Sango's Lost Sister
Things Heat Up
Chapter 4
"Alright you three. Time to get down to the training grounds. I hope you have done your stretching exercises and ready for today's training.
"Hai sensei. We have and more than ready." Mihano spoke for himself and his two friends.
"Good. Let's go." Saika replied firmly and ran out the door, followed closely by the other three.
"Good morning lady Saika. I trust you all had a pleasant sleep last night. General Wakano and I will be helping train your friends." Inarireplied as the foursome approached the two men.
"Good. I appreciate the help gentlemen." Saika answered, bowing slightly.
"I found this on the ground last night. It must have come from one of the demons we fought yesterday. I think you should have it." General Wakano replied, stepping forward and handing Saika a shard of glass.
"Hmm, it looks like a piece of this infamous Shikon Jewel that some clutz broke. Thank you General Wakano. I will keep it safe." Saika replied as she took it from the general.
The instant it touched her palm, it went completely white. It not only surprised everyone around her, but Saika as well. The ninja leader stuck the little shard in to a special little pocket whereno no one could take it without her knowing.
"Now students, pair off with you instructors. Mihano, you are with me. Since you want to learn how to use the chakram." Saika stated.
"And Keiko, you are with me, since you said you want to learn how to weild the sword." Inari replied firmly.
"I will teach you how to use the Kyoketsu-Shoge Injuro. We will go to our separate areas and begin." General Wakano replied.
Each teacher began the lessons by having the students the balance and feel of the weapons in their hands to the point where it felt like it was an extention to their bodies. The next step was to learn the various moves and thrusts. Needless to say, there were a few yelps and newly formed bruises as a few mistakes were made. Mihano very quickly found out why his sensei always caught her chakram on the inside of the weapon. The weapon he was using was a wooden chakram; therefore wasn't entirely dangerous.
"I should never catch a chakram by the outer edge!? Mihano replied, more than asked as his face turned red in embarrassement as he looked over at Saika who had a raised eyebrow .
"That's right! You're lucky that this is a practice chakram and your wound is only superficial. If you had caught the real chakram, you would be missing half of your hand right now." Saika scolded gently as she came to stand in fronnt of Mihano. She pulled out a vile of herbal antiseptic and a roll of bandage. "This is really going to sting for a few seconds."
"Thank you sensei. I will be more careful next time." Mihano grunted through the sharp sting as wrapped the bandage around his hand.
"I know you will Mihano. And don't feel bad, we have all made mistakes in training. And remember this one fact: if you can't catch you chakram by the inside edge fast enough., let it go by and warn anybody that may be around." Saika advised gently."Now let's start again."
For the rest of the day and half of the next, Keiko, Injuro and Mihano practiced with their wooden weapons. Being the fast learners they were, they were soon using them with ease. In return for the lessons the three youngsters and Saika helped with chores around the compound.
Before Saika and her companions headed off to clean up for the evening on their last day in the fortress, Inari had asked them to come down to the main dining hall. There was a feast being prepared in their honor. When they got to to the doors, the door slowly slid open to reveal the large room nicely decorated and the room smelling of many delicious dishes.
"We wanted to thank you and your friends for all you have done for have been a great help to us and we needed to show our appreciation. Please come in and the festivities will begin." general Wakano replied and stepped aside as the guests of honor stepped in the room.
Saika was amazed that the people of the temple fort had gone to all this trouble for them; but it was greatly appreciated. For the next three hours, she, Keiko, Injuro and Mihano thoroughly enjoyed themselves. At the end of the meal, the general took Saika to the side for a moment.
"Lady Saika, I wanted to talk to you for a moment to get your opinion on something." the general replied, while waving three soldiers over. "Inari and myself feel that your students learned their weapons skills so well, that they deserve to have their own weapons. Do you agree?"
"Yes I do, and I agree. You and your people have been more than generous to us. I want to thank you for everything." Saika replied. "Do you want my students up here now?"
"Please." the general simply replied.
"Injuro, Keiko, Mihano. Will you come up here please." Saika called over to her students. The three looked at each other for a moment, then stood and walked ove to their sensei.
"Keiko, Mihano, Injuro. Inari, myself and a few of my officers who watched you train, and we believe you should have you own weapons. And your sensei has agreed with us." the general stated and smiled as the three looked at their sensei in surprise. The young woman smiled and nodded. As each one accepted their new weapon and cleaning/repair kit, they stepped back and waited for the last one to receive theirs.
"I don't understand something sensei. We've usual had to wait to use good weapons like these. Why so soon this time?"
"You've earned the right to have those. Just promise me that you will continue to train with them and take proper care of your weapons." Saika stated.
"Hai sensei we will." the three replied together.
"Now I think we should enjoy the rest of the evening before turning in for the night." Saika replied, heading back to her seat.
In the morning, Saika and her small group were up and ready for the next part of their journey. They had a quick and light breakfast with general Wakano and Inari who were starting their morning routine before the day's work.
"I must say that we all wish you could stay and help guard this place, but we understand that you have things you must do yourself. You are heading towards Zenkoji Temple as planned?" general Wakano asked. Saika answered.
"I sent messengers out yesterday to tell the villages along the way that you will be coming their way. You might be stopping at one of them for a rest or a night's stay. The chef put together a package of food to sustain you for the day." general Wakano advised.
"Thank you general. If I ever get the chance, I will stop by again." Saika replied and bowed before turning and heading out the gate with the others.
They spent the morning traveled in more or less north easterly direction, then a northern direction before stopping for a break. Just as they sat down, a very large deer came running out of the nearby forest, charging straight for them. Saika jumped to the side at it charged pass her and skid to a stop twenty yards ahead.
"That thing is acting strangely." Saika replied, watching the deer quietly.
It shook it's head and pawed at the left side of its face.
Snorting it pain, it shook its head again and charged at Saika again. This time, she grabbed her chakram and threw it hard at the deer, cutting off the head effectively. When the body stopped. Saika went over and examined the head carefully. Seeing something above the right eye, she reached out and pulled the obect.
"This looks like another shard of the shikon jewel. I've heard they are usual tainted. This one is a pure white." Saika mumbled to herself as the others gathered around her.
"This is strange sensei. First the one from the fortress, now this one. What's going on?" Mihano asked.
"I don't know, but I think we better take it so it doesn't get in to the wrong hands. Let's just eat our lunch, take some of the deer meat and leave. I don't like the idea of staying around here for too long." Saika replied, getting out a sack and a knife.
After eating and packing up the meat, they all decided to pick up the pace to travel a good distance before stopping for the night. For some reason, something felt a bit off, but she pushed it down and concentrated on the rest of the day's trip.