Dark Ronin - The Woman with No Master

Chapter 15

"NEERA!" My eyes shot open.

"What happened to you?" I looked up to find Se Ra and Chang Tii hanging over me. Looking at my alarm, it was 4:15p. What are they doing here? Ain't it class time?

"We wanted to see you, it's been days since you got out of the infirmary. We wanted to see how you were doing?" Se Ra spoke, guessing my thoughts.

"Yeah, what happened to your face? You look like you have a lot more injuries than you did the last time I saw you," Chang Tii continued.

"Let's try to be a little quieter, first off. Second, I'm fine, so you can go back to your lessons. Don't tell anyone 'bout this, especially not Ryuu. Okay?" I breathed, moving off the bed.

"We're not leaving 'till you tell us what happened," Se Ra huffed with her arms folded.

"You're aggravating; you know that, right?" I grunted.

"I know. Now spill," Se Ra said.

I glared at her, "I just got caught in a little explosion, that's it. Happy? Now, go back to whatever you were doing before ya' woke me."

"That's what we heard yesterday? Aw, are you okay? We need to take you to the hospital. How did you make it all the way- never mind, dumb question," she started rambling.

"Let me see you; where does it hurt?" Chang Tii interrupted, lifting my arms to look at my patch work. Why can't these two be like other kids?

"If y'all two don't beat it, I'ma have y'all necks," I said, shooing them to the door, "and not a word to Ryuu. I'll see you, later." Closing the door, I started for the bathroom. Wait, where's my bag? Aww, shucks. I circled back rummaging through my room. "Tell me it didn't explode with the car," I mumbled to myself as I searched. Of course it did, dummy. It didn't walk away. How could you be so damn stupid? Just as I passed the door, I saw my black bag laid neatly against the frame. Rushing to it, I snatched it up and jumped on my bed. I laid everything out separating them into stacks. I searched my clothes for the notes I wrote. Behind my bathroom mirror, I hung a board to hang all my evidence and notes on. I added the few things I retrieved yesterday and stared at it for a moment.

"This is going to be a lot," I sighed to myself rubbing my head. Pushing the mirror back into place, I examined my tousled hair and disheveled state. I look terrible. Brushing the curls in my hair, I filled the tub with hot water until steam rose in the bathroom. As the steam hit me, I had a flashback of the explosion. I remembered being dragged by someone but could only picture the black steel toe boots. Who was that? Slumping on to the shoulder of the tub, I dropped my head into my hands. The pain in my body seemed to come back despite having taken my pills. Everything began to feel heavier than a few minutes ago. If only I could just get a break. My phone started to ring.

"Yes?" I answered with a huff.

"Well, you sure have a pleasant voice; I see that you have had a cumbersome day, physically and mentally. I have sent a gift to ease your pain to some degree," a deep voice sounded through the line. He had a southern voice that was smooth on the ear and a hint of a japanese accent.

"Don't need it. How 'bout we quit with the games and you start with telling me who the hell you are?" I responded.

"Patience is a virtue, dear child. If we stop now, we'll never be able to test your true abilities. That'd be preposterous. No, no, no, that will simply just not do."

"Ugh, what do you want?" I growled

"You've done well so far. Yet, it'd be nice to continue without accumulating more injuries, if possible. I'm sure you were able to acquire some evidence, would you be so kind as to share?" the man said with a chuckle.

"It wasn't much but I got some documents of illegal transcripts, I'm not telling you anything else. Who's Jiro?"

"Hm..." the man took a long pause. What's with the silence?

"Would you be so kind as to speak?" I asked with less patience.

"You will learn soon enough, my dear. What else did you find?" the man asked. He's hiding something, well a lot of things.

"I found a letter from someone named Higishi and something about a wedding. I'll notify Gran...hm... Master Hiyoshi. Do you plan on giving any information as well?" I asked.

"That's good. You should place as many safety measures as you can. Higishi is Yang Su's right hand of course, however he has deep connection with the state's policemen, as well as the Yakuza. Don't plan on going after him, he is a leaf that needs to stay unturned at the moment. I would suggest you not notify anyone at this moment. Is that all you discovered?" the man answered. Everything I'm going to tell you.

"Yeah, that was it. And was that your man yesterday?" I asked, curiosity took the best of me.

"Did you think I wouldn't have someone nearby in case you needed help?" the voice sounded off with a husky laugh.

"Thank you but no thank you. I don't need help,"

"I shall see you soon, my dear. Oh and you have a new rental at your disposal. Have fun with your gift without destroying it please and have a nice day, good bye," he hung up. Yes, because I would totally blow myself up for fun. What kind of friends did my mother have? Shaking my head, I put the phone down and slipped down further into the water, popping a few more painkillers. After an hour, I was knocked out and the pain was momentarily gone.