Chapter 2
As Ibuki walked through the tall grass of the Japanese wilderness, a warm wind picked up, blowing
sand and grit in her face.
"Damn sand. It burns my eyes," she complained while putting on her mask. It was just unfortunate
that it only covered up past her nose. Her eyes still had to stay open and uncovered.
Clouds rolled over the blue sky lazily as the ninja walked on. She began to hear the faint sound
of water. This thought alone made her throat ache. She had not eaten nor drunk anything since
leaving the dojo.
Ibuki licked her lips expectantly. Soon, she would come to the stream, cook and eat. Then, she would
take a long drink of water. Possibly, she would even set up camp there. For now, the sun was ready
to make its descent.
She walked for what seemed like forever. But finally, just as dusk began to settle, she found the
water sounds. Not only was the sound coming from a stream, but also from a HUGE waterfall and
river that made white rapids.
Ibuki nodded, quite satisfied with her finding. She set down her things and walked over to the
river. She stood over it, admiring its purity and cleanliness. He reflection appeared disfigured
and strange to her. But it all passed as her thirst became unbearable.
Instantly, she pulled off her mask and dunked her head in the cool, refreshing water. Her stomach
and throat sang with appraisal. She gulped the water greedily and when she was finally finished,
she wiped off her mouth and sighed. "Good," she said to herself. She then got up and walked to her
stuff. She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a pot and three sticks. She would create a fire
and cook the fish she would catch in the river here. The thought of eating soon made her stomach
growl. She rubbed it and walked to the raging river.
All across and down were stones. Large boulders that she could step on and stay on until the time
was right to catch the fish. She hopped onto one and made sure to step lightly. If she slipped, it
was bye bye Ibuki.
She jumped from one stone to another and kept it up until she found the perfect rock. She stood
still and quiet on it, waiting for the perfect moment.
Time passed slowly for her, but she kept her senses keen and her muscles ready to pounce on her
prey. Then, she caught movement just underneath the stone she stood upon. This was the moment she
had waited so patiently for. Slowly, she reached her hand and neared the water. Then, almost too
fast to see, she grabbed for the fish. It squirmed relentlessly in her grasp, trying to free
itself, but she would not allow it to escape. This was her food, she needed its meat.
Something was out of place though. Something about this fish wasn't right. It never really bothered
Ibuki at the time though. All she wanted to do was eat.
She hopped back from stone to stone, carrying a 10 pound fish with her. She landed at her spot and
plopped the fish on the ground. She then withdrew her katana and sliced its head off, stilling its
movements.
"There, rest in peace small animal," she said to the dead fish. She then went off to gather some
wood to build a fire.
The sun was almost gone now, and Ibuki didn't have near enough wood. She began to quicken her steps
and gather much more. She would have to spend time looking at the scenery on her way home to the
dojo.
Suddenly, the woman stopped in her tracks. She felt another ki. One that was not animal, it was
human.
She dropped the wood and pulled out her katana again. "All right! Whoever is here, show yourself
now!" she demanded.
No one appeared. She knew that they wouldn't.
Sighing, Ibuki sheathed the sword and piled up the wood in her arms again. She then started back
to the campsite.
As she started the fire and put the fish in the pot, she kept a watchful eye out for whatever was
watching her. She put the pot over the fire and waited for her supper. She decided to unravel
her sleeping bag and get her bed ready for sleep.
While doing so, she heard a rustle in the trees. Ibuki decided to pay it no mind. If the stalker
didn't think she heard, then mayhap it would come to her instead.
Checking the pot, Ibuki noted her supper was cooked. She place it in her bowl and blew on it. Since
all she had were her chopsticks, she would be eating the fish with her fingers tonight. But that
was all right to her. She was eating. And soon, she would be on her way again.
As she ate her food, she sighed. "You know, you watching me is getting extremely annoying. Why don't
you simply come down and we'll fight now?"
Just as she finished her words, a fighter jumped from the trees, screaming a battle cry.
Instatnly, Ibuki jumped out of the way of her attacker, leaving her bowl and food where it was. She
then took her sword and steadied herself. She observed her assaulter thoroughly.
It was a woman with white short hair and a tanned complexion. She was tall and had strange beaded
jewelery of bright colors. She wore a white top and white shorts.
"Who are you!" Ibuki demanded.
The woman paid no attention. She instatnly headed for the ninja and used her legs to attack.
Ibuki began to dodge, though had difficulty since this fighter was so fast. She finally rolled away
and lunged, punching the woman in the gut.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment as blood and spit flew from this strange warrior's mouth. She
gasped and fell to the ground.
Ibuki stood over her, pointing her katana at her throat. "Now, tell me again, who are you, and why
are you following me? Do that, and I'll let you live."
The woman glared and began to talk in a tongue Ibuki did not understand. But she did know where it
originated from.
The teenager sighed and discarded her sword back to the case tied to her pants. "Oh wonderful, a
Capoera warrior. Well, this is going to get me far."
As she walked away, the woman stood. "How did you know I am a Capoera?"
"Ah so you can speak english," Ibuki marveled. "Great! So now you can tell me why you were stalking
me."
She glared. "Tell me how you knew about my tribe first." she demanded.
"So, you want it your way. You must be a princess of the tribal king." Ibuki continued. She sighed,
"Okay, the reason I knew is becuase of your clothes. They're too short and revealing to be worn
around Japan. Only places like Africa, are those clothes worn.
"Two, your fighting technique. That's the Capeora fighting style. You use your legs an aweful lot
so I knew that anything from your upper mid-section and higher would be your weak spot. Now that
I've told you my secrets to success, answer my questions." Ibuki ordered.
The woman looked at Ibuki cautiously, she sighed and began. "My name is Elena. I am the Capeora
princess. I have followed you because I knew you were heading to the Street Fighting Tournament. I
do not know the way."
"Then why fight me?"
"I wanted to test my abilities. I guess I still need work." Elena admitted.
Ibuki nodded. "Hey, it wasn't that shabby. You kept up your attacks at a well used pace. If I hadn't
rolled at the opportunity I had, I would have lost."
Elena nodded, but did not look convinced. Ibuki sighed. "Look, if you're going to the tournament too,
you may as well stick with me. I mean, I don't have anyone to talk with or help me with catching
food, I could use a partner."
Slowly, the Capeoran princess brightened. She nodded. "All right. As long as you don't mind."
"Of course not. The only way I'll mind is if I don't get to finish my meal right now."
The two laughed and sat down together. Ibuki felt now, that her journey may not be so lonely...
As Ibuki walked through the tall grass of the Japanese wilderness, a warm wind picked up, blowing
sand and grit in her face.
"Damn sand. It burns my eyes," she complained while putting on her mask. It was just unfortunate
that it only covered up past her nose. Her eyes still had to stay open and uncovered.
Clouds rolled over the blue sky lazily as the ninja walked on. She began to hear the faint sound
of water. This thought alone made her throat ache. She had not eaten nor drunk anything since
leaving the dojo.
Ibuki licked her lips expectantly. Soon, she would come to the stream, cook and eat. Then, she would
take a long drink of water. Possibly, she would even set up camp there. For now, the sun was ready
to make its descent.
She walked for what seemed like forever. But finally, just as dusk began to settle, she found the
water sounds. Not only was the sound coming from a stream, but also from a HUGE waterfall and
river that made white rapids.
Ibuki nodded, quite satisfied with her finding. She set down her things and walked over to the
river. She stood over it, admiring its purity and cleanliness. He reflection appeared disfigured
and strange to her. But it all passed as her thirst became unbearable.
Instantly, she pulled off her mask and dunked her head in the cool, refreshing water. Her stomach
and throat sang with appraisal. She gulped the water greedily and when she was finally finished,
she wiped off her mouth and sighed. "Good," she said to herself. She then got up and walked to her
stuff. She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a pot and three sticks. She would create a fire
and cook the fish she would catch in the river here. The thought of eating soon made her stomach
growl. She rubbed it and walked to the raging river.
All across and down were stones. Large boulders that she could step on and stay on until the time
was right to catch the fish. She hopped onto one and made sure to step lightly. If she slipped, it
was bye bye Ibuki.
She jumped from one stone to another and kept it up until she found the perfect rock. She stood
still and quiet on it, waiting for the perfect moment.
Time passed slowly for her, but she kept her senses keen and her muscles ready to pounce on her
prey. Then, she caught movement just underneath the stone she stood upon. This was the moment she
had waited so patiently for. Slowly, she reached her hand and neared the water. Then, almost too
fast to see, she grabbed for the fish. It squirmed relentlessly in her grasp, trying to free
itself, but she would not allow it to escape. This was her food, she needed its meat.
Something was out of place though. Something about this fish wasn't right. It never really bothered
Ibuki at the time though. All she wanted to do was eat.
She hopped back from stone to stone, carrying a 10 pound fish with her. She landed at her spot and
plopped the fish on the ground. She then withdrew her katana and sliced its head off, stilling its
movements.
"There, rest in peace small animal," she said to the dead fish. She then went off to gather some
wood to build a fire.
The sun was almost gone now, and Ibuki didn't have near enough wood. She began to quicken her steps
and gather much more. She would have to spend time looking at the scenery on her way home to the
dojo.
Suddenly, the woman stopped in her tracks. She felt another ki. One that was not animal, it was
human.
She dropped the wood and pulled out her katana again. "All right! Whoever is here, show yourself
now!" she demanded.
No one appeared. She knew that they wouldn't.
Sighing, Ibuki sheathed the sword and piled up the wood in her arms again. She then started back
to the campsite.
As she started the fire and put the fish in the pot, she kept a watchful eye out for whatever was
watching her. She put the pot over the fire and waited for her supper. She decided to unravel
her sleeping bag and get her bed ready for sleep.
While doing so, she heard a rustle in the trees. Ibuki decided to pay it no mind. If the stalker
didn't think she heard, then mayhap it would come to her instead.
Checking the pot, Ibuki noted her supper was cooked. She place it in her bowl and blew on it. Since
all she had were her chopsticks, she would be eating the fish with her fingers tonight. But that
was all right to her. She was eating. And soon, she would be on her way again.
As she ate her food, she sighed. "You know, you watching me is getting extremely annoying. Why don't
you simply come down and we'll fight now?"
Just as she finished her words, a fighter jumped from the trees, screaming a battle cry.
Instatnly, Ibuki jumped out of the way of her attacker, leaving her bowl and food where it was. She
then took her sword and steadied herself. She observed her assaulter thoroughly.
It was a woman with white short hair and a tanned complexion. She was tall and had strange beaded
jewelery of bright colors. She wore a white top and white shorts.
"Who are you!" Ibuki demanded.
The woman paid no attention. She instatnly headed for the ninja and used her legs to attack.
Ibuki began to dodge, though had difficulty since this fighter was so fast. She finally rolled away
and lunged, punching the woman in the gut.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment as blood and spit flew from this strange warrior's mouth. She
gasped and fell to the ground.
Ibuki stood over her, pointing her katana at her throat. "Now, tell me again, who are you, and why
are you following me? Do that, and I'll let you live."
The woman glared and began to talk in a tongue Ibuki did not understand. But she did know where it
originated from.
The teenager sighed and discarded her sword back to the case tied to her pants. "Oh wonderful, a
Capoera warrior. Well, this is going to get me far."
As she walked away, the woman stood. "How did you know I am a Capoera?"
"Ah so you can speak english," Ibuki marveled. "Great! So now you can tell me why you were stalking
me."
She glared. "Tell me how you knew about my tribe first." she demanded.
"So, you want it your way. You must be a princess of the tribal king." Ibuki continued. She sighed,
"Okay, the reason I knew is becuase of your clothes. They're too short and revealing to be worn
around Japan. Only places like Africa, are those clothes worn.
"Two, your fighting technique. That's the Capeora fighting style. You use your legs an aweful lot
so I knew that anything from your upper mid-section and higher would be your weak spot. Now that
I've told you my secrets to success, answer my questions." Ibuki ordered.
The woman looked at Ibuki cautiously, she sighed and began. "My name is Elena. I am the Capeora
princess. I have followed you because I knew you were heading to the Street Fighting Tournament. I
do not know the way."
"Then why fight me?"
"I wanted to test my abilities. I guess I still need work." Elena admitted.
Ibuki nodded. "Hey, it wasn't that shabby. You kept up your attacks at a well used pace. If I hadn't
rolled at the opportunity I had, I would have lost."
Elena nodded, but did not look convinced. Ibuki sighed. "Look, if you're going to the tournament too,
you may as well stick with me. I mean, I don't have anyone to talk with or help me with catching
food, I could use a partner."
Slowly, the Capeoran princess brightened. She nodded. "All right. As long as you don't mind."
"Of course not. The only way I'll mind is if I don't get to finish my meal right now."
The two laughed and sat down together. Ibuki felt now, that her journey may not be so lonely...