For Thanksgiving I decided to give the next chapter of "Light The Darkness"
Light The Darkness
Chapter 2:
When my life's on the line, I often wonder what inspires me, what invokes me to continue to be a ninja. It has always been clear, yet, I find myself contemplating it at the worst possible moments.
In reality, its like a curse. I never put to much thought into it, it was what it was. I was born into this life, taught its ways, and had no way out, no escape once you've become apart of it. I was going to be what I was born to be, nothing could have changed things.
I am a ninja.
My parents, their parents, and their parents-parents where ninjas. Highly praised and looked upon with the utmost respect, and because I was born into it, I was held in the same regard. Did I ask to be held in such high standing? No, I never asked for it, it was thrust upon me, like life usually is. I was taught to be the best, and if I wasn't, then by god I better try harder to emulate the best. It was expected.
Do I hate being a ninja? No. Do I sometimes wish that life was a tad easier? Hell yeah I do. Trying to make everyone proud, and living up to another's standing was draining after seventeen years.
Why am I babbling? Because I'm currently the diversion so that Katsu can safely get in and get out with our hostage under a strong genjutsu, so that I can transform flawlessly into the princess of the house, Aiko. Given a few days I should be able to obtain the ware bouts of a certain scroll that the neighboring lords require, get it to them, receive compensation, and then make my mysterious escape, leaving a sleeping Aiko where we got her. The only flaw was getting Aiko to not be completely blank of the few days that transpired when I was her. Luckily for me, genjutsu is a strong point of Katsu's, making it easy to manipulate the girls mind making her remember the events that have transgressed. Or at least the ones she needs to know.
Really the plan was flawless, and maybe I'm enjoying my time tormenting these obnoxious guards that are on my tail a little too much, but I cant help exploiting ones faults, especially at a time like this.
"Moriko…" came the annoyed voice of my trusted comrade.
"What is it darling?" I returned, my voice dripping with a child's sugary sweet innocence. There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communicator, giving me enough time to back flip off the roof languidly.
"Dear, stop playing with your prey, its cruel," he mocked out, clear laughter in his voice.
Without further ado, I threw a few smoke bombs into the already densely fogged area and got into position. I made my exit and disappeared in the princesses bedroom, transforming into her as was needed.
"Stage one complete, focus on keeping her detained in the genjutsu, I'll work on step two in the morning," I whispered fiercely before transforming the ear piece into one of the girls earrings.
Loud footsteps could be heard rushing up the hall followed by swift murmured orders. Doors were swiftly opened, and the princess's father finally made his debut. The father was going to be a challenge. He was swift, and all though I wasn't one to give out compliments, he deserved credit where credit was due. His mastery of perception was astounding, it even had me slightly nervous, but I studied my prey to the letter, and wasn't about to blow my cover.
Time to put my skills to the test, for the next couple of days I'd be Princess Aiko Fubashi, timid daughter of Lord Takashi Fubashi.
Lightly I made my way to the door, making sure to lower my eyes in a submissive manner before slowly, almost hesitantly opening the door. Lord Takashi looked pretty miffed, I could clearly make out the small vein in his neck protruding outward, a clear showing of his frustration. The man was going to have an ulcer before he even turned fifty.
"F-father, is everything alright," I murmured shyly, "I heard the guards."
"I want squad one and two to patrol the grounds, anything out of the norm and you better report back to me, three and four will stay in the house, patrol the halls, and protect my family at all costs," He spoke casually, he was exceptionally calm under pressure for a royal, it made him likable. "Everything will be fine Aiko, please return to your room and get a little more rest until tomorrow, I will handle things accordingly."
"Y-yes father, please stay safe," I murmured closing the bedroom door accordingly.
The crackle of my communicator in my ear brought my attention to Katsu,
"Seems we've created quite the stir, be careful not to slip up," he muttered lightly.
"Have I ever failed before?" when there was silence on the other end she continued. "No I haven't, I've never taken on more than I can chew, don't worry with the way things are going, I may finish early."
"I take it stage two is complete," Katsu stated.
"I'm an expert, ye of little faith. On to step three."
"I have complete faith in you mi' lady, I do not however, like you being contained in the lords grounds, it makes escape more of a challenge," he paused momentarily and sighed. "This is good, the lord doesn't suspect you. I would like you to get out of there without a problem, the more time your there the more of a risk your taking."
"I know, no worries, this isn't my first mission, no reason to play mother hen. So how's the princess?" Katsu growled at the mother hen comment but answered quickly enough.
"Sleeping like a baby, hasn't moved or made a peep, well besides a few light snores, maybe a mumble, but she's tightly under," this made me yawn, come to think of it, I haven't slept decently since we started this mission. Well, its now or never, not to mention I'd have to deranged not to use that glorious bed that laid before my feet.
"Hey Katsu I'm going to catch some Z's, don't stay up all night, get some sleep, she'll be under for the next 24 hours, take advantage while you can, I'll contact you when I wake up."
"Right, good night Riko," Katsu yawned.
"Good night Katsu," I murmured before transforming my communicator into an earring and collapsing unceremoniously into bed, pulling the sheets up and around me.
Tomorrow I'd spy and get those scrolls, or maybe I'd just sleep all day. Aiko's demure personality was a bit much, her father probably wouldn't bat an eye if she slept all day after the break-in that occurred last night. The poor girl had such a limited amount of life experience that it almost made me feel bad, but then again certain people were just too fragile to go out into the world, and Aiko was just one of them. Being a royal probably didn't help either since most young royals were either too snobby and out of line, or just to shy and submissive.
Well enough of my sleep deprived ramblings, I'm hitting the silk and cashmere.
I hope Katsu is as comfortable as I am, I'll have to steal a few of theses blankets for our place, I'm sure they wont even notice.