Location: Shirogane Manor
Date: 3 January 1574
Itachi Jungle Pet House
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4.
Looming Storm
Supper had been finished and the residents of the Shirogane Manor had gone to their various rooms to wash up. Ringo, being hyper and quick, finished before Masaya. She plopped down on her bed and tied a thick satin ribbon in her hair (headband style). Masaya walked out of the adjoining bathroom and held up a soft leather strip with a buckle on one end. "Are you sure you don't want to wear it?" Masaya asked. "I'm sure," Ringo confirmed as she focused on finished the bow. "So what do you think of the new ones?" Ringo asked after a pause. "I believe that they have been sufficiently matched. The personalities go together," Masaya commented. "But what did you think of them, as people," Ringo pushed. "I have not talked to them 'as people' so far," Masaya said, almost irritated. "Then come and spend time with us, I was planning on teaching Ichigo archery," Ringo suggested. Masaya sighed. "So it will be, little penguin. I shall meet you down on the archery field," Masaya gave in. Ringo smiled and bounded out of the room. Masaya set the soft leather collar on the nightstand and sat down on the bed. "Archery? Ringo's terrible at archery."
Ichigo and Ryou sat on Ryou's bed. Ryou was patiently brushing Ichigo's shining hair. Two shining pink ribbons matching her pink outfit lay on the bed beside him. Ryou set the brush down and neatly parted Ichigo's hair with a fine tooth comb, which had been sitting on the other side of him. He pulled up one part of her hair into a high pigtail and secured it with one of the ribbons. He did the same with the other side of her hair, perfecting the pigtails. There was a knock on the door and Ryou said, "Come in." Almost immediately Ringo burst in the door and begged, "Can Ichigo go to the rec room with me? Pleasepleaseplease?" Ichigo twisted back to look at Ryou. "What will you be doing?" Ryou asked. "I'll be teaching her to shoot!" Ringo exclaimed. Ryou raised his eyebrows. "Arrows! Shoot arrows!" Ringo frantically corrected her mistake. Ryou nodded, giving his seal of approval. Ichigo broke out into a beautiful smile and hugged Ryou fiercely. "Arigatou, Ryou!" She exclaimed. Ryou looked taken aback. Ichigo then left him to bound after Ringo who'd left the room. Ryou smiled softly as he watched Ichigo. "No, Ichigo. Thank you," He said.
Ringo and Ichigo stood in the grassy area before the forest which backed the Shirogane Mansion. Ringo and Ichigo each held a wooden bow and a quiver of five arrows tipped with blackish blue feathers. A target board hung fifteen paces away. Grayish clouds lazily crossed the sky above. " . . . you pull the arrow back until your fist is about eye level and be sure to keep your other arm straight," Ringo instructed, then modeled for Ichigo. "Now, you align the arrow with your line of sight and be sure to look at the target," Ringo continued. "When you think you're ready, then release!" Ringo instructed and put her bow down. "Now you try."
Ichigo raised the bow and did as she was told. "No, no, no. Your arm needs to be straight. A little more like this, see? No! Don't do that!!!" Ringo corrected Ichigo as she saw fit. "Good. You look ready. Now let it fly!" Ringo said, satisfied with herself. Ichigo released the arrow. It wobbled up and down as it sawed through the air and into the trees beyond. Ichigo and Ringo paused. Ichigo's ears twitched as she detected a rustling in the trees. "I think there's something in there," She said quietly to Ringo. "There shouldn't be. All the animals are usually further in," Ringo softly replied. The girls waited in suspense as the thing drew closer to the edge of the forest.
"Ringo! What did I tell you about instructing others," a deep voice good-naturedly grumbled as a man trudged out of the forest on horseback. He wore the traditional riding garments, puffy sleeves, jacket and all. Ringo's eyes widened and her face lit up. "Kaoru-kun!" She exclaimed and ran toward him. Ringo wrapped her arms around the tall slender man and hugged him fiercely. "Oh come now, it hasn't been that long," Kaoru laughed as he swept her off her feet and onto the horse. "Kaoru-kun, this is my new friend, Ichigo. She's come to live at the Shirogane Manor. She's Ryou's. Ichigo, this is Kaoru, my boyfriend," Ringo introduced them. Ichigo nodded and bowed, as she had been taught to do when meeting guests or friends of her master. "Ichigo, I'm going to go off with Kaoru-kun for a while. Could you cover for me?" Ringo asked. "What do you mean?" Ichigo asked. "Kaoru-kun is a secret from everyone else and I'd like to keep it that way," Ringo explained. "Okay. I'll see you when you get back from finding my arrow," Ichigo said with a wink. Ringo winked back and smiled. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Ichigo-chan! I'll be back before dinner," Ringo thanked Ichigo. Kaoru jumped onto his horse behind Ringo. The two smiled at each other and Kaoru took the reins. Ringo looked at Ichigo one last time over Kaoru's strong arms before the horse took off into the foliage.
Ichigo sighed and looked up at the sky. Darker clouds were looming above the forest. Her ears twitched as she felt the temperature drop a few degrees. Having nothing better to do, Ichigo pulled another arrow out and aimed at the target. She shot again without Ringo's instruction and let it fly. The arrow cut through the air and hit the painted target. A drop of water landed on the dirt next to the target and Ichigo instinctively grabbed the equipment and ran inside. She barely made it under cover before it started to rain. Ichigo heaved a sigh of relief and carried the bows and arrows inside.
Masaya met Ichigo in the halls. "Have you seen Ringo?" He asked Ichigo, not paying attention to the equipment the cat-girl was carrying. "Yes, she went to go look for the arrow she shot into the woods," Ichigo replied. "Oh. So then you're carrying . . . Here let me help you," Masaya said and took half the equipment from Ichigo. As he did, his fingers brushed hers and Ichigo blushed. "A – arigato," Ichigo thanked him. Masaya nodded.
"No problem. Say, you're Ryou's pet aren't you?" He asked as they started walking. Ichigo nodded. "Yeah, he told me about the competition he and Kish are in," Masaya said. The two dropped off the equipment and continued walking. "So I suppose you're going back to Ryou's room?" Masaya asked. Ichigo nodded again. "You're not very talkative are you? Well, that's ok. Do you know the way back to Ryou's room?" Masaya asked. "N – no," Ichigo tentatively said, finally working up the nerve to speak. "Then I'll show you the way," Masaya decided. So he led her down the hall and up the great winding double staircase at the front of the house. The pair paused where the two stair cases met. Ichigo, slightly curious because she hadn't gotten a good view last time, bent over to look.
"Hey Masaya. Hello Ichigo," Kisshu voice said. Ichigo jumped and whirled around, and in doing so, lost her balance and fell over the banister. Ichigo screamed as the air rushed past her and she fell to the hard tile floor. "Ichigo!" Masaya yelled and reached down toward her, trying to grab her before she got out of reach. Kisshu appeared beside her and tightly wrapped his arms around her. The pair disappeared from mid air and reappeared on the floor, somewhat shocked, but otherwise ok.
Ryou hunched over a pile of documents, signing some, scratching things out, and reading others before throwing them away. Ryou jumped when he heard the scream and his first thought was, Why is the monkey-girl screeching at this hour?! But when he heard another muffled voice yell, "Ichigo!!" Ryou didn't think. He jumped up out of the chair and raced down to where he thought the scream had come from.
He burst out in the hall, "Ichigo!" He shouted and ran up to the three people on the balcony overlooking the entrance hall. "What's wrong?" Ryou asked, slightly out of breath from running. Then he noticed Kisshu's arms around her. "What did you do to her?" Ryou asked Kisshu in a demanding tone. "Me? I saved her from certain death," Kisshu replied and quickly put his hands behind his back. Ryou looked over at Masaya, only to find that he had disappeared and was now walking down to his room. Ryou pushed Ichigo behind him. "Just what was this certain death?" Ryou asked. "She fell over the edge," Kisshu said plainly, pointing to the railing. Ryou turned to Ichigo. "Is this true?" He asked. Ichigo nodded. "Then I thank you for rescuing her," Ryou said, bowing slightly to Kisshu. "Come on," Ryou said to Ichigo and started walking back toward his room.
Ichigo and Ryou entered his room. "Tell me, what happened?" Ryou asked. Ichigo told how Masaya had been showing her back to the room and how Kisshu had startled her over the banister, and then saved her through teleportation. Ryou nodded. "But why was Masaya showing you back and not Ringo?" Ryou asked. "Because she went to look for the arrow she shot into the forest," Ichigo replied. "You mean she was with her boyfriend," Ryou commented. Ichigo looked at him, startled. "You know about that?" Ichigo asked. Ryou nodded and smirked. "Of course, it's my house."
Rain pattered harder on the window and the pair turned toward the window. "Looks like a storm," Ryou commented. Ichigo winced and her ears prickled. Lightening streaked across the distance. Ichigo's hair stood on end. "O-oo lightening too. Well, it's almost time for you to go to bed Ichigo. Here, I have a new nightdress for you," Ryou said and turned toward her. Ichigo nodded and waited while Ryou took it out of a thin white box that had gone unnoticed on his chair, along with the papers he had been working on. "Here, I think you'll like it," Ryou commented as he held up a fluffy white ruffled nightgown with think pink ribbons threaded gently through the collar, cuffs, and hem. Ichigo's eyes widened and she let out a small gasp. Ryou gestured for her to take it and Ichigo held it in her pale hands. "Well? Go put it on," Ryou urged her. Ichigo heard the pitter patter of rain on the roof. She began to take off her clothes, but Ryou stopped her. "In your own room. Then come back out and show me," He instructed. Ichigo stopped and walked into her small room. If lightening streaked across the sky, she didn't know.
Purin stood at the window watching the lightening streak across the sky and listening intently for the booming thunder which was bound to come. Taruto appeared behind her. "What 'cha lookin' at?" He asked, curiously peering out the window. "The lightening," Purin answered. "Why?" Taruto asked. "I look at the lightening because it's the acrobat of the storm. It's limber and powerful, here one second and gone in a flash," Purin answered. Taruto looked out the window as another bolt of lightening streaked across the sky. " . . . So, are you hungry?" He asked. "A little," Purin replied, still watching the window. Rain pattered harder as the last faint blueness of the sky gave way to pure black.
Through closed eyes, Retasu heard the rain pound against the stained glass window in Pai's room. She listened to the boom of thunder. Ichigo had always been scared of the thunder and Retasu had always comforted her, as had Minto. Retasu had never understood how Ichigo could be scared of the booming thunder and crackling lightening. Retasu opened her eyes and vacated the corner of Pi's bed she had been sitting upon. She silently walked over to the window. The floor was cool to her feet as she walked across the sleek woodwork. Retasu stood in front of the window, watching the lightening flash and the droplets rain down and pound against the window. She felt the coolness radiate through the glass and longed to be out in the rain. To smell it, to feel it, to be a part of it. Retasu stood at the window in her floating green nightgown with her emerald hair cascading down from high pigtails to her rear. She listened to the powerful thunder and watched the elegant lightening flash across the dark and clouded sky. They were the Beacons of Light in the dark storm. How could anyone be scared of such beauty?
Ichigo stepped out of her small room, dressed in the nightgown. Ryou motioned her to come forward a bit. Ichigo took a couple steps and looked up at him with sparkling pink eyes. "Well?" She asked. "Is it to your liking?" Ichigo asked. Ryou had changed into a fuzzy looking bathrobe while Ichigo had been in her room. There was a pause and Ichigo could once more hear the patter of the rain upon the roof. "Turn around," Ryou said. Ichigo spun and watched with delight as the dress poufed out, so she spun again.
And Again.
And again.
And agai—Ryou placed a hand on her shoulder. "Ichigo, that's enough. You're going to get dizzy and fall over," Ryou said, somewhat amused at Ichigo's antic. "The nightdress looks lovely on you, and now it is time to sleep," Ryou continued. Ichigo nodded. "Good-night, master," She said in a musical voice. Ryou smiled tenderly at her and nodded. Ichigo vanished behind her door. Both master and pet fell backward onto their beds and sighed happily. Both pet and master listened to the rain pitter pattering on the roof before deciding to snuggle under the covers and lay their heads upon their pillows. And as they fell asleep, the storm raged outside; beating down upon the Shirogane mansion with lightening and thunder, but most of all, rain.
The rain fell down upon the house, and two people stood upon the porch, sheltered from the wetness of the rain, but still able to feel the chill. "So tell me again why we are out here?" Minto asked as she perched on the silver railing. Kisshu leaned back in the padded wicker chair and glanced at Minto. "I like the rain. Every time it sees fit to visit this house, I like to come out and be with it. Normally I'd bring out a sleeping mat and some blankets, but I get the impression that you wouldn't like that," Kisshu explained with a smirk. He then closed his eyes and refocused on the rain. Minto sighed and silently declared her master "one of the odder persons of society."
A dark figure moving in the forest beyond caught Minto's eye. She stared intently at it, trying to see who in their right mind would be out in the storm. Minto immediately thought of Kisshu, but quickly pushed him out of her head. There it was again! Closer this time. Minto flapped her wings impatiently. "There's someone out there," She commented. "Well who is it?" Kisshu asked without opening his eyes. Minto kept her eyes trained on the figure. It had to be on horse. Wait. It was stopping. Someone jumped off and someone remained on. "Two people?" Minto thought aloud. But that didn't make sense. Why would these two strangers be horseback riding in the rain? The larger of the two, still on the horse leaned down and did something before straightening up and riding away.
"Must be the lovebirds. They're crazy, the pair of them," Kisshu commented. Minto paid him no heed and continued to watch the lone figure, which was now advancing toward them. Still just a silhouette and that silhouette was getting rather human-sized now. Perhaps it was one of the people from the mansion? "It's the penguin lady, I'm telling you," Kisshu commented again, as if sensing Minto's thoughts. "Shush, I can hear her now. And I'm quite certain it's a girl," Minto commanded him. "Whatever," Kisshu commented. Minto stood atop the railing, hoping to get a better view of the girl walking toward them. The rain lightened a bit, but the thunder boomed louder.
Minto observed the damp girl as she jumped, paused, and then continued her trek to the mansion. Could it, indeed, be Ringo as her spinach-brained master suggested? The rain came down harder now, veiling whatever details Minto might have been able to grasp. Kisshu lazily opened his eyes and glanced over at Minto. "Minto, it's ok to relax. The penguin-lady won't do us any harm," Kisshu commented once more. Minto glanced back at Kisshu. "But I don't want to relax," She argued and trained her eyes on the figure once more. The girl was getting close to the porch stairs now and Minto was beginning to think that it was Ringo. She fluttered down from the railing and stood in front of a circular glass patio table which accommodated the wicker chairs behind it.
Ichigo found herself running in the jungle behind the Shirogane Mansion. Heavy storm clouds loomed above and rain pounded down through the canopy. She leaves crunched beneath her mud-covered feet and branched snapped as she pushed past. They were following her. She stumbled and fell, but bounced back up and kept on running. They were coming for her. Coming after her with weapons and people and horrid things which only existed in nightmares. She glanced behind to see how far they were behind. She saw nothing, but knew that they would catch up with her at any moment. Thunder boomed and Ichigo screamed as something sharp pierced her back. She felt herself losing her grasp of reality as pain coursed through her. Ichigo shook her head. She wouldn't give herself up, she couldn't. She had to keep running. Keep running. Her world blurred, and then turned to shades of grey. She shook her head and tried to focus. Soon all she could make out were great shadows. She tripped over a root and couldn't get up quick enough. Rough hands hauled her up as her world went black.
Ichigo's eyes flared open as she woke up with a small shriek. Thunder boomed louder than ever and her hair stood on end. She hesitated to go to her master. Her heart was pounding as she reasoned with herself. This late at night he would surely be displeased at being woken up. Rain pounded harder and the thunder grew louder. She threw open the doors to her wardrobe and shut the doors. She buried herself in the clothes and squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to calm her pounding heart.
Ryou awoke with a start when he heard Ichigo's shriek. He threw off the covers and leaped out of bed. Dressed in only a pair of burgundy silk pants, Ryou grasped the door knob and opened Ichigo's door. "Ichigo?" He called and looked around. Ryou saw the messed up bed covers and heard the click of the wardrobe door. Spun around to face the wardrobe and threw open the doors. Ichigo was huddled amidst a pile of clothes with tears streaking down her face. Ryou squatted down beside her. "Ichigo, are you all right?" He asked gently. Thunder boomed and Ichigo retreated into the farthest corner of the wardrobe and turned her back to the open doors. "Ichigo, you're afraid of the thunder aren't you?" Ryou asked. He received no reply, but had expected none. Ryou reached toward her and placed his hands securely on her waist.
"Shh, it's ok, Ichigo," He said softly as he pulled her toward him. Thunder boomed again and Ichigo tried retreat into the wardrobe, but Ryou pulled her fully out of the wooden furniture piece. He toppled over backward with Ichigo on top of him. Ichigo rolled off him and curled up in a ball. Ryou sat up and took hold of her shoulders. He turned her to face him. "Look at me, Ichigo," Ryou commanded. When Ichigo didn't move, he gently pushed her chin up. "Ichigo, I will always make sure that you are protected. While you are in this house, you need not be afraid of anything. It's ok to come to me when you're scared or frightened, Ichigo," Ryou gently told her. Ichigo looked up at him with her glassy eyes and sat for a moment digesting this. "You would not be angry?" She tentatively asked. Ryou shook his head. "I would rather you come to me instead of to your wardrobe or to someone else," Ryou explained. Ichigo nodded and sniffled. Ryou stood up and held out a hand to her, Ichigo hesitated, then reached out and took it. Both felt a slight shock as their hands touched, but perhaps only Ryou registered it because at that moment thunder boomed again. Ichigo tightened her grip, jumped up, and buried her face in Ryou's chest faster than he would've thought possible. Ryou comfortingly put his hands around her and kissed her magenta hair. "Shh, it'll be all right," He murmured.
Ringo sloshed through the mud infested yard, holding up her arm with some scrap of hope that she would keep her face dry. She was able to make out two figures out on the porch. At least, she thought it was two. One she knew for sure would be Kisshu. He was always out in the rain, regardless of anything. The other figure, if there was indeed another person out there, would be Minto. Being Kisshu's pet, she'd be out there because her master was. Kisshu had a firm belief that everyone needed to sit out in the rain at least once in their life. Most of the time, that experience came right after Kisshu said that. Ringo smiled to herself and pressed onward. Well, at least she wouldn't come home too wet. Her lover had given her a cloak made out of an irregular material. He said it was something like rabble or rubber. At any rate, it was keeping her mostly dry, and for that she was thankful. Ringo reached the porch steps and looked up to see Minto staring rather intently at her. "Um . . . hello, Minto-chan. Lovely night for a rain storm, is it not?" Ringo asked with a wry smile. "Told you so," Ringo heard Kisshu comment from his usual chair.