Chapter 81

Four days later

The days had passed by surprisingly quickly as the small group made their way back home to the village. Though of course only two of their number could consider the place home. Slowly the village came into view underneath the early morning sun.

Chidori had heard of the place many times before, even from before the time of joining the group. She had never visited herself, but she knew her now deceased friend had been here at least once before. She was slightly surprised and disappointed- given all she had heard she had been expecting the village to be larger. But she did find the mountain range rising up behind it to be quite impressive.

"So this is the place huh?" asked Chidori.

"This is…well was home," said Kaorin. "I suppose this is where we should part ways for now" she added.

"What? Why?" asked Chidori.

"Well I was kind of…well expelled I guess from the village. For various reasons," stuttered Kaorin. "Going into the village would just draw attention to us…quite a few people would recognize me and they'd wonder what I was doing back. And some probably wouldn't like it…"

"Will you be ok?" asked Sakaki. Kaorin blushed slightly. She knew Sakaki would probably ask the question of anyone, yet at the same time her hyperactive imagination was busy at work to try and make it seem like something more.

"Y-yeah I should be fine," replied Kaorin looking down at the floor slightly. Just behind her Chidori held a very smug look.

"Will you stay here with Kaorin?" asked Fuka.

Chidori shook her head: "I've heard a lot about this place, and I've never got to visit. I wanna see what a ninja village looks like."

"It isn't amazing, but it's a nice place," said Kaorin.

"Maybe," said Chidori. "I just want to see what a place that trains ninja looks like. I suppose it's normal for you having grown up around ninja, but you three are probably the most I've ever talked with…I know they do a lot of things all over the place but this entire land isn't covered with ninja."

"Wow I didn't think we'd be that interesting," said Kaorin.

"Well I'm just a bit curious," said Chidori. "Curious about some more then others," she added, staring in Kaorin's direction. True to form the young ninja started to blush and turned away slightly. Chidori continued to find that very amusing.

"What are you grinning about Chidori?" asked Fuka.

"Nothing, nothing just remembered a joke I'd heard," lied Chidori.

"So where will you be staying Kaorin?" asked Fuka.

"I'll be up there," said Kaorin pointing towards a slight rise covered with trees. "There's an abandoned shack up there I used a few times when I left the village. From there I can also keep a watch in case I have to help out."

"Help out with what?" asked Sakaki.

Kaorin merely shrugged. "All it really means is I can see when you're leaving the village again."

"Shall we get going then?" asked Chidori. Fuka nodded.

"Take care Kaorin," said Sakaki.

"Yeah, y-you too Sakaki," said Kaorin nervously.

With no more words, but merely an awkward silence, the group separated into two. Kaorin stood for a while, giving a faint wave as Sakaki turned her head back to look. After a few more minutes the trio vanished from view as they marched down the hill towards the village. Kaorin stood for a moment, watching over the village. Some people she couldn't quite make out seemed to be moving around, but so far no one had noticed the group returning to them. Kaorin lingered for a moment, doubts over her decision setting in. Finally she turned away and made her way towards the deserted building.

"So you grew up and were trained here Sakaki?" asked Chidori as the slightly weary group made their way towards the village. The great entrance was starting to loom over them as they drew closer and closer with every footstep.

Sakaki nodded. "This is the second longest time I've been away from the village," stated the girl.

"But you haven't been here long at all have you?" asked Chidori turning her attention towards Fuka.

"No, not really- I'd just heard about the place like you…I'd hardly even arrived here and I was then sent off on this mission. I guess I got lucky."

"Whaddya mean?" asked Chidori.

"I managed to end up in a good group with some kind people," replied Fuka. "Tomo was a bit…odd but it was fun to be with her, and Sakaki is kind too."

"T-thanks," said Sakaki, not quite loud enough for Fuka to hear.

"And then Kaorin turned up as well. She can be a bit timid but she's also friendly too. It's strange…half the ninja I knew back home seemed to be really arrogant…Tomo could be a bit at times, but never like they were…"

"So you're all one happy family?" asked Chidori jokingly.

"We have a pervy uncle," replied Fuka, Sakaki almost letting out a laugh, but instead merely smiling.

"Welcome back Sakaki," called out a guard from above the gateway as the group reached the entrance to the village. With a mild groan the vast gate slowly started to open, drawing inwards to reveal the village interior.

"Welcome home," commented Chidori.

Fuka led the way into the village, Sakaki walking behind the girl alongside Chidori. Fuka turned as one of the young guards joined them. Unlike some of the other guards in the village, this young man wasn't trained as a ninja, merely a member of the village trained with weaponry…at least a little bit. Many guards and ninja had been lost during the attack on the village a few years ago.

"So Tomo isn't with you?" asked the fresh faced man, as another two guards joined him.

"Wha-yeah she isn't here…we need to talk with Kimura. Well Kimura senior about it," said Fuka.

"I'm afraid you can't do that just yet," replied one of the older guards who had joined them.

"What do you mean?" asked Fuka.

"We have been ordered to take her into custody on charge of conspiring with enemies of the village and land," said the guard pointing at Chidori. "We have been ordered to take her with us straight away."

"What? Enemy? But she helped us," said Fuka, conveniently choosing to avoid mentioning that until very recently they had been enemies.

"I'm afraid this lady must have tricked you. Under order of a senior ninja she is to be taken away now."

"Who? Who gave the order?" asked Fuka.

"I'm afraid I can't give that information at the moment," said the guard.

"Especially to someone like you- you haven't even been a true member of this village yet, haven't even lived in here for a week yet," spoke up the remaining guard who had so far been quiet.

"There's no nee-," started Sakaki.

"I apologise for his comments," said the older guard, giving the man a stern look. "But for now your friend is under arrest."

"Don't worry I'll go with them," said Chidori to Fuka and Sakaki. "See you later I guess," she said, walking towards the guards. "Don't worry I don't bite," she said to the guards.

"That's good to know," said the older guard as they led her away.

"Now what?" asked Fuka as the gate closed behind them.

"So do we try and talk to Kimura Senior still?" asked Fuka as the duo sat away from the other people in the tavern. Sakaki fidgeted with the small cup of drink.

"Will he listen to us?" asked Sakaki. "He might ignore us after what happened…"

"After what happened?" asked Fuka.

"Returning with someone- someone they see as an enemy," said Sakaki.

"What can we do then?" asked Fuka.

"Maybe we could…we could," started Sakaki, but her voice faded away as she started to doubt her idea.

"Could do what Sakaki?" asked Fuka.

"Try and get some other people to help. Maybe Kimura- our teacher Kimura- and some other people too. They might have some ideas…could help," said Sakaki talking into her cup, not facing Fuka.

"Kimura could help us," said Fuka. "He's a senior ninja here; he might have some advice…some ideas. And a few more people to help us out wouldn't be a bad thing. But I don't know anyone in this village outside of you, Tomo Kaorin and Kimura a little bit."

"Well I know some people," said Sakaki. "There were some from my class."

"Oh do you think you'd be able to ask them for help?" asked Fuka.

Sakaki suddenly froze, just about hiding her look of surprise. She felt a tightness start to form in her chest- even after having a drink her mouth was feeling dry. Ask the others for help? Go and find them- talk to them and ask for their help?

"Sakaki? Sakaki are you feeling ok?" asked Fuka. Sakaki didn't hear her, merely starting to fidget slightly as all her thoughts became engrossed with the fear of having to go and talk to the others. What if they said no to her…what if they thought she was strange? What if she messed up explaining what they had to do, or they misunderstood her? What should she do? What could she do?

"Sakaki?"

But Tomo was in trouble. Her friend was missing and the people who had her were up to no good. Could she really put avoiding a conversation above the wellbeing of her friend? Of possibly the only chance to save her friend?

"I'll do it," said Sakaki quietly.

"What?"

"I'll do it," said Sakaki looking up from the cup and making eye contact with Fuka for the first time that conversation. "I'll find them and ask for their help," she said in a determined manner, even as her hand trembled slightly on the cup.

Chidori turned her attention from the battered wooden table with a glass of water to the two guards and beside them the window with steel bars, obscuring some of the view from outside.

"Is there a need for all of this?" asked Chidori. "I have said that I'll be nice," she added before taking a sip of water.

"Maybe that's true, maybe it isn't. We aren't in a position to make that decision," said one of the guards.

"And we'll be gone as soon as the senior ninja arrives to question you," added the other guard.

"Question?" asked Chidori raising an eyebrow, just as there came a knock on the door. One of the guards pulled open the door, and Chidori just about avoided spluttering out her water as the man stepped into the room. He waved one bandaged hand.

"Hello Chidori" said Sen in a friendly manner.

Author's note: My dog had to be put to sleep this evening, so that now takes the tally of loved ones lost since I started this damn story up to three.