𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 | 𝑺.𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒛𝒖𝒈𝒂𝒘𝒂

𝟓𝟕| 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞

~*~

AT THE SWORDSMITH VILLAGE

"Hayami, finally you're here!"

Walking through the village, Mitsuri came rushing towards me, with her big sakura coloured hair flying in all directions before she embraces me. With a slight grimace from that slight movement, she gasps and pulls away, "Oh my gosh did I do something?!" She questions in alarm; searching me frantically. "I'm so sorry, please I--"

"Mitsuri, you're fine......" I assure her, with a tender smile. ".........I'll head to my swordsmith, and immediately leave it. Do you know how long you'll be here, just so I know what inn to choose...?"

Her eyes lights up, "You can stay with me, I'm not sure......but it should be ready very shortly....." she replies; before we both began making our way through the village. "How did you get here, was the trip okay? How did they do it this time?"

With a chuckle, "Just a blindfold, a cart........but I blocked my senses....." I assure her, while she gasps in surprise. "Let me guess, same? Just a blindfold?"

She nods in response, "Yeah...."

~*~

After we visited the Chief of the village as a tradition, to acknowledge and respect his village and the secrecy of the place, we head to my swordsmiths workshop.

Continuing walking through the beautiful and peaceful village, she walks by my side all the way to my swordsmiths home. Hearing the sound hammers meeting the blunt edge of blades, and the burning scent of coal and musk, it was all so simplistic. My eyes carry on the familiar face masks that were either unique, or the freshly built homes that were upgraded. It was indeed unique and traditional, that I greatly admired their architecture. After making a few turns, a temari ball rolls to my feet before hearing a collective sound of gasps.

"It's Big Sister Hayami!!!!"

"Yay! She's back!!!"

My eyes flicker to meet two familiar masked children, seeing young Taiga and Young Yuriko. They both seem to have grown since I've last seen them, as Taiga is around Twelve years of age and Yuriko should be about eight years old. The two children rush towards me, earning a high pitch gasp coming from Mitsuri.

"Ahhh, who are these lovely children?" She exclaims; seeing adoration in her pale green eyes.

Taiga and Yuriko embrace me around my waist, as I rest both my hand supon their shoulders and knelt down to embrace the two, "How have you two been?" I ask, with a tender tone. "Look at you two, last i saw you was about six months.....or so? Was it..?"

Taiga nods, "Yep!"

Yuriko tugs on my sleeve earning my attention, "Hmm, what is it Yuri?" before the young girl points up to Mitsuri. Blinking in realisation I turn to my friend, "This is Miss Kanroji, or Mitsuri Kanroji.......she's the Love Hashira...."

Mitsuri gasps, "Awe......so cuuuuuute!!!!" she kneels down. "You can call me however you wish, and what's you name?"

Yuriko was rather shy and tucks behind me once I stood up, "Y-Yuriko......"

"--and I'm Taiga! Nice to meetcha!" Her big brother grins widely. He then turns to me, "Um........are you visiting, or is my father fixing your blade again?"

"I will be staying for a week, I'll be healing in the hot springs," I reply, while resuming to my destination around the corner. "Is your father here, or busy with other errands?"