Chapter 70
In near silence Fuka pulled open the tavern door and stepped out into the cool night, Kaorin following close behind her. As the two stood still, they quickly grew impatient, waiting for Tomo to appear. Instead they heard a low thud and some moderate cursing, before a slightly limping Tomo eventually made her way outside.
"Where were you?" asked Fuka.
"I hit my foot on the table," groaned Tomo in reply. "It's too dark, I can't see anything."
"You wanted to leave as soon as possible," said Fuka.
"And you didn't want to?" asked Tomo. Fuka didn't reply. Tomo didn't say anything; she merely allowed a triumphant smug look to pass across her face. Not that anyone would be able to see it at the moment. "I think we should get a torch."
"I don't think they'd want us to burn stuff from their town without asking," replied Kaorin.
"Well I could try and get part of a curtain…but I don't have any matches."
"Let's get going," said Fuka. She didn't want to ask if Tomo was able to perform fire jutsu, as she had a feeling it would lead to the bad ending. Thankfully Tomo appeared to drop the idea and they set off through the town. Having only been briefly in the town before, and led by Takino that time, they had difficulty finding their way. Especially in the dark. Yet for some reason Tomo chose to take the lead, and seemed to be doing an ok job of finding the way out of the settlement. Well that was until:
"I think we're close now- ouch ouch!" yelled Tomo as she whacked her leg against something made of stone. "Who put that there?"
Fuka was about to say something when a guard appeared wielding a burning torch.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked in a slightly suspicious tone, studying the group.
"We're going out to meet someone who should be nearby soon," said Kaorin before the others could speak. "She isn't quite sure how to get here, and we don't want to leave her alone in the dark." She found her heart rate increasing. She'd never lied to a figure of authority before, never wanted to or thought she ever would. It was strange, but she hadn't felt this nervous since going before the village committee about her use of magick…
"I see. I heard something- did one of you get hurt?" asked the man.
"I did," said Tomo raising a hand. "I hit some stupid thing made of stone" she groaned.
"Ah that'll be the Takino plinth," said the guard with a wry smile. "Many a guard have accidentally walked into that on their way to the toilet."
"Takino plinth? You mean the Takino who we came here with?" asked Fuka.
"Nah," said the guard with a dismissive wave of his hand. "On the top of the plinth is an epitaph dedicated to the late Takino senior. The father of your friend. He was a hero to this town until he vanished about two decades ago. We thought he must have found a new town or place to help until fifteen years ago we were informed of his death."
"So that's why Takino seems to be well known?" asked Fuka.
"Yep. We all treat him well because of what his old dad did. Can be a bit of a shame sometimes- no matter what he does, he's in the shadow of his father. Of course when he was a bit younger he did use that to his advantage...quite often." The guard smiled.
"Do you know the way out of here?" asked Tomo.
"Well you're right at the gate," said the guard turning with the torch to reveal the structure. "We keep the epitaph close to the entrance that he once freed for us."
"Thanks," said Tomo. "I was right!"
"Wait, before you go do you want a torch? It can be treacherous out there in the dark. I've got plenty spare. Don't want you pretty girls breaking your ankles," said the guard.
"Thank you," said Kaorin bowing politely as the guard retrieved a fresh torch and lit it with his own. To Fuka's horror he promptly handed it to Tomo, who wielded the flame with a joyous look.
"Well good luck to you young ladies," said the guard. "Be careful out there, I've heard there are some bad eggs out there."
"We'll keep a watch out," said Kaorin.
As the guard returned to his post for the boring night ahead, the trio of girls passed through the gates and stepped out of the town. With the note crumpled up inside Tomo's pocket they made their way to get Sakaki and Takino back.
With the plinth and kind guard barely half an hour behind them the group of girls now found themselves with the great twinned peak of the mountain in front of them. Fuka had managed to, with much relief, obtain the flaming torch from Tomo after simply asking if she could check it. That torch lit the path around them which was rapidly being reclaimed by the forest. This path in turn gave way to a gravel covered path lined either side with boulders that led higher up into the mountain.
"Do we go on?" asked Kaorin.
"It's probably a trap," replied Fuka. "It was too easy to get here. But then again…do we have any other choice?"
"Lets just go straight ahead! If they come at us I'll just kick them back to where they came from!" said Tomo.
"Well…try not to hit us at the same time," said Fuka peering ahead at the rocky path. "It looks a bit cramped in there."
"I promise nothing!" said Tomo loudly, Kaorin letting out a faint whimper.
Regardless of Tomo's less then reassuring outburst the trio marched at a fast pace towards the crude pathway, Fuka leading the way with the now stuttering torch. Behind her Tomo said something rude as she narrowly avoiding hurting her ankle after stepping on a large loose rock. Kaorin turned to ask Tomo what was wrong, and from the corner of her sight she saw movement. The girl knew she was feeling nervous- but she was certain it hadn't just been her imagination in the dark. She tapped on Tomo's shoulder and pointed up towards one of the boulders.
"It's called a rock," said Tomo nodding her head knowingly.
"No, I saw something up there," replied Kaorin quietly.
"What? Speak up Kaorin, I can't hear you!" said Tomo.
"There's someone up there!" hissed Kaorin, glancing behind her. Fuka turned, swinging the torch around with her and nearly smacking Tomo in the face.
"Are you sure you three really are ninja?" asked a strangely familiar voice, ringing out around the confined area. "You certainly don't act like it."
"I'm sure I've heard that voice before," said Tomo pensively.
"Now isn't the time for deep thought," called out the voice again as a skirt wearing figure jumped from one of the taller boulders. Kaorin looked away blushing, she had seen right up her-
"Hey it's you! The person who likes girls!" said Tomo pointing. Fuka just about avoided slamming her own face into the torch in embarrassment.
"I'm glad an attractive young girl like you remembered me," said Chidori brushing her hair out of her face with one hand. "Very glad." From behind Chidori appeared Kasumi, looking far less confident.
"So are you our welcome party?" asked Fuka.
"Not quite," replied Chidori. "We still have one more…oh there he is. Nice of you to join us."
Fuka spun around to find herself face to face with the man in armour she had fought earlier. Despite the heavy looking armament he had managed to appear behind her in total silence. Fuka decided she'd have to learn how to do that. The man lowered his head, a sign of recognition towards the girl.
"What now?" asked Fuka.
"Well I think…," said Kaorin before her voice trailed away. Chidori took a few steps forward.
"What do you think?" asked Tomo. "I don't know what to do, all I can think is that I really want chocolate right now."
"I think Miss Tomo should go on ahead!" said Kaorin forcing the idea out. "We'll keep these people here and she can rescue Sakaki!"
"Huh?" asked Tomo.
"You're the strongest one of us Miss Tomo…and the letter was addressed to you! Please go and get Sakaki back…and Takino."
Fuka nodded. "Go Tomo."
"Sure thing! Tomo Takino won't let you down!" replied the girl sticking up a thumb. With no more words she charged up the pathway as the armoured man marched down. Tomo prepared to attack, but with a slick movement he merely turned out of her way, keeping the sword away from Tomo. The girl paused- the man continued to walk towards Fuka and Kaorin. He had no interest in her.
Despite being certain it was a trap Tomo continued upwards.