Chapter 39 Water and Ice

Mizuko heard the alarm sound off, and she sat up immediately from her bed. She bounded up towards the door and peeked out from the bars to see shinobi running by. She watched and waited, making sure that no one else went racing past. She ran towards the window, grabbing the biggest book provided for her along the way. Continually she began to smash the book into the glass, it began to crack, then it shattered letting in a gust of freezing air. Mizuko shrunk back immediately, wrapping herself in her arms. However, the crack she had made wasn't big enough. She gritted her teeth, approached the window again and continued to slam the book into it. Finally at least half of the window broke away and she practically fell to the floor in agony. Still, she struggled back towards the door and placed her hand on the handle, which was beginning to grow colder. Quickly she released water from her palms and pulled her hand back as it began to freeze the handle over. Fighting against the cold she began to kick at the handle, but her body was quickly freezing. At last the handle snapped and she burst through the door, running in any direction to get away from the low temperature.

Her body quickly heated up and she made her way towards the room where she had first met Aisuji Tawera.

We all stared at Osuzu, who was smiling at us as though we had come to her restaurant again. She had seemed suspicious, so it hadn't really surprised us that she was now our opponent. She let out an exasperated sigh.

"My, my, you seemed like such nice kids." She said, shaking her head. "Well, you probably are, and we look like the bad guys to you, huh?"

She took a step towards us.

"But if your going to resist, then were just going to have to fight you."

We all tensed. There was a moment when we just stared each other down, then she came running at us, pulling out a scimitar like blade, only smaller. Sasuke brought up his sword and their blades met, I came from behind, my blade pointed at her back. She overpowered Sasuke, tossed him to the side and turned to block my attack. Hiko was about to join, but the Shinobi from earlier blocked her path, suddenly the remain shinobi (8 to be exact) all rushed forward. Yukimaru summoned his bow and arrows, but only pulled out a long tipped arrow, using it like a blade.

We fought, but the combination of their numbers and skills put us almost on the even line. Though we managed to do some damage to them and vise versa, we weren't making much progress. Sasuke threw a glance at Hiko and nodded.

"Suiton." She began. "Mizurappa!"

Water gushed out from her mouth and shot towards the enemy Kyu.

"Chidori!" Sasuke cried as he ran forward and plunged his hand into the water stream.

The enemies towards the front absorbed most of the attack crying out as they flew to the sides, slamming into the walls. If the attack hadn't killed them, chances out they would pass out and possibly be in a critical state. Osuzu, on the other hand, confronted the attack calmly.

"Futon!" She raised her sword. "Senmoufuu!"

A small but powerful tornado like wind swirled out towards us as she swung her blade. The wind overpowered Hiko's and Sasuke's combo and sent the attack right back at us.

"Hyouton!" Hiko called out. "Hyouro no Jutsu!"

A wall of ice rose up from the ground, engulfing the attack. I waited for the wall to shatter before releasing a Goukakyu fire ball. The attack scathed a few, but not enough to do some serious damage.

Osuzu sighed and tossed her hair. "Well, I have to say that-"

She was cut off by a loud explosion sound that caused the building to tremble. We were all jerked to and fro and some even fell, hitting the cool marble floor. Even the Kyu shinobi turned towards the direction of the sound. Once the shaking subsided, I noticed the enemy shinobi exchange glances.

"Isn't that the direction of the…"

"Aisuji-sama!" Called out one of them.

Hiko suddenly went racing past, towards the direction of the sound.

"Hiko-san!" I called.

She turned as she continued to run.

"I know it's selfish of me," She called back. "But I going on ahead. Good luck!"

Then she was gone.

I sighed. "That is something she would do."

Tawera watched the small screen on the arm of his throne. He casually flipped through the many different security camera's around the fortress, his face expressionless with the exception of the way his brow furrowed, but that was natural for him. The room was empty of all people but himself and was silent as a tomb. The only sound to be heard was the rhythmic but soft sound of the screen changing locations. Behind Tawera's throne was a large window that reach from floor to ceiling and almost took up the entire back wall. Large curtains made from fabric he had acquired in the orient were pulled to the side, revealing a beautiful view of the mountains that lay beyond the large ridge where his base had been carefully constructed. It was evening now and the light through the window caused the several objects and trophies Tawera had collect over the years to cast long dark shadows across the deep red carpet. A bird he kept in a cage next to him chirped cheerfully.

Tawera continued to flip through the camera until he came to the camera placed in front of Mizuko's room, where he had watched, slightly amused, as she threw a soda can at one of his German subordinates. However, now, with concern, he stared at the torn down door and the snow that had accumulated in the room itself. His eyes narrowed.

"Where…"

His thought were interrupted, and answered, by the sharp cry of:

"Suiton! Mizu Kamikiri!"

The doors to Tawera's room were knocked off their hinges and flung down onto the floor and as a slicing jet of water came hurtling towards him. The Kyu stood up, quickly weaved the signs and cried out sharply:

"Doton! Doryuu Hekki!"

A wall of rock rose from the ground and absorbed the impact of the water attack, but caused the wall to crumble. The building shook from the force of both the attack and the defense. When the smoke and debris had settled Tawera found himself starring at Mizuko who stood between the now door-less entrance, her hair swaying slightly in the updraft. Her eyes were narrow and her mouth formed a sharp frown. When Tawera had first met the girl, she was laid back and energetic. That was not was he saw now. Now he sensed determination, and intent….intent to destroy.

Mizuko stared back at Tawera, who stared at her with the same composed look, but this time he seemed to look at her as though she was a different person, a person who was a threat. She liked that look, it made her feel strong, it made her existence feel bigger. She raised an arm.

"Suiton." She said quietly. "Daibakufu no Jutsu"

Water encircled the young kunoichi before a large force of the liquid shot forward towards Tawera, who was stunned by the fact that Mizuko had not weaved a single sign before calling upon the attack. Or had she? Was she that fast? He attempted to dodge but the attack was too fast to avoid completely. He was able to avoid the worst of the attack by summoning another earth wall.

However, when the wall crumbled, Mizuko came bursting though, wielding one of the halberds that had been a part of a Knight's armor set. He rolled to the side as the blade came down sharply on his bronze throne. The sound echoed off the walls. Tawera drew a large dagger from his robes to defend against Mizuko's next attack. The sound of the clashing metal bounced around the room as Mizuko and Tawera took turns pushing each other back. The Kyu leader aimed for a weak point and Mizuko flipped back a few yards.

The two warriors stared at one another.

"Why did you take over the village?" Mizuko asked, her voice as even a still water.

Tawera did not answer right away. He closed his eyes and sighed. "I had always dreamed of becoming a shinobi ever since I was a boy, but, being the descendent of a New Zealand family, I was told I would never make it. The other children taunted me." He paused. "So I decided to prove them wrong and create an entire shinobi nation composed of foreigners that shared my dream. We took over the village because it was filled mostly with non-Japanese like us, however, when we had explained our plans, expecting their support, they turned us down, wanting to remain a peaceful town and not an enemy to the mainland. So we took them over by force, we needed the provisions and they completed those needs."

He stepped back,

"And now…" He said slowly. "we are close to achieving out dream."

His hand curled around something behind him.

"And I won't let you interfere!" He cried as he hurled a short spear towards Mizuko.

Her eyes went wide and she let out a gasp.

"Suiton!" She called out, quickly weaving the seals. "Suijinheki!"

Still, the defense was too late and the spear was already cutting through the water as it rose up to protect. She raised her arms to protect herself.

"Hyouton! Tsubame Fubuki!!"

A swarm of snow bird dived into the water wall, freezing it completely, along with the spear. Mizuko turned to see Hiko standing in the door way, a smile spread across her face. Her red bangs had practically been plastered to her face. She pushed her glassed back into place.

"Hiko!"

The small Kunoichi produced two pairs of folded blades from her coat and tossed them at Mizuko. She caught them and her smile widened.

"My Futago Shokei!" She cried. "You got them back for me."

Hiko smiled slightly as she approached her companion. "I figured you might want them back."

Her gaze shifted towards Tawera, and her expression turned serious.

"Ready to take him down?"

"Ready as ever!"

"Then let's go!"

The pair charged.

Sweat was dripping down my face. My eye lashes kept falling into my eyes and I had no time to attempt at getting them out, instead trying to do so from constantly blinking. My hair would stick to my face, and find it's way to my mouth, as though attempting to suffocate me. Out of the ten opponents, we had managed to only take out four. It was almost half, but six starts seeming like a lot when you get fatigued. Sasuke was just barley beginning to sweat and Yukimaru seemed fine, though I noticed he panted every now and again. I raised my blade and fended off an attack, but another Kyu came from behind and kicked out my feet from under me. I fell hard, but even though I knew my life would be at risk if I didn't move, It felt nice to just lay there, catching my breath. Something glinted and I saw a blade rushing towards me. My eyes when wide.

"Watch out!" I heard Sasuke's voice called.

But a figure appeared above me, knocking back my attacker. I recognized the figure.

"Luciano?" I said weakly.

He glanced down at me and gave me a soft smile. Osuzu's eye widened.

"Luciano???!? What are you doing on their side?! Your one of us!"

"Not by choice!" He said, his Japanese almost strong.

"I told you to…stay hidden, Luciano…" I said as I force my aching body to sit up. "You shouldn't have to do this because you helped us."

"I want to help Karasu." He said, still smiling. Then he was running towards Osuzu, attacking her as if they had never been part of the same team. His hazel eyes were blazing and his brown short brown hair swayed with every movement. He was older than me, maybe by a few years. However, I noticed the way Osuzu was almost hesitant about fighting him. It seemed strange.

I felt someone grab the back of my collar and drag me away from the battle. Sasuke leaned me up against the wall before pulling a bag from his pouch. He poured the context into my hand.

"Take these, and return to the fight." He said before running at an opponent who had taken notice of us. I stared at the solider pills in my hand, collect my breath, then popped them into my mouth. There was nothing at first but, within seconds I felt energy flow back thorough my body and I stood up, running my blade through a Kyu who had his back to me. That made five down.

Yukimaru had knocked up his bow and aimed it. I watched as air began to circulate around the arrow and when he released it, the entire right arm, and some of the torso of the male shinobi who had asked us to surrender, was pulverized. He was dead in seconds. He knocked up another arrow and shot a Kyu that had come charging at him. He received the shot in the head at point blank. Now, it was down to three.

A younger looking Kyu rushed at me and our blades met, he was strong and pushed me back, but kicked up sharply between his legs and he fell to the floor, his eye bulging as he cried out in agony.

"Sorry." I said with a shrug and a smile before moving on.

Sasuke had the second to last one caught between the wall and the tip of his blade. The Kyu looked from side to side, then booked it down the hallway, screaming something about reinforcements. One arrow from Yukimaru picked him off.

Osuzu and Luciano were in a blade lock. Though the Italian shinobi looked fierce, I saw something apologetic in his eyes. Osuzu still had a look of shock on her face. The lock broke and Luciano sent a wave of blade attacks at his former companion. She stumbled back, her eyes becoming more and more terrified. Then she dropped suddenly and even Luciano was surprised.

"I won't," She said shaking her head, tears forming in her eyes. "I won't fight you! Kill me if you must, but refuse to raise my blade against you."

I'm sure I wasn't the only one taken aback. She had seemed to eager to fight us, even apathetic at the thoughts of our death. Tears spilled down her face. What was Luciano to her? Was he so important that she refused to kill him?

I watched as her thin eyebrows knitted together and her deep red lips trembled. She buried her face in her hands, shaking her head as she repeated over and over: "I won't do it, I won't do it."

"Osuzu…" Luciano said softly, leaning forward, reaching out a hand towards her.

Suddenly, another loud crash range out through the corridors, and every one turned. Dust and bits of stone dropped from the ceiling.

"Aisuji-sama…." Osuzu mumbled.

I gave Sasuke a concerned look. I knew Hiko was in that direction and if the leader of the Kyu was there as well…

Sasuke nodded.

"Yukimaru!" I called. "We're going."

He nodded an we ran towards the source. Osuzu and Luciano following behind.

The sound of whirling wind filled the room. The Futago Shokei sliced through the air, the darkening sun glinting off their metal surfaces. Tawera knocked one to the side and dodged the other one. Mizuko yank a fist back, and he noticed string glint between her fingers. He spun around just in time to block the blade he had just missed seconds ago. But just as he did, he sensed a presence behind him and moved just in time to dodged a fatal blow from Hiko. His sleeve slit open though, along with his skin, and blood burst forth. Tawera stumbled, regained his composure, then put some distance between himself and his opponents. We weaved the signs.

"Doton! Ganchuusou!"

He planted a hand onto the ground.

"Mizuko, move!" Hiko said urgently.

The pair bounded to the sides, but not quick enough. The earthen spikes rose up from the ground and managed to cut them pretty good on both their legs and arms. Mizuko cried out and fell. In seconds a shadow appeared over her and she glanced up to see Tawera's silhouette above her, blade raised. However, Hiko was there almost as fast, slicing open the front of this shirt, but not cutting his had good as she would have liked. He recovered quickly from the attack, though, and returned a hard kick to Hiko's stomach. She flew back, slamming into a nearby pillar, the beautiful pottery around her crashing and shattering against the ground. She groaned softly as she rolled to the side clutching her stomach.

As Mizuko struggled to get up, Tawera grabbed her by the hair and pulled her up, crying out as she clawed at his arm. She took a shard of rock that had lodged itself into her leg in his earlier attack and plunged it into the inside of this elbow. He let out a painful bellow as he released her, staggering back. As she fell to the floor, he kneed her harshly under the chin. Mizuko skidded back a bit, spitting out a glob of blood. Tawera made his way to the top of a fallen pillar that led him towards the ceiling. He made the hand seals and placed his hand on the marvelous chandelier that hung above.

"Doton! Kajuugan no Jutsu!"

It was a beautiful creation, around the edges the crystals were a sharp diamond shape, but they slowly rounded out towards the middle. Mizuko watched as the artwork that one had great effort put into it making, quick turned to stone, its weight increasing, until it broke from its bonds and came hurtling towards her. She curled up in a ball in a futile effort to protect herself.

The sound of crystallization and cracking formed and the temperature around her dropped. She looked to see a wall of ice, then the chandelier made contact. Everything shuddered, and she was jerked to the side. She got up quickly, limping away as fast as she could. The ice began to crack then shattered. Mizuko dived, barley making it out of the danger zone. She panted her chest heaving, as she stood up she felt soft disruption of the air behind her. She spun around, weaving the seals as she did so.

"Suiton! Ja no Kuchi!"

A dragon of water erupted from her palm, tackling Tawera at full force, slamming him into the back window. He gasped sharply, bits of blood showering from his mouth. He panted a bit but when he looked up, he saw the setting sun glinting off a blade that hurtled toward him. The kunai lodged itself into his abdomen. He cried out a second time and looked down to see the letter bomb fuse nearing its end. He glanced up frantically and saw Hiko's arm raised, staring right at him. He gritted his teeth.

"All every wanted was-"

He was cut off by a silent snap. The bomb exploded. The flames and smoke curled outward in a sphere shape, sending a powerful gust of wind that knocked Mizuko and Hiko back towards the entrance of the room. The back window shattered, an thousand shards of glass flying in all directions. The Kunoichi pair curled up, but still the little knives lodged themselves into their skin like grains of sand. The smoke was then blown away from the scene by the sudden gust of cold air that came roaring through the windows like an enraged animal. Then silence.

Mizuko looked up. A tiny bit of debris tumbled down some of its larger relatives. The air was freezing, the room was destroyed and they looked like absolute shit, but they were alive. She turned to look at Hiko who's glasses had been broken, and looked no better than she did. He clothes were torn terribly, a sleeve and half a pant leg torn away. She was bruised and blood stained the edges of her mouth, but her eyes were still bright. Mizuko laughed, hesitant at first, then she broke into relieved laughter, letting out a victorious battle cry. Hiko smiled and let out laughter of her own.

Author Notes:

YEAH! I'M ON A ROLL! AND IT'S DELICIOUS!!! (sorry bad pun)

I don't know, I guess the spark came back, lol, I'll probably start working on the next chapter soon since that will end the Arc. Yayz!