Kagura Hearts

Chapter 25 ~ Key to War

As Sora rested in Katsuragi's arms, Yumi explained to her, Asuka, and Yagyu her reasons for aiming to judge and purge Sora…

"The Shinobi keep to the darkness, where no one can reach us…not even the secrets we hold. There are few in our line of work who are aware of a larger world than our own. One of those Shinobi was actually my Grandfather…Kurokage."

"Founder of Gessen Academy, my beloved grandfather lived for protecting the innocent, especially the innocence that he adopted into our family for the sake of offering a new lease on life. He gave me sisters in the forms of Yozakura, Shiki, Murakumo, and Minori, who have each suffered because of an unjust twist of fate. My grandfather earned his rank, and his place as a Master Shinobi."

"But despite his rank, he was…judged harshly for his political views. Everyone said the same thing about my grandfather. He was…an extremist in their eyes, to them, his views were somewhat similar to how Pest Control deals with Insects, and the Factions of Evil Ninja were the Insects."

"True as some might have been, my grandfather was actually a wonderful man who stood by the same principals he taught me: Protect the Innocent, and Serve the Just. His guidance and his parental presence was the thing of superhero comics, where a mentor taught the next generation of heroes to become true heroes."

"And as far-fetched as this sounds, Grandfather and many others knew the existence of the Keyblades as well…after several of their wielders visited him one night ago…"

"The visitor from beyond the stars introduced himself as Eraqus, who aided my Grandfather against a powerful Yoma named Shin, known by many as the lord of all Yoma. Eraqus' aid was the reason, for a time, that Grandfather was alive…"

"...but that help was not given from the second Keybearer. This man looked sinister, as if the blood of his victims wouldn't matter, that man was Xehanort, who attempted to sway Grandfather into giving him what he wanted by using Eraqus' aid to convince him…"

"...and Xehanort was flawless in his acting, as he lied well enough to claim what he wanted…"

"...the records of the Keyblade War."

As Yumi looked back in her memory, Kurokage had just been attacked by Xehanort, who laughed at what he read and said, "So…the past does indeed haunt me. I could have known this right from the start, only to read about the very dream I had years ago! And yet your treasure is not worthless, dear shinobi. Your records detailed EVERYTHING I needed to know to start the very war I was aiming for! And after I achieve Kingdom Hearts, I will be sure to return here, thanking you for this…"

Kurokage however summoned a mass of generated ice, creating an enormous and sharp missile-like icicle, while aiming it at Xehanort and saying, "Your desire to claim Kingdom Hearts will be in vain, trickster! YOU'LL DIE BEFORE READING ONE MORE PAGE!" Kurokage then launched his ice missile at Xehanort, only for the attack to be sliced through! Smiling at Kurokage's attempt, Xehanort asked, "Your 'Black Ice' Ninja Art…sadly, it's not as powerful as you claimed it to be. But don't let that get you down, old fool, there is no Ninja Art in existence that can truly quell the Keyblade. ALLOW ME TO DEMONSTRATE!"

To Kurokage's horror, Xehanort lunged over him and towards the little Yumi, who was watching the battle between the masters!

Xehanort grabbed Yumi by the throat and using his left hand, began to use ice magic to nearly freeze the little girl to death! Kurokage however grabbed Xehanort by the shoulder and threw him aside while rushing over to meet him with an ice-coated fist…

"Xehanort, a Keyblade Master, nearly killed me for knowledge. So as much as you seem to treasure this sudden 'hero', Asuka, I can't just let a Keyblade Wielder, let alone a BOY like him, like your Sora, go on without a THOROUGH check. He could be scheming, plotting, the list can go on with Keybearers. They are neither Ninjas, Good, or Bad, they can all be backstabbers."

"-He saved your life with the last of his strength!" Katsu argued.

Yumi looked at the unconscious Sora and said, "All the more reason to suspect his goals. I am of Justice, NOT of Fools." Asuka however compelled Yumi by saying, "-A Fool is hasty and immediately dismissive, Yumi! Sora is a noble young man who keeps his bonds close, even after death! As much as many of us wanted to, Sora would never throw his feelings for his true love aside for another, and if you want to keep throwing our friend into more of your stupid trials, then you're going to have to get through me to do it!"

Yumi slowly approached Asuka, with an enraged stare in her snow-white eyes, and said to her, "He will betray your feelings…he will betray ALL of you. He MUST be tested before it's too late. Stand with an eventual traitor, and you will DIE a traitor all the same!" Katsu then said, "JUST TRY IT, SNOWFLAKE!"

Yumi looked at the Hanzo Girls, then she looked at Sora, who was waking up from his overexertion. He looked at Yumi and smiled as he asked, "...hey…you're alright…I'm glad all that energy was good for something while it lasted." Yumi's cheeks blushed from Sora's warm smile, making Yumi say, "DON'T SAY STUPID THINGS LIKE THAT! (grumble) If you had that kind of energy left, you should have used it for the Trials, NOT ON ME!" Sora was somewhat confused by the frustrated Yumi and said, "Wait…you didn't want to be saved? But that's crazy! Suicide doesn't get you anywear but a grave, and you still have loved ones who need you, right?"

Yumi argued, "I WASN'T trying to kill myself you idiot! I was kidnapped by the perverted monkey holding you in her arms!" Sora looked up and noticed Katsu, holding Sora in her arms while she said, "Dude, your hand is on my boob." Sora was startled by the sight of his hand groping her, but as he let go, Katsu stretched her neck to Sora while saying, "Hey, I didn't say 'stop', did I? If anything…I'd say…kiss me."

Yagyu however managed to knock Katsu out and get Sora back on his feet before saying, "Even after Katsu hits on him, the dude stays strong for his lady friend back in the living realm. You might be a Faction Leader, Yumi, but Sora is one of us, and passing two Trials is enough for one day!" Sora however said, "Actually, I think I can keep going." Yagyu however said, "It's not up to you Sora, your body's reached its limit for the day, or did that Nap on Kat's boobs never happen?" Sora answered, "I prefer they didn't…still…"

Asuka however said, "Sora, as your contracted Summoner AND as leader of the Hanzo Academy, I command you to put off the Trials until tomorrow! By the next day, you will have all the energy you require to take part in the last 3 Trials!" Sora tried to say something to convince Asuka, but the heir of Hanzo's name made her command clear by saying, "THAT'S AN ORDER. Please follow it and go home already? You really are near your limit." Sora sighed and said, "...y-yes mam…"

Asuka cheered and carried a dizzy Katsu over her shoulder while Yagyu helped Sora walk out of the alleyway and back into town.

Yumi however asked, "Asuka, how will I know Sora will take part in the remaining 3 Trials tomorrow? He could just as easily sleep through the day or run out of town." Asuka answered, "He's a noble person, Yumi. Honorable with a capital 'H'. Besides, Yomi will make sure he wakes up, prepared for the Trials."

"YOMI OF THE CRIMSON SQUAD IS LIVING WITH A KEYBLADE WIELDER?!" Yumi asked.

Asuka nodded.

Yumi then said, "The situation is dire ENOUGH without the involvement of a bunch of traitors to Evil Ninjas. Now your 'friend' is sleeping with the Enemy?!" Asuka then said, "It's not like he's…LITERALLY sleeping with her. He has his own room, and she's…become his maid to make up for almost killing him while under the possession of Darkness." Yumi however said, "A dept to pay is HARDLY an excuse for some overly sexualized Pauper to sleep in the same home as-!"

"Actually, I sleep there too. There's a few bedrooms for guests, courtesy of Granny, and I sleep there to keep tabs on Sora." Asuka explained.

Frustrated by how Asuka is so accepting of the situation, Yumi said, "It's just too convenient for him. He might as well be barking orders to the most airheaded and untrustworthy Kunoichis in history! To properly make sure this man is worth a lady's time, it shall be a lady who runs this 'rental boathouse' your Grandmother left him!" Asuka tried to explain, "Yumi, he's not giving us orders, he's like a polite and helpful little brother to me and Yomi. Also, I think he's a little on edge around you for the way you treat him-." Yumi then said, "-Then I won't be living with the 3 of you." Asuka then asked, "You…you won't? But I thought you had the hots for him-."

Yumi then said, "AS CUTE AND SEXY AS HE IS, I AM IN NO POSITION TO FEEL HIS SOFT BODY IN MY-...(ahem)"

"Ah-HA! Noble-Hearted Prince-Types ARE your turn-ons! You DO like Sora!" Asuka said, while Katsu regained a little sense back and said, "KISS HIM YA DUMMY!" After Yumi karate-chopped Katsu back to sleep, Yumi explained, "I-...I can't! I have too much to prepare, after all, I run the Gessen Academy, especially since Grandfather has passed away. I won't ignore the boy's living arrangement though, Gessen will have eyes on him just as Hanzo and Homura do! So I will have my 2nd Lieutenant stay with him…as his wife!"

Asuka was shocked by Yumi and asked, "HIS WIFE?! Now you're just writing Fanfiction, lady! I mean, who in your group would even CONSIDER pretending to be Sora's fiance-?!"

"-Wife." Yumi corrected.

"I DON'T CARE!" Asuka yelled while continuing, "HE'S 17 ANYWAY, and the only other 17 year old in your group is a chicken without a mask! So unless you have a 6th member waiting under your kimono, I don't see how you can-!" Yumi then asked, "17 year olds can date between 16 and 18 year-olds, Asuka. It doesn't have to just be 17. And as astounding as this may sound, I already have the perfect woman in mind for your Granny's Puppet…"

Later that night, Yagyu brought Sora back home and said, "You did a good job, Sora. I…I can see why Hibari wanted to tag-team with you." Sora then said, "Still, you guys came all the way over to save me before I tuckered myself out. I owe you guys more than ever." Yagyu smiled and said, "You owe nothing, Sora. We're your friends, and sometimes, a bond like that is 'power' enough."

"Yagyu…that was beautiful!" Sora said, while Yagyu blushed and said, "W-well, don't fall for me, dude. I'm flattered, don't get me wrong, but I…well, let's just say I wave a DIFFERENT flag of interest…you know what I mean?" Sora nodded and said, "I think I do. Riku told me that along with appearances, people can be different in interests as well, and you…you're…into…girls, right?" Yagyu nodded while petting Sora's head, "That's correct, knuckle-head. But…do me a favor and keep this to yourself. I want to confess to Hibari myself when the time comes." Sora hand-gestured zipping his lip while winking while Yagyu happily said, "It's a promise then, thanks, Sora. Have a good night!" Sora nodded and waved at Yagyu as she left…

"...so…Yagyu was a Lesbian? Neat! I can't wait to tell Riku I have a Lesbian Friend!" Sora cheered while he took his shoes off and sat at the table, ready for whatever Yomi makes for dinner…

"Welcome home, my darling."

Before Sora could answer, he realized something. The girl who just said that WASN'T Yomi…and it wasn't Asuka, and as he looked at his serving, he found that he was served something out of a 5-Star Restaurant, unlike what Yomi was cooking for him before…

Sora slowly looked over to the kitchen area, only to be pulled into cleavage while being hugged by the sudden new girl! Sora stood up from his table and away from the hug to see the Gessen Academy student, Yozakura, wearing casual clothes (stretchy pants and a cleavage-exposing shirt) and an apron!

"Y-Y-Y-YOU…WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE?!" Sora asked. Yozakura smiled adorably at Sora and said, "Aww, Yumi was getting suspicious again and believed you were the type to abandon a mission, so she sent me to keep an eye on you." Sora shook his head in disbelief and said, "I-I can't…I just CAN'T have another girl here! I'm contracted to Asuka, and Yomi stays here out of the goodness of her heart, but a member of a group that wants me dead?! I just-!"

"I don't want you dead, stupid, and neither do Minori and Shiki. I also believe Murakumo has taken a liking to you after you returned her mask." Yozakura explained. Sora still had to ask, "...so…you really are here just to keep watch over me until tomorrow-?" Yozakura then interrupted, "-Longer since Yumi assigned me to be your Wife."

"...my…what-now?" Sora asked.

End of Chapter 25