Chapter Four- One Promise

"Hey, Ari?" Ressaiyu shook Ari rapidly, who was sleeping soundly under her silk pink covers.

"Hmm?...Yeah?" One of Ari's eyes opened and closed quickly due to the sun's rays streaming into the room from the window.

"Wake up! Because either we're training today, or going on our FIRST MISSION!!! Ha ha, yeah!" Ressaiyu jumped and down in excitement. "Say, have you seen Cinni? Can't find her anywhere."

"Huh?" Ari was fully awake now.

"Come on, get dressed," Ressaiyu ran out the room in a very clumsy, un-Azuma-like way. Must be the excitement. Ari thought.

Ari quickly dressed and ran to Cinni's room.

KNOCK! KNOCK!!!

"Cinni? Ari opened the sliding door, "Cinni?!" Ari looked around... No sign of Cinni to be traced... Nothing but Cinni's regular room arrangement, except for the flower hair clip that lay restlessly on the floor. That same hair clip that Ari let slip from her gentle grasp that soundless night.

Ari gasped and fell on her robed knees. Ari still hadn't changed from her pajamas. Her gaze quickly skimmed the scene that lay before her. She noticed that Cinni's PJs were thrown over her bed, and her Azuma gear and weapons were missing.

"She really left me..." Ari started to cry. As her tears, which were uncertain, stained her silk pink pajamas, Ari's blurred vision noticed the open window, "How crazy, she leaves her window open for any wandering ronin to sneak in and kill us all!"

Ari walked toward the window to shut it, but stopped. She didn't know what stopped her, but some unknown force made Ari climb out the window and onto the sun-lit balcony. Actually, this balcony wasn't really a balcony, but it could be used as one. It was a slope. By the way Gohda's dojo was designed, there was another balcony/slope high above the one on which Ari stood.

But Ari wasn't paying attention to the balcony were she was placed, but the fact that her best friend was...gone.

"Oh, I didn't mean what I said! I shouldn't have said it. You were intent on something you wished to fulfill: finding that third face. I want you to do that. I hope the spirits are guiding and protecting you. You have my blessing...I only wish I can apologize..."

"You just did," a startling voice made Ari spin around.

Ari shrieked with delight and thrusted toward Cinni, who was armed and ready for a mission. Ari couldn't help but smile, "I'm so gald you're here!"

"Me too. And I'm staying here," Cinni smiled also, "After most of my night spent in the woods I realized something important to me. Azuma Ninjas have no family... What's a third face to me?"

"No! Don't say that, Cinni! During these missions I just know you'll gain something concerning you and Ressaiyu's family. Maybe even that third face...Hee hee...right?" Ari exclaimed filled with tearful joy.

"Umhm...RIGHT!" Cinni's eyes widened, "Say! Don't we have a first mission to explore?!"

"Meet ya down there..." Ari laughed, "I certainly can't attend Lord Gohda's meeting dressed like this!"

Author's Note:

I really do appreciate the reviews so far! I know I'm just starting out, but if you are reading my story, I'd like many reviews to encourage me to keep going with my fanfic! In my rough copy notebook I already have about 100 pages written! I just need to type it up! Don't quit on me and I won't uz! R&R please!