Chapter 59
"Are you alright there Miss?" asked Takino as Tomo finally finished choking and quickly swallowed the food. Tomo gulped down a breath as she looked at him with slightly watering eyes and finally nodded.
"Yeah I'm fine" said Tomo eventually.
"Good- you gave me a scare there for a moment" replied the man. "Is something wrong? Was it something to do with the food?"
"My name" said Tomo. "My name is Tomo Takino."
"Oh my" said Takino, smiling faintly.
One year earlier
"Well let's try it out Sakaki" said the teacher, marching in circles in front of Sakaki, waiting for the tall girl to act.
"Ok I guess" replied the girl. She held up one hand, and with a look of pure concentration clicked her fingers. A small flame appeared, seemingly floating above her fingers which remained together.
"Well done, well done!" said the teacher, brushing her red hair back. "That's very good Sakaki!"
Sakaki blushed. "I didn't really do much- it was just a small flame."
"But think about it" said the teacher, walking towards Sakaki. Sakaki looked down, being a good foot and a half taller then her female teacher. "You were able to perform a type of jutsu with no hand scrolls. It was instantaneous, fire in your hands."
"But it was small" said Sakaki.
"Yes but the hard part is even being able to perform jutsu without hand scrolls. Ramping up the power- now that's my speciality" said the teacher, winking. "Soon you'll be able to fling balls of fire around with ease!"
"Really?" asked Sakaki. She wasn't overly sure- this could hurt people. But it could also be used to defend others from harm.
"Like I said before you've got potential kid" replied the teacher, despite being shorter and possibly younger then Sakaki. She refused to answer questions about her age. "And by the way, have you ever considered dyeing your hair?"
"Not really Miss Li-"
The pirate slowly crept forward. Boss had told him to make sure the deck was clear of passengers and he was gonna do it. Boss wanted all the passengers down below so it was easier to get possessions. He'd almost thought it was empty, but he could see two people speaking at the far end of the boat. A tall girl, and someone with the body frame of a male- and adult. However he couldn't be sure as the man's head was bathed in the shadow of the cabin and because of the fading light.
"'dey might have somfing good" said the man to himself. Though he still couldn't see the head, the man wore what looked like an expensive dark blue suit. These business people seemed quite common in this region. He hated them.
He continued to walk forward when a sudden thwump sound caught his attention. He was still for a moment and then his mouth opened wide as he felt the pain. What was this? He felt warm liquid squirting down his bare chest. Blood? He felt the metal shuriken lodged in his throat as he found himself unable to breathe. Feeling dizzy he stood shaken before falling to the ground, blood pouring across the wood.
"This was a private conversation" hissed the man from the twilight.
One month ago
"No visitors please" called out the teacher as her door creaked open. She looked up from her book as the door continued, the person ignoring her. She paused for a moment, looking at the face of the suited man. The clothing didn't look like it had gone through the wilderness- which was the only way to find her.
"I have a few questions. And don't mind staring I get it all the time" said the man, giving an expression that might once have been a grin.
"Q-questions?" asked the teacher. She didn't know why but she felt very intimidated.
"Yes. I believe until recently you were teaching your little tricks to a young trainee by the name of Sakaki. A resident from the village that was attacked."
"Maybe."
"Of course she's moved on to another teacher now, you just don't have the patience to teach someone for a year and a half."
"I get bored easily."
"Well I want to know where she would be. I want to meet with her. I've spent a long time tracking her down, and now I want you to help me."
"I dunno, confidentiality and all that."
"I don't care about that."
"Well I dunno…you seem to be annoyed. You look dangerous…"
"I'm very willing to conduct business the hard way. In fact I have some tools with me."
It was quick. The man barely had time to yell as a flash filled the room. By the time the smoke had vanished the short redhead was gone, a window wide open. He stepped forward and looked out at the forest.
"Well played. But I'm still going to find Sakaki. And when I'm done there, you will pay for your insolence too you little bitch."
"Come on Miss Tomo, follow me I would like to talk to you" said Takino, leading the girl along a much fancier looking corridor then the one outside her room.
"Why couldn't we just stay in the dining area place?" asked Tomo. "They had food." Tomo still held a plate of food- one of the passing crew members had not looked pleased when he noticed it.
"That place? Soon the whole rabble would have descended upon that place and you wouldn't be able to hear anything apart from some annoying fake laughs" replied Takino who gave a quick wink. He pulled out a gold painted key and unlocked the door in front of him.
"Come in, make yourself comfortable" he said pushing open the door.
"Ok" said Tomo allowing herself into the room. It was much more spacious then her room, and was only designed to have one person. In the corner Tomo eagerly spied what looked like a small collection of alcoholic bottles, all marked with the emblem of the boat. These people got a miniature bar!
"I have to admit Tomo, it is exciting to meet you. Outside of my own close family I've never met anyone named Takino before."
"I'm kind of…an orphan" said Tomo. "So I've never actually met anyone. But maybe I'm wrong…there can be more then one family with the same surname right?"
"Yes yes" said Takino, while Tomo moved across the room. She yelled out as her foot hit something, yanking a cloth to the floor. A picture, about half the size of Tomo was revealed. She looked at it- a portrait of a blond man.
"Hey, that guy looks a bit familiar" said Tomo.
"That's the fourth Hokage of Konohagakure" said Takino keenly. "There's quite a few legends about him- I've always seen him as fascinating ever since I read about him. Some even talk of a demon- it's barely been two decades since his death yet it's hard to tell legend from fact."
"Konohagakure?" asked Tomo. My village? "That's my home."
Takino's happy expression dropped slightly.
"What is it?" asked Tomo. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, no" said a disappointed sounding Takino. "It's just that I have done research on my family tree, and no Takino from my family has ever been close to Konohagakure. I brought that picture from a trader, and read books from my town's library. It would seem as though our shared name is just coincidence."
"Oh" said Tomo. She was surprised. As she heard his words she felt a sudden sense of crushing disappointment pass over her. She had never met a family member before, and this had been her chance. This had been a chance to finally meet someone she could call family- but the brief moment was gone forever.
"Well…I'm sorry Tomo" said Takino, hearing the disappointment in her voice. "But…well…how about a drink?" suggested Takino trying to lighten the mood.
"You've got a deal!" said Tomo eagerly. Takino smiled- Tomo found it oddly relaxing, almost like a fatherly smile. And looking around at the room she decided it was a shame they weren't family- this guy seemed to be rich!
"You are allowed alcoholic drinks right?" asked Takino. "They won't mess up your ninja physique or anything like that will they?" asked the man.
"Of course I'm allowed alcoholic drinks" replied Tomo keenly.
Knock! Knock!
"Who is it?" called out Kaorin, looking away from the pile of clothing Sakaki had left on her bed. Stuff that had been against Sakaki's warm body, that had embraced it, been up against her stomach, her legs, her br… Kaorin shook her head, blushing wildly.
"Erm it's da room service people" replied a rough sounding voice. "We 'ere to service the room."
"Oh ok" said Kaorin getting up from the bed and opening the door. Two of the pirates stood in front of her. "Eh…"
"Is it ok to go and clean the bed?" asked one before getting sharply jabbed in the ribs by the other.
"We're not really room services ya great big idiaat!" said the taller of the men. "Boss said to go to da end of each corrida'r and make 'ar way along da rooms."
Pushing Kaorin back they stepped inside the room and closed the door.