Dakü Ai Ninja

Chapter Four: "Princess Lady"

"Hello miss. Can I help you with anything?"

"Huh..! Oh no thank you very much I... was just looking." I smiled at the older lady, she was cooking something on the other side of the market table. I had to get some food before I went to the northern coast, Hokkaido. I grabbed the ginger roots and a bit of dragon fruit... and oh! maybe some grapes..

I felt a tug on my kimono, "..!" I looked down quickly to a little girl with a small stuffed rabbit in her little hands, "A-Are...you a ninja?" The little girl asked cautiously yet anxiously.

"Kiri! Do not ask customers such things it is none of your business! Now get back here and help your brother with the goods." The older lady looked to be her mother. I looked down at the girl and then bent down to be face to face with her.

"I am, can you keep a secret?" I asked playfully lighting Kiri's face up, "Y-Yes!"

"I'm on a mission right now and one day I'll need a strong young lady to help me out! Will you be my sidekick one day?"

"Hehe! I can't be a sidekick!" the little girl blushed in embarrassment, I could see her mother looking at us smiling and I quickly leaned in, "You can be anything you want to be!" Then I got up and took the gold out of my pocket and held it out to the lady. If I can make people smile by doing so little I will try my best!

The girl ran over to her mother and her mother gasped in disbelief, "Wh-What is this? Five gold pieces..?! I can not take this miss it is only two silvers.."  she stated reluctantly.

"No, please! Take it," I looked at the little girl wrapped around her mothers leg, "..for all the big dreams your daughter has when she grows up to be big and strong," I smiled gently at the two then walked off with a small wave.

"Thank you so much, miss!"

I found myself walking for hours at a time, never getting tired it seemed. Walking kept my mind off of.. things. Things I didn't want to face. The sun was setting on the horizon, I found myself now walking through the mountains. There wasn't going to be much towns now, perhaps villages. I felt my legs grow numb so I stopped and sank to the ground, "Ah.." I felt hopeless, trying my best to forget what I was doing, what I had done.. and now I was all alone. The breeze flowed through the leaves of the surrounding trees, my eyes seeming to follow it.

"I don't want to be alone..."

The night soon dominated the once illuminated sky, now I had to find wood for a fire.. also rocks to make food. I put my hand on my forehead and sighed, "How am I going to do this, I can't even set up for the night properly..!" I shook as anger and guilt filled me.

"Saizo.." I whispered. It hurts terribly, I wiped my eyes, that he cant be the one to take my tears away.

I stared into the poorly made fire of mine, the crisp wood burning and the smoke filling the air, all you could hear was the cracking of pathetic twigs and a single log I found. I grabbed my katana and brushed my hand on the blade. It made me happy and at ease with everything that's happened.. everything that I've chosen. I need to stay strong, for everyone. I shut the blade back in its sheath. The dark sky above put me into a trance, I was exhausted and before I knew it everything turned black..

....

...

..

"...!"

"Who's there!?" I shot up with dazed eyes, my hand quickly ran to my sword. Branches breaking, someone is hiding in the bushes!

(CRACKLE)

"I w-will not ask again!" My voice shook slightly, oh no. I can't help it!

"Well if you aren't very sure of yourself lady you shouldn't open your mouth in the first place. You're just proving to the enemy you're no match." A sarcastic scoff was heard from the area of rustling.