Millefiori

Chapter 3

The movie night had long since ended. The moon illuminated the street cloaked in darkness, casting shadows among every tree, shrub, or ledge. Most everything was silent, as all were asleep.

The slight 'Tp, Tp' of footsteps broke the silent spell though. A dark figure stopped in front of a house- Yumiko's. With some slight rustling, it stepped up to the window to the left of the doorway.

The window rattled and squeaked as it opened. Cursing, the stranger muttered something about 'having to oil it' before jumping into the room. Sliding the window shut behind him, eyes glimmered in the darkness, used to seeing in the dark. Clad in black, tall stature, and flat chest, the large form could be distinguished as a man. He began to walk to the sleeping form on the bed.

"Yumiko." The man shook her insistently. "Wake up." She mumbled something and turned over. Frustrated he, shook her harder, even slapped her face lightly.

She moaned and flapped her hands to try and deter him. "I don't want to finish my essay… It's due Monday anyway…"

"You didn't finish your essay!" He growled, and pulled the blanket off so that she fell off the bed.

"What the hell!" She sat up, growling, sleepy eyes half open. "Who pushed me off the bed!" Her voice was cracked and unused as she yelled at him. "It's not even light out!"

"Yumiko!" the man said sharply. "Stop joking around!"

Yumiko actually looked at the figure, examining him. "Oh, hey Takeo. You are allowed to wake me up at indecent times."

"I'm going to leave you alone here for awhile." The man drew back his hood. Black hair framed his tanned face, though its true roots were a bloody crimson; a stubbly red beard also covered his face. Dark green eyes, the color so like Yumiko's hair, glared at her. He towered over her, his height 6' 5". His muscled body stood tensely and ready.

Her eyes widened, and she rubbed them multiple times to rid them of more sleep. "Why? Is someone onto you?"

"Perhaps my reputation is getting ahead of my abilities, but someone is onto me." He motioned for her to follow him as he stepped out of the hall and into his room after climbing the stairs. "I'm going to have to try and lose him. He's quite good- managed to follow me from my last two jobs."

"When will you be back?"

He unrolled a pack and started to stuff some yen in. "Hard to say. If his abilities are what I think they are, then a week to a week and a half."

"Will you be able… to come to my graduation…?"

He stopped. "Do you want me to come?"

"I… never mind- it doesn't matter." She punched him lightly on the arm. "What does matter is that you're going to be there to train me for volleyball. I'm going to get on varsity next season."

He smiled, catching her fist. "I never had a doubt." He turned back to packing, stuffing a knife into it as well. "But if your punch form is like that, then I better send you to Roka's house."

"What!"

He grinned. "Joking. But if you need his help, I want you to go to him. Though you shouldn't need to; there's money on the shelf- I made sure it wasn't rigged." Roka was a friend of Takeo's, who checked up on her and would be there if she needed help when her guardian was gone. He was very close to both of them, and was one of the few who knew about what Takeo did when gone. "Get me some hardtack."

She ran to the kitchen and did as he told, handing it over. He accepted it, putting it in before rolling the pack up. "Just tell everyone I'm away on a business trip. If they ask when I'm coming back, tell them it will be awhile, and you forgot the exact date. Don't tell anyone any personal information!"

"But-"

"No buts or whys! Do you understand? I need to go as quickly as possible!"

"I do, but… are you going to Hokkaido?"

He touched her shoulder gently. "Are you still angry at them?"

"No… I suppose not…"

"They did what was better for you. You would not have survived the training."

"I survived yours."

"Yes, well…"

"Ah, they can't be that bad if they spawned you."

"Such respect for your elders, especially your Guardian." He ruffled her hair affectionately. "Get me my brew." He meant his special tea that only he allowed himself to drink. She obeyed; he heard her shuffling around downstairs in the cabinets looking for it.

"Takeo." A male voice- he turned.

"Touya." He nodded in acknowledgement. "Did you do anything to Yumiko?" he asked bluntly. "You would have to pay in blood if you happened to dirty her."

The ice apparition blushed. "I would do no such thing- Yumiko is in no such relationship with me. But where were you? She needs to be guarded more carefully now."

"As her Guardian, I take my responsibility seriously in watching over her. I hope to lead my tracker away from Yumiko, and she will find safety in my absence.

"True enough." His blue eyes bored into Takeo's dark ones.

"My friend his watching her, but there are some places he cannot go. Will you help keep her safe?"

"Jin and I will try, to the extent our powers can take us," Touya replied evenly. "And stay alive. If you die, Yumiko will be in a mess."

Takeo laughed. "She's stronger than that."

The Shinobi faded into the shadows as he was trained to do. Yumiko rushed in, brandishing the tin can. "Here- I found it."

Takeo accepted it. "I expect in my absence that your behavior will continue to be better."

"Since when have I acted badly?"

"Your essay?"

"I'm going to finish it- We just have to compare the military of Tokugawa period Japan as opposed to Ming China-"

"If it's as easy as you put it, I expect an A."

"A what!"

"I'll be lenient, an A-."

"More like B!"

"But if it's as easy as you put it then you'll do well. And the math test I expect another good grade."

"W- Hey! How did you know about that!"

"Must I threaten you with tutoring on any subject?"

"Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education."

"Quoting Zhuang Zi?"

She punched him lightly on the arm. "Get out already."

"Are you kicking me out of my own house?" He playfully dodged another blow.

"Whatever. See ya."

He nodded a goodbye. "I will pray to Amaterasu-dono for your safety."

"…You sound like a cult member…"

He laughed aloud, muffling it to a chuckle when he realized he was supposed to be quiet. "Something along those lines." He hugged her briefly before sweeping out the door.

Yumiko waved to him from the window as he walked down the streets, though he did not return the gesture. She stayed there in that place for a moment, just waiting. Touya still watched her from the shadows.

"Amaterasu-dono, please keep Takeo safe," she murmured. "I would give up my life for him if that is what you ask." She bowed her head. "I hate it when he leaves." She turned, and went back to her own bedroom.

Several minutes after Yumiko had passed, Touya stepped out. Using his Shinobi training, he went to his own bedroom and quietly slipped into his own bed besides Jin's own.

: End Chapter

14thShrineMaiden: I'll tell you later what Takeo does. But that's later. He's still in the dark.

Third edited! More to come. Reviews!