A Missing Ninja

Chapter Twenty Two

Our heroes had finally arrived to the village, but the place was completely deserted. "So your home is...nice." Hope stated to the group. "The villagers must've evacuated." Ching said. Pucca approached Goh Rong. The place was completely deserted, which was a first in many years. "Where could everyone be?" Pucca asked the group. "Guys! Zombies at three o'clock!" Abyo warned. The group hid behind objects to avoid being spotted. Unknown to them, Pucca and Garu hid behind the same object and they were pretty close together. The two blushed and scooted an inch apart.

"Looks like Mel formed an alliance with Muji." Garu whispered. "Yes, now we REALLY have to stop him." Pucca replied. Then they heard the sound of thrashing and angry noises. Then the horde of zombies, quite a few missing their limbs, ran in the other direction. "What was that?" Tobe asked looking around. They approached the group and saw and injured Mio barely standing with Yani behind him. Garu's eyes widened in horror. "MIO!!" he exclaimed. The black cat looked up to his master and gave a new in relief, but he was pretty shaken up. Garu gently picked him up, trying his best not to hurt him. Yani brushed against Garu's leg as Pucca gently picked her up. "The zombies must've attacked him..." she said quietly.

Yeobo looked at Mio's state. "I can heal him, but I need somewhere safe to keep him and some time." she told Garu. Yani jumped out of Pucca's arms and ran towards down an alley. She meowed at the group. "I'm no Dr. Dolittle, but I think she wants us to follow her." Abyo stated. "No, I thought she wanted you to jump into a volcano." Tobe said sarcastically. Abyo glared at him, but he and the group followed the pink cat.

She let them to a trapdoor, it was the same place everyone retreated to after Master Soo banned everyone from doing anything in relation to kung fu. They went underground, almost everyone in the village retreated down there. "Things must've gotten pretty bad." Ching thought.

"Pucca! Is that you?!" Uncle Ho called out. Pucca sighed in relief and hugged him. "Thank Soo you're alright. What about Uncle Linguini and Uncle Dumpling?" she asked. "They went out to prepare more food. The zombie don't have that much surveillance until night, so they'll be fine." he said. Garu approached him. "Is there anywhere we could put Mio?" he asked. Uncle Ho was confused until reality hit him. "GARU?! Oh thank Soo you're back too!! Hmm, I've always wondered what you've sounded like. Anyway what's wrong with Mio?" he asked. "He must've fought some zombies to protect Yani." Ching stated. Ho nodded and led them to a clear table.

Yeobo approached Mio. "Will big brother's cat be okay?" Melody asked Yeobo. Mio made a confused meow. "It's a LONG story." Garu said. Mio didn't know what made him more unsettling: his master was talking or a little girl just called him big brother. Yeobo gently reached towards Mio, he let out a little hiss. But Garu gently patted his back. "It's okay, she just want to help you." he said. Mio looked back at her. If Garu trusted her, then he does too. He lowered himself on the table while Yeobo examined his wounds. "The wounds are superficial, but it will take some time Garu." she said. He nodded. "Thank you." he told her, that sentence made her blush a little. Ring Ring and Pucca rolled their eyes. They heard the entrance open: it was Casano with some supplies.

"Everyone, I brought some more-" he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the group. However, he pretended like nothing ever happened. He put on a suave smile and approached Pucca. "Oh my darling Pucca~ You've returned at last!" he flirted and tried to hug her. She quickly moved out the way. She walked to the entrance. "I'll be right back, I'm looking for Uncle Dumpling and Uncle Linguini." she stated. Ching nodded, she knew she just wanted to avoid Casano. "Wait up my dear! I'll come with you!" Casano called out. Garu grabbed his arm and pulled him by the collar close enough to hear him whisper.

"I know what you've done. The only reason that's keeping me from killing you where you stand is the for the sake of Pucca and the village. You want to be with Pucca? I'm not gonna stop you if she feels the same way, but it's clear she doesn't. If you so much as THINK about doing something without her approval, I will shove my sword so far up your ass that you will be able to taste your blood running down your throat. Got it?" he whispered and went back to Mio.

Everyone just stood there wide eyed. It was one thing to hear him talk, but hearing him threaten someone was a whole new level. "As if his girlfriend isn't scary enough.." Tobe stated.