Chapter 62
"Are you sure you're ok?" asked Kaorin again.
Once more Sakaki lied: "I'm fine, really" said the girl.
"You seemed…troubled last night" said Kaorin, hoping the taller girl didn't know she had been watching her sleep. Trying to play it off as though she'd only noticed, as opposed to the truth that she had been observing. Kaorin guessed it was a bit stalkerish.
"Oh I-I was just having a nightmare" said Sakaki. "Vampires and stuff" she added, the first thing to come to mind.
"Oh. I haven't really had any dreams lately" replied Kaorin, deciding it wasn't wise to disclose that she had been dreaming about Sakaki in the panties and short t-shirt the girl had worn to bed. Kaorin blushed as the memories returned.
Sakaki had also decided it wasn't wise to talk about her dreams, or what had caused them. A man who had almost died by her hands now wanted revenge against her, wanting to kill her. She doubted he had died when he fell from the boat. If he had been able to survive that blast, he should have survived that short fall. And back then, during that invasion, it had been because of him that Kaorin had almost died. Sakaki didn't know how her friend would react if she found that out. At least she hoped Kaorin thought of her as a friend- they had known each other for quite a long time now.
Both turned as they heard a loud knock on the door. Kaorin glanced across to Sakaki.
"Pirates again?" she whispered.
"Sounds like Tomo" said Sakaki smiling.
"Are you ready yet?" called Tomo from behind the door. "We've almost arrived!" she added in an excited tone.
"Well I guess our mission will start properly soon" said Kaorin grabbing her bag. "It'll be our first actually mission together" she continued, sounding almost as excited as the unseen Tomo.
"Well we did work together…when the village was invaded" said Sakaki quietly, almost to herself as the image of Kagesaki's face returned once more.
"Huh what?" asked Kaorin. "I didn't hear you."
"Oh I just said yeah…it might be fun" lied Sakaki.
Yawning Kaorin pulled open the door to the room and peeked out into the corridor to find it completely empty. She glanced back into the room and looked at Sakaki who had just finished packing and shrugged. Sakaki looked up at Kaorin, confused about what she was trying to say.
"Tomo's gone. I can't see her anywhere out here" said Kaorin.
"She's gone" said Fuka, peeking out from her room.
"Gone? Gone where?" asked a puzzled Kaorin.
"Somehow she found out that there's going to be lots of free food down in the main hall. They need to get rid of it apparently before it all rots. I don't think I've ever seen Tomo move so fast" said Fuka grinning.
"I see. So how long before we get to the town?" asked Kaorin.
"I dunno. About an hour or so I guess? I think I can see it when I look out of the window" said Fuka. "Want to go and find Tomo?" she asked.
"I think Tomo can probably find her way back here" said Kaorin smiling.
"Well actually I was wondering if you wanted to go down and get something to eat. I'm hungry" said Fuka, grinning again.
"I guess I could" said Kaorin. "I bet they'll have nice food on display…and it might be the last good meal we get to have for a while. Hey Sakaki, do you want to come with us down to the dining hall for lunch?" asked Kaorin, calling back into the room.
"Erm, no thanks" said Sakaki. "I'm not really hungry at the moment." She wasn't too hungry, but she also found herself unable to get rid of the vision of Kagesaki. Thinking about him made her queasy; thinking about what she had did to him…and what he wanted to do to her.
"Ok, I'll guess Fuka and I will be back soon. Then we can start our mission" said Kaorin before closing the door. Chatting about the pirate 'attack' Fuka and Kaorin made their way along the corridor and quickly found themselves in the main hall. Despite the possibility of large amounts of free food, the great room was largely empty. However in the centre of the room by one of the largest tables…
"Ah there's Tomo" said Fuka pointing at the girl who had three heaped plates resting on the table in front of her. With a look of pure concentration on her face she ate food from both of her hands as the duo made their way across the hall.
"Hi" said Kaorin.
"I-Kmrin" replied Tomo with a full mouth.
"Having fun?" asked Fuka as Tomo swallowed the food.
"I guess. But they don't have any alcohol around. Surely they should have some out…as like a celebration of a safe trip or something."
"We were attacked by pirates" replied Fuka, "That doesn't strike me as being a safe trip."
"Well no one died…I think" said Tomo. "Bah, I bet they wouldn't have given any to me anyway. They would have just said a ninja shouldn't drink on a mission or something like that."
"Should a ninja be drinking while on a mission?" asked Fuka, Tomo giving her a faintly dirty look. She then bit off a large chunk of a bread roll.
"Ah nice to see you in good health" said Takino loudly as he walked up behind Tomo who started to choke in surprise. "And these must be your companions."
"Er…hi" said Kaorin.
"Hello I am Takino, no relation to your friend Tomo here" stated the man as a look of surprise crossed Kaorin's face. "I recently spoke with Tomo, and I have come to make a proposition."
"Proposition?" asked Kaorin.
"I'm not very good at writing stories" replied Tomo.
"What?" asked Fuka.
"Yes" said Takino trying to laugh off Tomo's stupidity. "Let me get straight to the point. Around this area of the world I happen to be quite an important person and I believe that I need protection as I make my way to the town. I don't know what the code or conduct or whatever it is for ninja say, but I would be willing to compensate for your time quite handsomely."
"Well I have no problem with compensation" said Tomo almost instantly.
"I don't mind either" added Fuka.
"Well you see, I happen to feel one of you would be enough. And I wish to talk with Tomo some more…in private. Despite only employing the service of one of your number, I would gladly pay each of you if we were to meet in the town- or if you could trust Tomo to give you your entire share" he joked.
"Well…I guess we could just about trust her" said Fuka playfully.
"Of course you can" said Tomo sticking up both of her thumbs. "I'm very trustworthy."
"Really?" joked Kaorin, who smiled kindly when Tomo glanced across at her.
"But how long would it take? When would we all be able to get together again?" asked Fuka.
"I've done this journey quite a few times before. As long as there aren't any…complications…you should be able to get to the town itself in about two, maybe three hours. I might take a little bit longer then you- but I know exactly where we can meet up. I'm a regular visitor to the largest tavern in the town- located right in the centre. If you go there and wait Tomo and I will be there shortly. Tell them that I sent you and you might get a discount" said Takino, winking.
"Discount? Tavern? Cool" said Tomo.
"Are you ok with this Tomo?" asked Kaorin. She decided to ask, even though she could tell from the look on Tomo's face that even Yukari would have difficulty prying her away from this mission.
"I'm perfectly absolutely fine with this disc-mission" replied Tomo.
"Well ok then" said Kaorin. "Good luck with…whatever you have to do."
"We better go and tell Sakaki about this" said Fuka.
"I'd suggest all of you collect your belongings" stated Takino. "The boat should be arriving at the dock very shortly."
"I'll go with you then" said Tomo to her friends. "Don't go anywhere with our money!" said Tomo to Takino who gave an awkward smile…that seemed to match the expression etched on both Fuka and Kaorin's faces.
The late morning sun hung high in the air, but the fluffy white clouds helped to keep the travellers cool as they traipsed along the gravel pathway, which Takino had explained use to be the major path from the dock to the town until the townspeople had managed to bridge a ravine on the route Sakaki and the others were taking.
"Oh great" said Tomo looking ahead, "another forest."
"I like the forests and the rivers and all of what is nature" said Takino smiling. "So much more pleasing to the eye then man made settings wouldn't you agree?"
"I dunno, I like to be able to have a shower…and sleep on a bed" replied Tomo.
"Yes I guess such pleasures are…pleasurable. Hmmm could have phrased that better. Anyway Tomo I wanted you to come with me as I have something to tell you. I'm not certain of it, but I believe I should tell you. I didn't get the chance last time because of those damn pirates. It may be important or I may be completely wrong about this. But I didn't want to have any interruptions."
"Oh what is-" started Tomo before being interrupted as a rotting hand shot up from the ground beneath and grabbed her leg.
"Oh damn it" said Takino in an annoyed tone.