Esperwen- Sorry, I'm a little late, everyone! But random appointments that I had to attend popped up, so here I am, posting a day late. Thanks for the five people who reviewed; it made my day! I was worried I lost readers after the dramatic chapter... Anyway, I have more stuff to type up, so here's chapter 11!
-Chapter Eleven: Getting out-
"What to do...what to do...?"
Tenten paced restlessly, while Pooriin sat on the edge of an old stone well. Again, Tenten was hiding from servants, and Pooriin was accompanying her. Her plan to not help with preparations so that King Gai would postpone the wedding wasn't working, but Tenten didn't have any other ideas, so she continued to escape wedding planners. And until they had to change locations or got caught, the two princesses were trying to think of a way for Michiko and Tenten to escape the castle; they had only three more days until the rescue party would leave.
"Ok, um, how about this," Pooriin raised a hand for attention, "We dig a tunnel from the stables, to the outside of the valley, and the day after Sasuke, Ino, Shino and I leave, you and Michiko steal two horses, use the tunnel to escape and catch up to us!"
"...a tunnel?" Tenten rolled her eyes, "Pooriin, did you think about how long it would take to dig a tunnel that long? There's not enough time for that."
"Ok...then, um...how about..." Pooriin scratched her head, then motioned towards the castle, "You could tip off some guards to catapult you and Michiko out."
"Hm...that's an idea..."
Pooriin looked up at Tenten, expecting a joking smile, only to see that the older girl had a hand on her chin, and was eyeing the Lotus Castle's catapults thoughtfully.
"You...do know that...I was...kidding," Pooriin said haltingly, a little disturbed with Tenten's serious expression.
"Of course I know that!" Tenten answered, turning to give Pooriin an exasperated look, "What do you take me for?"
"I was just making sure," Pooriin raised her hands defensively, palms toward Tenten, but her expression changed from teasing to bewildered, when something behind Tenten caught her eye.
"...What is it?"
Tenten raised an eyebrow at her best friend, then turned around to see what Pooriin was staring at, half expecting Pooriin to be faking it and nothing would be there. But there was something in the air...something strange. At first glance it was only a handful of leaves, but upon further inspection, Tenten saw that it was definitely moving on its own.
"What...the heck...?" Tenten started to say, not really sure what she was seeing.
"What is it?" Pooriin asked, getting up slowly to look closer.
"I don't know! Is it..."
"Is it coming toward us?!"
"...It is!"
"Whoa...it's moving kinda fast..."
"...Pooriin, watch it..."
"I think...it's-"
"It's going to hit you!"
"Too fast!"
"Rini!"
()
Two guards stood at the top of the Lotus Castle's wall, just over the drawbridge. Standing tall, they waved to Princess Ino while she, Prince Sasuke, and Princess Pooriin continued down the road, leaving the castle to begin their quest to rescue Princess Sakura and the Dog-Prince Kiba.
"I can't believe it," one guard murmured, squinting at the small, retreating party, "I just can't."
"Yeah, I can't either," his companion nodded, "Ino actually packed four huge trunks of clothes. Poor Pooriin-chan and Prince Sasuke; they really have their work cut out for them, taking care of her."
"No, not that," the first guard shook his head, still waving an arm, "I meant how...defenceless they are. I mean, there's just three of them. ...well, three people and some bugs."
"Oh, you meant that. ...I wouldn't worry too much," the second guard shrugged, "I hear Prince Sasuke and Shino are terrific fighters. And Pooriin-chan trained with Tenten; I'm sure Princess Ino's in good hands," he glanced at his comrade then added, "Y'know, Princess Ino probably can't see you anymore. You can stop waving, now."
"Really?" the younger knight sighed as he let his arm drop, "Oh. Phew."
"Yeah, poor you."
The younger guard rolled his eyes, then found himself looking at one of the castle towers. That was where the royal chambers were, he knew. "You know who I really pity, though..."
"Yeah. The two who got left behind," the older knight nodded, rotating his arms to loosen his shoulders before standing up straight and at attention again, "Michiko-chan and Tenten-kun wouldn't even leave their rooms after saying goodbye."
"Can you blame them? Both of them really wanted to find that kidnapped friend of theirs."
"I know," the guard nodded, "But...anyway," he shook his head an stood straighter, "That the Royals' problem; protecting them is ours. Back to work."
()
Pooriin sat on a barrel, swaying slightly with the questors' wagon as it went over every bump and into every pothole in the dirt road. They had needed a fair-sized wagon; they needed to transport Ino's trunks as well as a good month's worth of provisions. King Gai may have left them fairly vulnerable, but at least they would have a good meal before they got killed by highwaymen. They had two kegs of some kind of cordial, a large sack of breads and cheeses, and another sack of dried and salted meat. On top of that, each of them had a good-sized purse of gold for when they ran out of food (or if it was spoiled before they could get to eating it), for a good night's rest in an inn, or for whatever emergency they might come across.
Pooriin then turned to look at her companions. Sasuke was the one who held the reins for the horse that pulled the wagon; he seemed lost in his own thoughts while he sat and occasionally flicked the horse's reins. Ino was posed prettily while she rode side-saddle on her own horse, keeping in step with the wagon so that she was always right beside Sasuke. She was trying to catch Sasuke's eye, but Chouji, ever-present on her shoulder, was the only one attempting to initiate a conversation with her. And Shino hovered at the wagon's rear, defending against potential enemies, taking his job seriously, as usual. Pooriin stifled a yawn; she was barely out of the Lotus Valley and already bored. If only Tenten or Michiko were around...
"Hey."
As soon as he spoke, all present turned attentively to Sasuke. The secretive, handsome prince, however, barely barely acknowledged them as he spoke.
"We're out of sight of the castle," the warrior mage said, keeping his red eyes on the road, "Move."
Pooriin and Shino needed no second bidding. The girl pounced on a red trunk, while the swarm went after one of the black trunks. Ino and Chouji watched curiously as the other travellers opened the trunks; Pooriin fumbled with buckles while Shino struggled with heavy, tight clasps. However, both managed to open the trunks; Pooriin pulled out of the large case a gasping Tenten, and Shino helped up Michiko, who by now was quite red-faced.
"About time!" Tenten exclaimed, bending over and leaning her hands on her knees.
"I love...air," Michiko panted, gulping in huge breaths, "I'm never...doing that...(gasp) ever again!"
"Rini!"
Tenten tried to reach Pooriin in time, but whatever was hurtling towards them still collided with Pooriin and threw her backwards. For a split second, Tenten thought her friend was going to fall down the well, but thankfully, Pooriin grabbed one of the well's posts, managing to save herself.
"Aw, yuck! It's on me!"
Convulsively, Pooriin brushed a handful of green leaves off of her face. The pile landed on the ground with a splat, and when it stayed still for a moment, Tenten stepped forward gingerly, stick in hand. She wanted to poke the leaves, but she was worried it might attack.
Suddenly, the leaves moved, and a small something with huge, grey eyes poked its head out. As a reflex, while both she and Pooriin shrieked, Tenten lashed out at the something, trying to hit it with her stick.
"Whoa!"
The creature did a neat sideways flip, narrowly avoiding the stick and still managing to land on its many feet. Finally, Pooriin and Tenten realized that their surprise visitor was a fuzzy, green caterpillar.
"Easy!" he held up his front four legs up and waved them defensively, "It's ok! It's me!"
"Oh!"
Pooriin grasped a hand over her heart, relieved, and Tenten breathed a sigh, now feeling completely spent of energy.
"Chouji! Sorry!" Tenten apologized, glad the little guy had such good reflexes, I could have killed him!
"It's all right!" Chouji shook his tiny head, seeming confident but with a hint of shakiness in his voice, "I'm still alive. There's no problem!"
"That was close," Pooriin breathed, then sighed, "I'm so tense...I'm gonna die when I'm 30."
"Don't say that," Chouji chided, shaking a small fist at Pooriin "It might come true."
"Yeah...wait!" Tenten shook her head to clear it; she was still a little stunned from earlier, "I am weirded out! Just, give me a moment..." she took a deep breath, then spoke again once she had collected herself, "...alright, I'm ok now. What did you need, Chouji?"
"Well, I've got a message from Princess Ino," the caterpillar answered, turning back to his leaves while he spoke, "She said she's got four trunks ready for the trip."
"...Oh really?"
Pooriin looked at Tenten and saw that the older girl was gripping her stick tightly with a decidedly sour look on her face.
"Well, good for her," Tenten growled, "Y'know, I get that she's mad that I badmouthed her dad, but she doesn't have to rub in the fact that she's free and I'm not! I mean, that is just so-"
"What was that, Chouji?"
When Tenten scowled at her for interrupting her rant, Pooriin explained, "He said something, but you were yelling, so I couldn't hear."
"I wasn't yelling! My...voice was just raised..." Tenten said, crossing her arms and ending in a subdued voice.
"The princess wants you to send up your clothes to fill...maybe one third of a trunk, each. The trunks are five feet long, two feet wide, and two feet deep," Chouji informed Tenten calmly.
After a moment of thought, Tenten's face heated up when she realized her mistake. Slowly, she went down to her knees so that she was closer to the caterpillar's level; even then, Chouji kept working with his leaves, not looking at Tenten.
"Chouji, I-"
"Princess Ino also wanted to apologize," Chouji added, talking in quiet tones, "She says that she believes you now, about her father. So, she hopes you'll start to talk to her again."
"Of course," Tenten nodded, embarassed by her display of temper, now.
"Great," Chouji turned to Tenten, somehow able to smile with his mandibles, "Now, I need some help."
The caterpillar lifted his leaves up onto his back, and both girls realized what they were for.
"Chouji, you made..." Pooriin raised an eyebrow while pointing unsurely at Ino's little messenger, "...leaf wings?"
"That I did! Shino helped!" Chouji reached around to grab several handholds he had sewn onto the leaves; now he could flap his leaf wings, "And they work! ...sort of."
"Yeah, your landings are fantastic," Tenten couldn't help saying.
"It's all right; I'm still alive!" Chouji laughed, turning his back to the girls and facing the castle, "Now, could one of you give me a boost and throw me?"
Ino's plan was carried out on the day the rescue team left, and had turned out a success. After saying their 'goodbyes' to their friends, Tenten and Michiko had gone up to their rooms, where Shino had been waiting for them. One at a time, the bug swarm lifted them down the tower to where the wagon was, unattended except for Sasuke, who was tending to the horse. Both boys then shut Tenten and Michiko in the mostly empty trunks, using the clothing they had sent to Ino for padding. By the time Pooriin and Ino arrived with King Gai, Lee, several guards and most of the castle's inhabitants who were seeing the questors off, Tenten and Michiko were safely out of sight, ready to be smuggled out of the castle.
()
Tenten breathed deeply, now very appreciative of fresh air; the trunk had had knotholes, but was still very stuffy. Smiling a little, she turned to the only birth-princess present.
"Hey. Ino?"
Turning away from trying to get Sasuke's attention, the platinum-blonde princess raised her eyebrows at Tenten questioningly.
"Great plan. ...thanks."
()
The same evening of the day that a questing wagon left the Lotus Castle, a young man marched across a familiar field, heading for a quaint, but very welcoming farmhouse.
"Home..." Neji breathed, a passing breeze blowing his long hair back from his face as he smiled at the house across the field, "It's good to be back."
Our hero was now an official Guardian-in-Training, and was granted permission to roam the countries on his own, though he was required to send a report back to the Citadel every two months. After spending a month with the Master Guardians, training with his new, charmed weapons, Neji was allowed to go on his travels.
His weapons were actually quite simple. When the Master Guardians saw that Neji fought best with his bare hands, they gave him special, black guantlets. These were special gloves made of some kind of black metal; now when Neji hit things, the force of his blows were significantly greater. He had learned to control his newfound power, and had even learned how to 'internalize' his hits, so that his energy went into objects, rather than onto them.
Now that he was able to do as he pleased, Neji was happy with this new freedom. And now he was on his way to get Tenten, and they could travel together. Finally...It had been three months, but it had been worth it.
But as Neji neared the farmhouse, he realized something was amiss. There were no lights on...no candles, no fire...nothing. Feeling a growing sense of apprehension, Neji started running back to the house.
It's not that long after sunset, Neji thought, frowning, Hinata and Michiko would usually be reading...or Tenten, Pooriin, Asuma and Kakashi would be talking by the fire. Where is everyone?
When Neji reached the door, he saw a paper nailed there, which he tore off immediately to hold closer to his eyes so he could read it in the darkness. The first part of the note had been washed away by rain or faded by the sun, but the last couple lines he could still manage to make out.
...at the Lotus Castle.
-Tenten
...what the hell? Neji thought, glaring into the East where he knew the Lotus Castle was located, Why didn't you wait for me?!
Esperwen- Does everybody get what happened? I'm worried the writing here was too disjointed and weird. If you have questions, please review or message me so I can answer it and fix this chapter! I'm just so worried that nobody will understand what happened...like in "Pirates of the Carribbean 3"...
S'yeah, thanks for reading; sorry for the delay! Please review! I like reviews.