Hi minna-san! Thank you to all those who read the first chapter of my story. Hope you liked it. And I hope you enjoy this one too.
Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice does not belong to Zen Ayuri.
Chapter 1: The Mission
Breakfast was good. Mom makes the best omelettes in the world. I went outside to see my older brothers sparring. They beat me to it. Oh, well. We were always like this. My brothers and I woke up early to train. Dad is usually on his missions. Mom cooks breakfast. And gramps sits at the living room conveniently reading his newspaper. You can't really blame him. He's already passed his prime. I've heard rumours that before, grandpa could take down thirty armed men in ten seconds flat. He was considered one of the greatest shinobi, even until now.
But even though he's already retired from being a ninja, he still helps around by making weapons. Did I mention? The Sakura Clan is also a clan of weapon dealers. Grandpa forges unique weapons that can be hidden. He trades and sells the weapons to other clans for a reasonable prize. But for the Yukihara Clan, he gives them for free.
Why? Because the Kage, Izumi Yukihara, is a good friend if his and also because the Sakura Clan is under the rule of the Yukihara Clan. Grandpa was the teacher of the kage. I remembered when I was younger, the Kage would sometimes visit and give me sweets. He would even play with me on the swing. He was a kind and just ruler – fair to everyone who comes to his court.
I guess I didn't realize how stupid I must've looked staring into space like this until two ninjas appeared in front of the sparring session my brothers were having. They were dressed in complete black, from head to toe. They were part of the ANBU. They told something to my brothers, who were giving blank expressions on their faces.
That's right. A ninja must never show any emotion. He must be expressionless and cold. He must never cry or show pain even for a comrade. That is our code. The Code of a Ninja.
Again, I stared into nothingness and got awaken by Taru-nii who shook me. The ANBU had already disappeared. We walked into the house, my brothers in the lead and me trailing behind them. The air was tense and I couldn't figure out why. Maybe the ANBU assigned them a difficult mission. I sighed. I just have to ask them to spill the beans later.
They went to Grandpa's room. I was about to enter his room as well but Taru-nii stopped me. He said that I should just stay outside. I wanted to protest but he shot me a look saying, Stay out of this. So, in the end I obliged and headed to my room.
I wonder what they were talking about. Was it that big of a secret that they had to keep form me? Well, it's better to trust them. Sighing, I leaped onto my soft bed. I decided to take a rest and wait for them to call me for lunch.
"Mikan...Mikan... It's lunch time. Get down here," mom hollered out. I don't want to get her angry so I quickly made my way to the dining hall. Everyone was already seated. Grandpa sat at the head of the table. Mom and Dad were at his sides facing each other. Taru-nii and Haku-nii sat opposite each other and I was at the other end of the table, facing Grandpa.
Lunch went without anyone uttering anything. My two brothers were surprisingly not arguing with each other. What the ANBU told them must have really bothered them, making them this quiet. Although Haku-nii was the more composed and calmer of the twins, whenever he is around Taru-nii, he gets noisy and rowdy too. Taru-nii was always energetic wherever he goes. The only time I see these two calm is when they're on a mission.
Believe it or not, since I was recognized as an above average ninja, I've been sent out on different missions inside or outside the country. Some were dangerous, some not.
Grandpa cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention. All eyes were on him. This much tension has never been present in our table for a long time. Suddenly, Grandpa spoke up...
"Mikan, Taru, and Haku," he addressed us so formally, it made me cringe. "You will be going on an S-rank mission. You will escort a Count from the Hyuuga Main Palace to the Southern Lands where the Imai's reside. You will depart for the Hyuuga Palace tonight and arrive there at dawn. The Count should be there in two days, unscratched, unharmed and safe."
"Yes," my brothers and I answered in unison. So this is the tension-filling something that got everyone worked up. But why? It's just an escort mission. Maybe because the escortee is a count? Or maybe because the destination is far? Or maybe because we're going to the palace?
"Prepare to leave. That is all," Grandpa stated. He then, quickly stood up and exited the dining hall.
==His Guardian==
The rest of the afternoon we spent training. I practiced on taijutsu or what most people know it, hand-to-hand combat. All my punches and kicks landed on a tree at your training grounds. Taru-nii perfected his aim, throwing shurikens, senbons and kunai. Haku-nii was calmly sorting out the route we should take.
At nightfall, we headed out. Our departure was quick and quiet, jumping on the tree branches among our paths, sometimes scaring the little critters still out at night. The leaves' rustles were minimal, seeing as we moved swiftly.
We were garbed in our ninja clothes. Taru-nii was clothed in navy blue shirt, black pants and ninja sandals. He brought with him his weapon holster, strapped on his right thigh, his fingerless gloves, and his forehead protector with our village's symbol on it and his fox mask to hide his identity.
Haku-nii sported the same clothes. The difference was made by the weapon holster strapped on his left thigh, his shirt was dark grey and he wore a wolf mask. Both of them had seemingly unreadable expressions on them, a requirement for a mission.
I wore a different attire in contrast to both of them. A high neck sleeveless black shirt, black shorts and blue ninja sandals clothed me. A weapon holster strapped at my left thigh and my katana hanging by my waist. White arm warmers adorned my arms and bandages wrapped on my legs. My mask, not an animal mask, was white with red and blue whisker-like slashes at both sides. My auburn hair was tied in a tight bun.
The full moon was merely our observer, watching our silent movements. Our faces, though hidden in our masks, were devoid of any emotion, like robots who unhesitantly obey their master's command. The stillness of the night, at times with the murmurs of the animals and rustling leaves, resounded in my mind.
My brothers – they are more tensed than usual. Taru-nii's footsteps when he landed on a branch were heavier, leaving a more noticeable dent. Haku-nii's breathing was faster and more lagged as if he just found out a best friends most horrible secret. They were nervous and worried.
I wanted to ask them about it but decided against it, seeing this would affect their performance more. Sighing, I settled for merely observing them. And trying to find out what 'this' problem is.
==His Guardian==
The break of dawn. It had always been my life saver. The changing of colors; from indigo, yellow and orange shine. The dark sky slowly illuminates with the radiance of colors. Dawn is a symbol of hope. It was my light. As a ninja, we can die at any moment. Dawn is the sign of a new day. But right now, dawn is the signal, the signal of our arrival.
The Palace. I thought our house was big but this one definitely beats Mt. Fuji. Huge golden gates stood in their way, slowly opening and accommodating us. Though I could not see, I know my brothers' mouths were hanging, as were mine. Who wouldn't? The Hyuuga Palace was simply remarkable.
As soon as we stepped in the gates, all I saw was brilliance: well-trimmed plants of the highest quality, paved pathways, carved statues, and a fountain at the middle. Surprisingly, no guards stood at the entrance. I guess their security system must be reliable for the absence of motionless guards in front of the doorway.
My brothers and I headed to the door. I felt a presence on the other side, two actually. By the feel of it, they're either father and son or sibling. Slowly, the door opened with a creaking sound. Two figures stood before them, both having blonde hair and cerulean eyes.
One was taller than the other, in an elegant blue coat and tie. His hair was pulled back, indicating sophistication. The obviously younger one was about my age, still clad in an equally elegant purple coat and red tie. His hair was neatly combed and a smile graced his lips.
"Good morning," he greeted us, "Welcome to the Hyuuga Palace. I am Hiroto Nogi, a Duke of Lord Hyuuga. This is my son," he gestured to the boy, "Ruka Nogi."
"Good morning, my lords. We are ninjas from the Sakura Clan sent here to escort the Count," Haku-nii introduced formally.
"You must be tired from your journey. Please, come with us to the back garden for some tea," Lord Nogi offered, ushering us inside.
We followed him though we were still weary. Lord Nogi was explaining something about the path to be taken… I don't know. I wasn't listening. I was just taking in every detail of this grandeur place. Besides, Haku-nii is probably already made a mental list of what the noble stated.
We exited the palace and reached its so-called back garden. Majestic could be one of the words used to describe it. The plants and shrubs in the front yard were nothing compared to this beauty. Rose bushes planted like a maze. Lone trees standing in some spaces allowing birds to perch on its branches.
A golden pavilion shone its brilliance. A dome-like structure acted as its roof, supported by six evenly spaced columns, all painted in rich colors, gold and silver. The moon seems to illuminate the scene more. Add to this the soothing light coming from the fireflies that flutter in the night.
Lord Nogi gestured us to our seats at a table near the pavilion. All three of us took our respected seats and I watched the younger Nogi pour the tea for us.
Camomile.
"So, Sakura-sans, would you like to introduce yourselves to us?" Lord Nogi asked calmly.
I was about to protest since the rule says that no one is allowed to know the profiles of ninjas. But Haku-nii cut in before I could say it.
"I am Haku Ryo Sakura. 17 years old," Haku-nii said then took a sip of his tea and removed his wolf mask. And it revealed his messy green hair and sea blue eyes.
"My name is Taru Shin Sakura. 17 years old. I'm his twin brother," Taru-nii also introduced himself and removed his fox mask. He looked at me saying, 'You too.'
Sighing because I did not understand them, I took off my mask to reveal auburn hair and hazel eyes. I said, "Hi! My name's Mikan Shio Ren Sakura. 16. Their younger sister."
I could see the surprised look plastered on their faces.
"Please don't underestimate me. I can handle myself well," I chuckled and gave them a smile.
I could've sworn I saw a pink tint on the younger Nogi's face.
"Excuse me. Do you have a pond here or lake where I could wash off?" I asked still smiling.
"Of course. Ruka, kindly escort Miss Sakura here to the lake," Lord Nogi said.
Okay. Now I think the pink tint became darker and more apparent on his face. He looked down and covered his face with his bangs. Only then, did I notice the cute little rabbit sitting on his lap.
He stood up and motioned me to follow him. I stood up as well and trailed behind him. After a few minutes, scenery of the full moon being reflected on a lake plagued my mind. It was so serene and peaceful.
"Thank you, Nogi-san," I flashed him a smile again and took off the katana strapped on my belt.
"You're welcome, Sakura-san. But please call me Ruka," Ruka said and smiled to me too.
"Only if you agree to call me Mikan, Shio, or Ren," I added as a condition.
"Hang on. I'll get a towel for you," Ruka bid and ran somewhere.
I cupped some water with my hands and splashed it onto my face. I picked up my katana, unsheathed it, and dipped it in water. Staring into the reflection of the moon, I noticed someone's chakra presence. Not Ruka's, not my brothers' nor Lord Nogi's.
Slowly, I looked up to the direction of the presence. He was fifteen meters from where I stood. Though I couldn't quite make out his face, I could definitely see though bloodshot crimson orbs.
Crimson.
Sorrow.
Pain.
I saw them in those whirlpools of blood. But I wondered why. He hesitantly came closer to the lake. From where he was standing, I can tell that he's around my age if not older. I wanted to see him, to know who he is and why he why hiding.
"Mikan-chan! I got you towels," a panting Ruka, still carrying the cute vermin, called out to me.
"Thanks, Ruka-pyon," I teased. It so fun torturing him.
"Ru-Ruka-pyon?" he stuttered.
"Yes. Pyon means hop. Ruka hop, like the bunny," he blushed so hard that he could rival the eyes of the boy hiding….
He's gone. I can't feel his chakra anymore. How did he move that fast?! I tried to search for him but his presence completely disappeared.
"He's name is Usagi," Ruka informed, disturbing me from my earlier thoughts. It makes sense. Usagi means rabbit.
I grabbed the towel he offered and used it to wipe my katana. The sword's luster shone as the moonlight reflected upon up.
"Mikan! Mikan! C'mon the Count has arrived. We should get going. Gramps expects us to be back in two days," Taru-nii called form behind us.
"Hai, Nii-san," I shouted as my reply. I turned to look at Ruka-pyon, "See ya next time, Ruka-pyon."
He smiled to me and nodded his head. Leaning down, I went to pet Usagi-chan's head. Little Usagi twitched his nose and whiskers. Seeing that adorable act, I chuckled lightly, "Sayonara, Ruka-pyon." And with that I left to see my brothers.
Standing beside them, I saw a man probably in his mid-forties wearing a luxurious green robe. Rings of rubies and emeralds adorned his fingers and I think I saw a tooth of gold. Royals and their weird state of mind.
The carriage waited for us outside the gates. Fancy was definitely a word to associate with royals. The carriage itself was bloody red. The yellow curtains were marred with intricate swirls of red and orange. The horse pulling the cart was of high breed and was white. I heaved a sigh. Typical arrogant nobles.
==His Guardian==
The trip was long and tiring. My brothers and I stayed outside the carriage, acting as its shadow. We jumped on tree branches while the Count rested in the comfort of travel. Exactly fifty meters from the horse-pulled ride, we formed a triangle formation to protect the noble from pending danger.
For two straight days of non-stop travelling, we only encountered a few set of problems, namely the robbers, poachers and bandits. It really surprised me that no assassins or other ninjas tried to attack the Count.
Finally, we reached the Southern Lands. Its border stood strong and sturdy, as expected from the most advanced region in the Hyuuga Kingdom.
As we entered the town center, we saw the Imai Palace, not as grand as the Hyuuga Palace but certainly something to marvel at. The carriage drove to the town square, garnering attention from the land's inhabitants.
My brothers followed the Count's carriage draped in cloaks to hide their identities while I surveyed the town from the sky. I swiftly and silently jumped from roof to roof a few meters ahead of the noble we protected.
When we reached the palace, the huge gates opened, welcoming us. Of course, the Count himself entered first when the carriage dropped him off. We followed behind him. He reached the front door where the guards stood. Strange. There were guards here but not at the Hyuuga Palace.
The double-deck doors creaked open showing off the marvelous inner walls of the palace. Inside, the maids, in rows of two, greeted us. I saw the mischievous glint in the Count's eyes as he stared – no ogled – at the maids. What is he? A pedophile? He's sixty for crying out loud!
Then, one of the maids came up front, a woman probably in her thirties with white blond hair and vivid green eyes.
"Good morning, Count Fubuki, Sakura-sama," she said bowing at us, "I am Nagisa, the head maid of the Imai's. Lord Minoru is waiting for you in the guest room. Please follow me." She turned her heels and walked down the hall.
The Count followed Ms. Nagisa, his eyes still scanning her body. We trailed closely behind him. She led us to a room and knocked on the door.
"Milord, the Count and the Sakuras are here," she said in a light tone.
"Good. Come in," an adult male voice called.
The doors opened slowly. I waited for the noble to enter with my brothers. We were still dressed in our cloaks covering our ninja clothes. The masks were also still displayed hindering their view of our faces while we could clearly see theirs.
The tallest male was most probably Lord Minoru Imai, ruler of the Southern Lands. He had dark blue hair and blue eyes. His face was stern and emotionless but his eyes showed otherwise. Gentleness and serenity.
"Ah, Fubuki-san, how was your trip? Safe, I presume?" the man, who I presume is Lord Minoru, spoke.
"Yes, Imai-sama. The journey was quite tiring because of the long and bumpy road. But I did get here safe and sound," the Count replied.
I never knew riding on a carriage could be such a hassle. Tiring? He didn't even have to walk or get out let alone run and jump at speeds that match horses.
"How about the transactions? Did they go well?" the man asked again.
"Hai. The Hyuugas have agreed to the price," the Count replied, clasping his hands together and smiling broadly.
"Thank you, Fubuki-san. We can talk about this some other time," he said.
"Hai, I shall take my leave now. Good day to you, milord," Count Fubuki bid goodbye and left the room escorted by Nagisa-san.
"Now, dear Sakura-sans, I would like to thank you for escorting one of my men. I am Minoru Imai, head of the Imai Family," Lord Minoru said. My assumption was right.
"I am Kimiko Imai, his wife," a beautiful woman smiled. She had black shoulder-length hair and amethyst eyes. She was one of the most stunning women I've met and her smile was just like her, beautiful.
"I am Subaru Imai," a guy who looked a little older than me spoke up. He had black short cropped hair framing his face and the same purple orbs.
"I'm sorry. My younger daughter is not here. She is at school," Lady Kimiko apologized with a bow.
"No, no. It's alright milady," Haku-nii said and bowed as well.
We followed suit. I haven't heard their voices in a while since on missions we are supposed to make minimal noises.
"I am Haku Ryo Sakura," nii-san started, "He is my twin, Taru Shin Sakura," he gestured to Taru-nii, "And she is our younger sister, Mikan Shio Ren Sakura," he then pointed to me.
"Is there a reason why you wear masks? I don't think you're ugly or anything," Lady Kimiko asked.
"We do it to hide our identities, milady," I answered.
"Do you mind taking it off because I prefer seeing the faces of people I talk to," she said.
"Kimiko, don't force them," Lord Minoru said then turned to us, "I am sorry for my wife's behavior."
"Don't worry. We are allowed to reveal ourselves if the client wishes us to," Taru-nii answered this time.
All of us took off our masks to reveal our faces, my brothers' light green hair and crystal blue eyes and my auburn hair and hazel eyes.
BAMM!
An explosion was heard. Smoke came from the door and clouded the room and our vision. I smell fire. It's not far from here…
How is it? Hope you like it.
ANBU - is like a secret organization of highly trained ninjas.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. Ja ne!
-Zen Ayuri-