Chapter 9
Reflections
Koni had managed to make it all the way to the fort before the poison had rendered incapable of moving again, when Krysta and the others arrived Kumico was already tending to his wounds and Velia was working on a new batch of antidote.
"You survived," said Kumico seeing them, "I saw the comets from here, those would have destroyed us for sure."
"Koni," worried Jivana kneeling beside him.
"He'll be fine, Velia will have her new potion ready soon, all the other victims have been cured and are now recovering quickly. Rusuta is inside the fort, she's asleep but not in danger, she should be awake soon," explained Kumico.
"You should go to her," said Varundo and Krysta nodded going inside the fort. Rusuta was lying on a small wooden camp bed and there was a small fire in the corner of the room to keep her warm. Krysta sat on the bed beside her and laid Rusuta's sash beside her body. Her rune glowed dimly, it was back to normal too and though it looked sore it was healing well.
"Mother?" Krysta heard her daughter say dryly.
"It's alright Rusuta, I'm here," smiled Krysta softly.
"Where am I?" said Rusuta looking around her.
"You're safe in our encampment, the nightmare is over, you're back to normal and don't worry Koni's fine," she told her.
"I'm not normal mother," she sighed sadly. Suddenly Rusuta started to cough and twinge Krysta had to hold onto her as she sat up desperate to breathe.
"It's ok, it's ok, calm down, calm down," Krysta tried to comfort her and Rusuta's fit went away.
"What's happening now, oh mother, please, I'm in such pain," Rusuta sobbed painfully and Krysta helped her recline on the pillows before taking up a nearby bowl and pouring some blood from her flask into it.
"Here, I know you need it," said Krysta giving it to her.
"No, no I'll never drink again, no," said Rusuta afraid.
"Rusuta, it's ok, it won't hurt you, I, I hoped this wouldn't happen, I was so afraid that you'd need blood like me, but I thought that my thirst wasn't hereditary, my mother, she, she never needed it, but me, I always thought it was the fault of the Star. Rusuta, when I was just younger than you I was on my first mission with Jivana and Varundo. We found the Star and tried to steal it, it tore my body apart but the incident is what made Jivana, Varundo and I the people we are. My thirst didn't come till that day, the day my runes awoke; I was powerless till then, even with my whip. Rusuta, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, but I know how to help you and I will, I'll help you control it, please you just have to drink, you'll die without it," she explained. Rusuta sighed and let her mother help her drink, she felt a little better physically but mentally Rusuta was still badly hurt.
"It's not fair, I'm so useless," she sobbed upset.
"Useless? You're not useless Rusuta, the way you've fought, you've become so strong, the thirst will make you stronger I promise, you just have to give yourself time," Krysta tried to comfort her.
"Mother how can I live like this, my venom, it will kill anyone I try to drink from, it's not the same as yours," she continued to cry.
"You don't have to worry about that, when we're at home you can drink as I do, when you fight your enemy will die by your blade or your poison depending on the fight, this venom is not a handicap, just the result of how you were born. Your father also has venom, though I'm unsure of the potency. Homaru is poisonous too you know, perhaps this was bound to happen from the start," Krysta tried to make her understand.
"Father told me, he told me he loved me, he told me he wanted me to go with him to the Sound Village, I'm so confused," she confessed and Krysta sighed. Rusuta was still wearing the Sound bandana Orochimaru had given her; Krysta took it off of Rusuta's head and folded it neatly.
"Rusuta, I will never regret your birth, not even your blood. Your father and I are both the strongest Ninja that our kind has ever come across and because of that you are inherently strong. I only regret how you have suffered for your blood, so many times I've wished that we still lived in Yukusha where you could truly feel accepted and safe, where the three of us could be together and there would be no bad consequences. But my dream will never come true, Yukusha is gone and your father is nothing more than a power hungry villain. I love you Rusuta and I've tried to be there for you so you would never have to feel afraid. But I know it's not easy, and I know that right now you are more frightened than ever, the Leaf Village may no longer make you feel safe anymore. I know, I've always known how you would be treated in the Sound Village, I know how promising it seems, but Rusuta think. You're good and kind, you have a spirit I never had, can that spirit live in a Ninja sect where power is all they desire?" she told her daughter giving her back the bandana, "I can't say if he loves you, or whether he just loves your power, but Rusuta, here, we'd love you even if you weren't strong." Rusuta stopped crying and Krysta got up to leave, she looked back for a moment and Rusuta could see she was sad, Krysta left then and Rusuta looked at her bandana.
"Mother, I am scared, if I go back, then, I'll hurt them, they'll hate me, I'm so scared. I'm not strong enough Mother, I'm just not strong enough," she thought starting to cry again.
The next morning Koni was well again and was itching to finish the exam, they had barely a day left.
"I hope Rusuta's ok, he said to Naruto who was getting ready to leave with Jarriya.
"She'll be fine," smiled Naruto.
"Where are you going?" asked Koni.
"I'm going to tell Sakura about Sasuke, then the two of us will go find him and bring him back, now that we've saved Rusuta, I know we can save Sasuke!" said Naruto cheerfully.
"I'll be there to help to, this could get messy," said Jarriya.
"Good luck Naruto," said Koni and Naruto and Jarriya waved goodbye before leaving.
"Hey, you're the guy who saved me aren't you?" Koni heard a girl say, it was Li Li, one of Rusuta's first victims.
"You're looking well," Koni said seeing her and her sisters together again.
"Wow what a hunk," swooned Mi Mi.
"Get a grip Mi Mi," sighed Si Si. Koni laughed a little, he was glad they were ok.
"Where's that Rusuta girl, we've heard what happened, and we just want to say we're sorry," said Li Li.
"She's resting, but I'm just going to go wake her up, you three can talk to her then if you want?" he told them but suddenly Velia ran out of the fort.
"Brother Rusuta's gone!" she cried.
"What? Not again!" he cried worried.
"Don't worry," said Krysta appearing, she still looked sad, "I was expecting this, I knew she couldn't face going home feeling like she is right now."
"I'll go find her," said Koni.
"Koni, there's nothing you can do, this is her choice," said Krysta sadly showing him her Leaf Village bandana, she'd left it behind. Koni shook his head defiantly and ran into the forest.
Koni followed his feelings and before long came to a part of the forest where a clean glistening lake surrounded by rocks was. Rusuta was sitting on one of the rocks and she seemed to be crying.
"Rusuta, thank goodness I found you," said Koni going over to her.
"Stay away from me!" she screamed somewhat angrily.
"What's wrong? It's just me?" worried Koni looking down on her, she was looking at her reflection in the lake but her hair fell in front of her face marring her view.
"Rusuta, come on now, what's wrong?" he said calmer and she looked at him, she looked sad and frustrated, she was angry he'd found her in time.
"I can't find him, not even by Projection, I can't find him!" she told him sadly.
"Who?" wondered Koni.
"My father!" she screamed at him distraught.
"Rusuta why are you trying to find him? He tried to make you destroy your mother, try to kill me," he asked her not understanding.
"Because I can't go back, I can't go back to the Leaf Village, I can never go back, not now, never," she sobbed bitterly.
"Why? Why Rusuta, nothing's changed, why can't you go home? Umani's gone Rusuta, our parents killed him, there's no reason to go back to your father, please just tell me why you want to leave?" he asked her kneeling with her.
"How can you say nothing's changed? After everything I've done, what I've become, I need blood to survive Koni, I can never eat normal food again, I'm not normal any more, I'm just like mother and if that wasn't frightening enough, I'm poisonous, Koni every time I drink, I'll kill someone, someone I might not mean to, my venom is too dangerous. I'm not like mother, I'm worse, I'm even more deadly than she is and I don't want to be, but I'm stuck this way! Koni I'm all alone, if I go back, I'll hurt so many people, when we first arrived there everyone was afraid of me, just because of how I looked, now they'll hate me because I'm nothing more, I'm nothing more…" she trailed off tearfully crying into his chest. Koni heard a splash and looked to see she'd dropped her Sound Village bandana in the water, the water became saturated with red and Koni realised her rune was bleeding, bleeding because she was crying.
"Nothing more than what?" he asked quietly.
"A, monster," she sobbed painfully.
"Rusuta, you're not, you know you're not," he tried to comfort her.
"I am, I am, everyone was right, I am, my cursed blood, my freakish looks, I've tried to prove I wasn't but I am, I am! I am a monster, I am, I am!" she cried harder.
"So, you finally admit it?" Koni heard a voice say, on the other side of the lake sitting on a rock was Sasuke, he looked like he was enjoying Rusuta's mental breakdown.
"Sasuke," glared Koni holding Rusuta closer to him to protect her.
"Oh don't get protective Varundo Jr. I'm not here to attack," scoffed Sasuke sarcastically before laughing.
"You think this is funny! You think I'm funny, you watch, you get close enough you'll feel my venom!" screamed Rusuta seeing him.
"Shut up you spoiled little brat," glared Sasuke, "I didn't think Umani's defeat would be the last I heard of this crazy custody battle and it seems I was right, here you are sobbing your poor little venom filled heart out finally realising what I told you and your even more freakish mother all your life is and has always been true. I can't say I'm not disappointed."
"You helped us get her out of the Sound Ninja encampment, you helped us save her, why now to you turn cold again Sasuke! Is there no warmth in your heart, just ice and hate, why do you hate us so much!" yelled Koni.
"That's my business you want a history lesson go ask Krysta, as for you Rusuta, stop crying that you're lost and alone, you know you're not. If you want to find Orochimaru so badly then follow me, I'll take you back," said Sasuke.
Rusuta looked up startled and pulled away from Koni a little, Sasuke looked like he was glaring at her hatefully but Rusuta thought she saw something else. She knew Sasuke was too proud to ever admit he cared about what happened to her and her family but she knew he did care, she'd known ever since the day she'd promised to show him she wasn't an evil thing like he thought, if Koni was telling the truth about her rescue, why now would he lead her back to the very evil he had helped save her from?
"You would take me home, back to my father?" asked Rusuta hopeful.
"If that's what you want princess, I know Orochimaru promised that if you lived there one day he would leave you his entire empire. However I know the real reason you want to go, it's not for that, it's not for your father, it's because no one in the Sound Village will ever call you a monster, will never shy away from you, will never show fear, all because you're his precious flower," he glared at her.
"Is that it, is that the real reason Rusuta, is he right," said Koni sounding angry, Rusuta looked at him and he pushed her towards Sasuke.
"You want to go back to that evil man, and leave those who truly love you behind, just so you won't have to face the taunting, so that no one will ever tell you they're afraid of you or that they hate you for being what you are, you think they'll accept you there!" he shouted at her angrily Rusuta looked scared.
"How can you be like this, I'm scared Koni, I'm so afraid!" she cried at him.
"That's never stopped you before, that's never made you take the easy road, you've always been stronger than that!" he told her.
"I'm not, I'm not Koni, I'm not strong enough, I'm not! My venom, I almost killed you! How can you want to make me live around those for whom my venom is the stuff of nightmares!" she yelled at him.
"Because I love you! Because I don't want to see you being forced to attack anyone ever again, because I want you to be free!" he replied and Rusuta looked at him calmer but still sad, "Rusuta, you might think that the Sound Ninja will hail you as a princess, and will never be like the people in the Leaf Village who yes may run and hide the moment you step into a room. But, that will all just be to your face, behind your back they'll still be that same as the Leaf Ninja, they'll snigger and curse and hate you because they're scared too, but they're more scared of their leader and seeing him I don't blame them. Look at Sasuke Rusuta! Why would he go to Orochimaru if he weren't scared of something himself, all there is in the Sound Village is fear, even if it's just who the Ninja used to be, before he found them, and manipulated them, will you let him manipulate you Rusuta, will you run away and hide. You'll never be alone there Rusuta, but you'll never be free, you leave and this time it's for keeps, you'll never be able to come back. Rusuta, that's my worst fear, that I'll lose you and never be able to get you back, but I can't run away from that fear, otherwise you will be lost, I'm going to stand right here, and I'll face my fear, and I'll defeat Sasuke and Orochimaru, and I'll even knock you out to drag you home, because I won't run from my fear, I'll stop it," he told her powerfully.
"Koni, I," said Rusuta hiding under her hair moved by his words, then Sasuke started clapping arrogantly.
"A noble speech Koni, you going to back it up," he laughed.
"Don't tempt me Sasuke!" growled Koni.
"I'm afraid I am running out of time here, so let me make this simple, I'm offering to take you home Rusuta, there's just one thing I want you to do," he glared evilly and Rusuta looked at him puzzled.
"Tell me, tell me to my face that you're a monster admit it fully, go on, you just told him, surely you can tell me," he sneered moving to stand in front of her. Rusuta didn't say anything but Sasuke continued to taunt her.
"Go on, admit it, you're a monster, a freak, and your mother's a monster and a freak and all your kind!" he yelled at her before Rusuta had enough and grabbed his wrist throwing him into the lake angrily.
"I'm not a monster Sasuke! Not my mother, not me, not my kind! We're not monsters!" she screamed Koni smiled happily.
"You're back!" he laughed happily and Sasuke stood up coughing and spluttering on the water.
"I knew you couldn't do it," he coughed and Rusuta calmed down and glared at him hatefully.
"Sasuke, you're wrong, you're wrong you have to be," she told him.
"You just remember that, cause if I ever catch you in the Sound Village, I'll know I'm right," he smiled cockily.
"I'll never let that happen," glared Rusuta and Sasuke went to leave.
"Oh and Koni, by the way, I'm not scared of anything," said Sasuke disappearing into the trees.
"You gave me a real fright there," smiled Koni and Rusuta laughed nervously, "I thought you were actually serious."
"I was Koni," she said shyly.
"You were?" asked Koni.
"Yes but, Koni I know he's bad, but he's still my father, I can't change that, I can't help wanting to make him proud like mother. Koni these past days I've heard the words, I love you, said to me more than my whole life is worth, those words made me so happy but, but when you said it, just now, that's the first time, that's the first time I actually believed it," she explained smiling trying not to tear up again.
"I was being serious too you know?" he told her and Rusuta walked up and hugged him.
"Rusuta?" he gasped surprised.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry for everything, I'm so ashamed of how I've acted, you must think I'm a child for carrying on like this," she said sadly.
"It's ok, you were just confused, it's alright," he comforted her, "let's just go back now, your mother's worried about you." Rusuta looked at him and nodded and Koni let her go.
"Koni, thanks. We're a team right, always?" she said to him.
"No doubt about it," he laughed happily.
"Koni, if I ever forget that again, you just bring me right back into line ok?" she giggled.
"Yes ma'am," smiled Koni and Rusuta went back to the pool and retrieved her bandana.
"Memory," she said showing him before folding it away. Then Rusuta took hold of Koni's hand and said,
"Let's get back, we have an exam to finish!"
Krysta was sitting on a tree stump waiting for Koni to return alone, she was sure Rusuta was long gone and so was very surprised when she saw them running back together.
"Rusuta?" cried Krysta amazed seeing her, Rusuta ran up to her mother and hugged her apologetically.
"I'm sorry," she told her letting go.
"You came back, I thought, oh Rusuta I'm so glad you're back," said Krysta showing more emotion now than Rusuta had ever seen. Jivana and Varundo came over then they were happy to see Rusuta too.
"Rusuta," smiled Jivana seeing her.
"I'm sorry I worried everyone," she said sincerely.
"Rusuta it's ok, you can stop apologising," laughed Koni.
"That's right!" snapped Krysta suddenly, everyone looked at her alarmed, "You have an exam to finish young lady!"
"But we don't have enough time to find another Ninja Team to get the key off of?" worried Koni.
"And Umani's key must've been destroyed in the battle?" worried Rusuta.
"You mean this?" said Varundo revealing a piece of yellow coloured glass in the shape of a sun.
"You guy's have a key?" said Rusuta.
"Of course, we were playing enemies after all," glared Jivana arrogantly.
"But a three on two fight isn't exactly fair, hmm, Varundo why don't you hold the key and call the match, Jivana it's you and me," smiled Krysta evilly going over to her friend.
"Ok Krysta, I'll stand over here, Velia come here a sec," said Varundo standing aside with his little daughter.
"We're going to fight you mother, but what about my?" worried Rusuta worried about her venom.
"Forget I'm your mother will you, you need a rejump-start in your fighting attitude!" said Krysta unleashing her whip focused.
"Besides, that's what Velia's for," giggled Jivana brandishing her chakrams.
"They leave us no choice Rusuta," said Koni standing beside her and winking.
"I guess not Koni," giggled Rusuta letting her whip loose.
"Begin!" cried Varundo.
Jivana's chakrams started to spark with electricity before she threw them at Koni and Rusuta, the two nimble teens jumped out of the way only for them to seemingly jump straight into the path of Krysta's deadly whip, they really weren't playing around. Koni enacted his Sen Blade and Rusuta span up a storm with her own whip, the dust sandstorm however did little to deter her mother who simply swiped through it completely destroying it.
"They're not making this easy," smiled Koni.
"I don't think they would even if we weren't their children," giggled Rusuta cheering up.
"Jivana, let's show them one of our favourite moves, it's been a while since we did it," smiled Krysta straightening her whip until it looked like a sword.
"Good idea," chuckled Jivana spinning her electric chakrams fiercely. Suddenly Krysta threw her whip blades into the air and as the electricity sparked over the blades they turned to ice and became a fully sealed Ice Blade. The electricity of the chakrams grew further until they span by themselves as a perpetual energy ball, Jivana threw the ball and Krysta threw her blade javelin like into it. The two attacks fused together and went straight for Koni and Rusuta. Koni grabbed Rusuta and helped her leap out of the way but the two weapons merely returned to their owners in order to strike again.
"They, they can combine their powers, too cool," said Koni amazed.
"I never knew mother could do that, I've never seen her blade turn to ice before," said Rusuta.
"If we had Varundo's Flame Sword that attack would be three times as powerful," taunted Krysta.
"Dad too?" wondered Koni.
"They fight as a team but, like really as a team, that attack is all of them put together, how can they do it?" worried Rusuta standing up Krysta glared at her evilly.
"I'll make you a deal Rusuta, if you can figure out how to perform the combo I'll give you the key there and then, if you can't you will have to try and defeat us without that power, and that might take a while. You have only a few hours before the exam ends and you both won't have qualified, I'd be quick," she said bracing with her whip again.
"Mother's right Koni, we can't defeat her," said Rusuta.
"You sure, you are more powerful than her," said Koni.
"I'm not as fast, or as experienced, besides I can't be more powerful if I can't perform that move," replied Rusuta and she and Koni had to scatter again and Jivana and Krysta moved in to attack again.
Rusuta blocked her mother's attacks and tried to counter with her own but she wasn't having much effect.
"Maybe I should just summon Homaru, like I did before," she wondered.
"I think you can do this without doing that," said Homaru.
"But how, how can I do the combo?" worried Rusuta blocking and countering her mother's blade.
"Watch Krysta and Jivana's movements, you'll see the link," said Homaru. Rusuta stopped for a moment and Krysta stopped too, she watched in the background as Jivana continued to fight with Koni. Rusuta noticed something, only one of Krysta's runes was sparking; the other two were merely glowing. The rune on her left hand was very fierce and Jivana's was flaring like crazy. Rusuta leapt at her mother and the rune on her chest sparked up as she defended herself.
"Could it be? Left for Jivana and the middle rune for her own power? Then the right rune is for Varundo, mother can control their powers?" wondered Rusuta backing away again, suddenly Koni crashed into her and the two became pinned by some trees.
"Any idea's I'd love to hear them," said Koni.
"Koni, I think I know how they do it, but I only have one rune, I can only control my power?" she said still in her train of thought.
"I don't know what you're talking about but I think our moms are fixing to make sushi out of us if we don't figure this out," worried Koni. Rusuta looked at him, his rune was flaring the same as hers was and it gave her an idea.
"The Star ripped my mother's body apart, when the three woke up mother had two runes and Jivana and Varundo only had one each, she couldn't control her own power but was able to control theirs, that means," she thought to herself before crying out, "I'm sorry if this hurts Koni!" Koni looked at her surprised before Rusuta plunged her right hand onto Koni's flaring chest rune, Koni cried out in pain.
"What are you doing Rusuta!" he cried. Rusuta struggled and slowly brought her hand away, she looked like she'd been burned by a fire as her hand glowed a painful red but then began to cool away. Once the glow was gone a new glimmering rune could be seen on her right wrist.
"Another rune, I did it!" she said happily.
"What did you do, that hurt Rusuta," he worried hoping he wouldn't bleed again.
"Impressive," smiled Krysta flicking her hair arrogantly, "still, can you use it?"
"I can!" cried Rusuta but no matter what she tried the new rune wouldn't flare, "Oh no."
Krysta and Jivana attacked again and Rusuta tried in vein to power up her new rune, Koni was still able to use his and she couldn't understand what had gone wrong. Suddenly Krysta and Jivana powered up their combo attack again but just before they started Rusuta noticed something, Krysta touched her chest rune before Jivana's chakrams could reach full power.
"It can't work alone, it needs my power too, you'd think it'd already have that," sighed Rusuta to herself standing with Koni.
"Rusuta, if that thing hits us we're sunk," said Koni tiredly.
"Don't worry I think I've got it," smiled Rusuta bringing her hands together as if forming a hand sign.
"Frigid Lightning Jutsu!" cried Jivana and Krysta and the attack came flying towards them.
"Rusuta!" cried Koni worried.
"Plasma Fusion Jutsu!" cried Rusuta and her wrist rune sparked wildly giving the new rune some of it's power and causing it to react with the original rune, the power surge created a temporary barrier which deflected Krysta and Jivana's move. When the light dimmed Krysta could see her daughter now had two fully active runes.
"What now?" she asked her jokingly.
"I have a pretty good idea," smiled Rusuta. Rusuta's new rune glowed and her whip turned back into a glowing red sash, she took one end with her new runed hand and placed the end to Koni's rune, his rune sparked and the sash seemed to attach. Then in the sudden dance flurry Rusuta used the rest of the sash to create what looked like a longbow.
"Koni place your sword in the middle of the bow," said Rusuta and though painfully confused Koni proceeded to do so. The sword flashed red and turned into a glowing red arrow like spear.
"This is amazing Rusuta!" cried Koni happily.
"Plasma Bow Attack!" Rusuta cried letting the arrow fly straight at Jivana and Krysta.
"It's a direct hit Rusuta!" cried Koni happily.
Rusuta watched as an explosion was created by the impact but then as the dust cleared Krysta was standing strong with her hand out in front of her, she'd blocked it completely.
"No way!" cried Rusuta as she and Koni unattached.
"Krysta?" said Jivana amazed she was able to hold off the attack. Krysta put down her arm and looked at Rusuta as if she was mad, then she smiled and started to laugh happily.
"I knew you could do it!" she laughed.
"We did it Koni!" cried Rusuta high fiving her partner.
"Yes, you did," smiled Krysta taking the key from Varundo and walking over to them. Krysta gave Rusuta the key and smiled at her proudly.
"Rusuta, you have performed an attack that is only available to our kind, no other rival will be able to do this. I'm sure you already understand but you see now how it is we Blood Creed are always connected to one another. The feeling between you and Koni was strong enough to create that incredible attack and Koni, you must trust Rusuta with all of your heart, or else she would have been unable to create the new rune. Of course this move will be useless in the single fights but, well at least you now have it together. You must hurry now, use the key and the map to find the Tower and make it before sunset," she told them.
"Mother, I," said Rusuta happily but Koni dragged her away.
"Come on Rusuta," he laughed running off with her.
"Krysta, there is no secret to our combo is there?" said Jivana suspiciously.
"I thought we were all just training one day and we thought it was a cool idea?" said Varundo and Krysta laughed.
"That is all ours is, but Rusuta needed an identity boost, plus that attack was a lot more to do with the connection between her and Koni than between the three of us. Rusuta needed to see for herself just what good her power can do and to be honest I think my little experiment showed a great tap of Blood Creed potential we ourselves should pursue," said Krysta.
"Oh Krysta," laughed Jivana happily.
"Yay, big brother and sister go boom!" cheered Velia childishly.
"Sister?" wondered Krysta.
"That's what Velia calls Rusuta, she always has," giggled Jivana and Kumico came over.
"Now that this business is taken care of, Krysta I think I have some information about that control spell used on you and Rusuta," he said, Krysta looked worried.
"I thought you might, it's very old huh?" she said.
"The original text that you wrote down from what little you remember is a type of Yulikan dating from over five-hundred years ago, the earliest known records of our kind. Over the centuries before the Great Sealing Yulikas evolved into the modern ones that you and I can read, but by then it was only the priests using them as modern language had been introduced to aide the spies," said Kumico.
"Then how is it Orochimaru learned it?" asked Jivana.
"The only way is to have read it out of a parchment containing the spell, as we are the only Blood Creed left he didn't get it by word of mouth. Still that would mean finding a scroll over five hundred years old and then actually being able to read and understand what he'd found. Orochimaru is smart, but this is beyond something even he should be able to accomplish. Especially since all of Yukusha's tomes were destroyed with Yukusha," replied Kumico.
"Not all of them Kumico," said Krysta looking worried again, "my parents kept The Scroll of Meaning with them, and I took it to Yukusha before it was sealed away again."
"I see, that enchanted scroll may indeed have held secret knowledge of our early times," thought Kumico.
"But we got you out, and the Star, but we didn't save the scroll, wouldn't it just have been destroyed?" said Varundo.
"There's only one way to know," said Krysta and the others nodded before heading back to the Leaf Village.
Rusuta and Koni ran through the forest as fast as they could using the new revealed dot on the map, made visible by the glass, and Rusuta's projection power to avoid getting lost, finally the forest vegetation just seemed to stop and a huge clearing lay before them with a tall thin stone tower rising into the heavens above them.
"We, we made it," panted Koni.
"Halt!" they heard a cry and two Leaf Ninja appeared before them.
"We've made it right, we're in time?" said Rusuta noticing the changing colour of the sky.
"Do you have the key?" said one of them.
"Yes, here it is," said Rusuta showing them. The two Ninja nodded and turned to the tower.
"Follow us," they said.
"Must be one last test or something," whispered Koni and they followed the two men. They were brought into a room full of chests they were all identical.
"You two are the last we'll let through here so your jobs harder than the others," said one of them.
"That Key will open just one chest and then it will disappear, inside the right one are your passes into the Final Exam Tournament, all you have to do is find it," said the second.
"What if we get the wrong one?" asked Koni worried.
"Simple kid, you don't pass," laughed the first one.
"No way, after everything we've done," sighed Koni.
"Don't worry, we'll get it right, I know we will," said Rusuta going up to the chests. She looked around but there appeared to be absolutely no way to tell them apart, they were all grey, made of wood and each had the same shape of indentation on the clasp of the lock.
"They're completely identical?" Rusuta worried a little.
"Maybe the way to tell them apart is hidden, like the vanishing jutsu on the exam papers?" said Koni. Rusuta looked at the chest's through the glass, other than tinting her vision nothing changed.
"Not even the key can help," sighed Rusuta.
"How did you see the questions?" asked Koni.
"I used my blood," said Rusuta, "Homaru did the rest."
"I don't think it was Homaru," smiled Koni taking the glass and slitting his finger with it. What little blood appeared he spread over the glass and then tried to look through it, at first nothing appeared.
"What are you doing?" asked Rusuta.
"You can learn a new move or two, I thought I'd try my hand," he said making his rune flare up. The blood on the glass glowed a little and Koni could see a faint glowing on one of the chests in the corner through the glass.
"I think I can see something, this trick really works," he smiled.
"Are you sure, we only have one chance," said Rusuta.
"You're going to have to trust me on this, I swear I can see a glow from the lock on the chest in the corner," said Koni pointing, the two went over to it but Rusuta was nervous.
"Koni think, are you sure it's not one of the others, are you sure it's right?" she worried and he smiled at her.
"I trust you don't I? You're mom said I had to for you to have made that amazing bow, have a little faith in me, ok Rusuta? I know I'm right, I did exactly what you did and I can see the glow from this lock. Trust me?" he asked her and Rusuta smiled back positively.
"I trust you," she said and Koni bent down and put the key in the lock, it fitted, now Koni had to do was open the chest.
"Give me your hand, we should open this together," said Koni placing Rusuta's hand on the chest too.
"Ready? One, two…" he said.
"Three!" she cried together throwing open the chest. A smoke bomb exploded barring the contents from their view but as it cleared Rusuta and Koni were overjoyed to see three scrolls inside.
"Well done, you passed!" cheered the two Leaf Ninja and Koni took the scrolls out and gave one to Rusuta.
"We did it Rusuta!" he cried happing.
"Oh Koni you're wonderful!" laughed Rusuta happily throwing herself into hugging him. Suddenly Rusuta kissed Koni and he felt very surprised.
"Rusuta, Rusuta you," he stammered as she let go of him.
"Because I love you Koni, this whole thing, I've learned I haven't ever been able to be away from you for even a moment, we've been more than friends from the very beginning, you've always been there and taken care of me, even when I didn't realise you were only trying to keep me from destroying myself. We came into this forest only caring about passing a silly exam, I put nothing before that, if I'd have just told mother sooner that I was ill, then maybe," she said starting to sound regretful but Koni kissed her back.
"Don't regret this test Rusuta, it made me realise just how much I always cared for you. Now we have a chance to go into the final set of this exam and beat everyone we can, but it doesn't matter what happens because we've got each other. We always had each other, it just took Umani to make us realise that," he told her.
"Umani's dead isn't he," sighed Rusuta looking at the third scroll.
"Mom told me he was crushed by a tree, then Homaru finished him off with his own venom," he told her.
"Then I guess we have no use for this," replied Rusuta handing it to one of the Ninja, "out in the forest under some trees is a dead male ninja, this was to be his, make sure you bury it with him."
Rusuta and Koni then left the tower and started back towards the Leaf Village. Suddenly Rusuta started to laugh childishly and looked at Koni cunningly.
"No, no Rusuta, come on," worried Koni.
"Catch me Koni!" she laughed happily dashing into the trees.
"Rusuta! Come back!" cried Koni running off after her.