Chapter 11
"Jeez how much stuff do you have in here?" asked Tomo as her back groaned under the weight of the immense pack.
"Just this and that. I like to consider myself a connoisseur, a collector of fine materials and arts. Some say I waste my money. But why not live for today and enjoy life as opposed to always worrying about the future?"
"Well, there's one thing I agree with you on" muttered Tomo as she slowly followed Kimura. She gasped in disbelief as they reached the main gate, the exit out of the village. Here she was, totally exhausted and they had yet to even leave the village. She certainly had thought she was in much better shape then that. Beside her Osaka was struggling to carry a pack almost as large as the one Tomo had (stupidly) chosen to take. Of her own free will.
"So Master Kimura, how long do you suppose this trip of ours will take?" asked Nakasone.
"Well it is difficult to predict" replied Kimura. "We have to take into consideration the possibility of attacks and even injuries. It certainly isn't the longest escort journey I have taken, but it will take a number of days to complete."
Tomo gawked at Kimura in disbelief. This was the most professional she'd ever seen him act like- he even seemed like a normal person focused on his job. She guessed you'd have to be more then just a pervert to last long enough to become a Jonin- you'd need skill, composure, and professionalism. She remembered vaguely hearing some people talk of Kimura in almost awe. However time around Yukari, Minamo and numerous female ninja had led to a less then heroic overview of the man. However the Hokage wouldn't assign him to a team if he wasn't sure that Kimura could defend them. Then again, whoever had in fact assigned Kimura had decided to let him lead a team consisting entirely of girls. Negative points for that one.
Slowly she turned away from the man and spotted Sakaki, standing proud and tall despite having to carry a large pack as well. Tomo glared at the girl and attempted to stand just as tall as Sakaki, adjusting the pack. The tall girl turned as a large crack rang out, and saw Tomo complaining about her knees. Kimura signalled for them to stop, before suddenly disappearing. He reappeared a few minutes later pulling a wooden cart behind him.
"I thought this would make our mission easier. How can we defend Mr Nakasone if we can't move?"
"Why didn't you get that earlier!" yelled Tomo before falling over backwards, the weight of the pack in combination with gravity too much for her sixteen and 7/8th (she was counting) year old body.
"Oh no are you alright?" asked Nakasone, rushing over to the stricken girl.
"Oh, I guess so."
"Not you idiot child. Oh my statuettes, my rare weapons, my antique books! Oh why did I entrust them to her" he said pointing at Tomo, who as of yet had not been helped by either Kimura or Nakasone, the two people closet to her.
"It's rude to point" muttered Tomo as Sakaki helped her to her feet. She quickly noticed Sakaki still carried her own large pack, and at the same time had had enough strength to pull her up. Tomo groaned. Sakaki had to have some form of weakness. She just had to find it.
Don't let Sakaki beat you!
"You're right!" exclaimed Tomo. She knew that she could do this.
"W-who's right?" asked a confused Sakaki.
"I'm still strong! Watch as I put this pack in the cart all by myself!" yelled Tomo. Kimura closed his eyes, and Nakasone stood in muted horror as thanks to her enthusiasm she slammed the expensive items into the wooden cart.
"Nooo!" cried Nakasone, "No, my precious items!" The large man sat upon the floor crying feebly at Tomo shook the pack which let out a faint rattle. He soon realized what he was doing and promptly stopped sobbing, trying to regain his composure. "Well, it's just things" he said, wiping away tears with a slightly chubby hand. "Come on girls, put the rest in the cart, no point in hurting your backs on my behalf."
"Thank you" murmured Osaka weakly, struggling with the sheer weight of what she carried. Tomo and Sakaki rushed across to the girl as she started stumbling one way, and then another, gripping the pack shortly before she collapsed to her knees. Holding the pack they walked across to the cart. Tomo felt her shoulder pop slightly as she held her side one handed, trying to look stronger. But Sakaki still had her pack on!
Damn it!
"Well, that's that done" said Tomo, "Let's get going! The old open road! The pathway of life! The way to excitement!"
"Please be quiet" stated Kimura. He was already close to getting a headache. Beside him Nakasone wiped tears away with a personalized handkerchief. "Don't worry Mr Nakasone, I'm sure all of your things will be fine."
The man nodded and turned away from the laden cart. "Now I guess you can see why I wanted a bit of protection. It's quite a tempting sight isn't it?"
"I suppose it is Mr Nakasone. And I guess you wanted the manpower too. I have other interests though" he said, looking towards Tomo. Slowly the girl noticed his attention.
"Stop looking at me through those glasses!" she called out. "You can hide your eyes, but you can't hide your intentions."
"It is creepy" agreed Osaka.
"I have no idea what you are talking about" replied Kimura. Denial was always one of the best forms of defence the man found. Sweet denial, he'd perfected it around Yukari. She was a dangerous one.
"Well then" said Nakasone, "Let's get going."
"Who pulls the cart though?" asked Sakaki.
"Tomo" stated Nakasone and Kimura in unison. Osaka as well as Sakaki didn't speak.
Sakaki saw the girls mouth drop in disbelief. That's a bit unfair. Choosing her. Though I guess she did damage some of his things. Slowly she held up her hand, some fingers still covered with plasters.
"I could pull the cart" suggested Sakaki.
"Oh no you don't, this is my job" replied Tomo. Wait! What have I done?
"Fine then, it's settled" said Kimura. "Time to get going."
He secretly checked a kunai was close at hand before slowly walking forward. He was going to lead the team out. He found the decision difficult- go at the front and leave the rear open to attack. Go at the back but then have to rely upon one of the young trainees to take the best path. However the second option would allow for him to watch Tomo and Sakaki as they went on their travels. It would be more fun for him- but he had a mission to take care of.
"Damn it" he muttered to himself. Tomo was still wearing shorts, and Sakaki had relatively tight fitting trousers. "Oh, another dream lost. Well, to wait for another day I suppose."
"What are you talking about Kimura-sensei?" asked Osaka.
"Nothing important."
Behind him Nakasone started to follow the man, the three girls walking behind him, Tomo straining with the cart. The tall wooden gate, marked with the symbol of the village hung above them, an impressive testament to the village. Yawning Kimura stepped outside, saying a mental goodbye to the village. Though Nakasone followed him, the three girls suddenly paused, looking back at the village in silence.
"What is it?" asked Kimura.
"Well…" trailed off Sakaki.
"This is the first time any of us have left the village" finished Osaka. "We've never been out there before."
"What sheltered lives you all must live" pondered Nakasone to himself.
"We aren't sheltered, we've just never needed to leave the village before" replied Tomo, defending the trio. We're ninja. If we're sheltered what are you? You need us to defend you scaredy cat!
"Well as ninja you'll find you will have to get use to saying goodbye to many things" said Kimura in an almost regretful sounding tone. "The place where you live, friends and even family. Besides, you will all be back soon enough" continued Kimura, ending in a more upbeat tone of voice.
"We call this whole place home, what differences does a few fences make?" asked Osaka in a suddenly wise sounding voice.
Sakaki, free of the pack allowed Mayaa to rest on her shoulder. With the cat, and her two companions she had all she needed. Maybe…maybe they will be my friends one day. Tomo nodded as Osaka spoke. I can leave this village no problem. She had her skills, her determination and her group. Who needed the village? Not me I can leave no problem!
Tearfully she followed Kimura-sensei into the wild. The wild being a well maintained road.
---
The darkness of the evening hung over the forest just like the silence. The man, hidden in the shadows sat upon the grass, waiting for his supposed informant to appear. A small group of men stood waiting around him. They were meant to be his squad, men he should trust. However he knew little about any of them- they were merely an adopted squad, provided to him by the wealthy man who'd hired him. Rich people stealing from richer people. It sickened him.
Some of the group turned as numerous twigs snapped and a hidden man cursed loudly as he twisted his ankle on a tree root. Slowly he appeared, moonlight revealing the village informant. He held up his hands as he stepped forwards. The men lowered the weapons that the informant hadn't even seen.
"So what brings you here" asked the man, still sitting on the grass.
The informant laughed nervously. "Try and guess."
"Well, for your sake I would hope that you have some information for me."
"Yes, yes of course" said the informant nodding his head furiously.
"Has the target left the village?"
"Yes he has. And as you predicted he has paid for protection. It appears he is being guarded by one of the Jonin chunin teams. A four person cell was sent with him- if you are particularly lucky, Genin might have been sent. The Hokage isn't against giving the younger ninja practice."
"Hmmm. I see. And are they following the predicted route?"
"Of course. I saw the fat man and his four guards disappearing along the main road out of the village."
"Thank you. You are no longer required."
The informant gasped as a man suddenly grabbed him, placing a sharp blade to his throat. The knife carrying man looked across at his temporary leader in expectation.
"Release him. Now."
The knife wielding man groaned as he let go of the man. No fun.
---
Tomo rested the small pillow on the ground, and sighed in pleasure as she placed her head on the soft object. Kimura merely rested upon the ground, while Nakasone leant against a tree. Sakaki, like Tomo had brought a pillow. Due to a spate of forgetfulness, Tomo now found herself sharing a large blanket with Sakaki. Kimura had seemed a bit too happy about two girls in one bed, and Tomo was certain she'd seen kittens sewn into the blanket. However when she asked the girl, she didn't get any form of reply. Osaka had managed to bring along two pillows, a sheet and a blanket. Tomo looked up towards the moon.
"Sakaki?"
"Yes Tomo?"
"If I was in trouble, would you help me, even if it meant danger for you?"
"Y-yes."
"Even if the odds were certain death for both of us."
"Perhaps. Probably."
Wow Sakaki would do that? Don't let her have the last word. "So would I!" exclaimed waking Nakasone from his slumber, as well as several birds.
"I would help both of you" added Osaka. "Unless I was the one that got you into trouble in the first place. Or turned against you. Then I guess I wouldn't help you. It would be stupid to help you if I was trying to kill you."
"O-k then" muttered Tomo.
"But apart from that I'd help you."
"What do you think will happen tomorrow Sakaki?" asked Tomo.
"Probably nothing." Hopefully.
"Goodnight girls. Don't forget to cuddle up close to one another" said Kimura, moonlight shining off his Sharingan eyes, glasses resting on the ground.
Soon only Tomo and Sakaki were still awake. Osaka sat crawled up in a ball muttering something about Chiyo-land. Kimura sat with his left leg trembling slightly as he occasionally cried out in excitement. Soon Tomo fell asleep, Sakaki feeling the girl resting against her back. This is nice. Much better then all that training.
Slowly Sakaki noticed Mayaa sleeping, crawled up just like Osaka a short distance from his new owner. She smiled as she fell asleep.
Well I decided to try and sneak this back in under the radar. Until I finish my love... story this won't be updated regurlarly. Also I got into University! That may throw me off in about three weeks.