Ninja Love: Saizo Kirigakure

Chapter 46

Hanzo decided that what I needed to accomplish was most similar to Goemon: the production and application of energy. Goemon's instructions were simple and precise, and I hoped that I would be able to follow them.

With Hanzo and Goemon on either side of me and Saizo laying asleep before me, I began. First, I held my hands out over a particularly bloodied and infected wound on Saizo's arm. Then I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths as I had been taught and, without opening my eyes, I tried to imagine my energy pulling through my body to my fingertips. Tried to visualize every single golden drop of healing life energy draining from my feet, up my legs, up to my chest and splitting through my heart to go to each arm. I prayed to the goddess that my efforts would rewarded.

I had no idea whether my hands were tingling from holding them up too long or because it was working, but when I heard someone beside me breath sharply, and I dared to crack open my eye to see what was going on. A small group of interested ninja had gathered around us, some from the newly joined clans. Sasuke crouched on the other side of Saizo, watching intently. It took me a second to notice that everyone around me shared one common trait: their eyes were fixed on my hands.

Cautiously, I looked down and gasped. My hands, normally a plain pale shade, were glowing with a golden light that I had never encountered before. The light encased my hands and shifted around them, expanding and contracting with every beat of my heart and breath of my lungs, but writhing within itself as if the light had a mind of its own. Bright tendrils of shining light snaked throughout the glowing mass, adding depth and tangibility to what could have easily been mistaken as an illusion. I could hardly believe my eyes, but a quick glance at my riveted audience showed that I was not hallucinating.

I tore my eyes away from my hands and brought my focus back to the task before me. Being careful to maintain the energy in my hands, I gently brought them closer to Saizo's bloodied skin, barely hovering above the torn gash in his strong arms.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

My eyes fluttered closed again and I began to imagine my life energy pouring out of my hands and onto Saizo, just as I swore to Marisha-Ten that I would pour my heart and soul into loving Saizo if she would only let him live. I knelt there for what felt like an eternity, willing the golden light to heal Saizo as it had done for me.

It wasn't until a warm hand rested itself on my shoulder that I dared to open my eyes again.

Hanzo stood above me, a small smile of admiration on his face.

"You've done it, Misaki."

I looked down in shock, but Hanzo spoke the truth. Where there was once a mess of torn muscle and damaged tissue exposed and infected on Saizo's arm, there was now nothing more than an angry-looking scar that would normally have taken weeks to appear. The golden glow faded from my hands and I beamed up at Saizo and Goemon.

I moved to stand and thank them, but my knees gave way and I stumbled forward, thankful that Goemon reacted in time to grab my arm and keep me from hitting the ground.

"S-Sorry," I chuckled, embarrassed as Goemon steadied me on my feet, "I guess I didn't expect healing someone to take so much out of me."

Goemon laughed and gently patted me on the back, smirking when I finally found my own balance.

"You know Misaki, if you were to have my children, a combination of the Iga and Kusonoki bloodlines would be- ow!"Goemon jumped suddenly and glared down at a sullen-looking Saizo.

"Hands off," Saizo said as he struggled to sit up, "she's spoken for."

I blushed and sat down beside him, letting him take my hand as he levelled his gaze on Goemon.