Chapter 11: Family in Her Heart
"It's settled, then!" Yozakura brought her palm down onto the table, slamming it with anticipation. Shiki, Murakumo, and Minori, however, lacked her enthusiasm. "Minori and Murakumo will trail Yumi and make sure she's alright. You, Shiki, will come with me to investigate!"
Shiki puckered her lips in a pouty manner. "Like, what's your damage, Yozie? Minori and I are like totes pooped over that last encounter. Can't ya at least let us rest a bit?"
"Mm, hmm! Minori doesn't wanna go play Shinobi right now! And those yoma were scary!" Minori pouted, folding her arms.
"Besides, Yozakura. Someone has to keep track of Gessen. Especially when we know nothing about these Yoma." Murakumo added behind her mask.
"You bunch of idiots!" Yozakura scolded. "Don't you see this is exactly why we must go out and investigate. Yumi was right! Those lazy, careless thoughts of yours are nothing but evil. Evil. Evil! They must be purged! Can you call yourselves good Shinobi if you're acting like a bunch of high schoolers?!"
"Um… Yozie. We kinda are." Shiki gave a flat-faced look of disapproval.
"Irrelevant, Shiki! Besides, we have a very qualified faculty. I'm sure Gessen will be just fine." Yozakura pointed. "This new threat, whether they be Yoma or not, is out to upset the balance of justice in this world and we cannot allow that! If Hebijo and Hanzo fight this off while we sit idle, what does that make us?" Silence swept the room as the other girls looked down. Yozakura's tone grew to a low disappointment. "If you can't see that then maybe you're not fit to be shinobi."
"I suppose you're right." Murakumo stood up, "If good sits back and submits it is no longer good."
Shiki looked down at her phone, which she hadn't answered in several hours. Thoughts of her non-shinobi gyaru friends circled in her head as saw the notification from Shizue going 'what's happenin' Sheeks? This is so not like you. You're worrying us all.' That strange bird horse creature had been contained in their barrier during most of the fight, but if it hadn't, her friends and even other people might have gotten hurt. Shiki let out a conflicted sigh as she stood up too, nodding in agreement.
Minori's angry pouty face soon turned into a shameful frown. "Mm! You no leave Minori behind!" Murakumo then watched as Minori jumped up and latched onto her arm.
Yozakura smiled, "I'm glad you agree. Now then, let us be off. Murakumo, Minori. Make sure you don't get in too close! Yumi's our leader for a reason, she can detect you a kilometer away!" The Gessen girls gave each other a nod.
Heading over to Shinjuku Gyoen Park, Yozakura and Shiki paid the fine to get in as they began strolling around with other locals, though it wasn't a very busy day for the park. Yozakura stretched her arms, smiling as she took in the clean, spring air of the park, her eye absorbing the cherry blossom leaves, rippling into the nearby lake as if each blossom was a chord playing a tune on a watery instrument.
"Um… Yozie. Like, what exactly we doin' strollin' around in a park? I totally don't see how this is helping our ninjer jobs." Shiki said.
"Oh Shiki, you silly. Ninja 101; think like a Kunoichi. Sometimes the shadows you work in are those you blend into. You must really be stressed out with everything that's been happening." Yozakura commented.
"OMG, like what gave it away, Yozie!?" Shiki snapped "First of all, it's bad enough dealing with these bogus new yoma and their grody combinations. Like, fer real?! A horse bird?! Go bag your face and take a cold shower! Secondly, It's bad enough that my friends are already suspicious of my quote 'school story' that I've continuously, like, have to edit, but Shizue caught me in my Shinobi outfit and I totally looked like a slutty preppie!"
"Wait. Your friend saw you in your Shinobi clothes?" Yozakura looked at Shiki.
"NO DUH SHE SAW ME! Shinobi Kekkais aren't easy, ya know! And it's not like I could just fight in the mall without a Kekkai!" Shiki's face now consisted of a very cartoony set of angry, pupiless eyes as she bore over-the-top, sharp teeth. "And now I like, don't even know WHERE the hell we're supposed to be going! Like, you never told me what you discussed with Yu and Mi, Yozie."
"Shiki… I am sorry for all of this. I got carried away a bit… it seems these events have caused us all a bit of upheaval." Yozakura frowned a bit, "I will fill you in on the details. But first, why don't you let yourself relax, Shiki? Take in the beautiful sights of Shinjuku Gyoen."
"My definition of relaxing is some shopping or going out to a par-tay." Shiki let out a sigh, "But even that as of late has been a chore."
By now, the girls began to pass over a long, slightly arching bridge made of wood and stone. "Sometimes we need to try new things. It's like Kurokage once said. 'It is good to find your own rhythm in life, but an open door can lead to discoveries you may not know you needed.'" Yozakura looked to the sky with a light smile, the two of them stopping, as they leaned over the railing of the bridge.
Shiki began to let her mind clear, listening to nothing but the gentle spring breeze, "Form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form." Shiki heard Yozakura reciting the Heart Sutra, then proceeding to join in with her. "That which is form is emptiness, that which is emptiness form. The same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness." A slight smile formed from Shiki's lips.
"You know how hard it is? Trying to remain friends with those who aren't shinobi?" Shiki looked down into the water, rippling with gentle cherry blossom leaves. "Sometimes having all this power feels like a cage."
"Mm… I know exactly how you feel." Yozakura replied. "Some of my little siblings don't even know that they ever were shinobi. I envy them in some ways. But still, over time, the letters we exchange happen less and less. Some of them… I haven't heard from since that day." Her tone dropped a bit before she tried to shift things with a smile. "Still, my one sister keeps telling me to get a phone and stop being so old-fashioned."
"Well, she's right ya know." Shiki winked. Shiki and Yozakura continued to chat casually, the two sharing in the moment. With little people in the area, Shiki confirmed to Yozie that Shizue had not caught on to anything about her shinobi line of work. "I'll just tell her I'm a secret cosplayer."
Yozakura and Shiki soon began moving across the bridge to the other side again. "So what exactly are we investigating?" Shiki asked.
"Reports of beyond the far end of the park have it that a few locals went missing. The reports also have described strange monstrous like noises coming from the area. On top of that, Yumi and I felt it. An unnatural pulse of energy that lasted for maybe only 20 seconds. It could have something to do with the strange creature you and Minori fought." Yozakura said.
"Well, that kid's dressed kinda warmly for this whether wouldn't ya say?" Shiki pointed across to some benches up further from the water, where a supposed small child sat. From the distance, Yozakura could make out a baby-blue, winter overcoat with fluffy, white puffballs and pink ribbons adorning it. She also wore a blue hat, which Yozakura thought she recognized.
"Yakumi!" Yozakura called out, running towards the girl.
"Hey! Yozie! Like, take a chill pill and slow down!" after an exasperated sigh, Shiki took off after her.
Yozakura ran up to the child, whom she found crying on a bench, proceeding to embrace her. "Yakumi! I'm here! Oh where have you been, Yakumi? How come you never write?"
"Uuum… wh-what? Who are you?" The child replied in a voice Yozakura didn't recognize. Letting go of the kid, Yoza looked upon her face more clearly. Her blue eyes and short, light-brown hair revealed that she was not who Yozakura thought she was.
Yozakura backed away quickly, her eyes popping as she lightly blushed in embarrassment. "I-I am so sorry! I thought you were someone else I knew! You… just reminded me of one of my sisters is all…"
"Oh… Well I… I hope you find them." The child looked down with tears still in her eyes.
"Gee, like really, Yozie. Ya really need to quit rushin in headfirst. Look at that, you're givin the poor kid the heebie-jeebies." Shiki pointed, finally catching up.
"I-I did not! I found her like this!" Yozakura snapped before turning back to the kid, softening her voice and kneeling down to her. "But why are you crying, little one?"
"I'm looking for someone too." She sniffled. "My sisters. We all got separated after the big fight. I don't remember what happened… and, and then I woke up in this strange place and-… Miss Cave…"
Yozakura felt a tinge in her veins, the child's sorrowful tears were like a magnet, tugging on her heart and triggering her inner mother, bringing back the old days when she alone took care of her siblings. Tempted to reach out and hug her again, Yozakura placed her hands gently on the child's shoulder. "Don't you worry. We will help you find your sisters, no matter what."
"Uuumm… Earth to Yozie, are you forgetting we totally have a mission? Can't we just like… hand her over to the police and let them deal with all that lost child jazz?" Shiki folded her arms.
"Out of the question! What kind of Shinobi would we be if we just handed her over to the police?!" Yoza protested.
"Um… the good kind?" Shiki shrugged indifferently at Yozakura.
Yozakura was ready to argue when the kid tugged at her sleeve. "Excuse me. What is your name?"
"Ah. How rude of me. I am Yozakura. Might I have your name, little one?"
"Mm, hm. I'm Rom. A pleasure to meet you, miss Yozakura." She smiled sweetly.
"Rom? What an unusual and adorable name." Yozakura's heart fluttered, looking down into Rom's cute, pleading eyes.
"Tch. Figures, careless foreigners losing their kids." Shiki grumbled.
"So you'll… really help me find my sisters, miss Yozakura?" Rom looked up at her.
"Of course. I cannot stand idle while siblings are torn apart. I will not let it happen again!" Yozakura held out her hand gently towards Rom, who grinned warmly. Suddenly a large pink, elastic-like whip shot from the small woods of the park, latching onto Rom's right leg, knocking her down and reeling a crying Rom like a fish on a line.
"What the hey!?" Shiki jerked back in shock, but Yozakura leapt into the air before coming down on the long whip-like thing. Releasing Rom, it pulled back as a very cringy derp-voice could be heard muttering "Ow. Dat one stung."
"Rom! Are you alright!?" Yozakura looked down at a whimpering Rom, who had small sparks jolting off her body. "She's paralyzed!" the ground began to shake as an enormous, metallic yellow lizard creature hopped it's fat body forward.
"Who DARES to interrupt my discipline session with my cute little Rommy-poo?!" It said in a slightly raspy voice. Yozakura and Shiki then realized that the giant pink whip was actually the creature's tongue.
"Eeeww. Like, gross me out the door. THAT was your tongue? You totally make me wanna barf! Like, gag me with a spoon kinda barf." Shiki said through repulsed eyes.
"Your discipline session? Just who or what do you think you are?!" Yozakura pointed angrily, by now the few citizens in the area had fled at the creature's appearance.
"Oh, how rude of me, ladies. I am CFW Trick of the Sages Syndicate Alliance! And this little girl is my very naughty daughter!" the creature pointed with a stubby hand, to which Shiki might have laughed had she not been so disgusted.
"Don't listen to him! That's a lie and you know it!" Rom cried out, barely able to move.
"Daughter?" Shiki scoffed. "Betch, please. I see more resemblance between Yozakura and a roll of toilet paper."
"H-hey! What was that supposed mean?!" Yozakura glanced an annoyed look at Shiki.
"JK, Yozie. You know I love ya." Shiki smirked goofily.
"How did you even… catch up… What did you do to Miss Cave, you sicko!" Rom shouted, her voice cracking as she barely made out the words.
"Ooh, I tried to be a gentleman. But Miss Cave was such an uncouth kind of lady, that I sent her for a long trip. You could say she's gone, downhill." Trick chuckled, Rom letting out a cry of anguish as much as her paralyzed body permitted. "Now, if you are done entertaining me with your farce, I will be taking my little Rommy-poo back with me now."
As he spoke the final words, Trick slid his long tongue across his grungy black teeth in a lip-licking manner. Yozakura felt distressing disgust crawl up her back as the saliva that dripped from trick's gigantic tongue made it feel like he was feeling her up. "So… you are a liar, pervert, and a murderer. Evil… Evil… Evil!" She pointed straight at Trick, gritting her teeth. "You will not be taking anyone."
"I tried to be a gentleman. But even a gentleman can lose his patience. Don't make me ask again." Trick's voice slowly strayed from a stupidly silly tone to a low, passive-aggressive growl.
"A-and… I told you… you are not… taking… ANYONE!" Yozakura threw a smoke bomb down on the ground, picking Rom up in her arms and making a run for the woods.
"Hurh! So… the hard WAY IT IS!" Trick pulled out a small disc from his inventory before inserting it into a slot on his left arm, which began to glow a florescent green color. "Now. GO! Slow them down for me while I catch up!"
"Like, whoa, Yozie! Just why are we running?! We're shinobi!" Shiki called out to Yozakura.
"You know that even if we fight him in a Kekkai that the authorities will show up! If anything, we can lead him away from the more open, public areas! Besides. We can't let them take her!" Yozakura looked down at Rom, who was now close to unconscious. "Hold on, little one. I'll protect you!"
Yozakura looked back to see several creatures in their pursuit. Shiki gasped, noticing as 3 wolf-like monsters, two horsebirds with eggplant shaped puppets riding them, and a flying, red, plaid dolphin with leathery wings and a single horn all trailing behind. "Those were totes the same as what I fought before! Only… Yozie! We have to protect that kid!"
"Oh, so NOW you change your mind? We were protecting her from the beginning!"
"No we weren't! But she might have some answers! One of those creatures I fought before!" Shiki shouted as the girls continued to run through trees down bumpy dirt paths.
"So you think she's just good for info?! She's a child, not an asset! I will not let another child succumb to evil and neither should you!" Yozakura snapped.
"Like, Take a chill pill, Yozie. What has gotten into you?! You don't even know this kid!" Shiki glanced her a frown.
"I know her well enough to know an abandoned child WHEN I SEE ONE!" Yozakura yelled, the two girls exchanging glares when they looked back to see an energy ball that the Plaid Dolphin had shot, knocking them both aside. Shiki and Yozakura rolled at an angle from each other, the latter dropping Rom.
"Rom!" Yozakura started with a crawl and then a run as she quickly got on her feet, running over to the little girl as the other creatures began to circle them. Yozakura knelt down, holding tightly onto Rom's paralyzed body as she felt her blood boil. She glared viciously into the eyes of the horned, swirly blue wolves and puppet-like eggplants on their winged horses. "You… will not touch her!"
Just then, a swinging scythe engulfed in red energy seriously injuring one of the wolves and forcing another to step back. Shiki then ran up beside Yozakura. "You are such a mom, Yozie. But listen, we can settle our squabble later. We both wanna protect the kid and we both wanna know what the hell is goin' on! Right now, our hands are tied."
Yozakura gave a nod, placing Rom beside a small, natural bed of shrubs and mushrooms at the base of a tree. "Shinobi… Transformation!" Shiki and Yozakura let the light engulf their bodies as their Shinobi attire donned, Yozakura equipping her massive gun-powered gauntlets.
"Let's like, totally wreck these scrubs, Yozie!" Shiki smirked. Yozakura responded with a smiling nod. One of the Eggplant riders held out it's lance, it's horsebird mount charging. While Shiki leapt out of the way, Yozakura took the full force of it's charge but blocked it with her gauntlets, making sure she was in between it and Rom.
"Now it's my turn! Yozakura jumped upwards, and with a shot from her gauntlet, flew at the eggplant rider, smashing it off it's mount. But the moment she did, she found herself riding backwards on a now rampaging Horsebird. Finding her balance and turning around, Yozakura grabbed onto it's neck.
Shiki spun her scythe blades rapidly. After finishing off one already weakened wolf, she found herself on the defensive against the other 2 wolves and the other eggplant rider. Dammit! I can't get a hit in! Shiki tensed up as she tried to keep focus when suddenly, Yozakura forced the stampeding horsebird onto one of the other wolves and then fell herself into the other Eggplant Rider. Shiki found her moment: throwing up her hat, a dark torrent of bats battered the wolves and the dismounted horsebird. "Take this! Ku Soku ZIX!"
The other horsebird leaned down, biting Yozakura in the leg. Her painful scream echoed the area around. Yozakura gritted through the pain, uppercutting the horsebird and backing up on her feet as the Eggplant rider gripped it's lance, climbing back onto it's mount. Yozakura's muscles tightened, her left leg still stinging from the bite. "A Thousand Palm Fists of Paradise!" a straight punch from her gauntlet and a barrage of mini-explosions blasted the Eggplant and Horsebird down.
Just then Shiki was sent flying backwards from the large, plaid dolphin, sliding on her butt as she landed beside Yoza. "Shiki! Are you alright?"
"OOrmph. Yeah, my bad. I shoulda been tryin' to fight it instead of cuddle it."
"EH?!" Yozakura's eyes nearly fell out of her sockets. "What the fuckin' hell are ya talkin' bout Shiki?! Cuddle it!? And you think I'M losing mah mind?!"
"I mean, look at it, Shiki. Doesn't it just remind you of one of those cute little hand-knitted stuffed toys you always found in a Blue Button Shop? What with those cute, beady eyes and that little yarn mouth?" Shiki sighed blissfully, "I remember this little plaid bear I once got for Christmas from Mom and Dad. Oh, I miss you Mr. Snuggabumkins."
"K-k-kshsh… K-k-k-kSHk… Rrrghh!" Yozakura growled.
"Like, what ever is the matter, Yozie. Don't tell me you never had plaid dollies as a girl. Like, what kinda childhood was that?"
"Shkk-kkkkk, KRrrrghhgggggg." Yozakura started steaming.
"Aww, you poor thing. I mean, I would say give you that thingy, but you know. Kuh-reepy wings, that heinous armor, and that G-ross me out horn on it's head. I love you, Yozie, so Fer Shuh, I wouldn't get you something so un-rad. Oh and it's kinda living and… too big. I should totes ask Haruka for like a shrinking potion or somethin'." Shiki grinned with fond imaginations.
"Shiki." Yozakura shook with closed eyes, trying not to snap.
"Ooh. Maybe I can skin it and take home the material. But… does a plaid creature have blood and guts and whatnot? Because that is totally grody and it would be much better if it had cute little polyester fibers and cotton balls inside of it."
"NO! YOU MAY NOT SKIN IT!" Yozakura shouted startling both Shiki and the dolphin. "We are fighting for our lives… against strange creatures… trying to protect a child… I am injured… and YOU WANT TO GO KNITTING PLUSHIES!" Yozakura took a few breaths, "Especially when I have already tried to get you to try needlework in the past and you were like 'oh but muh designer brands.' Yur one tough egg to be crackin' sometimes Shiki!"
"So… I can't skin it?" Shiki asked in an innocent, child-like way.
"I DON'T CARE! Do what you want just help me fight this thi-…" Yozakura and Shiki just barely dodged as the plaid dolphin rammed itself towards them, smashing it's head into a tree. "Shiki… you can make me an entire plaid bedroom if you want… After this bastard IS DEAD!" Yozakura came down hard, punching the dolphin's plaid head repeatedly before it threw her off. Shiki tried coming at it from behind, but got whacked with an incoming tail. By now, it had unstuck itself from the tree, turning towards it's opponents.
"We can't fight it like this! Shiki! See if you can get it to charge at me!" Yozakura said.
"Alrighty, Yozie-bee." Shiki ran up and dashed around the dolphin, slashing as she went. "Yoo hoo! I'm over here now! Gotcha!" Each time the dolphin tried to attack, she jumped around it. Meanwhile Yozakura held her hands forward, as an orange ball of energy began to form in her gauntlets' palms.
"That oughtta do it! Oh Plush monster! Shiki's over here." Shiki waved, the dolphin began charging as she ran towards Yozakura. Shiki jumped at the last second. "Now, Yozie!"
"10,000 Palm Fists of Paradise HELL!" Yozakura unleashed the now fully charged energy orb which shredded the dolphin down the middle, as it vanished in a mist of purple pixels.
"Aaaw, it wasn't full of stuffin', like what a poser. At least it wasn't bloody guts." Shiki commented. Yozakura then looked back to where she had placed Rom only to find that she was missing.
"Rom!? Where'd she go!?" Yoza's heart began racing.
"Aww, is dis whatcha lookin for?" Trick grinned. Rom, though passed out, whimpered uncomfortably, wrapped up in his tongue.
"Eeeww, you are a total sicko. Like, put her down this instant!" Shiki folded her arms.
"No can do, sweetie. This little dear has caused me enough trouble. Children need their discipline you know." Trick replied with a chuckle. "Besides, you move a muscle and I'll squeeze the life outta her!"
"Let her go. If you must, lick me instead." Yozakura glared straight at him.
"Nah. Sorry, sweetie. Big knockers just don't really do it for me. But as a gentleman I appreciate the offer. It's awful noble of you."
"A gentleman you say, Mr. Trick was that your name? Meaning you'll keep your word of threat if we move?" Yozakura asked.
"But of course." He replied.
"Um, Yozie. Just what are you planning?" Shiki asked.
"Well then, Mr. Trick. You will be happy to know… That I don't need to move to SEND YOUR EVIL TO THE DEPTHS!" activating all the gunpowder in her right gauntlet, Yozakura sent it flying off her arm like a rocket, punching Trick in the side of the jaw and causing him to lose balance. At this, Yozakura ran forward, catching Rom before she hit the ground.
Trick regained balance. "Ya know, it's amazing something so heavy can fit onto such flimsy little arms. Which is exactly why… I wanna find out how Long it takes to BREAK THEM!"
Trick's voice echoed through the woods, making the trees tremble. With only one gauntlet, Yozakura gripped onto Rom, turning away from Trick while keeping a watchful glare on him, ready for whatever might come next.
Author's Note: I actually did not expect this chapter to go so long. But let me know what you guys think so far. any feedback is appreciated.