the game

the unseeing enemy

Chapter Eleven: The Unseeing Enemy

            Personal affection is a luxury you can have only after all your enemies are eliminated. Until then, everyone you love is hostage, sapping your courage, and corrupting you judgment.-Orson Scott Card: Empire

        It hurt me a great deal to leave Tenchi, but I knew we couldn't risk being slowed down by anything. Besides, I had the safety of my daughter to think about, and that meant more to me than anything else. Haruo was right one thing about my daughter: Her growth was accelerated as a child. During the two days it took us to travel to the city, and get on the ship, she was no longer the size of a newborn. She was still the size of an infant, but she acted more like a four month old child. Within the three weeks it took to travel by sea to our home, she was already walking, and speaking very clearly. She was like our own two year old. By the time we got back home, about a three week journey on foot, she was already at the stage of a four year old, but then her growth slowed down quite a bit. She didn't age s fast, but her abilities were loud and clear. It was also apparent that her mind was maturing much faster than her brain was.

        Of course the worry of when Haruo and the gang of his would come back for me still rang in my head, but I couldn't worry about it until I was faced with it. I just had to make sure Fumiko was safe. Fumiko was my only concern, and I had to remember that no matter what.

        "Momma lookie at this! Look what I can do!" She yelled out in her childish excitement. I smiled, and looked at her.

        "What is it dear?" She giggled as she ran over to me.

        "Memeber that one trick you showed me? The- the one with the water, and the dragon Lilly?" I thought for a moment, and then smiled.

        "The Dancing Tiger Lilly? You remember that? But it wasn't water Dearest, it was fire." I smiled again. She looked at me a moment, her expression unreadable, and then grinned.

        "Well, The Awesome Me changed it to water! Come and see Momma."I chuckled, and followed my daughter to the water. She had recently taken to calling herself The Awesome Me lately, and I mostly blamed that on Shinobu's cousin, Takeshi. He had a bit of an ego problem. Well, a bit wasn't the right way to put it. He was practically narrisstic, arrogant, vain kind of person. He was always getting into trouble, and always avoided any kind of commitment of any kind, which made him very irresponsible. On top of that, he a drunkard. Though I had to admit, he was very good with kids. I guess it's mostly because he knew how to get down to their level. He was such a child, and not someone I, or any other respectable parent, would want around their child. Though, with my daughter it was rather cute when she referred to herself as the Awesome Me. She was just a child, being easily influenced by an asshole.

        "Ok, we're show me."I said a bit tirelessly. Thinking about Takeshi always put me in a bad mood. Fumiko grinned, and focused her enegery, which gathered in a dim purple light around her hands, and then began moving her hands back and forth. As she did so the water began to move like it would when tide was rising. She then raised her hands up, bringing the water with it, and then wove her hands intricately. The water changed into a flower, and a dragon soon formed afterwards. The two danced around each other like a harmonious dance. I smiled proudly."Congrats! My Dear that was amazing!" Though I still preferred it in fire, Fumiko's was just as amazing. She smiled as I hugged her.

        "Of course it's awesome Momma! The Awesome Me did it, so it has to be awesome!" She looked at behind me, and gasped with excitement."Uncle Takeshi!!" She shoved herself out of my arms, and ran to them who scooped her up in his arms, and twisted her around in a circle.

        "Heey! You're getting bigger each time I see ya!" He chuckled, and then looked at me. "And so are you!" I knew he meant it jokingly, but I had no patience when it came to Takeshi. I simply rolled my eyes.