Azumangaruto special
"Tell me Kline, just what is the extent of the damage?" asked the man, sitting at the far end of the polished wooden table. Übel Kline, a few years senior of his lord looked upwards at the man. The others around him remained silent. He looked his lord in the face as he spoke. He showed no signs of fear, unlike some of the others present.
"The devastation to the town has been great. The factory has been lost, and several men are missing, presumed killed by the explosions. Production has halted indefinitely."
"Kline, weren't you in the town on the day this incident occurred?"
"My Lord, that is an unfair…" started Shuzo Inoue, one of the others present for the meeting. He paused when the man stared straight at him. He bowed his scarred face when Kline himself shook his head in disapproval.
"It occurred after I left. My Lord, I am afraid that I saw no signs at all pointing to any of this happening. I only wish I could have been there to stop it" said Kline.
"Are there any reports about who was involved?" asked the man.
Kline paused for a moment. "One of our spies mentioned the presence of the supposed demon fox child. That one as well as a group of other ninja from a nearby village."
"Wasn't that the one at the village we…" started another of the men present in the room.
He stopped, knowing not to refer to the death of his Lord's brother. Shuzo looked across quickly, but the leader said nothing. Instead the Lord bowed his head slightly, smiling to himself.
Half a year later…
Kimura marched along the great hallway by himself, few people present in the building at this time of day. Indeed it was a very pleasant day outside but Kimura did not care for that at this moment in time. He walked with a determined air, with weapons attached to his belt and a bag slung over one shoulder. He had the appearance of a man who wished to be travelling shortly, a man who had something to do.
He tapped on the great door loudly and stood still as it opened inwards. Without a word he stepped forwards into the large room, nodding his head briefly at one of the armed guards.
"So you are here. I assume you must have heard what is going on" said the seated Kimura senior.
"I have" said Kimura in an oddly subdued manner. "I've come here to request to be part of the team this village sends."
"I suspected you would be here" said Kimura senior nodding his head. "I mean, for that man to reappear…However I am uncertain about this. Will you allow your emotions get the better of you? I don't want to put the lives of others, or indeed your own life at risk purely due to anger, a need for revenge."
"Surely you know me by now" said Kimura attempting to lighten the mood. "I might punch the guy a few times but I won't hinder the mission. I mean I've heard Yukari is going, I don't want to mess around with her around."
"Well my son if you can promise not to cause any problems then I see nothing wrong with you going. Another experienced ninja would be of great benefit to the small task team we're sending."
"Thank you" said Kimura, bowing down slightly. "I promise I won't let you down."
"Good, good. But who will oversee the training of your two students while you are gone?" asked Kimura senior.
"I have found someone to help Sakaki develop her skills. And I believe I have found someone willing to watch over Tomo in my absence" replied Kimura.
"I see. Well good luck with the mission. And give him a punch from me" said Kimura Senior, his face briefly looking pained.
"I'll try to remember to do that" replied Kimura as he turned to leave the room.
Kimura sat lazily in his chair, yawning as the man sat down beside him. He briefly waved to the man before adjusting his glasses and then taking a sip of his drink. The noise in the small bar was quite impressive given the small number people present.
"So your eyes still give you some problems huh? Still have to use those glasses?" asked the man.
"Of course. And they'll probably always give me problems, tire me out. But you already knew that right?" asked Kimura.
"Yeah I did" said the man as he gripped his own drink with a bandaged hand. "But its been a while since we've met, I thought it'd help to get a conversation started."
"Seems to have worked" said Kimura as he eyed a passing waitress.
"So then you're going to be leaving soon?"
"Yep."
"And you want me to look after your student while you are gone? You do realize I haven't trained any students for almost a decade now don't you?" asked the man.
"I'm aware of that, but I know you still have the ability. I mean I can remember looking up to you when I started out teaching younger ninja. Of course I doubt you'll do as well as I did…"
"Very funny. But luckily for you I'm quite interested in this. The girl is the one who possesses the power of the demon after all. To train her, if only for a while, would be very interesting. However I've heard she can be trouble."
"Not really trouble…more a bit…stupid at times I guess. Rushing into things."
"As I recall correctly you have had some problems with rushing into thing in the past" replied the man.
"I guess so" said Kimura. "So Sen can I count on you to look after Tomo while I'm gone?"
"Of course you can" replied Sen. "I look forward to it."
The next day
"What do you mean you aren't going to train me?" asked Tomo.
"I'm afraid I've had an important mission turn up that I'm urgently required for" replied Kimura.
"B-but I'm your student!" said Tomo.
"And so is Sakaki, but she has found a new teacher to help train her" replied Kimura. "In fact it could help you to have lessons from a different teacher to me."
"But I don't know of anyone to ask, and no one seems to like me" whined Tomo. "I wouldn't be able to find a teacher."
"You don't have to worry about that" said Kimura.
"You've changed your mind?" asked Tomo. Kimura almost sighed in despair.
"Nope. It's just that I've happened to ask someone to take care of you for a while" replied Kimura.
"I see" said Tomo. The girl sounded almost as though she was a bit excited at the idea. Kimura continued to talk with the girl for a short while before they eventually parted. Kimura stood and watched as Tomo disappeared into the village. He wasn't completely certain if he would see her again.
"Bah I don't know why I have to come on this damn mission" groaned Yukari as she struggled to fully close her bag. She had stuffed the poor thing to near breaking point with various snacks.
"The school is currently on a break so you're free" replied Minamo who was already ready. "And you're currently one of the most experienced ninja in this village."
"Ok fine, I'm here. But why are you two coming along? Don't you have students to teach? Huh Nyamo?"
"Yomi and Chiyo are currently on a break" replied Minamo in an annoyed tone. "In fact I'm bringing Kagura along with us. She is one of the most gifted physical students this village has at the moment. I think this mission will help her develop her skills even more."
"Fine then. What about you?" asked Yukari.
"Tomo and Sakaki are currently being trained by different teachers" replied Kimura. "And I requested to come along on this mission. I guess you could say I have a personal reason to be here." As he uttered his last sentence Minamo bowed her head down slightly.
"So where is this guy who's meant to know the area? And where is Kagura?" asked the grumpy Yukari. "I wanna get going as soon as possible so we can get back sooner. This mission sounds annoying."
"And dangerous" said Minamo sternly as Kagura joined the small group. "Remember that Yukari."
"Don't worry, I don't plan on dying any time soon Nyamo" replied Yukari.
"So what's going on?" asked Kagura. "I'm not quite sure what's happening, but I wanted to come along on the mission" added the girl in an excited tone. She'd been looking forward to going on a proper mission, having only been in training for several months.
"Don't worry I'll explain" said Kimura as Yukari started to open her mouth. The woman grumbled under her breath. "We are off on a mission to find and capture a rogue ninja. The man has been linked to several crimes over a period of many years. He vanished for a while…but now he has reappeared." Everyone present could hear a slight change in the tone of Kimura's voice. Yukari paid little attention to it.
"All this for one guy" said Yukari. "Isn't this a bit of an overkill?"
"The man is believed to be responsible for…for many deaths" muttered Kimura. "He is considered extremely dangerous and a high level ninja. He has been observed around the peak of the dormant volcano ten miles from this village. The scout wasn't able to confirm what he was doing there, but was able to correctly identify him."
"So we go out there, find the guy, beat him up and bring him back?" asked Yukari.
"That is correct" said Kimura narrowing his brow slightly. Kagura thought that the teacher seemed a bit off and much more serious then normal. "Now we are setting off to retrieve the man- Dio. He has a track record of operating on his own and the scout couldn't see signs of anyone else there. The scout will be guiding us up the volcanic peak to reach Dio."
"You called?" asked a blond haired man as he stepped into the room and waved at the small group.
"Ladies meet Hino" said Kimura. "He'll be guiding us from here on."
"Ooooh I'm looking forward to this mission" said Hino looking at the gathered group. "However I'm not much of a fighter, so I hope you're all good at fighting."
"Well I don't mean to brag…" started Yukari.
"Come on lets get going now" said Kimura. "We can't be sure how long it is until Dio's plans move into place. We need to get to him as soon as possible."
"Well then, follow me" said Hino.
"Kimura are you certain of this?" whispered his father as the two man sat at the back of the near empty tavern. "Surely you know of the risks?"
"Of course I'm aware of them…I not a rookie anymore" said Kimura before taking a sip of his drink. "But have you seen her? She's so beautiful and she looks amazing when she wears her swimwear stuff…"
"Yes, yes I'm aware she's pretty. But you are a ninja and she is not."
"I will keep her safe father. Don't worry about that, I'd never let anything happen to her. I'll take care of her, look after her, buy skimpy clothes for her."
Kagura briefly looked back as the small group left the village. The familiar buildings slowly vanished from view and no one had come to see them off. Kagura didn't mind, she had just decided to keep a look out as she didn't want to be rude and accidentally ignore someone. Beside her Yukari was shifting her backpack and grumbling to herself.
"Kagura are you ready?" asked Minamo picking up her speed to walk alongside the girl.
Kagura nodded her head: "Yeah I'm ready for the mission. I just hope I don't get in anyone's way."
"Don't worry about that Kagura, you're a great student" said Minamo with a kind smile. She leant down slightly as she walked beside her student. "But I'd suggest letting Kimura take the lead…and if he says so it'd be best to stay out of the way."
Kagura glanced back at her teacher with a questioning look but said nothing.
"Oh wow this is amazing" said Kimura as he finished. "Did you give it a name?" he asked as the woman with wavy hair moved up against him.
"I've already told you its name" replied the woman as she played with Kimura's hair. "My very first, ultra special 'Love wife lunch'. I've been practising all week so I could give you an amazing one. I mean my cool ninja needs a good meal huh?"
"A good meal is nice, but someone beautiful like you leaning against me is better" said Kimura. He could feel her warmth through his shirt!
He slowly rested his head on her shoulder, looking up at the blue sky above. She merely sat in silence for a few minutes with a content look. Then she suddenly smiled and lifted Kimura's head up to kiss him.
"So you're going to become a teacher?" she asked.
"Yeah I hope to" replied Kimura.
"That's so cool" she said in an adoring tone.
Hino swore loudly as he tried to set up the tent, the small structure collapsing in the middle again. He quickly glanced back at the hot teachers and the cute younger one and groaned. He was looking like an idiot in front of them all.
Kagura and Minamo paid little attention to the man as he struggled again. He had offered to set up the tent by himself, both Kagura and Minamo knowing he was doing it to make himself look better in their eyes. As such they decided to leave him to it.
"There aren't many stars tonight" said Kagura.
"Yeah it's pretty dark up there" replied Minamo. Behind her Yukari swore loudly as she burnt her fingers on the bacon she was cooking.
"So how long until we get there?" asked Kagura.
"I think we'll probably be able to get there in the late afternoon with ease" said Minamo. "But if it gets too dark we might have to wait for another night."
"I'll take the first watch" spoke up Yukari. Minamo knew it was because Yukari wanted to enjoy a night of uninterrupted sleep and was usually late to bed.
"Sure, fine" said Minamo. Kimura was already asleep, having not waited for the tent to be put up. The man slept in silence, his tinted glasses resting next to him. He had a look of both worry and anger etched into his sleeping face.
"Daddy! Daddy are you going off on another mission?" asked the small girl as she ran forwards and gripped Kimura's leg tightly with a hug.
"Yeah I'm off to go and beat up the bad guys" said Kimura standing up tall and trying to look intimidating.
"C-cool" said the girl as her eyes widened with admiration.
"Dear I made you a lunch to take with you" said his wife as she joined the duo. "Well actually there are five meals in there" she said as she handed him a box caringly wrapped in red cloth.
"Mmm I'm looking forward to these" said Kimura as he held up the box and eyed it hungrily.
"Go get the bad guys daddy!"
"Now remember, be careful!" called out Hino as they made their way along the narrow cliff ledge.
"We know that already! And stop being so loud, you might give us away" called back Yukari. Minamo almost stumbled forwards in shock- Yukari calling out someone else about being loud!
"Yeah fine, I just didn't want any of you falling" replied Hino.
"I don't intend to" replied Kagura, allowing herself a brief look over the edge at the sheer drop below. She gulped slightly. If someone were to fall from here they wouldn't be getting back up. And it would probably hurt on the way down- a lot.
"Patience everyone" said Kimura. "We'll be at the top soon. And then we just have to" the man was cut off as a sudden burst of flames shot out of nowhere engulfing Hino. The man screamed and Kagura turned away in horror as the flaming man lost his footing and slipped. Kimura reached out for the man but his vanished from view with a scream.
"What the hell?" asked Yukari loudly.
"It's Dio!" called out Kimura.
"Was he always able to do that?" asked Yukari. "No one said anything about that!"
"I don't know!" replied Kimura. He hadn't recalled Dio ever being known to possess that level of power, especially with the element of fire. He didn't give it any more thought as he spotted a path leading upwards as the flames vanished from view.
"Stay here, I'm going after Dio!" said Kimura as he ran as fast as he could along the narrow ledge.
"Hey don't be stupid!" called out Yukari as the man vanished from view.
"Kimura!" yelled Minamo. "Don't rush into it!"
Kimura heard nothing that was said to him as he sprinted up the crumbling pathway, occasionally reaching out to steady himself. He soon reached the top and found himself face to face with Dio.
"I've found you" said Kimura. Dio stood for a moment and studied Kimura.
"Ah. Ah yes I remember you" said Dio. "Yes I remember you."
"And I remember you" replied Kimura coolly.
"Kimura if you're here to get revenge I think it might be quite simple for you" said Dio. He smiled before grimacing and placing his hand against his chest.
"What's wrong with you?" growled Kimura as he took a step forwards.
"I'm afraid to say I ended up being used by someone" replied Dio with a wry smile. "They offered me the opportunity for great power; they said it was a test. They never said it would give me power by taking away my own life."
Dio lifted up his right muscular arm and pulled down his sleeve to reveal a deep, elongated scar, the flesh a white colour around the former wound.
"They implanted it into my arm and it became part of me. When I realized what was happening I tried to take it out, but could not find it. It was no longer a solid object, it was part of my very being. Soon I will die Kimura."
"Too late" replied Kimura, hating himself even as he spoke the words. "You'll die too late."
Dio smiled faintly.
"Before I succumb I will let you know that a dark cloud grows ever larger on the horizon. I do not know when, but at some time soon something terrible will begin. This fire I was granted is just a small test of the power they hope and expect to receive. And there is also something else I must tell you" said the man as he started to walk towards Kimura.
Kimura facial expression didn't change at all as the coffin was lowered into the ground. He gave the briefest twitch of his jaw as the smaller coffin was lowered down beside it.
"It's alright to cry" said Minamo quietly beside the man as she wiped away her own tears.
"I know that" said Kimura.
"I'm…I'm sorry Kimura. I'm sorry, I failed you completely. You asked me to keep a watch over them while you were gone and I couldn't even save one of them."
"Please, please don't blame yourself Minamo" replied Kimura in a monotonous voice. "You couldn't exactly watch over them constantly could you? And they weren't even in the village, they had gone on a trip together. No one could have known they'd run into him."
"Him?" asked Minamo. "You know who did it?"
"I have been informed that the wanted ninja Dio was responsible for this" muttered Kimura.
"What are you going to do?" asked Minamo.
"What can I do?" asked Kimura as the dirt began to fall and his family vanished from view.
"I'm telling you stay back or I will have to take action!" said Kimura as he held the blade tight in his hands. Part of him wanted the man to come at him, wanted to be given a reason to attack. Give him a reason to kill. "You say you're dying but that could be a trick!"
Whatever Kimura had been expecting, it wasn't what happened. Dio suddenly thrust himself upon the blade, allowing it to dig deep into his chest. He let out a sigh and smiled.
"Surprised Kimura? I refuse to go out as some weakened pathetic creature. I'll die at the hands of my foe before I die in such a weak manner."
"What? What are you doing?" said Kimura, shocked by the actions of Dio, shocked to finally have the man he loathed on the end of his blade.
"Kimura before I die I must let you know. It wasn't I that killed your wife or your daughter. I was merely with the man who did it. I ask for no forgiveness, as I never tried to stop him. The man who did…" Dio leant forward and whispered to Kimura who listened intently despite his shock at what was happening.
"But I've never heard of that person before!" said Kimura.
"Just look him in the eyes and you'll know who it is" said Dio as he stepped back, the knife slowly drawing out of his chest.
With barely a sound the defeated figure fell and vanished into the flames below. The instant he died the flames vanished from view. Kimura moved away from the sight and leant back against the cool rock wall as he felt his knees weaken. He looked around, rubbing his forehead as Minamo approached.
"So he chose to do that to himself rather then admit defeat?" asked Minamo, cautiously peering out at the former great fire below.
"Yes he did. But it didn't bring anything. I didn't even get to avenge my family…it wasn't even him" said Kimura.
"You know Kimura it may sound cliché" said Minamo as she stepped towards the bespectacled man. "But they do say your family, your loved ones will live on in you, in your heart forever."
"In my heart?" asked Kimura with a sudden venomous tone Minamo had never heard before from the man. "Can my heart say 'I love you darling'? Can my heart say 'you're the best daddy'? Huh? Well can it? It simp-I…I" the man slumped to the floor, sliding down the wall until he sat in a sprawled way on the floor.
Minamo took a step forwards but then drew back, not sure of what to say to the man. She was shocked as he looked up, and from behind the glasses she could see tears streaming down his face.
"You know what the worst part is?" asked Kimura.
"W-what is it?" asked Minamo. "You can tell me."
"Some-sometimes I find it hard to remember what their voices sounded like" said Kimura with a trembling voice. "Sometimes I can't even remember what my own daughter sounded like!" Kimura let out a pained yell, smacking into the ground with his fist, tearing skin from the knuckles. He felt no pain.
"Even now, even after these years I still find myself wanting…wishing, hell praying that I could just go back to that day, go back to them. Even just one day to see them again, one day to spend with them. Just so I could hear them once more. Just…just so I could tell them that I love them one last time."
Kimura slowly rested his head back against the wall and looked up at the clearing sky above.
"I've held onto these tears for years" said Kimura. "It feels good to let them go. And can you promise me you won't tell anyone else about this?" asked Kimura.
"I promise" replied Minamo who was now glad Yukari had stayed behind to look after Kagura.
The two spoke no more words as the fires below began to burn out. Instead they merely stood and sat respectively, looking up towards the sky as the darkness slowly vanished and the bright light of the sun returned.