Chapter 6: Not gonna die (Skillet)
Is this a dream or reality? Am I really about to be killed by a dragon? Me? One of the strongest ninjas in the village? I don't understand. Why is this happening to me? And where is that idiot when I need her?
My vision is starting to blur into darkness when I see a small figure running towards me. And then, I fall into the oblivion of my consciousness.
When I wake up, I find that Takeshi is handling my clothes. Wait! I lift up the blanket that's been covering me to find that I'm completely naked.
"Um, Takeshi? You wouldn't happen to have something I can change into, would you?" I asked, quietly. Without taking her eyes off her work, she pointed to the table next to me. There was a white tank top and a green skirt.
"Is this a joke?" I asked, not at all amused by this ridiculous attempt to be kind to me.
"No. It's the only pair of clothes I've got that'll fit you, so stop complaining and put it on. Unless, of course, you decide to go nude while I work on these rags of yours," she replied coldly.
"They're not rags!" I screeched.
"After being torn to shreds by that dragon, they are," she said. That shut me up. I didn't want to remember that.
"So where have you been all this time?" I finally asked.
"I've been in the Human World for a couple months now," she said.
"What?! Why?! Do you realize how much this has affected Area 4?!" I exclaimed in disbelief.
"I finally met him and I can tell that the Human World needs me," she said.
"But Area 4 needs you more! Besides you're the –" I said before I was cut off.
"How would you know? You've never gone to the Human World," she said. I thought for a minute.
"Fine. Then how about I go with you the next time you go?" I asked.
"Will the chief let you go?" she asked.
"Yeah, about that. He got a message from the IGO president and is sending me to the Human World. I figured I would go with you since you've been there before," I explained.
"I see. I'll be leaving in a few weeks probably. Sunny should be done with his training by then," she said.
"So, what's so special about this Sunny guy again?" I asked.
"He's an old friend who's training to come here to the Gourmet World and make me his combo partner," she explained.
"It's been 8 years and he still hasn't come here successfully. You might as well just give up on him or become his partner already because there's no way he's going to make it," I said negatively.
"You don't know him like I do," she said, defensively.
"You're right. I don't. I guess I'll have to meet him," I said with a smirk. She threw my clothes at me and I put them on.
"Sometimes I wonder why I'm friends with you, Mr. Sassy Pants," she said with a laugh. Good. She didn't forget, I thought.
"So what kind of training is he doing?" I asked curiously.
"Considering he's with Guemon, he's probably training his mind and concentration," she said.
"I see. So how do we know when he's done?" I asked.
"I gave him a long-distance signal flare. He'll set it off when he's ready to go back," she explained. That signal flare went off about a week later, which is much sooner than we expected. We grabbed our things and went out to meet Ryuu.
"You didn't bring Sheba for the mission?" she asked.
"No. I asked her to protect the village while I'm gone," I replied as we got on Ryuu's back and flew to the Three Way Road. There was a man with rainbow-colored hair and an older man who seemed really spaced out waiting for us. Ryuu landed on the ground and Takeshi and I hopped off, landing softly in front of the two men.
"I see you've brought a friend with you," the rainbow-haired man said, welcoming us.
"Hey, Sunny. This is Kagetora. Kagetora, this is Sunny," Takeshi said, introducing us. I waved but didn't say a word. He seemed to be looking me over.
"Are you a ninja?" he asked curiously. I nodded.
"I see. You're kinda – what's the word – small," he said. I wanted to laugh. Sure I'm thinner than this guy but I'm at least 2 inches taller with an even bigger ego, I thought. I glared at him.
"Anyway, are you guys ready to go?" Takeshi asked, hoping to stop the fight before it started. I turned around abruptly and jumped up onto Ryuu's back. Takeshi and Sunny followed. We flew to a place called Biotope 1. I followed them downstairs into a gigantic research lab. It was actually quite fascinating. A large bald man walked up to me. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.
"You must be Kagetora. Feel free to stay here as long as you want," he said. I nodded and wandered around until I found a balcony to perch on as I watched the sunset. I stayed there for a couple of hours. I sensed a familiar presence. It was Takeshi.
"You weren't at dinner," she said.
"So?" I asked, not bothering to look at her.
"I know this is new to you and all but you gotta learn to be more social," she said.
"And if I don't?" I asked, curiously. She sighed.
"Why must you be so stubborn, Kagetora?" she asked. I smirked.
"'Tis only natural," I said, jokingly.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I brought you some food," she said, handing me a plate and chopsticks. I hesitated.
"Don't worry. I didn't poison it …" she reassured me. I picked up the chopsticks and pulled down my mask. I brought the food to my mouth and was about to take a bite when she said, "… much."
This is not the time to joke, you idiot, I thought.
"Usagi Chop!" I yelled as I karate-chopped her head.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! You jerk!" she screeched as she rubbed her head to get rid of the pain.
"Hmph," I mumbled as I ate my food quickly and put my mask on before anyone else saw my face. I gently placed the plate and chopsticks on the balcony and jumped down to the ground for a midnight stroll. I was somewhat surprised by the different kinds of creatures they had here. And I guess someone else shares my love for walking under the moonlight.
He was certainly strange and had a threatening aura around him but I wasn't afraid. I could tell he had seen many battles and his most distinguishing features: slicked back dark red hair, furrowed eyebrows, dark eyes, and a large tear extending from the corner of his mouth to his ear, revealing his pointed teeth, were illuminated by the moon's glow. I knew he saw me because he was glaring at me in a way that if I looked away, he would've killed me. I felt as though I was meeting Death himself … or Zebra. Whichever you prefer.