Okay, for the last time, I CANNOT MAKE THE CHAPTERS LONGER. Well, actually, I can, but I'm not gonna to, because it takes too much time to combine them. So, please, just deal with it for now.
Thank you! Now enjoy Chapter Nine!
Inner Destruction: Chapter Nine
They were greeted with loud cheers and shouts: "The prince is here! He's home!"
Takeshi raised his hand regally and waved slightly. No doubt his arrogance had come from always being treated this way.
The team walked awkwardly through the crowded streets, following Takeshi and the guards.
So many people were staring, watching them. Evaluating them.
They reached the royal palace in no time. The paved pathway leading to the front gate was lined with exquisite flowers and trees made of pure gold.
'Apparently, this emperor has no problem showing off his wealth,' Izanami thought.
They reached the gate, a pair of huge iron doors with wrought-gold dragons stamped onto the surface.
The gates opened, and the six guards bowed to as they walked through.
"People here are very friendly," Takeshi said breezily. "But most of all, they're respectful; of power, of rank. All the important things."
Izanami looked at him with even more distaste than before. Respectful…power…rank…important…how shallow.
But maybe this was all an act. After all…
"Your Highness!" A man hurried towards them. He was tall and thin, and with his fancy robes, seemed to be a rather important person.
He bowed low before Takeshi and then acknowledged the Leaf ninja with a nod. "Your father, Emperor Daichi, requests your presence in his greeting chamber."
"Very well." Takeshi dismissed the man with a wave of his hand and then motioned for the shinobi to follow him.
He led them to another great pair of doors, this time made of silver.
He threw open the doors without knocking and strode in. Gai and his students hesitantly followed.
The emperor sat in a golden throne. Many nobles stood at the edge of the carpet leading up to him.
He was rather plump, with sallow skin and thinning black hair. His robes were royal purple – silk – with threads of gold forming the embroidery.
Takeshi walked up the steps and sat down in the throne next to his father's. He looked right at home.
Gai hastily bowed. Izanami, Neji, Tenten, and Lee all followed suit.
"Thank you for escorting my son back home," the emperor said. His voice was low and hoarse. "I trust you allowed no harm to come to him?"
Tenten glanced at Izanami. If Takeshi hadn't caught that shuriken, he would be dead right now.
"There will be a feast tonight," the emperor continued, "in honor of my son's coming home. I expect all of you to be there, dressed formally." He clapped his hands and a servant appeared. "Take them to a room where they can get ready. Make them feel welcome."
The servant bowed and then led the five of them out of the room.
He took them to a large room and then pointed at two connecting doors. "You will find whatever you need in this room, and you can change or have some privacy in those other rooms." He left.
Lee opened a wardrobe and peered inside. "Look! Gai-sensei, they provided an awful lot for us!"
Tenten opened another wardrobe. Her jaw dropped when she saw its contents. "Whoa, check it out, Izanami! Look at all these kimonos!"
Izanami glanced at the selection and then looked away. Kimonos didn't interest her.
"Now!" Gai clapped his hands together. "We have to do this the proper way, and have escorts!"
"Escorts?" Tenten repeated.
Gai nodded.
"As in, actual people, actual dates?"
"But of course!" Gai exclaimed. "You didn't think we would attend a feast without escorts, did you?"
Tenten sighed, as did Izanami and Neji.
"Now, the best thing to do would be to divide you four up!" Gai paused and gazed thoughtfully at every one of them. "Hm…how about…Tenten and Lee, and Izanami and Neji?"
'Typical,' Izanami thought ruefully. She took a quick glance at Neji; he stood to the side, indifferent.
"But Gai-sensei, who will you go with?" Lee asked.
"Don't worry, young one, I'll scour the palace until I find a beautiful young woman for my own date!" Gai said, smiling brightly. "Now," He glanced at a clock that hung on the wall. "We still have quite a while before the feast, so I will allow you four to do whatever you wish until then!" He gave another brilliant grin, and then left the room to "scour the palace."
Izanami snuck another glance at Neji. Why, oh why, did he have to be her escort?
'Well,' she thought grudgingly, watching Tenten and Lee argue, 'I suppose it's better than going with Lee.'
What sort of game was fate playing?
Neji shook his head. Pairing him up with Izanami…it wasn't mere coincidence.
They hadn't said a word to each other since that evening, the night of closeness.
He had no idea how he felt, and frankly, didn't want to know. Things were complicated enough as it was.
His pale violet eyes were void of emotion, as they always were. It wouldn't do to have them betraying how he felt, now would it?
He watched her out of the corner of his eye. She stood quietly at the side, solitary as always.
It was at times like this that her silence was a blessing.
Or was it a curse?
