Softly I blew the hot steam that emitted from the cup in my hand, away form my face. I once again glanced curiously at my student's door. Not a single noise was emitted from the thin rice paneling, not that I expected any. Being a trained assassin gave my student the silence of a shadow, not to mention her training as a ninja as well. But even with all her training, I should still be able to sense her presence. But nothing still, either she was in a deep meditation, or she was gone. Silently, I toyed with the idea she was just meditating, but I was not convinced. My student hated to meditate, even though she was quite good at it. Feeling my concern arise, I silently made my way to the rice screen that served as her door.
"Youlanna-son. Are you awake?" I asked, keeping my voice low, so not to startle her. Nothing. Not even the sound of breathing. Fearful, I push open the door expecting signs of a struggle. The room was bare, Save for the small bag of clothes and weapons. The rice screen window was open, letting a warm breeze filter in. I smiled at seeing the window open. I think I know where she is.
In. Out. Just breathe. I try to focus my breathing, my mind, but to no prevail. My dream continues to bounce around my head. Stiffening, I hear the sounds of some one approaching. The almost silent shuffle of feet on pebbles alerts me to the owner. I hear my sensei come to a stop beside me, patiently waiting for me to acknowledge him. Slowly I open my eyes, before turning to face him. I stare into the concerned onyx eyes of my sensei, knowing he only came out here because of today.
"I'm sorry I left with out your permission Sensei." I begin, only to be cut off by the said man.
"You have no reason to apologize. I was only concerned by your absence considering what today is." He smiles reassuringly to me. I smile back, it is just as hard for him as it is for me.
"I guess this is good bye. Isn't it?"
"Not quite, you don't have to leave for another two hours. It is not good bye yet." Oh Sensei, he always knows how to make me smile.
"I guess so." Smiling, I remember with a start what I have to give him. "Well, as a thank you for all you've done for me, I want you to have this." I say as I draw a piece of origami from my pocket. Cautiously, I hold it out to my sensei. Looking at it in pride and curiosity, my sensei accepts the gift. Carefully, I place it in the palm of his cupped hands. My gift is a origami crane. Its wings are a little bent, and the paper is a faded brown color, but I can tell my sensei loves it. "It's not much but, it's all I could think of."
"It's beautiful Youlanna-son. None of my students have given me such a thoughtful gift before." I smile knowing that it is true. Sensei had been the one to teach me origami. "In fact I have a few gifts for you." I stare at my sensei in shock.
"Sensei, with all due respect, you've already given me the greatest gift ever."
"I know. But I believe this belongs to you." He says, drawing the cloak he had on his arms over my shoulders. I glance down, seeing the bright red symbol of my clan. Holding a finger to his lips, he folds back the layer that had the symbol on it revealing a second layer. I smiled at him knowing what he was implying.
"Thank you."
"Also, I wish for you to have this." Sensei says as he pulls a Tessen from his pocket, handing it to me. I flick it open, watching the sun hit the silver colored metal it was made of. Once again smiling, I pocket it.
"It looks like the one my mother used."
"That's because it was your mother's." I can't keep the look of shock off my face. "She gave it to me before she left for her home, she told me to give it to who I thought was worthy of it. And I believe that person is you." Suddenly, I remember, the sword strapped to my back.
"Sensei, I almost forgot. Here's your sword back." I exclaim, struggling with the leather straps to take it off. Suddenly, another hand covers mine, stopping my struggles.
"Keep it. You deserve it."
"But Sensei, it was your father's sword, I can't take it!"
"I have never seen any other one of my students master it. And I have no children to pass it on to. I'm sure my father would approve." I can feel tears prickling at the corners of my eyes for the second time today. My sensei, someone who has trained many students, practically said I was one of his best.
"Thank you. You are like a father to me, and for all that I thank you."
"And you the daughter I never had. I thank you for that." My smile falters as I remember my dream.
"Youlanna-son, what is wrong?" My sensei asks, concern and worry laced in his voice.
"Sensei, maybe you shouldn't come to the meeting tonight."
"But my student, it is my duty as your sensei."
"But sensei, I'm afraid something will happen." I confess.
"All the more reason to come. Youlanna, you are like a daughter to me. If anything where to happen to you I would not forgive myself."
"But Sensei…" I sigh as sensei holds up a hand to silence me.
"Youlanna-son, I know you are trying to protect me, but you could become injured instead. I know you worry, but with all the despair you have witnessed has made you stronger. You must understand, this all happens for a reason." Pausing, he tilts my chin up so I am looking at him. "I know everything seems to be against you now, but I know that some where soon, you will find hope. Even though what the other ninjas tell you, I see that spark of goodness in you. Now, promise me something. Find that someone who will bring out that spark in you. And I believe then you will find hope." I hear my sensei grunt in surprise as I hug him. I relax my grip, forgetting how strong I have become. I pull away again, never one for psychical affection. Smiling, my sensei looks at me. "And now, let us take one more walk through the village."
The sun shines down on the village, bathing my face in a warm glow. Young children and their pets run through the dirt streets, laughter ringing joyously in my ears. The village is unnaturally crowded, men and woman hurry around, and each one focused on their individual task. Even though the village is crowded, I do not need to worry about loosing my sensei in the crowd, as soon as people see us they move out of the way. I follow sensei as we continue our walk, smiling softly at the villagers. The first time I came here I was scared when the villagers allowed us to pass. From where I come from, when a crowd does that it normally means they are afraid of you. But soon I learned that here it was out of respect. My sensei was one of the most important members of our rural fishing village. As I being his only student, so was I apparently. A sudden whirring sound caught my attention, whipping around I grabbed a plate-like object heading for my face. I snapped my hand out and caught a Frisbee? As I turned it over in my hand, I found my self smiling. Kids. You gotta love them.
"Who's is this?" I call out, keeping both my voice and my face stern. A small movement caught my eye, a group of ten year olds had pushed them selves to the front of the villagers. They looked scared as they saw the object in my hand.
"Is this yours?" I questioned, as the kids grew more nervous.
"He's the one who threw it!" One girl blurts pointing to a young boy with scraggily black hair. The poor boy looked like he was ready to pass out. As I motion him forward, I catch my sensei's eye, winking at the mischievous look in his eye.
"Show me how you were throwing it." I demanded, holding the Frisbee out to him. The little boy nodded shakily, unable to find his voice at my odd demand. As he shows me how he did it, I squat down next to him. "Try this." I said, repositioning his grip a little after he had showed me. "It will give you more speed and accuracy, and hopefully not take off any more heads." All the boy could do was stare at me in disbelief. I raise an eyebrow at his dumbfound expression. "Now go play." I smirk, ruffling his hair as I stand back up.
"T-thanks!" The boy calls as he races back to join his friends, smiling broadly at his luck. I allow a small smile to creep on my face, before continuing my walk down the street. As we walk, the streets begin to clear. Soon only a few people walk past us. The wind begins to stir, creating an ominous feeling. Shivering with dread, I pull my cloak tighter around my lean frame. I glance over at Otomoso, noticing he has felt the same ominous feeling I had. He pauses, causing me to look at him with confusion.
"It is time." I know what he means. It is time to say good bye. I do not want to, but I have to. I say nothing, only gently hugging him. As I pull away Sensei presses a small object into my palm. I chose to pocket the small object, vowing to look at it later. As I pull away, I whisper goodbye. I turn away, pulling my hood over my head, casting my face in dark shadows. Stiffly I begin to walk again, only now I have shielded myself in an air of anger and darkness. I refuse to acknowledge Sensei as he looks at me with a look of pity and worry. Silently we round the end of the street to the most actively avoided area of the village; the helicopter landing pad. The pad had not seemed to change since the rainy day I had arrived here. The same colorless landing pad still sporting the same cracks, the area deserted even of trash. But the sheer amount of weaponry on the ninjas present was unsettling. The only movement on the landing pad was the trum of the helicopter blades, exactly every 3.5 seconds may I add, as it idled. Steeling myself for the inevitable drugging for the trip. As my sensei and I silently make our way across the cement to the waiting foot mystics. As the one who is in charge exchanges words with Otomoso I allow my senses to scan the area, picking up nothing out of the ordinary.
Still the uneasy feeling I had felt had returned, this time to a ten-fold. As subtly as possible I keep the three foot mystics in my sights, allowing the ongoing conversation the process in my brain. Random pieces of words are filled away for later, revealing nothing out of the ordinary so far. As the foot mystic in charge motions me aboard, I gave one last look to my sensei. The unspoken plea is clear in his eyes only to me. As I take the first small step that felt like hundreds of miles away from my sensei I feel it again; the presence of one intending to do harm. As I whip around a shot rang out. All it takes was the one bullet. My cry died on my lips as the bullet-penetrated flesh. I struggle against the bone breaking hold the two foot mystics had on me. I rip free of their hold not even bothering to use a portion of my strength; even with their suit amplifiers they were no match for my strength. I stop dead, the look on my sensei's face flooring me. A look of surprised was quickly drain in place of one of pain. The mystics grab my arms again, this time giving me a heavy dose of some type of tranquilizer. My legs collapse as I meet my sensei's eyes. The blackness blotching my vision is nothing compared to the blackness of my sensei's eyes. My vision fades, as I was dragged backwards, helpless to stop it.
As my mind goes blank a whisper, merely a breath, speaks clearly to me. But as I hit the metal of the helicopter's floor, they seem to be a yell, ringing in my ears. Forever the finale words of my sensei imprinted in my head. And with that final thought, my mind went blank.
I open my eyes as soon as my mind regains conscious thought. I blink rapidly, attempting to dispel the darkness around my eyes. Slowly I turn my head until I am resting with the side of my face on the cool floor, closing my eyes I allow my other senses to take over. The cool metal floor indicated I was in some form of a holding cell. But the low echoing klink my surprising long nails make on the floor shows it was larger than any holding pen I have been in. Focusing I still my breath to a degree that would send any, seasoned or not, doctor into a frenzy, I listen for the tell tale signs of a moving vehicle. None. Keeping my abnormally large eyes closed I roll into a crouch. I allow my sensitive hands to roam the walls around me. Judging by my movements I am in a room about five feet wide and six feet deep. As I circle the walls again I allow my hands to feel for anything out of the ordinary. My hands collide with a large piece of plywood blocking some sort of opening. Going by the size, a little over a foot by a foot and a half, it seemed to be some type of window.
Leaning closer I feel a soft breeze brush against my face also the overwhelming smell of smog invades my nose. Well that means I'm in a city, and there is only one major city The Foot operates in. New York City. As I return to my search my hands find a barley noticeable seam. Once again I lean closer to it still keeping my eyes closed. I once again feel a breeze but this one is damp and stuffy. A hallway. I do not even try to open the door already knowing it is a one way door. Slowly I make my way to the other side of the room. As I slide down to sit on the floor a small object falls out of my vest pocket. I hesitantly pick it up feeling it with my fingers. A note. Although I can note read the note, I can feel the pendent inside of it, my Yang pendent. I had lost it over a year ago in a village skirmish. I had been heart broken at the lost, the pendent being the only key I had to my past.
Tears sting my eyes as I thought about my sensei, his smile, his kind and forgiving eyes. My breath catches in my chest as I remember his last moments. Tears pour down my cheeks as the reality of the situation hit me. My sensei, my teacher, my FATHER, was dead. I had no one left in this world that cared about me. A dry weak sob leaves my small frame as I remember Otomoso's final plea for me to stay safe. And his final words.
"Watashi no musume" My daughter.
Incredibly sorry for the slooww update. Thank you to the one person who reviewed I wish my username was cooler. You fellow reader souly convinced me update. I was about to abandon this(again) but you changed my processor. So another look at the snowballing pain in this ninja's life. Next chapter some familiar faces show up. So till next time.