Chapter 3

The Ninja's Wish

Once the door was firmly shut and locked behind him, Kurogane set Mokona down on the surface of his dresser and glared down at him as he tried to figure out how to best phrase his predicament. Mokona met his gaze nervously, silent for once as he waited to learn his fate. After a sufficiently awkward silence, Kurogane finally began to speak.

"You can contact the Dimensional Bitch any time you want, right?"

"You mean Yuuko?" Mokona asked. "Yes. Do you want Mokona to call her?"

"I don't really have any other choice," Kurogane grumbled.

Mokona closed his eyes obligingly, attempting to establish a connection with the witch who lived several worlds away. Kurogane folded his arms impatiently. After what seemed like forever, a thin beam of light shot from the jewel on Mokona's forehead, hit the wall and expanded to display the visual link. The witch's pale smirking face appeared as Mokona opened his eyes.

"Hiya Yuuko!" he chirped.

"Hello Mokona," the witch responded with a nod. "How is your journey going?"

"It's going great! We're in a place called Outo Country right now—"

"Hey, witch," Kurogane interrupted. "I'm the one who called."

Yuuko slid her long yellow eyes over to the impatient ninja, and they widened slightly, her smirk becoming a bit more pronounced as she looked at him. "Well, well. If it isn't the ninja. To what do I owe this…remarkable occasion?"

Kurogane found himself unable to meet her eyes as he mumbled "I have a request to make."

Yuuko's smile widened a little more. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I didn't catch that."

"I have a request to make, alright!" he snarled, finally turning his flaming scarlet eyes on her. "Would you just listen, dammit!"

Yuuko considered him for a moment. "Hmm…"

Kurogane's frown deepened. "What?"

"This request you're about to make…it's not for you, is it?" she guessed, finally looking as if she were going to be serious.

Kurogane was surprised but did his best not to let this register on his face. How did she know? Was she reading his mind? The ninja suppressed a shiver; what a creepy thought.

"By the look on your face, I'll assume I guessed correctly," Yuuko said. "Judging by the urgency you used to get my attention, I'd also guess that this request you're about to make… is for someone very special to you."

Kurogane continued to stare at her, dumbstruck. The witch folded her hands beneath her chin and leaned forward, some of her sleek black hair falling over her shoulder.

"State your request," she said, a slight smile returning to her face. "I am interested to see what you ask for."

Now that she was listening intently, the ninja found himself unable to voice that which he desired. It suddenly occurred to him how stupid his wish would sound and for a moment, he considered just forgetting about it…But the thought of how happy Fai would be made him swallow his pride for once.

"I need…"

Kurogane sighed and sank to the floor, holding the box in his hand. What a humiliating experience. When he had told her what he wanted, the witch had, as expected, taken a profound joy in mocking him for it. But her taunting was nothing to what he knew he would receive from Mokona. He opened his eyes and glared at the white creature.

"You better keep your mouth shut," the ninja warned. "And not a word to that damn wizard."

"Hee hee! Mokona's lips are sealed," he giggled.

The raven-haired warrior looked down at the green cardboard box in his hands and frowned. His precious magazine, gone…

"Kurogane traded his treasured magazine for Fai's birthday present," Mokona sighed dreamily "How sweet!"

Kurogane growled and carefully set the box on his dresser so that he could get his revenge on the little rodent without ruining its fragile contents. This whole ordeal had been a huge hassle. That dumb-ass magician had better appreciate this.