Chapter 84

A strange rattling noise briefly caught her attention. She turned over groaning, asking for it to go away; she just wanted a little more sleep. Suddenly she opened her eyes and was surprised to find herself surrounded on all sides by blue featureless walls that seemed an unreachable distance away. She swept her hand in front of her, and it almost looked as though she was swiping through water, even though she felt no resistance. It was only when she then glanced down that Tomo Takino suddenly noticed she seemed to be floating.

"What's going on?" she called out, her voice muffled almost as soon as she spoke. As she sat there in the strange place floating she found herself thinking many things. Mainly thoughts regarding how she seriously hoped this was just a dream and that any minute now she would wake up.

But such an escape didn't come as she floated through the odd blue world, completely devoid of sound, even her own breathing inaudible. The only time any noise had passed through the strange place had been when she had called out.

Tomo sat there once more, when all of a sudden a bright flash of red and yellow and green half blinded her and she turned her head away, closing her eyes. What was happening now? She hoped this wasn't the light people sometimes spoke of stepping into. She was afraid at first to look, in case it was something terrible. But soon her curiosity got the better of her. She was Tomo Takino, she shouldn't fear this!

Whatever she had been expecting to see, what awaited her would certainly have been very very far down the list. A girl dressed in a red Kimono with even darker red eyes slowly began to float towards her, intently studying her. It was only as the girl got closer and Tomo got over her initial shock that she realised the girl appeared to have brown fox ears in among with the wild brown hair of the girl.

"What the…"

"So how does it feel to be free again?" asked Fuka as the group marched at a brisk pace to find the others.

"Oh yeah great, that was a real scary hour or two, didn't know if I'd survive or not," replied Chidori sarcastically. She allowed the group to continue without telling them the information Sen had given her, wanting to wait until they were safely away from the prison so they wouldn't be interrupted.

Very soon they had rejoined with the others, Sakaki waving meekly as she saw Chidori arrive.

"So this is the person?" asked Kagura, Sakaki nodding.

"Well now we've got everyone we should come up with a plan," said Fuka. "Though it might be a bit difficult."

"I don't think we'll have much time for that," said Chidori speaking up in a commanding manner.

"Whadya mean?" asked Kagura.

"What I mean is those bastards are coming here. Very soon. In fact they intend to carry out whatever the hell they are doing tomorrow," said Chidori.

"What?" said Fuka.

"How do you know?" asked Yomi.

"I heard it straight from the mouth of one of the bastards. They're coming here; whatever it is they're doing will be happening in this village. I don't quite know what, but I heard the word Sora again," said Chidori.

"Did you just say Sora?" asked Chiyo.

"Huh?" asked Kagura turning to face her teammate.

"Sora? Did you say he said Sora?" asked Chiyo.

"Yeah, I've heard it mentioned a few times," replied Chidori. "Why?"

Kagesaki brought the horses to a stop as they approached the gates. From above one of the guards called out asking who they were. Kagesaki kept his hooded face lowered, and instead Takino climbed from out of the carriage. He waved towards the guard.

"Just an old friend returning to visit his home," called out Takino.

"Master Takino, I had no idea you were arriving," said the guard.

"Oh I just happened to be in the area, it was a spur of the moment thing," lied Takino.

"We'll open the gates at once sir. I'll send someone to inform the Hokage of your arrival!"

"Thank you very much," replied Takino, and with a final wave climbed back into the large carriage. As the carriage started to move, Takino glanced down at the great block of ice, still solid, still the same size as when Shuzo first created it. He held one hand against the ice and gave a faint sigh, before placing the cover back on top of the hidden compartment.

He turned away from the hidden compartment and peered out of the tiny window as he entered the place he considered home for the first time in several years.

"I'm back father."

"So you know what this Sora-thingy is?" asked Fuka. Chiyo nodded, shying away slightly now that she was the centre of attention, just like her taller friend had done previously.

"There are two things it could be," replied Chiyo. "One refers to a mythical island that apparently exists somewhere out in the dread oceans."

"Probably not that then. And the other?" asked Yomi.

"The other time I've heard it was relating to a building in this village," said Chiyo.

"That sounds like the one," said Kagura.

"It's a sacred place underneath the former headquarters of the ninja committee," said Chiyo. "It was an extra credit question on an exam once, surely some of you must remember?"

"Erm…" The group stared around awkwardly, Chiyo clearly the only one to have learnt that fact in the past.

"It hasn't been used for over fifteen years now, ever since they moved into the newer building. Some people believed it had special properties…or something like that- it was used for different types of ceremonies," said Chiyo. "But like I said it hasn't been used at all for years now- it's just a relic now. The building above is starting to fall apart now- why would anyone want to go there?" asked Chiyo.

"They must have their reasons," said Yomi.

"Well you said it's seen as sacred didn't you?" said Chidori. "I think that's a load of crap, but maybe it means something to them."

"Can we get to this place?" asked Kagura. Chiyo nodded again.

"It's inside the village walls. It's probably about a fifteen minute walk from here I guess. But like I said the building is old and falling apart- it could be dangerous…"

"I think whatever these people have planned is far worse then an old crumbling building," replied Chidori. "We can't let these people win," she said bitterly.

"I-I didn't say we should!" protested Chiyo.

"Before that we need to get Kaorin," said Fuka.

"Kaorin?" asked Chihiro.

"She's currently waiting for us just outside the village," replied Fuka. "She said she'd keep a watch from the hill."

"I wasn't expecting your arrival," said Kimura Senior as Takino sat before him. Takino smiled.

"It wasn't a pre-planned thing," lied Takino again. "I was travelling nearby when I suddenly had- what do you say- a wave of nostalgia pass over me. I suddenly felt the urge to return home. I wasn't expecting to find you as the Hokage I must admit."

"I just hope I never have to oversee such dark times as the previous two Hokage did," said Kimura Senior. "Though hopefully I will be able to do as good a job as your brother once did."

"I'm sure you will do very well."

"Your niece remains a ninja of this village," said Kimura Senior, hoping to keep up the friendly conversation. "However I'm afraid she is currently away on a mission."

"That is a shame," said Takino. "My one regret is how I neglected her. I only briefly saw her when she was born, and since then I have been away from this place. Often I wish I could have stayed here and cared for her. With my brother passing away like he did, it should have been my responsibility to care for her."

"You needn't feel bad about this," replied Kimura Senior. "She may have had some difficulties, but she has grown into a fine young woman. She can be a bit brash but she is both talented and a caring person."

"I am glad to hear that," said Takino, his lip twitching slightly. "I'm sure my brother would have been delighted to have such a wonderful daughter."

As the duo continued their conversation, Kagesaki sat bored in a chair outside in the corridor. He tapped his steel fingers against his leg, an act of boredom as well as a form of practice. Still he remained hooded, his face hidden from view.

"Sir? Excuse me sir do you want a drink?" asked the guard positioned in the corridor.

"No, I'm fine," replied the bored Kagesaki.

"It is quite warm in here sir, if you want I can take your cloak for you."

"No I'm fine," snarled Kagesaki this time. The guard backed away slightly. Kagesaki smirked and continued to tap his new fingers against his leg. Soon he wouldn't be bored. Soon it would finally start.

In silence Kaorin continued to sit, pondering over whether going for a walk might be a good idea. It'd give her something to do, but then again she might miss something happening in the village. However she doubted anything could be happening this soon. As she stood up to at least stretch and try to decide what to do, she heard a strange sound.

The normal sounds of birds; easily audible throughout the time and nature beaten structure had fallen silent momentarily, and was then suddenly replaced by a low annoying sound. Kaorin rushed towards the window at the far side of the building, stepping into a long abandoned kitchen. She yanked away a sun bleached curtain and peered through the tiny window into the valley below. Her mouth dropped open in surprise.

There was no doubt about it. Before her marched a small army, a group of particularly angry looking men, all holding various weaponry, all marching along the pathway that led directly to the village gates without a care in the world. These were not members of the village.

"It can't be…not already," said Kaorin still in slight shock.

After a brief pause she turned away from the window and rushed back to the front room to grab her things. From there she yanked open the warped front door and started to run towards the village.