Chapter 22: Saving the Ninja Village
At Banner Pass, Hayate leads Lene and her group to the secret passage where it was covered in the forest. Seed became surprised whenever he sees his surroundings are completely different as he thought.
This forest is just like in Greenhill. Did Culgan just get there too when he was taking entourage with Lord Riou? In other words, this is the same place where Lord Riou had recruited two powerful ninjas on that village we supposed to get going.
"This path leads to Rokkaku. I must inform this to our chief Minato regarding about the bandits' attack."
Sean noticed something is not right which he became serious upon sensing the enemy's presence.
"If we move forward, I feel that someone is about to attack in front of us."
"Ninjas in Rokkaku are known to attack intruders. It's not possible..." Hayate said as Tsubame noticed something.
"It looks like the bandits are already there."
"Okay, Mr. Eagle Eye... How would you know if there is an enemy in front of us?" Seed said sarcastically towards Sean as he walked closer as the enemy uses a scroll that summons Flaming Arrows as Sean dodges the magic as quickly shoots with a blow dart directly on the enemy's head, knocking him out as the enemy reveals itself as one of the Dark Phoenix Bandits which they were masking themselves in camouflage.
"How clever you morons? Masking your movements with camouflage?!" Sean shouted loudly as Seed smirks in amusement.
"I didn't you know you can shoot darts."
"Sometimes, a red head like you would never understand. This blow dart is filled with sedatives. That's why I easily put this guy down." Sean shrugged and he tells him. "It was given to me by one of the ninjas in Rokkaku who helped me on my previous investigation."
"Hmmm, It looks like it's from Domon." Hayate said recognizing who gave the blow dart to him and he requested Seed to clear up the enemy from masking on their trail. "I think you're the only person who would expose their movement. They were masking their movement so that some of us will be attacked from them."
"If mockingbird knows how to sting his enemies. Now that I'm all fired up just to burn up their cover." Seed said with an arrogant tone of his voice as he casts Final Flame from his Rage Rune by summoning meteor flames, incinerating most of the bandits to blow off their covers within its raging flames. He soon casts Kindness Rain from his Flowing Rune to put out the fire.
"That was a devastating magic..." Tsubame reacted to see him using both Runes.
"We must go and fast..." Lene said as the group followed her trail and Seed mumbles to see them go while looking at the enemies' burning corpses.
"I hate to put this forest into a wild fire. That's why I don't use my Runes. Well since these rabble idiots are totally down from burning into a crisp. I'll use my Runes if I had many chances to protect them."
Arriving at Rokkaku, the group noticed most ninjas are battling the bandits who attempted to attack the village.
"Oh no! I'm too late!"
Seed noticed the entire town is also modernized which he had thought.
This whole town is also modernized as well. If Lord Riou gets here and being caught by them, their village is like a rural town and now this village had turned into a community town.
They finally battle the bandits to save the people from getting harm as Seed fights them off. Therefore, Hayate demonstrates his Shrike ability to knock one of the bandits. Sean strikes most of them with his Tokkosho as Seed does the same. Lene then sees Minato is fighting against the leader of the bandits which happens to be a disgruntled soldier from Gregminster and she shoots explosive taser with her double-sided tonfas to rescue him.
"You must be the princess of Silveria Kingdom, correct."
Suddenly, one of the bandit strikes her which dodges, but also to slash her outfit to show her cleavage.
"Interesting, this woman is a princess."
Minato then watches Lene battling against the leader of the bandits and tries to block most of his slashes from his kodachi. But also slashes most of her clothes which she tries to cover herself.
"Your highness..."
"Damn you!" Lene angrily gritted to see their leader is very excel in swordsmanship and for being a pervert.
"I'd expect the virginal maiden skin of a beautiful princess. I Mugetsu to come and get you!" Mugetsu introduces himself in a sadistic and dirty tone as he tried to attack Lene.
However, Seed blocks his sword attack with his sword to protect her, almost knocking her out.
"Chief, you're okay..." Hayate said in relief and Seed looked at Lene who had her clothes are slashed to make her naked which angrily clenches his fists for what he had done to her.
"I would expect the leader of these deranged soldiers who turn into bandits is definitely a pervert." Sean said in serious tone and Tsubame noticed Lene's clothes are torn.
"How dare you disrespect the princess!?"
"Your highness..." Kai said while not looking at her as Seed begins to remove both his brown belt and his sword sheath and took off his long sleeve loose teal shirt and he lent it to Lene to cover herself.
"Here, you can have my shirt, Lene. You got yourself a break." Seed said calmly which Lene thanked him.
"Thank you, Seed."
Seed then put his brown belt back on around his waist as his white pants is actually slim-fitted jeans and Sean sees him trying to goad into a fight in shirtless.
"I would expect a royal General would go fight bare chested."
"Don't remark me, mockingbird. I'd never done this to practice my sword at L'Renouille on my free time." Seed replies and angrily look at Mugetsu because of his perverted acts while finally equipping his black sword sheath and gets his sword. "The most thing I hate is some people are getting their hands dirty to touch Lene. Now you make me mad, you perverted son of a bitch!"
Mugetsu then tries to attack Seed with his kodachi and both had a sword fight equally Kai then kills one of them with his Raikomaru that causes electric damage while Sean throws his Tokkosho to cause an explosion to knock everyone away while Tsubame uses one of her fans to cast a projectile to wipe the enemies. Mugetsu was almost knocking away as he attempted to use the scroll using Fire Wall causing Seed to dodge the magic and he casts Protection Mist from his Flowing Rune to protect everyone including himself and both continues to have a sword fight.
"You were faster as I thought... you're gonna defend the princess just like that."
"Slashing her clothes off, really starting to piss me off! Lene maybe tough and strong, she's gonna beat the hell out of you! But now look what you've done. You disgust me!" Seed gritted furiously for slashing Lene's clothes to make her naked as Mugetsu attempts to use his Fire Rune by casting Dancing Flames.
"I'm gonna blast you with this!"
As it attempts to casts at Seed, it nothing happened. Until Seed charges himself while handling the blade of the sword as it surrounds him in a flaming aura as he hits Mugetsu with Flaming Circle as he attacks him with three projectiles but dodges.
"Hah! You missed!" Mugetsu berates him until to his surprise Seed was in front of him.
"Not quite! You son of a bitch?!" Seed charges his sword as the blade becomes crimson and bashes him out with spinning slash embedded in flames, blasting him out in explosion.
"What move is that?" Hayate was surprised to see Seed's moves and Sean smirks knowingly how hot-headed he is.
"He has an ability to counter someone who attempts to casts Runes at him. That's what he get for stripping Lene's clothes off."
Mugetsu was burned after being knocked away from the explosion which he gets angered over Seed's attack.
"Ughhh... how can you do this to me! I'm gonna get you for roasting me like this!"
"Is that all you have to say, you no good perverted bullshit? You want some more!" Seed angrily berates Mugetsu for what he did to Lene.
"I always remember this beating you gave me. The next time we've meet, I may have enjoyed ripping the Princess over her skin but to kill you as well, Hahaha!" Mugetsu said as he throw a smoke bomb at him as he and the rest of the bandits immediately escaped.
"They're gone..."
"Thanks for everything, Hayate. I'm glad that you brought both Inspector Rockwell and the Princess of Silveria Kingdom. This swordsman has potential because of his skills and his Rune." Minato said thankfully to Hayate.
At the dojo, Minato lent Lene some kimono dress so that her clothes will be fixed for the time being and they discussed about the blood war.
"I see... so it was all started when someone from your family had usurp the throne and wanted to have a war. There's nothing to worry about... Domon and Saizo will be glad in your company to help you on the war."
"Thank you very much, Minato, sir..."
"Your highness... your friend is a pretty good swordsman. If both Domon and Saizo would go with you. I would glad to join at your side." Hayate said decided to join at Lene's side.
Outside of the dojo, Sean was amused of Seed's battle earlier which makes him acting more heelish towards him.
"You really nailed that pervert, red head. You roasts the guy down by blasting him out with one slash."
"That's what he gets for disrespecting my feisty princess. I was annoyed because my shirt had put into the laundry."
"Relax... it looks like we could stay here before we get back at Gregminster to tell the President about the news."
Therefore, Lene came to see them as well as Hayate, Saizo and Domon and he reunites with Sean.
"Sean Rockwell... it's great to see you again."
"It's been a while, Domon. Your darts are perfect." Sean smiled in respect as Seed was surprised to see her in a kimono dress as he remarked.
"You're gorgeous, Lene!"
"We're gonna stay here for a night. Tomorrow, we have to inform Professor Asher and Leroy about this." Lene said informing him.
That night, Seed was dragged by Lene when they held a festival in the village. Lene tastes the takoyaki and she loves it which she lets Seed to taste it.
"You should try it, Seed. It's so good."
"Mmmm, it's not half-bad. I've never seen a pancake forms into a ball with sauce on it. I think I tasted something inside of it?" Seed replied as he tastes the takoyaki.
"That was an octopus, Seed and that was the best seller." Lene laughed which surprises him.
"It's like I eat a grill squid."
After spending the festival, they stayed at the forest side of the town. It was the first time he had experienced all kinds of activities which Riou did at his headquarters as Seed thought of this.
I guess I'd never experience doing this kind of activities which is the same as Lord Riou at his headquarters. But I've never seen they can held a festival in other towns. I guess they never held festivals at the my country in the Highland Kingdom. All we can do now is to focus on the war which is why our country has fallen into Lord Riou's hands.
"Seed, are you okay? Are you thinking of something?" Lene asked which surprises him.
"Uhm, it is nothing. I really missed of what I experienced at the royal kingdom."
"Thanks for defending me back there when that person attempts to rip my clothes off especially for saving this ninja village. They really appreciate it." Lene said thankfully to him as Seed looked at her appearance because of his strong romantic feelings for her as he remarked to himself.
"I'd never expect I would like a feisty princess like you. If Culgan would see us like this and he would laugh at me on the spot along with our units."
"What are you saying that?" Lene said who ponders about Seed's remarks until he simply gets close to her and gives her a kiss to her lips as he tells her nicely.
"Because I love you and I won't let anybody get their filthy hands on you. I had reasons why am I doing this, just for you."
Lene blushes over his words and both soon kisses passionately because of their love for each other. Seed's Flowing Rune had glowed along with Lene's Divine Dagger Rune which is lighted up in the sky as it begins to rain heavily. Both were surprised to see the others are trying to avoid getting wet.
"That's weird... why is everyone are trying to find shelter?" Lene wondered as Seed giggles to her.
"Hee hee... Maybe because our Runes got resonated or something when we just kissed. That's why it brought heavy downpours."
"Awww... now we're all wet because of this." Lene reacted in disappointment as Seed put both of his hands on his head which he happily remarks.
"Don't argue with me, Lene. It was the first time we had done something today. Kinda reminds me about the massage you gave me after you wanna know about my life."
"I remember what you said at the shower. When I did that to you, I realized that your shoulders are weak that's why you groan in pain." Lene smiled happily.
"Now come here, my little feisty!" Seed smiled happily towards Lene and excitedly carries her back into the village to take shelter so that both would continue their romantic rendezvous by cleaning themselves.
At the trading shop, Sean noticed heavy downpours and Domon had seen this.
"It looks to me, it was done by casting an elemental Rune."
"Elemental Runes can make a combination with the incarnation Rune like Lene currently had right now. I think Seed's romantic feelings for Lene was so strong and that's why both of their Runes are able to activate." Sean said and he remembers about what Asher is trying to tell him.
Flashback:
Before they went to the Forest Village, Sean and Asher had a conversation about Seed.
"I know red head is trying to help us to stop the old bastard for making a war. Why are you so confident to see him do it?"
"It is my fault for summoning him by accident, Sean." Asher said admitted to his faults. "I know my ancestor and him who is a time-displacement man made their abject failures because of their loyalty and pride to defend our home country in the Higheast by battling against the Allied Army and that's why the Dunan Republic has been formed following their defeat. I realized that he would also be the key to stop this family bloody war and I really wanted him to get him back to his own time after all this mess."
"..."
"I know how you feel about Seed. I've seen his closeness to the princess and he's being romantically passionate to her. Despite his temper, he is able to control himself. He can also be ruthless to his enemies if anyone would attempt to kill the princess for their own enjoyment." Asher said knowing of their current relationship and Sean sighs accepting of what he had accomplished.
"He was a lucky red head, after all. I'm also an adult like these two. The girls are crazy because of me but I keep running away like a coward because I don't want to become a center of attraction. He maybe a royal General from the enemy side, he's still a lucky guy."
"You could still find someone whenever we keep travelling, Sean. You still had your youth to back up and find anything." Asher said giving him some advice.
Flashback over:
Sean seemingly accepts Asher's advice when it comes to romance and Domon gives him elemental balls.
"You can take this, Sean. These balls are come and handy. If you threw it to your enemies, it's gonna make them sparks fly."
"Looks interesting, Domon. Your blow darts are come and handy too." Sean smiled as both noticed the rain had stopped.
"Well I guess you go with the princess."
As Sean leaves the scene, Domon watches knowing that he is now allied with Lene and his group.