Chapter 3

"Lady Aiko, are you sure it's okay for you to go swimming?" Asuka, my hand maid and only friend in the castle, is always full of worry. It's annoying how often it rolls off her, she would always get my own anxieties going, but I accepted this was part of her personality. Besides, how could I be angry at the one person besides my parents that doesn't look at me with contempt. Incessant worrying is much better than anger or disgust.

Although, I swear she ties her equally gray hair into a bun so she wouldn't nervously tick with it. Same reason her nails were short, so she wouldn't constantly bite them. Ever the conservative, she was dressed in simple, blue wool shirt and blue wool pants that tie in a bow behind her. I'm glad I borrowed some of her clothes, walking around in the woods in embroidered fanfare is pretty ridiculous. It'll be hard to sneak out with my clothes too.

"Yes, I asked Father directly." I got permission, there's nothing to worry about. "Did you ask him to swim in the hot spring inside the grounds or the one by the cliff?" Ok one thing to worry about. "It didn't come up. He probably knows I meant the one by the cliff…probably." How she could intensify her emotions so much, I'll never know. "It'll be fine." I reassure her as I push her towards the door. "If going to the spring by the cliff was ok then why are we sneaking out the back entrance? Why don't we have a ninja escort with us?"

She asks too many questions. I obviously didn't ask because the answer would be no. She's the same age as me but acts like an old man; shouldn't all teenagers have a disobedient streak? I feel like sneaking around is our birthright until we have our own kids, if I even get the chance to have my own kids. It's a lot more fun that way, and everyone in the castle assumes I'm bad so why try to change their minds? But if it was up to her, we'd be practicing embroidery in my room. Boring.

Asuka was nothing but worry and questions the entire trip, it only got worse when we got close to the compound boarder. Then I had to spend five minutes calming her down so we could sneak out easier but sneaking out only made her protest more. Pressing on, I led her to my favorite swimming spot in the area, "See we made it here in one piece." I knew we'd be fine; we are ever time we sneak out here.

I didn't need to read her emotions to tell me she wasn't convinced everything would be fine. "I don't think this is a good idea…" Seriously, she needs to lighten up. Where's her teenage spirit? "Well we're out here so it's too late now." I watch as a sour look scrunches into her face, "It's never too late to turn back. We could turn around right now." She's really starting to frustrate me.

The sour face turns to a one of pleading, "Come on Lady Aiko, let's go back. The hot springs in the castle grounds is nice" Nice? I wouldn't say that at all. You can't even swim in there. That's like calling a hot tub an Olympic sized pool. Not the same. The hot spring we're at is a giant lake with multiple diving points from rocks on the edge of the water to the cliff you can climb and jump off. Just not the same as the kiddie pool back in the compounds.

Besides that, this is much more secluded. Its a lot easier to change into and out of a swimsuit here, and with seclusion comes the security of no one gawking at you because you have large boobs on a small frame. I guess I do get some male attention but never anything good; none from someone that would want to be a potential husband. It's not just potential gawking I have to deal with, there's the overwhelming negative emotions as well. They always ruin my mood and swim. No, the secluded spring is better. No one comes here and that means I can be a little free.

I got behind a large rock and quickly change into my blue swim shorts and top. Even with a sports bra styled top my boobs spill out. It probably doesn't help that Mother insisted on a v neck to 'add a feminine charm'. She is convinced the reason I don't have any suitors is because I don't put myself in 'flattering clothes' and 'put myself out there'. She just doesn't understand the position I'm in. thinking about this is just getting me more frustrated, I need to swim it off.

I climb the rock I was hiding behind and look at the water. Thirteen feet down, not a bad starting point. I clear my head and block out Asuka's insistent worrying to prepare to dive. I tuck my head, point my fingers, and jump. Feeling the rush of the water coming over my body already calms me down. I don't come up immediately, choosing instead to swim to the middle of the lake.

It's been so long since I've last went swimming. I rarely get a chance to do it now. I let the water warm my bones before I face the chill of the air above. Eventually the need for air overtook me and I swam up to take a breath. Asuka's fear crashed into me as soon as I broke the surface. It kicked my own fear into hard drive, someone's emotions only pushed past my dulled senses when it was extreme. What's happening?

I look around and find no one in the clearing. Not even Asuka. Ok this is bad; no matter what, she wouldn't leave me alone here. Not if she had the choice. Waves of anger and disgust crash through me coming from behind the trees. Eight people and Asuka begin moving east and fast. What's going on? Where are they taking her? I promised that everything would be ok. What should I do? As soon as this threat came, it was gone. I couldn't sense anyone anymore. Not the people in the trees and not Asuka. I need to get Father.

"You can't go into the council room." That's all the guards would say even after I explained it was an emergency. "You don't understand, I need to talk to my father." Their faces where flat and resolute but I could sense the smugness they felt by telling me no. "You can't go into the council room." Ugh, talking to them was getting me nowhere and it feels like I'm wasting too much time. Whoever kidnapped Asuka could be changing directions or worse.

I push past their feelings of disgust and focus on the emotions I can feel inside. I try to map out the people inside; knowing the room I find Father fast at the head of the table. He's a mixture of fear and anger. The other council members in their assigned seats are absolutely giddy for some reason. What I can assume are the lord of Wind's council member and the Kazekage at the end of the table had mixtures of joy and curiosity respectively. The three ninjas are off to the side and they have a mixture of curiosity and giddiness too. I wonder what's going on in there. Why is Father so angry? And why are the old farts so happy?

"Are you spying on the meeting?" One of the guards sneered at me. He was being very bold with his disgust but then again, Father and Mother aren't here to witness it. I ignore him. I need to think of a way to get inside, Asuka may not have much time left. I could just knock but the guards would try to stop me. I'd also have to do it hard enough to get the attention of everyone inside. I could think of a distraction, but they don't seem easily distractable. Maybe I should just try to surprise them right now; their guard is down, they probably don't see me as a threat.

Without giving them much time to react, I knock loudly on the door. I feel all the men inside become alert before their emotions all settle. "What are you doing?!" one of the guards grabbed my wrist, twisting me around in the process. I glared at him while my wrist began to burn from his rough treatment. It didn't matter that I was in pain right now, I expected them to punish me somehow. The guard gripping my wrist didn't matter, I got what I wanted: my father's attention.

"What is going on here?" I smirked at the guard triumphantly before we both looked at Father. Father zero-ed in on the hand twisting my wrist and I felt him seethe in anger. "Lord Ichiro!" the other one piped up, "Parden the intrusion! This girl..." "MY DAUGHTER wouldn't interrupt us if it wasn't important." That surprised all of us, I don't think in all my years of knowing him that I ever heard him raise his voice once. What happened to 'never letting them see you upset'? What happened in there?

He looked at the guard holding onto me and with a low voice he warned. "Let her go." I could feel the anger radiate off of him. We all shudder from his threatening tone before the guard holding me lets me go. Father looked towards me, "What's wrong." I stand there stunned for a second before relaying everything I know, "Asuka is missing. We were by the cliffside spring. Eight people were there but gone before I saw them. That they headed east."

"How did you know there were eight people if you didn't see them?" Everyone in the room tensed up. Well, everyone that knew about my abilities. When I looked over Father's shoulder the Kazekage was staring down at me expectantly. I doubt he's used to people not answering his questions, but no one said anything. The knowledge of my powers has never really left the castle or village. It doesn't seem like knowledge we want to relay to visitors either.

"What's important now," Father finally spoke up, "is that we find Asuka and find out who these intruders are and why they came." The Kazekage's eyes never left me, "If we can offer any assistance, my men and I are at your disposal." His curiosity burned into me. I dulled my ability to get away from it. "Your help would be much appreciated Lord Kazekage. Botan! Giichi!" The two guards stood at attention. "Prepare eight of our best scouts to follow this lead."

"Aiko," I stopped looking at the Kazekage and looked at my father, "Come with me." I squirmed under his gaze but followed immediately when he started walking. He was quiet, which isn't unusual with him, but this time it felt worse. I knew I was in trouble, but I also knew that this time was worse than all the times before. It didn't help that I was able to feel the anger rolling off of him. He's never been this mad at me before.

Once we were inside my room he started his lecture, "Why were you by the cliffside?" I looked at my feet. Everything was supposed to be fine. "I…I was swimming." A shift in his mood, this time fear added to the mix. It only served to make me feel worse. "And you didn't think to bring an escort?" I shook my head but don't explain why, I know he wouldn't accept that I don't like any of the guards and that they don't like me.

"Why don't you understand how dangerous it is for you to be alone outside the castle? Sneaking out is a continuous issue with you. What if you were taken too? Do you not understand how upset your mother and I'd be if anything happened to you?" I couldn't answer him, instead just staring at the floor. "Do not leave this room. There will be guards posted at your door to make sure you don't, and I don't want to hear about you trying to sneak out either." And with that final statement he was gone. And I was left with my thoughts of everything that happened.

I sunk to the floor and stared at my hands. How could I have messed up this badly? All I wanted was to do was swim at the spring. We had done it so many times before. How could it have gone so wrong? We weren't out there for five minutes when it happened. Were they waiting for us? And why did they take Asuka? Did they mistake her for me? I shouldn't have forced her to come out. I should have gone out by myself, although I doubt she would have let me do that.

It was the late into the night and still no word. I moved from the floor to pacing the room, hoping for someone to come in and tell me what's going on. I turned off my powers and don't need to reengage my abilities to feel the fear in the castle. Its probably for the better I dulled my senses. But I couldn't get over the feeling that something is wrong. I hope Asuka is okay. She's only in this mess because of me. She was right to be worried.

I must have walked a kilometer pacing like this. But I don't know what else I should do. I'm not allowed to leave, and I'm scared to try. I've never seen Father that angry before, never felt him that angry before. I especially never felt him angry at me. Disappointed, yes, but not angry. I mostly felt him loving or worried about me. Even when I would break the rules, he wouldn't be angry. Now I'm worried about what he thinks of me.

I hear a glass break behind me; it was loud and quick. What was that? Before I could turn around to find out the world went dark. When I wake up again, I have a slight headache and see trees whizzing by me. what? And I'm being carried by someone? When I look up I see, OH MY GOD THE KAZEKAGE! I still feel awkward about our last two meetings. Why is he carrying me in his arms now?! Oh God, oh no. I don't like this one bit.

Before I could pretend to still be asleep. He stopped on a branch and looked down at me; we're staring at each other again. It feels just as awkward all over again. My entire body heats up at the thought of being held in his arms. He set me down, thank God, and studied me. I squirmed under his gaze, and he held onto me to keep me from falling I'm assuming. I look at his chest but can't think of anything to say. "I believe you have a few answers to my questions."