This story is supposed to be in the style of a filler Naruto episode from the point of view of a possible customer. I've tried to emulate the style and the clichés that are sometimes present, but I hope to write it as realistically and interestingly as I can. Also, since it is from the point of view of a customer, I obviously had to create some new characters that I tried to keep realistic as people, so tell me how I did on that. Please review, this is somewhat of a new idea/style for me.
xXx
"Fumi!" I groaned, staring at my bare feet. I was sitting on the edge of our porch swinging them back and forth while trying to get them covered in dust. It probably wasn't the most worthwhile activity, but it was keeping me mostly entertained. Occasionally the feet would brush against each other though, and wipe some of the dust off. Therein lied the challenge.
"Fumi!!" the shrill voice came again. Did she pitch it that high just to make it the most penetrating possible?
"What?!" I called back to Aoi, my governess. Although my father started out as only a merchant, he was able to collect enough money that we were very rich by the time I was born. Since my mother died having me, Aoi was the one who took care of me all this time. My father was usually out on the roads trying to convince people to buy his useless junk. Which he was quite good at, as my costly possessions showed.
"The shinobi will be here soon, wouldn't you like to clean up and make a good impression?" I shivered in excitement. Since Aoi and I would be traveling over to meet my father on the other side of the country, he decided that our traveling in our small caravan of servants wasn't safe enough and was hiring bodyguards. I couldn't wait. Everyone had heard about the ninja, though I hadn't ever seen any. I bet they were all going to be at least six feet tall and covered in weapons. I heard stories that say that some of them weren't even totally human… and had devilish magical powers. Although I was enjoying the anticipation, I have to admit a not-so-small part of me was afraid.
"No! I want to wait here! Leave me alone you old biddy!" I shrieked back. Jeez, she ruined everything. I wanted to be able to see them as soon as they came over the horizon. I almost wished they would like me. I never had any friends. Since my dad thought a tutor would teach me better, I never went to school. The closest thing I had to a companion was Aoi. And she was no fun at all. But they would probably be at least thirty, ancient. And covered with battlescars and tattoos. I relished this idea for a moment. There would also be a lot of them, I bet. My dad had sent a messenger telling me that he had tried his hardest to get a large number for me.
"Their stubborn 'hokage' as they refer to it, keeps telling me that not too many could be spared for what was deemed a 'low-class' mission. But don't you worry sweetheart. These monsters can be swayed by a few more coins I'm sure."
I recalled his last letter to me in satisfaction. I always got what I wanted. And I wanted a lot of them. This was going to be great. Maybe they would smoke and tell stories of all the people they'd killed. Mostly criminals, for sure. But maybe some not. Shinobi were one step away from murderers Aoi had told me darkly. And sometimes not even that much. I wriggled my toes in the dirt. Then a bit of fear shot through me suddenly. What if they were really cool and they didn't like me? I pushed that thought away from me harshly. Everyone like me, I was sure. Or at least I thought so. All the people I knew were my servants. What if the servants didn't like me? Whatever, I told myself. Who cares what servants thought? Their opinions didn't matter much. They were really poor too, and it was hard to relate to someone who wasn't the same 'level' as me.
I stood up on my tiptoes, trying to see if there was anything there. Nope. Maybe I would go in and try to look nice. I turned and walked in the door. "Aoi, tell me if anyone comes, okay? I want to be able to go meet them." I didn't wait for her answer.
After changing my clothes and washing the dust off, I looked in the mirror, trying to judge how I would look to an outsider. Black hair, pale face, big dark eyes. I thought I looked alright, maybe pretty on a good day. But then again, what did I know? I had barely ever seen anyone my age, which was thirteen. One of the maids had brought her daughter to work once and I tried to play with her, but it didn't go well. She wouldn't do what I told her. Finally I had lost my temper and told the maid never to bring her back.
I paused, hoping to hear Aoi's shrill and annoying voice telling me the dangerous bad men had come. Silence. Oh well. It's not like I really cared that much, I told myself. My self was apparently not listening. I stuck out my lower lip in the pouting expression that always got me the new outfit, and thought about Aoi. Although she was probably the closest thing I had to a mother, we weren't that close. I used to have terrible temper tantrums when I was younger, (okay, sometimes I still had them) and the repeated refrain coming from her mouth was "every day more money". I wasn't exactly sure what that meant, but as I puzzled over it now, it didn't seem that nurturing.
"FUMI!! They're here!" Aoi shrieked. I jumped up, almost bumping into my dresser. Racing outside to where my governess was, I squinted at the horizon. There was nothing there.
"Where are they?" I demanded. "I thought you said they were here!" Aoi pointed over to the side of the house. I started to run over, then decided it wasn't dignified enough. I slowed down to a walk and tried to look graceful, remembering to keep my shoulders back. As soon as I saw the apparently deadly and merciless bodyguards and assassins we had hired though, I forgot to pay attention to my posture.
"Oh you have GOT to be kidding."
