Ijuri was a quick trip on horseback, the sun barely halfway towards the horizon as Yakeru was finally able to stable his horse and head towards the small library of the town. Traveling was one of his favorite past times, meeting new people and seeing new places was something he genuinely enjoys. Ijuri was the same town that he visited with Goemon, but he was looking at it more in a traveler's eye than a trainee's eye who was mapping where they walked to be able to make it back to the Hattori mansion without getting lost.
He steadily cruised through the town as he made his way to the library. It was a lively town with a laid-back atmosphere. Townsfolk walked through the streets and browsed vendors, children played in alleys with kendamas and dolls, and the commissioner chatted with an elderly woman as he carried a bag of fruits for her. Yakeru held a small smile on his lips as he strolled through the town.
By the time Yakeru made it to the library, he stood in front of the doorway before taking a breath, steadying himself and remembering what his visit was for. He wanted to know more about Goemon, and so far, this was the only person who knew him before he changed and became a ninja.
Pulling the cover over and entering the earthy atmosphere of the library, Yakeru took in the familiar sight and followed a similar footpath towards the back of the building towards the wall of scrolls. The calmness of the flickering candles and the uniformity of the books settled his racing mind; it was strangely tranquil, probably due to the fact that it was a luxury for him and his mother.
Danto was not in his usual spot at the table. The library actually seemed empty of any presence.
"Surprised to see you here," Yakeru 180s himself, finding Yarichiko with crossed arms and a blank expression, "by yourself, no less."
"Yara,"
"Yarichiko."
"Sorry. Yarichiko-san," Yakeru bows his head, feeling his authoritarian aura surround him as though it was a protection layer. It only made sense since Yakeru knew he was an informant for Goemon. "I came to talk to you, in private."
Yarichiko's expression softened a bit, but the aura still stood.
"And I have those books that I wanted to bring back." Yakeru continued, pulling his bag around and grabbing the books out with his good hand.
The man stood quiet for a minute before nodding. "Set those on the desk and sit in the garden. I'll meet with you shortly."
~PYRODYNASTY~
"Don't you think you were a little harsh on the boy?" Hanzo asks Goemon as they stroll the mansion's garden.
Goemon let out a sigh, exhausted and annoyed at just the topic of the trainee and the incident. Sure, he may have been a little rough when yelling at them and suspending them from training, but then how else would Yakeru learn that he couldn't pull that shit?
"He wants to prove himself as a worthy ninja to someone like you and me, and I believe his rebellion is more towards showing that he doesn't want to live the life you did before you became a ninja." Hanzo continues as he scans the budded flowers.
"He doesn't know that me though," Goemon mutters. "My previous life wasn't something that can be forgiven or idled upon."
"I am sure he knows nothing. But even as you worked your way to become the Fire Dragon Ninja, you were also rebellious and attempted to prove yourself better than everyone. I doubt he hasn't heard any rumors of you that could have affected his training or his view on you." Hanzo continues, turning towards the redhead and watching him clench his jaw.
"Do as I say, not as I do." Goemon merely breathes before going silent.
"Oh, Master Ishikawa!" A familiar stablehand trots around the corner and calls out to the ninja, causing Hanzo and Goemon to halt and look back at the girl.
"Kaito," Goemon gives the girl a surprised look.
Goemon was acquainted with Kaito because she took care of his horse for the past few years. As he didn't have a place to stable him, Hanzo lent him a stall for his horse and tack. Horses weren't really something Goemon was into, but during a mission up north in the midst of a snowstorm, a lone horse without a rider walked up to Goemon and refused to leave his side. At first, he believed the horse was wanting to be near him because it was freezing and there were mounds of snow frozen on his hair, but even after warming him and bringing him down to warmer climates, the horse stayed next to him. No one knew who the horse belonged to so Goemon decided to keep the stallion, visiting him whenever he could and riding him for missions or trips.
"Is Ringo alright?" Goemon asks as soon as Kaito gets close enough.
"Oh, yes, he's great. I was just wanting to inform you about your pupil." She explains. "He told me to only tell you when you ask, but it would be a while before you notice him missing."
"Missing?!" Goemon growls. "Where did he go?!"
Kaito fans her hand downward. "He isn't off to fight some yokai. He just said he was headed to the library… whatever that means."
Goemon paused, processing what the girl just told him.
"Ijuri? He most likely is returning the books he checked out when you went a few days back." Hanzo nods, trying to ease Goemon's mind as he feels the gears in his brain start to smoke from jumping to conclusions.
"Knowing him, that isn't the only thing he is doing there," Goemon says through his teeth. "Please get my horse ready. When did he leave?"
"Almost an hour ago," Kaito replies quickly.
"An hour? It took you that long to find me to tell me this?"
She shook her head.
"No. I just gave him a head start."
Goemon glares at the girl, the urge to slap her across the face almost surfaced until he held back and just walked away. Kaito though only held a small grin on her lips, almost as though to tease him.
"He's already in a bad mood. You didn't have to say that." Hanzo comments with a sigh.
"It's only for dramatic timing, that is all." Kaito states with a smirk before bowing to Hanzo and heading back towards the stable to get Ringo tacked up.
~PYRODYNASTY~
Yakeru sat in the zen garden and watched the carp glide through the water of the pond. He was in his own world until he heard someone walk towards him, shifting the sand under his sandals as he took large but light steps. Turning his head, he finds Yarichiko walking towards him with a tray that held two bamboo cups and a teapot. It smelt almost like barley, but Yakeru couldn't tell.
"Tea?" Yarichiko asks as he sets down the tray and sits down next to the ninja.
Yakeru doesn't answer him as he watches the man fill a cup of a golden smooth tea that looked like it was cooled. Being handed the cup, Yakeru says thank you and brings it up to smell the slight burnt flavor of it.
"I didn't poison it if you would like to know." Yarichiko states, taking a sip of it from his cup.
Yakeru tips the cup to his lips, letting the cool tea hit his taste buds. It was smooth and had a slight bitterness to it, but palatable for his picky tastes.
"I hope you came to apologize for the incident from a few days back."
Yakeru almost chokes on the tea, holding it in his mouth before swallowing and letting out a couple of coughs.
"You know?!" He asks in surprise.
"I may not be a ninja, but even an informant in the ninja community can get news of a mishap as dumb as that real quick," Yarichiko tells the kid between sips of the drink, a stiff expression on his face as he spoke. "The timing was off by a few days and Goemon would never be as dumb to use his ability when it is just to get information."
Yakeru frowns. He really hated being compared to someone he doesn't want any relation with.
"All my work to be able to get the information for those documents has been wasted."
Yarichiko let out a sigh before it stood silent between the two. Yakeru continued to look down at the cup of tea in his lap before sighing out loud.
"I'm really sorry about that." Yarichiko watches the kid from the corner of his eye. "I thought I could impress them by getting those documents cause it sounded easy. But, I learned my lesson, as you can tell." He held up his left hand, showing the splint that he wore.
Yarichiko doesn't say anything for a minute before shaking his head. "No, you aren't."
Yakeru snaps his head, looking as though he was about to cuss out the man in front of him.
"But, I think that getting yelled at by Goemon really showed you that you can't get away with shit like that. You didn't learn your lesson as you are still a bit of an entitled kid. I just hope that you don't get yourself killed doing something like that again." Yarichiko looks at Yakeru, finding a mixed expression on his face as he looks mad and confused at the same time. "I will take the apology this time. But if you pull that shit again, I'm personally breaking your arm."
Yakeru nods, looking back over at the koi pond to get away from his harsh gaze.
"So what is the reason you came back? Aside from returning the books."
He opens his mouth a couple of times before looking back at Yarichiko. "I want to know who Goemon Ishikawa is."
Yarichiko gives the kid an amused smile, relaxing his expression at the serious statement.
"You're the only person who seems to know his past and-"
"But I don't know his whole story."
He interrupts the kid.
"Goemon is and will always have a secret of his uprising. No one truly knows what happened before he became a ninja. One can only assume it was bad since he has pretty much humbled himself as he became an adult." Yarichiko looks over at the koi gliding through the water, flashes of memory were brought back as a teenager when he knew Goemon as the thief and orphan that he was.
"Humble… huh." Yakeru scoffs.
"Everyone has a different image of Ishikawa. He can be seen as this elite ninja with an amazing ability. A playboy who loves to sleep around with women. The man who has stolen from the rich and given to the poor. A teacher to the next generation." Yarichiko nods towards Yakeru only for a frown to appear. "He has done good to me, so I appreciated his company. I do not know your upbringing, but I hope you can lighten up to the man. And if it is true, one day you would really appreciate knowing your father. Cause some of us never got the chance."
Yakeru notices a spark of sadness in Yarichiko's eyes, feeling a slight tightness in his chest for the man.
"I just need some time before I really open up to him. So far, we really haven't gotten along." Yakeru explains gently.
"You two just need to hang out with each other without the titles of teacher, student, and ninja. Two equals, just bonding." Yarichiko nods.
"Yeah right. We never have time for that."
"Well, you do now since you are suspended from training at the moment. Use that time to get to know Goemon more." Yarichiko explains with a shrug, causing Yakeru to raise an eyebrow.
"How do you know I'm suspended from training?!"
"Even an elite ninja has to come to me when he has something to rant about. Isn't that right, Goemon?"
Yarichiko lifts his chin and looks up at someone behind Yakeru, making the kid snap his head back in surprise and find Goemon standing with his arms crossed over his chest. His weight was shifted to one leg, making it seem like he has been standing there a few minutes just listening to the two talk. Yakeru didn't even hear his footsteps as he walked through the sand, barely even leaving a footpath.
Goemon held a frown, more annoyed than upset, as he stared at his informant.
"You like to talk, don't you?" Yarichiko gives him a little smug smile, teasing the man with childish behavior.
"Come on, Yakeru, we're heading back." Goemon tells the kid, looking down at him with a sharp expression.
Yakeru doesn't argue as he stands up from the pillow, walking past Goemon with a dirty look.
"Goemon," The redhead looks back at his friend, matching the tired expression in his eyes. "You holding up?"
Goemon could only nod before mouthing a thank you and bowing before following after the kid.
