Chapter 25

One week, six days later

"He wasn't kidding, was he?" asked Tomo as she sat down on the faintly crumbling wall. She flicked a fly away that had landed on her arm, while Sakaki stood close by.

"About what?" asked Osaka as she wrapped a bandage around her arm, not grimacing as pain suddenly shot through her arm. Sakaki turned away, looking and feeling guilty. Osaka and she had been fighting to train up their skills, when the smaller girl had suddenly lost concentration while pondering over what to have for dinner. Sakaki had spent the evening apologizing. Osaka had spent the evening pondering over what the tall quiet girl was apologizing about.

"About the fact that we would only get the final day before the exam off" replied Tomo.

"Exam? What exam?" asked Osaka. She looked puzzled. A faint look of horror came to a realization on Sakaki's face. Osaka looked even more confused. "What?"

"The-the exam that we are starting tomorrow" said Tomo.

"Oh" said Osaka. "Oh! That exam" she said. "I'd forgotten about that one."

"Oh, ok then" said Tomo, scratching her head in a slightly puzzled manner. Having come close to death very recently, there had yet to be any serious change in how Osaka acted. Tomo thought with horror at how one day Osaka might be a fully fledged ninja.

She leant back, and finding no support ended up resting on the grass. Life continued on as normal in the village, people going about with their shopping, inane conversations continuing as the norm. Very soon Tomo and the others would find themselves in a potential dangerous situation, but the world continued to go on.

Tomo didn't really find it surprising. She had, along with her group, taken on a fierce assassin in a battle that could have easily led to her and her two friends being killed (possibly brutally). However with the exception of the people she called her peers nobody knew…even fewer cared. But these people, who probably wouldn't even give her the time of day, could probably in the future being calling upon her for help. Tomo grinned.

"That's right, one day you'll want my help, and I'll show you how good I am" she said to herself.

"Did you say something?" asked Osaka, looking across at the strewn Tomo.

"Er-no" replied Tomo.

Osaka moved her head in a puzzled manner and slowly itched her head. She was still for a moment, looking out at the town before moving her head to stare at Tomo. After a slight pause she finally spoke.

"It's funny, I heard someone who sounds exactly like you speak just now Tomo" stated Osaka.

"Wow that's an amazing coincidence" said Tomo, playing with a long piece of grass she had plucked from the ground. She started to twist it around when Osaka suddenly stood up in a defiant manner. She turned to Tomo who continued to play with the grass.

"I'm going to find this coincidence person" said Osaka, before (awkwardly) running away down the pathway. Sakaki began to move as though to stop her, when Tomo stuck out a hand.

"Let her go Sakaki, let her go" said Tomo.

"But-well-she" started Sakaki.

Tomo was planning on answering, but instead she just groaned. Thanks to her pose her legs had fallen asleep. She groaned again and started patting them, hoping they might wake up. Sakaki stood in a discomfited manner, watching as Osaka sprinted away, chasing after nothing and Tomo busily patted her legs. Sakaki suddenly felt even more uncomfortable when she remembered Kimura was planning on meeting them here. Osaka had managed to disappear from sight, despite her amazing lack of speed.

"So when is Kimura going to turn up then?" asked Tomo, "And where's Osaka?" she added. Tomo and Sakaki shifted uncomfortably as silence dawned over them.

"Don't know…and don't know" replied Sakaki.

"Oh ok" said Tomo. "Oh well, I'm sure it will all work out."

Sakaki was still as Tomo closed her eyes, resting her head against the grass. She slowly sat down too…she guessed Tomo wasn't going to do anything about it. She started to drink water, looking down at the pathway, looking for either Kimura or Osaka to appear.

With the exams coming, she had left Mayaa with the son and daughter of a family she knew, having decided it was best not to bring him along to the exam. Having experienced the danger she faced in her last mission, she had decided it was safer for him not to be with her at all. She had taken over two hours to say her goodbyes to the cat.

It was a while before Kimura finally appeared, traipsing along the pathway up towards the duo, with a slightly intent focus on Sakaki of whom he could see more of her figure where she had stood up. His hand was gripping Osaka's hand, making sure the girl didn't get away again. He stuck his free hand up in the air and waved eagerly, Sakaki returning the favour with a half hearted wave.

Osaka walked beside him, with a faint limp. Her clothes, having been perfectly clean the last time she had been seen, were now covered with grass and dried mud. A lone purple sock rested on her head and she was busy dreamily waving, having seen Kimura start to do the same thing. Tomo had now sat up and merely waited as the two reached them. Osaka slowly held up a thick, misshaped vegetable of some kind.

"Look I found it."

"I thought you were looking for a person Osaka?" asked Tomo.

Osaka looked once at Tomo, then at the vegetable, and then at Tomo.

"Look I found it." Kimura coughed. "Wait, no I didn't" she said, dropping the vegetable to the floor. It made a faintly dull thud sound and then rolled away.

"Right then" said Kimura, clearing his throat. "As I'm sure you are aware, tomorrow you start your exam. After all, I was kind enough to enter you into it."

"Really? We have an exam?" asked Tomo. "It's not like you've been telling us about that for the last twelve or so days. Constantly" she added. She gave Kimura a defiant stare, the man not moving an inch.

"You know Miss Tomo, since you're so aware I doubt I have to give you any tips about the exam to help you out. Feel free to leave if you wish" he said. Despite the darkly tinted glasses, Tomo could tell he was giving her an equally defiant stare.

"I'll be good" she said, looking down at the floor.

"That's a good Tomo" replied Kimura, ignoring the fact that Tomo stuck her tongue out at him when he said that. He crouched down, letting out a faint groan as his knees noisily clicked. "T-that was nothing" he said, trying to reassure the quiet Sakaki. He rubbed them slightly with his gloved hands. He was going to feel that when he stood back up- he was sure of that.

"What's the matter, getting old?" asked Tomo.

"Not old, just wise" replied Kimura. "Which is more then can be said for you Tomo…considering I've made you run laps of the village for five different days this week due to insults directed at me."

The change was startling, her mouth (having been prepared to fire out an insult) instantly closed, and she was suddenly overcome by a delicate, feminine charm like something out of Ah my goddess. Osaka jumped back slightly, caught off guard by the change that had occurred due to fear of punishment.

"Now then, the first thing to remember is after this talk you will be on your own. I'm not going to be there to help you. Sakaki, I'm truly sorry, but it looks like you are going to be looking after these two" said Kimura, the façade of Tomo slowly dissolving as she heard the insult.

"You'll do a good job Sakaki" said Osaka. "I have faith in you."

"Oh…ok" said Sakaki. She hoped Osaka didn't now think the exam was for Sakaki to look after them.

"The first exam you will take will be a paper based exam- some form of questions, testing your knowledge."

Tomo stuck up her hand.

"Yes?"

"Can you give us the answers Kimura-sensei?" she asked. She put the emphasis on sensei, speaking in a kind almost loving manner. When she wanted to, she could turn on the charm. Well that was what Tomo was certain of anyway.

"For the last time Tomo, no I can't" replied Kimura, adjusting his glasses. "One, I don't know the questions, and more importantly it would completely destroy the integrity of the examination."

"Oh I see" said Tomo in a totally indifferent tone. "That would be a disaster."

"Yes it would" stated Kimura, not hearing the tone as he was too busy thinking over his rehearsed speech. "Now you have to pass the written paper to move onto the next phase of the exam."

"That doesn't involve questions right?" asked Tomo. "Right?!"

"That's right Tomo; you won't have to worry about any more writing- if you pass the first part of the test. The second stage is a practical based examination of your skills. I'm afraid I am not allowed to go into further detail."

"Practical exam? So a convenient exam?" asked Osaka.

"Not quite" said Sakaki.

"However I must warn you- be careful. In the first part of the practical, you'll have to rely on one another. I'm not going to lie to you…people have died before while taking part in this exam."

"Died?" said Sakaki quietly.

"However as long as you remain your training, work together and don't do anything stupid, you should be fine."

"Why are you looking at me?" asked Osaka.

"And me too!" added Tomo.

"No reason at all" replied Kimura quickly looking away. "I suggest you enjoy today."

"Why? Do think we'll die?" asked a shocked Tomo.

"No, it's just that the exam lasts for a few days, so I suggest having fun today."

"That's something I don't need to study for!" exclaimed Tomo excitedly.

"Yay" said Osaka. She and Tomo stood up. Tomo sprinted away, Osaka limping behind her despite the fact Kimura still looked like he had something to say. Sakaki walked over to Kimura to ask him a few more questions.