Duty-Bound: Chapter 37
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Everything was calm as always, but tonight was too quiet for her taste. Sleep wouldn't claim her no matter how comfortable the bed was. Trying to calm her mind, she breathed in and out slowly. Calm down, Mikan. Everything is going to be alright.
Just when she was about to drift off to sleep, she heard a commotion outside her room. A loud crash from her door made her snap her eyes open in alarm. Before her destroyed door was a black-dressed ninja who slowly drew his katana out of its sheath. Luckily for her, Rei-shishō had taught her to get used to the darkened room. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to see the ninja who lunged at her. She managed to dodge the first swing but not the second. Droplets of blood splattered the dark wood floor as soon as the katana made contact with her left upper arm. If she had not endured the training with Natsume recently, she would be dead now because the attack just now was meant for her throat. The white, silk, sleeping yukata was smeared with her blood as she held her injured arm.
"How dare you to attack me!" she growled loudly while gritting her teeth.
Running feet were heard in the distance. The loud crash from before must have alerted the night guards. Before the ninja could run away from her sight, she pulled out her hidden hira-shurikens and threw them at him with foggy eyes. Only one of her stars hit the mark, the leg of the ninja. However, it was not good enough as the ninja still escaped before her eyes. Losing too much blood, she had difficulty remaining conscious and felt herself sway slightly. Before the darkness overcame her, she saw her Lady Mother catch her falling body.