My Michelle

Ch.9

After thoroughly explaining everything, including who Jenkuro and Toryama were, they headed off towards where Jenkuro lived.

"So Toryama was your sweetheart? Why didn't you ever contact her?"

"Well, it was all with good intention. Sensei told me to lose all connection with her so I could focus on becoming a better Iga ninja. But my heart wanted to stay with her. Her parents were not too thrilled with me. I was just some poor boy just hoping to become a good ninja in a new world. They tried to keep her away from me, but she loved me too much. So when I left, I promised I would come back for her, and then I met you guys and nearly forgot all about her."

"And here you nearly went after Michelle when you had a girl who was so desperate for you here." Jigen scoffed as they continued on.

"I didn't know she was still so obsessed with me. Plus I figured she would have given up on me and married Jenkuro. He was my rival basically when I was younger. We trained at the same time under the same master and loved the same girl. We were very competitive. Here we are. You guys might want to stay out here for a while," Goemon explained as he opened the door and walked right in. "Jenkuro! Jenkuro! Get out here!" The house was silent for a second, until Jenkuro turned the corner and said hello.

"Why, Goemon returns. Isn't this a shock? Toryama would have been so happy to see you..."

"Would have been? Don't you mean she is?"

"No, I meant what I said. Unfortunately, you missed your chance. She's long gone now."

"I'm sure. So what happened at her house?"

"Some thieves came in and stole her stuff. Her parents were killed a few years before then. So no one could protect her."

"And where were you?"

"I was busy, out of the country." Goemon had started walking around the room near a broom closet. "Hey Goemon now's not a good time for me to be entertaining guests. Maybe some other time, okay?" Jenkuro quickly showed Goemon to the door. "Hope to see you again, bye." Heading out the door, Goemon found Jigen and Lupin.

"That was a quick visit," Lupin stated.

"She's in the broom closet."

"Beg pardon?" Jigen asked.

"Toryama. She's locked up in the broom closet. We'll have to figure out a way to get in there."

"So you were in there for at the most 2 minutes, he claims she's gone, and you assume she's in the broom closet?"

"I'm not assuming, he wouldn't let me too near it."

"Right. Maybe he just wanted you out of his house since you barged right in?" Jigen suggested.

"Ok, so what are we going to do?" Lupin asked.

"We need a distraction. Would you two mind if I get you two to get him away from his house so I can get her out? I don't know how she'd react to two complete strangers coming in to rescue her."

"Sure Goemon, We'll distract him some how. But what would cause him to leave though?" Lupin asked.

"Competitions for sure would distract him. But I don't think you two could survive the type of competitions he competes in."

"Well, what else could we do? We don't know much about what happens here in Iga, so you'll have to give us more ideas." Jigen said.

"Hmmm…maybe if there were something big happening in town. Something he'd want to be involved with. That would certainly get him away from the house. He always wants to be the center of attention."

"I've got an idea!" Lupin shouted.