Shadows
Part 1
"The Promise,"
Note: This is a A.U. fic this fic takes place in a different time so the ducks have never really met.
Up in the snow-mountains in the remote regions of Puckworld were only a few lived in small villages at the top was a fortress below the fortress was the training grounds for the many trainee's that would become Royal Guards below the training grounds was a small village not too far from there was the town were all the villager would go into town to trade, or to buy food and other items some people choose to stay on the other side of the mountain away from civilisation there too was a training ground but for a different style from the Royal Guard the Guards were Samurai while the others trained in the art known as Ninjitsu the two were always constantly fighting with each other for as far back as their history went back
Four cloaked figures walked through the town the hood hid the figures face from sight the other three cloaked figures walked behind the smaller cloaked figure the smaller cloaked figure looked around at taking in the scenery around them as people were selling, haggling and trading supplies, fresh fruit, different kinds of food and different kinds of cloth each of from their stalls as they went around their daily routines
"Stay close kid," said the other cloaked figure
"Shintaro?" began the younger cloaked figure
"What is it kid?" replied the other cloaked figure "Is something the matter?"
"No I was just wondering... wondering why we are here?"
"We have to collect some supplies that's why," replied Shintaro, the smaller cloaked figure nodded in reply, suddenly the crowds around them went quiet as they separated apart clearing the streets the small cloaked figure looked around confused by what was going on "Hey kid look out!" called Shintaro as he pulled the small cloaked figure out of the way just as a hove of a horse came crashing down to the ground just where the small figure had been standing seconds ago the Royal guard glared down at the four cloaked figures
"Am sorry!" exclaimed the small cloaked figure
"Cut the kid some slack Shintaro she didn't know," said one of the others, she lowered her head
"You should watch your back kid you know that!" he snapped
"I said I was sorry," she sniffed lightly she looked up when a carriage passed by them a she noticed a someone peak out from behind a small curtain
"It's the Royal Guard," began the other one
"Not to mention the Empress," added the fourth one
"Saya take the kid," ordered Shintaro "Go take her home,"
"Hey Shintaro do you think that's wise I mean like come on there's a lot we've gotta get back to the village...?" questioned the fourth one
"No I don't, Takashi," stated Shintaro
"Come on," the crowds began to return to what they had been doing before
"I don't wanna go home!" complained the young girl
"Come on kid you know there's no changing Shintaro's mind when he's like this," sighed Saya, he glared at her Saya just shrugged "Lets go," the two of them began to walk down the street
"Shintaro do you think that was such a good idea you know Shinjitsu's forces have been more active than usual?" began Takashi
"They'll be fine let's just get the supplies and head back," sighed Shintaro as he quickened his pace they soon arrived at merchants place where a cart of goods were waiting for they handed over the money and began to head back
"Was that really the Empress?" asked the little girl
"Well it is possible or it could have been a decoy," replied Saya, she looked over to the young girl as she watched as she watched the child jumped onto a stone barrier of bridge stretching out her arms for balance she jumped into the air landing on the other side with ease without losing any balance, "Why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering," replied the child "I've never been to the city that's all,"
"Really?" questioned Saya
"Yeah," replied the child
"Hey kid did you hear that?" asked Saya looking over her shoulder, the child stopped in her tracks listening to see if could hear anything around her she looked over her shoulder
"Yeah I did," she replied suddenly she heard a twig snap "Over there!" suddenly without warning Saya threw something in the direction of the sound they heard someone cry out in pain she sprinted over to were the cry came from the child stayed back she quickly turned around jumping out the way just a sword hit the ground where she had been standing she growled lowly
"Hey come back here you stupid kid!" snapped the large Drake wearing armour
"Am not a stupid kid!" stated the child as she drew a Kodachi Sword from her belt and lunged forward at the Drake slashing him just below the knee cap he roared in anger as he stumbled to get his balance
"YOU BITCH!!" he roared as he chased after, Saya's eyes widened as she just managed to avoid the sword that came towards her face she quickly drew her sword and deflected the blade she ducked out of the as the blade came down on her for the second attack she then lunged forward running the sword threw the Drake that had attacked her she twisted it around in his stomach before pulling the blade from his stomach blood began spray out from the wound before he fell to the ground she growled before she went to help the child
"Shit where'd she go?" she thought out loud she looked around for the young child suddenly she heard a blood curdling scream she ran off in the direction of the scream when she got there she found the bloody corpse of the Drake that had chased after the child she looked up to see the child sitting on the ground loosely holding the Kodochi sword in her left hand the blade was covered in blood
"Saya!" she gasped, Saya ran over to the child she knelt down beside her
"Are you okay?" asked Saya looking the child over
"Yeah, are you?" replied the child
"Yeah am fine," she smiled as she nodded in reply "Come on let's get back its getting late..." they both got up and ran back to the village
It was just past midnight Saya was just about to go to bed when she heard footsteps on the roof of small house she lived in she walked out of the house she jumped onto the roof quietly she frowned seeing it was the kid
"Hey there... What are you doing up here?" asked Saya
"I couldn't sleep," replied the child
"Are feeling okay?" asked Saya
"No am fine," she replied "I just can't sleep am not as tired as I thought I was,"
"Still thinking about earlier?" she questioned, the child looked over her shoulder
"I guess so..." she sighed
"It hurts doesn't it your first always hurts the most to feel the blood of someone else's blood on your hands," explained Saya solemnly, she put a hand on the young girls shoulder trying to comfort the child, "Hey look if you want you can stay with me tonight okay...?" the young girl looked up at her slightly as she stood up
"I don't know," she replied softly as she lowered her head she balled up her hands tightly, Saya frowned slightly she let out a light chuckle "What?" questioned the young girl confused to as why Saya was laughing at her
"Its just I've never seen that side of you before..." she explained "You look so confused, you usually sure of what you want to do," she grew a bit concerned when she saw the sad look in the young girls eyes "Is something wrong?"
"Its just I... well everyone that's ever cared for me has always ended up dead... and its all my fault," she explained the last of her words dropped to a whisper "I don't want your blood on my hands too..." Saya caught the young girl just as she fell to her knees she wrapped her arms around the young child
"You don't have to worry kid am not going anywhere," whispered Saya into the child's ear
"I won't let you even promise that," replied the child just above a whisper, as she slowly closed her eyes before she fell asleep, Saya carefully pick the child up and jumped down from the rooftop she opened up the door to small home she lived in she closed the door behind her she walked into the bedroom she knelt down on the floor she pulled back the covers of the bed on the floor she lay the child down on the bed and covered her up she stroked the young girl's hair as she watched her carefully sleep for a few minutes before she went to get the spare bed she laid it out on the floor she pulled back the covers she took one last glance at the child
"I promise I won't let anything happen to you kid," she whispered before she closed her eyes to go to sleep
To Be Continued...
Note: Saya is pronounced like "Sai-ya", Ninjitsu is the art of the Ninja hence the word Ninjitsu, and a Kodachi is a small sword that is about 24 inches long, they usually come in pairs.
