wasn't used to social conversations on a regular basis.
"Sir, will suffice," he informed you, his tone telling you that he believed that he had earned the title in every respect.
"Why should I call you sir?" you asked, irritated by his arrogance.
"It is safer than you knowing my real name."
'Why…what has the person with his name done to make it so unsafe?'You suddenly felt very afraid for your life, maybe you had been too presumptuous in trusting a stranger. "Frightened of me now?" the man asked, his voice betraying a hint of amusement.
You decided not to answer him – to answer yes would wound your pride, and answering no would be a blatant lie. You followed him once again in silence, feeling slightly out of control of the situation. 'What happens if he's taking me to be sold as a slave? Or what if he's a murderer, and he's just waiting for the perfect moment to strike and take my life?!' you thought, mildly panicking.
The man must have sensed your sudden fear, and he sighed before speaking. "I was informed to protect you, nothing will happen to you whilst you are under my care, I promise you."
You nodded, inwardly feeling much relief from his promise to you. "Will you ever tell me your name?" you ventured, "You already know mine…"
"Feiku."
You felt like punching the man for giving you such a fake name, but decided that it was infinitely better than the 'Sir' he had suggested. "So…Feiku-san, how old are you?"
"51."
Your eye twitched as he once again made his lies completely obvious. "And where do you live? Let me guess – the moon?"
"Funny you should say that…"
"You come from the Land of Void?" you asked, curious as you had never visited the lands over the sea to the East.
"You ask too many questions, your mouth will put you in danger if you are not careful," Feiku, as he had named himself, reprimanded.
You pursued your lips, feeling as though you were being treated like a child. "I'm 15 you know," you mentioned, "So it would be nice if you would stop treating me like I'm an immature brat."
"Convince me otherwise and I will consider it."
The superiority in his voice made you grind your teeth together, but you knew that letting him make you angry would only result in more anger. "As you wish, Feiku-san," you replied, feeling defeated by his cutting remark.
"Hn," was his response, and you fell back into silence.
'The sooner this is over the better!' you thought to yourself, thinking of your mother and how she must already be fretting over your safety."Rock," came the soft, male voice.
"Sorry?" you queried.
Suddenly a stone tripped you up and you plummeted towards the ground. You opened your mouth to scream but shut it abruptly when you remembered that you were trying to prove your maturity to your forced companion. Your hands were smoothly grabbed and the momentum twisted your body, causing your back to scrape painfully across the ground. Your wrists were released and you laid there in shock, trying not to focus on the sharp pain dotted around your back. You heard the rustle of clothes as your protector continued on his former path, and you quickly got to your feet, silently fuming. If you could have, you would have glared daggers at his back. "Why did you let me fall?"
"I warned you about the rock, didn't I?" he countered, quickening his step.
"Well then why did you grab my wrists?"
"You require your hands to play your biwa, do you not?" (NB: A biwa is a Japanese style lute).
Realising what he was implying, you tightly closed your mouth and refused to talk again until you had reached your camp for the night. "We shall stop here," Feiku decided, his abrupt stop almost making you walk into him.
You nodded in agreement and set down your pack, happy to finally be off your feet. Rolling out a sleeping bag, you wondered what had happened to your protector. You could no longer hear the movements of his clothes or his level, rhythmic breathing. Deciding that he had settled down to rest, you followed suit and sleep quickly claimed you. If you had vision, you would have seen that Feiku had settled himself in a tree high above you, his dark red eyes open and unblinking as he readied himself for the long night of keeping guard.