Chapter 33: Ally part 2
・
Writing
'Inner thoughts'
°Telepathic Communication°
Age: 14
3rd POV
Back in Sunagakure deep in the botanist wing of the research center, someone finished their new tree. "What are you still doing here?" Baki asked since she had long ago finished retrieving the information.
"Working on something." She replied while removing a bandage around a branch. "Also I'm glad that the plants I bred are working." She closed a book about grafting before turning her chair to face him. "But I think that you didn't come looking for me to talk about the decorative plants. So what is it?"
"The council is deciding on who to name Kazekage." He took a seat across from her.
"Oh, about time." She grabbed her little sapling and cradled it. "Let me guess it's between Gaara and Kankurō."
With a nod, she spun her chair. "May I be honest to the point of offense?" She asked waiting for that one sigh. "Kankurō may be liked by the village more than Gaara but do you really think that the other village leaders will see him as someone strong and worth respecting?" She waited a second before continuing. "Gaara, on the other hand, has quite a reputation in the other villages for his strength. If he became Kazekage then I doubt the other villages will try to attempt anything even though he's young." She clicked her tongue and sighed. "But that's just my opinion don't tell the council," she whispered taking a good look around before laughing.
"I won't tell them," Baki said standing up to leave.
"Wait you didn't tell me what your thoughts were!" she bolted from her seat.
"You already sorted through my thoughts."
Uzushiogakure
Having received a message on her telescroll. A scroll with a transportation technique capable of sending messages to another similar scroll as long as the marking of the other scroll is drawn on it. Invented by Kichi who had messed around with a couple of jutsu. The scroll looks like any other scroll with the exception of it having a compartment for an ink brush and ink. She stepped back on the island with her sapling on hand. Standing at the steps of the shrine she could see the city already taking shape. Surprised by how things have changed so quickly she walked towards the city admiring it as she grew closer to it. Walking along the tree-lined streets she put a hop into her step as she looked around. The once-vacant buildings now sheltered new people within. Sparkling glass and doors was a sure sign of someone living within she noted as most of the city still remained hollow. By just crossing into another street she heard the echoes of her footsteps on the gravel ground. Stopping she looked up and stared at the tall buildings feeling small and insignificant. Smiling she just did a small spin before running to another street.
"Oh, Yukino!" Kichi yelled running to her after watching her spin alone in the empty street.
"Kichi-san!" She flinched almost dropping the sapling. "I got your message. Is something wrong?" She said trying to hide her flushed face with the branches of the sapling.
"No. But we found something I think you will love. Nori-kun and Ryota are already there." She grabbed her hand and led her towards a part of the island she's never been to.
Reaching the location she stared in confusion at the forest clearly separated from the rest of the surrounding trees. Not to mention the thick fog within the forest prevented sight beyond the first few trees. "What is this?"
"The cursed forest or so it's called. The books mentioned a library in its center." She said ominously while staring at the dense fog. "Well, let's go in be careful and don't lose sight of me." She held her hand out.
Taking her hand she was led into the forest. Making sure to track their steps she notes, three right turns and a minute worths walk for each and the moment the fourth right turn was taken she stopped. "Kichi we're going in a square."
"It feels like that but that's what this fog is meant to do." She explained before walking again. "Funny story but I got lost for three days trying to figure out the puzzle." She laughed as the fog became lighter and they both emerged in a clearing with a tower in its center. "We are here." She let go, jogging to the entrance and entering first.
After a moment of staring at the huge tower-like building, she decided to enter. Stepping into the building she stared at the glass roof and the multi-layer open floors. "Nori found information on something and left. Something about finding a way to rebuild the other cities…" She could hear Ryota's voice a couple of shelves down.
Looking up a scroll caught her eye as it sparkled similarly to a scroll she had. Curious she created chakra chains wrapping them around her waist. Balancing herself she made sure to put the edges of the chains on the gaps of the floor tiles to prevent damaging the old building. Ready she began to rise fairly quickly making it to the higher floors, stopping at the floor she saw the scroll she leaned forward. Tipping to the side suddenly she flailed around for a moment spilling some dirt on the floors below but soon regained balance. Looking down she saw the curious woman using her to climb up as well. Creating another chain she extended it down for the woman and brought her up to her level.
"I didn't know you could use this technique." Kichi awed taking a good look at the library from above.
"You know about it?" Yukino tilted her head to the side moving her face away from the branches of the sapling.
"Yes, from the scrolls you gave us from the shrine in Konoha but it's the first time I've actually seen it." She said noticing the scroll the other was after. "Let me get that for you." She stretched a bit and grabbed the scroll.
"Thank you." Opening it she skimmed through it realizing that it was the missing flight scroll she read about. 'Duh, swirling waters means Uzushio.' She rolled it up and put it in her library. Looking down at her sapling she put it in there as well knowing that it would be safer there for now.
SLAM! Both flinching at the sound echoing through the library they both looked down seeing Nori breathing in heavily and sweating. "We can set up the barrier!" His body shook as he leaned against the entrance for support. Both girls looked at each other surprised and went down as quickly as possible.
・・・
Briefed on what they had to do Yukino looked at the four-sided prisms with pyramids on both ends. Opening a portal she made water tendrils and dragged in all eight prisms. "So I have to set them exactly in these points?" she asked once again before she went out to sea and dropped them in.
"Exactly on those points. One for each direction north, south and so on." He repeated taking Yukino's arm he added a seal on his wrist that disappeared.
"What is that for?" Kichi asked seeing it for the first time.
"It will allow her to enter and leave the island." He explained. "Now make sure to do these signs once you come back inside." He turned to Yukino and handed her a slip of paper. "First activate the barrier and then the genjutsu it will already be part of the barrier all you have to do is activate it."
"Genjutsu what is that for?" Ryota asked as he had remained silent for a while.
"You'll see," Nori answered taking out a board with what seemed to be a replica of the island. Tapping his head he nodded giving Yukino her cue to leave.
Entering into her mystical space Yukino went north first and opened a portal above the ocean. Waiting she heard a Nori's small voice in her head. °Go forward a bit.° Doing as told she moved her portal until she heard him say °There.° Dropping the first prism into the ocean she watched as it went down making sure that that the water didn't move it. No longer seeing it she returned to her portal and left for the next location.
Repeating the process seven more times she returned to the island and did the signs. Silently watching she saw the barrier surrounding the island before it became invisible. Doing the final hand signs she looked around seeing nothing different. Having never done a genjutsu before she looked around uncertain expecting to see something different.
Not wanting to do the signs again and ruin it she returned to the shrine where Nori told her. "The genjutsu can only be seen from outside."
"That's good I thought I did something wrong." She sighed relieved.
"Good, now that that's done we can leave." Kichi clapped her hands together and smiled.
"What?!" Both Ryota and Yukino asked surprised.
"We want to see what the mainland is like," Nori said agreeing with Kichi.
"Oh…" Both Ryota and Yukino said in unison.
"Will you take us with you?" They both asked with sparkling eyes.
Ryota's POV
"Bye!" Yukino yelled as Nori and Kichi went together on a separate path. "Make sure to come to this town!" She yelled pointing to the road we were going down.
"We will," Kichi yelled back before sprinting further down the road forcing Nori to run after her.
"Do you think they will be fine?" I asked Yukino as we both turned to the path we were on.
"Yeah, I talked to Nori as to how things work so they should be fine." She sighed scratching her head. "The money I gave them should be enough I hope." She muttered quietly.
Thinking of something to say I stayed silent for a while before it came to mind. "As long as both of them are together they should be fine." Looking to the side I saw Yukino with a book out reading. 'When did she?' Staring at the clean and fresh pages I asked. "That book is new when did you buy it?"
"Remember Jiraiya?" She asked looking up and turning the book to show me the cover.
"The old guy we met at one of the brothels?"
"Yeah, that one. He gave me this book signed apparently he's the author." She returned to it reading it with a frown.
"Is it good?"
"Mmm… I don't know I just started but Kakashi-senpai seemed to like it a lot."
"Who?"
"Someone from Konoha." she waved her hand to dismiss the topic.
・・・
Reaching town within a few minutes Yukino had put away the book long ago and was now staring at the ground with a blank stare. Looking around for something I spotted the familiar sight of a festival. "Hey, look its a festival!" I shook her arm slightly.
"Hm." She gave one nod and continued walking with a blank stare. 'Is she tired?' I wondered. 'Did the book remind her of something?'
Stopping her she blinked a couple of times and looked at me with arched eyebrows. "You need to take a break or you're going to end up in a coma one day." Lowering my voice I glanced at the sides before continuing. "Being a botanist in Suna. An Anbu in Konoha. A developer in Uzushio and a 'Thief' to put it lightly throws a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders mostly if those lives aren't aware of each other." Sighing I returned to my normal volume level. "Have some fun just for today. The stress just makes the nights colder."
"Wait. Does it really?" She asked me surprised and worried.
"It does. Even if you cover yourself the cold still seeps through." I finally admitted. "In the summer it was fine but now that winter is approaching well the cold is not as refreshing."
"Sorry." She played with her fingers before looking around for something. "There!" She exclaimed dragging me along to a shop I've never entered before.
Yukino's POV
Wearing a light blue yukata I took off my obi to make it look like Ryota's. Looking at myself on the store's window I smugly admired myself. 'I knew I looked good in a yukata.'
Looking to my side I saw Ryota do the same. Flipping his ponytail over his shoulder he fixed his bangs and smiled at his own reflection. "I knew I looked hot." He smugly said striking a pose and winking. "Now I'm acting like my brother." He sighed curling up.
"Hey, I'm sure you're different from your brother. I mean I just met him once but still you two are worlds apart." I tried cheering him up. 'I wonder if this is what having a sibling is like.' I sighed.
"Hm… yeah. He's more stuck-up than I am." He laughed and took my obi. "Let me help you with that." He said folding it and tucking it into my sleeve. "Now let's go hime-chan." He held out a hand. Shaking my head I bumped into him purposefully and he laughed walking towards the festival. The moment we entered the area I spotted things I haven't seen in years.
Gasp! Worriedly looking at Ryota I saw his eyes sparkle. "Food! Go play I'll buy the food." He said before dashing in the direction of the food stalls.
Laughing, I walked to the games looking at the prizes for anything that I may like. 'Did I look that down?' I wondered staring at the things I passed. 'The book just made me wonder what love was like.' I smiled sighing that something like that would make him try to cheer me up. Stopping in front of one stall I stared at the fox plushies. 'Oh, It looks just like Kitaro!' I looked at the other prizes spotting a pure white fox plush resembling Kuzunoha-san. 'I haven't seen her in a while I should visit her when Christmas comes.' Smiling at the thought I vowed internally to clear things for that day when it arrives.
Turning my head to look for Ryota and the food I saw someone else just as important. Standing by the same stall Gaara stood wearing a dark red yukata. Following his eyes I saw him staring at the same plush I was staring at just moments ago. "Gaara?" I asked just to be sure.
Looking up with a hint of surprise he nodded. "Yukio It's been a while since the last time."
"Yes, it has…" I smiled before flashes of what happened last time flashed quickly in front of my eyes. "About last time. I–"
"Did you make it in time for the meeting?" He asked.
"Huh? Yes, we did." His question caught me by surprise that I just pointed at the stand. "Hey, let's compete for the prize," I said quickly at the top of my head without thinking. "If you want to of course." 'You shouldn't have said that.' I told myself once my brain processed what I said.
"What will it be about?" He asked making me almost take a step back.
"What?" I asked. "Oh, yeah. The dart game. Whoever wins a prize." I said obviously as that was what the game was meant to do.
"And if you lose?" He asked.
Crossing my arms I looked around. "Hm… I don't know. Maybe the loser will pay the winner 10,000 Ryo or something." I shrugged. "So do you want to play?" I asked him.
"Sure." He said with a smile. Blinking I shrugged it off. 'Nah… it must be the light.'
"Well then let's play." I bought each of us three throws. Adjusting my grip on it it felt weird, it wasn't like holding a kunai or needle. Readying my hand I threw it landing perfectly in the middle. "Yes!" I hopped excitedly.
Glancing to the side I saw Gaara already on his second dart. Readying my second dart I threw it making it land right next to the one I threw. Looking to the side I jumped seeing that Gaara had already won and was watching my progress. Grabbing the final dart I inhaled deeply and prepared to throw it. 'Gaara must really want the plushy.' a little thought popped up along with the memory of his room full of stuffed toys. 'There is no way he still has it.' Looking at him again I saw him looking at the prizes. With an aching heart, I threw the dart and purposefully missed by a little. 'Gah, I can come back later and win more.' I scratched my head.
"Ah, you won." Putting on a smile I clapped for him seeing him already choosing the fox plush that looked like Kitaro. 'He doesn't waste a second.' I sighed closing my eyes realizing how different he was from before. 'I wonder whatever happened to that doll?' I thought back remembering the one I used to use to practice the puppet technique. Opening my eyes I flinched seeing the plush right near my face. "Uh, Gaara?"
"You should have this." He placed it on my hands.
Blinking rapidly I cocked my head to the side and asked, "Wait but you won so it's yours," I pushed the plush back to him. "You should have it."
Looking down at the plush he pushed it back. "I really don't like stuffed toys."
Hiding my smile I sighed and decided to accept it. 'Liar. I bet you still have somewhere.' Holding the plush in my hands the smile I was trying to hide escaped as a warm feeling bloomed within my heart. "Thank you. I promise to cherish it."
"You don't have to do that."
"Oh, Gaara." I tsked and waved a finger. "Any gift from a friend is something to cherish." I played with the stone around my neck. Stopping I held out the stuffed toy. "This is no different." I put it close to my face. "Its cute which means I will cherish it more." I smiled smugly.
Sighing he began clearing his throat. "I was wondering if you would like to–"
"Yukino! I bought some food!" Ryota called out to me while eating some squid and carrying takoyaki. "Oh, you won something?" He asked not surprised. His smile was there but his eyes seemed to be focused elsewhere.
"No, Gaara won and gave it to me," I told him as he handed me the takoyaki. 'Mmm…'
"Oh him…" He said with suspicion as he eyed Gaara his eyes changing as he glared at the boy behind me.
°Ryota.° I placed my hand on his arm. °Let it go. Like I already did.°
Seeing his mouth gap open to argue he closed it and nodded. "Fine. Just be careful around him." He whispered surprising me. "He's always looking at you when you zone out. Which you do often." He glanced behind me and nodded. "He's doing it again."
Turning my head around quickly I caught him and he looked away. °That means nothing.° I reached to eat the takoyaki dropping a ball of it into my yukata.
"I'll hold this for you while you." Ryota's face reddened taking my plush and food before looking up at the sky. "What are you looking at!" He got in between Gaara and me. Red-faced, I reached to take it out but it just went deeper.
Gasp! Turning heads we saw Temari drop her balloon yoyo. Not allowing me to say anything she dragged me away. "How long have you been a girl?" She asked me when she finally pulled me away from the crowd.
"Since always." I shrugged but before she can ask more I held a finger up. "YOU guys were the ones that assumed I was a guy."
Expecting her to argue she just smiled and clapped her hands together. "This is great! Now I have someone to talk to!" Before I could ask more Temari pulled my hair and undid the braids I had. "Stay still we need to give you a more appropriate look!" She laughed as she played around with my hair.
"What do you mean by that?! I asked as she found the obi Ryota had stashed into my sleeve.
"Don't worry you're going to love this!" She said giving me a full makeover right there in the woods. Somehow that reminded me of the time she braided my hair and I went along with it.
Ryota's POV
Knowing what Temari was going to do I pulled out the obi I had stuffed in Yukino's sleeve slightly for her to find. Glaring at the dumbfounded boys who were looking questioningly at the woods. I snapped my fingers. "Secrets out stop staring," I told them before taking another bite out of my squid.
"What secret?" Kankurō asked.
"Yukino is a girl what else?"
"What do you mean by a girl?" Gaara asked before his brother could.
"Well obviously. Girl. Female. You know like your sister." I explained in the simplest way possible. Taking one final bite I noted his flushing face. "I knew it. You liked her, even before you knew." I pointed the sharp tip at Gaara's face.
"Wait…" Kankurō said looking between me and him. "What about you you're close to Yukio." He finally got it and sided with his brother's defense.
"It's YU-KI-NO and I'm with her for personal reasons." I waved the stick around. 'Now that I think about it I haven't been back home since I left.' Sighing I shook my head. "I don't like her romantically if that is what you're assuming. I'm her friend and I have a right to be worried about the kind of people that may try to seduce her." I held up the fox plush as an example.
・
Flashback:
"Yukino! I did my first jutsu!" I yelled barging into the room. Freezing by the doorway I saw her leaning against a very attractive man reading a book.
"That's good Ryota." She said standing up from the couch. "This is my father. Otou-san this is Ryota the one I'm training."
"Hello, I'm Ryota." I introduced myself.
"I'm going to buy snacks. I'll be right back." She ran out leaving us alone in the room.
Staring at the attractive man it all made sense now. 'She was raised around hotness so of course, she's immune to it.' I shook my head feeling bad for whatever unlucky guy that would fall for her. "Ryota have you met or heard anyone by the name of Gaara?" The man spoke suddenly making me jump. Looking at his soft eyes I nodded. "Good, what do you think of him. I want your honest opinion."
"Honestly I don't like him." I shrugged. "He gives me this weird feeling."
"Hm." He nodded and placed a hand under his chin. "Keep him away from Yukino he tried killing her once in the past and I don't want to see her hurt again because of him."
"He what?!" I sat down next to him and he began explaining the events from not long ago. Passing me something important I made up my mind that day. I would make sure he never crossed the line of friends especially with the thing he gave me. My gut feeling was right for a reason and I wasn't going to ignore it again.
Flashback end
・
"We're back!" I heard Temari yell before I could hear his answer. Turning around I saw the mess she had done. Makeup was heavily applied on her face and the hair mas tied messily not even resembling a hairstyle. "Yukino…" I ran to her. "I trusted you Temari!" I pulled the Yukino away from her with the one free hand I had.
The parts that weren't covered in makeup flushed in embarrassment which were few. "Is it really that bad?" She whispered. "I tried stopping her but she said she wanted to do–"
"It looks horrible but I will fix it!" Using a napkin I wiped away everything Temari had thrown on her. Taking out a faint pint lip tint I had in my sleeve pocket I dabbed it on her lips.
"You still have it?" She asked looking at the lip tint with a smile.
"No," I turned it around for her to see, "the other one ran out and I bought a new one like it." I smiled back happy that she remembered the first lip tint she bought for my seduction classes. "Comb." I held out my hand and she placed an old broken comb with fading flower patterns. Undoing the hair I brushed it and tied her hair up in a bun and fixed her bangs. "Flower clip." I placed my hands on either side of her eyes and she took one out from her sleeve. "Thank you." I took it and placed it on her head. "This is how you do it, Temari." I moved to the side.
"You look like a doll." She ran up to Yukino and lifted her off the ground which seemed extremely easy.
"It was easy," I added. "What do you guys think?" I asked on the surface but what I really meant was. 'Tell me how much you like her.'
"Really cute!" Kankurō said as expected. 'He's dumb like my brother he may just like her like any other girl.'
"What about you Gaara?" I asked making everyone turn their attention to the boy.
"It looks well on you." He said with a faint smile. Gasping silently I glanced at Yukino as she smiled in return.
"Ryota let's spend the rest of the day with them. It'll be fun." She tugged on my sleeve. Using my own words I reluctantly agreed and tagged along. Drifting away from her side I watched as she and Temari remained stuck together for the rest of the day while I was forced to stay with her brothers.
・・・
Sighing happily I looked up from my firework and saw Yukino half running with a lit sparkler in hand. Following her laughter, Kankurō tagged along running after her with a lit sparkler as well. 'Their so childish.' Glancing at the other three plushies she won I grabbed the white one, the material was soft and the material inside seemed to be like that as well. 'She must really like foxes.' I laughed quietly before picking up the rest. Throwing away my burnt-out sparkler I walked up to Gaara and took a seat next to him. "I still don't like you," I told him as we both watched Kankurō and Yukino run after Temari with their sparklers.
"I know." He said.
"You never answered my question from earlier."
"I don't have one."
"Hm. Don't change your answer later on. I made a promise to her father." Slipping the money we owed from last time into his sleeve I stood up and headed towards Yukino as her sparkler died out.
Handing back the plushies she looked up at the moon and sighed. "My, the moon looks beautiful tonight." She hugged the plushies close. Looking at the others I saw Temari looking at Yukino with wide eyes.
Not liking that look I leaned next to Yukino and whispered so the others couldn't hear. "Yukino. It's getting close to that time. We should go."
"Oh right!" She turned to the siblings and gave each of them a tight hug. "Thank you for today. Bye!" She ran surprisingly fast with the Yukata. "Race you, Ryota!" She ran ahead dropping a fox plush on the ground.
"Bye!" I picked up the plush before running after her.
Catching up to her she stopped and handed her the plush she dropped. "Ryota, you've improved so much since we first met." She nodded in approval. "But to know how much you've progress I will need to let you tag along on one of my missions." She added as we entered the inn and we headed towards the room.
"Really?" I asked her knowing that ever since my eyes became like hers she had more time to train me. After that accident, near the shrine and that weird dream of the black-haired woman, activating those eyes had been worth it.
"Yes. There's no denying it." She sighed. "Also were you able to enter my space without me around?" Her voice wavered slightly of embarrassment? Shaking my head mentally at the image I knew that couldn't be it.
"Only those that you let me into," I told her truthfully remembering only being able to enter the garden and library.
"Oh okay. Then make sure to study the books I recommended." She smiled entering the room first. Activating her eyes I saw a storage space I've never seen before. Putting her plushies inside it she immediately closed it. "Also there's something that's been bothering you and it's not Gaara."
Shaking my head knowing that I would be going against what I told her before. "There's been this group that's been kidnapping young boys and girls. I know I told you to take it easy but can we rescue them? I know it's not what you do but I don't feel right ignoring it." I whispered, even though we were in our own room.
Her eyes widened slightly and she nodded with a smile. "Sure, let's do it first thing in the morning." Sighing with relief I saw her take out her scroll and I felt my telescroll heat up as well. Looking over it I read the news Nori has sent. "Kichi-san has been kidnapped." I heard her say.
"It's the same group I was telling you about." I looked up and saw her short frame shaking. I could hear the sound of pottery cracking loud and clear but none of us had dropped anything.
"Then let's get them." She took off her yukata and put on her shinobi clothes. Turning around I did the same while she was already packing her weapons. "Let's free everyone."
Following the information, Nori had sent we traveled through Yukino's portal to reach him waiting near a waterfall. "Yukino! Ryota!" He yelled running to us. His eyes were bloodshot and there was a red mark on the side of his face. His weapon was missing and his clothes seemed to be torn.
Walking up to him she placed her hand on his cheek and asked. "Where is she?" As her hand started to glow green.
"Ten minutes from here. Heading south there should be a palace-like building." He responded as quickly and clearly as possible. Holding in the tears that started to build up he added. "They attacked us when we were leaving town."
"We'll be back." She let go. "Please wait here there will be others and not just Kichi coming back." With glowing eyes, she took out a spear and handed it to him. "We'll be back I promise."
Running past me I patted Nori's shoulder and said the only thing I could. "Yukino will get her back," I told him before following after her.
・・・
Catching up to Yukino she set herself up on a tree and was staring at the palace through binoculars. Her stance was rigid and her eyes stared ahead unmoving. Never had I seen that look of rage from her even with the months of being by her side.
"What are you guys doing here?"
Flinching I turned around and saw the sand siblings no longer in their yukata. "We should be asking that." I pointed at their outfits clearly meant for battle. "So you tell us first."
"This group kidnapped the daughter of a daimyo," Temari answered first.
Jumping down from the tree Yukino said before I could "They took our friend." She hissed with so much venom that I wouldn't be lying or exaggerating. "Since our goals seem to align lets team up to recover them." Yukino proposed staring at them while keeping her mind elsewhere.
"Sure. Let's team up then." Temari held out her hand. "Do you have a plan?"
"Infiltration followed by chaos from the inside." Yukino crossed her arms and sat down. "A female will infiltrate the palace and then cause a distraction within exposing the guards for the rest to take out." She suggested sending me a glance.
Understanding I backed away from the group and took out the disguises from my storage. Taking out a patterned red kimono I quickly put it on. Adjusting it I untied my hair and let it flow behind me. Taking out the makeup I outlined my eyes with eyeliner and tinted my lips pink.
"Meet my friend who will do the infiltration." I heard Yukino say as my cue to appear came up.
Stepping in front of the group I hugged myself causing the kimono to expose my shoulder. "Hi everyone," I said in my most feminine voice.
"She looks cute who is she?"
"That's Ryota," Yukino said with a mix of envy and pride. Knowing this I sent her a playful air kiss puckering up my pink-tinted lips. Appearance-wise I nailed it better than Yukino could at least that's what they said at the brothels. The only thing I could be beaten in was the voice that Yukino nailed during practice.
"So how would this work?" Temari asked questioning my talents.
"It's fun having people wrapped around my finger," I said seductively as I twirled my long red hair. "Being this cute shouldn't even be possible," I sighed fanning myself with a fan I had in my sleeve. Glancing over at Yukino I saw a smile that was peaking through her anger. 'I'm glad she's enjoying this.' Pointing my fan at them I told them the plan I was sure to pull off easily. "I'll just play the damsel in distress." I hid the butterflies within me with a smile. 'My first ever mission.'
"When he infiltrates he will investigate and then cause chaos which will be our cue to enter," Yukino explained without giving too much away.
"So we have someone for infiltration," Temari said thinking more on it. "But first we need to find those with the group that would take him inside."
"Correct you do that and I will equip Ryota for infiltration," Yukino said guiding me away from the siblings. "Ryota I know you don't like having seals on you but we're going to need this if the plan is going to work." Her eyes glowed as she took out a naginata from a portal. Holding my breath I nodded and she sealed it on my kimono. Blending in with the patterns I made sure to memorize its location. Taking out a tantō she sealed it on my sleeve. "Be careful."
Finding the group I 'stumbled' onto their path pretending to be the daughter of some rich merchant who got separated from her guards after they fought some bandits. Pretending to be grateful and stupid the whole way they led me to the back entrance of the palace saying that the front entrance was under repair.
"What is this place?" I asked looking into the darkroom before being grabbed from behind and thrown into a cell. "What is this?!" I yelled keeping up my facade.
Sensing them already walking away I heard a voice behind me say. "Don't tire yourself out." One voice of the many here said. Recognizing one in particular I squinted and looked around spotting her.
Her shrine uniform seemed to have been torn by the sleeves and her face was strong as she talked about escape methods with some interested girls. "Kichi-san?" I asked surprised.
Looking up with a smile she saw me and stared. "Ryota-chan?" Nodding happily she ran up and cupped my face. "You look so different! What are you doing here?"
"Infiltrating to rescue you and the others." I happily hugged her. "Oh, Yukino sends you something." I patted my kimono.
"Oh, that clever girl!" Kichi-san did one sign and tapped the seals.
Holding the naginata with confidence she ordered the others to back away from the cell bars. With one clean swipe, a section of the cell bars fell towards the floor. Throwing myself towards them I grabbed the heavy metal bars and placed them carefully on the floor to avoid making too much noise.
"Let's get the others." She motioned to the others to follow her.
Attaching the tantō to my clothes I looked around sensing a couple of rooms down with more people. "What is this place anyway?" I asked without thinking.
"It should be obvious. They work for collectors." A girl said with a shaky voice while holding up a thin girl with long black hair. "They hunt down people with unique traits and sell them to some lord."
"Some guys were captured as well, I remember seeing a couple few when I was first brought here." A girl with teal-colored hair said hugging herself. "The next bid should happen in a few nights. Right now there are only a few guards here." As she said that I felt a little tingle in the back of my head.
"We will make them pay for what they did then." Kichi-said holding her naginata at the ready.
"Kichi-san. They said that there were others here, right?" I asked uncertainty reaching for her. "I'm going to alert Yukino and I'll catch up to you." I hesitantly looked back and ran out to find a way to cause chaos without endangering Kichi and the others.
Spotting a torch I cut it down and headed to a shed close by. Breaking open the door I looked for anyone inside. With no secret passages or a soul within I considered it safe to set it ablaze. Without a moment too soon I saw Yukino's figure blur above my head towards the main building before I saw the siblings following close by.
Going back to the main building to look for Kichi-san I found Yukino instead. Standing by the entrance to a red splattered room Yukino stood in the center of the room. By her feet lay silent bodies gurgling for help while a fan covered in ice dripped blood as well as the tantō I saw her with earlier. Frozen I saw as she raised her fan and sliced someone approaching her from behind without blinking.
"Ryota!" I heard her yell my name as she threw her bloodied tanto in my direction. Flinching I put my hands in front of my face when I heard a heavy thump behind me. Turning my head slowly my I stared horrified at the sight of this stranger drowning in their own blood. Lodged right in the middle of his throat was Yukino's tantō she had thrown with deadly precision. "Ryota–" Slapping her hand away before she could touch me I froze realizing what I did.
"No, wait I didn't–"
"Ryota. Go and assist Kichi-san you aren't prepared to see this." She smiled sadly before taking back her tantō and running to another room as the steps of more guards approaching could be heard. Turning my head away from the room I ran back to Kichi-san.
Finding her I saw her exit a room and nod to the group of boys and girls. "Is that everyone?" She asked to which she received a nod. "Ryota? You look pale are you feeling okay?" She asked making me flinch.
"Y-Yes, if there's no one missing we should leave." I reached for the door Kichi-san just exited.
"Ryota let's try another door. That one… leads to a hallway." She smiled softly leading me to the room she suggested. With everyone crammed into a storage room, I opened a portal to an open area nearby.
Wanting to stay behind Kichi-san pulled me through before I could protest. Standing in the field I felt that same tingle in my head. "Hey everybody. I have something to ask." Kichi-san spoke up before I could question it. "Who wants to return to their homes and who wants to return back with us to our village?" She asked surprising me.
Looking at each other uncertainly they whispered among themselves. "Kichi-san we should return to Nori before anything," I whispered as the others talked among themselves.
"I know," she whispered quietly. "I want to make sure he's fine but these people need help first."
"We want to go with you," a small group stepped up. Glancing at them I sighed and opened a portal to Nori's location.
"Ryota, take everyone to Nori-kun and we will organize them there." Sighing I motioned for everyone to go in again. Closing it I sighed and Kichi-san looked behind us. "She's back."
"Excuse me…" a weak voice whispered from somewhere. Looking around I spotted the thin girl from earlier sitting on a rock shaking.
"I'm sorry." I ran to her and helped her up as Kichi-san walked up to Yukino whose clothes was stained with dark spots.
"I'll talk to the siblings about us returning the others back to their homes." I heard her tell Kichi-san once she was briefed.
"I'm sorry for making you help me…" The girl said catching me by surprise.
"No. It's not you, I'm just dealing with something else at the moment," I put on a smile to cheer her up which didn't seem to have an effect.
"Aiko wait!" I heard Temari call out for Yukino.
"Yes?" Freezing I looked back at Yukino frozen with wide eyes as she realized what she said. Temari was after all the smartest of the siblings.
"I'm sorry," I told the girl I was helping and picked her up bridal style and ran away from there. Knowing that Yukino would run off as well in a different direction to avoid capture. Not looking back I knew that she and Kichi-san were together on the run. 'I'll have to apologize later.' I told myself feeling some relief.
Reaching the waterfall I saw Nori organizing everyone by lands and towns. "They told me what Kichi-san said." He said without a glance. "Where is she?"
"She's with Yukino at the moment. They're avoiding the siblings." I told him before placing the girl down.
"At least she's safe." He sighed. "Ryota, make a portal to Yukino's garden it will be safer there than out here." Doing as told I once again led everyone in. Once in the garden, I sighed taking a seat under the nearest trees and closed my eyes. They burned as never before and I felt like curling up. "Ryota, wake up you just need to open two portals and that will be it."
Sighing I stood up opening two portals to the places Nori told me to. As he guided those through I noticed how his hand touched each of their heads and when they stepped foot outside they looked around in confusion. Closing the portals I looked at Nori as he put his finger on his lips to not ask.
Nodding I knew that if I did any more portals I would lose my sight so laying down on a nearby patch of moss I closed my eyes. "I need to rest my eyes. Please tell me when Yukino returns…" I yawned feeling my eyes becoming heavier with each second.
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Happy holidays for those celebrating!