Ninja (Major Editing)

Chapter 7

I really hate writer's block. I really and truly do...

It was a tough search for Arata and Yuki. As they seemed to think that everything was going smoothly, they almost got stabbed through the stomach by a spear from a trap. Arata had even scanned the area for any obvious signs a few seconds prior to jumping off the wall, and he didn't see anything. The triggers were concealed well and hidden.

They were approachiing the study when Arata felt a sinister presence. And he was willing to gues who it was. "You should get out of here, Yuki," he said.

"What? No way. I am not leaving you here by yourself," she said, stopping in her tracks.

"Look at your arm."

Yuki didn't need to look at her arm to see what the problem was. A triggered array of arrows flew at them and she had gotten a deep gash before Arata could pull her away. The blood flow hadn't stopped yet. "It's nothing."

"You're going to collaspe sooner or later. And it's only because of the dark that no one in the residency can see the blood on the floor."

She tried to think of a retort, but she couldn't. She was already feeling weaker from the amount of blood she lost. "Okay," she said reluctantly. "But I'll be back if I don't see you soon."

"How soon?"

"Half an hour."

"I'll see you then."

She left, practically running out before she regretted her choice and went back. But when she got outside, she stopped and turned. Good luck, Arata, she thought, Be safe.

Back in the hallway, Arata placed a hand on his katana. "I know you're there. Come out." He paused. "Aniki."

There was a ringing clang as the two katanas locked together. Arata dug his feet into the ground to keep his ground. His brother had always been stronger than him.

"I don't have a younger brother," his brother spat at him.

"I never liked you either," Arata told him.

They began to fight and Arata was grateful that he had a small build compared to his brother. It allowed him to move around swifter and quicker in order to dodge his brother's brutal, fatal blows.

But Arata was wearing down with all the running he was doing. On the other hand, his brother still had the stamina to continue even if he was slow. With all the speed and energy he could muster, Arata rushed towards his brother, attempting to only knock out, not kill. His brother had brains too though, and managed to stepside it with only a small graze on his arm. Arata, on the other hand, couldn't stop and crashed into the door, too weary to get back up. He definitely hadn't thought of that outcome. 

"You've gotten weak, Arata," his brother told him, towering over him. 

Arata could tell that their conversation wasn't going to end good and decided to insult him back despite his position. "You've gotten slower, Souta. Have you been eating too much?"

Souta slapped him in the face, and Arata was left with a stinging cheek. He was about to use the door to help himself up when Souta grabbed him by his neck, choking him.

"You shouldn't have come back," Souta said before Arata blacked out.