Chapter 71
The Final Morning
The next morning arrived with a violent ray of sunlit sliding into Atari's room. He awoke to see that the sunlight was only directed at him, putting him in a most peculiar spotlight. Atari saw the Sakabato gleaming in the peculiar sunlight and Atari sat up. Ren was still sound asleep, and Atari took this early morning tie to pack up provisions for the night's departure. His rib still pained him, but not as vigorously as before and even then he persevered. He would do the same tonight. After completely packing supplies for both him and Ren, he drew out the vouchers that allowed Atari and Ren to purchase two well breed and fit horses for the trip. Duke sat by his bedside sniffing at the pack for fresh meat. Atari smiled. I guess you leave tonight, thought the wolf. Yes, are you going to come, asked Atari looking at the wolf. Well, of course master, I would never leave your side, replied the wolf blinking blankly at him. You never have, replied Atari. Nor do I ever plan to commented the wolf nodding his head.
"Good boy Duke, good boy," praised Atari packing the last of the provisions into his backpack. He pushed both packs over against the wall and smiled as he began to dress. Duke nudged his way out the door as the sound of clattering pans and dishes entered Atari's ears. After being fully dressed into his shinobi shozoku, Atari strapped on his Sakabato and exited the bedroom, just as Ren turned over sleepily. He will need his rest for tonight, thought Atari as he closed the door behind him.
Garu and Haro smiled as he sat down at the table, but had a sense of depression looming about them. Although Atari had his own hunch about what it was, he decided to ask anyway. After he finished, Garu placed down his cut of tea and just stared at him. Haro placed a plate down in front of him before she sighed. Atari asked again and Haro lifted up her head from the cooking fire.
"You know very well now, that you are not our natural born child. No, we lost him 12 years ago. Ever since, we have not only prayed, hoped for his return, but we had another joy, the raising of another boy. As this boy reached twelve years old, he discovered the truth that had been well protected for twelve years. This truth was that our boy, the boy that was given to us the day the Living Demon arrived, was not only an Amachi clan member, but also a Menjin." She said "Menjin" with the same hiss of hatred that Yuchi used; however, she showed no sign of ever turning on him as Yuchi had.
"Continue please Haro," said Atari kindly, hiding his true emotion during this conversation.
"Your master, Tashi Sensei, informed us on your plan for tonight. We lost our first son, and we are not about to loose our second."
"You are not loosing me, I will return, I promise you, I just don't know when exactly," promised Atari.
"And for how much longer will we live? What makes you so sure we will even be alive when you return," snapped Garu angrily, his eyebrows curving inward and his face red with anger. He clutched his cup with a tight fist that trembled.
"I will be back before that time," Atari assured them. Haro walked up to him and instead of arguing as Garu would have loved to do, she embraced him lovingly. This position was held for a few moments before Ren stumbled out from the door. Haro released him as Ren took a seat, completely blind to the surroundings around him. Haro sighed with a forlorn taste in her voice as she whispered into Atari's ear:
"No matter what happens, you are always welcome here, and you will always be my Atari Lachapta. I can only wish you were ours to start with, and then maybe none of this would have happened. Before you leave to meet with your sensei one final time, be assured that forever and ever, I love you."
Chapter 72
So Long Honamochi
After eating and performing some crafts for the children of the village, both Atari and Ren departed at sunset to meet Tashi Sensei at the front gate. As they were on their way, they stopped to purchase two full grown stallions. Atari's was black and Ren's was brown. Duke sniffed and played with the horse's hooves until he snorted, warning Duke to back off or he was going to have a hoof in the face. Ren managed to snip in some chatter before they arrived.
"Mine is a girl and her name is Rachel, what about yours?"
"Mine is a boy, and I haven't thought of a name yet," replied Atari. Ren nodded and soon enough Tashi Sensei was in view. He greeted them with hugs and handed them each three scrolls.
"Two of these are the two last techniques I was unable to teach you. Learn them on your own and then open the third scroll, it contains the graduation exam. Once you pass the exam, you are full Jonin, but you are warned now, that scroll is bewitched and once you take it, if you do not pass, it will burn into ashes and the fumes will kill you. If you pass, it will still burn but not release the fumes. Good luck to you both."
Atari and Ren bowed politely before mounting their horses. Duke hopped onto the back of Atari's horse and secured himself. Atari waved back to Tashi Sensei as they trotted out of the front gate. By then it was pure nightfall, maybe one or two in the morning perhaps. They trotted away rhythmically, but Atari did not look forward. This journey was not all he had imagined it to be. It was not exciting, but instead, it was heartbreaking. Atari watched as the familiar and welcoming sight of Honamochi faded away slowly. Atari felt a pang of loneliness fill him. Behind him was his past, all of it. He had been born there, raised there, taught his first jutsu there, received his first kunine there, was accepted as a common villager there, became a genin and went on to become a Jonin there, went on his first mission, experienced the truth of his past there, and many heartfelt feelings. It hurt his heart to leave it behind. Ahead of him was the future, unknown, and potential danger. Tears budded in his eyes as he forced himself to turn away once last time.
As Honamochi faded completely from eyesight, a blurry, fast moving figure moved about in front of them. Ren pulled to a halt and Atari did the same. The figure however, did not halt one bit. It kept moving back and forth across the path. Suddenly, the one black figure turned to two, and both figures raced past each other, making both Atari and Ren dizzy from watching. Finally they stopped, and the hoods were removed from their black cloaks. It was Kie and Celia. Kie hopped off her own horse and jumped into Atari's folded arms.
"I saw Tashi Sensei and he told me that you two had left. He then gave me a voucher and three scrolls and I chased after you. I will never let you leave me Atari, never."
"We didn't want you two to-"started Ren, but he cut himself short as he was captivated once again by Celia who rode swiftly to his side.
"I had no intention of frightening you," cooed Celia to Ren. Ren just chuckled clumsily and smiled. Atari shook his head.
"Well, seeing as we are all here, let's all go with Atari to stop Orchi, after all, we were all on the mission that led to this dilemma am I not correct," Kie cooed smiling bashfully at Atari. Atari sighed and allowed Kie and Celia to join after being nagged on by Ren about allowing Celia even if she was not part of the squad. Soon enough as dawn set in, the squad was off again. Kie rode next to Atari constantly, refusing to leave him alone for just a moment. Ren enjoyed Celia's company, but Atari despised having Kie around him so often. Why does she have to like me, why can't she like Nejeka, or Hikaru, or somebody other than me, thought Atari.
They rode off into the young day quickly, hoping to find where the emperor had finally bestowed his capital, to reach there quickly, warn the emperor of the danger he was in, and to retreat back to Honamochi in time to destroy the Living Demon's tablet. If they were successful, Orchi would be thwarted and brought to trial at the emperor's feet. That will solve this problem confirmed Atari as the sun rose higher and higher into the sky.
Chapter 73
Direct Orders
A young soldier bowed down on one knee and held his head low. He bowed on the edge of a long velvet red carpet lined with gold thread, leading to an indeed ornate throne, but the hour of the morning concealed it from sight. This soldier merely bowed into the shadows.
"Sir, we have received word from the captain down in Yazac that four travelers are searching for you. Three are well trained ninjas. Jonin level I suppose. Their names are Atari, Ren, and Kie. The fourth is Celia. She appears to be of no threat to us. But this Atari boy, he wields the Sakabato. I believe he is indeed the offspring of Reggie Menjin." A hiss echoed throughout the room, causing the soldier to tremble with fear.
"I thought I wiped out the Menjin family long ago. Where did this offssspring come from? If he wields the ssssSakabato he is a defiant threat to us all. Send a scout squad to sssspy on them, I wan to know what they want from me," answered a raspy, cold, harsh voice from deep within the shadows.
"Yes my lord, right away. What if they come in peace sir, and only wish to ask for your pardon?"
"Plead they can, but with the ssssSakabato in possession of this boy I can take no chances. I want to find out their purpossse first, then I will decide whether to lead them to me or not. Isss that understood soldier?"
"Yes my lord," replied the soldier trembling as he exited the throne room. The one whom spoke in reply with the hissing voice stood up from the concealed throne and paced around to the dreary window, overlooking the soon-to-be capital of Japan. I have plansss for this boy. If he is indeed the offspring of Reggie Menjin, then perhaps I have a position for him. The person chuckled evilly, just as Orchi did. He then walked back to his throne thinking triumphantly: Try as you might my son, you will never assassinate me.