Heart's Treasure

Chapter 11: Tales

Thanks for the review I hope this chapter hope this chapter is as an enjoyable as the last. I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving.

Perspective: Snow

Snow's Perspective

There's only two weeks left in the summer. The time flew by quickly. My family adjusted to our new home. Saizo and Hazel are both excited about starting the first grade. They were even more excited that they were closer to joining the academy. The principle of the academy offered to take them in early, but I want them to have a chance of being kids. Part of me feared they would share their father's fate. Taro knocked on the door. Hazel and Saizo rushed to open the door nearly knocking of their uncle in the process.

"Sorry about that. I don't know why they are in such a rush", I said.

"There's a chess torment today. I've never seen two kid so excited about it", said Taro.

"They like the challenge", I said.

"Who taught them anyway?" asked Taro.

"Goemon", I said.

"The gravedigger?" asked Taro.

"He's a grounds keeper", I said.

"Same thing. I think he has a little crush on you", said Taro.

I felt a light blush appeared on my face.

"And I don't think the feelings are one sided", said Taro.

"He's a friend. Who reminds of someone I love dearly", I said.

"Which one?" asked Taro.

"Does it matter?" I asked.

"Snow",

I tensed, when he called me by my true name. He knows a great deal about me, but he only knows the farm girl that he once fell in love with all those years ago. He never asks me about what to me after a left Tatsuo's home. Is that going to change now?

"Was it that man you went in search of years ago. Is that who he reminds you of?" asked Taro.

"Yes",

"I wonder what he finds most appealing about you?" said Taro.

"I don't know what he would find so appealing about me. I have four children and technically I'm still married to Eiji", I said.

"You are very appealing woman a man not used to kindness could easily fall for you. Even with you being a single mom. And I think your kids are part of his attraction to you. I think he likes the idea of having a family", said Taro.

For some reason being called a single mom annoyed me. It's true, but it just bothers me.

"Uncle Taro its time to go!" yelled Saizo.

"Ya daddy its time to go", said Hana.

"Looks I better go", said Taro.

"Thanks for taking them", I said.

"You don't need to thank me", said Taro with that he left.

"Mama!" screamed Rose.

She was running around in her diaper.

"You know you can't go running in you diaper all day", I said.

Rose started running away from me, but I easily caught her.

"Got ya", I said.

She giggled. I put her in a blue dress covered in sunflowers. I put her in the nearest pair of shoes I could find. As soon as dressed her she took off in a run. Now Kotaro. I grabbed a random onesie from the dresser and put him in it. By the time my attention was back on Rose she had already taken off her shoes and was working on getting off her dress. I fixed her dress and put back on her shoes. I put Kotaro in the stroller and then put Rose in. Kotori joined me on my walk to the office. He took Rose from the stroller and I took Kotaro from it. When we reached the office I placed Kotaro and Rose in their playpen. There was a large stack of paperwork on my desk. I gave a loud sigh.

"Its only one day a week until Kotaro gets older. It could be worse", said Kotori.

Kotori picked up a large section of the pile in placed it in front of me.

"You have to at least get through these", said Kotori.

"What are these?" I asked.

"These are all d ranked missions that need be assigned to a genin teams", said Kotori.

I groaned loudly. Kotori smirked.

"You could help me with this", I said.

"That's not my job", said Kotori.

"I could ordered it to be", I said.

"But you won't", said Kotori.

I started working through the files putting them to the side was of I'd finished them. One file caught my interest. The assignment was helping Goemon dig graves and pull weeds. There are so many unanswered questions about him.

"Kotori"

"Yes",

"What discovers have you made on Goemon?" I asked.

"Umm",

"Don't umm me I know you've been looking into him. There's no point in denying it ", I said.

"I haven't found anything", said Goemon.

"I doubt that", I said.

"I'm being honest I've found nothing on the man. I don't even know his date of birth or what village he originated from", said Kotori.

"I want you to leave him alone", I said.

"I will", said Kotori.

That was easier than I thought. Maybe his attention has been taken up with Blossom and I'm sure he would want to commit more time to her. Goemon isn't the only man I have questions about. Manzo's disappearance has gone unexplained. Something tells he didn't just wonder off. There's no way he could gotten off that diamond blades without assistance. My thoughts of Goemon and Manzo were interrupted when the doors of the office opened. It was Eiji. Kotori straightened up. Eiji tensed when he saw me. He's been making a habit of avoiding me lately. I'm not going to let him escape this time.

"Kotori take a stroll with Rose and Kotaro. Some fresh air will do them good", I said.

"Yes, Minori", said Kotori.

He picked up Rose and Kotaro and left the room. I locked the door behind him.

"You've been avoiding me", I said.

"It isn't intentional I have a large amount of work to do", said Eiji.

That's true, but in the little spare time he has Eiji makes sure to avoid me. A few months ago he would try to spend all his free time with my family and me. What's changed?

"Have I become unappealing to you?" I asked.

"What no. Why would you ever think that?" asked Eiji.

"You've been avoiding me. You used to spend almost all your spend time with me and my family. Lately you've being looking at me in a different way. And I don't know why", I said.

"I love you Snow never doubt that. There's a lot on my plate", said Eiji.

"If you're so busy why don't you let me help?" I asked.

"It's a conflict of interest. Your adoptive family has been causing problems. The most powerful villages of the lands want to fight against them and our village has to join them. I'm balancing one up coming and one highly potential war. Forgive me for not having time to spend with you, but I have to think of the villagers and our allies", said Eiji.

"Why didn't you just tell me that?" I asked.

"This is your family we are talking about. You don't have to hear about ways the allied villages are planning on handling them", said Eiji.

"I will do what you want of me when the time comes", I said.

"You are willing to fight your family?" asked Eiji.

"Yes",

"You might not have to do it for awhile. If you change your mind at anytime tell me and I will find another way for you to help", said Eiji.

I nodded my head. I wanted to get onto another subject. Talking about my other family brought up feelings I don't know how to deal with right now.

"Can you tell why you sent Kameko to find the anbu member that attended the meeting?" I asked.

This earned me a glare from him.

"How did you find out about her mission?" asked Eiji.

"She's my sister she tell me everything", I said.

"Kameko shouldn't have told you that and I will make sure to tell her the next time we meet. The anbu member is nothing important", said Eiji.

"If it's so unimportant why don't you tell me?" I growled.

"ITS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN!" yelled Eiji.

I couldn't remember the last time he yelled at me if ever.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell", said Eiji.

"Yes, you did. I know you are hiding something from me. I a sure I will find out", I said.

"Leave it alone Snow that's the only warning I'll give you", said Eiji.

"What are you going to if I don't obey? What grand power do you hold over me? We are on equal footing you. You're the one who put me in this position " I said.

He didn't seem to know what to say.

"Please leave it alone Snow", said Eiji.

"No",

"Why did you have to have his stubbornness", muttered Eiji under his breath.

I guessed he speaking of my father.

"Why do even care?" asked Eiji.

"He saved my life and helped me through my labor", I said.

Eiji took a deep breath.

"Sit with me", said Eiji as he pulled a chair out for me.

I glared at him.

"Do I deserve such a look of distrust? You know how I feel about you", said Eiji.

Eiji is one of the few men who still loves me in the way I need. In the way my family needs. He is also my husband and I don't have the heart to divorce him.

"How much do you know of him? You know more about him than you're letting on", said Eiji.

"So are you", I said.

"If you tell me what you know I might tell you what I know", said Eiji.

"I don't want might Eiji", I said.

"Fine, do you know his name?" asked Eiji.

I nodded my head.

"Tell me it", said Eiji.

"Manzo",

"It's unlike him to be so truthful", said Eiji.

"How do you know it's unlike him? Have you ever taken the time to get to know him?" I asked.

"I know him. You are the stranger to him not me", said Eiji.

"Why do you hate him?" I asked.

"He is a murder who cursed this family. Manzo killed his parents and brother in cold blood. He was cursed us with immortality", said Eiji.

"We cursed our selves", I said.

"Why can't you see he's a monster?" asked Eiji.

As soon as he asked the question he regretted it.

"You're right Eiji. I'm horrible at seeing some monsters. I don't see you as one. Was I wrong in making that assumption?" I asked.

"You weren't Snow. I am not monster to you. I love you", said Eiji.

"Then why do you lie to me?" I asked.

"How do you know Manzo wasn't the one who was lying?" asked Eiji.

"I just know", I said.

"That isn't a real answer", said Eiji.

"I trust him", I said.

"You shouldn't. Placing trust in him is dangerous", said Eiji.

"I placed trust in you and some would say that was dangerous. Yet I've never regretted trusting you, even now", I said.

Eiji rubbed his temples. He always does that when a headache was coming on or he was having one.

"If you truly want to know about the man you trust so much go to the Concealed Library and then tell me what you think of him", said Eiji.

"I will!" I growled.

I opened the doors to office and almost ran into Kotori.

"We are leaving", I said.

Kotori followed me home and helped me settled the kids.

"Are you going to tell me what just happen between the two of you?" asked Kotori.

"It was only a fight with my husband nothing special", I said.

Kotori knew that was the end of the discussion.

"May I go?" asked Kotori once Rose and Kotaro were asleep.

I nodded my head. After an hour he came back large leather book. It looked at least a hundred years old may older. Kotori placed it in front of me.

"What is this?" I asked.

"Its the story of the two brothers", said Kotori.

"I know the story and so does every person in this village", I said as I pushed the book away.

"No, you only know the edited story. This is the original. You'll be amazed at how much its changed over the years", said Kotori.

"How old is it?" I asked.

"This book is about two hundred twenty five years old", said Kotori.

"What do you want me to do with this?" I asked.

"Read it and hopefully it will clear some of your confusion", said Kotori.

I opened the book to a random page. The words weren't printed but handwritten. The images were in black silhouette. I closed the book and started at the beginning. I started reading:

This book is dedicated Manzo.

Please forgive me for not giving him the love he needed

From: Naruki his Sister

There once were two twin brothers. They were sons of the Queen and King of diamonds. Their names were Katashi and Manzo. The first-born was Katashi and second was Manzo. The eldest was accepted and loved by the entire kingdom the other was feared and shunned. This fear was bred from his immense strength, which surpassed all of family. His brother was the only one who didn't see him as a beast. They were the closest of friends. One would happily die for the other. Neither would dare to harm the other.

Time will either weaken or strengthen a bond. As the years went by Katashi grew to be the pride of his village and of his father, while the other was trapped in the perceptions of others. Manzo begged for his brother's help knowing he was the only one who could save him. But Katashi ignored his brother's pleas. Even with rejection Manzo remained loyal.

One day the Princess of the Stars came with her family to the Land of Wealth. She was a beautiful maiden. Her hair spun golden and her eyes held the twinkle of the stars. The eldest prince of diamond fell deeply in love with her. The princess felt the same, but one fear stopped the princess from saying yes to the elder prince. That fear was of Manzo. She heard of his monstrous actions during the war. Manzo only wanting the best for his brother left the village and took shelter in the mountains. Where no one would dare bother him.

The arrangement seemed perfect. The couple married and had two sons and a glorious daughter each of them held the gifts that ran in their father's blood. What Katashi failed to remember was even the most terrifying of beasts gets lonely. Manzo came down from the mountains and to his brother's home, but could not find him. A little girl came running toward him. She held no fear of him, which shocked Manzo. Even his brother held some fear of him. The two grew close. The princess's parent had no time for her, but gave her all the time she wanted. And the princess treated him like a human.

This blissful friendship was soon ruined when the child's mother caught the monster playing with her daughter. She ran to her daughter and screamed, when Manzo tried approaching. Katashi came running when heard the scream of his beloved. Manzo would have been killed that day if wasn't for the girl's love for him. Katashi banished his brother from the village threatening to kill him if he ever returned.

Manzo left the village and returned to his lonely home in the mountains with complaint. One night normal silence of the mountains was broken by a scream of child without thought he ran toward it hoping he could save whatever person it belonged to. When he reached the source it was too late. There lay the young princess dead on the mountain cave floor. A witch dressed in shadows stood over the body and disappeared into the night. Manzo ran to the young princess. He tried desperately to heal her, but the child had long since left for the after life. Manzo screamed in agony at loosing the one person who truly thought he wasn't a beast. He wrapped the child in his warmest blanket and carried her back home.

Katashi saw not his brother caring his child, but the monster who murdered his daughter. Manzo took every beating and punishment his brother had to offer. Katashi sealed away his brother's gifts thinking him underserving of their power. Manzo made no objections. He blamed himself for what happen to the girl even though this death didn't belong to his hands.

The monster's last punishment was a life trapped within a hollow mountain . Since that day the mountain was named The Weeping Mountain. Because if one listens closely they could hear the cries and screams of the monster trapped within it. Every day the jailer would visit and leave plate of food. And every time before the jailor left he asked Manzo if he murdered the child. The jailor promised that if he admitted he would be able to see daylight again.

It took five years for the fallen prince to admit to the crime. By that time his sense had long since left him. The jailer then reveal his true identity it was Katashi. He told his brother he would never see the sunlight again. The same night the dark witch appeared in Manzo's prison. With his sickened mind he could not recognize the witch who stole away the only person who thought him a monster.

She asked if he wanted free above all. He told the witch he wanted freedom more than anything. She told the only thing he had to do to earn his freedom was kill his parents and his closest friend. Manzo agreed to the terms without a second thought. The dark witch freed him from his chains and off the monster went to fulfill his promise. Killing the king and queen with ease, since they never held love for him or him for them. Killing his brother didn't come easy, but at the time he valued his freedom more than bond he once shared with his brother.

At that moment clarity returned to mind. He realized what he had done and waited to be captured and put to death. Manzo chose the punishment of death over life in the cage in spent five years in. His brother's widow thought death by execution or old age was too good for Manzo.

She called upon the white witch and begged her to curse Manzo with immortal. The white witch warned the powerful of spell would descend all generations of the family. To save the entire family from immortality the white witch put a condition on the spell. This condition was if any member who killed a person of the family would be punished with immortality. But she never could have predicted the repercussions of the curse she created.

The monster was returned to his mountain. Where he forever stayed as time moved forward he was forgotten. The reminder of him were the weeping echoes, which travel through his prison.

Kotori was right the morphed the original story was warped. Manzo you didn't deserve the punishment you received. Even the story was over there were still more pages. These pages were newer than the rest of the book. I flipped page and started reading:

The tale doesn't end there. Manzo's body didn't fall to age, sickness, or starvation. Unlike his body his prison decayed to time. The once powerful chain that held rushed and a simple tug of he broke free of his restraints. For the first time in more than a century Manzo felt the sunshine on his face. Even though the sun burned his eyes he couldn't help being in immense joy. He was free. He cleaned himself and returned the kingdom he called home. No one remembered him. Manzo went to new king of the lands and asked for work defending the village. He went under a false name. The civil war left the village in great need for shinobi. He was partnered with a distant relative named Jun.

One day they were assigned a mission to free slaves from Tomi Village. They rescued many. Among the masses of tortured people there was a woman with white hair and midnight blues that stood out from the misery. As soon as Manzo laid eyes on her a spark of warmth went alight in his heart. He couldn't remember the last time he felt something like this. The beauty that caught the so-called monster's heart went by Miera. Her affection was stolen from him by Jun his partner.

Manzo didn't understand why Jun was so willing to court her. He had a wife and daughter at home. Jun had the life Manzo craved. A wife, a child, and family to come home to. Why did he have to steal his chance of love? When she stepped foot in the kingdom of diamond she discovered the one she loved already had a wife. The beauty didn't want to be mistress she wanted to be with someone who wouldn't be ashamed of being with her.

She fell in love with Manzo and didn't know why she didn't give her heart to him in the first place. He didn't want to lie to her. Manzo told her his story. He feared her rejection, but his past didn't scare her. Their bond only grew stronger. They married. Their love was pure. Jun held a great jealous toward the couple. He knew Manzo's secret. Jun only had to wait for the right to take what he wanted. When Miera's husband gone on a mission he took his chance. He told her that he knew her husband's true identity and threatened to tell if she didn't spend a night with him.

She gave into his request. When Manzo returned he found his wife crying. She told him what happened. He was about to kill Jun when Miera told him she was with child. They made love the night before Jun forced to share his bed. Manzo sat with his wife. He promised he would love the child if it belonged to him or not. On the night of the child's birth he was force from his wife's side and imprisoned for the third time in his life. Jun had told the king of diamonds who Manzo really was.

Miera gave birth to a daughter with hair as white as snow and the same midnight blue eyes as her mother. The process of birth was too straining on Miera's body. She held her baby in her arms. One look at her daughter and Miera knew she belonged to Manzo. The child was raised as Jun's daughter, so she would never discover a monster sired her.

Manzo desperate to find his family freed himself once again from his prison to search for his daughter.

Manzo is my father. I have to find him. I looked carefully at the handwriting on the newest pages. I've seen it before. I ran to the bedroom closet. I think I still had it. I grabbed the box from the top shelf of my closet. I took the letter from my box. Mari's handwriting matched those in the newest section of the book. I was about to run to her house when door of my house opened. My children came running in.

"Is story book for us?" asked Hazel.

"No honey this something I was studying", I said.

The day went by slowly tomorrow couldn't come fast enough. Kotori came to dinner with Blossom. While the others were busy with kids I pulled Kotori into the kitchen.

"I need a favor", I said.

"Of course Minori", said Kotori.

He looked somewhat tense.

"Don't look so tense all I need you to do is tell Betty I need her to babysit Rose and Kotaro", I said.

Kotori gave a sigh of relief.

"I can do that", said Kotori.

The night went by smoothly. I said goodbye to Kotori and Blossom. I got my children ready for bed. They ran into the living room. Rose chased after her siblings. I stopped her before she could fall and hurt herself. I placed the playpen with Kotaro. He was already falling asleep. Hazel and Saizo rushed to the large leather two person chair. They started fighting over it.

"Mommy I called the chair and Saizo took it", whined Hazel.

"There's plenty of room on the chair for the both of you. Either share or move to another seat", I said.

Hazel sighed and got into the pink chair with orange leaf pattern. Many of the people of my village donated furniture to me. Most of the objects in my house were mismatched. When Saizo and Hazel settled I started reading Where the Wild Things Are. After that the twins were ready for bed. They yawned loudly.

"Night night mommy", they said before they went to their rooms.

I took Kotaro from the playpen and moved him into the crib. I did the same with Rose. I wished I could fall asleep as easily as them, but my mind was riddled with questions. I need comfort. I opened my locket. It had been months since I last opened it. I had to take the images of Tatsuo and Midnight. I replaced them with photos of Rose and Kotaro. My eyes lingered on the image of Kakuzu and I.

"I miss you Kakuzu",

It hurt so much. I went to bedroom and tried sleeping. At the most I got two hours of sleep. I woke up early in the morning. There was a knock at the door. It was Betty.

"Morning Betty", I said.

"Morning what do you have planned for me today?" asked Betty.

"The twins will wake up soon, Saizo might need some help getting out of bed. At nine their uncle will pick them up for camp. There are bottles in the fridge for Kotaro. It should be enough for the day", I said.

"When are you coming back?" asked Betty.

"Nine at the latest. The twins' bedtime is still seven thirty. You can make whatever you want for them", I said.

I changed my clothes and grabbed the book from bed. I ran out the door toward Mari's house. Her house was on the northern border. I followed the heavily rooted path to her house. Mari's was an ancient watchtower. It looked almost exactly like tower chess piece. Its large arched windows were shuttered. The whites stones it was built from were covered in moss and ivy. Two large stone horses stood near the large red door off the house.

The shuttered windows mean she either has someone over; she has horrible headache or both. I walked the read heavy double doors of Mari's house. I pulled on the spine shaped door handle, but it was locked. I used the brass skull door knocker. Ten minutes later I heard the heavy deadbolts unlock. Mari opened the door. She was wearing gray tank top with a grumpy cloud on it, lacy black underwear, and white unicorn slippers. Her hair was mess and she barely awake.

"I guess we have a lot to talk about", said Mari.

I nodded my head. I followed her into the kitchen. Her kitchen was all black except for the large red chandelier that hung from the ceiling.

"Coffee?" asked Mari.

"I can't", I said.

"I thought you be able to do a lot more now that you push out my lovely nephew", said Mari.

"Tea would be nice if you have it", I said.

She nodded her head a placed a mug of tea in front of me.

"Is what you wrote in this book true?" I asked.

"Yes, I gave it to Kotori so you could know the truth", said Mari.

"Is Manzo my father?" I asked.

"Most likely yes", said Mari.

She frowned when she said that.

"I guess we aren't really sisters either", said Mari.

I took her hand in mine and gave it a squeeze.

"You and Kameko will always be my sister, even if we don't share the same parents", I said.

She smiled.

"Where do you think he is?" I asked.

"The Weeping Mountain", said Mari.

"What do you think we should do?" I asked.

"We have to free him", said Mari.

"How much trouble are we going to get into?" I asked.

"A good amount", said Mari.

"Is there any risk of me losing the ones I hold most dear?" I asked.

"Not as much as you would think. A war is brewing we might just speed it up a little", said Mari.

"Why do you want to do this? He's not even your dad", I said.

"It's the right thing to do. He's been punished long enough. Imagine how much danger he could be if loses his sanity", said Mari.

"His powers are sealed. He's not much of a threat to anyone", I said.

"Even more reason to get him out of there", said Mari.

"When do you want to do this?" I asked.

"When do you need to get back home?" asked Mari.

"The latest I can stay out is nine", I said.

"We will leave at five", said Mari.

"What if we get caught?" I asked.

"I know every secret path that leads back to my house. We won't be seen unless we want to be", said Mari.

I nodded my head. We spent the day together. We ran to the Weeping Mountain. It was eerily silent. The only sound that stuck out in the silence was a muffled weeping.

"How do we get?" I asked.

Mari led me to a tunnel that would have gone unnoticed by most. I saw swirling decoration carved deep into.

"Open it", said Mari.

"How do you suggest I do that?" I asked.

"Channel your chakra into. It will only work with yours", said Mari.

I channeled my chakra into the wall. The swirling decoration went alight with chakra. The wall cracked open revealing a dark tunnel. The tunnel was slick with water. Mari and I slipped all the down it until we hit the wall at the end. The smell of blood instantly caught my attention. Luckily the lantern we brought with us hadn't shattered.

"Do you still have your lighter?" I asked.

She nodded her head. Mari quickly lit the wick of the lantern. My eyes went wide when I saw the condition he was in. His arms were chained and he was kneeling on the ground. When we entered his cell I saw the deep lash marks on his back. Manzo's skin was coated in dried blood.

"Now what? I don't know how to unseal these chains", I said.

"Yes you do", said Mari.

"Explain how I know", I said.

"There are only three ways to free him. One the two guardians of the village agree to free him. Two both Hiro and Eiji agree to free him, which they will never do. Three a member of Manzo's direct bloodline willing frees him from his prison. That's you or your children", said Mari.

"How can you even be sure he is my dad?" I asked.

"You wouldn't have been able to unseal the door by yourself", said Mari.

I channeled my chakra into the chains. They glowed light blue with and then released. Mari caught him before he could fall face first to ground. The chains clanked loudly against the walls. The sound echoed through the hollow mountain. Manzo's eyes opened slightly, but quickly shut again. Mari and I carried him out of the tunnel. We ran to her house. Mari locked the door behind as we entered her house.

"Where should we put him?" I asked.

"Bedroom second floor", said Mari.

We dragged him up the stairs. Mari opened a heavy wooden door. The bedroom was painted dark red and there was large black canopy bed in the middle of the room. Mari pushed back the covers off the bed and threw the decretive pillows on the floor. We laid him down on his stomach. I looked at the cat shaped clock on the wall read 5:40pm. Good, I have enough to treat him. His skin was hot to the touch and glistening with sweat. It didn't take me long to figure out that he's suffer through a horrible infection.

"What do you need?" asked Mari.

"Rubbing alcohol, a suture kit, bandages, antibiotics if you have them, and large bowl of water with a clean clothe", I said.

Mari ran down the stairs to get supplies.

"Who did this to you?" I asked.

He was too weak to give any sort of response. Mari came rushing back through the door with supplies. She helped me wash the blood from his body.

"Can't you just heal him with you chakra?" asked Mari.

"His body is extremely unwilling accept chakra. It would only drain me of a good amount of strength. I wouldn't be able to explain my loss in strength", I said.

"Okay okay I get it", said Mari.

I poured some of the rubbing alcohol on his shoulder. Manzo's eyes snapped open and he screamed on the top of his lungs.

"Shh, you have to be quiet", I said as put my hand over his mouth.

He didn't stop.

"Do you have anything we can use to keep him quiet?" I asked.

She nodded her head and pulled a ball gag out of the bedside drawer. Mari put it on him with great ease. The awkwardness of this situation didn't escape me. Manzo bit down hard on the gag as I poured the rubbing alcohol on his back. Luckily his back wasn't completely destroyed.

"Mari do you know how to sew?" I asked.

She nodded her head. Together we sutured his back together. The poor man did not pass out and had to suffer through what Mari and I were putting him through. When we were finally done I bandaged his wounds. Mari took the gag from his mouth. When I looked at the clock it read 8:00pm.

"Mari is there any chance you have some clothes that will fit him?" I asked.

"Yep, I'll dress him. You shower", said Mari.

I nodded my head and walked into the bathroom. I threw off my clothes and stepped into the shower. I washed the blood, dirt, and sweat from my skin. When I was done, I wrapped a towel around my body. My clothes were destroyed. There's no way I could return home in them. When I walked into the room I saw Manzo was wearing a bag of black silk pants.

"I'll find you something to wear", said Mari before she left the room.

Mari handed me a bunch of clothes. I went in to bathroom and changed. I put on the lacy black bra and sighed when I saw she had given me thong instead of real underwear.

"Mari",

"A thong is not underwear", I said through the door.

"It either that or nothing", said Mari.

When looked in the mirror I saw I was wearing pajama short with skulls on them and gray shirt. Not bad consider what Mari could have given me to wear. Left the bathroom and sat on the bed to Manzo to see if there were any injuries I missed. His eyes opened and his hand grabbed shirt pulling me close.

"He's alive",