Chapter 1
First Appearance
"Anya, wait up!" Naomi yelled after me.
"Hurry up, I don't want to get caught!" I shouted over my shoulder. We both ran as fast as we could out of the village and into the forest. I didn't want to go to training today and I'm surprise I talked Naomi into skipping with me. I should take training seriously because I will be going off to war in a week, but I want to try and have some free time for myself because I know when I'm shipped off to war I will never get to relax and have time to myself ever again. I will be an adult living a boring life. I hate thinking about my responsibilities, but I guess its part of growing up.
"We are almost there!" I yelled in excitement.
"I sure hope so…" Naomi gasped for breath as she tried to keep up with me.
Naomi and I both live in Sachiko Village, which is a very small town, but it is very peaceful. Sachiko Village was always in war with the Shinobu clan because they didn't believe how their village treated their people and soldiers, and also the Shinobu's goal is to take over as many villages as they can to gain power and fortune. The Shinobu clan also wants to kill all the ninjas from the Takara clan because they are afraid they will out rule all the Shinobu rulers. The Takara Village is actually the main part in this war and our village has been, aiding, the Takara clan for years and years, against the Shinobu. The Takara clan only has ninjas involved but they are skillful and most of them are high-ranked. They are all very strong and powerful causing a big threat to the Shinobu. Our village treats all the high-ranking ninjas like gods. Our village also has a lot of people training to be the next high-ranking ninjas, plus a lot of people from our village will be shipped off to war just like Naomi and I. We both are trained with bows and arrows since we were very young. Naomi is decent at using a bow, but myself on the other hand…. Not so much… I'm sure I'll get the hang of it before I get shipped off, but until then I just want to enjoy my last few days in my peaceful village.
We both ended up at our favorite hangout spot in the middle of the forest. The forest is full of beautiful, colorful flowers and the scenery around us was breathtaking. We both sat down on a huge log and panted. I haven't run this fast in forever! Wow, am I out of shape…
"Anya, you know your father is going to be pissed!" Naomi said in concern.
I rolled my eyes. "I wanted to skip today to enjoy ourselves before the war."
"I guess so, but still…." Naomi looked down at her hands that were resting on her lap. "We need to start being responsible!"
My father has retired from the war against the Shinobu ten years ago as one of the high-ranking ninjas. He grew up in Sachiko Village and got drafted by the Takara clan to help aid to fight the Shinobu. The war between The Shinobu and the Takara clan has been going on for thirty years and it seems like it won't end as soon as possible, which I think is pointless. But I'll be involved in the war only because my father wants me to fulfill in our families footsteps. My older brother, Katashi also was in the war against the Shinobu. This will be his third year going back to war. Unlike me, Katashi loves the war. He feels he will make a difference and bring peace for the Takara Village and for the Shinobu villagers. Katashi also wants to become a high-ranking ninja just like our father. He is very close, though because he is very skillful with his techniques so I know for a fact he will become one soon.
"Naomi?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think us going to war will finally end this tragedy?" I asked her curiously.
Naomi sighed. "I don't know. All I know is that I just want to make my parents happy."
"I guess…" I muttered.
Naomi grabbed my hand. "I know you don't want to get involved, but this is our fate."
"Naomi, it's not that I don't want to go into war…"
"I know!" Naomi interrupted. "You don't want to grow up so fast."
"Not only that. I don't want to get married right away." I looked down at my feet. "I don't think Nobuyuki is the one."
"You need to tell your father what he does!"
"I tried to tell him that he cheats and treats me poorly, but he doesn't listen!"
My father and Nobuyuki's parents are great friends and they set up an arranged marriage for Nobuyuki and I when I was just born. Nobuyuki is six years older than me and he has been in the war with my brother as a ninja. Nobuyuki is very skillful just like my brother and is also going to be one of the next high-ranking ninjas. I am not to fond of Nobuyuki only because he talks down on me saying how I am not very bright. He also never lets me go off on my own to hang out with some of my friends, but he can do whatever he pleases. I am not allowed to question what he does and whom he hangs with, but I have to have an answer if he questions me without hesitation. Nobuyuki sleeps with a lot of women and if I question him about it, he gets very angry. I never slept with him and hopefully I never have to. I am a virgin and planning on staying that way for a long time. I get nervous thinking about marriage only because when we get married I know my father is going to pressure us into having children right away. Nobuyuki always tries to get me to sleep with him, but I always deny him. He gets annoyed but then laughs saying, "When we are married you will be sleeping with me every night!" Each time he says that I feel nauseous. I know when I get married to Nobuyuki he will still keep cheating on me because that is the type of person he is. He is very arrogant and thinks everyone should praise him. He puts on a different front for his parents and mine too. He acts like a gentleman, which is very two-faced and disgusting.
Naomi stared at me, as I was lost in my own thoughts. "I will help you think of something to get out of this arranged marriage, I promise."
"It's no use. It's my fate." I shrugged. "Let's not talk about it anymore, Okay?" My stomach gets all sick and queasy just thinking about Nobuyuki…
Naomi looked at me with pity eyes… She is one of the people that gets why I am so upset with this arrange marriage. She knows what my future husband is like while my parents don't see it.
As I tried to get my mind off of it, I looked up at the sky and it was very clear and the weather was perfect! It was very breezy even though it's a summer afternoon. I studied the pretty flowers around us until I notice something unfamiliar. There were three men on horseback. All three of the men had on dark colored kimonos and big samurai swords on their sides. All three looked very strong and muscular.
"We are almost at the village!" One of the men shouted.
"Yes, I will kill every villager that gets in my way!" Another laughed.
"We'll see if these dumbasses try and aid the Takara clan after we attack!" The third said.
I gasped in horror as I felt my whole body shake in fear. "Naomi?!"
Naomi's face was growing pale. "They're soldiers from the Shinobu village."
I never saw soldiers from the Shinobu village before and I was very frightful. I know that Naomi and I didn't have a chance against these three experience samurais.
"We have to get out of here," I whispered.
Naomi's hands were shaking as she looked at the samurais with wide eyes. "No, we have to fight!" She slowly grabbed her bow that was equipped behind her. She tried to act brave, but I can tell she was just as scared as I was.
I grabbed her shoulders. "NO!"
As soon as I shouted the three soldiers looked towards our direction.
"Look two young girls from the Sachiko Village!" A soldier pointed at us.
The three soldiers got off their horses and started to walk towards us. I grabbed my bow then grabbed an arrow out of my quiver that was tied behind me. My hands couldn't stop shaking as I put the arrow in my bow and I aimed it at one of the samurais. "Stay back!" I shouted, but my voice sounded hesitant.
"Ha, what are two young girls going to do with three strong samurais?" One soldier smirked.
"What shall we do to them?" The other asked as he slowly approached us.
"I say we rape them then kill them!" The third chuckled.
Naomi and I started to back away. I'm scared for my life, but we had to fight. Still having my arrow placed in my bow and had it aiming at one of the samurais; I released the arrow and the arrow was flying at the samurai. It felt like the arrow was going in slow motion and it was going for his throat! The samurai immediately grabbed the middle of the arrow and snapped the arrow in half! "Is that all you got? This should be easy!" He then came towards me and grabbed me by the neck. "You will pay!"
Naomi screamed frightfully as she tried to hit the samurai with her hand but then he threw me at her and I fell on top of her. We both lie on the ground shaking and the three samurais slowly crept towards us, but as soon as they came close shurikens came flying out of nowhere and hit the three samurais.
"Ugh, where did that come from?!" One soldier shouted in pain.
"Ha, picking on two young women, how pathetic." A voice said out of nowhere.
Still on the ground, Naomi and I looked up seeing a man with dark red hair on top of a tree above us. His hair was shoulder length and was flowing smoothly from the summer breeze. Is that Goemon Ishikawa?! Goemon is one of the high-ranking ninjas of the Takara clan. He is known to be very strong and great with tactics. He is also a lady's man because of his looks. I never met him in person, but I heard so many stories about him from people in my village.
Naomi stared at Goemon. "No way, Master Goemon!" She squealed in excitement.
Goemon smirked in satisfaction and jumped down from the tree and stood in front of Naomi and I. "So, it's just you three?" He wielded his sword and pointed it at the samurais.
One samurai gasped. "Goemon Ishikawa…."
"There's no way we can take him on!" The other groaned.
"It's three against one, we can take him!" The third shouted in confidence.
All three men wielded their samurai swords and charged at Goemon, but in a blink of an eye Goemon cut all three of the samurai's in half and blood splattered all over him and all over the green grass around us. The samurais didn't even have a chance to attack once! Goemon put his sword back in his scabbard and he turned to face us.
"Are you ladies alright?" He asked as he grabbed both of us off the ground without much effort.
"Yes… Yes! Wow, I can't believe we are meeting Master Goemon!" Naomi jumped up and down as if she forgot we were scared for our lives…
Goemon smirked and grabbed a handkerchief out of his pocket. "I take it you are both from the Sachiko Village?" He rubbed off all the samurai's blood from his face.
"Yep!" Naomi answered. "What is a skillful high-ranking ninja like you doing here?!"
"Samurais from the Shinobu clan are coming to try and take over your village. A couple other high-ranking ninjas and I came to kill them off."
Naomi and I gasped. I can't believe the Shinobu clan would even bother. They never came to our village because we aren't really known for being a threat, but maybe since they knew we were a big help to the Takara clan they decided to kill us off so it would be fewer people for Takara.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you and your village." Goemon gently smiled. By the tone of his voice, I can tell he is a "smooth talker"…
Naomi blushed. "You are so strong! Those samurais didn't have a chance… I bet you can take on twenty of them!"
"Psh, more like fifty." Goemon snorted.
"Whatever…" I rolled my eyes. Goemon is really full of himself. I hate men like that.
Master Goemon looked at me. "You don't think so?"
"I don't care." I was growing bored with him.
Goemon gave me a dirty look. "Fool, I just saved your life."
Naomi punched me on the shoulder. "Show some respect! We could've been dead!"
I rubbed my shoulder; it was really throbbing. "Owe, Okay, okay… Thank you…" Geez. She didn't have to punch me so hard!
Master Goemon stared at me like he was trying to read my thoughts. "You are a strange girl."
I felt my face getting red. "What? How… How dare you!"
"Usually women praise me…" He pondered.
"I don't do stuff like that." I snapped. Who does he think he is?
"Please don't mind her…" Naomi sighed.
"We have to go back to our village." I gave her a glare. "My father will get suspicious."
"You aren't allowed to be in the forest? Well, it is dangerous." Master Goemon scratched his head.
"No, we were supposed to be training for the war but SHE made me skip with her." Naomi pointed at me.
"You didn't have to come!" I immaturely stuck my tongue out at her.
"You should practice… You both didn't have a chance against those samurais…" Master Goemon commented.
"Thanks for your opinion, but got to go." I waved bye to Goemon, I had enough of him and his arrogant ways. I began to walk back to the village.
"I'll come too, maybe more samurais will attack." Goemon began to follow me.
"It's not far, I think we will be okay." I began to walk faster, thinking he will get the hint to leave me alone.
"Show some respect towards the master!" Naomi pinched the back of my arm.
"Whatever," I muttered. I don't care much for Goemon. He reminds me a lot of Nobuyuki, which made me cringe. Another man like Nobuyuki, Ugh!
Goemon interrupted my train of thought. "Your names?"
"Naomi Ryoko!"
"Anya Yukari," I answered bluntly.
"Very nice to meet you, Naomi… Wish I can say the same for you, Anya." Goemon laughed jokingly.
"Funny," I said annoyingly. I can't wait to just go home and get away from this conceded man.
*~*~*~*~*Take My Breath Away~*~*~*~*
After awhile we finally reached Sachiko Village. It felt like an eternity because I had to hear Naomi kissing Goemon's ass and Goemon eating it all up the whole walk here. As we entered the village my brother ran towards us.
"Sister, you skipped training didn't you?" My brother gave me a cold glare as he crossed his arms.
"Yes, please don't tell father!" I grinned and batted my eyelashes, innocently.
My brother looked at Goemon and gasped like he saw a ghost. "What are you doing here, Goemon?"
"Hello, Katashi… Well, the samurais from Shinobu were coming to invade this village, but some of the high-ranking ninjas and I are planning to stop them before they can even step foot here." Master Goemon explained.
"Why are my sister and her friend with you?" My brother questioned suspiciously.
"Oh, I saved them in the forest."
My brother sighed. "Anya, Master Goemon has better things to do than babysit you!"
"Katashi…" Embarrassed, I looked down at the ground.
"You are going to war with us in a week and you aren't even ready because you keep skipping your training!" Katashi started to lecture me.
"Awe, she'll be fine. I liked saving her." Goemon interrupted.
Naomi yelled in excitement. "See, Anya! He likes you! And you were being rude to him earlier…"
"What?!" Katashi gritted his teeth.
"She's fine." Goemon patted on my shoulder.
"She's off the market!" Nobuyuki walked towards us out of nowhere.
Oh no. I thought in my head as I saw him staring at Goemon.
"She's getting married to me!" Nobuyuki growled.
"Hm?" Goemon didn't seem threatened by my "future husband" one bit…
"She's in an arranged marriage with this man." My brother explained. "Give Master Goemon some respect!" My brother glared at Nobuyuki.
Nobuyuki rolled his eyes. "Whatever, I'm going to be one of the next high-ranking ninjas so I don't have to respect anyone!"
"You don't even compare to Master Goemon!" Naomi scowled.
"Shut up!" Nobuyuki grabbed my left wrist, roughly.
"Let go, I am seeing my father and grabbing a bite to eat!" I tried to free myself from his grasped, but he's squeezing my wrist really hard.
"I'll come with you!" Nobuyuki pulled me closer to him.
"No!" I continue to try and free myself from him, but I know it's no use. He is too strong.
"Sister, let him come." Katashi then looked at Goemon and Naomi. "You two are welcomed to come along."
"Sure!" Goemon smiled at Katashi. "It would be nice to meet the father of a stubborn girl."
"Hey!" I barked at Goemon. How dare he!
"This should be interesting…" Naomi whispered.
"I object!" Nobuyuki huffed. Man, he's really jealous of Goemon…
"No, he is coming! He saved Naomi and Anya. It's the least I can do since he babysat them." Katashi muttered.
"Let's just go!" I was sick of arguing about dinner. I just want to go home and enjoy my meal. All five of us nodded and started to walk into town to my house. As we were walking people on the streets kept staring at Goemon.
"Is that Master Goemon?!" The villagers kept whispering and shouting to each other.
Women that saw him kept waving and trying to get his attention. Goemon just waved back smoothly, acting like it was no big deal. Well, he is a ladies man. He's probably used to these kinds of attention. I looked over at Nobuyuki and he looked pissed. I couldn't help but laugh. It looks like Nobuyuki has met his match!
"You must be used to all the women after you, huh?" Naomi asked Goemon.
"Well, I have the reputation of getting them all, so…" He smiled proudly.
"Ha." Nobuyuki snorted in disgust.
*~*~*~*~*Take My Breath Away~*~*~*~*
We finally reached my house. As soon as we all walked in father greeted us.
"Hello, everyone!" My father was in a good mood. He stared at each of us especially at Goemon. "Well, didn't think I would have a high-ranking ninja joining us for dinner!"
"Hello, nice to meet you." Goemon held his hand out for my father.
"What brings you here?" My father asked as he accepted his handshake.
"Shinobu samurais are going to try and invade our village and Goemon and some more high-ranking ninjas have come to stop them." My brother answered for Goemon.
"I see!" My father, of course, would be interested since that's all he cares about... "Reminds me when I used to battle!"
"Your son told me awhile back that you were one of the high-ranking ninjas… It's very nice to meet a veteran that has served us well." Goemon said politely.
"Ah, he told you about me?" Father patted brother on the shoulders. "That's my boy! I just hope he follows in my footsteps."
"Oh, brother," I muttered under my breath.
"I hope you will follow in my footsteps too, Anya!" Father grinned at me.
"Sure." Can we talk about something else?!
"Sister almost got killed." Katashi blurted out.
"KATASHI!" Why did he have to bring that up?! He had to make sure to get me in trouble!
"WHAT?!" Father gave me an angry glare. "Explain!"
"I…Well…" I started to hesitate. How am I going to get out of this one?
"She was with me." Goemon cleared his throat.
"Oh yeah? Why?" My father asked confusingly.
"I wanted to train her and Naomi to be better fighters and these three samurais came out of nowhere, but I took care of them." Goemon lied for me.
"Oh, God." Katashi smacked his forehead and shook his head in disapproval.
"You should've been able to fight too, Anya!" Father said sternly.
"Um…" I looked down at the ground, trying to avoid my father's gaze.
"She helped!" Goemon grinned.
"Oh, well that's good!" My father said proudly. "You aren't so bad after all, Anya!"
"Yeah…" I was speechless. Why did Goemon lie for me? Is it because he felt bad? But why should he?
"SISTER!" My young sister, Sora came running in the room and gave me a big hug. "I missed you!"
"I was only gone for a couple hours, Sora." I laughed. I love my sister. I tell her everything that goes on with my life and she also does the same. We are very close. She is only fourteen, but I am only five years older than her. We both can relate to a lot of things. For example, how our father is strict on both of us. The only thing is, Sora is not involved in an arranged marriage. I envy her for it, but she wants to help me get out of mine because she knows that Nobuyuki is no good for me.
"Mother is almost done cooking, but we all can have a seat!" Sora said.
We all went into the living room and we all sat down around the table.
Sora started cheering when she saw Goemon. "Is that Master Goemon?!"
Goemon smiled gently at Sora. "Hello, young lady."
"I can't believe I am meeting the master himself!" She clapped her hands together.
"Settle down!" Father yelled. "Don't make our guest feel awkward!"
Goemon ignored my father and began to talk to Sora. "Are you as stubborn as your sister?"
Naomi and Sora started to laugh and Nobuyuki just rolled his eyes and grunted.
"What? You giving this man a hard time?!" Father gave me an unsatisfied look. No matter what I do, father ALWAYS finds a way to yell at me…
"Ugh." I felt my face turning red. This is the most awkward/annoying dinner ever and it didn't even start yet.
"No, it's cute," Goemon whispered
"Awe!" Naomi praised.
"Ah, you are known to be a ladies man, huh?" My father laughed. "Well, my daughter isn't on the menu… She's getting married after she comes home from war."
"Yes, we are going to have a great wedding," Nobuyuki said in a phony voice.
"You are so full of it!" I snapped.
"Don't talk to your fiancé like that!" My father shouted.
"He's being phony!" I shouted back.
"He's a nice man and he is going to be a high-ranking ninja just like your brother, he's very successful." My father always kisses his ass.
I didn't answer, but I caught Goemon staring at me. I sighed and started to talk to my sister, which she was sitting right next to me.
"So, how was your day?" I asked
"Great, I trained all morning and got a lot better with my bow!"
"Dinner is ready!" My mother came out from the kitchen holding a huge tray of rice balls and chicken. "Thank goodness I made enough for everyone!" She was shocked seeing a lot of people who were joining us for dinner.
Master Goemon smiled at my mother. "It's very nice to meet you." He stood up and grabbed the big tray for her and set it on the middle of the table.
"Master Goemon?!" My mother beamed. "Why didn't you kids tell me we were having an important guest here?"
"It's no big deal," Goemon said coolly as he sat back down.
"Yes, it is!" My mother argued. "I knew to clean the house, but-"
"You look very beautiful." Nobuyuki interrupted.
"What a gentleman! Thank you, Nobuyuki!" My mother blushed.
"So phony." I thought.
"What's that look on your face?!" My father argued.
"I'm just sick of people acting fake, especially in front of my family!" I couldn't hold my anger in anymore.
"Every damn day!" My father hit the table with his fist.
"It's true, this man is no good!" I pointed at Nobuyuki.
"Show some respect!" My father huffed.
I slowly got up and stormed out of the dining room.
"Get back in here and eat!" My father yelled from behind me.
"NO!" I didn't turn back to see anyone's reaction to my sudden outburst.
"ANYA!" My sister called out.
I ignored my sister and stormed outside. I wanted to go back to the forest where Naomi and I were just at and just get away from all the people who are trying to run my life. As I kept walking at a fast pace, someone grabbed my arm from behind. I slowly turned around and saw Goemon.
"W-what?" I was in shock. Why was he following me?
"Don't tell me you're going into those woods again." He chuckled.
"What do you want?" I whispered.
"You really are stubborn, huh?" Goemon lifted my chin up.
I felt my face getting red as I looked away. "Please, I need to be alone."
"You know there's more samurais in these woods. Way more than three."
"I guess."
Master Goemon sighed. "Well, let me at least come with you."
"Huh?"
Master Goemon started walking towards the woods. I froze in place and watched him.
Master Goemon turned his head. "Are you coming?"
I followed after him and we both entered the woods. We walked side by side.
"Why didn't you stay at my house to have dinner? Weren't you hungry?" I asked.
"Not really."
"Oh?"
"I was worried you would get into more trouble."
"You don't have to worry."
Goemon stopped walking. "Are you even ready for war?"
"I don't know." I haven't been going to training and I'm not very good with my bow, so I guess my answer should have been no.
Goemon shook his head. "So, when you go off to fight Shinobu samurais-"
"Look, I don't want to talk about it!" I cut him off. I am sick of talking about the war twenty-four seven!
"Okay."
We both kept walking in silence until we reached where the giant log Naomi and I sat at earlier.
"Want to sit?" Goemon asked.
With no hesitations, I sat down. Goemon sat next to me. Actually he sat real close to me. He also smelled really good. I blushed thinking about it.
"Anya, stop thinking things like this," I told myself.
"You okay?" Goemon stared at me.
"Yes… No…." I sighed.
Goemon started to stroke my auburn hair. "I'm here for you."
His touch made me jump, but it felt real good. I never had a man play with my hair before, but why is he doing this? He hardly knows me. Goemon is a ladies man, though, so I shouldn't put much thought into this.
"Does it feel good?" He asked as he kept stroking my hair.
"Um." My face felt hotter.
"No?"
"It feels good," I admitted.
Goemon laughed a little. I can tell he likes to tease a lot. Is he always like this? Even during the war? I wish I were as carefree like him. Every time I think about the war it makes me depressed.
"What's wrong?" Goemon asked.
"I just don't want to be apart of all this."
"The war?"
"Yes."
Goemon stopped stroking my hair. "Then what do you want to do?"
"To live in Asami Island," I muttered. When I was very young I heard a lot about this tropical island from my grandmother and my mother. They only went once, but they said they wish they never left. The island is very small and hardly a lot of people live there, but I wanted to go because it is very calm and the island has nothing to do with this war because no one cares about a small little island. Sora and Naomi wished to live with me, but we all knew it would be too good to be true. I would be married after the war and be stuck in this village I call home.
Goemon looked at me in shocked. "Why would you want to live in a small island like that?"
"It's peaceful and I won't have anything to do with this war. I would be away from my father, my fiancé and everyone else."
Asami Island is far from Sachiko Village, but it would be worth leaving this place behind me. There's a small dock in Takara Village where a small boat takes people to the island. I would love to go to Takara Village just to get on that boat!
"Goemon?"
"What?"
"Have you been to Asami Island since you live in Takara Village?"
"No, why would I go on a small island?"
"I was just wondering."
"Besides, I'm worried about fame and power I have no time going to a small island that no one cares about."
It makes sense Goemon would only be a high-ranking ninja just for the fame and fortune. It fits his personality, the women and people at different villages praising him, the money and power.
"Why are you sulking?" Goemon asked.
"I'm not!"
We both sat in silence until someone came towards us.
"Goemon!" A young woman approached him.
"Ah, Hiroko…" Goemon got up and hugged the young woman.
"Where were you?!" She pushed him away, violently. "The rest of us have been fighting Shinobu samurais all day and you've been flirting with women again haven't you!" She said as she gazed at me.
"No, it's not like that." Goemon frowned. "She isn't even my type!"
I felt a pain in my chest. Not his type? Why would he say such a thing like that! Wait, why would I care if I'm his type or not? Is that woman his girlfriend or fiancée?
"Our mission is to make sure these samurais don't even set foot in Sachiko Village and we have been doing all the work!" She lectured.
"Okay, well I saved this girl…" He smirked. "I killed three of them."
"I killed about thirty that is nothing." She sighed.
"I better go." I didn't want to interfere any longer…
"No, no it's fine now!" The woman raised her hand up in the air. "I think we got most of them…"
"So where is the rest of the party?" Goemon asked.
"They are double checking the forest to see if any more samurais are around." She answered.
"I see." Goemon patted me on the head. "This is Anya Yukari."
"Ah, nice to meet you. Do you live in Sachiko Village?" She gave me a warm smile.
"Yes, I do." I returned the smile. She is a very beautiful lady. She had long dark purple hair and her golden eyes are to die for.
"Me too!" She shouted in excitement. "I never get to come home, though since I'm always needed in Takara Village. Wait, are you Katashi's sister?"
"Yes, I am."
"Ah, so you'll help us in this war too, huh?"
"Yeah…" Here we go again, talking about the war.
Now that I think about it, Hiroko is one of the high-ranking ninjas my brother always did talk about. I don't remember her living here, but I never hang out with too many people at my village.
"I was very young when I was transferred to Takara Village. I was about fourteen." She crossed her arms. "Never got to live my life as much as a kid."
"None of us did." Goemon chimed in.
Oh, that makes sense why I didn't remember her.
"How old are you?" I asked.
"Twenty-three"
"Ah."
Wow, she's so young. I couldn't help but to admire her. She's so pretty.
"Please tell me you aren't falling for Goemon's tricks," Hiroko asked innocently. "You seem to be a very smart girl…"
"No, it's not like this!" I whined.
"Okay…" She gave me a wicked grin. "He's known to play tons of women no matter what village we are in."
"Shut up, Hiroko!" Goemon gave her an evil glare.
"I'm just telling the truth."
"You are the one who flirts with your fiancé in front of everyone!" Goemon shook his head.
Hiroko's face got bright red. "Ugh, stop!"
Oh, so Hiroko has a fiancé and it's not Goemon. For some reason, I felt relieved. Why would I care? He is a playboy just like Nobuyuki. I shouldn't even care if Goemon has a fiancée or not.
"You two quit fighting!" A voice said out of nowhere.
The three of us looked up above us and a man who was dressed in all red was standing on a tall tree branch; he had a red hood that almost covered his face.
Goemon put his arm around my waist. "Hi, Yamato."
Goemon didn't sound thrilled to see this man.
"With a girl as usual!" Yamato said in disgust.
"He saved her." Hiroko stuck up for Goemon.
"Yeah, I bet." Yamato jumped off the tree branch and stood right in front of me.
I stared at his blue eyes. "Um."
"Leave these woods and go back to the village it's too dangerous." He said coldly.
"Y-yes." I stood up from where I was sitting, but Goemon grabbed me.
"She's fine!" Goemon pulled me back down to sit.
"There are more samurais coming! We have no time for this shit!" Yamato growled.
"There's more?!" Hiroko moaned.
"Yes, they are coming this way," Yamato answered calmly.
"She can watch!" Goemon stood up from where he was sitting.
"Don't be foolish!" Yamato rolled his eyes. "I swear all you care about is women."
"She isn't my type," Goemon said coolly.
Ugh, he said it again! Why does it bother me so much though?
"That's why you want to show off," Hiroko teased.
"Shut up, both of you!" Yamato grunted. He wasn't friendly at all…
Suddenly we heard footsteps coming from behind us.
"Here they are," Yamato muttered as he got into his fighting stance. He had large ninja claws equipped on both hands and the blades on the claws were very long and sharp.
Goemon and Hiroko got in their fighting stances as well. Hiroko grabbed her chain-sickle. The chain was as long as a rope would be and the blades on each end where sharp hooks.
"Stay behind me," Goemon warned me.
About fifty samurais appeared all circling around all four of us.
"There's no way all three of them can fight that many."
Yamato started to charge first and sliced samurais one by one. None of the samurais had a chance to even touch him! Some other samurais started to charge after Hiroko but with no hesitation she cut one by one with her chain-sickle. She twirled her chain as if she was dancing and hit the samurais in one blow. Finally, Goemon's tattoo on his right arm glowed bright red and fire appeared in the palms of his hands. He threw the fireballs at the rest of the samurais. I was truly amazed at such technique.
"What is this?" A samurai shouted as Goemon kept hitting samurais with fireballs.
"Ninjutsu," Goemon answered as he threw a fireball at the samurai.
Yamato, Hiroko, and Goemon kept fighting with all their might then finally Goemon took a deep breath and blew out fire from his mouth! Unbelievable, it's like he's a dragon!
"Ahhhhh!" A bunch of samurais shouted as they were burning from Goemon's technique.
"Ha, piece of cake," Goemon smirked as he stared at all fifty falling samurais lying dead.
"Hey, how aren't you covered in blood?" Hiroko whined.
"Because all he did was use ninjutsu." Yamato rolled his eyes.
This is true. Hiroko and Yamato were all covered in samurais' blood, but Goemon doesn't even have one little drop of blood on him.
"I didn't feel like getting my clothes all bloody." Goemon chuckled.
"ANYA!" A voice shouted from behind us.
I turned around and saw Nobuyuki standing there with his arms crossed.
"Leave me alone." I groaned.
"You are coming home now!" Nobuyuki grabbed my arm.
"LET GO!" I tried to struggle from his grasp.
"Hey." Goemon pulled my other arm.
"Stay out of this! I'm her fiancé and one thing is for sure I wouldn't have her near these samurais look at all this!" Nobuyuki pointed at the dead samurais around us.
"There isn't a scratch on her is there?" Goemon said sternly.
"I don't care. Anya, your father is upset as it is!" Nobuyuki pulled my arm very hard so Goemon would let go of my other arm.
"She's fine with me." Goemon still was holding my arm rather tight.
"No, I better go." I frowned. I didn't want to piss off my father anymore today.
"Anya?" Goemon stared into my eyes.
"I guess this is goodbye. Thanks for saving me, again." I smiled gently at him.
Nobuyuki and I started to walk away from everyone. I turned around to see Goemon for the last time and he just stared back. I turned back around and kept walking with Nobuyuki by my side. Goemon is a lot like Nobuyuki, but why do I seem like I connect with Goemon more even when I know he is no good? Is it because I seem happy when I hung out with him or is it because he saved me? Maybe it's because he actually cared why I was upset, or maybe it's because of his personality. It's strange how I didn't like Goemon at first, but in a short period of time I started to warm up to him. Well, it doesn't matter. I am back to reality with this awful fate.