Chapter 11: Saving Akari

The next day, when i walked into school, i had this weird feeling that something was wrong. I walked into class and immediately i realized the cause of the bad feeling. Akari, her head was hanging low with a sad look across her face. I wanted to say something but Enju got up from her seat and stopped me before i could, "she said she'd tell us later" she whispered into my ear. I looked at her, worry was written across her face as she looked into my eyes.

"what ever the problem, we'll fix it" i reassured her, i managed a weak smile and sat down in my seat.

Later, the club gathered in the clubroom and Akari entered last, still looking gloomy. "so," she began with a sad voice, i could see a tear form in her eye "I'm leaving the Ninja Seeking club"

"what?!" Enju and I burst out simultaneously.

Enju and I weren't they only ones who were surprised, shock was written even on Ricka's face. "but Akari-senpai," Myu whimpered.

"I'm not doing it out of my own will" Akari said looking away

"what?!" Enju blurted out "who is forcing you to quit?" i could hear anger and frustration in her voice.

"well…" she said avoiding our looks "my Mom. She says it's too.. dangerous."

"i can't believe it" Enju said placing her hand on her forehead

"Miss Hanao was always the type to be overly careful" Tengge added with a chuckle.

"but, Akari. If you leave, the club will be no more, we don't have enough members" i said, i still can't believe it. If Ms.Hanao knew that i was who i am she wouldn't worry.

"i know…" Akari replied silently

"I'll go talk to Akari's mother after school today. I might be able to convince her to let Akari stay" Enju said proudly with a determined look on her face.

"I'll join you," i said "maybe i can help out."

And so later that day, Akari, Enju and i went to Akari's house. We arrived at a small flower shop and headed inside. "Mom! I'm home," Akari said loudly. A woman stepped into sight and i immediately saw the striking resemblance between her and Akari, the long golden hair, the smile, and the generally excited aura.

"Hello, Ms.Hanao" Enju said managing a smile

"Hello Enju, and Kiba i presume" the woman replied "he's more handsome than i imagined Akari"

"excuse me?" i replied, receiving a giggle in response

"can we talk mom?" Akari asked, the usual cheery Akari was still gone, replaced by a serious version of it.

"let me just close up, I'll be by your room in a minute." She replied still smiling

Akari took Enju and i upstairs to her room, when i entered the room i looked around in surprise. This is exactly how i imagined a girls room, all colourful and tidy. Enju once again looked annoyed of me.

"don't get any ideas" She said staring me down

"i wasn't," i replied "is just the first time I've been in a girls room on a normal occasion, it's just like i imagined it."

"sorry to disappoint but my room doesn't look like this" Enju said "and what does normal occasion mean?"

"doesn't matter" i said quickly changing the subject "how are we gonna do this?"

"let me handle the talking, and don't do anything stupid" she replied

"aye ma'am" i answered, saluting to Enju. Ms.Hanao entered the room and sat down in a chair opposite of Enju and I.

"what is it that you want to talk about?" she asked smiling brightly

"about our club, and Akari" Enju replied, Ms.Hanao let out a sigh "Ms.Hanao, the activities of our club did not pose a direct danger of injury to your daughter. Furthermore, all our activities and funding are handled by an adult"

"you say that," Ms.Hanao replied "but was that adult present during any of the activities, such as throwing steel starts?"

"i assure you, Ms.Hanao, none of the shuriken were sharp" Enju replied

"what if someone were to get hit in the had by the blunt metal?" Ms.Hanao replied "it could cause a severe head trauma, for instance" Enju wanted to speak but Ms.Hanao cut her off and continued "and when you went to the ninja village, was a adult with you?"

"technically, i am a adult" Enju replied "and so is Kiba"

"you're both still kids," she shot back "while i have no doubt you, Enju, can reasonably handle a situation, one barely adult Woman is not enough" Enju sighed and looked down to her feet "i will not allow my daughter to take part in these dangerous, unsupervised activities" and with that the conversation was over, Ms.Hanao got up and left the room.

"that was pathetic," Enju said silently "I'm sorry, i didn't prepare well enough"

"you tried," i said "no one will hate you for it, they're all grateful you tried"

Enju stood up "we should get going, it's late, we'll be past curfew" i sighed and grabbed my bag

"right" i stood up and walked after Enju after saying good bye to Akari. We left the shop and stopped in surprise, Mr. Kazuryu was standing outside, just about to enter the flower shop.

We greeted him and went out ways, Enju and i tried to come up with ideas on our walk but couldn't. I entered my apartment building, the door to the next room over from mine, also Johnny's room, was wide open i peaked inside and Johnny was asleep on the floor. I shut the door and entered my own room, i flopped onto my bed and feel asleep fairly quickly. Though this time i had a strange dream.

"I'm sorry, Kushina" a black haired and bearded man said to a woman across from a gigantic crater, red chakra-fire surrounding his body "he knew his brother was close, i couldn't suppress him any longer"

"don't be sorry, Asuma" the purple haired woman replied, a grey cloak of chakra surrounding her "we knew this day would come, i still love you"

The two leaped at each other and faught brutally, my gaze shifted to a nearby wooden house. The abandoned house in my village, inside was a young, purple haired girl, and a very young boy. Strange black markings appeared on his body a wolf head appeared on his right shoulder wing and a fox head on his left. Their necks turned into lines which connected in the middle between his shoulder wings as a gem of sorts.

A loud ringing pulled me out of the dream before i could see the end of the fight. My alarm, signalling another day had begun. I got up, showered, ate and went over to Johnny as always and walked to school afterwards. As always i sat through classes until club time rolled around, sadly Enju and I had to report the failure of yesterday evening.

"…and that's basically it, any ideas?" Enju asked, a long silence followed. Nobody could think of anything.

"maybe Yamabuki has a crazy idea that might work, we'll have to ask her when we see her" Johnny said, he was right but i doubt that Yamabuki would have anything that works.

"damn," i heard a voice say behind me "what's with all the gloomy faces" i turned to see Yamabuki with a bright smile "don't answer, its rhetorical. A little bird told me of your trouble" she said.

"our?" Enju replied "you're part of this club, remember?" Yamabuki sighed and placed her backpack on the table, too reveal what was in the other bag she had. My eyes wandered to her bag which was allmost completely open when i saw two very familiar scrolls inside.

"Yamabuki!" i yelled out as i took them, "explain yourself" i held them out to her, she smiled weakly and scratched the top of her head.

"They had fallen out of your pocket while you slept on the roof" she answered "they were ideal sketching material"

"do you have any idea what we went through to search for these?!" i asked furiously. I wasn't angry at Yamabuk, i was angry at myself for being so careless. I dropped back into my chair and sighed.

"so anyways," Yamabuki began again "i brought these" she revealed two maid outfits she brought, she pushed them into Enju's and Akari's hands "there you go, put them on" before i knew it Yamabuki and Tengge pushed Johnny and Me out of the room. It took a while before we were called back inside, and when we were I was completely stunned due to the sight before my eyes.

I never, in my life, thought I'd see Enju sajon-ji in a maid outfit, on her knees right before me. "c'mon Enju, say it" Tengge said

"I... I.. No," she said, but Tengge pushed further "I will serve you in any way, Master" i almost collapsed, and i felt liquid pouring from my nose. I guess one of my wildest dreams just came true.

"he's drooling" Akari said from the sideline, i was quickly snapped back to reality by Enju's hand which hit my face.

"who said you could fantasize, don't get the wrong idea" Enju said with a deadly glare.

"if Ms.Hanao has a problem with us looking for Ninjas," Yamabuki chirped "Let's rename the club, make it a Cosplay club" even i had to admit, it was a good plan. I didn't have a better one.

"no," Johnny said loudly "i disagree"

"me too" Akari said joining Johnny "i want my mom to agree with the club as it is" silence followed. We decided to head to a local Cafe to continue our talk after club time.

"maybe, if all our activities are approved by the principal, Ms.Hanao won't have a reason to fear" Myu said

"i don't think so" Akari said quickly "she doesn't trust easily"

"we might have to pay her another visit" Enju sighed

"yeah," i added "it's our only option" Once again Enju, Akari and I walked to Akari's house. Akari stopped on the little bridge that went across a river, i stopped beside her "you okay?" i asked softly

"i just don't want the club to break up" she replied, taking my hand in hers "it's to precious to me" she looked at me and squeezed my hand

"Let's get a move on!" Enju yelled from a little away "i wanna be home in time for curfew" Akari quickly pulled me along as we team back to an annoyed Enju.

We waited in Akari's room again, until her mother had closed the shop. "so how is my soon to be Son in law doing?" Ms.Hanao asked as she entered and sat down

"me?" i asked, Enju looked at me with a grim expression, i decided I'd rather be quiet.

"are we here for the same reason as last time?" she asked with a sigh

"yes, Ms.Hanao" Enju answered "there is no reason to fear for your daughters safety in our Club, Kiba is a strong and healthy young man he is capable of protecting Akari from any danger. He himself agreed to that"

"is that so?" she replied "what if her life is threatened, if she's kidnapped" she asked looking at me

"i will proudly give my life to ensure Akari's safety" i answered, i got down on my knees closer to the Woman "please don't make her leave the club, it's –" i stopped when a strong glow from Ms.Hanao illuminated the room

"Kiba, back off" she said, i followed her instructing and realised my pocket was glowing too, but it quickly stopped. "did you happen to carry any scrolls on you?" i nodded and showed her the two. "the sacred scrolls" she whispered.

"mom?" Akari said cautiously

"can't keep a secret for long it seems" she replied "yes i am a Ninja, from your village" she said to me "i knew your father, he gave me this before his death, when we sealed the ninetails" she showed me a red, blue and green gem on a gold chain around her neck. " this gem is the key to those scrolls, the Izumo"

"you knew my father?" i asked

"yes, he separated the scrolls and the Izumo so the Tailed beast brothers couldn't be reawakened" she replied

"couldn't he just destroy them?" Enju asked

"he could've, but there is a family out there which has control over the ninetails, and this scroll contains a seal, specially made for the beast" she answered "that's why he couldn't destroy them"

"if i recall correctly, the scrolls can also channel the beasts power" i said

"wait here, Akari come" Ms.Hanao said disappearing in the hall with Akari.

I could tell from Enju's face that she was somehow mad at, someone. Akari's mom returned and Akari followed close behind. She was wearing a Red Ninja robe with black and gold features, a red scarf feel down her back. Her lower arm and legs were protected by standard leather guards.

"my old Ninja robes" Ms.Hanao said with a chuckle "here Kiba" she handed me a picture frame, i recognized the woman and the man from my dream. "your parents, Asuma and Kushina"

"do you know how they died?" i asked, her face turned rather sad

"he died when he gave his last bit of strength to seal the nine tails" she said "but he seemed like he had a rough battle before that, as for your mother i don't know"

"so Akari is really Ninja born?" Enju asked

"yes, i only wished it wasn't that way" Ms. Hanao replied "It's dangerous, and i didn't want her to find out about the Ninja world"

"you have my word Ms. Hanao, no harm shall come to Akari" i replied, and i ment it

"i am relieved to have two exceptional Ninjas by her side" she replied. Akari was finished admiring herself in her mirror and turned to me.

"how do i look, Kiba?" she asked

"like a proper Ninja Akari, no kidding" i replied "though if you want to embrace the Ninja way, you gotta train"

"right," Enju added "you'll become a target, like Kiba"

"she already is," Ms.Hanao said "my Husband and i didn't leave the village on good terms, since we are one of the two bloodlines who control the Izumo"

"we gotta let this all sink in for now" i said standing up "it'll surely be a change of pace for our club, assuming Akari gets to stay" Ms.Hanao nodded "maybe Rika will train Akari, she seems like a good teacher"

Enju and i said our goodbye to Akari and her mother and went our way. "Kiba, wait" i heard Akari shout, i turned around and to my surprise felt Akari's lips smash into mine as her arms swung around my neck. I was to surprised to return the kiss and when i realized what was happening, it was to late to react. Akari smiled "this time i did it" She whispered and ran back into the shop.

I returned to the side of the annoyed Enju, who looked at me. "so are you and Akari dating?" she suddenly asked

"what, where did you get that from?" i asked

"Ms.Hanao called you Son in law" she began "and now Akari kissed you"

"i had nothing to do with all of that" i replied "Akari and i aren't dating"

"good" i hard her whisper. Curious if i may say so, Enju was acting unusually weird. We walked past the school and the dorms were close now, this was where our ways parted. Enju stood and i turned to look at her, her eyes shyed away from mine. She placed her hands on my shoulders as she took a step towards me, she stood on the tip of her toes and paused for less then a millisecond. Our lips touched and then pressed against eachother. We kissed for what felt like an hour, until our lips parted and Enju took a step back. Her eyes were closed, and even through the dark i could see her redned cheeks.

I tried to say something but stumbled over my words, never managing a full sentence. "shut up for a moment" Enju said, her eyes were open and she looked at me a little angry "i was super nervous!" she turned and quickly took of to her dorm.

"Enju.." i whispered, that kiss reminded me of our first, on her birthday. It was night, we were on the shore of a small river on the hill which grew towards the road at a slight angle. I had lied down on her lap as we watched the Fireworks when she suddenly bent down as Kissed me.

I entered my room and placed the picture of my Parents on my nightstand, their happy faces brought a smile to my face. I went to bed and soon returned to the dream i had the night before, only this time, i recognized the battling Ninjas, my parents. Though it seemed like they were fighting against their will. I once again was treated to the sight of the marked boy only this time i spotted a small purple haired girl beside him.