Return Home
The girls make it to the next sector, the buildings in this area much higher as they gaze upon the castle walls that graze the outskirts of the city.
"Hey Natsumi, who lives in there anyway? Is that were your dad and sis live?" Natasha points to the top of the huge castle, being dark and shadowed as lightning strikes behind it to reveal itself better from the shadows.
"I don't know to tell the truth, but I didn't ever care either. Like they'd invite me in anyway." Natsumi shrugs a bit and continues to walk, putting her hands behind her head, looking up to the sky as the rain pours upon her face.
"And yet again you make a very good point." Natasha smiles a bit, shaking her head, "So where does this smith live?" Natsumi points her hand down at a small building where the smoke stand still burns.
"Right there. He's either fixing my Kodachis, or fixing my dinner."
"He does dinner for you too?" Natasha looks in shock at her friend, almost stopping to look in surprise.
"Well we usually have rice balls and tea." Natsumi sighs again and Natasha laughs. They continue to walk, making their way down the stairwell down towards the house, still chattering about weapons, food, and the best way to kill a man without anyone ever knowing. As they reach the house, Natsumi draws open the door.
"Shishihito, I'm home finally, and I got the powder you asked. for." Natsumi looks around the room, seeing it empty as the fire still burns brightly. She sees a broken sword, still heating in the boiling hot water, but it seems to have been there for hours. "Shishihito?" She walks inside as Natasha walks in.
"Are you sure he didn't leave or anything?"
"No, he really doesn't have a need to go anywhere, and he's to old to be walking around, especially at this hour in this kind of weather. He's not young anymore Natasha."
"Well excuse me for being confused." Natasha rolls her eyes as she helps in the search. Natsumi goes over to another sliding door, opening it.
"Shishihito?" As she gazes into the back room, she sees the old man slumped over on the floor. Or what's left of him. His head is missing, it being replaced by a long blade.
"Shishihito!!" She runs over to the corpse, seeing the damage done. "He was struck from behind, and it was to quickly for him to notice since there are no signs of struggle or defense."
"That's really sad." Natasha looks around the room, seeing the two-sheathed Kodachis on a desk, drawing both slightly. "He was able to finish these though. before his final breath."
"I'll give him a burial in the morning after the rain has dried. it will make it easier to dig the earth up." Natsumi grabs a cloth from the wall, laying it over his head as she takes the blade, throwing it in a pool of water. She then sits on her knees in front of the corpse, clasping her hands together and closing her eyes as she sits in a prayer position before it. "And I'm gonna find the son of a bitch who did this. there is no way that someone this dishonorable will get away with killing an old man with his back turned." Natasha puts the kodachis back down on the table, when she looks back up at the door. There is a long time of silence as they both remain still, Natasha raising a brow as she continues to look to the door.
"What the.?" Natasha scratches her head a bit, returning to a normal position, looking confused. Natsumi looks up from her seat, raising a brow also.
"Something wrong?"
"Yea. I thought I heard something." Natasha shakes her head, thinking it was just her imagination, but Natsumi rises from her seat, looking around the corner to see the open front door.
"You closed the front door right.?" Natsumi turns around, thumbing the hall to where the door is as she looks to Natasha.
"I'm sure I did Natsumi."
"That means someone's here. quickly." Natsumi rushes over to a blank wall, tapping on it lightly, and a secret door opens before her. She pulls the door open completely and allows Natasha to pass by her first. She then closes the secret panel quietly as she hears the soft footsteps outside the entrance to her hidden room. Carefully she climbs up a small latter, removing a ceiling panel to crawl on the cealing, but below the roof. She removes another one to look down at who entered the room they were just in.
"I know you are in here Natsumi." Her eyes open wide as she stairs at the man with the short silver hair, wearing an Azuma Ninja wardrobe and holding an Izayoi, a long scar slashed across one of his eyes, as his mouth is covered with a tight black cloth. Natsumi scurries back to the secret room, where Natasha still gazes upon all the secret ninja items lining the wall.
"You have a lot of stuff here." Natasha looks around to Natsumi, who stared to change out of her kimono, putting her own Azuma Ninja wardrobe on. "Who's here Natsumi.?"
"Shh. be as quiet as possible. It's Rikimaru. one of my fathers Azuma Ninja. And he's the best at his trade." Natsumi grabs a lot of special weapons from the wall, stuffing them in secret pockets in her clothing. She hears him outside the door, seeing the dead body, though continues to search. Rikimaru begins to tap on the walls for hallow spots, though Natsumi leans against the wall, as he taps against her secret panel the sound is normal since her body leans against it to stop the hallow sound.
"Well Rikimaru, I don't think it was Natsumi who could of done this, her kodachis are still here and they're fresh from the heating iron, which means they've just been fixed." Another voice echoes in the room, the same with Rikimaru, this voice being a woman's though, having a bit more life to her voice than her partner.
"Yes I see that Ayame. but we are still here to bring Princess Natsumi home." The two continue to search the rooms of the house.
"Are you sure they didn't leave?" Ayame asks him, though Natsumi keeping her spot on the door, in case.
"Their trails still show them inside. and I doubt that this room has a secret escape anywhere. if they left somewhere else we would of probably known." Rikimaru's voice is stern, showing he really does know what he's doing.
"Whatever you say Rikimaru. Well let us try this." Ayame draws some long throwing shuriken and she tosses them in a horizontal line across all the walls. Natsumi flinches at the oncoming blast, falling forward onto her face, creating the loud thud behind the door.
"Whoops. Natasha, run." Natsumi rushes up to her feet as she looks up in fear. Rikimaru elbows the wall, breaking it down seeing the two girls try to crawl out panels in the ceiling. He grabs Natsumi's foot, and pulls her down, her kicking and screaming to let her go.
"LET GO OF ME INSTANT RIKIMARU!!!!!" He holds her upsidown by her foot as she tries to get free of his grip. "I'm not going home Rikimaru! And that's final!"
"You don't have a choice in that Natsumi. And anyways. your father would probably like to know if you killed this innocent man." Rikimaru throws her over her shoulder as the two of them walk out, Ayame still having her kodachis though, and Natsumi kicking and screaming, saying she didn't kill him but no one listens. Natasha peaks from the top of the roof, sensing the danger of doing something really stupid, but follows them as silently as she possibly could.
***
About an hour later, our group of ninja still walk through the bamboo forest. Natsumi has finally given up, tapping her fingers on Rikimaru's back impatiently. "I didn't kill anyone innocent Rikimaru. can you put me down now?"
"We're under orders to return you at all costs." Rikimaru's voice is yet again stern and final, being totally monotone, but showing that he won't put her down at all.
"Figures. why does dad want me back now?" Natsumi looks back to Ayame, looking to answers from her since Ayame is a bit more talkative than her partner.
"We've found traces that a secret enemy is after your father and the whole family. They're trying to find something that you own."
"I own a lot of stuff Ayame."
"They're looking for a jewel." Ayame finally sets her eyes on Natsumi, watching as the young girls eyes open wide in surprise, but fear.
"But why would they want that.?"
"There is a legend that speaks of three jewels: The jewel of earth, the jewel of virtue, and the jewel of heaven. This evil already has hold of the jewel of earth, and seeks the jewel of virtue that your father supposedly owns. Unfortunately, you are the only person that knows where the stone is hidden."
"Yea. I know where it is." Natsumi sighs a bit, laying her head on Rikimaru's back, stopping her tapping.
"Good. now can you please tell your friend to stop following us?" Rikimaru looks behind them a bit, as well as Ayame, and Natsumi looks up behind them, seeing Natasha's kimono dash behind a thicket of bamboo bushes.
"Come on out Natasha! They won't kill you!" Natsumi sighs a bit, resting her head up to see Natasha peak out from her really stupid hiding spot.
"I'm trying to be stealthy here Natsumi." Natasha whispers a bit, her cheeks fuming red in anger and embarrassment.
"Oh sorry. But it's kind of hard to be stealthy around Azuma Ninja." Natsumi shakes her head a bit, but having a smirk on her face, watching as Natasha runs up to the group.
"So where are you guys kidnapping Natsumi too?" Natasha looks to Rikimaru, whose face did not change at all.
"We're not kidnapping, we're returning her home." His voice that time seemed aggravated that time, though keeping his face forward to the path.
"I don't want to go home!" Natsumi screams a bit, slamming her fist onto his back, but Rikimaru throws her up a bit to shut her up. Natsumi sighs, taping her fingers against his back yet again, "I'm going to kill both of you when I get my Kodachis back."
"Whatever you say Princess Natsumi." Ayame says, laying her hands behind her head as she sighs a bit.
"Can I at least walk?" Natsumi gives Ayame innocent eyes and a puppy dog face, her tone being sweet and innocent as well. Though both Rikimaru and Ayame say no in deep commanding voices. Natsumi sighs as Natasha sweatdrops. To push her luck further she dares to ask the one question to get yelled at.
"Are we there yet.?"
"NO!!!!" Both Rikimaru and Ayame scream loudly, shutting up Natsumi right away as Natasha sighs.
***
After another hour of walking, the group comes upon a great castle, not as high as the Amagai castle that was by the Ronin Village, but is just as fancy, and just as great for an ancient Japanese castle.
"Ayame. if I never steal your kodachis again will you please make Rikimaru put me down?" Natsumi begs just a bit, blushing in embarrassment but can't stand being in that position any longer.
"Not a chance Natsumi." Ayame shakes her head to further the comment, Natsumi sighs loudly once again.
"Come on. can you please just put me down Rikimaru?" Natsumi looks over to Rikimaru, trying to see if he would, but he doesn't say a word, of course he wouldn't, nor does he make a motion to be putting her back on her feet any time soon.
"My life is a living nightmare. and I have two demons to prove it." Natsumi eyes Ayame and Rikimaru, though both ignore the death glare she gives both of them.
"Well lets think of the good side Natsumi, we get to have real food, a real nice futon, and probably as much soki as we can imagine." Natasha grins to Natsumi, giving her a slight wink from the comment she just made. Natsumi blinks a few times, looking up.
"You have a very good point there." Natsumi looks back, giving the same grin to her friend, "You truly are my best friend Natasha." Natasha smirks a bit, though the two ninja try to ignore them both. Rikimaru carries Natsumi inside first, Ayame following, and Natasha following her. He leads the group into the center of the castle, where the garden is, many of Gohda's guards bowing to them and welcoming Natsumi back, though she doesn't want to be back. As they reach the garden, Rikimaru puts Natsumi back on her feet, though Ayame and him keep her sort of surrounded in case she tries to escape. They walk into the garden, seeing her father sitting on the stones while reading a parchment by a small fire. He looks up to see his daughter standing, and stands up himself, but instead of hugging her and welcoming her back also, he blows his top, screaming at the top of his lungs of how Natsumi shouldn't run away, going on and on about how irresponsible she's been and how she's going to regret every last bit of it.
"I have good news father." Natsumi raises a finger, trying to keep him from screaming anymore and blowing out her eardrumbs.
"And what might that be Natsumi!?" Her father screams, shoving his face in hers.
"I found a friend." Natsumi steps aside, showing her father the girl standing behind her, Natasha bowing to Lord Gohda.
"And why should I be happy about this?" He stands back up tall, raising a brow to his daughter as he crosses his arms, tapping his foot rapidly.
"Because I finally have someone to talk to. the real reason I left because you kept me secluded in my room, and I had no friends, no one to talk to. The guards were real nice, but whom do you talk to when you reach the point of woman hood?" Everyone stands there in shock at her last comment.
"Why. didn't you just ask Ayame.?" Gohda coughs a few times, his voice shaky from her comment.
"How often is Ayame here at the castle father.?" Natsumi tries to look innocent as she raises a slight hand, though cowering in fear that her father might burst again.
"I see your point Natsumi. I guess there was some good out of you leaving home." He goes up to her finally and takes her into his arms, "I am very glad to see you safe and sound my child. your sister has been worried sick about you also. and so have I." Natsumi smiles as she hugs her father back, mostly being glad cause the lecturing has stopped. They finally release and Gohda sits down with her. "Ayame, Rikimaru, I would like to talk alone with my daughter."
"Yes my lord." Rikimaru gives Gohda a bow, turning about.
"Of course. Come on Rikimaru, we should keep guard out front." The two of them exit, but Natasha stays, having a sweatdrop and being totally embarrassed from being the lost one.
"Um. where's your room Natsumi. I'll just stay there till you're done here."
"All right Natasha. Just ask one of the guards to show you there, and tell them you're with me and they will be glad to help." Natasha nods and walks out of the garden, closing the sliding door behind her.
"So what's going on father?"
"It seems that there is a plot being made by the man named Tenrai to summon the three jewels of power." Gohda's voice becomes very stern, and serious, unlike before, not blasting and loud, though more serious than before.
"The jewel of heaven, earth, and virtue..."
"And all three jewels bring the ultamite wisdom and power, you know of this already Natsumi."
"Yes of course. but. how do they know that we have virtue?" Natsumi looks up to her father, fear filling her eyes a bit, as much as the confusion in her face.
"They believe that I am the holder of the jewel, but do not know that you are the true knower of the location. I thought it would be best if you were to stay here, so you would be close to protecting the jewel." He puts his hand on her shoulder, "I also know that you have been training during your travels, and I saw the double blade your friend was holding. Is she a warrior also?"
"Yes she is father. I do not know where or when she was taught, but she has great skill in using the double blade".
"As you are with Kodachis?" Natsumi nods, wondering how her father knows so much. "Ayame and Rikimaru have been keeping an eye on you ever since you left. In case you were wondering"
"What!?" Natsumi almost falls back from what he had just said, looking even more surprised than ever.
"Yes, they knew where you were the whole time, that is why I haven't asked for you to return till now, I knew that you were fine on your own."
"Then. then what was all that yelling about?"
"I was either going to lecture you now or later. What you did was wrong and it could of gotten yourself in a lot of danger, but I know that you did mean well in what you did. I am to over protective of you, but I have my reasons to be very demanding from you and your sister."
"I understand father. May I be excused now?" Natsumi raises a finger a bit, pointing over to her room, though still seeming innocent to be excused from further lectures.
"Yes you may. I want you to be very careful about your actions now Natsumi, your life is in danger as well as mine."
"I will keep my guard up father, don't worry about me, worry about yourself as well." Natsumi stands, bowing to her father before exiting through the same door Natasha left through.
Minutes later she arrives at the door of her room, sliding it open, seeing Natasha with an open bottle of soki beside her, a dish filled with it in her hands. "Well welcome back Natsumi!"
"I see you found my secret stash of soki. Did you get drunk without me?"
"Nah! I'm close, but I haven't finished yet so don't worry, I didn't really start without you!"
"Riiiight. pass me a dish would ya?" Natasha fills another clay dish full of the soki, and passes it over to Natsumi. Natsumi takes the dish and drinks the whole thing down.
"Nothing like a glass of soki when you're life is in danger because you hold a jewel that is the key to the ultimate power. Hit me again Natasha." Natasha pours some more into Natsumi's dish as she pours more into her own.
"So thaaats what's going on?"
"Yea. I know where the Jewel of Virtue is and the whole family is in grave danger. What else is new?"
"Not much I guess." The two laugh a big and drink some more.
"Come on; let's go get some fresh air." Natsumi stands and climes up a cabinet attacked to the wall, hitting the panel above them, and pushes up opening the secret slot to the roof. Natasha hands her the bottles of soki and she climbs up the shelves like a ladder onto the roof, Natasha following right behind her.
"Ahhhh, great night to be drinking, don't you think?" Natsumi pours another dish, and drinks that down.
"You can say that again Natsumi."
"Lets just hope that my dad doesn't yell at me for getting drunk." Natsumi pours another dish for Natasha and herself, letting out a hiccup as her cheeks turn red, Natasha's already totally red. They talk about boys, their future, being drunk, and who could kill an enemy faster, though delaying any thought, of the dangers that lay before the both of them.
***To Be Continued***
The girls make it to the next sector, the buildings in this area much higher as they gaze upon the castle walls that graze the outskirts of the city.
"Hey Natsumi, who lives in there anyway? Is that were your dad and sis live?" Natasha points to the top of the huge castle, being dark and shadowed as lightning strikes behind it to reveal itself better from the shadows.
"I don't know to tell the truth, but I didn't ever care either. Like they'd invite me in anyway." Natsumi shrugs a bit and continues to walk, putting her hands behind her head, looking up to the sky as the rain pours upon her face.
"And yet again you make a very good point." Natasha smiles a bit, shaking her head, "So where does this smith live?" Natsumi points her hand down at a small building where the smoke stand still burns.
"Right there. He's either fixing my Kodachis, or fixing my dinner."
"He does dinner for you too?" Natasha looks in shock at her friend, almost stopping to look in surprise.
"Well we usually have rice balls and tea." Natsumi sighs again and Natasha laughs. They continue to walk, making their way down the stairwell down towards the house, still chattering about weapons, food, and the best way to kill a man without anyone ever knowing. As they reach the house, Natsumi draws open the door.
"Shishihito, I'm home finally, and I got the powder you asked. for." Natsumi looks around the room, seeing it empty as the fire still burns brightly. She sees a broken sword, still heating in the boiling hot water, but it seems to have been there for hours. "Shishihito?" She walks inside as Natasha walks in.
"Are you sure he didn't leave or anything?"
"No, he really doesn't have a need to go anywhere, and he's to old to be walking around, especially at this hour in this kind of weather. He's not young anymore Natasha."
"Well excuse me for being confused." Natasha rolls her eyes as she helps in the search. Natsumi goes over to another sliding door, opening it.
"Shishihito?" As she gazes into the back room, she sees the old man slumped over on the floor. Or what's left of him. His head is missing, it being replaced by a long blade.
"Shishihito!!" She runs over to the corpse, seeing the damage done. "He was struck from behind, and it was to quickly for him to notice since there are no signs of struggle or defense."
"That's really sad." Natasha looks around the room, seeing the two-sheathed Kodachis on a desk, drawing both slightly. "He was able to finish these though. before his final breath."
"I'll give him a burial in the morning after the rain has dried. it will make it easier to dig the earth up." Natsumi grabs a cloth from the wall, laying it over his head as she takes the blade, throwing it in a pool of water. She then sits on her knees in front of the corpse, clasping her hands together and closing her eyes as she sits in a prayer position before it. "And I'm gonna find the son of a bitch who did this. there is no way that someone this dishonorable will get away with killing an old man with his back turned." Natasha puts the kodachis back down on the table, when she looks back up at the door. There is a long time of silence as they both remain still, Natasha raising a brow as she continues to look to the door.
"What the.?" Natasha scratches her head a bit, returning to a normal position, looking confused. Natsumi looks up from her seat, raising a brow also.
"Something wrong?"
"Yea. I thought I heard something." Natasha shakes her head, thinking it was just her imagination, but Natsumi rises from her seat, looking around the corner to see the open front door.
"You closed the front door right.?" Natsumi turns around, thumbing the hall to where the door is as she looks to Natasha.
"I'm sure I did Natsumi."
"That means someone's here. quickly." Natsumi rushes over to a blank wall, tapping on it lightly, and a secret door opens before her. She pulls the door open completely and allows Natasha to pass by her first. She then closes the secret panel quietly as she hears the soft footsteps outside the entrance to her hidden room. Carefully she climbs up a small latter, removing a ceiling panel to crawl on the cealing, but below the roof. She removes another one to look down at who entered the room they were just in.
"I know you are in here Natsumi." Her eyes open wide as she stairs at the man with the short silver hair, wearing an Azuma Ninja wardrobe and holding an Izayoi, a long scar slashed across one of his eyes, as his mouth is covered with a tight black cloth. Natsumi scurries back to the secret room, where Natasha still gazes upon all the secret ninja items lining the wall.
"You have a lot of stuff here." Natasha looks around to Natsumi, who stared to change out of her kimono, putting her own Azuma Ninja wardrobe on. "Who's here Natsumi.?"
"Shh. be as quiet as possible. It's Rikimaru. one of my fathers Azuma Ninja. And he's the best at his trade." Natsumi grabs a lot of special weapons from the wall, stuffing them in secret pockets in her clothing. She hears him outside the door, seeing the dead body, though continues to search. Rikimaru begins to tap on the walls for hallow spots, though Natsumi leans against the wall, as he taps against her secret panel the sound is normal since her body leans against it to stop the hallow sound.
"Well Rikimaru, I don't think it was Natsumi who could of done this, her kodachis are still here and they're fresh from the heating iron, which means they've just been fixed." Another voice echoes in the room, the same with Rikimaru, this voice being a woman's though, having a bit more life to her voice than her partner.
"Yes I see that Ayame. but we are still here to bring Princess Natsumi home." The two continue to search the rooms of the house.
"Are you sure they didn't leave?" Ayame asks him, though Natsumi keeping her spot on the door, in case.
"Their trails still show them inside. and I doubt that this room has a secret escape anywhere. if they left somewhere else we would of probably known." Rikimaru's voice is stern, showing he really does know what he's doing.
"Whatever you say Rikimaru. Well let us try this." Ayame draws some long throwing shuriken and she tosses them in a horizontal line across all the walls. Natsumi flinches at the oncoming blast, falling forward onto her face, creating the loud thud behind the door.
"Whoops. Natasha, run." Natsumi rushes up to her feet as she looks up in fear. Rikimaru elbows the wall, breaking it down seeing the two girls try to crawl out panels in the ceiling. He grabs Natsumi's foot, and pulls her down, her kicking and screaming to let her go.
"LET GO OF ME INSTANT RIKIMARU!!!!!" He holds her upsidown by her foot as she tries to get free of his grip. "I'm not going home Rikimaru! And that's final!"
"You don't have a choice in that Natsumi. And anyways. your father would probably like to know if you killed this innocent man." Rikimaru throws her over her shoulder as the two of them walk out, Ayame still having her kodachis though, and Natsumi kicking and screaming, saying she didn't kill him but no one listens. Natasha peaks from the top of the roof, sensing the danger of doing something really stupid, but follows them as silently as she possibly could.
***
About an hour later, our group of ninja still walk through the bamboo forest. Natsumi has finally given up, tapping her fingers on Rikimaru's back impatiently. "I didn't kill anyone innocent Rikimaru. can you put me down now?"
"We're under orders to return you at all costs." Rikimaru's voice is yet again stern and final, being totally monotone, but showing that he won't put her down at all.
"Figures. why does dad want me back now?" Natsumi looks back to Ayame, looking to answers from her since Ayame is a bit more talkative than her partner.
"We've found traces that a secret enemy is after your father and the whole family. They're trying to find something that you own."
"I own a lot of stuff Ayame."
"They're looking for a jewel." Ayame finally sets her eyes on Natsumi, watching as the young girls eyes open wide in surprise, but fear.
"But why would they want that.?"
"There is a legend that speaks of three jewels: The jewel of earth, the jewel of virtue, and the jewel of heaven. This evil already has hold of the jewel of earth, and seeks the jewel of virtue that your father supposedly owns. Unfortunately, you are the only person that knows where the stone is hidden."
"Yea. I know where it is." Natsumi sighs a bit, laying her head on Rikimaru's back, stopping her tapping.
"Good. now can you please tell your friend to stop following us?" Rikimaru looks behind them a bit, as well as Ayame, and Natsumi looks up behind them, seeing Natasha's kimono dash behind a thicket of bamboo bushes.
"Come on out Natasha! They won't kill you!" Natsumi sighs a bit, resting her head up to see Natasha peak out from her really stupid hiding spot.
"I'm trying to be stealthy here Natsumi." Natasha whispers a bit, her cheeks fuming red in anger and embarrassment.
"Oh sorry. But it's kind of hard to be stealthy around Azuma Ninja." Natsumi shakes her head a bit, but having a smirk on her face, watching as Natasha runs up to the group.
"So where are you guys kidnapping Natsumi too?" Natasha looks to Rikimaru, whose face did not change at all.
"We're not kidnapping, we're returning her home." His voice that time seemed aggravated that time, though keeping his face forward to the path.
"I don't want to go home!" Natsumi screams a bit, slamming her fist onto his back, but Rikimaru throws her up a bit to shut her up. Natsumi sighs, taping her fingers against his back yet again, "I'm going to kill both of you when I get my Kodachis back."
"Whatever you say Princess Natsumi." Ayame says, laying her hands behind her head as she sighs a bit.
"Can I at least walk?" Natsumi gives Ayame innocent eyes and a puppy dog face, her tone being sweet and innocent as well. Though both Rikimaru and Ayame say no in deep commanding voices. Natsumi sighs as Natasha sweatdrops. To push her luck further she dares to ask the one question to get yelled at.
"Are we there yet.?"
"NO!!!!" Both Rikimaru and Ayame scream loudly, shutting up Natsumi right away as Natasha sighs.
***
After another hour of walking, the group comes upon a great castle, not as high as the Amagai castle that was by the Ronin Village, but is just as fancy, and just as great for an ancient Japanese castle.
"Ayame. if I never steal your kodachis again will you please make Rikimaru put me down?" Natsumi begs just a bit, blushing in embarrassment but can't stand being in that position any longer.
"Not a chance Natsumi." Ayame shakes her head to further the comment, Natsumi sighs loudly once again.
"Come on. can you please just put me down Rikimaru?" Natsumi looks over to Rikimaru, trying to see if he would, but he doesn't say a word, of course he wouldn't, nor does he make a motion to be putting her back on her feet any time soon.
"My life is a living nightmare. and I have two demons to prove it." Natsumi eyes Ayame and Rikimaru, though both ignore the death glare she gives both of them.
"Well lets think of the good side Natsumi, we get to have real food, a real nice futon, and probably as much soki as we can imagine." Natasha grins to Natsumi, giving her a slight wink from the comment she just made. Natsumi blinks a few times, looking up.
"You have a very good point there." Natsumi looks back, giving the same grin to her friend, "You truly are my best friend Natasha." Natasha smirks a bit, though the two ninja try to ignore them both. Rikimaru carries Natsumi inside first, Ayame following, and Natasha following her. He leads the group into the center of the castle, where the garden is, many of Gohda's guards bowing to them and welcoming Natsumi back, though she doesn't want to be back. As they reach the garden, Rikimaru puts Natsumi back on her feet, though Ayame and him keep her sort of surrounded in case she tries to escape. They walk into the garden, seeing her father sitting on the stones while reading a parchment by a small fire. He looks up to see his daughter standing, and stands up himself, but instead of hugging her and welcoming her back also, he blows his top, screaming at the top of his lungs of how Natsumi shouldn't run away, going on and on about how irresponsible she's been and how she's going to regret every last bit of it.
"I have good news father." Natsumi raises a finger, trying to keep him from screaming anymore and blowing out her eardrumbs.
"And what might that be Natsumi!?" Her father screams, shoving his face in hers.
"I found a friend." Natsumi steps aside, showing her father the girl standing behind her, Natasha bowing to Lord Gohda.
"And why should I be happy about this?" He stands back up tall, raising a brow to his daughter as he crosses his arms, tapping his foot rapidly.
"Because I finally have someone to talk to. the real reason I left because you kept me secluded in my room, and I had no friends, no one to talk to. The guards were real nice, but whom do you talk to when you reach the point of woman hood?" Everyone stands there in shock at her last comment.
"Why. didn't you just ask Ayame.?" Gohda coughs a few times, his voice shaky from her comment.
"How often is Ayame here at the castle father.?" Natsumi tries to look innocent as she raises a slight hand, though cowering in fear that her father might burst again.
"I see your point Natsumi. I guess there was some good out of you leaving home." He goes up to her finally and takes her into his arms, "I am very glad to see you safe and sound my child. your sister has been worried sick about you also. and so have I." Natsumi smiles as she hugs her father back, mostly being glad cause the lecturing has stopped. They finally release and Gohda sits down with her. "Ayame, Rikimaru, I would like to talk alone with my daughter."
"Yes my lord." Rikimaru gives Gohda a bow, turning about.
"Of course. Come on Rikimaru, we should keep guard out front." The two of them exit, but Natasha stays, having a sweatdrop and being totally embarrassed from being the lost one.
"Um. where's your room Natsumi. I'll just stay there till you're done here."
"All right Natasha. Just ask one of the guards to show you there, and tell them you're with me and they will be glad to help." Natasha nods and walks out of the garden, closing the sliding door behind her.
"So what's going on father?"
"It seems that there is a plot being made by the man named Tenrai to summon the three jewels of power." Gohda's voice becomes very stern, and serious, unlike before, not blasting and loud, though more serious than before.
"The jewel of heaven, earth, and virtue..."
"And all three jewels bring the ultamite wisdom and power, you know of this already Natsumi."
"Yes of course. but. how do they know that we have virtue?" Natsumi looks up to her father, fear filling her eyes a bit, as much as the confusion in her face.
"They believe that I am the holder of the jewel, but do not know that you are the true knower of the location. I thought it would be best if you were to stay here, so you would be close to protecting the jewel." He puts his hand on her shoulder, "I also know that you have been training during your travels, and I saw the double blade your friend was holding. Is she a warrior also?"
"Yes she is father. I do not know where or when she was taught, but she has great skill in using the double blade".
"As you are with Kodachis?" Natsumi nods, wondering how her father knows so much. "Ayame and Rikimaru have been keeping an eye on you ever since you left. In case you were wondering"
"What!?" Natsumi almost falls back from what he had just said, looking even more surprised than ever.
"Yes, they knew where you were the whole time, that is why I haven't asked for you to return till now, I knew that you were fine on your own."
"Then. then what was all that yelling about?"
"I was either going to lecture you now or later. What you did was wrong and it could of gotten yourself in a lot of danger, but I know that you did mean well in what you did. I am to over protective of you, but I have my reasons to be very demanding from you and your sister."
"I understand father. May I be excused now?" Natsumi raises a finger a bit, pointing over to her room, though still seeming innocent to be excused from further lectures.
"Yes you may. I want you to be very careful about your actions now Natsumi, your life is in danger as well as mine."
"I will keep my guard up father, don't worry about me, worry about yourself as well." Natsumi stands, bowing to her father before exiting through the same door Natasha left through.
Minutes later she arrives at the door of her room, sliding it open, seeing Natasha with an open bottle of soki beside her, a dish filled with it in her hands. "Well welcome back Natsumi!"
"I see you found my secret stash of soki. Did you get drunk without me?"
"Nah! I'm close, but I haven't finished yet so don't worry, I didn't really start without you!"
"Riiiight. pass me a dish would ya?" Natasha fills another clay dish full of the soki, and passes it over to Natsumi. Natsumi takes the dish and drinks the whole thing down.
"Nothing like a glass of soki when you're life is in danger because you hold a jewel that is the key to the ultimate power. Hit me again Natasha." Natasha pours some more into Natsumi's dish as she pours more into her own.
"So thaaats what's going on?"
"Yea. I know where the Jewel of Virtue is and the whole family is in grave danger. What else is new?"
"Not much I guess." The two laugh a big and drink some more.
"Come on; let's go get some fresh air." Natsumi stands and climes up a cabinet attacked to the wall, hitting the panel above them, and pushes up opening the secret slot to the roof. Natasha hands her the bottles of soki and she climbs up the shelves like a ladder onto the roof, Natasha following right behind her.
"Ahhhh, great night to be drinking, don't you think?" Natsumi pours another dish, and drinks that down.
"You can say that again Natsumi."
"Lets just hope that my dad doesn't yell at me for getting drunk." Natsumi pours another dish for Natasha and herself, letting out a hiccup as her cheeks turn red, Natasha's already totally red. They talk about boys, their future, being drunk, and who could kill an enemy faster, though delaying any thought, of the dangers that lay before the both of them.
***To Be Continued***